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, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.
Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club’s top 40 prospects. These players are all 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 82 NHL games.
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39 Redmond Savage – Center (Jacksonville – ECHL, Rochester – AHL)
The Sabres were looking for veteran depth players for the Rochester Americans and snagged a forward with NHL bloodlines in Redmond Savage. The son of former NHLer Brian Savage is a product of the US National Development Program and was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. The 5’11”, 185 center played for Team USA at the World Junior Championships in 2022 and 2023 and his first two collegiate seasons with Miami(OH) University. After his sophomore year, he used the NCAA’s transfer portal to head to Michigan State.
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With the Spartans, he set a collegiate-high as a junior, scoring 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 38 games, but his senior season was abbreviated to just 20 games because of a season-ending injury. The Red Wings opted not to sign the 23-year-old after his college career was completed, and last August, the Arizona native signed a two-year AHL deal with the Sabres.
In his first pro season, Savage split time between ECHL Jacksonville and the Amerks, where he scored six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in 29 games, and he played in all three playoff games in the first round against Toronto. With a significant chunk of Rochester’s top forwards moving into the NHL this season, it is likely that players like Savage will get longer looks in primary positions next season.
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