It's time for Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams to give forward prospect Isak Rosen a chance to play in the NHL on a full-time basis. If that's not going to happen in Adams' organization, trade the 22-year-old winger to a team that'll give him that opportunity.
Rosen is on fire for the AHL's Rochester Americans early in the 2025-26 season with 12 points (five goals and seven assists) in eight games. It brings his Amerks total to 154 points in 202 appearances across four seasons with Buffalo's top minor league affiliate.
The Sabres could use an offensive boost, especially with superstars Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin not driving play up to their usual standard over the first 11 games. The club sits 19th in goals scored per 60 minutes (2.97) despite ranking a more promising 11th in expected goals per 60 minutes (3.35), according to Natural Stat Trick.
Rosen isn't a player without flaws. He'll have some occasional lapses in the defensive zone and there a moments when his compete level dips. His skill set in the attacking zone can't be denied, however, and that type of instant offense would be a welcome sight for the Blue and Gold.
Isak Rosen belongs on an NHL roster, even if the Buffalo Sabres have lost faith in him
The Sabres' handling of Rosen since the start of training camp has raised some eyebrows.
Buffalo traded high-scoring winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth over the summer, which left a massive void in the team's top six. Rosen seemed like an ideal option to fill the hole given his AHL production and draft pedigree (No. 14 overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft).
Yet, it didn't feel like the Sabres even gave the 5-foot-11 forward much of a chance to seize that coveted spot in the lineup. He rarely got an opportunity to play alongside the team's top playmakers and was unceremoniously sent back to the minors.
The prized prospect admitted the early AHL demotion provided some extra motivation.
"Just excited to play and kind of show that Buffalo was wrong and stuff like that," Rosen told Bill Hoppe of the Times Herald upon his return to Rochester.
The Sweden native's situation probably wouldn't be garnering much attention if the Sabres were posting high-end offensive numbers early in the season. Yet, that's not the case as the team has endured an up-and-down start en route to a modest 4-4-3 record.
At the moment, the team's third line is a mess.
Jason Zucker and Jack Quinn have both been mostly quiet in recent games and neither center option, Peyton Krebs or Jordan Greenway, brings much offense to the table.
Rosen does have experience at center, but the better option in the big picture is moving Thompson back to center, which would open up a middle-six wing spot for the talented Swede as Alex Tuch would slide up to the top line.
If, for whatever reason, Adams and head coach Lindy Ruff don't believe Rosen is capable of handling that type of role on a regular basis, it's time to move on from him.
Keeping the Amerks standout in the AHL is reaching the point where it's counterproductive. He has little to prove at that level and the longer he remains in Rochester, the more his trade value will likely become negatively impacted.
Here's bottom line: Rosen is ready for the NHL. If the Sabres don't want him in that capacity, one of the league's other 31 teams is surely willing to give him a shot.