Times maybe rough now but is the future bright for the Buffalo Sabres? A look into the Sabres prospect pool

          Let's be honest with ourselves, right now the Sabres are a rag tag bunch of misfits who are lucky to break off a win every once in awhile. I mean if you look at this roster, I'd say more than a few wouldn't even make another roster in the NHL. For fucks sake right now the Sabres have no healthy goalie on the main roster. There may be a light at the end of this shit filled tunnel. Believe it or not the Sabres seem to have a pretty good pipeline of prospects to be excited about. Let's take a look at what we have to be happy about for once as Sabres fans.

FORWARDS:

Jack Quinn(RW): Jack Quinn just scored his first ever NHL goal last week and it was an absolute snipe. Right now Quinn is in the AHL with Rochester and is lighting it up. Quinn is 9th in scoring with 35 points in just 24 games. The 20 year old Canadian was Buffalo's 8th overall pick in the 2020 draft and just keeps getting better every year.
Olivier Nadeau(RW): Nadeau was the Sabres 97th overall pick in the 4th round of the 2021 draft. He is currently playing in the QMJHL for the Shawnigian Cataractes where he leads them in points. Nadeau has 45 points (17G 28A) in just 30 games. Nadeua may take a bit longer than the rest to play in the league but god damn he's exciting to watch. 
J.J Peterka(W/C): Peterka, like Jack Quinn is currently tearing up the AHL with the Rochester Americans. With 30 points in 29 games Peterka and Quinn on a line have been absolutely electric for Rock City in the AHL. The German born Peterka made his NHL debut alongside Quinn and I gotta say I love the drive of this kid, he could most definitely be a center piece of this team for years to come.
Peyton Krebs(C): Krebs came over in the Jack Eichel trade I have to say, I fuckin love this kid. Krebs is coming off a big 2 goal, 3 point night. Krebs was in the AHL centering a line with Peterka and Quinn. Who knows? That could be our line of the future.


DEFENSEMAN:

Owen Power: Owen Power was the #1 overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft out of Michigan University and this kid is an absolute hoss. The 19 year old Canadian born defenseman is 6'6 and 220lbs and sure as shit can run the point on power play. Power has 26 points (3G 23A) in just 24 games for the Wolverines. Power recorded a hat trick in the short lived World Juniors tournament against the Czech Republic. His next step is the Beijing Olympics where he will be playing for team Canada and now the world can see truly how good he is.
Oskari Laaksonen: The 22 year old Fin is a great puck moving defenseman, who should be another asset on the power play when the time comes. He's currently in Rochester where he has 23 points (3G 20A) in 31 games.
Ryan Johnson: Ryan Johnson was at one point the only bright spot we had left from the Ryan O'Reily trade until the emergence of Tage Thompson. Johnson is a speedy puck moving d-man who currently plays for the University of Minnesota. He hasn't had the greatest season this year for the Gophers tallying just 14 points (2G 12A) in 27 games but this kid has huge upside. He's a Junior so it's going to be interesting to see what his next move is. 


GOALTENDERS:

Devon Levi: Levi is quite possibly the best goaltender in the entire NCAA. The Sabres acquired Levi in the trade that sent Sam Reinhart to the Florida Panthers, he's having a tremendous season for Northeastern and seems to get better every game. Levi has a 1.55GAA with a .948SV%, this kid is incredible and has so much potential. He's been the star of many Canadian junior teams and has shined at many of the tournaments he's been in for team Canada. Look for him to sign his entry level contract with the Sabres after this season,
Erik Portillo: The Swedish national playing for the loaded University of Michigan has also shined this year for one of the top teams in college hockey. The 21 year old was the Sabres 3rd round pick back in 2019 and has a 2.25GAA with a .924SV%. It's safe to say he's shown why many people have called him one of the best goalies in the country.

OTHERS TO WATCH OUT FOR:

Tyson Kozak(C, Portland Winterhawks, WHL)
Alexander Kisakov(LW, Dynamo Moskva, KHL)
Josh Bloom(LW, Saginaw Spirit, OHL)
Mattias Samuelsson(D, Rochester Americans, AHL)
Jacob Bryson(D, Rochester Americans, AHL)
Casey Fitzgerald(D, Rochester Americans, AHL)
Vasili Glotov(C, HK Sochi, KHL)

The future seems bright for us in Buffalo but rest assure the Pegulas will try their damndest to fuck it all up




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