Dear Buffalo Sabres fans: Our 2022-23 NHL Season begins today, with the conclusion of the 2022 NHL Draft Lottery. And we got some ideal picks.
The Buffalo Sabres received a pair of top sixteen picks in the 2022 NHL Draft, which lets them keep the top-ten protected pick that they acquired in the Jack Eichel trade back in November. This is great news for the Sabres, as it now guarantees that, unless general manager Kevyn Adams blindsides us, the Sabres will have three first-round draft picks.
The Sabres will also select ninth in the draft, which further guarantees them a top-ten selection. Overall, the dominoes couldn’t have fallen better for a franchise that surged in March and April 2022. Sure, it would have been nice to land a top five pick. But the situation is not dire as it had been in years’ past.
Buffalo Sabres land the ninth and sixteenth selections
Now that the Sabres know where they are selecting, it is time to let the mock drafts begin. No, Shane Wright will not be joining the ranks. But really, the Sabres have three sensational scorers on the top line, four if Victor Olofsson returns to the franchise in 2022-23.
They also have two former first overall picks thriving in the defensive pairings. Plus, you can’t forget the soon-to-be recalls for Jack Quinn and line mate, J.J. Peterka. Both of whom had torn it up in Rochester this season.
Overall, it is an exciting time to be a fan of a team who is no longer in that transitory phase, but still managed to eek out two top sixteen picks. So let’s rejoice in the ninth and sixteenth selections.
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So, now that we know where we are picking, who do you think will be hot on the Sabres radar this summer? Let us know your predictions in the comments and stay tuned for a few mock drafts.