Casey Nelson

Nelson was highly touted coming out of Minnesota-Mankato as an undrafted free agent and has shown a lot of promise in his first two seasons in the NHL. He played 37 games for the Sabres, scoring three goals and eight points, showcasing his two-way ability. However, at 26 years old Nelson is unlikely to become an impact player, and if he wants a roster spot he'll have to fend off plenty of competition at camp. It is more likely Nelson will serve as the Sabres' seventh defenseman and draw in and out of the lineup as necessary.

Nelson joined the Sabres for the final seven games of the 2015-16 regular season after three years at Minnesota-Mankato, finishing with three assists, eight penalty minutes and a plus-1 rating. The sample size is tiny, but Nelson fit in right away on the team’s third pairing, and his ability to skate and move the puck around with ease certainly made the adjustment a lot easier. However, he'll have to ward off competition during camp, as three other right-handed defensemen are already on the roster. Even if he makes the team, Nelson's role will still be rather limited to start out.