Stats Below From Games 11/15/2021 – 11/28/2021
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: LW – Josh Bloom
Saginaw (OHL) – 6 GP | 8 G | 5 A | 13 PTS
Josh Bloom has officially thrust himself into the conversation as being one of the Sabres most intriguing prospects. Putting up 13 points (8 goals, 5 assists) in only 6 games, Bloom has been a major contributor for Saginaw of the OHL. The video below highlights his most recent game where he scored 4 points (2 goals and 2 assists), culminating with Bloom setting up the game winning goal in overtime.
As fate would have it, I recently released an article about Bloom, analyzing his game strengths and weaknesses. One of the topics discussed as an asset in Bloom’s game was his penalty killing and Bloom lived up to was fantastic on the PK the last 2 weeks, scoring 4 short handed goals, one being on a 5 on 3.
Bloom has far exceeded any expectations I had for him entering this season and it’s because of his speed and natural anticipatory skills. Thinking and processing the game at a high level has allowed Bloom to also use his size advantage to make an impact on a nightly basis. Bloom has realized what an asset his shot is at the junior level and has been quite the goal scorer in the early part of the season.
Currently on a 6 game point streak, Bloom is now 14th in the OHL in points per game. The Sabres 3rd round pick in 2021 is really blossoming this season and will likely earn the honor of Premier Prospect again.
Prospect Updates and Notes
- Jack Quinn currently sits atop the AHL in both goals (11) and points (24) and has been Rochester’s best player on offense. Quinn has been the model of consistency this year, picking up at least a point in 14 of 17 games played. At the moment, Quinn is on a 5 game point streak and has been excellent as both a play maker and goal scorer for the Amerks. Quinn has a lethal shot but his ability to create scoring chances via passing has made him a multidimensional threat that has forced teams to respect him more and as such, opened up more ice for him.
- It would not be a Prospect Notebook article without mentioning JJ Peterka who doesn’t have as high of a point total as Quinn, but has been such a positive impact player on a regular basis for Rochester. Over the past 4 games, Peterka has scored 1 goal and added 4 assists, showing off his creativity and vision to make plays. With his play away from the puck, Peterka has been a major contributor to positive on ice metrics and through 17 games, has shown that he is a high end prospect in the Sabres system. While he is still eligible to play for Germany at the World Juniors this year, it may ultimately be best for Peterka to continue his excellent play in the AHL.
- Recently added to Canada’s World Junior Camp Roster, Owen Power has been consistent for Michigan the past few weeks, adding 5 assists in his 4 games played. Sporting a 67% Corsi (per InStat Hockey) in those 4 games and averaging 18:05 TOI at even strength, Power continues to impress with his puck carrying ability in transition and play making. Power has thus far lived up to the billing of being selected 1st overall in 2021 and will likely be a huge factor in a Gold Medal run for Canada. Power is currently tied for 2nd in the nation in points (23) and tied for 1st in assists (20) in the NCAA, making a strong case for the Hobey Baker award.
- Another prospect whose play has been so good this year that he too may earn some Hobey Baker consideration is goaltender Devon Levi. Ranked 1st in save percentage (0.950%) among NCAA goalies who have played at least 10 games, Levi has been incredible in net for 18th ranked Northeastern (per Pairwise). Earning 1 shutout and going 3-0-1 the past two weeks, Levi has carried Northeastern at times, allowing 1 goal or fewer in 10 of 16 starts this year. While he is not Ryan Miller, it is interesting to note that Miller’s sophomore campaign with Michigan State ended with a save percentage of 0.950% in 40 contests.
- Being on the AHL/NHL bubble early on in the season, Brett Murray has done extremely well for both Rochester and Buffalo. A power forward known for scoring goals but without much high end speed, Murray earned a call up to the Sabres recently and pick up his first career NHL goal and assist. Sporting a 51.7 xGF% per Natural Stat Trick through his 4 NHL games this year, Murray has played his role well and could earn an extended look with the top club.
- It’s been an up and down year for Prokhor Poltapov who cooled off significantly after a hot start in the 2nd tier Russian VHL. Poltapov has played for CSKA in the KHL for several games this year but has 0 points to show for it, albeit in a very minimal role where he has played sub 5 minutes at times. Recently, Poltapov got moved down to the Russian Junior MHL where he scored 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) in 2 games. Known for his solid 2-way game and ability to make positive on ice impacts, Poltapov is a long term project and someone who will likely continue to bounce around several leagues in Russia.
Prospect Highlights
NHL (Buffalo)
LW Brett Murray
4 GP | 1 G | 2 A | 3 PTS
AHL (Rochester)
RW Jack Quinn
6 GP | 2 G | 6 A | 8 PTS
RW JJ Peterka
6 GP | 1 G | 4 A | 5 PTS
C Peyton Krebs
6 GP | 1 G | 4 A | 5 PTS
RD Oskari Laaksonen
5 GP | 0 G | 5 A | 5 PTS
LW Brett Murray
4 GP | 4 G | 1 A | 5 PTS
LW Linus Weissbach
3 GP | 1 G | 1 A | 2 PTS
LD Mattias Samuelsson
5 GP | 0 G | 2 A | 2 PTS
RD Casey Fitzgerald
6 GP | 1 G | 0 A | 1 PTS
LW Brandon Biro
5 GP | 0 G | 1 A | 1 PTS
SHL
LD William Worge Kreu (Oskarshamn)
4 GP | 0 G | 1 A | 1 PTS
LW Isak Rosen (Leksands)
4 GP | 0 G | 0 A | 0 PTS (Goal from Champions League)
Allsvenskan
RD Albert Lyckasen (Karlskoga)
6 GP | 1 G | 0 A | 1 PTS
NCAA
LD Owen Power (Michigan)
4 GP | 0 G | 5 A | 5 PTS
LD Ryan Johnson (Minnesota)
4 GP | 1 G | 2 A | 3 PTS
QMJHL
RW Olivier Nadeau (Shawinigan)
5 GP | 2 G | 5 A | 7 PTS
LW Viljami Marjala (Quebec)
6 GP | 0 G | 2 A | 2 PTS
OHL
LW Josh Bloom (Saginaw)
6 GP | 8 G | 5 A | 13 PTS
WHL
C Tyson Kozak (Portland)
5 GP | 2 G | 2 A | 4 PTS
USHL
LW Stiven Sardarian (Youngstown)
3 GP | 0 G | 3 A | 3 PTS
MHL
LW Alexander Kisakov (Dynamo Moscow)
3 GP | 0 G | 2 A | 2 PTS
LW Prokhor Poltapov (Krasnaya Armiya)
2 GP | 1 G | 3 A | 4 PTS
Goaltenders
AHL
G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Rochester)
4 GP | 2 W | 2 L | 3.53 GAA | 88 SVS | 0.880 SV%
NCAA
G Erik Portillo (Michigan)
4 GP | 2 W | 2 OTL | 3.22 GAA | 86 SVS | 0.896 SV%
G Devon Levi (Northeastern)
4 GP | 3 W | 1 OTL | 0.98 GAA | 116 SVS | 0.967 SV% – 1 Shutout
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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.
