Sabres’ top prospects to watch at 2024-25 training camp

Konsta Helenius is another scoring center, although he’s a couple of years younger than Kulich. Drafted No. 14 overall in 2024, the Finnish forward is fresh off an excellent campaign in the country’s top league. Playing with Jukurit in Liiga, Helenius managed 14 goals and 36 points in 51 games in his home country, but was even better in the playoffs.

Helenius scored six points in six games in the postseason, while playing exceptional defense for his squad. This projects as a standout second-line center in a couple of years, although he’ll likely begin his North American career in Rochester. He’s an extremely hard worker who has a ton of experience playing against men after playing nearly two full seasons in Finland’s top league.

The youngster’s abilities will be on full display in training camp, but unlike Kulich, there’s a very small chance he actually gets into NHL games in 2024-25. Still, it looked to be a great pick by general manager Kevyn Adams, and it’s only a matter of time before the right-shot center is making his mark in the sport’s top league.

Devon Levi needs no introduction

The prospect who will be most familiar to Sabres fans, Devon Levi has already played a cup of coffee — and more — in the National Hockey League. The 22-year-old got into 23 games with Buffalo last year, playing to a 10-8-2 record along with a 3.10 goals-against average and .899 save percentage.

When he was sent down, Levi shined in the AHL, winning 16 of his 26 starts and compiling a sparkling 2.42 GAA and .927 SV%. Although he’s just 6-foot tall, the Quebec native is extremely athletic, which helps him move quickly around the crease. After a phenomenal showing in the minors, it’s almost certain he will begin the 2024-25 campaign as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s backup.

A former No. 212 overall selection by the Florida Panthers in 2020, Levi is ready for a full time shot in the big leagues, which is exactly what he’ll get this season. It’ll be interesting to see if he can improve on his modest totals in his first full NHL campaign.

Noah Ostlund is a speedy playmaking forward

Finally, Noah Ostlund will make his case for a roster spot with the 2024-25 Sabres after spending most of last year in the Swedish elite league last season. Playing with the Vaxjo Lakers in the SHL, the 20-year-old put up 23 points in 38 games, before ending the year with the Americans in the AHL.

He got into just two regular-season games in Rochester, adding an assist before scoring a goal over three postseason contests. Although he’s undersized at just 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds, Ostlund is a speedy playmaker who can create off the rush, and like Helenius, he competes hard off the puck.

Also like Helenius, it’ll probably be at least another full year before he plays for the Sabres — he’s likely to get a full year of North American exposure in Rochester first. But it’s only a matter of time before he cracks an NHL roster, and he projects as a top-six player who will be a lot of fun to watch when the times comes.

It’ll be intriguing to see if Kulich ends up making the team, and how well Helenius and Ostlund show at training camp in 2024-25. But for Levi, he should play upwards of 30 NHL games for the first time in his young career.