Buffalo Sabres Draft Picks: Breaking down Rounds Two through Four

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MONTREAL, QUEBEC – JULY 08: A general view of the draft board from Round Two of the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bell Centre on July 08, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Round 3: Viktor Neuchev, LW/Yekaterinburg

Neuchev possesses NHL-caliber height but he is thin. Look for him to add at least 25lb of bulk to his frame before he even touches the NHL ice, and that will take a few years. A gifted shooter, evidenced by his 40 goals and 67 total points this season, NHL Central Scouting ranked Neuchev 34th among European skaters. So at this point, he projects as a steal.

Now the question remains: Can he translate his productivity to the big leagues? We will keep an eye on Neuchev’s production, regardless of where he plays in 2022-23. But if last season’s jump in production serves as any indicator, Neuchev should post respectable numbers even if he’s not dominating in the MHL.

Given his ranking via NHL Central Scouting coupled with his remarkable production, Neuchev earns a high A grade. He was the best player on the board when it was time for the Sabres to pick, and they acted accordingly.

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