Rookie blueliner aces the Sabres Top 24 and under players and prospects in Tier V

The Buffalo Sabres young players and prospects pool is so deep that it was tough to find just 24 of them aged 24 and under to create a ranking system. That said, it would have been easy to make this into a top 30 or even a top 35 list. But even the Sabres pool would have youngsters ranked closer to the bottom of the list - between 30 and 35 especially - who may not play more than a handful of NHL games years down the road, if that.

So that brought us down to the Top 24 players who we know could very well end up seeing ice time in a blue and gold uniform. Or if general manager Kevyn Adams decides to make some serious transactions this summer, then they will play elsewhere for one of the other 31 - perhaps 32 or 33 in five years - franchises. 

Today, we’re covering Tier V, or players ranked between 20th and 17th in the system. If you missed the Tier VI rankings, they contain a few players who will be worth watching in either the CHL, NCAA, or, in one case, the AHL for the 2024-25 season. As for Tier V, they could have all four prospects in Rochester next year, two of whom played a full year there in 2023-24. 

Buffalo Sabres Tier V players 24 and under loaded with AHL potential

In many prospect pools throughout NHL organizations, you won’t see so many young players getting a look at pro hockey’s second level often, and it shows how deep the Sabres system goes. But the following names are also some whom you may not want to get overly attached to since they could be perfect trade bait for Kevyn Adams. 

So what makes these four names so special and potentially ideal trade candidates either this summer or at some point during the season if head coach Lindy Ruff returns this team to contention? Let’s find out, starting with a sensational two-way defenseman in the QMJHL.