General Manager Kevyn Adams has bolstered the Buffalo Sabres’ prospect pool by signing another key veteran to bolster roster. The Brown University sophomore forward agreed to a two-year, entry-level contract starting in the 2025-26 season. In the meantime, he will join the Rochester Americans on an amateur tryout.
Top star, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound left winger from New Jersey, had a strong season at Brown, tallying nine goals and 28 points in 32 games. As a freshman, he recorded six goals and 18 points in 30 games. Before choosing the NCAA route, he played in the British Columbia Hockey League.
In the 2024-25 season, Kopff notched six multi-point games, including a standout five-point performance (four assists) in Brown’s 6-5 overtime win at RPI on Jan. 31—the first Bear to hit five points in a game since 2016. He also registered a two-goal, four-point outing in a 5-1 win over Yale on Feb. 9.
The Sabres had not landed a significant college free agent since signing Brandon Biro from Penn State on March 18, 2020. College free agents often bypass teams with a surplus of high draft picks, which has limited Buffalo’s appeal in the past.
Per PuckPedia, the Sabres currently have 44 of their 50 contract slots filled, though several players could leave as free agents this summer.