The Buffalo Sabres had four players playing in the medal round of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships on Sunday, and Sabres second and third-round picks Adam Kleber and Brodie Ziemer won gold in Team USA’s 4-3 overtime victory on Sunday night on a goal by Teddy Stiga.
Ziemer had an assist on Stiga’s game-winner at 8:04 of the extra frame and three shots on goal in 16:46. Kleber played just 9:58 in the contest, with no shots on goal but was +1 on the night.
Sabres top pick Konsta Helenius was held pointless in the gold medal game in 21:06 with no shots on goal, and was -1. The 18-year-old ended the tournament with six assists in seven games.
2023 second-round pick Anton Wahlberg had an assist and six shots on goal in 23:21 for Sweden in a 3-2 shootout loss to Czechia. The 19-year-old ended the tournament with eight points (4 goals, 4 assists) in seven games.
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The 13 game winless streak has taken them completely out of the playoff race. They, you know, I believe Money Puck has them at 3% chance of making the playoff. So I, you know, if they can have an eight game winning streak and they're still not going to be within five or six points, any realistic person looking at this team sees that there's talent there, but is there enough talent in the right places to make them a winner? Obviously they know they're going to be a team that will miss the playoffs for 14 straight years. I don't think there's a chance in hell. If they do, I will be the first person to say, Oh my God, what a great comeback. They could do what St. Louis did in 2019. That's happened once in my lifetime when a team was 30, 30, it was last place in the league and came back, made the playoffs and made them win the Stanley cup. I don't think this team has what it takes to do the same thing. So all I can say is what changes are going to be made between now and March the 7th when it comes to the Sabres. And I think the ownership where, you know, Corinne was making the point about Terry Pagoola, this is where the ownership needs to make up their mind. Is Kevin Adams the guy to make these changes?