Sabres 2026-27 Prospect List

[tom webster]

39 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

JJP is the only NHL regular drafted and developed by the Sabres during the Adams administration drafted after the 1st rd.  JJP also had a 1st rd grade and was drafted 34th.  So far Forton is 1 for 43 after the 1st rd. That’s a terrible track record. 

A) Forton was only in charge of the last four drafts, three really but we will hold him responsible for the first one when he was promoted two months prior

B) Because A, only his first draft should be ready for the NHL and he hit on his seventh rounder and still has a second rounder with a future.

C) He appears to have hit on both mid to late first rounders, got huge value for his first rounder and has three others still in the “prospect” category in his second draft.

D) Zack Benson plus three “prospects” in third draft

E) Helenius alone is enough for the fourth but could have three other above average hits on this draft.

F) since less than 41% of first rounders, 17% of second rounders, 10% of third rounders and 5% of fourth and below actually become relevant NHL’ers, Forton’s record is pretty impressive. 
 

Its really too early to quantify it right now but if you want to, he’s almost hit on double the average if you do the whole equation and assume that everyone is right on the guys we want to define before all the results are in.

[Drag0nDan]

42 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

JJP is the only NHL regular drafted and developed by the Sabres during the Adams administration drafted after the 1st rd.  JJP also had a 1st rd grade and was drafted 34th.  So far Forton is 1 for 43 after the 1st rd. That’s a terrible track record. 

Hockey makes it really tough to judge a scouts ability to draft, and also just a challenge to even evaluate success as a scout.  The players are young and raw, and coaching and development is going to have a huge impact on whether they make the NHL or not.  The fact that from the point you draft someone, you don't have a lot of control over coaching and development makes it even more challenging.  

From like 2022 on, the only name that jumps out is Lane Hutson in the 2nd.  Hell the 2023 draft currently has only 4 2nd round players who have even suited up.  

Kozak played a bunch of minutes for this team as a 7th round pick (more games than anyone selected in the 5th, 6th or 7th rounds) from that year.   And honestly what they've gotten from him already is more than most teams get from most of their 7th rounders.  

Also food for thought: https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr00008385.html.  I know they trade a lot of picks but uhh they haven't drafted an impact player under Brisebois with literally any of the picks they had.  

[Archie Lee]

58 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

JJP is the only NHL regular drafted and developed by the Sabres during the Adams administration drafted after the 1st rd.  JJP also had a 1st rd grade and was drafted 34th.  So far Forton is 1 for 43 after the 1st rd. That’s a terrible track record. 

I think this is a little misleading.

First, I will accept your criteria for an NHL regular and any player in the Kozak category will not be considered to have reached regular-status yet. With Kozak in mind. I've set the bar at 75 games played to be considered a player who is an NHL regular.  Using that as the standard:

- There are a combined total of 32 NHL regulars drafted in rds 2-7 in years 2020 and 2021.  One of those is Peterka.  So, the NHL average from those two seasons combined is 1.

- There are a grand total of 6 players who have established themselves as NHL regulars who were drafted in rds 2-7 in years 2022 through 2025.

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 06:29 PM by Archie Lee

[Flashsabre]

And because one fan wanted a certain player and the team picked another player does not make it a “miss”

[...]

2 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

And because one fan wanted a certain player and the team picked another player does not make it a “miss”

[JKB1646]

Jake Richards will be a lifer minor leaguer

Unless Osburn hits puberty he will struggle too in the AHL

[DarthEbriate]

13 minutes ago, JKB1646 said:

Unless Osburn hits puberty he will struggle too in the AHL

He didn't look too out of place in his age 19 season in the NCAA going up against teams icing a bunch of 21- and 22- year-olds. He took over more and more ice time as the season went on and was in the Badgers top-4 the entire tournament. He'll likely play two more seasons at Wisconsin before joining the AHL. Plenty of time to add muscle to his frame.

