The Buffalo Sabres are considered one of the best deepest prospect pools in the NHL, not only because of their selecting high in recent drafts but also due to their eye for talent and their organizational choices of either leaving players to develop in their home countries or bringing them to North America. Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club’s top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals and have played less than 40 NHL games.
READ ABOUT OTHER SABRES PROSPECTS
20. OLIVIER NADEAU
19. ALEKSANDR KISAKOV
18. GAVIN McCARTHY
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17. VILJAMI MARJALA – LW (TPS TURKU – FINLAND)
Marjala was the Sabres fifth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. The Finnish winger had 27 points in an abbreviated QMJHL season in 2021 and after a second season with the Quebec Remparts, he decided to return home. In 2022, the 6’1”, 176 lb. winger played mostly at the under-20 level and led his club in scoring with 51 points (18 goals, 33 assists) and played 15 games for TPS in the SM-Liiga.
The 21-year-old’s upward progression continued last season, as he led his club with 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) in 60 games, averaged a point per game in the playoffs, and was invited to Finland’s camp for the World Championships, but was cut when NHL players became available. With the young winger playing in Europe, the Sabres are not under any deadline to get him signed to an entry-level contract, but another good season may speed that decision along.
Elite Prospects describes Marjala as “aware and deceptive”, while the Hockey Prospect Black Book says he has “excellent puck skills, good hockey IQ, and can be very valuable on the power play. He however has issues with his skating, compete level, and play away from the puck.”
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