The Buffalo Sabres' only path to sustained success is building through the NHL Draft. They aren't a major player in free agency for a variety of reasons, including an active 14-year playoff drought, and general manager Kevyn Adams hasn't been able to land superstars via trade.
Here's the problem: The Sabres haven't found consistent success in the draft during Adams' tenure, either. It's why the organization only remains a fringe postseason hopeful despite picking in the lottery every year for over a decade.
That's further evidenced by the fact ESPN's Rachel Kryshak ranked the NHL's top 50 prospects on Thursday, and not a single player from Buffalo's farm system cracked the list.
Two of the Sabres' long-term rebuilding counterparts, the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks, each landed four members of their prospect pool in the ranking. The New York Islanders led the way with five prospects in the top 50.
Buffalo Sabres feature a deep farm system, but the lack of All-Star potential is a major concern
The Sabres do have talent working its way through the minor leagues. It's not like the team's prospect group is completely barren and won't produce some effective NHL players.
Isak Rosen, Noah Ostlund, Anton Wahlberg, Maxim Strbak and Brodie Ziemer are some of the prospects who are at least trending toward an NHL future. Others like Jake Richard and Luke Osburn are late-round selections who've really improved their stock over the past 12 months.
Yet, when it comes to potential superstars, there aren't many options as things currently stand.
The two most likely breakthroughs in the regard are Buffalo's last two first-round picks, center Konsta Helenius and defenseman Radim Mrtka.
Helenius was impressive throughout training camp and the preseason, which almost earned him a roster spot while the Sabres dealt with a rash of injuries. The organization decided to take a more catuous approach by sending him back to the AHL's Rochester Americans, though.
Although the 19-year-old Finland native should crack Buffalo's lineup next season, he doesn't project to ever become a top-line, 90-plus point force. More likely, he's on a trajectory that'll make him a highly dependable middle-six center in the years ahead.
That leaves Mrtka. Like Helenius, he was one of the team's standout performers during camp and the exhibition schedule. The Sabres gave him four games of AHL experience with the Amerks before sending him back to juniors with the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds.
Mrtka possesses a 6-foot-6 frame, plays with an impressive physical edge on defense and his offensive impacts have improved considerably since the start of last season. So, if there's one Sabres prospect with All-Star upside, it's probably the Czech blueliner.
If he reaches that potential and becomes a long-term partner for Rasmus Dahlin on the top pair, it'd give the Blue and Gold a chance to have one of the league's top defensive tandems.
That said, the Sabres still need more elite talent. Dahlin is already there and Tage Thompson probably is too, though he could benefit from more consistency. Alex Tuch is a terrific two-way contributor but he's already 29 and probably won't retain maximum impact much longer.
Buffalo is hoping the likes of Zach Benson, Josh Doan and Owen Power may eventually reach that threshold, but none of them are a lock to achieve top-tier status.
Here's the bottom line: The Sabres' depth has vastly improved, and the prospect pool suggests more of those second-to-fourth line forwards and second-or-third pair defensemen are on the way. The same can't be said for the All-Star franchise pillars.
Getting back into championship contention will require finding more of those game-changers, whether it be through the draft, trade or free agency.