The Prospect Pyramid is a concept that a popular Youtuber named Steve Dangle came up with. The Prospect Pyramid ranks prospects by tiers rather than just ranking all of our prospects on one big list.
Go check out Steve’s Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Pyramid
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs-prospect-pyramid/
1st tier
Alex Nylander
RW/LW
2016 1st round 8th overall
Rochester Americans AHL
Nylander is off to a very good start in Rochester. He’s going to play for Sweden in The World Juniors and he is expected to make The Sabres roster next season. He’s a very skilled player and has great hockey sense. Although Nylander is playing good in Rochester it is important to keep him in Rochester for the remainder of the season. We shouldn’t rush him into Buffalo.
2nd tier
Brendan Guhle
LD
2015 2nd round 51st overall
Prince George Cougars WHL
Guhle got a brief taste of The NHL this season on his emergency recall. He looked very good in the 3 games he played in The NHL this season and I expect him to be in The Sabres opening night roster come next October. Guhle now has the opportunity to go back to The Western Hockey League and compete for a Memorial Cup as well as prove to Hockey Canada why he should’ve made The Canadian World Junior team.
Rasmus Asplund
C/LW
2016 2nd round 33rd overall
Farjestad BK SHL
The Sabres made a splash on day 2 of the 2016 NHL draft by trading Mark Pysyk as well as a 2nd and 3rd round draft pick to Florida for Dmitry Kulikov and the 33rd pick in the draft. With that pick, Buffalo selected Rasmus Asplund. The Sabres think very highly of Asplund and they were trying very hard to move up in the 1st round to pick him. Asplund has registered 11 points in 25 games this season in The Swedish Hockey League. 11 points in 25 games in a men’s league are very good for a 19-year-old. Rasmus will play with Alex Nylander on the Swedish World Junior team and he will also serve as the assistant captain. Asplund will most likely sign his entry-level contract with Buffalo in the offseason and then he will probably play next season in Rochester.
3rd tier
Justin Bailey
RW
2013 2nd round 52nd overall
Rochester Americans AHL
Bailey has shown excellent growth year after year since being drafted in 2013. He has 19 points in Rochester this year and has been stepping up his game as of late. I believe that Bailey will get another look in Buffalo by the end of this season. Bailey will have a very good chance of making The Sabres out of camp next year.
Hudson Fasching
RW
2013 4th round 118th overall (LA)
Rochester Americans AHL
At the 2014 NHL trade deadline, The Sabres made a bold move sending Brayden McNabb and 2 2nd round picks for Nic Deslauriers and Hudson Fasching. Fasching had a brief stint in The NHL last season after The Sabres signed him out of college. And he made The Sabres out of camp this year but he suffered a groin injury. After his injury, he was sent to Rochester. He’ll certainly get another opportunity in Buffalo this season and I believe he’ll be a lock to make the team next season.
William Carrier
LW
2013 2nd round 57th overall (STL)
Buffalo Sabres NHL/Rochester Americans AHL
Carrier has been fantastic in Buffalo this season. His play will probably keep him in Buffalo’s lineup for the rest of season.
Nick Baptiste
RW
2013 3rd round 69th overall
Rochester Americans AHL
Baptiste has been lighting it up in Rochester this season. He has 14 goals in 21 AHL games this season. And in his brief time in Buffalo this season, he looked very good. He’ll get another call up to Buffalo if there are more injuries.
4th tier
Casey Fitzgerald
RD
2016 3rd round 86th overall
Boston College NCAA
Fitzgerald is having a very good year for Boston College this season. And he’s expected to make the United States World Junior team.
Will Borgen
RD
2015 4th round 92nd overall
St. Cloud State NCAA
Borgen did very well last year for Team USA at The World Juniors and there is a chance that he may sign his entry level contract with The Sabres when his season with St. Cloud is over. If he signs he will play in Rochester next season.
Eric Cornel
C/RW
2014 2nd round 44th overall
Rochester Americans AHL
Cornel is in his first pro season in Rochester this season and he still needs a year or two in The AHL before he could be in the discussion to make The Sabres.
Cliff Pu
C/RW
2016 3rd round 69th overall
London Knights OHL
Pu has been lighting up The Ontario Hockey League this season with 49 points in 30 games. This year Pu has gotten much more ice time in London now that the likes of Mitch Marner, Christian Dvorak, and Matt Tkachuk have made the jump to The NHL. Pu didn’t make The Canadian World Junior team this year but he will have a very good chance of making the team next year when the tournament is in Buffalo.
Brandon Hagel
LW
2016 6th round 159th overall
Red Deer Rebels WHL
Hagel was a standout at development camp and he has been having a great year in Red Deer this season with 35 points in 34 games.
Giorgio Estephan
C
2015 6th round 152nd overall
Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL
Estephan has had a solid year in Lethbridge this season with 33 points in 31 games. He’s expected to sign with Buffalo in the offseason and play for Rochester next season.
Victor Olofsson
LW/RW
2014 7th round 181st overall
Frolunda Indians SHL
Olofsson was very good at development camp. He’s having a pretty good year in Frolunda this year and there’s a possibility he’ll play for Rochester next season.
Cal Petersen
G
2013 5th round 129th overall
University of Notre Dame NCAA
Petersen is arguably Buffalo’s best goalie prospect. He has played a ton of games for Notre Dame and The Sabres need to get him signed after his season is over. Buffalo can’t take the chance of losing him as a free agent if he plays at Notre Dame next season.
Linus Ullmark
G
2012 6th round 163rd overall
Rochester Americans AHL
Ullmark will most likely be Robin Lehner’s backup next year. He needs to continue to play good in Rochester and hopefully carry them to the playoffs for the first time in a few years.
5th tier
Jonas Johansson
G
2014 3rd round 61st overall
Almtuna IS Allsvenskan/Brynäs IF SHL
Brett Murray
LW
2016 4th round 99th overall
Youngstown Phantoms USHL
Sean Malone
C
2013 6th round 159th overall
Harvard University NCAA
Connor Hurley
C
2013 2nd round 38th overall
University of Notre Dame NCAA
Evan Rodrigues
C/RW
Undrafted
Rochester Americans AHL
Brycen Martin
LD
2014 3rd round 74th overall
Rochester Americans AHL/ Elmira Jackals ECHL
Vojtech Budik
LD
2016 5th round 130th overall
Prince Albert Raiders WHL
Devante Stephens
LD
2015 5th round 122nd overall
Kelowna Rockets WHL
Vaclav Karabacek
RW/LW
2014 2nd round 49th overall
Rochester Americans AHL/ Elmira Jackals ECHL
6th tier
Anthony Florentino
RD
2013 5th round 143rd overall
Providence College NCAA
Jean Dupuy
C/RW
Undrafted
Rochester Americans AHL
Max Willman
C
2014 5th round 121st overall
Brown University NCAA
Chris Brown
C
2014 6th round 151st overall
Boston College NCAA
Gustav Possler
LW/RW
2013 5th round 130th overall
Djurgardens IF SHL
Vasily Glotov
C
2016 7th round 190th overall
Cape Breton Screaming Eagles QMJHL
Judd Peterson
2012 7th round 204th overall
St. Cloud State NCAA
Ivan Chukarov
LD
2015 7th round 182nd overall
UMass Amherst NCAA
Philip Nyberg
RD
2016 5th round 129th overall
Madison Capitols USHL
Austin Osmanski
LD
2016 7th round 189th overall
Mississauga Steelheads OHL
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Very informative article/keep up the good work.