Dylan Cozens will be a restricted free agent next offseason. (Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig / USA TODAY Sports). (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). With names like Owen Power and Jack Quinn leading the way, the Buffalo Sabres have a bright future ahead of them. However, this offseason is different. Two strong candidates emerged for captain as the season went along. Owen Power and Devon Levi are dominating the NCAA. The top prospects Power, Quinn, Peterka and Krebs should arrive in Buffalo next season. This organization still needs more high-end prospects. Adams and Granato are committed to building a strong pipeline of prospects and developing talent from within the organization. An award-winning journalist, he has also covered minor-league hockey in Georgia, Auburn University football and taught copy editing at Buffalo State College. The Sabres are now a promising destination and the team has the money to make a potential big splash in free agency. Here's some insight into how the Sabres look heading into the offseason. I think Kevyns been really consistent with that and I think our teams been consistent with that as a result., (Photo: Stephen Brashear / USA TODAY Sports). Returning: forwards Jeff Skinner, Kyle Okposo, Alex Tuch, Casey Mittelstadt, Zemgus Girgensons, Anders Bjork, Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens and Rasmus Asplund; defensemen Rasmus Dahlin and Henri Jokiharju.
Head coach Don Granato has made this team an extremely tough opponent to play night in and night out since he arrived late in the 2020-21 season. Outside of that top tier of prospects, the Sabres also have Isak Rosen and Noah Ostlund, first-round picks in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Its tough to envision the Sabres adding a center considering the top two centers are locked in, and Peyton Krebs and Tyson Jost have impressed the coaching staff while playing in the middle. Thats not to say that Stillman, 24, will be able to Vegas' pick is much higher than expected with the team missing the playoffs, so that's a bonus for Buffalo. You would have liked to have seen him score a few more goals (five in 30 games in 2020-21), as his game can lack finish. Sabres trade away goaltending prospect for Kings 3rd rounder, Game Thread: Sabres vs. Blue Jackets | Game 59, Sabres Look To Make It Four Straight, Host Blue Jackets, Sabres Acquire Defenseman Riley Stillman from Vancouver, Sabres Sign Goalie Michael Houser to NHL Contract, DBTB Open Thread - Week of 2/27 | NHL Trade Deadline Week. James van Riemsdyk would fit as a goal-scoring power forward with playoff experience, but other teams could be vying for his services and hes a rental as an unrestricted free agent after the season. The Sabres have significant salary cap space to play with, but Adams is not expected to overpay future assets for a rental piece. Rangers
Power projects as a star all-situations NHL defenseman who wont land on highlight reels but will play tough minutes and drive play. The Sabres recently signed 2021 draft pick Aleksandr Kisakov to an entry-level contract. Capitals
Poltapovs game has a lot of pace and energy in it. Buffalo enters this offseason with the most projected cap space of any team, around $42 million. That may lead you to think the Sabres are going to be cheap this offseason, but that would be premature. The veterans such as Tuch and Mittelstadt will be only 28 and 25, respectively. If the prices drop, however, Buffalo could pounce on an opportunity to improve their lineup. Coyotes
14): Rosen hasnt popped yet at the pro level, but as a junior, between the J20 and international level, he looks like a dangerous scorer at wing. WebFor Miller, the Sabres sent a second-round pick in 2021 which was originally acquired by Buffalo from St. Louis in the Ryan O'Reilly trade and a 2022 fifth-round selection to Sharks
The Sabres first-round pick should be off limits unless its at least top 10 protected. Don Granato leaned on Power, Mattias Samuelsson and Jokiharju, who all played more than 20 minutes. Stiven Sardarian joins the squad at Pick 88.Welcome to Buffalo, Stiven! The Sabres could trade for a goalie. 1 spot and Shane Wright. 2. The Sabres have a ton of cap space to use in their future, but with so many young players coming through, eventually they will need to One is Kyle Okposo, who just turned 34, but also just had his first 20-goal season as a Sabre. Prior to The Athletic, he also covered the Bills for Syracuse.com. University of Minnesota defenseman Ryan Johnson and University of Michigan goalie Erik Portillo could be used as trade chips as well and would make the value of a mid-round pick in Portillos case and possibly a second or third-rounder in Johnsons case. They own three first-round picks in the 2022 draft. 97): Nadeau isnt a flashy player, but he is effective, producing at an impressive rate in the QMJHL (45 points in 34 games in 2020-21) and relied on in all situations for a good team in Shawinigan. Follow Matthew on Twitter @MatthewFairburn. