The Sabres’ future won’t be shaped by the players already in Buffalo alone. A big part of that picture is sitting deeper in the system, where five prospects are headed into seasons that could say a lot about what comes next.
This isn’t a group that needs to all become stars. But if Buffalo is going to build real depth around its young core, these are the kinds of players who have to keep moving forward. Radim Mrtka, Daxon Rudolph, Adam Kleber, Jake Richard and Brodie Ziemer all enter the coming year with something different to prove.
Mrtka, the No. 9 pick in 2025, has the frame and skill set to become a high-end NHL defenseman. After returning to the Western Hockey League, his offense dipped a bit, though his playmaking still showed through.
The next step is the pro game, and unless something unexpected happens, that will come in 2026-27 with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League. If his 6-foot-6 size and ability can translate there, Buffalo could start viewing him as a legitimate NHL option for 2027-28.
Rudolph is on a faster track because of where he was taken. The fourth overall pick from the most recent draft is already carrying the expectations that come with that slot, and his next test is college hockey with the University of Denver in 2026-27.
He’s coming off a breakout year with the Prince Albert Raiders, and Buffalo will want to see whether that level of production and skill carries over. If it does, he could be pushing for an NHL job the season after.
Kleber offers a different kind of upside. He’s not the flashy defenseman in this group, but he brings value in the way he handles his own end.
He keeps things straightforward, uses his long reach well and makes life hard for opponents trying to work inside. He doesn’t carry the same ceiling as Rudolph or Mrtka, but he has a path to becoming the type of dependable bottom-pair defenseman good teams always seem to need.
His junior season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth will be about whether he can add more offense and more responsibility.
Richard’s stock has already taken a few turns. After a breakout season at UConn, where he scored 43 points in 34 games, he became a favorite in the Buffalo system.
But his junior year, when he had 27 points in 38 games, raised questions about where his ceiling really sits. He’s expected to spend most, if not all, of 2026-27 with the Americans, and the key question is which version shows up: the middle-six winger with real upside or the less noticeable player from last season.
He brings some bite, a decent shot and a willingness to work around the crease, traits that could help him separate.
Ziemer may not have his entry-level contract signed yet, but his path is clear: back to the University of Minnesota, where he’ll play a major two-way role and wear the captain’s letter. He put up 36 points in 36 games last season and added five assists for Team USA at the World Junior Championships. His effort level fits the culture Buffalo wants, but his playmaking and skating still need to take another step before he’s ready to make the jump.
The Sabres already have a strong prospect pool, even with three outstanding young forwards poised to move into full-time NHL roles. What that pool looks like after this season will depend heavily on how these five perform.
If they keep trending in the right direction, Buffalo may be looking at more than just depth. It may be looking at pieces of the future core.
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Smith has already logged time in both the NHL and the KHL, which gives him a resume more substantial than your typical camp invite. For Buffalo, the appeal is straightforward: if the fit is there, it could be a useful way to strengthen the back end without committing to anything long term, though no invitation or deal has been confirmed yet. [Read more 🡒]
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For fans, the most visible sign of that connection will still be tied to the pregame atmosphere, where the companys presence has been woven into the Sabres in-arena experience. It is another reminder that some of Buffalos longest-running team partnerships are about more than logos and signage, especially when they are tied to the rituals that set the tone before the puck drops. [Read more 🡒]