Buffalo Sabres Draft Picks: Second Round Busts
By Tim Redinger
Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A general view of the complete draft board after the completion of the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
There has been a lot written about what will happen with the Buffalo Sabres and their first round draft picks in the 2015 NHL Entry draft. At one point they had three first round draft picks, their own, and the draft pick belonging to both the St. Louis Blues and the New York Islanders.
They have already traded away their latest first round draft pick, which will most likely be the St. Louis Blues pick, and may end up trading away the New York Islanders pick as well during the draft, if they can move up further in the draft, or pick up an NHL caliber player to further bolster their roster heading into next season.
What will the Buffalo Sabres do with their two remaining second round draft picks? The Sabres once held three second round draft picks, their own, the New York Islanders, and the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings reacquired their second round draft pick in the Brayden McNabb deal.
They might not all be busts, but they haven’t benefited the Buffalo Sabres on the ice – and with the exception of a minority, are no longer with the team.
With two second round draft picks the Buffalo Sabres have options. They could bundle their pick – which will be almost like a late first round draft pick, and their remaining late first round draft pick to move up higher in the draft, still picking twice in the first round.
Or they could be greedy and stock the Rochester Americans with high caliber draft picks. We have a new regime picking this year, but let’s take a look back in the salary cap era at the second round draft pick busts that made their way through Buffalo, but their history of picking in the second round of the salary cap era, has been less than stellar.
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