Why This Years Draft Is Key For the Buffalo Sabres
While the draft alone isn’t responsible for building a contending team, the majority of the team’s core comes through it, especially when a team is rebuilding. While Connor McDavid isn’t up for grabs next year, there are a lot of factors that will need to be addressed before the Sabres even have a shot at him or Jack Eichel. Due to the uncertainty of next years season, along with the 2014 draft, will be key to the Buffalo Sabres rebuild.
This NHL season is already past the half way mark and the Sabres currently have a 53% of finishing 30th and a 97% chance of
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
finishing somewhere in the bottom 3. While those are horrible odds for the playoffs, they are pretty good odds that the Sabres will be able to nab either the 1st or 2nd pick in the upcoming draft. Another team to watch is the New York Islanders, who have a 44% at finishing in the bottom 5 this season and owe the Sabres a pick either this year or next.
Chances are the Islanders don’t want to lose their chance at McDavid and will end up giving us this year’s pick, which leaves the Buffalo Sabres with a very real chance of having 2 picks inside the top 5 or 2 picks inside the top 7. That’s a chance to take 2 big steps in the rebuild by drafting some solid cornerstones for the Buffalo Sabres future.
The good thing about finishing in 30th is that the lowest the Sabres could pick is 29th, which almost ensures they will get one of their top picks at this upcoming draft. What a great way to start the Tim Murray era. Add in the Islanders possible pick, and some picks the Sabres could get for Ryan Miller and Matt Moulson, and this years draft is going to be filled with blue and gold.
Now I know I’ve been pretty harsh on the draft eligible players for this year’s draft but I really shouldn’t be. Sure, none of them appear to be the next Sidney Crosby or “franchise players,”, however, they are all insanely talented in their own right, or they wouldn’t be top 5 NHL draft picks. There is some very good talent that will certainly aid the Buffalo Sabres going forward, available in the top 7 this year and if they can net 2 players in the top 7 the rebuild will be off on the right foot.
Let’s take a look at some of the draft eligible talent the Sabres will be targeting in the top 5-7 picks. I’m not going to do them based on rank as the rankings seem to change every week.
Reinhart was the biggest attention grabber from the get go this season due to his above average play making and the way he see’s the ice. His ability to read plays and set up teammates is quite special. He was thought of to be the top pick when the season began, but a rocky World Juniors saw him drop down the rankings at the midway point.
While I haven’t seen enough out of Reinhart to change my mind on the fact he likely won’t be the Sabres number one centre, he would certainly be a solid play-making second line centre for the Buffalo Sabres. If the Sabres choose to keep Ville Leino, they could put these two play-makers together and whoever the third person on that line is will be one very happy player.
Samuel Bennett
Sam Bennett is a player that come out of left field for me at the mid season rankings. He flew a bit under the radar when the season began and he wasn’t apart of any World Junior team or the top prospect game due to injury. However, he is certainly a player who has turned some heads for his play in the OHL.
Bennett will be that physical centre who will be hard to play against on the forecheck. He’s got a mean streak and at 6 feet 181 pounds, he can back up that mean streak. Don’t let his nastiness fool you, he has 66 points in 40 games this season with the Kingston Frontenacs so the kid can produce.
Aaron Ekblad
Although the Buffalo Sabres defence seems to be set for the future, if Ekblad is available when they pick he may be too sweet to pass up. He was granted exceptional status to play in the OHL as a 15 year old and is already 6 foot 3, 217 pounds at the tender age of 17, he will be 18 in a month. He’s put up 32 points in 33 games this season from the point and is thought to have one of the highest ceilings of the top 5.
Michael Dal Colle
Personally, Dal Colle is one of the players I am most excited for, and I truly hope the Sabres get a chance to take him with the Islanders pick if it comes. The best player to relate Dal Colle to is Zemgus Girgensons, imagine having two large and determined players on the 2nd or 3rd lines?
Dal Colle is another large prospect who has no trouble finding the net, he has 66 points in 45 games with the Oshawa Generals this season.
Leon Draisaitl
Draisaitl surprised everyone ranking second in the midseason rankings with his 56 points in 38 games this season for the Prince Albert Raiders. The Sabres need help at the centre position, taking him with a later pick in the top 5 or 6 might be an interesting gamble. Draisaitl will be the type of player hard on the forecheck and hard on the opposition in all three zones, a third line centre or a 2nd line checking winger.
Just outside the top 5
- Willie Nylander- Nylander gets a little less attention playing his junior hockey in Sweden, and he still needs to “bulk up.” However, this kid is not someone many should overlook. He has great offencive potential and is ranked in the top 5 of the ISS ranks. You want offence and lots of goals, then Nylander is your guy.
- The way the Sabres seem to be transitioning, would lead one to believe they want tough and skilled forwards. Although Girgensons and Dal Colle would fit the bill, Nick Ritchie is another power forward with a scoring touch.
- Another big defenceman up for grabs is Haydn Fleury of the WHL. He’s the 2nd ranked defenceman eligible for the draft and has the same size as Eklbad but a little less offencive upside.
Let’s just write McDavid out right now as that’s a whole another season away and they Sabres will have to compete with a lot of teams in the market for a McDavid. If the Sabres manage two picks inside the top 5 and play their cards right, when signing players this offseason. This could be a completely different team when puck drops next season. There might not be many franchise players available, but there are definitely key pieces the Sabres could use.
*All draft percentages were calculated by me using this site NHL lottery*