Ranking NHL teams’ rookie prospects from the Buffalo Sabres Prospect Challenge - Pt. 1

This past weekend from Sept. 15 through the 18, six National Hockey League (NHL) teams traveled to Buffalo for the annual Buffalo Sabres Prospect Challenge at the LECOM Harborcenter. The teams in attendance included the Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, and Ottawa Senators. In the round-robin style tournament, rookie prospects were able to skate alongside their future teammates and show off their skills to coaches and fans.

The best way to analyze the event is to rank the six teams’ rookie prospects from this past weekend. This two-part list will start at number six, the worst of the bunch, and count down to the best. 

6. Boston Bruins

After their record-breaking, yet disappointing end last season, it is clear that the Bruins’ prospects are out for revenge. The team is led by left wing Luke Toporowkski, center Brett Harrison, and goalie William Rosseau. Both Toporowski and Harrison were breakout players this past weekend at the Prospect Challenge, as they both scored early in the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

With Harrison in particular, fans and coaches were able to see his offensive game and hockey IQ, as he rattled off three goals over the three-day event. On the defensive side, Rosseau, who went undrafted, shined between the posts with stellar stats to follow, blocking 19 of 21 shots. 

Finally, even with the Boston Bruins being stacked at the goalie position with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman, it would help to have Rosseau on their roster. The Boston Bruins prospects finished with a 1-2 record as the weekend came to a close.

5. New Jersey Devils

The Devils are undoubtedly one of the highest-ranking power teams in the NHL today, and they have a handful of rookie prospects to help fill their roster. Names like right wing Graeme Clarke, left wing Josh Filmon, and defenseman Simon Nemec are definitely going to be the players that we hear for years to come. 

Clarke, who is fighting for a spot on the current Devils roster, scored against the Ottawa Senators and had a solid game against the Buffalo Sabres. He has skills with the puck but there are questions about whether they will be enough to make it in the NHL. 

Nemec was the top prospect heading to Buffalo this past weekend, and while his presence on the score sheet wasn’t prominent, his presence on the ice was. Nemec’s defense has improved and he was able to break up scoring chances and deflect shots against the Sabres.

Another noteworthy defenseman this past weekend was Daniil Misyul, who has an upper hand when it comes to his physicality. This may end up being a negative, however, as he was a liability and the reason for two power-play goals for the Senators over the weekend. 

Rookie defenseman Luke Hughes was also supposed to make an appearance in Buffalo but was excused, as he played in two regular season games along with several playoff games against the Rangers where he proved to be a solid NHL-caliber player.

 As a team, the Devils' stickhandling was not at its best as they were turning pucks over left and right, and missing shots high and wide, leaving them with a 1-2 record. There is however little doubt that with some hard work and continued experience, these Devil rookie prospects will be able to get to the same level as the current New Jersey players at the highest level. 

4. Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators dominated the game with their size and physicality every time they stepped on the ice. Their win against the New Jersey Devils on Friday was based on the capitalizing off Devils’ mistakes leading the Senators to breakaway opportunities and odd-man rushes giving them the 5-2 victory. 

Notable Ottawa players included right wing and center Tarun Fizer, who scored four goals over the three days, and goalie Leevi Merilänen who had a stellar game against the Devils while shutting them down in a 5-2 victory. 

While the Senators started off the round-robin tournament strong, they ended on back-to-back losses after scratching their top prospects which included center/left wing Ridly Greig, wings Tyler Boucher, Zack Ostapchuk, and Roby Jarventie, and defenseman Tyler Kleven. Taking their place were 11 undrafted forwards—an odd move made by the Ottawa coaching staff that left them with a 1-2 record in the tournament.

Make sure to check out next week's edition of The Lamron for part two of this article.

Thumbnail photo via Bruce Bennett/Getty Images