Although there's little doubt defenseman Radim Mrtka and forward Konsta Helenius are the Buffalo Sabres' best prospects, which one has the brighter NHL future is up for debate.
McKeen's Hockey gave Mrtka, a 6-foot-6 defender selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the top spot in its Spring 2026 ranking of the Sabres' top 15 prospects.
"Mrtka's game has been trending into that of a two-way defenseman," the outlet said in its scouting report. "He likes to be involved in the offensive zone and will join the rush with regularity. His passing has continued to improve and he's averaging almost an assist per game in the WHL this season. His defensive play is also trending in the right direction. He uses positioning, awareness, and reach to defend but isn't afraid to be physical."
The 18-year-old Czech blueliner wrapped up his WHL tenure with 38 points (one goal and 37 assists) in 43 regular-season games for the Seattle Thunderbirds. He added three helpers in five playoff contests.
Mrtka, who enjoyed a strong training camp with the Sabres in September, joined the AHL's Rochester Americans for the latter stages of the campaign. He'll likely spend next season with the Amerks to acclimate himself to professional hockey, though a call up to Buffalo is possible.
Meanwhile, Helenius will almost certainly be a full-time member of the Sabres in 2026-27 after a dominant season in Rochester. He posted 62 points (21 goals and 41 assists) across 63 games, a feat made more impressive by the fact the Amerks' roster was decimated by Buffalo recalls, injuries and trades, so he was a one-man offensive band at times down the stretch.
"Nothing quite stands out like his sheer determination and effort to constantly be in and around loose puck battles," McKeen's Hockey wrote. "For a 5-foot-11 center, Helenius is tenacious on the puck and doesn't give it up easily. He's not the fastest, but he has a high motor, and when other players start to fade, Helenius is still going."
Some Sabres fans have called for the 2024 first-round pick to join the club's playoff lineup, especially after Noah Ostlund suffered an injury that will sideline him indefinitely, but another game would burn the first year of his entry-level contract. The front office likely prefers to avoid that.
That said, Helenius was selected as one of the "Black Aces" for the Sabres' postseason run, which will allow him to get to experience a certain amount of the playoff atmosphere and intensity.
Helenius feels like the safer bet to make an impact for Buffalo but there's no doubt Mrtka's combination of size, skill and physical ability as a right-shot defenseman is incredibly difficult to find, which is probably why he continues to receive more support in prospect rankings.
Anton Wahlberg is the biggest question mark in the Buffalo Sabres' farm system
Wahlberg, who took the No. 3 spot on the McKeen's Hockey list, is a tough prospect to project.
On one hand, he's displayed advanced defensive awareness for a player his age (20) and his size (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) has allowed him to hold his own against older, physically imposing opponents.
It gives the 2023 second-round selection the vibe of a future third-liner center, capable of one day filling the role currently being filled by Ryan McLeod.
Yet, the lack of offensive progression is a concern.
"Wahlberg will need to step up as a primary scorer for Rochester," McKeen's Hockey stated. "Establishing an offensive identity will go a long way for Wahlberg. He projects as a middle-six forward."
The Swedish forward tallied 38 points (nine goals and 29 assists) in 68 games for the Amerks this season. That was only a modest improvement over his AHL production in 2024-25 (30 points in 63 games).
That said, the likely promotion of Helenius to the NHL could create an opening for Wahlberg to play a multifaceted high-minute role for the Americans next season. Taking over as a first-line play driver with additional power-play and penalty-killing responsibilities will be good for his development.
It'll present him with a sink-or-swim opportunity to prove whether he's ready to make the jump to the next level, and further showcase what type of player he can become for the Sabres.
As it stands, Wahlberg doesn't look like a future high-scoring, top-six contributor but dependable, defensively responsible bottom-six players still carry plenty of value, too.
His outlook should be quite a bit more clear by this time next year.
Add us as a preferred source on Google