The Buffalo Sabres training camp and preseason are quickly approaching, with the first preseason game just over two weeks away. This is a time for the coaching staff to really evaluate the entire roster to figure out what is going to be the best Opening Night roster they can put together.
It is also a time for players to make their case for having one of those roster spots. However, for some players, even if they play very well, it is almost certain that they will begin the season with the Rochester Amerks in the AHL.
3 Buffalo Sabres prospects with virtually no chance to make Opening Night roster
Devon Levi
It seems almost certain that at some point this season, Devon Levi will be making an appearance with the Buffalo Sabres but that won't be at the start of the season. The Sabres right now have Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon, who they signed as a free agent this summer, that will be the team's two goalies to begin the season.
While the Sabres seem to have the answer to start the season, it is far from a guarantee that it will work. UPL struggled last season and will need to bounce back and while teams hope all their free agent signings work out, that is not necessarily a guarantee.
Levi has looked good the past two seasons in the AHL, and if he puts together another strong start to the season, the Sabres may need him at some point.
Konsta Helenius
Konsta Helenius is one of the top prospects the Buffalo Sabres have and could be one of their top players down the road. However, it would be smart for Buffalo to give him at least a little more time in the AHL before bringing him up to the NHL.
Last year was his first season in the AHL, and he played in 65 games with 14 goals and 21 assists and got even better in the playoffs with six points in eight games.
Similar to goalie, the Sabres have some questions at center but need to give their current group a chance before making any changes. The team likely will be looking at group of Josh Norris, Jiri Kulich, Ryan McLeod, and Peyton Krebs to start for the four centers.
If they do need to bring up a center, it probably would be someone like Noah Ostlund who appeared in eight games last season with the Sabres.
Nikita Novikov
Unlike goalie and center, there is really no question about the Sabres' blueline, and they have a chance to be really good this season. The talent is there with the addition of Michael Kesselring and the potential development of Owen Power.
However, for players like Nikita Novikov this is not good news as he is trying to move up from the AHL to the NHL. The left-handed defenseman has a number of players ahead of him on the depth chart with Bowen Byram, Power, and Mattias Samuelsson.
Novikov has been with the Amerks for two full seasons now and has played in over 120 regular season games. He has been a key part of their defense over that time and does have a future in the NHL, but he will probably have to wait a little bit longer.