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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28. Melvin Novotny – LW (Muskegon – USHL)
The Sabres had a trio of seventh-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, and with the first pick (195th overall) they selected left winger Melvin Novotny. The 19-year-old had a breakout season in the SHL junior system, scoring 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists) in 41 games for Leksands IF, and also played for Sweden at the World Junior under-18s.
Instead of following the usual path toward playing in the SHL, Novotny headed to North America to play with Muskegon in the USHL and is committed to playing for U.Mass (Amherst) in 2026. His season with the Lumberjacks was extremely encouraging, as the 6’1″, 185 lb. winger scored over a point-per-game (22 goals, 35 assists in 48 games)
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Another positive sign was Novotny’s appearance for Sweden at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Windsor, ON last month. He played primarily fourth line duty throughout the tournament, but Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis indicated that he was one of Tre Kronor’s most noticeable forwards, showing flashes of skill and hockey IQ, and he believes he could put up great numbers in the NCAA.
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