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5 defensemen the Buffalo Sabres must consider at 13th overall in 2023

By Sion Fawkes

HALIFAX, CANADA - DECEMBER 30: David Reinbacher #5 of Team Austria skates against Team Germany during the first period in the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on December 30, 2022 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Team Germany defeated Team Austria 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
HALIFAX, CANADA - DECEMBER 30: David Reinbacher #5 of Team Austria skates against Team Germany during the first period in the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on December 30, 2022 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Team Germany defeated Team Austria 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Will the Buffalo Sabres pick Tom Willander?
BASEL, SWITZERLAND – APRIL 29: Tom Willander of Sweden (L) and Axel Hurtig of Sweden (C) looking the game during the semi final of U18 Ice Hockey World Championship match between Sweden and Canada at St. Jakob-Park on April 29, 2023 in Basel, Switzerland. (Photo by Jari Pestelacci/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) /

3 – Axel Sandin-Pellikka

One of the players the Buffalo Sabres were confirmed to have met at the NHL Combine, if the 16th-ranked prospect on Wheeler’s list is available at 13th overall, general manager Kevyn Adams will strongly consider taking the small but dominant right-handed defenseman. And if you love players with strong analytics, then Axel Sandin Pellikka is your guy.

If you’re someone who likes players who boast high productivity, then Sandin Pellikka will also be your favorite prospect. He played 31 games in J20 Nationell for Skelleftea AK, scoring 36 points and 16 goals in that span.

4 – Tom Willander

Tom Willander is one blueliner I had written about extensively, and perhaps no other defenseman in this draft class possesses more energy and a never-say-die attitude, or at least those who could go in the first round. While he’s another hot commodity for the analytics crowd in the defensive zone, don’t think for a single second Willander’s not productive offensively.

The future Boston University product logged 25 points in 39 contests for Rogle BK J20 of Nationell, and he amassed another eight points in seven games at the World Juniors. Willander also possesses an excellent transition game, and if the Buffalo Sabres use the 13th pick on him, they added yet another solid two-way defenseman to their system.

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