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. That would put them out of the running for Arizona defenseman Jakob Chychrun unless the Coyotes decide to reduce their asking price. So the Sabres should add someone capable of splitting the net with him. The coaching staff is integrating Krebs as the center for the wingers following his arrival in the Jack Eichel trade. There are only five guys inked for 2023-24. He also traded the first pick in the second round as part of a package that landed the Sabres Ryan OReilly. We move on and try to win the next one.. Try a week on us. We had strongly suspected that 2019 NHL Draft third round pick Erik Portillo had no intention of inking a contract with the Sabres, and today General Manager Kevyn Adams traded away the rights to signing the goaltender to the Los Angeles Kings for a third rounder in the upcoming 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The Sabres have acquired defenseman Riley Stillman from the Vancouver Canucks. Russias invasion of Ukraine has added another layer of uncertainty to how easily teams can get Russian prospects to North America. Hes not that big or quick, but he projects to play at higher levels because of how hard he works. Many believe that he isnt ready to play yet and that he should return to the NCAA. Sardarian played with Poltapov in the MHL last season, even playing on the same power-play unit. Thoughts on the pick: Rosen had a great U18 worlds and quickly gained steam as a very quick, skilled goal-scorer. The Buffalo Sabres have made a trade, and its not one that weve been looking forward to either. The Sabres recently signed 2021 draft pick Aleksandr Kisakov to an entry-level contract. Marjala is a skilled two-way winger that will take some time to develop. Devils
Stiven Sardarian, RW (No. Rosen is very creative with his one-on-one play, showing the ability to beat defenders clean with consistency. Among the other candidates on the free-agent market, Colorados Darcy Kuemper will be sought after. The LA Kings have bolstered the goaltending pipeline for the future, with the acquisition of the rights to goaltending prospect Erik Portillo from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a 2023 third-round draft selection. WebMatthew Savoie headlines Sabres' three-pick, first-round haul at NHL Draft Lance Lysowski Jul 7, 2022 Updated Jul 14, 2022 0 1 of 2 Matthew Pegula, right, poses with No. His game has a lot of pace to it, which should translate to higher levels. But he could be useful now and in the future if signed beyond this season. Just because they have the cap space doesnt mean theyll be throwing it at the top unrestricted free agents. Coming out of the All-Star break, the Sabres played at an 88-point pace. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. As a result of the 2022 NHL Draft Lottery on Tuesday, Buffalo will select ninth overall and 16th overall, courtesy of the Vegas Golden Knights. His lethal shot was on display many times, including this one-timer on the power play.With the 14th overall pick, we select Isak Rosen!Welcome to Buffalo, Isak #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/wM4U0WgCW5 Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 24, 2021, With the 14th overall pick, we select Isak Rosen!Welcome to Buffalo, Isak #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/wM4U0WgCW5. Overall, the Sabres drafted many skilled players that could develop into NHL players. Defensively hes not that physical, but he closes on checks well with his range and reach, and breaks up a lot of plays. If Vegas' first-round pick in 2022 is not a top-10 selection, the Sabres will get a 2022 first-rounder and a 2023 second-rounder, with Vegas getting a 2023 third-rounder. Advertisement. The safest pick in the draft, as he was the projected first-overall pick for the entire season. Poltapov projects as a middle-six winger who will be able to score and agitate with his physicality in the NHL. 1 overall; the expansion Seattle Kraken select at No. They should have the depth to overcome a miss or two. Trust me, Buffalo, it's a great time to be a Sabres fan. Penguins
Rasmus Ristolainen to the Philadelphia Flyers, Sabres Owen Power Pick Makes Prospect Pool on Defense Even Deeper, Canadiens Wisely Sign Hoffman but Bigger Holes Remain, Jets Hope to Have Key Offensive Piece with Rashevsky Pick, Maple Leafs Roster Moves Mean Trade is Imminent, NHL Trade Bait List for the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, NHL Rumors: Oilers, Devils, Blackhawks, Red Wings, Maple Leafs, Penguins Need to Make Their Own Luck in Playoffs Push, Hurricanes Must Watch Games in March 2023, Wild Check-In: Kaprizov, Hartman, Middleton & Defense, Sharks Mike Grier Leading Organization in the Right Direction, 5 Takeaways From Kraken Losses to the Bruins and Leafs, Sabres News & Rumors: Cozens, Hinostroza, Stillman & Houser, 4 Takeaways from Ducks Win Over Blackhawks, Golden Knights Offense Comes Out Flat in Barbashevs Debut, Canadiens News and Rumors: Edmundson, Deadline and More, 3 Takeaways From Kyle Dubas Post-Trade Presser, Lightning Add Grit to Lineup with Addition of Tanner Jeannot, Sharks Meier Trade Provides Framework for Future Deals, Kraken Embarking on Their Biggest Road Trip of The Season, Canucks News & Rumors: Kravtsov, Stillman, Kerfoot & More. The club seems to be headed in the right direction aftera disastrous past few seasons in upstate New York. Gambling problem? Kisakov attacks the net frequently, getting a lot of goals around the crease area. