Seems like a few teams are signing drafted players to ELCs lately.
Who, if any, of the Sabres prospects are expected to sign this Spring?
I would get Leenders under contract based on his OHL body of work however... the multi-headed net monster is afoot.
I'd give Marjala and Leinonen both strong maybes.
Re. Marjala - playmaking creativity is something they could use developmentally on the farm and Marjala could be someone who say takes Rousek's place (though the speed difference is going to be something lacking as Rousek is still one of the quickest Amerks). Marjala has done good things for two years now in Liiga against men. There is probably a player there, though I don't know if he could reach a Maccelli type level, he could be a serviceable mid-line for the AHL team for a few years who maybe turns into something more.
Leinonen would be an interesting case as he's Mora's #1 in the Qualification Round winning both games in OT over Vasteras IK. They're up against Djurgarden in the next round, lost game 1 in OT, then they lost 3-1 with the third goal being an empty netter. He's been very, very good in all of them so far IMO (watched a little of a couple of them, looked in on the highlights). It poses a question though as to the development role since they already have Ratzlaff signed and I think they should sign Leenders, meaning after a long, long time without doing so, they'd have goalies from three straight drafts on a deal. That doesn't mean that they can't leave one of these guys - like Leinonen - in another pro league to work on his game. But when it comes to goaltending development, I have my questions about what the Sabres do and don't do about them with how they've botched Levi and mishandled Ullmark and Luukkonen IMO.
I think they can and should leave their collegiate defensemen for one more year at least though I can see them thinking Strbak might be ready as the 1D on the #1 team in the NCAA right now. McCarthy, Geary, Kleber should all continue working on their craft IMO.
As for forwards... Miedema started well but eh. Maybe they sign Costantini or Sardarian though that is likely putting each up against Marjala and the other two to see who of the slightly built offensively creative players they think they can do something (or anything) with. I would leave Sardarian, Richard, Ziemer, and Zelenov at least one more year. There are too many guys still in Rochester to shove that many in, especially when PP and offensive cycles are still going to guys like Ostlund, Wahlberg, Helenius, and Neuchev in front of 'em. (I left out Rosen, I think he's either up or traded next year.)
I would pass on Panocha.