Underrated Buffalo Sabres prospect is on a sudden heater after slow start

Good news, Buffalo Sabres fans: Jake Richard is back on track.

Richard, the Sabres' sixth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, saw his stock rise considerably while putting together a breakout season at the University of Connecticut last year. He compiled 43 points (15 goals and 28 assists) across 34 games as a sophomore at UConn.

So, it was disappointing to see the 6-foot-1 winger get off to such a sluggish start to the 2025-26 campaign. He tallied just four goals and eight helpers across his first 19 appearances for the Huskies this season.

Richard has suddenly come alive, though. He's lit the lamp twice and added five apples for seven points in the past four games. He's also racked up 14 shots on goal amid a hot stretch where he's once again emerged as a consistently dangerous threat in the offensive zone.

How the 21-year-old Florida native, who previously averaged nearly a point per game across three years in the USHL, performs during the stretch run of the UConn season will determine whether he's ready to make the jump to pro hockey.

Jake Richard aiming to soon earn an entry-level NHL contract from the Buffalo Sabres

Richard is facing an incredibly important next couple months.

The Huskies are the 11th-ranked team in college hockey and aiming to earn a spot in the NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament. Playing in games with a chance to win a national championship would help in the winger's quest to prove he's ready for the pro ranks.

It's possible Richard could earn his first contract with the Sabres and make his AHL debut with the Rochester Americans before season's end, particularly if he can maintain his recent run of terrific play. That should be the goal.

His future becomes a lot more cloudy if Buffalo opts not to offer him an entry-level deal this year and he returns to UConn for his senior campaign. If that's the case, he'll be closing in on his 23rd birthday without any pro experience by the time next season ends.

Richard must continue to make his presence felt in the inner slot. He's not the most dynamic skater and his shot tends to run hot and cold, but there's always a place for forwards who are willing to do the dirty work in front of the net to create scoring chances.

That's what the American winger does best when in top form, and it also makes him highly valuable on the power play (seven PP goals in 2024-25), which is an area where the Sabres have struggled in recent years.

Ultimately, Buffalo would be taking a risk if it allowed Richard to complete four seasons with the Huskies, making him eligible to become an unrestricted free agent. He's shown enough to believe he can at least become dependable organizational depth, with the upside for more in the years ahead.

The Sabres have a lot of fellow forwards battling for a spot on the franchise's depth chart, however, so the burden is on his shoulders to show he deserves one of the club's 50 contract spots.