Sabres Prospect Update - 2025 Draftees - Part 2

Here is a quick update on Buffalo Sabres selected in 2025

Noah Laberge - D - 135th overall

Laberge was selected in the fifth round after scoring 12 goals and 35 points in his second season with Acadie-Bathurst of the QMJHL, who moved to St. Johns and become the Newfoundland Regiment. He showed some growth in his third season in the Q, nearly doubling his offensive output (56 points - 7 goals, 49 assists) in 62 games, and averaging over a point per game in the postseason. This season, the 20-year-old has shifted to the NCAA and has a goal in his first two games with Northeastern University. 

Ashton Schultz - C - 167th overall

A product of the Minnesota high school system, Schultz originally played for Sioux Falls in the USHL before shifting to the Chicago Steel, where he posted 39 points (14 goals, 25 assists) in 57 games prior to being selected in the sixth round by the Sabres. The 20-year-old forward split time between the two USHL clubs and posted 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists) in 49 games last season and is embarking on his freshman season at the University of North Dakota, where he went scoreless in his first NCAA contest. 

Melvin Novotny - LW - 195th overall

The first of three Buffalo seventh-round picks, the 19-year-old winger is a product of the Leksands system in Sweden, who played for his country at the WJC Under-18s in 2025. After coming to North America, to pursue an NCAA collegiate track, Novotny thrived with Muskegon of the USHL with 57 points (22 goals, 35 assists) in 48 games. Playing as a freshman at UMass, Novotny has an assist in five games. 

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Yevgeni Prokhorov - G - 199th overall

The Sabres second netminder selected in the 2025 Draft, the Belarusian native was selected as a 19-year-old after playing 28 games for the junior level of Dinamo Minsk (Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk) after posting a 16-7-3 regular season record and a GAA under 2.00 in six playoff games. The long-range prospect went 14-9-5, with a 1.96 GAA and .925 save % in 29 MHL games last season, and gave up six goals in his first MHL start this season.    

Ryan Rucinski - C - 219th overall 

Buffalo’s familiarity with Youngstown, where 2024 pick Luke Osburn and 2025 selection Matous Kucharcik have played the last two seasons may have contributed to the Sabres taking a swing at Rucinski, who scored 42 points for the Phantoms. Last season, the 19-year-old Ohio native led Youngstown in goals (27) and was second in points (62).As a freshman at Ohio State, he has one assist in three games. 

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