The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by members of the Die By The Blade community. 92 readers ranked Buffalo Sabres players under the age of 25 as of August 1, 2026. Each participant used their own metric of current ability and production to rank each player.
Tyson Kozak
Drafted: 2021 Seventh Round, #193 overall
Size: 5’11”, 185 lbs
Position: Center (shoots left)
Born: 12/29/2002 (Age: 23) Souris, MB
2025-2026 stats: GP46 G2 A4 PTS6, Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
2025 T25U25 Ranking: 14th
The Buffalo Sabres unearthed a late-round gem in Tyson Kozak, and he has paid off on a limited-minutes, bottom-six role with the Sabres signing him to a three-year, $2.325 million extension on July 1, 2025.
After a season of bouncing back and forth between Rochester and Buffalo, he spent the whole season with the NHL side last year. In typical fourth line forward style, where he lacked in point production he made up for with grit and determination despite his slight stature.
As a serviceable 4th line center, he improved his faceoff percentage last season to 48.3% but saw his role usurped at the business end of the season by Sam Carrick. However, once the former Ranger got injured Kozak got back into the side and featured in six playoff games, picking up one assist and going +2 against the Bruins and Canadiens, playing 11:25 a night.
Kozak shows promise as a bottom six center that brings an infectious work ethic and a willingness to make his mark in the trenches, a thankless role that all teams need filled. However, you have to think this is his ceiling and there’s not much else he is going to do than what he already does for the Sabres.
The center proved he could compete at the NHL level when his number was called. He consistently finishes checks and plays with a constant motor. While his stats won’t jump out at you, he showed a willingness to battle his way in the dirty areas of the ice to make an impact. A theme can be discovered by looking through his highlights: he is always around the net. All his NHL goals are plays in front where he does his best work, and he will be in contention for the Sabres’ 13th forward most nights and a chance to play in the bottom six as needed.
2026 Buffalo Sabres Top 25 Under 25
#25 Simon-Pier Brunet
#24 Topias Leinonen
#23 Gavin McCarthy
#22 Luke Osburn
#21 Maxim Strbak
#20 David Bedkowksi
#19 Brodie Ziemer
#18 Vsevolod Komarov
#17 Ashton Schultz
#16 Riley Fiddler-Schultz
#15 Prokhor Poltapov
#14 Ryan Johnson
#13 Ilia Morozov
#12 Adam Kleber