The Buffalo Sabres recently wrapped up a training camp that didn't feature much competition. Most of the spots on the 23-man roster were secured long before the preseason and, while injuries did create a touch uncertainty, there wasn't any immediate space for prospects.
That'll likely change during the course of the 2026-27 season, which will see a two-game increase to 84 contests for each team. Injuries, poor play and other roster movement (like trades) could eventually create an opportunity for members of the Sabres' farm system.
It's worth noting there's a chance Daxon Rudolph, Buffalo's choice with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, may debut late in the campaign after his freshman season at the University of Denver wraps up. That feels unlikely at this stage, though.
Let's take a look at three notable members of the Sabres' prospect pool who could don a Blue and Gold jersey before season's end.
Radim Mrtka (Defenseman)
Buffalo selected Radim Mrtka with the No. 9 selection in the 2025 draft. His first year in the organization was quite underwhelming, highlighted by scoring just one goal in 48 games (regular season and playoffs) for the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds.
Nevertheless, the 19-year-old Czechia native is still a highly regarded prospect thanks to his intriguing combination of size (6'6''), skill and skating ability. He does need to add a little more strength to his frame if he's going to maximize his physical impact, though.
Mrtka briefly moved up to practice with the club's main group amid the injury crisis before getting sent down to the AHL's Rochester Americans, and there have been obvious flashes of potential every time he's practiced with the Sabres dating back to last year's camp.
While it's clear he needs some seasoning (at least one year, if not two or three) with the Amerks, it wouldn't be a shock if Buffalo tries to catch lightning in a bottle if it deals with another string of ill-timed defensive injuries at some point during the campaign.
Vsevolod Komarov (Defenseman)
Vsevolod Komarov is a defensive prospect option with more pro experience. He's skated in 124 games for the Amerks over the past two years and, while he's not much of an offensive contributor, he's typically held his own in tough D-zone assignments.
The 22-year-old right-shot Russian also brings a snarl the Sabres may lack. He's accumulated 145 penalty minutes during his time in Rochester, a trend that carried over from his time as a junior player with Stalnye Lisy in his home country and the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL.
Komarov is the type of player Buffalo may call up if it's looking for someone who can contribute extremely limited third-pair minutes (and possibly a fight) against a heavy opponent like the Florida Panthers or Tampa Bay Lightning. It's not something that would be asked of a reserve like Zach Metsa.
At this point, the 2022 fifth-rounder feels more like organizational depth than a future full-time NHL player, but he can still provide value thanks to his hard-nosed skill set.
Jake Richard (Forward)
The Sabres don't have a ton of forward prospects who aren't already making their impact at hockey's highest level. Jiri Kulich, Noah Ostlund and Konsta Helenius headline the young players expected to take on key roles for the club in 2026-27.
That said, Jake Richard could receive a cup of coffee in Buffalo at some point, similar to what Helenius did last season. The winger built a reputation as a dangerous weapon on the power play at UConn, and that's an area the Blue and Gold have struggled in recent years.
Richard was initially expected to play another college season with the Huskies, but plans changed after the Sabres offered a two-year entry-level contract (instead of the typical three-year initial agreement). It does create a minor sense of urgency to get him a little NHL time before it's time to decide on that next contract in 2028.
The 22-year-old Jacksonville native looked like a potential draft steal — he was chosen 170th overall by Buffalo in 2022 — when he scored 43 points in 34 games for UConn in 2024-25, but his production dipped to 27 points in 38 contests last season. It creates a turning-point year for the forward.
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