Well, it’s midseason, and heading into tonight’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights, your Buffalo Sabres are a bottom-four team not only in the Atlantic Division but in the entire NHL. Yeah, it’s disheartening, but we can’t change the situation, so let’s at least get one positive out of it: There’s a good chance the Sabres could end up with a future NHL star.
The only question is, who? There are four prospects who have caught my eye at midseason, and let me tell you this: there isn’t a single one listed below I wouldn’t take. With 2024 first-rounder Konsta Helenius showing he has what it takes to play good hockey in North America, what would a top-four projected prospect do for the Blue and Gold?
Let’s explore them, and then you can decide which one general manager Kevyn Adams (or a potential replacement) should roll with if everything remains as-is and the Sabres snag the fourth pick in the 2025 lottery.
Porter Martone, RW/Mississauga
Coming to you from Mississauga, Porter Martone’s imposing 6’3, 207 lb frame may be the first thing you notice. Then, you might check out his points total, and your jaw might drop to the floor.
Yep, he’s got 54 points and 21 goals through 26 contests in the OHL this season, which averages over two points per game. There’s a good chance he goes No. 1 this summer, so the Sabres would likely need to land the top pick if they wanted any hope to draft him.
James Hagens, C/Boston College
James Hagens was the top prospect going into the year, but he’s since dropped to No. 2 on Tankathon. He’s got 20 points and five goals in 16 games, so the production isn’t at Martone’s level. But his playmaking ability nevertheless has stood out.
Hagens also doesn’t possess the same size as Martone, and that, too, could dock him down another few spots. Overall, we’re looking at a solid prospect, but one who hasn’t exactly lived to preseason expectations to the same extent.
Matthew Schaefer, LD/Erie
A left defenseman out of Erie, Matthew Schaefer has 22 points in 17 games with seven goals to go along with it. Yep, he’s one of those players who can put up forward-like points, and while the Sabres have a few decent points producers at the blue line, Schaefer could ultimately give them another.
He’s also got great length, boasting a 6’2 build, much in the same way as Porter Martone. His 183-lb frame is a little off the mark, but it’s also not bad. Overall, if the Sabres took this blueliner early in the draft, should everything remain equal from now until mid-April, I’m not complaining.
Michael Misa, C/W/Saginaw
While Michael Misa isn’t averaging nearly the same per game output as Porter Martone, he’s not far behind. He’s got 64 points and 30 goals in 33 games, so he’d make for an excellent consolation should he fall to the Blue and Gold.
He’s also not as lengthy as Martone, but a 6’1, 185-lb build is passable. And as of Saturday, if you check out Tankathon’s 2025 Mock Draft, they got him going to Buffalo, which would make him an excellent add for the system.