Buffalo Sabres
Western New York could potentially see a dominant team for the next decade
It’s been a long time since we’ve seen the Buffalo Sabres play a meaningful April game, with this season being no different. After missing the playoffs for a league-leading 12th straight season, the Sabres have begun taking steps in the right direction toward postseason play.
In contention well into the second half of the season, the young Sabres fell off as they were in the thick of the playoff hunt. With plenty of youth on the current roster and a prospect pool loaded with talent, 2023-24 should see Buffalo becoming contenders in the Atlantic Division.
Aside from Captain Kyle Okposo at 34 years old, Jeff Skinner is the elder statesman of the Sabres at only 30. With an average age just above 26, Buffalo will likely become even more youthful in the upcoming season.
As many of the franchise’s top prospects are now NHL regulars, like Owen Power, JJ Peterka, and Jack Quinn, GM Kevyn Adams refortified the pool with their 2023 draft. Acquiring two first-round picks in addition to their own, Adams added three forwards to go along with their fresh-faced defensive corps.
The team is still in search of a quality goaltender, as the position has been playing musical chairs since the departure of Ryan Miller. With the signing of Devin Levi from Northeastern, the club is hoping he can take the opportunity and run with it into a long successful career.
Becoming a dominant player seemingly out of nowhere last season, Tage Thompson has become one of the league's most intimidating figures. With his 6’7” frame and knack for goal-scoring, Thompson’s name now belongs in the category of the elites. With career-high 94 points (47 goals, 47 assists) this season, Thompson is now tasked with leading this franchise into the future as he looks to build on his 2022-23 season.
Matthew Savoie, 19, C/LW, 1st Round (9) 2022, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
62 Games Played, 38 Goals, 57 Assists, 95 points
In 2018, Matthew Savoie had his application denied to become the first WHL player granted exceptional status (playing major junior hockey at age 15) by Hockey Canada. He was then drafted by the Winnipeg Ice first overall in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft, casting a spotlight upon him for the years to come. This year, playing on a Winnipeg team that tore through the WHL on their way to a WHL Finals appearance, Savoie was the teams second leading scorer behind only potential 2023 first-round pick Zach Benson. Savoie will join the Sabres at training camp come September in hopes of seeing an extended training camp. He'll be a long shot to make the roster but could be given a 10-game look before being returned to juniors. He should be a lock for the Canadian roster at the 2024 World Junior Championship.
Jiří Kulich, 19, LW/RW, 1st Round (28) 2022, Rochester Americans (AHL)
62 Games Played,24 Goals, 22 Assists, 46 Points
Potentially one of the steals of the 2022 first round, Jiří Kulich has already begun to blossom into a high-end, two-way center. In his first season in North America, and his first away from his home in Czechia at only 18 years old, Kulich was among the AHL’s top rookie performers, finishing eleventh in scoring for first-year skaters. His play would translate to the WJC, where he led Czechia as they pushed Canada to the brink before falling in overtime of the gold medal game. Kulich led his nation in scoring with nine points (seven goals, two assists) and tied for second among the tournament's leading goal scorers. Bordering between a high-end and elite skater, Kulich has the speed and quickness to compete at any level. It wouldn’t shock me if he were soon considered Buffalo’s top prospect.
Noah Östlund, 19, C, 1st Round (16) 2022, Djurgårdens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan)
37 Games Played, 8 Goals, 18 Assists, 26 Points
Rounding out the Sabres' threesome of 2022 first-round picks is Noah Östlund. Östlund began climbing the 2022 draft rankings late in the season as he managed to make his way into the top 20. Playing in the HockeyAllsvenskan (second tier of Swedish hockey), Östlund was the league's second-leading scorer among U20 players, missing out on the top spot by only four points, despite playing 12 fewer games. Östlund is joined at Djurgårdens by fellow 2022 first-round picks Liam Öhgren (Minnesota Wild) and Jonathan Lekkerimäki (Vancouver Canucks), as the team lost in the HockeyAllsvenskan Finals, just missing out on promotion to the SHL. He could potentially jump to the AHL next year, but will likely stay in Sweden, where he can continue to grow in a men’s league.
Devon Levi, 21, G, 7th Round (212) 2020, Northeastern University (NCAA)
17-12-5, 2.24 GAA, .933 SV%, 6 SO
Signing with the Buffalo Sabres following Northeastern’s elimination in the Hockey East Tournament, Devon Levi joined the Sabres immediately as he got his feet wet at the game's highest level. Making seven starts this past season, Levi allowed 2.94 goals per game and posted a .905 SV%. While Levi’s numbers in his final year at Northeastern were impressive, they were only a glimmer of his 2021-22 season, when he won the Mike Richter Award as the nation’s top goaltender. Winning 21 games, he posted a staggering 1.54 GAA and .952 SV%. Buffalo is hoping Levi can take the reigns and become the team's top goaltender heading into the future. At only 6’0”, he would be the second shortest goaltender in the NHL, ahead of only Juuse Saros, who hasn’t let his lack of height deter him whatsoever.
Isak Rosén, 20, LW, 1st Round (14) 2021, Rochester Americans (AHL)
66 Games Played, 14 Goals, 23 Assists, 37 points
Like his teammate Kulich, Isak Rosén is appearing in his first season in North America with the Rochester Americans. The Swedish sniper isn’t putting up the same impressive numbers as his counterpart but still had a fantastic rookie campaign. Rosén impressed at the 2023 World Junior Championship with Sweden, finishing as the team's third-leading scorer with six points (two goals, four assists) ahead of Noah Östlund (four points). Aside from his production, he was always one of the quickest players on the ice and was a threat to score each time he touched the puck. His play in Rochester has been a bit inconsistent, but that’s to be expected of a first-year player familiarizing himself with the smaller ice surface.
The core of this Sabres team lies within the youth of this current roster. Former top overall pick in 2018, Rasmus Dahlin, has taken a step toward becoming a potential Norris Trophy candidate in the future. Playing the entire season at just 22 years of age, Dahlin posted career highs in goals (15), assists (58), and points (73).
Joining Dahlin on the blue line is another former top overall pick Owen Power, who broke the 30-point mark in his first NHL season.
Among the forwards, Dylan Cozens took a huge leap in his progression finishing with 68 points, bettering his previous career high by 30.
Though this season was a step in the right direction, much of the league believes this team has much more to offer in the coming years as these youngsters progress in their development. It wouldn’t be a surprise if soon the question becomes how and if Adams can afford to keep this group together.
Rasmus Dahlin, D, 23
Owen Power, D, 20
Mattias Samuelsson, D, 23
Dylan Cozens, C, 22
Peyton Krebs, C/LW, 22
JJ Peterka C/W, 21
Jack Quinn, RW/LW, 21
First Round Picks
No. 6 No. 13
First Round Targets
The Sabres have youth within their roster at nearly every position, making it easy to take the best player available with their pick at 13. However, the prospect pool lacks defensive depth, possibly pushing Adams in that direction.
Axel Sandin Pellikka, Brayden Yager, Ryan Leonard, and Oliver Moore could all potentially be in play at 13.
