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. #20 - Olivier Nadeau – Right Wing (Jacksonville – ECHL, Rochester – AHL) Nadeau was the Sabres fourth-round pick and one of 11 selections that Buffalo had in the 2021 NHL Draft, including top overall pick Owen Power and first-rounder Isak Rosen. The winger won a Memorial Cup with the Shawinigan Cataractes in 2022 and had an injury-shortened season with Gatineau before turning pro in 2023. Playing mostly with ECHL Jacksonville, the 6’2”, 204 lb. winger scored 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 41 games for the Icemen, and scored a goal in five games with AHL Rochester in his first professional campaign. Last season, Nadeau more than doubled his point total (50) and goal production (28) with Jacksonville, but only got a cup of coffee in AHL Rochester. Other Sabres Stories Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/projecting-sabres-trade-cost---lawson-crouse] Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/six-former-sabres-who-signed-elsewhere] A potential power forward candidate down the line, Elite Prospects said Nadeau said at the time he was drafted that “he uses his size, protects the puck, and finds teammates quickly under pressure. He can grab the puck from the yellow of the board, protect it by driving his knee and bottom hand into opponents, and slip passes to shooters in open ice. His offensive planning is among the best in the draft. He anticipates the routes of teammates and defenders and identifies productive plays ahead of time.” The 22-year-old will likely get more of an opportunity to play with the Amerks this fall, as he enters the final year of his entry-level contract. If he shows some progress and upside potential, it is likely that he will earn a second pro deal. Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo [https://twitter.com/MikeInBuffalo]