[dudacek]

2 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

JJP is the only NHL regular drafted and developed by the Sabres during the Adams administration drafted after the 1st rd.  JJP also had a 1st rd grade and was drafted 34th.  So far Forton is 1 for 43 after the 1st rd. That’s a terrible track record. 

Forton’s first draft as head scout was 2021. So, the total is actually 0 for 39. Peterka was not “his” pick.

Otherwise, his track record is pretty normal.

No head scout has a post-1st full-time NHLer from the 25 or 24 drafts.

Gavin Brindley is the only one from the 23 draft.

There are (roughly) 5 from the 22 draft and (about) 10 from the 21 draft.

That’s 16 out of more than 900 picks.

You can dispute what constitutes a full-timer, but the point stands: Most prospects take 5 years to make or break it and Forton’s first class is just  hitting that line. We don’t really know how good he’s done and we won’t know until we see what guys like Kleber and Kozak are actually doing when they are in their mid-20s.

Edited Wednesday at 08:18 PM by dudacek

[dudacek]

Another way at looking at Forton’s record is this:

2021:

Power picked 1st, ranked 5th in games played, 1st for points by a D

Rosen picked 14th, 35th in games played, 34th in points

2022:

Savoie picked 9th, 16th in games played, 13th in points

Östlund picked 16th, ranked 24th in games played, 16th in points

Kulich picked 28, ranked 20th in games played, 14th in points

2023

Benson picked 13th, ranked 3rd in games played, 6th in points.

2024

Helenius picked 14th, ranked in 15 in games played 13th in points.

[LGR4GM]

Forton is going to get a mid round defender out of his picks in a couple years. He might also get a goalie. 

He's not a pariah, I just wish he were better 

[PerreaultForever]

I don't really measure drafting success much from high first round picks. The guy before your guy might also be good as well as the guy after. They are different but lots of good players and it's not that hard until you fall into the 20s and lower and then it's easier to miss. 

I also think they got lucky. Smaller guys fell and they took the chance and they get a win on a Benson and I guess Helenius fell a bit too. 

The real success for me is how many lower picks end up in the NHL and so far we haven't managed very many. 

The trick now in the Jarmo era, when the team is already decent, will be to find roster filling role players and development projects who mature later. It's a different dynamic now. I hope they adapt to it. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

5 hours ago, dudacek said:

Another way at looking at Forton’s record is this:

2021:

Power picked 1st, ranked 5th in games played, 1st for points by a D

Rosen picked 14th, 35th in games played, 34th in points

2022:

Savoie picked 9th, 16th in games played, 13th in points

Östlund picked 16th, ranked 24th in games played, 16th in points

Kulich picked 28, ranked 20th in games played, 14th in points

2023

Benson picked 13th, ranked 3rd in games played, 6th in points.

2024

Helenius picked 14th, ranked in 15 in games played 13th in points.

add where are all the good players from any round besides the first?

There are 14 NHL regulars drafted after the 1st rd from 2021, another 5 from 2022 and 2 already from 2023.  Forton and Adams don't have anyone so far.  There are 44 players who have reached the NHL from the 2021 draft, 47 from the 2022 draft and another 17 from 2023.  That's 108 players to reach the NHL, the Sabres have 1 and that's Kozak.  That's it.  That means on average, the 32 NHL franchises have had 3-4 players reach the NHL from the 2021 to 2023 drafts.  The Sabres have averaged 1/3 of a player.  1 part-time NHLer from 24 2nd to 7th rd picks from 2021 to 2023 is crap drafting.  

Might it turnout better? Maybe, but outside of McCarthy, and maybe Poltapov, there is almost nothing to write home about the other 2nd - 7th rd prospects.

Frankly, I'm surprised by how many people here are bending over backwards to give Forton a pass.  

Edited Thursday at 01:44 AM by GASabresIUFAN

[tom webster]

12 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Forton is going to get a mid round defender out of his picks in a couple years. He might also get a goalie. 

He's not a pariah, I just wish he were better 

We always want better but I think his record will show Buffalo’s drafts in the top five.

