The Buffalo Sabres' prospect pool has been harshly criticized at times this summer due to its lack of high-end talent, but the organization can take solace in the fact it has a lot of young players with the AHL's Rochester Americans who are nearly NHL ready.
Buffalo won't feature a ton of new faces on its Opening Night roster for the 2025-26 season, which gets underway Oct. 9 against the New York Rangers. That said, opportunities always arise throughout the 82-game campaign because of injuries and underperformance.
Let's check out a few highly touted prospects who should make their NHL debut when those lineup changes occur in the months ahead.
Anton Wahlberg (Forward)
Wahlberg possesses all the tools to eventually become an effective middle-six center for the Sabres. His combination of a 6-foot-3 frame and impressive reach has allowed his defensive game to grow rapidly, and his offense made steady progress during his time with the Amerks last season, too.
The 20-year-old Swede recorded 30 points (11 goals and 19 assists) in 63 games for Rochester in 2024-25, his first full campaign in North America. It showcased impressive development compared to his 10 points in 43 games for Sweden's Malmo Redhawks in 2023-24.
If there's a concern, it's the fact he's tallied just one point in 11 playoff contests since joining the Americans. Being able to create offense when the defensive intensity ramps up in the postseason is essential to finding long-term success.
Wahlberg doesn't project as a scoring sensation at the NHL level. Nevertheless, if his playmaking continues to evolve toward becoming a 40-assist player along with strong defensive impacts, there's a great chance he'll become a full-time player for Buffalo within the next few years.
Konsta Helenius (Forward)
Although Helenius was solid throughout his first season with the Amerks last year, posting 14 goals and 21 helpers in 65 appearances, it was his performance in the playoffs that raised hopes he'll be ready to make the jump to Buffalo in the not-to-distant future.
The 2024 first-round pick was asked to play some tough minutes and responded with six points in eight postseason games while holding his own defensively. He attacks with an edge that makes him play bigger than his measurables (5'11'', 189 pounds) would suggest.
He's still just 19, however, and there are several other Sabres forward prospects who've already received their first cup of NHL coffee — namely Isak Rosen, Noah Ostlund and Tyson Kozak — who'll probably be ahead of him in the call-up pecking order for 2025-26.
That said, Helenius should make a handful of appearances with Buffalo near the end of the campaign to set the stage for a bigger role in 2026-27.
Vsevolod Komarov (Defenseman)
Komarov endured his fair share of growing pains throughout his debut season with the Amerks, and he failed to make much of an impact during the AHL club's postseason run. Yet, there are a couple things working in his favor to earn an NHL opportunity.
First, he plays with a level of aggression the Sabres have sorely lacked in recent years. The blueliner racked up 102 penalty minutes in 76 games (regular season plus playoffs) for Rochester and he isn't afraid to throw his body around in the defensive zone.
Second, he's a right-shot defenseman, which is an area of weakness for Buffalo. Only two of its eight defenders projected to make the final roster are right-handed shots (Michael Kesselring and Conor Timmins) and most of its close-to-NHL-ready prospects are left-handed, as well.
Head coach Lindy Ruff has traditionally preferred balanced pairs, through the all-around greatness of Rasmus Dahlin has provided some flexibility. That said, if Ruff is looking for a spark on the right side, the organization may decide to give Komarov an early shot.