Sabres Depth Chart Update Heading into Training Camp

With the Prospects Challenge in the books, the Buffalo Sabres organizational outlook is much clearer than it was a couple of months ago. The top prospects have raised their stock, and the Sabres depth pieces will face a real challenge for the final NHL roster spots. It’s time we update the Sabres depth chart, position by position, to paint the picture of what to watch in training camp.

The final forward spot looks to be locked up with the recent news of the Sabres agreeing to a two-year deal with center Peyton Krebs. That said, a strong training camp from one of Buffalo’s top prospects from the tournament could open the eyes of the new coaching staff. With Lindy Ruff and Seth Appert now having input on the roster, there is more of a blank slate than in years past.

Center

NHL

• Tage Thompson
• Dylan Cozens
• Ryan McLeod
• Sam Lafferty
• Peyton Krebs

In The System

• Jiri Kulich
• Konsta Helenius
• Noah Ostlund
• Mason Jobst
• Tyson Kozak
• Josh Dunne

Unsigned Drafted

• Matteo Costantini
• William von Barnekow
• Gustav Karlsson
• Linus Sjodin

The center position is still fairly locked in, although Jiri Kulich and Konsta Helenius had impressive performances in the Prospects Challenge. They’ll look to make an impression on the NHL staff against higher-end talent and have an outside chance at making the Sabres.

Kulich, in particular, has the best chance of any forward to make the Sabres outright, possessing one of the best one-timers outside of the NHL at the current moment. This attribute alone could help lift Buffalo’s struggling powerplay.

Krebs slips behind Sam Lafferty simply based on the contract amount. There’s a possibility that Lafferty moves to the right wing, which would open up an everyday fourth-line center role for Krebs.

Noah Ostlund worked on Helenius’ wing for most of rookie camp. He played well there and may stick on the wing due to the nice chemistry the two displayed.

Left Wing

NHL

• JJ Peterka
• Zach Benson
• Jason Zucker
• Jordan Greenway
• Beck Malenstyn

In The System

• Anton Wahlberg
• Viktor Neuchev
• Brett Murray
• Aleksandr Kisakov

Unsigned Drafted

• Prokhor Poltapov
• Ethan Miedema

The left wing is set at the NHL level, however, Zach Benson needs to take a leap offensively to bridge the dropoff after JJ Peterka. One of either Jason Zucker or Jordan Greenway is expected to shift to the right side as a left shot to balance out the wings.

Anton Wahlberg is developing strictly as a winger as a North American pro and gives the Sabres someone to be excited about at the position. Viktor Neuchev’s stock is up as well, using his flashy stickhandling and puck control to complement Kulich and Isak Rosen in the Challenge.

One player dropping down the depth chart is Aleksandr Kisakov, who has yet to show the high-end talent and production you’d hope for out of the prospect.

One Sabres prospect flying under the radar is Prokhor Poltapov. The former 3rd overall pick has nine points in five games for HC CSKA Moscow in the KHL.

Right Wing

NHL

• Alex Tuch
• Jack Quinn
• Nicolas Aube-Kubel

In The System

• Isak Rosen
• Lukas Rousek
• Tyler Tullio
• Olivier Nadeau

Unsigned Drafted

• Stiven Sardarian
• Brodie Ziemer
• Jake Richard
• Aaron Huglen
• Joel Ratkovic Berndtsson
• Vasily Zelenov

In terms of quantity, right wing is the thinnest position for the Sabres up front on the depth chart. Alex Tuch and Jack Quinn solidify the top-six, though, so the only concern is depth.

Rosen and Lukas Rousek are left shots, but their versatility to play the right side has already been exhibited at the NHL level. Tyler Tullio and Olivier Nadeau may be career AHLers, but Stiven Sardarian and Brodie Ziemer have NHL upside to help the overall outlook of the position.

Left Defense

The defense is in a similar state as the forwards, except that there’s an abundance of depth players with NHL experience. It will truly be a competition for who stays with the Sabres as the extra defenseman.

NHL

• Rasmus Dahlin
• Owen Power
• Bowen Byram
• Mattias Samuelsson
• Jacob Bryson
• Ryan Johnson

In The System

• Dennis Gilbert
• Kale Clague
• Jack Rathbone
• Nikita Novikov
• Colton Poolman

Unsigned Drafted

• Luke Osburn
• Patrick Geary
• Norwin Panocha
• Sean Keohane

Left defense is the most overstocked and top-heavy position on the Sabres depth chart. The team plans to shift one of Rasmus Dahlin or Bowen Byram to the right side for the 2024-2025 season. Mattias Samuelsson may play his off-side as well if Buffalo plans to use him in the top four.

The cluster of Jacob Bryson, Ryan Johnson, Dennis Gilbert, and Kale Clague will be the most interesting position battle to watch in camp. Only one or two of the four will make the Sabres, and Bryson, Gilbert, and Clague must clear waivers to report to Rochester.

Jack Rathbone has some NHL experience as well and has an outside chance. Nikita Novikov is Buffalo’s top prospect at the position and will continue developing to round out his game.

Right Defense

NHL

• Henri Jokiharju
• Connor Clifton

In The System

• Vsevolod Komarov

Unsigned Drafted

• Maxim Strbak
• Adam Kleber
• Gavin McCarthy
• Simon-Pier Brunet

The most shallow position in the Sabres organization by far is the right side of the blueline. Buffalo possesses only two NHL players at the position. Due to this, the versatility of the left-shot defensemen is crucial to rounding out the roster.

The encouraging thing is that Vsevolod Komarov, Maxim Strbak, and Adam Kleber have solid NHL ceilings. Gavin McCarthy also has NHL upside, so the future looks more prevalent than the present.

Goaltender

NHL

• Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
• Devon Levi
• James Reimer

In The System

• Felix Sandstrom

Unsigned Drafted

• Scott Ratzlaff
• Topias Leinonen
• Ryerson Leenders

The eyes will also be on the goalies from day one of training camp, with Devon Levi and James Reimer expected to be in a battle for the backup job. Levi’s projection as a future NHL starter gives him the early edge, but Reimer must clear waivers to be able to be sent down to the AHL.

As insurance, Felix Sandstrom will add NHL experience to the Rochester Americans. As far as the prospects go, none have impressed enough to suggest NHL upside at this point in their young careers. Luckily, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Levi are expected to be the 1A and 1B on the Sabres depth chart for the foreseeable future.