Despite last night’s win over the Vancouver Canucks, there’s still a lot of turmoil surrounding the Buffalo Sabres. The Blue and Gold remain a distant eighth place in the Atlantic Division standings, and they’re still 16th in the East, something that won’t be changing soon.
So, it may be time to turn our attention to prospects, or better yet, players who’ve seen more than their fair share of NHL action this season but might still factor in as AHL talents. Below, we’re talking about three players who fit that mold, and two of them should see more ice time in Buffalo.
Who should the Sabres keep in the City of Good Neighbors, and who should stay assigned in Rochester? Let’s just say that all three of these players have a legitimate future in Buffalo, but one of them would be better off honing their skills with the Amerks.
Keep in Buffalo: Jiri Kulich
Oh yes, Jiri Kulich’s been in my good graces for a while lately, but he’s since taken another step forward. Kulich’s performance last night against the Canucks could be a preview of what’s to come for a youngster whose shot had been NHL-ready for some time.
He won’t be the best player in Buffalo this season or next, and yeah, I’d like to see him in Rochester for the playoffs. But he’s more than earned his spot with the Sabres as far as this season’s gone.
Keep in Rochester: Devon Levi
Earlier in the week, I was talking about the possibility of the Sabres trading James Reimer to give Levi more reps in Buffalo. Following that debacle against the Seattle Kraken, I’ve changed my mind. Keep Levi in Rochester, and don’t let him back in the NHL unless there’s a gauntlet of goalie injuries.
Levi’s numbers are abysmal, with a 4.12 GAA, an 0.872 save percentage, and a 0.250 quality starts percentage. That said, I’m still on Team Levi on the entire debate of who the real future is in the net.
Yeah, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has improved dramatically since that ill-fated 2022-23 season. But Levi has been the better player when you compare numbers in Rochester, and he’ll ultimately break through in the NHL.
Keep in Buffalo: Tyson Kozak
Kozak’s playing style is among my favorite in the National Hockey League, and it’s one that screams future lower-liner. That’s not a bad gig for a former seventh-round pick who many thought would be organizational depth in a best-case scenario.
But Kozak’s performance both at the AHL and NHL levels have shown us that even those given little to no chance out there can factor in as solid niche players. So far, Kozak has seen time in eight games, with one goal, a 54.2 faceoff win percentage, and 12 blocked shots, and six hits, not bad numbers for the defense-first forward.
Should the Sabres move someone like Peyton Krebs at some point near the trade deadline, Kozak’s role in Buffalo will just keep growing.