OTP - Helenius Needs To Play Top-Six Center In Rochester The Buffalo Sabres are considered one of the best deepest prospect pools in the NHL, not only because of their selecting high in recent drafts but also due to their eye for talent and their organizational choices of either leaving players to develop in their home countries or bringing them to North America. 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. 39. Riley Fiddler-Schultz – Forward (Jacksonville - ECHL) With Buffalo stacked with their own drafted prospects, the chances of an undrafted free agent making it to the NHL are slim, but the Sabres gave forward Riley Fiddler-Schultz a chance and thus far, he is taking advantage of it. The 22-year-old has NHL bloodlines (his uncle Vern Fiddler played 877 games with Nashville, Phoenix, Dallas, and New Jersey) and grew into a leadership role in junior with the WHL’s Calgary Hitman, becoming team captain in 2022 and leading the club with 75 points (31 goals, 44 assists). The Sabres signed Fiddler-Schultz to a two-year AHL deal in 2023 and in his first professional season, he finished second in goals for the ECHL’s Jacksonville Iceman and played six games for the Rochester Americans. With the Amerks potentially having first-rounders Noah Ostlund and Konsta Helenius playing up the middle in the top six next season, Fiddler-Schultz could be a depth center option in Rochester or remain in the ECHL for another campaign. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA3NzA4MjI1NjcwMjI3NjA5/img_5780.jpg] LATEST THN BUFFALO STORIES Sabres Say They Are Ready For Accountability [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/sabres-say-they-are-ready-to-be-held-accountable] Ruff Sees Similarities Between Sabres And Former Club [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/ruff-sees-similarities-between-sabres-and-former-club] Ruff Hopes To Bring Winning Culture Back To Buffalo [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/ruff-hopes-to-bring-winning-culture-back-to-buffalo] Follow Michael on X @MikeInBuffalo [https://twitter.com/MikeInBuffalo]
