2023 Prospect Poll #5

[tsujimoto74]

RESULTS SO FAR:

1. Devon Levi, G (+4)
2. Zach Benson, W (NR)
3. Jiri Kulich, W (+3)
4. Matthew Savoie, W/C (--)

RULES: Each poll will remain open for 2 days. In the case of a tie within the top 10, I'll create a 1-day runoff poll to decide the winner. Ties outside of the top 10 will be let stand as ties. For each additional poll, I will add the most commented next to add prospect.



ELIGIBILITY: All players whose rights are held by the Buffalo Sabres and who are eligible to win the Calder Trophy for the 2023-24 season are eligible inclusion. That means a prospect is eligible if--

• He is under age 26 (as of September 15, 2023);
• He has played no more than 25 games in any single preceding season; and
• He has not played 6 or more games in each of any two or more preceding seasons.

NEXT TO ADD: Comment the player you want to see added to the next poll. The following players are eligible:

• Forwards: Alexander Kisakov, Ethan Miedema, Tyson Kozak, Filip Cederqvist, Linus Sjodin, Brandon Biro, Linus Weissbach, Aaron Huglen, Matteo Costantini, Gustav Karlsson, Jake Richard, Joel Berndtsson, Stiven Sardaryan, Viljami Marjala, William von Barnekow, Jakub Konecny, Justin Richards, Brett Murray
• Defensemen: Gavin McCarthy, Mats Lindgren, Vsemolod Komarov, Shane Keohane, Albert Lyckasen, Norwin Panocha
• Goalies: Scott Ratzlaff, Topias Leinonen

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Went Rosen as personally I think his game is more advanced than Kulich's. Hopefully he added some mass, but a defensively sound winger with plus skating and shot is a nice #5 consolation prospect

 

[Dahlicious]

Ostlund, add McCarthy.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Ostlund.

Regardless of where he slots into the Sabres in the future, he’s a potential top line center who does all the the little things you need to win. Niklas Backstrom style game where he can dominate but never put up more than 15 goals in a season. Makes other players around him better. He’s right there with Benson as a playmaker and his mental abilities.

He may end up slotting as the Sabres 2nd or 3rd line center, but he’s a top line center prospect and would be the best prospect in many other organizations.

Add Kisakov.

 

[Dingo44]

Rosén, add Kozak

 

[MarkusKetterer]

I picked Rosen, although I have him and Ostlund tied here. Rosen gets my vote because of him being in the AHL, whereas Ostlund is still a maybe to be there.

Add Kisakov and/or Komarov. Obligatory von Barnekow-Lofberg add.

 

[stokes84]

Rosen. Higher floor, similar ceiling.

Add Kozak.

 

[billsandsabres]

add jake richard

 

[Royal Thunder]

Thought about it for way too long and took Ostlund by a hair over Rosen, just love his brain for the game and I think he has a ton of room to grow development-wise. Has legit middle 6 potential if he can get strong enough to withstand the NHL game.

Add Komarov

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

I love Ostlund as much as anyone, but what I saw from Rosen this season was exactly what I wanted to see, so i give him the edge. He was more willing to get to the dirty areas, played a good 2-way game, and his skills still showed through even the lough he wasn't dominant in his first NA year. This year will be very telling for him. Can he take the next step to be a top ahl player?

Ostlund is close behind and also had a decent year, albeit at a lower level. He also had some injuries that held him back a little. He's apparently gotten bigger though, so I'm hopeful he'll be able make an impact at the SHL level and if he does I could see him rising on my list next year.

 

[Fjordsen]

Ostlund, add Komarov

 

[JLewyB]

Rosen. Ostlund and he both had their struggles D+1 but Rosen had his bounce back season and Ostlund has not. I fully expect Ostlund to have his this season and I wouldn’t be surprised if these two switch spots in the next poll in the winter for me.

For Rosen, his ability to swipe passes out of nowhere is awesome. Considering how much our centers and other wingers generate off the rush, hes an especially good fit for the Sabres.

