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.
Riley Fiddler-Schultz
Drafted: Undrafted
Size: 6′, 201 lbs
Position: Center (shoots left)
Born: 5/13/2002 (Age: 24) Edmonton, AB
2025-2026 stats: GP 65 G 21 A 18 PTS 39, Rochester Americans
2025 T25U25 Ranking: N/A
Back-to-back Schultz’s, and the only double-barreled last name on this list, meet Riley Fiddler-Schultz.
‘The Fiddler’ is also very likely to be the only undrafted prospect on this list, and has certainly done his time working his way up the hockey food chain to stand on the cusp of the big league.
After five seasons in the WHL, the last two where he scored at a PPG rate for the Calgary Hitmen, Fiddler-Schultz went undrafted in 2023 but was picked up by the Sabres organization. A season in the ECHL followed with the Jacksonville Icemen where he potted 23 goals and 20 assists in 51 games, and earned a callup to Rochester the next season getting 13 G and 13 A in 51 games again.
The Sabres acknowledged his growth by giving him a two-year contract which saw him finish the 2025–26 AHL season tied for second on the Amerks with 21 goals in 62 games, along with 16 assists. The forward earned the team’s nomination as the sole finalist for the AHL’s Yanick Dupré Memorial Award (Man of the Year), and established himself as a much-loved member of the team getting named the IOA/Specialty Man of the Year award for his heavy fan engagement and community work.
For the upcoming 2026–27 NHL season, Fiddler-Schultz projects as a primary call-up option and organizational depth forward for the Sabres. With elite prospects like Konsta Helenius and Noah Östlund graduating to the NHL, the center will be heavily relied upon as a top offensive and leadership presence in Rochester.
He plays a hard-nosed, 200-foot game at center, and his strength around the net and puck-tipping capabilities should translate well to a bottom-six role in the NHL. The forward has been noted for his high hockey IQ and professional poise, attributes shared with his uncle, longtime NHL veteran Vern Fiddler.
Fiddler-Schultz is another hardworking, high-character hockey player that the Sabres’ prospect pool seems littered with, and given his undrafted background, you know he’s not taking a single day that he’s here for granted.
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