Adam Kleber
Defense · BUF · NCAA

Adam Kleber

Age
20
Height
6'6"
Weight
229 lb
Shoots
R
Drafted
2024, round 2, 42nd overall
Born
USA
2026-27
NCAA · Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth
Games
4
Goals
1
Assists
2
Points
3
Prospect score · 2026-27
Projectable

276th of 1,160 prospects in the NHLnew

9th in the BUF system · 4th among its defensemen

+0.4WAR a season if he sticks
Outlook
NHL odds23%Becomes a full-time NHL player — 200 games by 26
Impact odds3%Better than the typical NHL regular among defensemen
Arrival2028-29The season his comps who made it typically became regulars
WAR a season if he sticks+0.0+0.4+0.6Low, middle and high outcomes among his comparables who became regulars

Of the 10 players most like him at the same point in their development, 3 became full-time NHL players.

Development

His scoring, converted to an NHL equivalent, against every player his age and position that season. Zero is the average player his age; the band is where his comparables were at each age.

-2-10+11516171819Age2021-22, age 15, 28 GP: -0.49 vs. his age group (0.03 NHL-equivalent points per game)2022-23, age 16, 56 GP: -0.83 vs. his age group (0.03 NHL-equivalent points per game)2023-24, age 17, 56 GP: +0.14 vs. his age group (0.08 NHL-equivalent points per game)2024-25, age 18, 33 GP: -0.82 vs. his age group (0.04 NHL-equivalent points per game)2025-26, age 19, 40 GP: -0.48 vs. his age group (0.08 NHL-equivalent points per game)
HimMiddle half of his comps at that ageAverage player his age
Comparables

Past prospects at the same position and the same stage after their draft, matched on draft slot, age, size and league-adjusted production. What they became is already known. The outcome is judged at 26: 200 NHL games by then makes a regular.

#PlayerMatchNHL GP by 26Career NHL GPOutcomeWAR a season
1Erik Cernak2015 · #43 · at 2054%365509Regular+0.49
2Ryan Collins2014 · #47 · at 2052%00Did not stick—
3Steven Santini2013 · #42 · at 2045%119136Did not stick—
4Stephen Johns2010 · #60 · at 2045%150167Did not stick—
5Michael Paliotta2011 · #70 · at 2041%22Did not stick—
6Carl Dahlstrom2013 · #51 · at 2040%6767Did not stick—
7Alexander Peters2014 · #75 · at 2040%00Did not stick—
8Cameron Crotty2017 · #82 · at 2039%811Did not stick—
9Oscar Klefbom2011 · #19 · at 2039%378378Regular+0.41
10Brady Skjei2012 · #28 · at 2039%366780Regular+0.21
Season by season
SeasonGPGAPtsPIM
2026-27NCAA · Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth412312
2025-26NCAA · Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth40391219
2024-25WJC-20 · USA U2060114
2024-25NCAA · Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth3323513
2023-24WJAC-19 · USA U1960228
2023-24USHL · Lincoln Stars565212626
2023-24USA-S17 · Northern Plains District61011
2023-24Hlinka Gretzky Cup · USA U1850116
2022-23USHL · Lincoln Stars560888
2022-23USA-S16 · Team Royal51120
2021-22USHS-MN · Chaska High28413174
2021-22USA-S15 · Team Purple40112
2021-22MNHP · B15 - District 630000
2020-21WSI U15 · Draftday Selects U1592570
2020-21WSI U14 · Draftday Hockey Selects U14 292570
2020-2115U AA · Chaska/Chanhassen Bantam AA40944530
2020-2114U AAA · Minnesota Blades 14U AAA132790
2019-20MNBEL 14U · MN Rangers 14U AAA40110
2019-20MNBEL 13U · MN Bolts 13U AAA112680
2019-2015U AA · Chaska/Chanhassen Bantam AA31117180
2015-16Brick Invitational · Team Minnesota60110

The prospect score is a percentile of his expected outcome among every prospect in the league: the chance he becomes a regular, times how good his comparables who did became against others at their position. A player who never sticks counts as zero, which is why a long shot with a high ceiling can rank below a safe bet. All Sabres prospects · How the rankings work