2018 NHL Draft: Buffalo Sabres select Matej Pekar

The Buffalo Sabres didn’t select anyone in the third round of the NHL Draft, but they returned in the fourth round, drafting center Matej Pekar.

After selecting defensemen in the first two rounds of the 2018 NHL Draft, the Buffalo Sabres finally went offense in the fourth round after bypassing the third round. With the 94th overall pick in the draft, Buffalo selected center Matej Pekar out of the United States Hockey League (Muskegon Lumberjacks).

For those who don’t remember, the Buffalo Sabres traded their third round draft pick before the start of 2017 free agency to the Minnesota Wild. It was the trade that sent Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno and the third round pick to the Wild, and brought Jason Pominville, Marco Scandella and a fourth round draft pick.

With their first of two picks in the fourth round, the Sabres added a center that knows how to fill up the stat sheet — Matej Pekar.

Pekar really came into his own while with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL last season, proving to be a point-per-game type of player that works his butt off each second he’s on the ice. The Hockey News even recognized him as the player with “the best motor in the USHL,” which is a good sign for a rookie player.

In 56 games last season, he finished with 14 goals and 40 assists, good for second in scoring on his team and tied for the league-high among first-year players. His play was so dominant that the USHL general managers voted him as the USHL’s Rookie of the Year at season’s end.

Being named Rookie of the Year puts him in good company. Andrei Svechnikov, who was selected second overall in this year’s draft after the Sabres selected Rasmus Dahlin, won the same award with the same team just a year prior to Pekar winning it in April.

In addition to having a good motor, Pekar is a versatile hockey player on the ice. With the Lumberjacks last season, he was used in virtually every situation with the team, appearing on the team’s top line, as well as the penalty kill and power play. He also has the ability to switch to a wing player when not playing center.

Much like the Sabres’ second round draft pick Mattias Samuelsson, who is slated to play at Western Michigan University next year, Pekar is slated to play his freshman year at Miami Ohio. He’s joining a team that didn’t finish too well last season (12-20-5) in hopes of helping turn the school’s hockey program around.

By the time Matej Pekar makes his way to the Sabres’ roster, he will be a much more polished hockey player and will have a lot to offer. This was a great pickup by Buffalo and the wait should definitely pay off in a year or two.

Next: Buffalo Sabres draft Rasmus Dahlin No. 1 overall

What are your expectations for the Buffalo Sabres’ new forward, Matej Pekar? Leave your comments below!