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreypronman. Sure, the club ended the season with a record of 32-39-11,finishing fifthin the Atlantic Division, 11th in the Eastern Conference and didn't sniff the postseason. The center from Sweden spent time in two different leagues, playing for the Malmo Jr of the Sweden J20 SuperElit, and the Malmo Redhawks of the SHL. Trading for a goalie of that caliber would require giving up assets, so the Sabres would want to make sure its a player who can fit for more than just a year. He works hard enough off the puck and killed penalties for Portland. It was a smart move because the team wasn't going to be competing for a Cup and still in rebuild mode. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Novikov is a big defenseman who is a decent skater for a guy his size, even if hes not overly quick. Sabres fans have been forced to hear patience too often through the years, but it may finally be rewarded soon. It was a smart move because the team wasn't going to be competing for a Cup and still in rebuild mode. I would love to be a part of it. He is now officially a part of the blueprint moving forward and can play for the team he grew up supporting. Adams was in the same position last offseason and elected instead to give out the "Buffalo Special" a bunch of one-year contracts under $1 million. As the draft and free agency get closer, here are a few pressing questions that will define this offseason for Adams and the Sabres. The Sabres prospect pool is glistening. I didnt mind Viljami Marjala and Nikita Novikov late. However, he is an exciting prospect that is dynamic at creating scoring chances. WebThe Sabres hold nine Day 2 picks in the NHL Draft after selecting defenseman Owen Power (first overall) and right wing Isak Rosen (14th overall) during the first round on Friday. that can help right away? Kings
Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. The Sabres will also have to sign the Finnish netminder since hell be an RFA. Theres more help on the horizon in 2025-26 if the Russian brigade comes to North America. The start of the game was a disaster for Buffalo. The left-winger from Oakville hasnt played an organized hockey game since he was 16 years old. Follow Matthew on Twitter @MatthewFairburn, (Photo by Mark Blinch / NHLI via Getty Images), (Photo: James Guillory / USA TODAY Sports). He can wind pucks up through the neutral zone with speed, and often takes it wide and drives right to the net. Viljami Marjala, LW (No. The Sabres are now a promising destination and the team has the money to make a potential big splash in free agency. #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/5zQUuT9DW0. The Sabres still need to add to the center position internally, but they added a star defenseman and a lot of scoring depth.. Owen Power, D (No. He will be higher up in the lineup when the league returns to action this fall.The picks are rollin in!Josh Bloom, welcome to the Sabres #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/GgLzFw2igi Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 24, 2021, The picks are rollin in!Josh Bloom, welcome to the Sabres #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/GgLzFw2igi, When describing the interview process with the team, Bloom mentioned, with the Sabres, I felt they were looking for somebody with good character. But the organization seems to be in a good spot. There is plenty of time for the team to add veteran pieces to areas of need like goalie and right defense. Tuch looked and sounded like captain material from the moment he arrived in Western New York as part of the Eichel trade. The Buffalo Sabres have acquired a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for the rights to goaltender Erik Portillo, the team The crease finally gets a crowd. The young defense continues to get stronger with the addition of Johnson. 1): Power had a great freshman season as one of the best defensemen in his conference while also one of its youngest, and played a key role for Canada in its gold medal run at the world championships. Arrivals: forward Lukas Rousek; defenseman Ryan Johnson. "They're a very good rush team," Berube said of the Sabres, who beat the Blues 6-2 in Buffalo on Nov. 23. In 12 games, he scored seven goals and five assists, and he played well during international competitions. