Top 5 draft sleepers to bolster the Buffalo Sabres in 2023
The 2023 NHL Draft is just under a week away, and there are sleepers all over this season’s draft class. Here are five who can help the Buffalo Sabres.
The Buffalo Sabres are picking 13th overall during the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft. But the truth is, immense talent exists all over the draft board, and the Blue and Gold could sneak in a solid sleeper or two in the mid-to-late rounds next week.
Below, I’ve listed five prospects who jumped out at me in one way or another, and could wind up as good fits for Buffalo a few years from today. So which deep sleepers should the Blue and Gold target next week? Keep reading to meet them.
5 sleepers to bolster Buffalo Sabres
1 – Luke Mittelstadt, D
Of course, we can’t talk about a Buffalo Sabres-themed list of sleepers without mentioning Luke Mittelstadt, brother of center Casey Mittelstadt. At just 5’11, 174 lb, Mittelstadt is on the smaller side, but he showed decent two-way tendencies last year at the University of Minnesota, putting up 21 points in 38 contests, while playing an overall serviceable defensive game.
A teammate of Ryan Johnson’s and Aaron Huglen’s, Mittelstadt also has more than his fair share of familiarity with those in the Blue and Gold’s system. But more importantly, he’s more than proven his worth against the lower lines in college hockey, and many scouts have noticed his overall improvement, per the Elite Prospects Draft Guide.
2 – Felix Unger Sorum, LW/RW
Born in September 2005, Felix Unger Sorum is one of the youngest players in the 2023 NHL Draft. But age aside, if the Buffalo Sabres are looking for someone who is outstanding in finding ways to create opportunities for others and in transition, he’s their guy in the middle rounds.
One big question mark regarding Unger Sorum, however, is his skating, though he has shown flashes of improvement in this category. I would say his size (5’11, 172 lb) is a concern, but as he’s still 17, Unger Sorum has a lot of time to pack on muscle before he’s ready to come to North America.
3 – Lenni Hameenaho, LW/RW
If the Buffalo Sabres want a forward who boasts more size, then Lenni Hameenaho (6’1, 185 lb) is a good option. And despite his young age, Hameenaho has already shown some productivity at professional hockey’s highest level in Finland, having scored 21 points (nine goals) in 51 contests. He also tacked on another four points (three goals) in eight playoff games.
Despite the solid numbers considering he’s such a young player, Hameenaho still needs to work on his offensive game and skating, as raw ability has dictated most of his success at this point. He does, however, possess an ultra-high hockey IQ and his game in the defensive zone jumps out in terms of disrupting plays and forcing opponents to improvise. Overall, he could wind up with sound defensive forward tendencies.
4 – Tomas Suchanek, G
Definitely a favorite among Buffalo Sabres fans, Tomas Suchanek started to more than prove his worth this past season, finishing with a 3.05 GAA and a 0.912 save percentage to go with a 27-14-1 record for the WHL’s Tri-City Americans. He also played exceptionally well in the World Juniors, posting a 0.934 save percentage and an astounding 1.52 GAA.
Suchanek takes a proactive approach to his game, and he’s not afraid to get aggressive and would rather take chances when facing rushes. If Suchanek improves his play-reading, he could be in the system for a while should Adams officially add him to the system.
5 – Brady Cleveland, D
If the Buffalo Sabres are looking for a blueliner with size in the mid-to-late rounds, then Brady Cleveland is a solid pick. Heading to the University of Wisconsin, Cleveland will need a few years of college hockey to hone his game, but his physical play has already garnered significant attention.
Cleveland is one of those old school defensemen, but he’s had some incredible success with slot passes. So while his offensive game is far from perfect, he does boast some potential in that avenue. But for a team like the Sabres that needs to add a lot of defense, they don’t need to look any further than Cleveland.
light. Related Story. Mock Draft 2.0: Buffalo Sabres get it right with this forward
Overall, the NHL Draft is full of sleepers. But after taking careful consideration and scanning the lower end of the boards, these five players jumped out at me more than anyone else. Will the Buffalo Sabres call any of their names next week? We will find out in just a few short days.
(Statistics and draft information provided by the 2023 Elite Prospects Draft Guide by the Elite Prospects Staff)