Stats Below From Games 10/18/2021 – 10/31/2021
NOTE: For recaps below, we are highlighting any prospects who contributed on the score sheet over the past week or did anything notable. For an overall view of Sabres Prospects and their stats, be sure to check The Charging Buffalo’s Prospect Stat Tracker which is updated daily here or clicking the image below.
Premier Prospect: RW – Jack Quinn
Rochester (AHL) – 5 GP | 4 G | 5 A | 9 PTS
What a start to the Amerks season for Jack Quinn who has been on absolute fire lately. Picking up 9 points (4 goals, 5 assists) in just 5 games, Quinn has done an excellent job doing what he does best, finding open ice in the front of the net. Quinn has picked up 8 of his 10 total points on the season at even strength and while his shot share trended down the last few outings, is still making such huge contributions that end up on the score sheet.
All of Quinn’s goals from the past couple weeks have a similar theme and are shown below. While Quinn’s shot is his most notable asset, it’s how he has been able to position himself for scoring chances that has made the biggest impact to him finding the back of the net lately.
Quinn is currently tied for the league lead in points among AHL rookies and is showing no signs of slowing down. It’s encouraging to see Quinn have success at this level as he’s making a strong case to earn a call up to Buffalo in the near future. Quinn was also just named AHL Rookie of the Month, being the first Sabres prospect to earn that honor since Tyler Ennis in 2010.
Prospect Updates and Notes
- The biggest headline of the last few weeks has to be the chemistry between JJ Peterka and Jack Quinn. With Peterka’s puck pursuit and play making ability, he’s a natural fit on a line with Quinn’s goal scoring ability and ease with which he finds open ice. While Quinn was highlighted as the “Premier Prospect” of the Notebook, Peterka earned some consideration for the honor with how well he has used his vision and creativity to set up scoring chances and goals. Playing a highly intelligent game with a knack for forcing turnovers, Peterka has looked very NHL ready at times. It may ultimately be best for the two players to stay with Rochester and continue to develop what appears to be a natural connection in which each prospect thrives from playing with the other.
- After a rough first few games, Oskari Laaksonen saw his play get better at even strength and even started contributing on the scoresheet. The highlight of Laaksonen’s week was his overtime winner in which he followed up JJ Peterka and finished a great feed out front. After a strong season last year for the Amerks, Laaksonen needs to consistently make positive impacts in transition and suppressing shot attempts if he is to earn a call up to Buffalo down the road.
- Linus Weissbach has used his speed to make a difference for the Amerks and hasn’t shown much adversity in his transition to the AHL. Picking up 3 goals and 2 assists in 5 games, Weissbach has made an impact on the scoresheet but has not fared so well in the shot share category, sporting a 45% Corsi overall.
- After earning the Premier Prospect honor in the last Notebook, Olivier Nadeau once again had a very strong series of games. Headlined by a monstrous 7 point (4 goals, 3 assists) outing this past Saturday, Nadeau is now 2nd in points and 1st in goals in the QMJHL. Nadeau can play a simple game at times as he isn’t a burner by any means but his smarts and hockey IQ are very refined and give him a distinct advantage at the junior level. It’s great to see a 4th round pick doing so well early on this season and Nadeau is one to keep an eye on as the year progresses.
- After an underwhelming start to his season, Josh Bloom went on a hot streak for Saginaw of the OHL. One of the Sabres 3rd round picks in 2021 is using his powerful stride and large frame to make an impact for the Spirit, highlighted by a pair of goals that were all about his speed and shot. While Bloom was a relatively unknown prospect due to the cancelled OHL season, he’s got a unique size and skill combination that make him an intriguing prospect to track. He’s on the wrong side of the Corsi ratio thus far but has shown the ability to carry the puck in transition with his speed.
- Devon Levi has been a complete wall for Northeastern, picking up two more shutouts and 3 total wins over the last 2 weeks. The lone prospect to come back to Buffalo in the Sam Reinhart trade, Levi has impressed early on and has not let his lack of height impact his ability to dominate at the NCAA level. Playing in Hockey East, the competition will only get tougher as Levi has not been thrown to the wolves yet as far as some of the better programs playing in that conference but he seems more than capable of handling that challenge.
