2026-27 Buffalo Sabres Top Prospects

** Different sites can use different criteria for determining who is still a prospect. Also, for Dobber Prospect lists they take a fantasy hockey approach – prospects whose current trajectory projects them making the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL.

Konsta Helenius is a highly intelligent two-way center whose game is driven by elite processing speed, strong positional awareness, and the ability to make quick, efficient plays under pressure, allowing him to contribute in all three zones. His strengths lie in his hockey sense, defensive reliability, and playmaking ability, but he lacks high-end explosiveness and may not project as a dynamic offensive driver at the NHL level. Overall, he projects as a dependable middle-six center who can play in all situations and provide strong two-way value.

Radim Mrtka is a large, right-shot defenseman with impressive reach and physical tools, using his size to defend effectively and disrupt plays while showing flashes of puck-moving ability. His strengths include his frame, defensive presence, and willingness to engage physically, but his skating and decision-making can be inconsistent, and he remains a raw prospect who requires significant development. In the long term, he projects as a potential shutdown defenseman if his mobility and puck management improve.

Daxon Rudolph is a big, right-shot defenseman with an attractive combination of offensive intelligence, puck-moving ability, and shooting talent. He is particularly effective activating into the play and moving the puck through transition, and his production with Prince Albert—28 goals and 78 points in 68 games in 2025–26—demonstrates considerable offensive upside from the blue line. Rudolph still needs to become more consistently assertive defensively and physically, while improving some of his decisions when attempting to create offense in transition.

Ilia Morozov is a big, intelligent two-way center whose combination of hockey sense, strength, puck protection, and positional awareness gives him an unusually mature game for his age. He handles traffic well, possesses quick hands and a deceptive release, and already showed that he could compete against older players as a 17-year-old NCAA freshman, recording 20 points in 36 games for Miami University. His primary question is offensive ceiling, as his production can be streaky and he does not consistently create high-end offense despite having the tools to contribute.

Brodie Ziemer is a competitive, two-way winger who combines strong skating, physical engagement, and a high motor to impact the game in multiple ways, often contributing through puck retrieval and responsible play. His strengths lie in his work ethic, versatility, and ability to play a complete game, but his offensive ceiling appears limited and he may not produce at a high level. Overall, he projects as a reliable bottom-six forward who can bring energy, physicality, and defensive responsibility.

2026 Buffalo Sabres Draft Picks

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