It has been over a decade since the Buffalo Sabres last made their way to the playoffs.
By Carson Gates
Every start to the season, the Sabres faithful would look for their team to return to better days but to no avail. Long were the days of players like Dominik Hasek, Daniel Brière, and Brian Campbell, replaced with new faces that would either be run out of town or never pan out. But fans always believed.
The Sabres have had 14 first-round picks since talk of the future began. Each year fans were told this was the crop of young superstars who would turn this franchise around.
Mikhail Grigorenko made his way to Buffalo. It was less than three seasons before he was shipped out of town; bust.
They told us Nikita Zadorov was the backbone of the future Sabres blueline. He only played 67 games before being traded.
Nothing was different during the Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, and Rasmus Ristolainen saga. All three of them found themselves on new teams in 2021. We were meant to believe that core was our future.
Year in and year out Buffalonians found themselves focusing on the lottery and the next group of prospects to save the franchise.
If there is one thing Buffalo sports fans know how to do better than anyone else, it’s surviving a shitstorm. The city spent 17 years between Bills’ playoff appearances, and now they have made their third playoff appearance in four seasons.
This Sabres team and core are on the same path the Bills were on when they finally ended the drought.
This team plays hard under Head Coach Don Granato. Prospects fans once again gave up on are now hitting their stride in the NHL. We were told it was going to be another tank and rebuild. However, for the first time in over a decade, the Sabres are on the right track for the playoffs.
Sabres fans, I know you have heard this song and dance about the future, but these prospects are different. Let’s take a look at ten of them that you will see in a Sabres jersey someday.
Top-10 Sabres Prospects to look forward to
1- Peyton Krebs
While yes, Krebs is still currently called up to the big club. It is unknown how long this stint will last. His time in Buffalo has gotten fans excited for what his future holds.
Unfortunately for the young center, he was placed into the COVID protocol on Tuesday.
As most of us know, Krebs was a key return in the Jack Eichel trade. He will not let fans down.
Before his callup, the former first-rounder was beginning to hit his stride in Rochester. In his last ten games in Rochester, Krebs had four goals and eight assists. Compared to his first six games in Rochester, with only two assists.
Before the arrival of Krebs, the Amerks powerplay was at the 20% mark. However, when Peyton got called up, their unit was at 28%. Before Quinn was out, their powerplay with Krebs was over 35%. Rochester has the number one ranked powerplay in the AHL.
Krebs was a mainstay on Buffalo’s first powerplay unit in their most recent matchup with the Bruins. He had his highlight-reel pass to Alex Tuch for his first point with the Sabres.
It was unknown how the returns of Dylan Cozens and Girgensons would affect Krebs. However, they arrived back to the team on January 3rd, and Krebs is still in the lineup. He was currently centering Victor Olofsson and Kyle Okposo before the positive COVID cases.
While Krebs has shown success helping the team produce more, his plus-minus stat has been lackluster. In his three games in Buffalo, Krebs has totaled a minus-five rating. His 16 games for Rochester saw him being a minus-ten; not great. Yes, plus-minus is somewhat an outdated stat, but it still holds some value. Krebs will have to tighten up play in his own zone for the Sabres to have long-term success.
It appears Krebs’ stay in Buffalo will be longer compared to Rochester linemate JJ Peterka. Krebs Has shown in his three games played that he is an important piece to this Sabres team. While his numbers are not astounding at the NHL level, he has done so much that is not on the scoresheet.
2- JJ Peterka
With all of the trials and tribulations fans have had to endure with first-rounders who never panned out, it’s nice to see a second-round pick with such promise.
Getting his first two NHL games under his belt was a huge step for the German. While he did not produce a point, he proved that he should be a mainstay in Buffalo next season and for years to come.
Peterka made his presence shown in his first two contests back in Rochester. He notched two goals and three assists, and was also named the AHL player of the week.
In 25 AHL games played this season, Peterka has 25 points. He spent most of this year playing with Jack Quinn and Peyton Krebs but has shown he can play away from them.
As Quinn returns to the lineup and possibly the return of Krebs, Peterka is poised to help Rochester compete for a Calder Trophy.
3- Jack Quinn
The Jack Quinn pick was seen as a stretch back in the 2020 NHL draft, but his production has garnered the eighth overall selection. Quinn is off to a phenomenal start to this season. In only 17 games played, he has 11 goals and 13 assists. This was good enough for Quinn to be leading the entire AHL in goals until he contracted mononucleosis (mono).
Quinn, best known normally for his shot, has been much more comfortable carrying the puck. Finding soft areas has also been an improvement for him. All of this has culminated in Quinn having his breakout season and finding himself as one of the Sabres’ most alluring prospects.
The growth seen in his game this year is comparable to that of Buffalo center Tage Thompson. Both players have a strong shot but had issues finding the back of the net at the professional level. Last year was only Quinn’s first taste of pro hockey. He was only able to score two goals in just 15 games played.
This season should quiet the concerns over the selection of Jack Quinn. He has been dominant at the AHL level this season, and it is onlya matter of time until he gets his shot with the big club.