I also have a different philosophy from you on how they should be drafting as I agree with the best athlete track especially now that they should be years away from needing forward help. Defensive prospects are worth more than middling forward prospects. Furthermore, I believe after the high first round you shoot for the moon with forwards. I would go high ceiling low floor. You get lucky and hit on a top six winger and your golden.

[French Collection]

I have no bone to pick with Forton but admit that I am not a fan of how he got the job.

The first round, where he has had success should be the easiest to find talent. That is where the better players have been ranked all year and the scouting community has devoted a lot of resources to grading the top 30-40  kids. He has picked in the top 13 every time, where there are even more eyeballs watching and software screening.

I am not an expert but I could probably do OK in the first round simply using all of the draft guides and lists available on line. The impressive part of scouting is finding a Shea Weber in the 2nd round or a Luc Robitaille in the 7th. This doesn’t happen often but gives a team a big push.

[JP51]

On 6/3/2026 at 12:30 AM, GASabresIUFAN said:

PRE DRAFT LIST - As always - players 24 and under that are still waivers exempt

FYI:  The list above does not include every player in the system just the guys tracking toward a possible NHL future.  

Forwards

1. Helenius -C/W - Likely to make the Sabres next season - his speed is off the charts 

2. Östlund - C/W - Likely to make the Sabres next season - Elite hockey IQ

3. Kulich - C/W - Recovering from blood clots. Health status unclear, but if healthy should also compete for a Sabres roster spot next season. Remember he beat Östlund to the NHL despite being in the same draft class and playing a similar position.  

4. Zeimer - RW - high energy forward that had a strong 2nd college season.  In the mold of Doan and Benny. Key piece of US World Jr Team.  

5. Richard - F - 2022 6th rd pick.  Breakout season at UConn in 2024-25, but struggled to repeat last year. Recently signed his ELC.

6. Wahlberg - C - 2023 2nd rd pick showing some progress in AHL, but not sure what his future is with the Sabres

Honorable Mention - Ryan Rucinski - 2025 7th rd pick had a strong USHL season with 27g 35a in 59 games.

Defense

1. Mrtka - 6’6” RHD - 2025 1st rd pick. Likely a few years from the NHL

not sure of order but an interesting group of size and skill

2. Osburn - 4th rd pick 2024 - US World Jr - 21 pts in 33 NCAA games

3. Bedkowski - 3rd in 2025 - 6’6” 220; 39 pts in 68 games

4. McCarthy - 3rd in 2023 - signed ElC after strong 3rd season at BU

5. Kleber - 2nd in 2024 - US World Jr - 6’5” 209 - showed improvement in 2nd college season

6. Strbak - 2nd in 2023 - signed ELC - Physical stay at home D.

7. Laberge - 5th rd in 2025 - 56 pts in 62 games in the Q. 

Honorable Mention - Komarov - 2022 5th with 2 seasons in the AHL under his belt. Not sure his skating is good enough

Goalies 

1. Levi - RFA - Key piece of Reinhart trade struggled behind a porous Amerks D.  Likely to be moved this offseason

2. Ratzlaff - 2023 5th - spent time in ECHL and AHL

3. Leinonen - 2nd in 2022 - spent time in ECHL and AHL

4. Prokhorov - 7th in 2025 - had a stellar season in the MHL (Russian Jrs)

5. Meloche - 4th in 2025 - Decent season in the Q.

Thanks for doing this... love it! 

[LGR4GM]

34 minutes ago, tom webster said:

We always want better but I think his record will show Buffalo’s drafts in the top five.

I also have a different philosophy from you on how they should be drafting as I agree with the best athlete track especially now that they should be years away from needing forward help. Defensive prospects are worth more than middling forward prospects. Furthermore, I believe after the high first round you shoot for the moon with forwards. I would go high ceiling low floor. You get lucky and hit on a top six winger and your golden.

I don't. Maybe they do okay on first rounders but I don't think Buffalo is a top 5 drafting team in the NHL. top 15? Yea. 

