3 untouchable prospects the Sabres cannot trade at the deadline
The Sabres prospects pool should see a few prospects graduate to the big club in 2024-25, should they refrain from selling them at the trade deadline.
The Buffalo Sabres briefly returned to the 0.500 column in points before sustaining a narrow loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. Therefore, things are looking bleaker for a team that just recently notched its first three-game winning streak of the season, so it would make sense to sell off aging assets like Erik Johnson at the trade deadline.
However, since the Sabres are a young team that we know can play better than they have this year - just look at what they accomplished last season - it makes no sense to rule out the possibility that they end up buying perhaps one player at the deadline who could help them win games come 2024-25.
Counterintuitive? Maybe, but in professional sports, you never want to rule out anything, so let’s assume the Sabres look to acquire one asset at the deadline while seeking to sell off others. If they do buy, expect them to move at least one prospect as compensation, which is normal. However, there are a few prospects they cannot afford to sell.
Many prospects in the pool should become full-time Sabres at some point
Devon Levi is one prospect who stands out more than any other. Slated to be a full-time starting goaltender in Buffalo this season, Levi hasn’t been as effective as many envisioned, which led to him playing full-time in Rochester. While he had some rough outings in Rochester, Levi has been stellar for the most part, posting a 0.928 save percentage and a 2.48 GAA to go with a 6-3-3 record.
He’s outplaying current No. 1 goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen when you compare the latter’s numbers in Rochester. And considering how well Luukkonen has grown into a legitimate NHL netminder, Levi’s numbers are encouraging.
We know that Levi is a lock to stay in the Sabres organization, so who are the other three untouchable prospects Buffalo cannot trade IF they decide to buy at the deadline.
Jiri Kulich has arguably been the Sabres best prospect in Rochester
Despite a six-game run when he scored zero points, let’s not let that be much more than a small blemish on Jiri Kulich’s resume so far during his time in the Sabres system. This is a player who has taken over games at the international level, and he’s been nothing short of brilliant for most of his run in the AHL since he took his game to North America.
Through 35 games this season, Kulich has 17 goals, six on the man advantage, and an astounding five game-winners. His shooting percentage this season is a sensational 17.0, and he’s also built chemistry with another up-and-comer, Isak Rosen.
Kulich could have played in more than just one game with the Sabres this season if there was more room in the lineup, but with some inevitable roster turnover coming, he will have a spot with the Blue and Gold next season.
Forwards Victor Olofsson, Kyle Okposo, and Zemgus Girgensons should move on, which will make room for a player who will have played two full seasons in the minors. Sure, Buffalo could acquire a forward to replace one of the aforementioned players and potentially sell off one by March 8th, but moving Kulich elsewhere should be non-negotiable.
Isak Rosen has taken another step forward in his second season with the Amerks
For Isak Rosen, it was all about showing fans that the latter half of his 2022-23 season and run during the Calder Cup Playoffs was something he could repeat in Year 2. And although he only has 29 points in 46 contests through February 27th, or 0.630 per game, comparing his production this season with last year’s shows us he’s indeed taken another step in the right direction.
Rosen’s 37 points in 66 contests in 2022-23 equaled just a 0.560 points percentage. And his minus-2 rating in 2023-24, along with his 12.5 shooting percentage, are also better than what he managed last season, when those respective numbers sat at minus-6 and 10.9, respectively.
Like Kulich, Rosen also saw time in some NHL games, indicating he’s also one to graduate into a full-time role with the big club next year.
Rosen appeared in seven games with the Sabres and totaled 60 minutes of ice time. While he didn’t show enough to stick around, the fact that he appeared in more contests than more experienced players like Brandon Biro and Lukas Rousek says a lot about what the front office feels about Rosen.
When the Sabres see some roster turnover this offseason, expect Rosen to rank right up there with Jiri Kulich for a spot in Buffalo.
Viktor Neuchev is a player to watch over the next few seasons
Viktor Neuchev may come as a surprise here over a more prominent prospect like Matt Savoie or Noah Ostlund. And while Savoie will create shockwaves in the AHL next season if not seriously contend for a spot on the Sabres, Neuchev may have passed him up in these rankings simply due to the way he’s adjusted to the North American game. This doesn’t mean we will see Neuchev in a Sabres uniform any time soon, but it does mean he’s one to watch very, very closely.
We have seen Neuchev appear in 37 contests so far, where he scored 19 points, seven goals, and has scraped out a plus-7 rating. He also has a 12.3 shooting percentage plus a game-winning goal on his resume, and he’s been ultra-productive since December 29th, with 14 points coming in that frame.
Neuchev will need at least another season in the AHL, if not two more, and there is a good possibility the Sabres will be a strong contender when he’s NHL-ready. So why keep him around and not trade him elsewhere if he’s proving to make a solid transition?
One major reason is that Jeff Skinner will be in a contract year come 2026-27, and he will also be 34, so it’s a mystery whether he will still be the same productive player when that season arrives. We also need to remember that the jury also remains out if Casey Mittelstadt, Jordan Greenway, and even Alex Tuch will be around - though the latter is pretty much a shoo-in to stay.
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(Statistics provided by theAHL.com as of February 27th)