Buffalo Sabres prospect Isak Rosen showcased his offensive potential across a few stints with the big club this season, tallying seven points in 16 games, but the Rochester Americans winger still has a lot to prove if he's going to earn a full-time NHL role.
Amerks head coach Mike Leone said the rest of Rosen's development hinges entirely on the 22-year-old Swede's willingness to put forth maximum effort in areas other than putting the puck in the net.
"He's an NHL talent," Leone told Bill Hoppe of the Times Herald. "He's going to play in the NHL. But he's got to make a decision, and he's been making that decision of how hard you want to compete when you don't have the puck. That's ultimately what's going to get him to the NHL. … You have to have good habits. You have to have good details. We've been on him constantly about those things."
It's a challenge because Rosen, who's generously listed at 6-foot, 185 pounds, is often asked to battle against bigger, stronger opponents in the corners. That was an area of the game where he really struggled early in his AHL tenure.
Although he's made progress across four seasons in Rochester, there's still work to do and nothing will be handed to him as several other Sabres forward prospects, including the likes of Konsta Helenius and Anton Wahlberg, are also fighting for those NHL opportunities.
Isak Rosen may become an NHL trade chip for the Buffalo Sabres amid an uncertain future
Questions about Rosen's fit in the Sabres organization were raised after he was demoted to the Amerks during the preseason. It felt weird he wasn't given a realistic shot at making the Opening Night roster since the team had a top-six scoring void to fill after trading JJ Peterka.
His play during his first call up this season (seven points in 10 games) quieted the speculation, but he's gone scoreless in six appearances over his last two NHL stints.
It's reaching a point where Buffalo general manager Jarmo Kekalainen will have to decide whether there's a spot for Rosen moving forward or not. There isn't much reason for him to remain in the AHL for much longer.
The 2021 first-round pick essentially has nothing left to prove offensively in the minors. He's recorded 179 points (86 goals and 93 assists) in 224 games for the Amerks, including 37 points in 30 appearances so far this season.
Beyond that, while he's made some progress defensively and on the forecheck, it doesn't seem like he's built to become a force in those areas. At least for the moment, it appears he's pigeonholed into becoming a top-six player if he's going to stick in the NHL.
The Sabres do have space available in that area for 2026-27 and beyond, especially if Alex Tuch ultimately leaves in free agency, but so far the franchise has appeared hesitant to commit to Rosen.
If it doesn't view him as long-term solution, the best option is trading him now while he still has value as an intriguing offensive prospect. The longer he remains in the AHL, the more opposing teams' trade interest will fade as he heads toward his mid-20s.
So, it's reaching an infliction point for Rosen in the Buffalo organization and, unless Kekalainen is planning to give him a legit shot at earning a full-time spot with the Sabres next season, it's probably best for all parties involved to consider a move.
Rosen deserves an extended NHL opportunity in the near future to show whether his impressive offensive skill will fully translate against elite competition.