Hes also seems taller and longer each time i see him. Deceptively so. You can see the frame he’s going to fill out and theres a real possibility he develops a power side to his game to go along with his slapshot, playmaking and two way game.

Hes a chameleon and the most intriguing prospect for me. Id hate if we traded him because hes still raw in a lot of ways. His value will be so much more with another year of development. In a lot of ways, hes more NHL ready than Kulich or Savoie but I prefer him to learn to dominate AHL this year and then bring that mentality to the big club.

 

[Fezzy126]

Rosen, add Weissbach

 

[Gabrielor]

Rosen. add Kozak.

 

[HOOats]

Rosen. Ostlund and he both had their struggles D+1 but Rosen had his bounce back season and Ostlund has not.

Exactly this for me. Rosen's season answered some questions. Can he survive in a physical league? Are the skill/shot as good/tricky as they seem? Does he have a two-way knack? While Ostlund's emphasized a few that still need to be answered. Why didn't the supercomputer IQ and elite passing equal better production in the second division? How's the physique coming along? Good news is Ostlund obviously has his D+2 and beyond to answer these.

For me the interesting thing this season is seeing Ostlund and Wahlberg (16 months younger) both at the SHL level. Wahlberg has the ready-made build to bang with men (pause) which could mask some deficiencies, but again Ostlund's supercomputer should allow him to thrive with better talent granted he secures a suitable role. If Wahlberg shows scoring touch and snarl as probably the youngest regular in the SHL, Ostlund needs to have an impressive season to stay ahead in my personal rankings. Really I'm just sky-high on Wahlberg and tempted to rank him higher even now - a Swedish Cozens/Wilson hybrid would be dreamy.

Add Komarov.

 

[Tatanka]

Johnson add Richard

 

[Matt Ress]

Went Ostlund. Next few picks are pretty tight to me. Lots of floor/ceiling/likelihood internal debate.

Add Kozak

 

[TheMistyStranger]

I hope we get to see Rousek - Ostlund - Benson some day. I also want to see Rosen - Savoie - Kulich.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Rosén for me

 

[Dirty Dog]

My first vote that is apparently a strong minority opinion, but Johnson. Cool as a cucumber last year, ready to take a legit role on the NHL team as soon as this year (at some point!)

 

[NotABadPeriod]

My first vote that is apparently a strong minority opinion, but Johnson. Cool as a cucumber last year, ready to take a legit role on the NHL team as soon as this year (at some point!)

I think Johnson firmly belongs in this tier with Rosen and Ostlund. Because so much of the conversation around him centered on the "will he sign" question, his actual talent and ability as a prospect has probably been overlooked quite a bit.

Voted for Rosen. Doing what he did at the AHL level was really impressive.

Add Komarov.

 

[Zman5778]

Ostlund by a hair over Rosen.

Add Kisakov

 

[AaronPines]

Ostlund, and looks like I’m in a Kisakov island and will be for awhile. I’m not down I’m him yet for his slow adjustment in Rochester.

Surprised Wahlberg isn’t getting more support here. He’s at least in the convo based on ceiling with these new couple guys. Love his two way game, but maybe I’ll make that pitch when I start voting for him.

 

[Zman5778]

I think Johnson firmly belongs in this tier with Rosen and Ostlund. Because so much of the conversation around him centered on the "will he sign" question, his actual talent and ability as a prospect has probably been overlooked quite a bit.

Personally I have Johnson just a tick below Rosen and Ostlund, but firmly above everyone else in the system. The "will he sign" thing didn't influence me at all....I just don't see the ceiling I once did from him. His floor is super high though.

 

[RefsIdeas]

I went Ostlund but it’s close. If Rosen played with the mentality of Benson, he’s a top 5 player in any draft, he has that much natural talent. I think regardless he’s a useful NHL player, but the way he approaches the game will dictate how good he can become.

Ostlund growing an inch + adding some weight will do wonders for him. I actually thought he had a good D+1 season, building off of that in the SHL this year would make him a likely 2/3C. In the end, him being a center gives him the edge over Rosen for me.