Top 20 Buffalo Sabres prospects still full of NHL potential

[HF Article]

Photo: Just six months after he debuted at #1 of the Sabres top 20, super-rookie Jack Eichel is games away from graduating from Hockey’s Future prospect criteria. (Courtesy of John Crouch/Icon Sportswire.)


</p>The 2015-16 season has been quite noteworthy for the Buffalo Sabres and their prospects. After two consecutive seasons of languishing at the bottom of the standings, the team got an infusion of youth this season and have seen positive results.

Centers Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart have been the most notable freshman additions. Eichel displays a blend of skill and speed that the Sabres may not have seen since the days of Alexander Mogilny and Pat Lafontaine and might be the most electrifying draft pick they’ve had since Pierre Turgeon or perhaps Gilbert Perreault.… read more

The post Top 20 Buffalo Sabres prospects still full of NHL potential appeared first on Hockey's Future.



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[SoFFacet]

Borgen?

 

[Wisent42]

Why isn't Reinhart on that list? Do they consider him a graduate and if so, why is McCabe on the list?

 

[CaseyMitts37]

I don't understand how Bailey and Baptiste are ranked higher than Fasching, the Borgen omission is also a head scratcher

 

[sabresfan65]

Borgen?

He can pop onto the list when McCabe graduates on Wednesday or when Eichel graduates on March 3rd (unless injury or scratch takes them out). I mean Reinhart didn't make the list because he graduated today.

 

[Chainshot]

Borgen?

Was wondering that myself.

 

[SoFFacet]

He can pop onto the list when McCabe graduates on Wednesday or when Eichel graduates on March 3rd. I mean Reinhart didn't make the list because he graduated today.

He should never have been on the list's bubble in the first place.

 

[Ralonzo]

Borgen?

The hell? Borgen's in my top 10 not because he made the U20, but because of what he did in the U20.

Granted I haven't seen every other prospect play to judge that they should be above him.

But come on, in the latter games of that tourney not only was he USA top-4, he was the ONLY top-4 that was consistently moving the puck away from his goal.

To think that there are 20, or 15, or even 10 Sabres prospect better for expected contributions at the NHL level, to me, is a hard sell.

 

[ottawah]

I don't understand how Bailey and Baptiste are ranked higher than Fasching, the Borgen omission is also a head scratcher

For their age and position, Bailey (2nd in goals, 4th in points) and Baptiste (before injury was 2nd in goals, 3rd in points) have had pretty good AHL years so far and justify their prospect rankings. Its one step from the NHL so it is easier to gauge them. Fashing still is in the NCAA, it is a bit harder to gauge. Also the NHL is mostly predicated on speed, and I'd rate Fasching as the third best skater of this group.

That said it is very very close here, take your pick, not just in overall talent, but in many aspects of their game. I see all three of these players as 3/4 right wingers with some second line potential.

Borgen gets high rating for one short tourney. I'd have him in the top 15 for sure, but I'd think he still is looking at a long road to the NHL.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Here's where they stack up for me. I consider Eichel and McCabe to be graduated:

1. Fasching
2. Bailey
3. Baptiste
4. Guhle
5. Petersen
6. Ullmark
7. Cornel
8. Olofsson
9. Borgen
10. Carrier
11. Ruhwedel
12. Schaller
13. Florentino
14. Hurley
15. Martin
16. Karabacek
17. Malone
18. Kasdorf
19. Estephan
20. Johansson

 

[SoFFacet]

Here's where they stack up for me. I consider Eichel and McCabe to be graduated:

1. Fasching
2. Bailey
3. Baptiste
4. Guhle
5. Petersen
6. Ullmark
7. Cornel
8. Olofsson
9. Borgen
10. Carrier
11. Ruhwedel
12. Schaller
13. Florentino
14. Hurley
15. Martin
16. Karabacek
17. Malone
18. Kasdorf
19. Estephan
20. Johansson

Very close to my own. I'd actually move Borgen up even higher, over Cornel and Olofsson. I'd also put Estephan up in the 10-12 range.

