Thanks to all 117 people who responded to Die By The Blade’s annual voting for the Buffalo Sabres’ Top 25 Under 25 list. Before we get into the list, let’s take a moment for the honorable mentions – AKA, the players who didn’t make the top 25.

There were 49 eligible players this year. Several players on last year’s top 25 list aged out (Rasmus Dahlin & Mattias Samuelsson among them) while others are no longer with the organization (such as JJ Peterka & Dylan Cozens).

Let’s kick things off with a few players who just missed the cut for making the top 25.

Jake Richard (RW/LW)

The 20-year-old Richard was drafted 170th overall by the Sabres in 2022. He just completed his second season of NCAA Division I hockey at Connecticut and really had a breakthrough year. With 43 points in 34 games, he more than doubled his point production across the board. Of his 15 goals, seven came on the power play. He was also named a Hockey East Third Team All-Star.

Richard will return to UConn this fall for his junior year.

David Bedkowski (D)

Bedkowski, 18, was just drafted by the Sabres with the 71st overall pick earlier this year. A right-shot defender from Toronto, Bedkowski is known for his physicality. In 35 games with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack this past season, he notched 73 penalty minutes. Here’s what EliteProspects has to say:

“To say he has a “mean streak” would be an understatement. Bedkowski punishes. He hurts, retaliates, beats down, knocks, and crushes opponents with open-ice hits and bone-rattling contact along the boards. Bedkowski flashes confidence in the attacking zone, too. He joins the rush, one-touches passes, beats forecheckers with his feet, and occasionally unloads one-timers from the blue line.”

Gavin McCarthy (D)

McCarthy, 20, is a Clarence native drafted by the Sabres in 2023 (86th overall). In his sophomore season at Boston University, he registered 16 points – 13 assists – and had 51 penalty minutes in 39 games. Prior to his being drafted, EliteProspects called him “part-robust defender, part-clever creator” who “throws crushing hits, wins inside positioning and eliminates off-puck threats.”

Check out this article from Buffalo Hockey Beat about McCarthy from last month.

Luke Osburn (D)

Osburn, 18, was drafted by the Sabres 108th overall last year. He spent this past season with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms, where he nearly doubled his point production from his rookie year. He put up 10 goals and 31 assists for 41 points in 55 games, compared to 23 poiints in 60 games the prior season. He was also named USHL Defenseman of the Year.

DobblerProspects calls him “a fluid, composed, highly intelligent defenseman with a great aptitude for making things happen in motion.“

Osburn is set to join the University of Wisconsin this fall.

Matteo Costantini

Costantini, 22, recently signed a two-year AHL contract with the Rochester Americans and is set to make his pro debut this fall. He’s coming off a championship season with Western Michigan, where he served as an alternate captain. He recorded 23 points, including 15 goals, in 40 games. Costantini previously spent two seasons at North Dakota before finishing his collegiate career with two seasons with the Broncos.

The Sabres still hold Costantini’s NHL rights but have until August 15, 2025 to sign him.