Drew Schiestel – 59th Overall Selection, Buffalo Sabres 2007
With the 59th overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, the Buffalo Sabres selected Drew Schiestel from Canada.
Despite being from North America, the highest Drew Schiestel could ever attain in North American was playing in the American Hockey League, where he played for the Buffalo Sabres affiliates the Portland Pirates and Rochester Americans.
Before the 2013-2014 season, he signed a one year free agent deal with the Hamilton Bulldogs – playing with in his hometown for one season.
Schiestel spent last season in Germany, playing in the DEL with Düsseldorfer EG.
If Mike Weber had a difficult time breaking the Buffalo Sabres defensive corp, then you can image how far down the depth chart that Schiestel found himself. At best, if Schiestel remained in North America he would have topped out with an organizations AHL franchise. In the DEL, he is likely playing with the same level of competition as he would in the American Hockey League, but without the stigma of not playing in the top league.
Schiestel’s best season in the AHL took place while he was with the Rochester Americans, scoring 5 goals, helping on 18, and ending the season with a =/- rating of +15. With the veteran presence on the blue line during his time with the Buffalo Sabres plus the emergence of bigger talents in later drafts – it is no surprise that Drew Schiestel would end up not making the NHL – which never gave him the chance to prove himself as an NHL defenseman. Could he still break into the National Hockey League, sure if there is a team that needs a depth defenseman, but odds are Schiestel won’t want to ride the bus leagues as he tries to gain traction with an NHL club.
Next: Luke Adam