The 2022 NHL Draft ended on Friday, so now the fallout begins. And a few debates, such as which Buffalo Sabres pick was the biggest steal?
Although the 2022 NHL Draft is in the books, it is an event that we will be talking about for a while. And with 11 picks last week, there is no shortage of what we can talk about regarding the Buffalo Sabres draft haul. That said, I wanted to start off with a rather fun and engaging article speculating on who was the team’s biggest steal on Friday.
Overall, three players really jumped out at me. Three players who I believe will find their way onto the Sabres lineup, even if they selected two of them in the mid-to-late rounds. So who are these prospects? Let’s check them out, starting with one of my favorite selections.
Buffalo Sabres biggest steals: Prospect #1 – Topias Leinonen, G
While many fans and even pundits questioned this choice, I was all for the Buffalo Sabres taking Leinonen. Yeah, it was a weak goaltender class and most did not expect one to go so early. But Kevyn Adams clearly sees Leinonen as a potential franchise goaltender, and one who excelled on a porous JYP U20 team.
In 21 games with JYP U20, he allowed just 2.28 goals per game and saved 0.916 of all shots on goal. He posted just a 9-10 record, but again, this was not a great hockey team. While he crashed and burned in Liiga with a 5.02 GAA and a save percentage of just 0.825, he was thrust into a role he never should have seen time in.
Leinonen will make the jump to Liiga this season and expect him to steadily improve as time goes on. The 6’5, 234lb goaltender moves well for his size and he displays quick reflexes. So it’s all about getting used to the pro game in his native Finland. And when he does, the Sabres may have found their long-term fixture at goaltender a few years from today.