Buffalo Sabres: How did the 2021 draft class perform?
By Sion Fawkes
In the NHL, it takes years to accurately grade a draft. But it’s fun to see how each player progressed after they became a member of the Buffalo Sabres.
Since the Kevyn Adams era began, the Buffalo Sabres have made it clear they want to reboot their team via the NHL Draft and with young talent in their system. And while this is the longer route, it is also the right route if it means building a system for long-term success.
The Sabres aren’t just going all-in during the 2020s before tearing the building back to its foundation. They are looking to build the tallest building in the NHL and maintaining it for decades to come. Sound far fetched? Look at what pro teams did in other sports leagues.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been consistent since 1972 after 40 seasons of frustration. Several MLB teams contend consistently because of good farm systems. The San Antonio Spurs of the NBA dominated for a couple of decades under the Popovich era.
So maybe the Sabres can join those hallowed few. And it all begins with the NHL Draft. So let’s check out how those picked in 2021 fared and where they fit in the organization’s system, starting with our late-round picks.
Buffalo Sabres 2021 draft class – Rounds 6 and 7
Tyson Kozak, C/Portland Winterhawks (WHL) – 193rd overall
Kozak earned a spot on the top scoring line center in 2021-22. In 66 games, he scored 69 points (32 goals). His points total ranked fourth on the Winterhawks while he finished third in goals. It was Kozak‘s fourth season in the WHL, and by far, his best, as he averaged over one point per game. He tacked on an additional five points (two goals) in 10 playoff games.
Nikita Novikov, D/Dynamo Moskva (KHL) – 188th overall
Novikov didn’t score much (four points) during his first full season in the KHL. But as a big-bodied defenseman, scoring sometimes takes a back seat. He played with a grinder mentality and displayed a high hockey IQ.
William von Barnekow-Lofberg, C/W/Malmö Redhawks (SHL) – 161st overall
The sixth-round pick wasn’t productive in 27 SHL starts last season, though he saw very little ice time. However, he played well in the J20 league, scoring 31 points (11 goals) in 27 games. A lanky center, von Barnekow-Lofberg lacks ideal size, but that has not deterred the Redhawks from getting him ready to play yet another year at Sweden’s highest level of hockey.