The Buffalo Sabres may not have had much room for prospects during camp, but that picture could look very different in 2026-27.
A lot of the 23-man roster was already spoken for before the preseason even got going, and injuries only created a little bit of uncertainty. But over the course of a longer season - 84 games, up from 82 - openings tend to appear. A setback here, a trade there, a run of poor play, and suddenly a young player is in the mix.
There’s also a chance Daxon Rudolph, Buffalo’s No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, could get a late-season look once his freshman year at the University of Denver ends. For now, though, that still feels like a long shot.
The more realistic candidates are already in the system, and a few names stand out.
Radim Mrtka is the most intriguing defenseman of the bunch. Buffalo took him ninth overall in 2025, but his first season in the organization didn’t exactly pop off the page. He managed just one goal in 48 games between the regular season and playoffs for the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds.
Even so, the 19-year-old Czechia native still carries real appeal because of his mix of size, skating and skill. At 6'6'', he has the frame NHL teams love, though he’ll need to add strength if he wants to bring more force to his game.
Buffalo already got a brief reminder of that upside when Mrtka was brought up to practice with the main group during the injury crunch before being assigned to the AHL’s Rochester Americans. He’s shown flashes whenever he’s been around the Sabres, including last year’s camp. The organization clearly sees a player who needs more time - probably at least a year in Rochester, maybe two or three - but if the blue line gets hit hard again, Buffalo could be tempted to try him sooner than expected.
Vsevolod Komarov feels like the safer call if the Sabres want a defenseman with a little more pro seasoning. The 22-year-old right-shot Russian has already played 124 games for the Amerks over the last two seasons, and while offense isn’t really his calling card, he’s usually handled difficult defensive-zone work without much issue.
He also brings an edge. Komarov has piled up 145 penalty minutes in Rochester, continuing the same style he showed earlier in his career with Stalnye Lisy in Russia and the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. If Buffalo needs a depth defenseman to take a handful of third-pair minutes against a heavier opponent - maybe even drop the gloves - he fits that job better than a reserve like Zach Metsa.
At this point, the 2022 fifth-round pick looks more like an organizational piece than a long-term NHL fixture, but that doesn’t mean he can’t help when needed.
Then there’s Jake Richard, who could be the forward most likely to get a quick taste of the NHL. Buffalo’s prospect pipeline up front isn’t especially crowded, with Jiri Kulich, Noah Ostlund and Konsta Helenius already expected to handle bigger roles in 2026-27. Still, Richard has a path to a short call-up, much like Helenius had last season.
The winger made his name at UConn as a power-play threat, which matters because that’s an area where the Sabres have struggled for years. He was originally supposed to spend another college season with the Huskies, but Buffalo changed the plan by offering a two-year entry-level deal instead of the usual three-year setup. That adds a bit of urgency to get him some NHL exposure before his next contract decision comes in 2028.
Richard, 22, was a 2022 sixth-round pick at 170th overall and looked like a possible steal when he put up 43 points in 34 games for UConn in 2024-25. His output slipped to 27 points in 38 games last season, so 2026-27 shapes up as a real pivot point for him.
In Other News...
Sabres Just Sent A Big Message About Their Blue Line Plans
The Sabres have already made one of their clearest statements of the offseason on the blue line, locking up defenseman Louis Crevier before he has even played a regular-season game in Buffalo. Crevier arrived from Chicago in the trade that sent Bowen Byram and the No. 4 pick the other way, and the early extension suggests the Sabres are not treating him as a depth add. They are counting on him to be part of the long-term picture after he had 134 NHL games and 32 points with the Blackhawks.
What makes the move especially notable is the timing, with Buffalo committing so quickly to a player who is still new to the organization. Crevier is expected to step into a prominent role right away, and the extension only sharpens the sense that the Sabres see him as more than a stopgap on the back end. The bigger question now is how far the team is willing to go in reshaping its defense around that belief. [Read more 🡒]
Lindy Ruff Is Sending A Clear Early Message To The Sabres
Lindy Ruff is making it clear the Sabres cannot afford to let their 2026-27 season drift out of the starting gate. With the opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets looming, Buffalos coach has put an early emphasis on establishing a strong start, a message that fits a team trying to set a better tone from the outset and avoid playing catch-up right away.
The timing also comes as the blue line continues to take shape, with Louis Creviers recent four-year extension signaling the organizations belief in his development after the Bowen Byram trade. Crevier figures to be part of the defensive conversation quickly, and Buffalos early-season plans will be worth watching as the Sabres sort out how their new-look back end settles in around him. [Read more 🡒]
Why Sabres Fans Should Believe Konsta Helenius Is Built For This
Konsta Helenius has already shown the kind of poise that tends to matter most when the games get bigger and the spotlight gets hotter. The Sabres rookie forward has carried himself with a confidence that has stood out at every stop, from his time in the AHL and Finnish Liiga to the league stage in Buffalo, where he made a strong impression in the playoffs.
For Sabres fans, the appeal is not just upside, but evidence. Helenius has a track record of rising to the moment and handling pressure without looking overwhelmed, which is why his success in Finland and his growth in North America feel connected rather than accidental. The next question is how far that edge can take him once the expectations in Buffalo start to grow. [Read more 🡒]