Elite Prospects 2025 NHL Prospect Pool Rankings: No. 19-ranked Buffalo Sabres

Years of missing the playoffs and multiple failed rebuilds have exhausted the patience of everyone around the Buffalo Sabres organization. 

On-ice success — in the short-term — is now the only goal. But the team still needs to add a few pieces to move toward it. They may be forced to once again turn toward their prospect pool and young NHL players, like Jiří Kulich and Zach Benson, to find the help they need. 

While Benson and Kulich have graduated from this list, a few other talented players projected to middle-of-the-lineup roles, Radim Mrtka, Konsta Helenius, and Noah Östlund, have kept the system in our top 20. 

Will their contribution be enough? Time will tell. 

After moving to the WHL and instantly becoming a No. 1 defenceman, it was no surprise that 6-foot-6 Radim Mrtka ended up going i