You think this team is years away from needing forward help? They need forward help now. Even with Östlund, Helenius, and the return of Kulich. As for defensive prospects, that's all they have. I have repeatedly shown that they are very very heavily laden with defense and considering AT BEST they will have 1 top 4 role for a defender in the next 5 years, they are YEARS away from needing defensive help. Bottom pair guys are fairly easy to find and trade for or sign in UFA. 

You do go high ceiling but that isn't what Forton has typically done. He typically looks for guys that fit a profile he wants to add, which can work. Bedkowski is a great example of a profile that Forton wanted to add to the pool even though Strbak, Kleber, and McCarthy all have a level of physicality as well. They want big and mean and so drafted the biggest meanest one. I will be curious to see if they take a forward in the 1st and how big they are and what their stats profile looks like. Size does matter and there are a bunch of avg to bigger forwards in this draft. That all said, taken ANOTHER defender in the 1st would be a mistake unless they trade out Mrtka. Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson are all top 4 and here for the next 5ish years or more. Byram could also end up as that. They have no blue chip forward prospects in the pool if we graduate Helenius (which we should). 

[Jorcus]

12 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

add where are all the good players from any round besides the first?

There are 14 NHL regulars drafted after the 1st rd from 2021, another 5 from 2022 and 2 already from 2023.  Forton and Adams don't have anyone so far.  There are 44 players who have reached the NHL from the 2021 draft, 47 from the 2022 draft and another 17 from 2023.  That's 108 players to reach the NHL, the Sabres have 1 and that's Kozak.  That's it.  That means on average, the 32 NHL franchises have had 3-4 players reach the NHL from the 2021 to 2023 drafts.  The Sabres have averaged 1/3 of a player.  1 part-time NHLer from 24 2nd to 7th rd picks from 2021 to 2023 is crap drafting.  

Might it turnout better? Maybe, but outside of McCarthy, and maybe Poltapov, there is almost nothing to write home about the other 2nd - 7th rd prospects.

Frankly, I'm surprised by how many people here are bending over backwards to give Forton a pass.  

Why a 2-7 draftee makes it to the NHL is very circumstantial. Only a few are so good you can't keep them out. Of the years you are looking at there are 4 for certain. Lane Hutson, Josh Doan, Logan Stankoven and Matthew Knies. There are some good D men that are developing Olen Zellwiger, Ryker evens, and JJ Moser. Beyond that most of the players are in the line up because they play for bad teams or are filling in for an injured player. More will emerge over time but the percentages have been pointed out and they are pretty low. 

In our case we have had 8 first round picks over the last 5 years and have had at least 1 first round pick every year since 1993. So the question is where would these 2-7 players be in the lineup with what we have now? If we were at the bottom Whalberg or Novikov may have found their way up. If we don't have the next Jacob Bryson in the line up for a few years I am ok with that. 

[tom webster]

23 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I don't. Maybe they do okay on first rounders but I don't think Buffalo is a top 5 drafting team in the NHL. top 15? Yea. 

You think this team is years away from needing forward help? They need forward help now. Even with Östlund, Helenius, and the return of Kulich. As for defensive prospects, that's all they have. I have repeatedly shown that they are very very heavily laden with defense and considering AT BEST they will have 1 top 4 role for a defender in the next 5 years, they are YEARS away from needing defensive help. Bottom pair guys are fairly easy to find and trade for or sign in UFA. 

You do go high ceiling but that isn't what Forton has typically done. He typically looks for guys that fit a profile he wants to add, which can work. Bedkowski is a great example of a profile that Forton wanted to add to the pool even though Strbak, Kleber, and McCarthy all have a level of physicality as well. They want big and mean and so drafted the biggest meanest one. I will be curious to see if they take a forward in the 1st and how big they are and what their stats profile looks like. Size does matter and there are a bunch of avg to bigger forwards in this draft. That all said, taken ANOTHER defender in the 1st would be a mistake unless they trade out Mrtka. Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson are all top 4 and here for the next 5ish years or more. Byram could also end up as that. They have no blue chip forward prospects in the pool if we graduate Helenius (which we should). 

