The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the best 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.
40. Linus Sjodin – Center (Rogle BK – SHL)
Sjodin was the last of Buffalo’s 11 selections at the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, drafted in the seventh round (211th overall) out of the Rogle BK system in the SHL. The 6’0”, 167 lb. forward was eligible to be drafted in 2021, but went undrafted and was picked by Buffalo as a 19-year-old after splitting time between the junior level andthe parent SHL club for the two years before being chosen. and played full time the last two seasons.
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The Angelholm, SWE native played for his country at the 2022 World Juniors, but in four full SHL seasons has not been a big offensive producer, with 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) in 204 games. Sjodin had two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in 15 playoff games, as Rogle went to the final before losing to Skelleftea in five games in 2024.
Sjödin’s “playmaking abilities are considered one of his absolute strengths, but his struggles of driving the play were due mainly to his average speed.” The Hockey Prospect Black Book said in 2021. He has high-level hockey IQ, but "his lack of speed and quickness are what holds him back from being a high-profile prospect.”
Barring a remarkable turnaround, the Sabres are likely to allow Sjodin’s rights to expire next June, as they did with a pair of their 2021 draft picks earlier this summer.
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