Buffalo Sabres Prospect Pyramid (2024)

3 Comments

1. @McK9999 5 days ago

   Good job!.. not much to disagree about on your pyramid. Go Sabres

2. @PodcastNow 5 days ago

   Great episode man!! I have a good feeling on Ratzlaff, and Neuchev to continue rising. A bunch of the tier 3 defensemen too

3. @neilflood6508 5 days ago

   Great video. I agree with most of what you say.

   Devon Levi is definitely franchise level, the question is whether he is still a prospect.

   Jiří Kulich has separated himself from the other skater prospects. He will be the 1st call up if any of the top 6 are injured. Kulich is a scorer who is also 2 way player at either centre or wing.
   Isak Rosén, Konsta Helenius and Noah Östlund are skilled guys who are highly likely NHLers but are not there yet. Rosén may not get his chance in Buffalo due to the other young wing options the Sabres have. I do not see Rosén as a bottom 6 player. I think Östlund is more a 2C than Helenius, but Helenius has 2 years extra to grow into his role.
   Ryan Johnson is a certain NHLer, probably a 3rd pair guy. His problem is all the LHD above him on the depth chart.
   Anton Wahlberg is likely to be a middle 6 power winger at NHL level who is also defensively responsible. Probably a year or two away from the NHL.

   Cannot say much about Adam Kleber but the reports are promising. Looking forward to seeing his NCAA highlights. Ditto for Brodie Ziemer. I liked the Sabres draft video where other NDTP draftees stated that Zeimer was their best leader. I think this season is Victor Neuchev’s chance to impress in Rochester having been in the shadow of Kulich & Rosén, but might now be behind Helenius & Östlund as well. Not sure if he is a NHLer, this season will tell us if he has a chance. Apparently the first V in Vsevolod Komarov’s name is silent. Komarov was poor defensively in rookie camp and I would have him as a longshot unless he drastically improves. Nikita Novikov has impressed in Rochester last season and was the only D other than Johnson in the rookie challenge that looked like a possible NHLer. Again he is in the log jam of LHD on the depth chart but your Samuelsson comparison is good, he brings more defensive responsibility than most. Maxim Strbak was behind Artyom Levshunov at Michigan State last season. Hopefully Strbak will get top line minutes this season to see what he is capable of. Not seen or heard anything of Luke Osburn yet to have him at this level, but he has time on his side. Gavin McCarthy is probably at a school where he is not going to get enough ice time to develop as we would hope. A transfer to another school may benefit him and the Sabres. Defensively he seems to be sound but needs more game time in offensive situations. I do not see Jake Richard as a NHLer, probably an AHL journeyman at best.

   Prokor Poltapov has suffered from KHL coaches not willing to play young players above the 4th line (Matvei Michkov had that last season and Ivan Demidov is getting it now). Poltapov has started this season well with 10 points in 8 games, which is 3 points less than last season’s output. Not seen any highlights this season other than a short of a crushing hit (crosscheck?) posted by Kris Baker that he inflicted on a Vladivostock player. I think Poltapov is more likely a NHLer than than Richard. Big season for Scott Razlaff. He could be Canada’s goalie in the World Juniors if he starts the season well. Needs a couple of AHL seasons before he could be ready. I would have Tyson Kozak at the tier above as I see him as a potential specialist 4th line centre at the NHL level. He looked good as a defensive specialist in Rochester. Any scoring from Kozak would be a bonus. Tyler Tullio looked good in the prospects challenge, but that is as much as I know about him. His lack of size and a bottom 6 role could be an issue. Ethan Meidema is not a NHLer for me unless he improves dramatically. Seems to be a one trick pony as a power forward. Ryerson Leenders did not look good in the prospects challenge but he has time on his side. I do not know anything about Patrick Geary’s ability so Michigan State’s D core will be well watched this season. Olivier Nadeau looked like a good player in the Q but has struggled at Rochester. Not a NHLer, maybe a AHLer. Alexander Kisakov seems not to have developed as Sabres brass had hoped. He needs to redefine himself to stand a chance of making the NHL. Topias Leinonen gets a pass for me as he has been injury plagued. Big season for Leinonen to see whether he is still of the standard that the Sabres hoped he would able to get to.

   Sean Keohane is the only player you did not mention that I would have included. A big RHD playing at Harvard this season. Unlikely to make the NHL, but no means impossible.