2023 NHL Mock Draft 3.0: Buffalo Sabres select a power forward
The 2023 NHL Draft is just over 24 hours away. Who will the Buffalo Sabres select? Find out in my final mock draft before the big event.
The 2023 NHL Draft has a lot of talent toward the top half of the first round, and luckily, the Buffalo Sabres are picking 13th this year. Okay, maybe “luckily” is a stretch, since myself and the rest of us were hoping to see them picking in the bottom half of the first, and that nearly ended up happening.
Anyway, now that it’s Draft Day Eve, I thought I’d make one final mock between picks #1 and #13. Unlike in my past mock drafts, I’m using no rankings, but instead acting on my own intuition. So this draft will look much different after the first few picks from Mock Draft 1.0 and Mock Draft 2.0.
Who which power forward did the Sabres end up with? Keep reading.
Buffalo Sabres get it right by selecting THIS power forward
1 – Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Bedard, C/Regina Pats
Previous Selection: Connor Bedard
From the second the Chicago Blackhawks won the Draft Lottery, myself and the rest of the hockey world have had Connor Bedard pegged to land in the Windy City. And in just over 24 hours from the time this article goes live, it will become official.
2 – Anaheim Ducks: Adam Fantilli, C/Michigan
Previous Selection: Adam Fantilli
Just as Bedard is the consensus top player in the draft, Adam Fantilli has been the top pick at second overall since the Anaheim Ducks finished runner-up in the draft lottery. Once the Ducks take him tomorrow, they just landed their future star power forward.
3 – Columbus Blue Jackets: Leo Carlsson, C/Orebro
Previous Pick: Leo Carlsson
This pick will come down to Leo Carlsson and Matvei Michkov, but the former is the more surefire pick of the two, given the uncertainty surrounding the latter. The Columbus Blue Jackets are also in an envious position, taking a talent like Carlsson to add to their blossoming lineup.
4 – San Jose Sharks: Matvei Michkov, RW/Sochi
Previous Pick: Zach Benson
In my first mock, I rolled with Matvei Michkov before backtracking last week. However, the San Jose Sharks don’t figure to be competing for quite some time, so the Michkov selection makes more sense here.
5 – Montreal Canadiens: Ryan Leonard, F/USNTDP
Previous Pick: Will Smith
I went with Will Smith over the first two mocks, but in this one, the Montreal Canadiens will go with the aggressive Ryan Leonard. Leonard will add an edge to the Canadiens prospects pool and look to eventually forge a dynamic duo with Juraj Slafkovsky.
6 – Arizona Coyotes: David Reinbacher, D/Kloten
Previous Pick: Gabe Perreault, LW/USNTDP
The Arizona Coyotes are another rebuilding team in need of just about everything, including a new arena. In short, they need someone to draw fan interest, and no one does that better than Reinbacher, who was a revelation in the NL this past season.
7 – Philadelphia Flyers: Will Smith, C/USNTDP
Previous Pick: Dalibor Dvorsky
One of the most entertaining talents in the offensive zone, Will Smith may not fall this far on draft day. But if he does, expect his freefall to stop with the Philadelphia Flyers.
8 – Washington Capitals: Matthew Wood, F/UConn
Previous Pick: Matvei Michkov
Matthew Wood is a big-bodied forward who will only keep growing over the next few seasons. And he could be ready to take over for the Washington Capitals around the time Alexander Ovechkin either decides to call it quits, or will take the eventual back seat.
9 – Detroit Red Wings: Tom Willander, D/Rogle
Previous Pick: Matthew Wood
While the Detroit Red Wings have one of the best defensemen in the league with Moritz Seider, they’re not drafting for need here. Instead, I’m going with a pick that could evoke an ultimate defense-first identity with the Red Wings. And that makes for a scary thought of Seider and Willander playing on the same rotation.
10 – St. Louis Blues: Zach Benson, LW/Winnipeg Ice
Previous Pick: Oliver Moore
There’s always that one projected top five pick who is vulnerable of falling. And in this case, it’s Buffalo Sabres 2022 first round pick Matt Savoie’s teammate, Zach Benson. Fortunately for Benson, his freefall stops with the St. Louis Blues in this scenario.
11 – Vancouver Canucks: Colby Barlow, RW/Owen Sound Attack
Previous Pick: Axel Sandin Pellikka
While I can still see the Vancouver Canucks going with Axel-Sandin Pellikka, Colby Barlow is one of those larger, raw talents who may entice a team to draft him well before the eleventh pick. That said, the Canucks scoop him up with little hesitation.
12 – Arizona Coyotes: Dalibor Dvorsky, C/AIK
Previous Selection: Ryan Leonard
As previously mentioned, the Coyotes need to attract talent that will draw interest to the desert. Dvorsky’s younger age (just turned 18) coupled with the fact he already looks like a seasoned veteran out there with his overall size tells me that he will be an instant hit with the fans ready to follow his career from Europe to North America.
13 – Buffalo Sabres: Quentin Musty, LW/Sudbury Wolves
Previous Selection: Quentin Musty
Once again, I got the Buffalo Sabres going with the local boy. And while defense will still be a pressing need, snagging someone with power forward potential like Musty may add an immediate edge to the organization’s elite prospects pool.
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While this mock draft looks dramatically different from its two predecessors, the Buffalo Sabres snagging both the best player on the board (in my eyes, at least) has not changed. Look for Musty or a similar talent to don a blue and gold jersey tomorrow evening.
(Statistics and prospect information provided by Elite Prospects Draft Guide and EliteProspects.com)