The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results. 

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. 

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#17 - Tyson Kozak  – Center (Rochester - AHL, Buffalo - NHL)

Kozak was the Sabres last pick in the 2021 NHL Draft out of the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, and after averaging over a point-per-game in 2021-22 and making a favorable impression at the 2022 Prospects Challenge, the Manitoba native surprisingly made the jump to the AHL instead of being sent back for another year of junior.

His two-way ability made him a good fit as a bottom-six checker and penalty killer, and as a rookie, Kozak scored only 10 points in 55 regular season games, but he had five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 14 playoff games in Rochester’s run in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The 5’11”, 185 lb. center struggled with recurring lower-body injuries the following season  and that limited him to 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) in 41 games.

Last season, the 22-year-old played well with the Amerks and earned a lengthy look by the Sabres, scoring three goals in 21 NHL games. Kozak was sent back to Rochester to play in the playoffs, but it is expected that he will be in the mix for a fourth line job during training camp next month.   

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