The Sabres’ depth chart is starting to look like the kind of map you draw when you expect to stay relevant for a while. Buffalo has already moved past its 14-year playoff drought, and now the next task is turning that breakthrough into something lasting.
That’s where the prospect pipeline comes in. With a core of under-30 NHL players already in place - including Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson on long-term deals - Buffalo’s next wave matters just as much. And according to Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff, four Sabres prospects landed inside his Top 75 rankings heading into the new season.
At the top of that group is Rudolph, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, a selection Buffalo acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in the blockbuster Byram trade. He’s set to play this season at the University of Denver before making his push toward the NHL.
Jiri Kulich and Noah Ostlund are among the other young pieces Buffalo is counting on, but Helenius may be the most ready to jump in right now. He put up 63 points, including 21 goals and 42 assists, in 63 games for the Rochester Americans last season and also gave Buffalo a lift during the second round of the playoffs. The expectation is clear: he looks ready for a full-time NHL job, likely in the top six.
Mrtka’s first season after being picked in the first round of the 2025 draft wasn’t the offensive breakout Buffalo hoped for. He scored one goal in 48 games across the regular season and playoffs with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. Even so, the Sabres still have plenty to like about his size, skating and physical style, which is why his long-term upside remains intact even if the path takes more time.
Morozov was the youngest player in college hockey last season and still managed to hold his own at Miami (Ohio), where he scored 20 points - eight goals and 12 assists - in 36 games. Buffalo will be looking for more offense from him as he moves into his sophomore year with the RedHawks.
Elsewhere in the organization, one of Buffalo’s 2021 draft picks has taken his career overseas. Olivier Nadeau, chosen in the fourth round at No. 97 overall, has signed with Vaxjo Lakers for the 2026-27 season.
Nadeau once looked like a possible steal after posting 78 points in 65 games for the QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes in his first season after the draft. But his game never quite carried over to North American pro hockey, and he spent most of the past few years with the ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen. He did get a regular look with Rochester last season, finishing with 26 points in 56 games before reaching free agency.
Vaxjo, which plays in Sweden’s SHL, announced the move on Sunday. Lakers sports director Henrik Evertsson said, "In Olivier we get a two-way forward who fits well into the profile this year's team has been given," and added, "A very smart player who has his edge inside the 'box,' but who overall does a good job all over the ice."
In Other News...
Sabres Prospect Suddenly Carries Much Bigger Stakes Into Camp
Konsta Helenius arrives at Sabres camp with far more attention than a typical young forward, and for good reason. The 20-year-old Finn turned heads with a strong run in the AHL and followed it with an eye-catching playoff stretch, enough to put himself in the conversation for a full-time NHL roster spot as Buffalo opens a season looking for more punch down the middle.
What makes Helenius especially intriguing is how quickly the stakes have risen around his development. The Sabres already see him as a player who can matter in their offensive mix, and there is a real sense that his camp performance could determine just how soon he gets a meaningful role at the next level. For a prospect who entered the organization with promise, the path ahead now looks a lot bigger than simply earning another look. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Young Core Suddenly Faces Pressure That Could Define Buffalos Rise
Buffalos next step is going to lean heavily on its young core, and the pressure is already obvious. Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, Rasmus Dahlin, Zach Benson and Tage Thompson are all expected to take on more responsibility in the coming season, with the club asking for more production and more stability from the group as it tries to keep moving forward.
The timing matters because this is no longer just about promising talent, it is about whether those players can become the backbone of a rising team. Dahlin and Thompson are already established pieces, while Benson, Helenius and Kulich are being counted on to grow into larger roles, and Buffalos hopes for the 2026-27 season may depend on how quickly that transition happens. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Camp Battle Could Reshape Two Crucial Spots In Ruffs Lineup
Training camp has a way of turning every depth chart into a referendum, and for Lindy Ruff, Buffalos next few weeks could shape more than just the opening-night lineup. The Sabres still have some important sorting to do up front, where the coaching staff is weighing the top-nine forwards and trying to settle on a look that fits around its core pieces. Josh Norris, Jiri Kulich, Noah Ostlund and Jason Zucker are all in the mix for roles, and the picture could shift again if the front office makes a trade before camp breaks.
There is similar uncertainty on the back end, where the Sabres are also evaluating defensive pairs and looking for the right partner for Owen Power on the second unit. Those decisions tend to ripple through the rest of the roster, especially when a few spots remain open and competition is tight enough to make every practice rep matter. By the time camp ends, Buffalo may have a clearer idea of who fits where, but it still sounds like a lineup with one more surprise waiting to happen. [Read more 🡒]