2023 NHL Mock Draft 3.0: Buffalo Sabres select a power forward
By Sion Fawkes
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.