First, next time I’m stranded at home I’ll again go through every roster to see how they have fared against everyone else.

Second, with Benson, Doan, Tage, McLeod, Quinn, Two of three kids.

Tuch or whomever they replace him with they have eight of their nine forward spots taken. 
The fourth line is always going to be what it is.

I’m  not even counting Norris and one of the three kids.

I’m also very high on Ziemer.

They have plenty of depth.

Again you can always use more.

The only way another forward cracks the forward group is if they are top line guys and that you either get lucky with a draft choice or trade your multiple defensive prospects and future draft choices.

i again reiterate, if they need a prospect to crack their top nine in the next five years, they either stopped spending to the cap, they were wrong on multiple guys or a catastrophic accident wiped out multiple players.

[LGR4GM]

51 minutes ago, tom webster said:

First, next time I’m stranded at home I’ll again go through every roster to see how they have fared against everyone else.

Second, with Benson, Doan, Tage, McLeod, Quinn, Two of three kids.

Tuch or whomever they replace him with they have eight of their nine forward spots taken. 
The fourth line is always going to be what it is.

I’m  not even counting Norris and one of the three kids.

I’m also very high on Ziemer.

They have plenty of depth.

Again you can always use more.

The only way another forward cracks the forward group is if they are top line guys and that you either get lucky with a draft choice or trade your multiple defensive prospects and future draft choices.

i again reiterate, if they need a prospect to crack their top nine in the next five years, they either stopped spending to the cap, they were wrong on multiple guys or a catastrophic accident wiped out multiple players.

Now do defense. That's catch here, you're not doing the other side. Dahlin, Samuelsson, Power are all signed for at least 5 years. Not all those forwards are. If they sign Byram then what? They'd have 4 top 4 guys all signed long term. They'd still have all those d prospects. 

This team does not generate enough chances. They're living on having a pretty good sh% among their top guys. They need to add. 

[inkman]

2 hours ago, tom webster said:

We always want better but I think his record will show Buffalo’s drafts in the top five.

I also have a different philosophy from you on how they should be drafting as I agree with the best athlete track especially now that they should be years away from needing forward help. Defensive prospects are worth more than middling forward prospects. Furthermore, I believe after the high first round you shoot for the moon with forwards. I would go high ceiling low floor. You get lucky and hit on a top six winger and your golden.

I look at previous drafts, especially prior to 2023, and the swings were big misses. I don’t blame any NHL team on missing on a player rounds 3-7. It’s the type of player they swung on that bothers me. You want high ceiling low floor types. I’d argue that helped perpetuate the drought. You get no low round, high effort players that make it. Either they aren’t able to decipher effort as a characteristic or they just didn’t care. I want to be able to supplement my roster with high effort players as they can step in and perform at a role in which they aren’t quite skilled enough for but you trust them defensively. The skill guys drafted in those rounds didn’t have the talent or effort to be useful in any capacity. 

[Taro T]

3 minutes ago, inkman said:

I look at previous drafts, especially prior to 2023, and the swings were big misses. I don’t blame any NHL team on missing on a player rounds 3-7. It’s the type of player they swung on that bothers me. You want high ceiling low floor types. I’d argue that helped perpetuate the drought. You get no low round, high effort players that make it. Either they aren’t able to decipher effort as a characteristic or they just didn’t care. I want to be able to supplement my roster with high effort players as they can step in and perform at a role in which they aren’t quite skilled enough for but you trust them defensively. The skill guys drafted in those rounds didn’t have the talent or effort to be useful in any capacity. 

Am OK with a couple swings for the fences, but they need to draft a goalie every year and would like to see them draft one or 2 guye each year that have the profile of a bottom 6 guy.  Kozak really has been the only one drafted in that mold over a several year stretch.  And maybe if they manage to home grow a Malenstyn every couple of years (or even a Kozak) then they don't have to waste 2nds on a Malenstyn (who btw this kid was completely fine with giving up a 2nd rounder to get).

