Sabres Sticking With Development Plan For Promising Prospects

The Buffalo Sabres have exceeded expectations this season in spite of the departures of Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, Rasmus Ristolainen, Linus Ullmark, and Jake McCabe, as youngsters Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Dylan Cozens have thrived with increased roles and responsibilities, but in spite of some promising performances from their top prospects, the club plans on sticking with a patient timetable.

With goaltenders Craig Anderson (upper body) and Dustin Tokarski (COVID) unavailable, the Sabres called up goaltending prospect Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen from the American Hockey League. The former second-round pick put up pedestrian numbers with Rochester (6-6-0, 3.42 GAA, .888 save percentage), but has been impressive at the NHL level, going 2-2-1, with a 1.96 GAA and .939 save percentage in five appearances.

“We’ve put together a development plan and a vision for how we’re going to move forward with this organization, but you also have to be prepared to pivot and make decisions based on the reality of your situation.” Sabres GM Kevyn Adams said on Tuesday. “We were in a situation (with) injuries and COVID, (Luukkonen) came in, had an opportunity and then took advantage of (it and) played very well. So that’s why development is something that is never a straight line. It’s never exactly how you think it should go.”

Although Luukkonen has a promising resume as a former OHL Goaltender of the Year and gold medal winner for Finland at the Under 18’s and World Junior, the 22-year-old has less than 40 games of professional experience in the AHL, which likely means that he will return to the Amerks once Tokarski is healthy.

Adams has a group of prospects performing well in Rochester, including center Peyton Krebs (acquired in the Eichel deal), 2020 draftees Jack Quinn and J-J Peterka, and defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, but unless the club has an emergency situation where replacements are needed, the plan may be to allow the youngsters to gain experience and round out their game.

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Krebs has bounced back from a slow start with 14 points in 16 games with Rochester, Peterka has made the smooth transition from the German league, while Quinn is having a breakout year with 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 17 games.

“I like to see players that are impactful from shift to shift, they’re impacting the game in a positive way. That may be on the scoreboard, that may be the way they’re playing defensively, that might be on the penalty kill, it could be a lot of different things, but that’s when especially for me when I’m watching players.” Adams said. “(Quinn) came here last year as a young (player), trying to get his feet wet and learn what professional hockey is all about. And it was tough, but he’s the type of kid who’s very curious. He spent time with the coaching staff, asked questions of older players in Rochester and you started seeing him take over shifts, make plays and be impactful.”

2021 top pick Owen Power opted to return to the University of Michigan for his sophomore season and is leading the Wolverines in scoring and will be a key contributor for Team Canada at the upcoming World Juniors in Alberta.

The Sabres hope to get Power to turn pro after taking a run at an NCAA Championship before the end of the regular season, which would enable the big blueliner to get a taste of the NHL and perhaps play for Rochester with Quinn, Krebs and others in the Calder Cup Playoffs.