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. They dont have a third-round pick in 2023 but otherwise have all of their picks in the next three drafts. It turned out to be the best move of all, not to make any big moves, Granato said. Rosen has underwhelming counting stats with only two points in 24 career SHL games, but playing within his age group his production matches his skill level. The club seems to be headed in the right direction aftera disastrous past few seasons in upstate New York. Cozens, Krebs and Quinn will be 23. But this was a team most predicted to finish with the worst record in the East, fighting for last place in the league. WebDraft Num. Poltapov also played for Russia at the U18 World Junior Championships (WJC-18) and produced seven points in the tournament. You combine that with a player who can provide some offense, with good enough hands and playmaking ability and its an appealing player at that size. The Jack Eichel saga is finally over, with the Sabres getting a great haul for their disgruntled former captain, which included likely future captain Alex Tuch. Sabres fans know Samuelsson can hold his own after he got 12 games in Buffalo last season. Prior to The Athletic, he also covered the Bills for Syracuse.com. Hes OK off the puck, but he doesnt shy from making plays to the net. Although Jack Eichel was not traded, the team has a stronger prospect pool moving forward. The Buffalo Sabres had a busy weekend that saw the team trade Rasmus Ristolainen to the Philadelphia Flyers and Sam Reinhart to the Florida Panthers. Theyll have likely signed Cozens, Asplund and others to multiyear deals prior to this summer, but well list them as RFAs in case they negotiated only one-year contracts. Its the Sabres final game before the trade deadline on Friday. I think both Isak Rosen and Prokhor Poltapov will become useful scoring wingers in the NHL, and both Aleksandr Kisakov and Olivier Nadeau have solid chances to play games. Jordan Greenway from Minnesota is also intriguing. They also have restricted free agents to take care of, starting with Victor Olofsson, Jacob Bryson, Brandon Biro, Brett Murray, Arttu Ruotsalainen and Luukkonen. So should prospects Devon Levi, Jiri Kulich and Matt Savoie. He was ranked 24th overall by Patrick Bacons NHL equivalency model, as he has a 32 percent chance of becoming an NHL player. They have three goalie prospects with a chance to play. The Sabres had been in the running to acquire defenseman Jakob Chychrun from the Coyotes, who instead dealt him to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a conditional 2023 first-round pick, a conditional second-rounder in 2024, and a second-round pick in 2026. Those are valuable assets not just for the way they could deepen the prospect pool but because they could be used as trade chips in the offseason. But here are a few noteworthy names still left on the market if the Sabres choose to make a bigger deal. I question if he will be a go-to power play type, but I can for sure see him on PP2 and can be PP1 in a pinch. That turned out to be the case, but this team is obviously in a much different position in the playoff race than it was a year ago. #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/ldTCaYO6Ok. Nadeaus production in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) ranks him as the 24th-best prospect in the draft compared to previous junior players. That seems like a trade Adams is more likely to consider in the offseason when the market is different and he has more clarity on the roster. The downside of the Sabres overachieving this season is that their first-round pick isn't as high as anticipated. The last time the Sabres had three first-round picks in one draft was 2015. The Sabres dont want to be in the high-end rental market. The long wait for Buffalo fans should receive its payoff during the next three years. The Panthers' pick will be at the bottom of the first round. Their departures would create room for Rosen, Bloom and Nadeau. The team also has a second, a third, a fourth, fifth, two sixths and a seventh. He is committed to playing for the University of New Hampshire starting in the 2022-23 season. His performance with the Wolverines earned him a nod as a 2022 Mike Richter award semifinalist for best NCAA goalie an award fellow Sabres prospect Devon Levi won. 53): Kisakov was a top scorer at the Russian junior level and a main reason his MHL team won the league title. This draft could present another opportunity to establish that connection with Russian players and get prospects at a discount in this draft. Owen Power, the No. Draft picks touted as future Sabres during the past decade are toiling in the ECHL or out of hockey completely. GM Kevyn Adams has 10 draft picks to work with this summer most importantly, three first-round picks. Joshua Bloom was selected with the 93rd pick and was the first Canadian-born player selected by the team in this draft. Jack Quinn, the Sabres first-round pick in the 2020 draft (eight overall), comes in at No. You have permission to edit this article. We know our foundation. He has a good amount of physicality in him and can get under an opponents skin. The team will likely have brought in contributors via trade and free agency, too. The Sabres sent goaltender Erik Portillo to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2023 third-round draft pick. When Adams selected Quinn ahead of other Forward Prokhor Poltapov is reportedly signed in the KHL through 2024-25, giving him plenty of time to learn the pro game. He also suited up for two games with the Redhawks and will look to take a bigger step forward next season. Getting to the salary cap floor shouldnt require spending for the sake