4- Owen Power
One of the most underrated prospects in the Sabres system is the most recent first overall pick. Since Power returned to the University of Michigan for this season, he is not getting the hype he deserves. Owen Power is a perennial defenseman who will be the cornerstone of the Sabres blue line for a long time.
Power finally started to gain some recognition again as he stole the show on opening night of the World Junior Tournament. He was the first defenseman to ever score a hat trick for Team Canada.
The tournament ended prematurely with Owen Power tied for second in goals and points.
Power currently has 23 points in 18 contests for the University of Michigan Wolverines. He leads all NCAA defensemen in points scored. Not to mention, Owen Power is 19 years old while playing against competition as old as 25.
This year should be his last at the college level. There is a possibility of him making his debut in Buffalo at the end of the season. Power will make an immediate impact on the Sabres roster.
5- Erik Portillo
The 2019 third-round pick has been the backbone in goal for the University of Michigan and is a prospect in net that Sabres fans should get excited about.
Through 21 games played, Portillo has amassed a .917 save percentage with a 2.37 goals-against average. This season, he has 14 wins for the program ranked sixth nationally.
Portillo is someone who is rising in the ranks for goaltending prospects. He currently ranks 18th in the NCAA in save percentage and goals-against average.
With the success of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Portillo will have the opportunity to take his time in his development. He can take another year at Michigan, or go on to Rochester.
6- Devon Levi
Another goaltender in Buffalo’s pipeline is Northeastern’s, Devon Levi. The former seventh-round pick, who was part of the Sam Reinhart trade, has taken the college hockey world by storm.
This year he has a .955 save percentage and a 1.33 goals-against average. Levi is on pace to break a 20-year-old record for shutouts in a season.
Levi ranks first in the NCAA in save percentage and ranks second in shutouts.
Northeastern is ranked 11th, and that is in part due to the play of Levi.
Like Portillo, the option is there for Levi to make the jump full-time to Rochester next year. He is a prospect for the Sabres who will not have to be rushed on his journey to the NHL.
7- Josh Bloom
This past NHL Entry Draft was one that had many mysteries due to a lack of scouting. Players were selected based on speculation and minimal film. One prospect that may have been a steal for Buffalo is Josh Bloom.
Bloom is one of the more interesting prospects in the system. He leads all OHL skaters with six shorthanded goals; the next closest has three. That is an absurd statistic that will hopefully translate to his play in Buffalo.
Even though The 18-year-old has struggled recently with four assists in his last ten games, he still has 30 points in 28 games this season.
This bump in the road for him shows just how good he is when he is hot.
Before his struggles, Bloom had 26 points in 18 games played.
Hopefully, for Bloom, he can find his scoring touch for Saginaw. He is a great skater who also knows how to finish.
Bloom will most likely spend next season in the OHL again. He will also be in the running to make Team Canada in next year’s World Junior Championship.
8-Isak Rosén
One of Buffalo’s biggest projects is Isak Rosén, and yet another prospect the Sabres got in return for a player they moved on from.
The 2021 first-round pick left fans wanting more at the World Junior Tournament. Rosén unfortunately, was behind a stacked Sweedish forward group. This led to him having limited ice time.
Rosén is a shifty skater with a sneaky shot.
Fans will have to trust his development process. His numbers are not where they would probably like it, but he is playing in the SHL. The top league in Sweden has players who are much older and stronger. Rosen is listed at 157 pounds and stands 5’11”.
With only two goals and two assists in 26 games played, he has shown flashes of the player he was drafted to be.
A strong back half in the SHL could see Rosén make the jump to North America for next season. At worst, he will stay in Sweden and dominate the World Juniors next year.
Rosén should make a difference for the Sabres in the future. Given time to develop, he will reward fans with highlight-reel goals.
9- Ryan Johnson
Johnson was one of Buffalo’s first-round selections back in the 2019 draft. The Minnesota defenseman is quietly putting up good numbers. In 18 games played, the California native has 11 points.
Skating and puck-moving have always been a strong suit of Johnson’s game. However, this season he is starting to find the scoresheet more frequently.
In his last five contests, Johnson has one goal and three assists.
He is another prospect fans should expect to see in Rochester next year. Once his season is over in March, he will be available for the Amerks final few games before playoffs.
Johnson is a prospect who has taken some time, but he can be a huge addition to this Sabres team in the future. He moves the puck incredibly well in transition and can skate.
This Sabres d-core is deep, with Power, Johnson, and the next man on this list.
10- Oskari Laaksonen
One thing that former GM Jason Botterill did was draft defensemen in the mid-rounds. The thing was, most of these picks were reaches at best. One player who has lived up to his selection is Rochester’s Oskari Laaksonen.
The Finish defenseman made the jump to North America last season and has started to hit his stride.
Laaksonen has played in 25 games this year and has amounted to 15 points.
He is Rochester’s top-scoring defenseman. The Fin is also in the top-15 for points among defensemen.
With the uncertainty surrounding the COVID protocol, Laaksonen may get his Sabres debut this season. Fans should expect the 22-year-old to make his blue and gold debut in the fall of 2022.
Laaksonen will be a mainstay on the Sabres blueline. He will pair nicely with someone like Owen Power.
Comment below what prospects you are excited to see in a Sabres jersey, and when do you think these better days are here.
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