Sabres prospect rankings 6-10: Why Isak Rosen, Nikita Novikov are names to watch

The Buffalo Sabres had the youngest roster in the NHL last season and started it with seven players 22 or younger in their lineup. Even with so much of their young talent in the NHL, the prospect pool remains one of the deepest in the league.

On Wednesday, we highlighted Buffalo’s top five prospects. They’re the ones who get the most notice and have the best short-term chance to be in the NHL. Beyond those top five, though, the Sabres have drafted some exciting talent at forward and defense. Today, we rank prospects six through 10 in the system, and the list has multiple players who will play major roles for Rochester in the AHL this season.

Note: I only included players under 23 in these rankings, so that left off Lukas Rousek. Rousek has a strong chance to play a role in the NHL this season and could end up as a long-term fit in the NHL as a fourth liner.

6. Isak Rosen

2021 1st round, pick 14 | 5-11, 168 pounds | 20 years old

Why he’s No. 6: When the Sabres drafted Isak Rosen, director of amateur scouting Jerry Forton said his shot and speed were already at an NHL level. What Rosen needed to do was get stronger. He’s done that in the two seasons since he was drafted but still had room to grow. The Amerks listed Rosen at 5 feet 11 and 168 pounds last season, which was his first in the AHL. He had 14 goals and 23 assists in 66 regular-season games and added another eight points in 14 playoff games. Amerks coach Seth Appert consistently raved about Rosen’s progress throughout the season, and that showed up in the postseason. Rosen struggled early but adjusted to the intensity of playoff hockey.

“Sometimes until you live it, it’s hard to know,” Appert said during the playoffs. “What’s great is he got to have that punch in the face, so to speak, and then looked inside himself and we had a meeting with him and saw so much growth in a short period of time.”

Where he fits into the big picture: Rosen looks like a player who could be dangerous on the power play at the NHL level given his shot and skating acceleration. Depending on how quickly he develops, he could replace Victor Olofsson in the lineup when Olofsson’s contract expires. Though there’s a bit of a logjam in the pipeline at center, there could be winger spots up for grabs in Buffalo’s lineup over the next few seasons. Rosen has a shot to take one of those spots.

Where he’ll play this season: Rosen will likely play at least one more season in Rochester. He still needs to add weight and get stronger on the ice. Last season, his first in North America, should provide a strong foundation for him to build on as he continues his development.

2021 6th round, pick 188 | 6-4, 211 pounds | 20 years old

Why he’s No. 7: This is where the rankings get tricky. Beyond the top six, the Sabres have a tier of prospects who could fall in any order depending on personal preference. After I got an in-person look at Nikita Novikov at development camp, he’s my pick at No. 7. It’s easy to see the upside with Novikov because of how smooth he is as a skater and puck-handler even with his 6-foot-4-inch frame. Sabres assistant general manager Jason Karmanos mentioned he needs to add strength as he adjusts to playing in North America, but the organization views him as a player with NHL potential.

Where he fits into the big picture: The Sabres added a few defensemen on the second day of the 2023 draft and managed to sign 2019 first-round pick Ryan Johnson, so the pool of blue-line prospects has gotten deeper. But the Sabres will be waiting for one of these young defensemen to separate himself from the pack. Novikov has the tool kit to make it happen.

Where he’ll play next season: Novikov will play in Rochester after signing his entry-level contract this spring.

8. Ryan Johnson

2019 1st round, pick 31 | 6-1, 191 pounds | 22 years old

Why he’s No. 8: After four seasons at the University of Minnesota, Ryan Johnson signed his entry-level contract with the Sabres this spring. Though he’s not a physically imposing defenseman, he’s looked like one of the best skaters on the ice the last two years at development camp. That skill alone gives him a chance to contribute at the NHL level.

Where he fits into the big picture: Johnson played left and right defense during his time at Minnesota, which should help him in future competition for a roster spot. The Sabres are deep on defense heading into this season, so Johnson will get time to work on his game in the AHL.

Where he’ll play this season: Johnson will more than likely play for Rochester next season.

9. Prokhor Poltapov

2021 2nd round, pick 33 | 6-0, 182 pounds | 20 years old

Why he’s No. 9: It’s admittedly difficult to get a complete picture of Prokhor Poltapov while he continues to play in the KHL for two more seasons. But the highlight reel paints a picture of a player with tantalizing skills. He’s a balanced skater with the strength to play through checks. He plays a different style from some of Buffalo’s other forward prospects, and that’s a positive.

Where he fits into the big picture: Poltapov is under contract for two more seasons in the KHL, so his timeline is different. But he’s being coached by Sergei Fedorov, so his staying in Russia isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Assuming the Sabres can sign him when the time comes, Poltapov could transition quickly to a role on the third or fourth line with the way he plays. There’s a lot of unknown with Poltapov given his contract situation and the longer timeline, but he looks like an NHL player.

Where he’ll play next season: Poltapov will play for CSKA Moskva in the KHL next season.

10. Anton Wahlberg

2023 2nd round, pick 39 | 6-3, 190 pounds | 18 years old

Why he’s No. 10: The Sabres tried to trade back into the first round to take Anton Wahlberg in the 2023 draft, but he fell to them in Round 2. Forton described him as, “a kid that rises in the big moments. Not a perfect player yet, some inconsistency. Talented, fast, very skilled around the net. A hard player. You need it all to come together, but it’s a special package.” He’s going to get a bigger role playing in the SHL

Where he fits into the big picture: A lot of the forwards higher on this list aren’t as big as Wahlberg, so he gives Buffalo different skills in its pool. He has experience playing center and wing, which is another positive. The Sabres are betting on the skills with Wahlberg. Where he fits long-term will be easier to see after another year or two of development.

Where he’ll play next season: Wahlberg will play for Malmo in the SHL, Sweden’s top professional league.

(Photo of Isak Rosen: Joshua Bessex / Getty Images)