Buffalo’s Childhood Teammates Reunite: A Prospect Story with Heart

The Buffalo Sabres have drafted a truly unique trio—Adam Kleber, Brodie Ziemer, and Ashton Schultz—who first skated together in Minnesota’s pee-wee hockey system and now share a shot at NHL stardom under the same organization.

A Tale of Friendship and Hockey Dreams

Their bond traces back to Chaska and Victoria, Minnesota, where the three first played together with the Machine Orange summer team before forming a dominant pee-wee squad. Growing up, their shared passion and chemistry set the stage for this once-in-a-lifetime reunion.

Adam Kleber, the towering 6-foot-6 defenseman, was selected 42nd overall in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Brodie Ziemer, a gritty forward with a lethal shot, followed just one round later at 71st overall.
Ashton Schultz, a smooth-skating, puck-moving forward, joined the ranks at 167th overall in the 2025 Draft.

Each has taken different paths: Kleber excelled in the USHL with the Lincoln Stars and helped Team USA earn gold at the 2025 World Juniors. Ziemer showcased offensive creativity at the University of Minnesota and played a vital role in the World Juniors, while Schultz is making waves in the USHL and is on track to join North Dakota’s NCAA squad in 2026–27.

Why It Matters for Bettors and Fans

Built-In Chemistry: Their long-standing friendship and on-ice familiarity could accelerate team cohesion and benefit Sabres’ future lineups.
Narrative Value: Human interest stories like this—especially around draft picks—ignite fan enthusiasm and can influence sentiment-driven markets, including rookie props and breakout bets.
Complementary Skill Sets: Kleber brings size and defensive strength; Ziemer offers scoring grit; Schultz adds vision and finesse—creating a well-rounded future core that fans and bettors can rally behind.

Takeaways for Bettors

Insight	Betting Implication
Track Camp Performance Closely	Their reunion adds buzz—but true value lies in performance. Early exhibition or development camp results offer a better indicator for prop and futures bets.
Monitor Roster Elevation	If any of the trio cracks the NHL roster early, timing will be key. Tempo-driven props or futures bets at that moment may yield value.
Chemistry + Skill = Value	Teams with built-in core chemistry often outperform expectations. Consider long-term bets like team improvement or breakout player markets