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Buffalo Sabres: 13th Overall Scenarios for the 2023 Draft

By Jonathan Heck

BUFFALO, NY - NOVEMBER 10: Drew Stafford #21 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Florida Panthers November 10, 2006 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - NOVEMBER 10: Drew Stafford #21 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Florida Panthers November 10, 2006 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) /
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The NHL Draft lottery happened this past week and the Buffalo Sabres will be picking 13th overall this season. Here are a few scenarios regarding the pick. 

Connor Bedard is almost guaranteed to go to the Chicago Blackhawks unless their GM somehow messes it all up. Not that the Sabres had a chance at 1st overall, but moving up to 3rd overall would have been fantastic.

The 2023 NHL Draft is said to be very Forward heavy. With the Sabres having an abundance of elite young talent on Forward, it’s tough to tell if Adams should draft another Forward or go the defensive route at this draft.

Right now, the Buffalo Sabres sit at 13th Overall. Close to the top 10, yet thankfully not in the bottom 16. There’s a lot of potential to draft a solid player who could play in the NHL full-time with the Sabres. However, they could also turn out to be a bust.

The Buffalo Sabres have selected 13th overall six times in Franchise history. Let’s take a look at who was drafted:

  • 1978 – Larry Playfair (Defense)
  • 1988 – Joel Savage (Right Wing)
  • 1991 – Philippe Boucher (Defense)
  • 2004 – Drew Stafford (Right Wing)
  • 2005 – Marek Zagrapan (Center)
  • 2009 – Zack Kassian (Right Wing)
Buffalo Sabres
Jan 30, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Buffalo Sabres forward Drew Stafford (21) skates against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /

Buffalo Sabres have a history of drafting 13th overall

Not too shabby. One of my favorite things about the draft is the gamble you take when drafting a player. We could select someone with the 13th overall and they may never play an NHL game in their career. Then in the 7th round we can select someone who becomes a Sabres legend and plays their whole career here.

Fellow writer, Zach Jezioro, typically hosts a draft party at his house each year. We’ve been doing it since Owen Power was taken 1st overall in 2021. Last year we had a ton of fun watching Kevyn Adams select players at #9, #16, and #28.

Typically each of us select a player or two that we want to be drafted by the Sabres, then a player or two of who we think the Sabres will take. I take pride in wanting and predicting the Sabres to take Matthew Savoie #9th overall last draft. I did the same thing in 2017 with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

With our current roster, prospects, and rookies, the Sabres have a lot of options on what they can do with the 13th overall pick. Let’s look at a couple potential scenarios:

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