 

[Ygo]

Estephan > Karabacek

 

[SabresBillsBuffalo]

Possler

 

[Man of Principles]

I don't see Devante Stephens anywhere

 

[Chainshot]

Possler

Hasn't been the same since the knee injury.

 

[Jame]

Tier Rank Name Total
1 1 Fasching 7.4
1 2 Bailey 6.75
1 3 Guhle 6.55
2 4 Baptiste 6.2
2 5 Ullmark 5.9
2 * Borgen 5.9
3 7 Olofsson 5.55
3 8 Estephan 5.45
3 9 C.Peterson 5.25
3 * Cornel 5.25
4 11 Florentino 4.9
4 * Catenacci 4.9
4 13 Stephens 4.85
4 14 Ruhwedel 4.8
4 * Schaller 4.8
4 16 Martin 4.75
4 * Rodrigues 4.75
4 * Kasdorf 4.75
4 * Carrier 4.75
4 * Dupuy 4.75
4 * Karabacek 4.75
5 22 Johansson 4.4
5 23 Malone 4.25
5 * Hurley 4.25
5 * Austin 4.25
6 26 Possler 4.05
6 * Chukarov 4.05
6 27 Brown 3.9
6 * Willman 3.9
6 30 Gauthier-Leduc 3.7

 

[B U F F A L O]

Good looking list Jame, no complaints

 

[SuperUnknown]

For their age and position, Bailey (2nd in goals, 4th in points) and Baptiste (before injury was 2nd in goals, 3rd in points) have had pretty good AHL years so far and justify their prospect rankings. Its one step from the NHL so it is easier to gauge them. Fashing still is in the NCAA, it is a bit harder to gauge. Also the NHL is mostly predicated on speed, and I'd rate Fasching as the third best skater of this group.

That said it is very very close here, take your pick, not just in overall talent, but in many aspects of their game. I see all three of these players as 3/4 right wingers with some second line potential.

Borgen gets high rating for one short tourney. I'd have him in the top 15 for sure, but I'd think he still is looking at a long road to the NHL.

Borgen's play for St.Cloud has been really good. He didn't play over his head in the tourney, he played the same he always does. He will be a top 4 D sooner than later in the NHL.

He's certainly a top 10 prospect for the Sabres.

 

[Chainshot]

Tier Rank Name Total
1 1 Fasching 7.4
1 2 Bailey 6.75
1 3 Guhle 6.55
2 4 Baptiste 6.2
2 5 Ullmark 5.9
2 * Borgen 5.9
3 7 Olofsson 5.55
3 8 Estephan 5.45
3 9 C.Peterson 5.25
3 * Cornel 5.25
4 11 Florentino 4.9
4 * Catenacci 4.9
4 13 Stephens 4.85
4 14 Ruhwedel 4.8
4 * Schaller 4.8
4 16 Martin 4.75
4 * Rodrigues 4.75
4 * Kasdorf 4.75
4 * Carrier 4.75
4 * Dupuy 4.75
4 * Karabacek 4.75
5 22 Johansson 4.4
5 23 Malone 4.25
5 * Hurley 4.25
5 * Austin 4.25
6 26 Possler 4.05
6 * Chukarov 4.05
6 27 Brown 3.9
6 * Willman 3.9
6 30 Gauthier-Leduc 3.7

Well done.

 

[KBstyle]

What's happening with Carrier? I didn't saw him lately but seem like he's having a small progression since last in point, nothing spectacular but still. And if you look at the +/- he's one of the best in his club.

 

[MackAttack26]

What's happening with Carrier? I didn't saw him lately but seem like he's having a small progression since last in point, nothing spectacular but still. And if you look at the +/- he's one of the best in his club.

IMO still easily top-10 in our system.

He has low upside, but a lot better chance at making the NHL than most in our system: can score a decent amount, is good defensively, pretty physical IIRC, seems like a guy who can fill a bottom-6 role someday. I value him more than guys like Olofsson who seem to be top-6 or bust and have a very low chance of making it.