Buffalo Sabres Prospect Pyramid

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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  1. Very informative article/keep up the good work.

    Reply

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