Buffalo Sabres: 4 prospects to target with the 74th pick

KITCHENER, ONTARIO - MARCH 23: Maxim Barbashev #49 of Team Red protects the puck form Matyas Sapovaliv #24 of Team White in the 2022 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on March 23, 2022 in Kitchener, Ontario. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
KITCHENER, ONTARIO - MARCH 23: Maxim Barbashev #49 of Team Red protects the puck form Matyas Sapovaliv #24 of Team White in the 2022 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on March 23, 2022 in Kitchener, Ontario. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
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The Buffalo Sabres own the 74th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Here are four top prospects to target with the selection.

The Buffalo Sabres have plenty of enticing options with the ninth, 16th, 28th, and 41st overall picks. But when we get to Round 3 in the 2022 NHL Draft, they will need to shift gears and start looking for potential-laden, or preferably versatile prospects.

Therefore, the names you are about to see listed below carry either a high amount of upside or versatility to their game. These players will be projects, but they can also serve the Sabres organization in versatile ways. Let’s meet them.

Buffalo Sabres
OSHAWA, ON – DECEMBER 13: Tucker Robertson #3 of the Peterborough Petes skates during an OHL game against the Oshawa Generals at the Tribute Communities Centre on December 13, 2019 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)

Four prospects for the Buffalo Sabres to target at 74th overall: Prospect #1 – Tucker Robertson, RW/C/Peterborough Petes (OHL)

A potential diamond in the rough, it seemed like all the Peterborough Petes did last season was to pass the puck to Tucker Robertson. And Tucker held up his end of the bargain by scoring 81 times (41 goals) in 68 games during his second full season in the OHL.

He was actually draft-eligible last season, but no one took the bait, and rightfully so. Tucker missed the entire 2020-21 season along with the rest of the OHL because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And the season before that, he scored just 18 points (eight goals) in 55 games.

Tucker is a stout 5’10, 190lb, which gives him some good size. A fast skater, Tucker is an expert at getting open when the puck isn’t in his control. He’s also good with outmaneuvering defenders to get the puck up ice quickly.

His shooting accuracy is bar-none, and he can score goals from anywhere on the ice. He’s also good at sneaking through opposing defensemen to position himself well in front of the net. While Tucker has shown two-way flashes, this aspect of his game is something he would do well to work on this season, which will make him a bit of a project for the Buffalo Sabres if they draft him.