Noah Laberge has exceeded expectations since the Buffalo Sabres selected the Canadian defenseman in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft, raising hopes he can eventually become an important piece of the team’s future on the blue line.

Laberge has recorded 45 points (six goals and 39 assists) in 52 appearances for the QMJHL’s Newfoundland Regiment this season. His offensive prowess has been on full display on the power play, which is particularly exciting for the Sabres, who’ve struggled in that area recently.

The 19-year-old left-shot blueliner told Tyler Millen of Sabres.com he’s really started to understand the role of leading the play with a man advantage.

“As the quarterback, it’s not me that’s going to shoot the most,” Laberge said. “It’s not me that’s going to have the most goals on the power play, but when I have the puck at the top, or when I do a breakout, it’s always [about] putting my teammates in a good position.”

The 6-foot-1 defender added: “At the top, making a little fake, getting some more time for my teammates, making a shot on net that’s not only for scoring, but for a rebound.”

Now it’s almost time for Laberge, who has little left to prove at the junior hockey level, to show he can maintain his impressive impact against tougher opponents.

What’s next for Buffalo Sabres defense prospect Noah Laberge?

Laberge is playing his final season in the QMJHL, and that’s the right decision for his development. He’s scored 104 points (22 goals and 82 assists) in 180 games, which shows he’s ready to graduate from the junior ranks, but he’s probably not quite ready for the AHL.

So, the high-upside offensive defenseman will head to college hockey with Northeastern University for the 2026-27 campaign.

“I’m ready for a new level,” Laberge told Millen. ‘I think college would be great for me. A lot more defensive league, a lot more physical league so both things that are really good to grow my game out. … To go to Northeastern, that’s where I could get the best opportunity for next year, the most playing time and it’s such a great organization so I’m really looking forward to it.”

How he plays with the Huskies next season will give the Sabres a far clearer indication of how close the defender is to playing professional hockey.

Laberge will face a learning curve in terms of trying to generate offense while having far less time and space to operate, though his skating ability and hockey IQ give him a real chance to succeed right away at the NCAA level.

As it stands, the Regiment standout is probably ticketed for at least two seasons of college hockey before potentially making the jump to the AHL’s Rochester Americans if he’s ultimately signed to an entry-level contract by Buffalo.

He’d likely need a full campaign with the Amerks before entering the conversation for the Sabres, too. So that puts him on a pace for a possible Buffalo arrival either late in the 2028-29 season or early in the 2029-30 campaign.

That’s a long way out — he could always accelerate the process with a terrific debut year at Northeastern — but there’s still a lot of reason for optimism based on his play this season.

In the meantime, captain Rasmus Dahlin will continue to handle quarterback duties on the Sabres’ top power-play unit.