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Sabres Prospects

Most Likely Prospect to Make Sabres Roster

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4 months ago

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Buffalo Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich Isak Rosen Konsta Helenius Noah Ostlund Lukas Rousek

The Buffalo Sabres have been stocking the prospect pool for years, with many, including Zach Benson, Isak Rosen, Jiri Kulich, Lukas Rousek, Ryan Johnson, and Devon Levi, getting a taste of NHL action last season. By Calder Trophy eligibility standards, Benson, Johnson, and Levi have graduated from rookie prospects to NHLers. Rosen, Kulich, and Rousek are expected to start the season in AHL Rochester, with new competition at forward in first-round selections Noah Ostlund and Konsta Helenius potentially joining them.

Assuming the Sabres can come to terms with restricted free agent center Peyton Krebs, Buffalo has 13 forwards on the active roster. However, they did not add a top-six forward to the mix as expected, leaving room for a top-scoring prospect to elevate himself to the lineup based on merit. Zach Benson did exactly that after being selected 13th overall in last year’s draft, earning an everyday spot on the team.

So which prospect has the best chance of pulling a Benson and making the Sabres roster outright next season? Let’s divulge the best options.

Lukas Rousek

As a former sixth-round pick of the Sabres, Lukas Rousek is probably the least appealing prospect that could make the team outright. He ended the season with the big club, appearing in 15 games for the blue and gold last season.

Rousek has outworked his competition to get to where he is at, which is an attribute that has always appealed to new head coach Lindy Ruff. He could supplant someone in the bottom six if he can show enough skill to hold down a secondary-scoring role. With the Sabres restocking their third and fourth lines with speed and physicality though, he doesn’t quite fit the identity pattern formed this offseason.

Likeliness: 2 out of 10

Noah Ostlund

In a lot of ways, Noah Ostlund is the “forgotten” first-round Sabres selection of the 2022 NHL Draft. He was sandwiched between Matthew Savoie and Jiri Kulich in that draft and has played overseas in Sweden for the past two seasons as a Sabres prospect. Trading Savoie as a top prospect to the Edmonton Oilers for center Ryan McLeod generated much buzz this offseason. Kulich immediately made an impact as an 18-year-old in the AHL and has vaulted his stock over the past two seasons as a key contributor in Rochester.

Ostlund has shined most in international tournaments, reminding the world why he’s a top prospect. His latest appearance for Team Sweden in the Under-20 World Junior Championships resulted in 10 points in seven games. He also had a good offensive season in Vaxjo of the SHL, with 23 points in 38 games.

There is usually somewhat of a learning curve to the tighter North American rinks for European players, so Ostlund’s chances to make the Sabres outright are at a disadvantage. He’s much more likely to begin the season in Rochester, ready to establish himself as one of the premier prospects in the Sabres pipeline.

Likeliness: 1 out of 10

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Isak Rosen

Isak Rosen tied for the team lead in points in Rochester last season, which makes him a prime candidate to be first on Buffalo’s radar. Combine that with his 14th-overall draft status from 2021, and he’s the next first-round forward prospect to be promoted if the Sabres follow chronological order. After all, Dylan Cozens (2019) and Jack Quinn (2020) are well-established players in the NHL.

There’s just something unrefined about Rosen’s game, however. He didn’t quite produce at Ostlund levels internationally and hardly played in the SHL. Last season was a big step for the Swedish forward, but he needs to take another one to show he can produce in the faster-paced NHL.

Rosen’s strictly a winger, so besides the other prospects, he’ll compete with Benson, Jason Zucker, and Jordan Greenway for a middle-six role. Although faster, he falls in the same category as Rousek in terms of having to break the logjam at forward.

Likeliness: 1 out of 10

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Konsta Helenius

Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams described Konsta Helenius as a “true center” after drafting him 14th overall at the end of June. This marks Ostlund and Jiri Kulich as his direct competition in the Sabres prospect pool. It also doesn’t leave much hope for him to make the Sabres roster outright with Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens, Ryan McLeod, Peyton Krebs, and Sam Lafferty ahead of him at the position on the depth chart.

Helenius is mature beyond his years, which could work in his favor as it did for Benson last season. In his draft year, he managed 36 points in 51 games for Jukurit in Liiga, Finland’s top men’s league. On top of that, it’s his defensive awareness and tenacity that he’s known for. That type of play-driving ability can make an immediate impact at any level. He’s stout at 18 and should be able to hold up against the speed and physicality of the NHL.

If he does force his way onto the Sabres roster, McLeod could shift to second-line left wing with Cozens and Quinn. Helenius could then center Benson and Zucker, leaving some interesting flexibility with the rest of the lineup given injuries throughout the season.

Likeliness: 2 out of 10

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Jiri Kulich

After bursting onto the scene as an 18-year-old with the Amerks, Jiri Kulich’s stock has risen to top-three prospect status in the Sabres organization. Helenius might be the shiny new prospect in the pipeline, but Kulich has the positional flexibility and offensive attributes needed to make an immediate impact in Buffalo.

Besides the ability to play center and wing, two factors boost Kulich’s chances of being in the Sabres’ opening night lineup. First is the powerplay, where the Sabres must find a permanent solution on the right flank across from Thompson. JJ Peterka is the likeliest candidate from last season, but Kulich has shown a knack for scoring from that spot with 16 powerplay goals over the past two seasons in the AHL. Establishing another scoring threat on the unit could help revitalize the team’s man-advantage success.

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Second, the Sabres have not been able to acquire a top-six forward. Promoting within to cover the scoring role vacancy could be the long-term solution anyway, and most prolific scorers find their way to the NHL by year three after being drafted. If Kulich is going to be a top-six forward in the league, this is his season to start showing it.

The Sabres will likely settle for the 13 forwards on the active roster, but training camp surprises and injuries can occur. In that case, Kulich is first in line to earn a permanent promotion.

Likeliness: 3 out of 10

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