2024 Prospect Poll #5

[Intermission]

Wahlberg, Isak Rosen, and Ryan Johnson as a group in a vacuum:
If none were on the team, I'd take Walberg.
If I could only protect 1 of them, it would be Johnson.
I selected Rosen thinking about his future.

 

[old kummelweck]

Interesting that we already have this years first, second, and third round picks on the list.

I went with Johnson. Add Topias Leinonen.

 

[Sabre the Win]

Rosen, my last favorite forward prospect but he's above Johnson and Whalberg for me in terms of near NHL ready and what he's done in his semi pro career.

I just don't think Rosen carves out an NHL career but even with that said, he's producing and playing a more pro game then Johnson or Whalberg.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Jeez, this is nearly a 3-way tie.

 

[Chainshot]

Jeez, this is nearly a 3-way tie.

Will just call this the Tallinder and move on.

 

[Matt Ress]

For me
Rosen - great talent. Will be difficult to carve out an NHL career as a top 6 player

Johnson - could be an nhler now but he'll probably never be more than a 3rd pairing guy with lack of offense. He has the tools for offensive killer instinct but too safe.

Wahlberg - future power forward in the NHL. I don't see him as an every day center but can be polished into an impact player.

Wahlberg
Johnson
Rosen

But y'all still sleeping on Novikov. Big camp incoming. RyJo, not the skater but more offense and an NHL defenseman body. Hungry, high character player.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Will just call this the Tallinder and move on.

Yeah I’m not gonna do a run-off if it ends tied here. There like 3 votes for other prospects; the results aren’t going to change with another poll.

 

[Matt Ress]

Yeah I’m not gonna do a run-off if it ends tied here. There like 3 votes for other prospects; the results aren’t going to change with another poll.

I'm one of the schmucks. I'll move to Wahlberg to settle it if need be

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

If Novikov is Buffalo's 4th best prospect that could be REALLY good, but in all likelihood it's really bad

 

[KiwiGriff]

Wahlberg might be my favorite prospect outside of Levi, but it’s still RJ for me.

Surely there's only one RJ for the Sabres.

My pick is Johnson, add von Barnekow-Lofberg

 

[HOOats]

Tiebreaker should be put all three on the ice, lock the doors, and see which guy makes it out in one piece.

I know who my money would be on lol.

 

[old kummelweck]

I love Wahlberg as a prospect, but still surprised people have him so high.

 

[Zman5778]

I love Wahlberg as a prospect, but still surprised people have him so high.

I've seen a number of "he's not what we have in the system" comments, so I personally think he's being a touch overrated due to this.

I personally have him behind Rosen and RJ, but it's close.

 

[CowbellConray]

I've seen a number of "he's not what we have in the system" comments, so I personally think he's being a touch overrated due to this.

I personally have him behind Rosen and RJ, but it's close.

When I watched his time in Rochester, I saw a guy who thinks the game well, works the boards and net front, and has the body to hold the puck in transition.

I have him #2 in the pool, but I’m super high on his potential career

 

[HOOats]

I've seen a number of "he's not what we have in the system" comments, so I personally think he's being a touch overrated due to this.

I personally have him behind Rosen and RJ, but it's close.

We "don't have a lot of him in the system" because there aren't many big/mean/fast/offense guys to go around in the league. To me that's an indication of value, not overvalue. It's the same reason we keep getting put in position to draft small skill. They're hard to draft and harder to trade for.

To me Wahlberg has the same floor as RyJo (6D/B6W), he's just four(!) full years younger than him. That plus his physical and skating projection equal a ceiling that RyJo isn't sniffing imo. They're not close on my list.

Rosen is close behind Wahlberg for me. Both likely end up as M6W, but the power forward prototype tips it for AW. Rosen is interesting as ever though with the skating and smarts to go with the skill and AHL production. He's close to the NHL now with more potential to go. He might need a change of scenery eventually and I could see him thriving in a successful org.