Not saying draft the entire bottom of the draft for the 4th line; but 1 or 2 picks trying intentionally to backfill the 3rd line seems to not be a waste of a pick.  (Maybe it is as too many Paille's end up getting drafted at the top of the draft?)

[tom webster]

3 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Now do defense. That's catch here, you're not doing the other side. Dahlin, Samuelsson, Power are all signed for at least 5 years. Not all those forwards are. If they sign Byram then what? They'd have 4 top 4 guys all signed long term. They'd still have all those d prospects. 

This team does not generate enough chances. They're living on having a pretty good sh% among their top guys. They need to add. 

And my point previously was that this defensive prospects are worth more on the trade market than lesser forwards would have been. It’s crazy to me that anyone advocates drafting for position when almost all drafted guys are four years away from contributing.

Finally, it would be a coup of epic proportions if they found someone in rounds two through seven that were better forwards than the guys they got. You get those better forwards by trading your multiple defensive prospects and future draft picks to acquire the likes of a true number one center which is really the only thing the team needs upfront.

For the record, I enjoy the back and forth. You clearly study the prospects on a higher level. I rely on the people I know and trust. I can tell you, they don’t agree with a lot of what you say but they are impressed with the depth of your knowledge. 
 

 

[tom webster]

3 hours ago, inkman said:

I look at previous drafts, especially prior to 2023, and the swings were big misses. I don’t blame any NHL team on missing on a player rounds 3-7. It’s the type of player they swung on that bothers me. You want high ceiling low floor types. I’d argue that helped perpetuate the drought. You get no low round, high effort players that make it. Either they aren’t able to decipher effort as a characteristic or they just didn’t care. I want to be able to supplement my roster with high effort players as they can step in and perform at a role in which they aren’t quite skilled enough for but you trust them defensively. The skill guys drafted in those rounds didn’t have the talent or effort to be useful in any capacity. 

I’ve said before, almost all the type of players you covet end up traded for. Tampa especially has traded picks like they were the LA Rams for expressed purpose of filling the third and fourth line. That strategy is how they got Kucherov, Point, Cirellli, et al

[SHAAAUGHT!!!]

On 6/3/2026 at 12:34 PM, DarthEbriate said:

The key on Mrtka is Byram. If you extend Byram long-term you have no need of Mrtka: he'll never see the powerplay until he's 30. If you time things correctly, you trade Mrtka going into the draft where he is part of a Thomas package, but then immediately afterward on 7/1 announce the Byram extension. (And you don't need Parayko. Byram has way more upside and has proven himself capable in 40 playoff games.)

I see it a bit different, but both are possible.  
 

I think if you extend Bryan there is no way you can afford Power.  Power is a great trade piece and with a 1st rd pick will get us a much needed 1C.  Mrtka then can eventually compete for that 4D role and if he doesn’t make it he’s a solid 5-6D (big body, gritty game, etc).  I see him as a Tyler Myers/Zadorov/Stanley type D that isn’t going to be in your top pairing, but he serves a purpose and is going to give us cap flexibility for the next 3 years.

Edited Thursday at 07:12 PM by SHAAAUGHT!!!

[DarthEbriate]

8 minutes ago, tom webster said:

I’ve said before, almost all the type of players you covet end up traded for. Tampa especially has traded picks like they were the LA Rams for expressed purpose of filling the third and fourth line. That strategy is how they got Kucherov, Point, Cirellli, et al

Not sure I'm reading this correctly. All three of these guys were original Tampa draft picks in the 2nd-3rd round. They didn't trade for them. Point was with a traded pick to move around in the draft at the time so you could say they targeted him, but Cirelli's pick was via a trade made the day prior with no knowledge of how the board would shake out two rounds later.

Or is the "that strategy" relating to the quoted "high ceiling low floor" types?