Jason Botterill may not have been a great general manager for the Buffalo Sabres, but he did draft some talent into the organization.
From 2017 until 2019, Jason Botterill headed up the Buffalo Sabres draft hauls. And while there have been plenty of hits and misses, the following five players and prospects have thus far stood out as the best from the Botterill era.
Now, it may be premature to judge the Botterill era picks at this time, since we are only two drafts removed from when he last manned the Sabres war room. That said, we can easily revisit this article two years from today if anything changes between now and then.
But as the 2022 NHL Draft ticks nearer, the following five players stand a head and shoulders above the others in no particular order. Let’s meet them, starting with an All-Star defenseman.
Buffalo Sabres: Top pick of the Botterill era – Rasmus Dahlin, D/2018
There was no one better than Dahlin, who is coming off of his first ever All-Star Game. While he stagnated in Years Two and Three, Dahlin came on strong in 2021-22, playing in 80 games and scoring 53 points (13 goals).
Easily the team’s breakout player, Dahlin also logged a career high in shooting percentage at 7.6 percent, and he recorded 24:01 of average ice time per game, also a career high. But it didn’t stop there. The former contender for the Calder Trophy registered 91 blocks and 121 hits, turning him into one of the game’s most dangerous two-way players.
For 2022-23, look for Dahlin to continue his uphill climb as he enters the prime of his career. 20-plus goals are not out of the question, and yes, he can easily break the 100-plus block and 150-hit milestones. Look for Dahlin to become a household name throughout league spheres next season, if he hasn’t already done so.