- Russian Stiven Sardarian finally made his first appearance for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL and scored his 1st of the season. Sardarian also added an assist and is working his way up the lineup for the Phantoms early on in the year. Prokhor Poltapov recently got sent back down the CSKA’s MHL team where he collected his first assist after a few scoreless outings. Poltapov also recently signed a contract to remain with the program through the 2024-25 season which unfortunately will delay Poltapov coming over for several years.
- The World Juniors are approaching quickly and as such, national teams have started announcing some camp rosters for the end of year tournament. Jakub Konecny (Czech), Isak Rosen (Sweden) are looking like virtual locks to represent their countries while Nikita Novikov, Prokhor Poltapov, and Alexander Kisakov have all earned invites to some form of international pre-tournament camp. It seems like Poltapov may be a fringe player for Russia who tends to field an older roster but he has the skills that would benefit them in a Gold Medal run. Owen Power figures to be a huge part of the annually strong Canada team and it’s unclear at this point in time if JJ Peterka will represent Germany once again as he’s just eligible for the tournament by less than 1 month.
Prospect Highlights
AHL (Rochester)
RW Jack Quinn
5 GP | 4 G | 5 A | 9 PTS
RW JJ Peterka
5 GP | 1 G | 6 A | 7 PTS
LW Linus Weissbach
5 GP | 3 G | 2 A | 5 PTS
RD Oskari Laaksonen
5 GP | 1 G | 3 A | 4 PTS
LW Brandon Biro
3 GP | 0 G | 3 A | 3 PTS
LW Matej Pekar
5 GP | 1 G | 1 A | 2 PTS
RD Casey Fitzgerald
5 GP | 1 G | 1 A | 2 PTS
SHL
LW Filip Cederqvist (Djurgardens)
4 GP | 2 G | 0 A | 2 PTS
SHL
LD Nikita Novikov (Dynamo Moscow)
6 GP | 0 G | 1 A | 1 PTS
NCAA
LD Ryan Johnson (Minnesota)
4 GP | 0 G | 4 A | 4 PTS
LD Owen Power (Michigan)
4 GP | 1 G | 1 A | 2 PTS
C Matteo Costantini (North Dakota)
3 GP | 1 G | 1 A | 2 PTS
Extraliga
C/RW Jakub Konecny (Sparta Praha)
4 GP | 1 G | 0 A | 1 PTS
Allsvenskan
RD Albert Lyckasen (Karlskoga)
5 GP | 0 G | 2 A | 2 PTS
QMJHL
RW Olivier Nadeau (Shawinigan)
5 GP | 6 G | 5 A | 11 PTS
LW Viljami Marjala (Quebec)
5 GP | 0 G | 3 A | 3 PTS
OHL
LW Josh Bloom (Saginaw)
4 GP | 2 G | 4 A | 6 PTS
WHL
C Tyson Kozak (Portland)
4 GP | 3 G | 2 A | 5 PTS
USHL
LW Stiven Sardarian (Youngstown)
5 GP | 1 G | 1 A | 2 PTS
MHL
W Alexander Kisakov (Dynamo Moscow)
5 GP | 1 G | 0 A | 1 PTS
LW Prokhor Poltapov (Krasniya Armiya)
2 GP | 0 G | 1 A | 1 PTS
J20 Nationell
C William von Barnekow
4 GP | 3 G | 2 A | 5 PTS
Goaltenders
AHL
G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Rochester)
3 GP | 2 W | 1 L | 4.57 GAA | 72 SVS | 0.837 SV%
NCAA
G Erik Portillo (Michigan)
3 GP | 1 W | 2 L | 3.33 GAA | 73 SVS | 0.880 SV%
G Devon Levi (Northeastern)
4 GP | 3 W | 1 L | 1.76 GAA | 112 SVS | 0.941 SV% – 2 Shutouts
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Special Thanks
Elite Prospects and InStat Hockey for all of their stats and all the folks who provide video clips of assists and goals above on Twitter.
