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Buffalo Sabres: Can the 2021 and ’22 drafts rival the 1982 and ’83 drafts?

By Sion Fawkes

Apr 12, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power (25) warms up before playing the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power (25) warms up before playing the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Buffalo Sabres had three picks in the first round back in the 1983 NHL Draft. Can they amount to the same success in 2022?

If you were around long enough to remember the Buffalo Sabres 1982 and 1983 draft classes, you may have felt a surging ray of hope for your team. And if you are a Sabres historian, you may see a few links between the 2021 and 2022 draft classes and those from 1982 and 1983.

For one, the last time the Sabres had three first round picks occurred in 1983. And they used those picks on an outstanding goaltender in Tom Barrasso and a solid center in Adam Creighton. This season, we are looking at the same situation, which comes just one season after the Sabres had two picks in the top fifteen.

Buffalo Sabres
TORONTO, ON – NOVEMBER 30: Darren Puppa #35 of the Buffalo Sabres stops a shot against the Toronto Maple Leafs in game action on November 30, 1985 at Maple Leafs Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel Collection/Getty Images) /

How successful were the Buffalo Sabres 1982 and 1983 drafts?

In a word: Very. The Buffalo Sabres found two remarkable talents in 1982 with Phil Housley and Dave Andreychuk. Both are Hockey Hall of Famers and they each played a pivotal role for the Sabres throughout the 1980s.

Then came the 1983 class. As mentioned, Barrasso was an absolute stud who would later win Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The other two first rounders were not as successful as Barrasso, but the 1983 draft class went deep regarding talent that made remarkable contributions to the Sabres.

In the following slides we will relive the 1982 draft class and compare it with the early returns of the 2021 draft. Then, we will shift gears and discuss the 1983 draft, and provide insight on how the Sabres can attain even better results for tonight’s draft. Let’s dive in.

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