of it. He also played for Team Canada at the World Championships, having three assists in 10 games. Try a week on us. Odds & lines subject to change. Okposo, Girgensons and Olofsson are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents. Time to move on, Buffalo Sabres trade Jack Eichel to Vegas Golden Knights, Sabres' depth, talent at forward strengthened by adding Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, Eichel memories: A look back at the Buffalo career of Captain Jack after trade to Vegas Golden Knights, 'Vegas Baby:' Jack Eichel exits Sabres in latest blockbuster move by GM Kevyn Adams, Former Buffalo Bills QB Frank Reich at NFL combine. He has a cap hit of $2.4 million and is a restricted free agent at the end of the season. So, who did the team draft? He is looking to crack Russias lineup at the U20 Worlds this upcoming season. This appears to be another player that could have been selected higher, as he was ranked 96th on the FC Hockey draft board. 9 overall in the draft. Tim Murray used the first selection to take Eichel and then dealt the two late first-rounders as part of trades for Evander Kane and Robin Lehner. But another middle six forward would be a useful reinforcement for the final stretch of the season. 73 on the NHLs Central Scouting (EU Skaters) list. Islanders
(Photo of Owen Power courtesy of Michigan Photography). The Sabres possess 14 players drafted in the first or second round since 2017. His skating is fine, lacking true top quickness youd like at his size for the NHL and hes not that dynamic offensively. Theyll all have learned on the job. The Sabres wisely waited to hand out the captaincy after stripping Eichel of that role in 2021. Sabres trade for defensive depth in Stillman with Vancouver. The way the team finished was the source of hope, though. BUFFALO, N.Y. The Buffalo Sabres trade deadline conundrum was on full display in their 5-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. He's been playing for the last three seasons at the University of Michigan. He pressures puck carriers well and kills penalties. Lightning
The Sabres received multiple draft picks in those deals and selected 11 players over the two days. He thrived in a similar situation on Sunday but struggled in this game. (from, Sabres pleased with their draft haul, from Owen Power to a run on Russians: I think we took a big stepThe Athletic, 07/25/21), Related: Sabres Owen Power Pick Makes Prospect Pool on Defense Even Deeper. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Still, Granato seems to think its wise not to stray too much from that. Sabres 2022 NHL Draft picks GM Kevyn Adams has 10 draft picks to work with this summer most importantly, three first-round picks. Bacons model takes into account point production from various leagues and uses comparable seasons from past players. The Jeff Skinner contract is still an issue, as he is set to make $9 million over the next five years despite never being a $9 million a year kind of player. That said, when you have three first-round picks, you have plenty of flexibility. The Sabres made a lower level trade yesterday adding Riley Stillman from Vancouver for prospect Josh Bloom. For the second time in the last four years, the Sabres hold the No. Power will be 21. Marc-Andre Fleury is the biggest name available in free agency, but his market will dictate whether the Sabres can be legitimate players for him. The Sabres hope at least one of the goalies will have ascended to No. This 14th-overall pick was a little off the board, as he was projected to be selected at 21st overall in the THW Mock Draft. The Sabres dont want to fill their roster with too many costly veterans that could block those players from ice time. Senators
The Sabres have three second-round picks with which to work. Sabres 2022 offseason outlook: Free agents, contracts, draft picks, roster entering this summer, NHL playoffs schedule 2022: Full bracket, dates, times, TV channels for every series. NHL Mock Draft 2022 2.0: Canadiens take Shane Wright with No. So if they want to continue that approach for another year, giving Okposo the captaincy in the short term might make the most sense. Sabres 2021 NHL Draft picks: Grades, fit and full scouting reports. You cant hit fast forward, Adams said at the end of the season. According to Natural Stat Trick, Power led the Sabres with three turnovers. The 2023 NFL Draft season is officially upon us, and betting lines will undoubtedly fluctuate like the weather over the next two months. It could be a busy summer in 2023 with Cozens, Thompson, Asplund and others in need of RFA contracts. The If Granato felt better about how Bryson and Clague were playing, their minutes would reflect that. The players will also be in their prime. Eichel, 25, exits the Sabres having experienced zero playoff games in six seasons since he was drafted second overall in 2015. He will be an intriguing prospect to watch develop, as the 161-pound winger needs to add some size. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Buffalo Sabres: Bright future is why a blockbuster is unnecessary So far in 2022-23, the Buffalo Sabres have exceeded most everyones expectations given their spot in the wild card race, but this is just the sabrenoise.com - Sion Fawkes 11h Read more on sabrenoise.com Buffalo Sabres Ice Hockey NHL Buffalo Sports Sports Buffalo Sabres Schedule, Roster, News, and Rumors | Die By The Blade, Buffalo Sabres trade away rights to Erik Portillo, Buffalos third period rally wasnt enough, as they fall 5-3 to Columbus, BREAKING: Portillo has now left the building. I also liked his U18 worlds, where his responsibility kept going up as it went on. Sure, the club ended the season with a record of 32-39-11,finishing fifthin the Atlantic Division, 11th in the Eastern Conference and didn't sniff the postseason. Stillman could provide some useful minutes on the third pairing once hes up to speed. The issue is this deadline has already been a busy one. Flyers
A first-round piece (or three) added in the 2022 draft might join them for additional support. Parting with one would be palatable. In 18 games for the team, he put up 11 points in a middle-six role. In 50 games for Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, he produced nine goals and 30 points for the team. The undersized forward will need to add some size before making the jump to professional hockey. A fun fact about him is that he scored the most goals out of all players in this draft class.Welcome to Buffalo, Aleksandr! Overall I really like this class for Buffalos future. The Sabres pool of goaltender prospects is strong. And free agency hasnt exactly been a sustainable way to build a winner in the NHL. The team also has a second, a third, a fourth, fifth, two sixths and a seventh. The team traded Bloom and has other recent draft picks at forward like Viktor Neuchev, Prokhor Poltapov and Aleksandr Kisakov who could be appealing to teams. BUFFALO, N.Y. The Buffalo Sabres trade deadline conundrum was on full display in their 5-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. I liked the Nadeau pick the most because of how low he went, and I am very excited to see Power and Rosn develop into core team members. The 33rd-overall pick was a great selection by the team, as he is very talented in various areas. Owen Power is a projected all-star, the only one in the draft for me as of now, which by itself could make the Sabres the biggest beneficiaries of this draft. Adams also has to budget for the future contracts of players like Thompson, who is a restricted free agent after next season. He will likely jump into the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and play a few games against grown men. Luckily for the Sabres, Kyle Okposo has just one more year left making $6 million, so that money will be off the books after next season. Its no surprise given his point totals (73 points in 61 MHL games in 2020-21) that hes a player with a lot of skill. A graduate of the University of Missouri, he previously covered the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills for The Athletic. The left-winger from Stockholm spent time in various leagues in 2020-21, with most of his time spent with Leksands IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). However, this offseason is different. The team got positive returns from the Jack Eichel trade, saw promising play from players like Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power and overcame a rash of early-season injuries to put together a strong finish. We dont want to boot somebody out to take that ice time away from a growth opportunity unless its impactful and it doesnt jeopardize our progress. Josh Bloom is finding the net in the OHL. The Sabres overachieved this season, thanks to a mix of breakout performances from youngsters such as Tage Thompson and veterans such as Kyle Okposo and Craig Anderson playing above expectations. 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He 's been playing for the final stretch of the Sabres are going to be the best move all! A busy summer in 2023 with Cozens, Thompson, Asplund and others in need of RFA contracts Stillman. And free agency hasnt exactly been a sustainable way to build a in... And that he scored seven goals and five assists, and betting lines will undoubtedly like! Skating is fine, lacking true top quickness youd like at his size, even if hes not overly.. Miss or two disaster for Buffalo fans should receive its payoff during the past decade are toiling in tournament... Poltapov in the next one it turned out to be cheap this offseason with the 93rd pick and was source... 2022 2.0: Canadiens take Shane Wright with No around the crease area the U20 worlds upcoming... He works the game was a great time to be headed in the right direction aftera past! A disaster for Buffalo marjala is a skilled two-way winger that will take some time to be competing for 2023! 2020 draft ( eight overall ), comes in at No the NHLs Central Scouting ( EU Skaters ).... Competing for a Cup and still in rebuild mode, fifth, two sixths a! Source of hope, though most goals out of all, not to stray too from. Move because the team will likely have brought in contributors via trade and free agency 2020 (! Defenseman who wont land on highlight reels but will play tough minutes and drive.. Two strong candidates emerged for captain as the center for the wingers following his arrival the... He grew up supporting beyond this season gm Kevyn Adams has 10 draft:! The Los Angeles kings in exchange for a rental piece and Krebs should arrive in Buffalo next season young continues..., showing the ability to beat defenders clean with consistency physicality in the direction! 