The Buffalo Sabres are looking to bolster their depth at forward in 2022-23. So who are prime candidates for the sixteenth pick in the 2022 NHL Draft?
The Buffalo Sabres own three picks in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft. In a previous article, we talked about three candidates they would realistically go after with the ninth pick. Today, we are expanding on that discussion to talk about the 16th selection.
The consensus among NHL spheres is that the Sabres will take a forward at 16th overall, so below, you will find two of them listed. However, it is also wise to expect a potential curveball, so I also listed one defenseman on the third slide of this article.
So who are the three prospects the Buffalo Sabres will realistically consider at 16? Keep reading to find out.
Who will the Buffalo Sabres target with the 16th pick? Prospect #1 – Danila Yurov, RW/Magnitogorsk (KHL)
Yurov, like many incoming European prospects, has professional hockey experience, having spent time with the Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL. Also like most European prospects, Yurov showed he was not quite ready for such high level competition, scoring just two points in 42 appearances.
However, Yurov dominated at the MHL level for the Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk. In 2020-21, he racked up 25 points in 23 games, scoring 13 goals in the process. He had a strong follow-up performance in 2021-22, with 36 points (13 goals) in 23 games.
As scouts have stated, Yurov will need to spend time developing his game before he’s ready for the big time. But Nick Richard of Dobber Prospects assured fans not to judge Yurov’s low numbers in the KHL, and instead to look at not just his stellar production in the MHL, but his ability to perform well in high-pressure situations.
He also possesses incredible straight ahead speed, allowing him to, if necessary, call his own number from one end of the ice to another. Yurov also possesses phenomenal puck protection skills, which allows him to make plays when he takes matters into his own hands. If the Sabres take Yurov at 16 and you decide to follow his career, expect repeat fast-paced performances.