When is the 2023 NHL Draft (When do the Buffalo Sabres pick?)

The 2023 NHL Draft is fast approaching, and the Buffalo Sabres will soon be adding another name to their outstanding prospects pool. 

With the Rochester Americans falling to the Hershey Bears in what was a defensive thriller last night, the Buffalo Sabres have officially entered their offseason. Since we have no more games to look forward to until late September (and trust me, time will fly), we do have several offseason dates and activities coming up.

The first major event? The 2023 NHL Draft, which will take place at Bridgestone Arena, home of the Nashville Predators, on June 28th and 29th, starting at 7:00 PM. Tune in to find out who the Sabres will select as a future asset for the organization.

When do the Buffalo Sabres pick in the 2023 NHL Draft?

Last month, the NHL held its annual draft lottery, and the Sabres drew the 13th pick. This likely won’t give the Blue and Gold a top prospect in 2023 unless one falls down the boards on draft day, but it’s also not a bad thing, as the 13th pick symbolizes obvious improvement for an organization that struggled through a decade of hardship.

With the 13th pick, you should expect general manager Kevyn Adams to take the best player on the board, regardless of their position. While it’s true that the Sabres could use another sound defenseman in their system, the recent signings of Ryan Johnson, Nikita Novikov, and Vsevolod Komarov have also garnered Adams more flexibility here.

There is also a chance the Sabres could wind up trading the pick for an experienced defenseman to line up alongside Owen Power. That particular blueliner is the front-runner to be the Blue and Gold’s X-Factor in 2023-24, and if Adams believes he can acquire one via trade during the draft, he will.

So, mark your calendar and set a notification for June 28th at 7:00 PM and find out who the Buffalo Sabres will welcome into their organization. It’s going to be a blast.