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Continuing with the list of top Sabres prospects, here are the top five skaters in the organization. As mentioned before, skaters qualify if they:
a) Have no NHL games played
b) Are under the age of 23
c) Have a minimum of 15 games played in their current league
5. C-Arttu Ruotsalainen (SM-Liiga)
Age: 22
Potential NHL role: Top 9 forward
Likelihood of reaching role: 5/10
Ruotsalainen was signed by the Sabres last year as a European free agent and so far, he’s performed as expected. His CF% of 50.7 is about middle of the pack for forwards and he’s scoring points at a pretty high rate, keeping pace with fellow DY+4 forward and former 4th overall pick Jesse Puljujarvi.
Ruotsalainen is ranked 8th in primary points per game among all forwards in Liiga (min. 40 GP), 4th in even strength primary points per game and is 3rd in total production among all DY+1 to DY+4 skaters. He’s shown that he can not only set up players in multiple game states but is capable of scoring goals himself. While the numbers are impressive across the board, expectations should be tempered here. Making the jump to North America will be a big step for him so he will probably require some time in the AHL but the long-term upside is promising.
4. D-Jacob Bryson (AHL)
Age: 22
Potential NHL role: 2nd pair defenseman
Likelihood of reaching role: 6/10
Bryson first got on everyone’s radar in his sophomore year when he finished his season with Providence top 10 among all college d-men in primary assists. That offensive upside took a bit of a dip in his junior year but he seems to have found it again in his first pro season with the Rochester Americans.
Bryson is in some very good company here and he’s received a lot of high praise from those who regularly cover the AHL squad. The combination of offensive instincts and speed make him dangerous with the puck both at even strength and the power play. His timeline is a little more difficult to project given the current depth on the blue line. I suspect he’ll get at least another half year in Rochester but if he continues to improve his game the Sabres won’t be able to keep him there for very long.
3. C-Marcus Davidsson (SHL)
Age: 21
Potential NHL role: Fringe Top six/nine forward
Likelihood of reaching role: 5/10
By his standards, Davidsson has had a down year in the SHL but his overall body of work post draft has been excellent. Last season he was 5th among all forwards in the SHL in even strength primary points per game and his overall production this season is still up there with some of the best young forwards in Sweden.
It’s worth noting that Davidsson played for a much weaker Vaxjo HC this year after spending the previous four with Djurgardens IF so that may help explain the dip in production. He hasn’t particularly dominated in any way to think that he’s a “lock” for a top six role but the talent and production this early in his career is an encouraging sign. His next stop is likely Rochester once the Sabres get him signed to an ELC.
2. F- Matej Pekar (OHL)
Age: 20
Potential NHL role: Top 6 forward
Likelihood of reaching role: 6/10
This will come as a surprise to many but I’ve been a huge fan since draft day so I’ll stake whatever prospect analysis reputation I have on this. Pekar’s USHL production in his draft year was right up there with forwards going in the second round so the fact that the Sabres were able to snag him in round four was already a nice win. Though his time in the OHL has been hampered with injury troubles, Pekar’s ability to produce hasn’t slowed down at all. His even strength primary point production per game is 15th in the OHL, ahead of names like Ryan Suzuki and Ty Dellandrea.
His power play and secondary point production has him fall a little in overall production but the numbers at even strength have been consistently good enough to keep him near the top of the Sabres prospect pool (although in fairness his competition isn’t stiff). The word on Pekar is he likes to play with an edge and that will go far in helping him carve out an NHL career. His first year in the AHL will be crucial in determining his odds at reaching his ceiling as most forwards who have it are able to make some sort of impact fairly quickly.
1. C-Dylan Cozens (WHL)
Age: 19
Potential NHL role: Fringe 1st/2nd line forward
Likelihood of reaching role: 7/10
The one ranking on any Sabres fans list that is consistent and indisputable, Cozens is the cream of the crop and he’s put up the numbers to back that. Nobody in the WHL has more primary points and his even strength primary points per game of 0.8824 is third best in the league.
A lot has been said about Cozens’ ability to transition from the WHL to NHL and after Casey Mittelstadt’s experience it’s not unwarranted. However, from their draft years, Cozens has been a better prospect and more significantly had the numbers to back up his potential.
The NHLe draft tool from hockeyprospecting.com shows us that not only was Cozens’ ceiling higher than Mittelstadt’s, his floor appears to be as well. I’m hesitant to say he’ll be a bona fide first line centre because those who are typically have that extra gear in their game that really distances them from the pack. That isn’t to say Cozens can’t be, just that there’s less certainty around him than there was for say someone like Jack Eichel. Nevertheless, I believe he’s ready for the NHL next season and barring a scenario where the Sabres re-sign Wayne Simmonds and Vladimir Sobotka to play with Cozens, he’ll probably produce at a good rate as well.
Thanks for reading!
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