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Buffalo Sabres Historic First-Round NHL Draft Picks: 2010 – Present

By Melissa Kania

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Heading into this weekend’s 2015 NHL Draft, the Buffalo Sabres hold a pair of first-round draft picks, with both #2 and #21. The first of those picks will almost certainly be used to select Boston University forward Jack Eichel, but the fate of the second pick (21st overall) seems uncertain.

Will Sabres GM Tim Murray use this pick to select a solid player, perhaps even a goaltender (or save that for the second round, perhaps)? Or will he trade the pick to acquire an NHL-ready player such as a top-six forward, or other goaltender?

As we look forward to this weekend’s draft, let’s look back on what the Buffalo Sabres have done in the first round of the NHL Draft historically, where those players are today and what they’ve done (or are doing) for the Sabres organization today.

2014 NHL Draft

The Buffalo Sabres held one first-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft and used it to select center Sam Reinhart of the WHL’s Kootenay Ice, second-overall. Reinhart played nine games with the Sabres this past season before being sent back to his junior club.

He had one point and two penalty minutes in that stretch with the NHL team.

Reinhart then joined the Rochester Americans for three games at the end of the season. With a trio of assists, he averaged a point-per-game in his brief AHL stint. Reinhart should rejoin the Sabres for this upcoming season and should spend the year in Buffalo.

2013 NHL Draft

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The Sabres held a pair of first-round picks and selected two defensemen: Rasmus Ristolainen (TPS, 8th overall) and Nikita Zadorov (London Knights, 16th overall).

Ristolainen split the season following his draft year between Buffalo and Rochester, appearing in 34 games with each club. He had four points, six penalty minutes and was a minus-15 with the NHL team, and had 20 points (6-14), 22 penalty minutes and a minus-2 with the Amerks. He also appeared in five postseason games.

This season, Ristolainen had 20 points in 78 games with the Sabres. Overall, he’s appeared in 112 NHL games with the club, accruing 24 points and 32 penalty minutes in that time.

After a brief stint with the NHL club after his draft, Zadorov spent most of that following season with the Knights. He had one goal – his first in the NHL – during his seven-game stint with the Sabres, then put up 30 points, a plus-30 and 43 penalty minutes in 36 games with London. He also added nine points in as many playoff games.

This past season was Zadorov’s first full season in the NHL, as he appeared in 60 games and had 15 points and 51 penalty minutes. He’s overall played in 67 NHL games with the Sabres, notching 55 penalty minutes and 16 points (4-12).

2012 NHL Draft

The Sabres used two first-round picks to select Mikhail Grigorenko (Quebec Remparts, 12th overall) and Zemgus Girgensons (Dubuque, 14th overall).

Since joining the Sabres in 2012, Grigorenko has appeared in 68 NHL games with the NHL club, notching 14 points (6-8) and four penalty minutes in that time.

He’s also spent time with the Remparts, playing 23 games there in the 2013-14 season (39 points) and the Rochester Americans. Grigorenko has appeared in 59 games with the Amerks. His future with the Sabres organization seems uncertain at best at this point.

Girgensons spent the entire 2012-13 season in Rochester before making the NHL club for the 2013-14 season.

Since then, he’s appeared in 131 NHL games, racking up 52 points (23 goals, 29 assists) and 39 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 64 games with the Amerks that first season (2012-13) and had 20 points.

2011 NHL Draft

The Sabres selected Joel Armia (Assat) with their lone first-round selection, 16th overall.

Armia, now a prospect of the Winnipeg Jets, appeared in just one NHL game with the Sabres.

He spent two seasons after his draft overseas playing with Assat Pori (SM-liiga) before joining the Rochester Americans for the 2013-14 season. He appeared in 92 AHL games with the club, notching 58 points over the course of two seasons.

Most recently, he appeared in 21 games with the St. John’s IceCaps, notching eight points.

2010 NHL Draft

The Sabres used their lone first-round pick to select defenseman Mark Pysyk of the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings, 23rd overall.

Pysyk spent two seasons after his draft with Edmonton, before coming to the AHL – and the NHL – in the 2012-13 season.

He’s been back and forth between Rochester and Buffalo, but has been a mainstay on the Sabres’ blueline when he is up. Overall, he’s appeared in 70 NHL games since 2012-13, notching four goals, 11 assists and 18 penalty minutes.

Pysyk has also appeared in 150 AHL games with the Amerks, notching 47 points and being arguably one of Rochester’s best defensemen.

Pysyk is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1, but the Sabres are expected to tend him a contract offer.

Next: NHL Draft Profile: Mackenzie Blackwood

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