Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - In the days leading up to the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo, WGR will provide profiles on some players that could be available for the Sabres with the 27th overall pick in the first round.
Ahead of the start of the 2025-26 season, many saw Ryan Roobroeck as a potential top-10 prospect in this year's draft class as a big-bodied, two-way center. However, after some questions relating to his drive and a late-season injury cut his draft year short, his stock has dropped where some have Roobroeck potentially falling out of the first round entirely.
Listed at 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds as an 18-year-old, the London, Ontario native has the stature that many teams in the NHL covet on a regular basis. He has the structure to create problems with his size down the middle, and has proven to utilize his strengths in order to win a puck battle or positioning in key areas of the ice.
Roobroeck also utilizes his strength and size with his shot, generating power and precision behind every puck on goal. The puck comes off his stick crisp and with authority, which also shows with his passing abilities, especially on the rush.
On the fly, Roobroeck can move well, given his size, and turn on the jets to find open ice or join a rush late to create an odd-man situation. While his skating can only be improved from here, he's got the acceleration and the footwork to make him a dangerous offensive threat.
Roobroeck has also been relied upon to be a solid two-way presence, playing in a number of key situations on the power play, penalty kill and in late-game situations when securing a win or trying to get the game-tying goal. He's solid with his defensive positioning, and has a good stick to take away passing lanes.
Where some really started to question Roobroeck as his draft year went on is the consistency of his play, as well as a drive to be the best player on the ice every game. Many know the pure talent that Roobroeck possesses and his ability to take over a game when he wants to. However, it's about putting it out there enough for those in attendance, and some feel it wasn't always there with Roobroeck night-in and night-out.
To make matters worse for Roobroeck, when he just appeared to be getting back on track with his game, a lower-body injury in February ended his draft year prematurely after putting up 58 points (30+28) in 49 games played.
In addition, Roobroeck is one of the older prospects available in this year's draft class. Oftentimes, the older the prospect, the higher the expectations are to be physically and skillfully dominant over fellow competitors in a similar age group, For being looked at as a potential top-10 pick in this class, it's fair to say Roobroeck may not have lived up to those set expectations.
At this point, it may be all about whether a team is confident in its ability to take a player like Roobroeck and find that extra gear in his game, and make him a confident player to go out and be the best player on the ice from one game to the next. If so, whichever team that drafts him may find themselves with quite a steal down the draft order.
A lot will hinge on the next few years for Roobroeck, but there's still plenty of promise that he can find that level to become a very solid middle-six center at the top level.
