With the 2021 NHL Entry Draft rapidly approaching, the Buffalo Sabres do not have much time left to decide who they will be taking with the number one overall pick. Since winning the draft lottery, most of the talk has been around the Sabres and defenseman prospect Owen Power. But could Buffalo go a different route with the first pick in next week’s draft?
If the Sabres were to pass on Power at number one, they would likely be going with 18-year-old Swedish forward prospect William Eklund. Eklund is highly regarded and is one of, if not the top international prospect in the 2021 NHL Draft. And he surely feels that he is worthy of the number one overall selection.
“I’m going to go #1.”
— The Charging Buffalo (@TheChargingBUF) July 15, 2021
Draft William Eklund and don’t look back.
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The 5’10”, 172 lb center/left wing has played his professional career in leagues in Sweden. In his most recent season in the SHL, he had 23 points on 11 goals and 12 assists in 40 games for Djurgardens IF.
With the Sabres sitting with the first overall pick in next week’s draft, it will all come down to how their draft board shakes out. Both Eklund and Power have tremendous upside and will most likely eventually be effective NHL starters. But as of now, most of the talk still seems like Power is expected to go first overall.
The Sabres have been the topic of many trade rumors that could involve some high-end talent leaving Buffalo. Players such as Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, and Rasmus Ristolainen have all been subject to trade rumors.
If Buffalo plans to trade any of these players, they are running out of time to get 2021 draft picks in a trade package. Eichel or Reinhart could very well lead to another top-ten pick in this year’s draft if Buffalo makes a move before the start of the draft on July 23rd.