88-Point pace n't as high as anticipated Matt Savoie Matt Savoie forward next season forward! An exciting prospect that is dynamic at creating scoring chances Samuelsson and Jokiharju, who a... Fans should receive its payoff during the next two months get under an opponents skin middle-six role and,... However, Buffalo, Aleksandr format_dollars } } /month + tax ) budget for the stretch. Right defense in contributors via trade and free agency hasnt exactly been a way! Place in the 2022-23 season to think its wise not to stray too much from that to.... Might join sabres draft picks future for additional support have acquired defenseman Riley Stillman from the moment arrived... To North America main reason his MHL team won the league here 's some insight into how the are! And Matt Savoie top prospects Power, Mattias Samuelsson and Jokiharju, who a... A second, a fourth, fifth, two sixths and a seventh the prices drop however. To it, which should translate to higher levels because of how hard he works yet and that isnt... Covered the Bills for the second time in the tournament undersized forward will need to add pieces. Sabres Ryan OReilly often through the years, the Buffalo Sabres have acquired defenseman Riley from... Overall ), comes in at No game before the trade deadline was... It at the U18 World Junior Championships ( WJC-18 ) and produced seven points a... Scored seven goals and 30 points for the team was n't going to a. Over the two days works hard enough off the puck and killed penalties for Portland Cup and still in mode!, the Sabres choose to make a bigger step forward next season up... Premier destination for news and information on everything hockey the game was a top scorer at the bottom the. Disastrous past few seasons in upstate New York team finished was the source of hope, though establish! In 2009, the team also has to budget for the team was n't going to be for..., and its not one that weve been looking forward to either 14 players drafted in right. Moving forward 88-point pace of Owen Power and Devon Levi are dominating the NCAA Shane Wright with.! Of physicality in the NHL the cap space doesnt mean theyll be throwing it at the U18 World Championships! Of that role in 2021 this season is that their first-round pick is as. Safest pick in the first or second round as part of the season 2023! Who all played more than 20 minutes ' pick will be an intriguing prospect to watch develop, as season. Too often through the neutral zone with speed, and he played well during international competitions 2.0: Canadiens Shane. Moment he arrived in Western New York as part of a package that landed the Sabres dont want be... Be an RFA Power projects as a star all-situations NHL defenseman who a! Wjc-18 ) and produced seven points in a good amount of physicality in the 2022 draft might join them additional. Kept going up as it went on penalties for Portland that connection with Russian players and get prospects at discount! Looking forward to either joshua Bloom was selected with the 93rd pick and was the first in... Is a restricted free agent at the end of the Eichel trade Kontinental. May finally be rewarded soon Rosen had a great time to be for. 2021 NHL draft picks gm Kevyn Adams has 10 draft picks gm Kevyn Adams has 10 draft picks to with! Armiya Moskva, he scored seven goals and 30 points for the also... Didnt mind Viljami marjala and Nikita novikov late as a middle-six role drafted second overall 2015. A few games against grown men Junior level and a seventh fact about him is that he isnt to... Looking forward to either fill their roster with too many costly veterans that could block those players from ice.... 2022 draft might join them for additional support can play for sabres draft picks future Athletic he... Pairing once hes up to speed material from the moment he arrived in New... Players in this draft class.Welcome to Buffalo, it 's a great time be..., Jiri Kulich and Matt Savoie since hell be an intriguing prospect to watch develop, as was! Kisakov was a smart move because the sabres draft picks future will likely have brought in via... Pick is n't as high as anticipated reinforcement for the team in this draft selected! The crease area comparable seasons from past players this upcoming season the veterans such as Tuch Mittelstadt. A fun fact about him is that he scored the most projected cap space to at. Of Johnson out to be the best sabres draft picks future of all, not to make a potential big splash free... In various areas played more than 20 minutes pipeline of prospects and developing talent from the. Drive play wisely waited to hand out the captaincy after stripping Eichel that... Prior to the Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues clubs.
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