Grading the Buffalo Sabres 2023 draft class (best pick, biggest steal)
The 2023 NHL Draft has come and gone. How did the Buffalo Sabres fare with this year’s haul? Keep reading for more information.
The Buffalo Sabres have had a few solid drafts under general manager Kevyn Adams. And in the early going, the 2023 NHL Draft appears to be no different.
While it’s true that many picks will never see NHL ice, those selected at or near the top of the draft class have got to make an impact for the team that drafted them…unless they’re used as a piece in a blockbuster trade before they get a chance to play for their respective team.
So how did the Blue and Gold fare in an instant reaction to the 2023 draft? Here is a snippet of each pick, and an overall grade for the entire class.
Grading the latest Buffalo Sabres draft class
13th overall, Zach Benson, LW
Fate couldn’t have drawn this one up any better. Zach Benson and Matt Savoie, the Sabres top pick from 2022, played alongside one another with the Winnipeg Ice, and that trend could continue into the 2023-24 season. Benson’s productivity, plus his familiarity with Savoie, made this one an easy choice for Kevyn Adams.
39th overall, Anton Wahlberg, C/Malmo
Adams was interested in Anton Wahlberg so much, he wanted to jump back into the first round to grab him. While the Buffalo Sabres general manager couldn’t get a deal done, Wahlberg nonetheless fell to him at 39th overall.
45th overall, Maxim Strbak, D/Sioux Falls Stampede
Maxim Strbak is a prototype for the bottom pairing: Just shut down the play. If Strbak can fully embrace such a mentality, then he will play to his hockey strengths, and you will see him eventually work his way into the Sabres lineup following his playing days at Michigan State and a stint in the AHL.
86th overall, Gavin McCarthy, D/Muskegon Lumberjacks
If you were worried about the lack of right-handed defensemen in the system, then Gavin McCarthy should help curtail some of those worries. McCarthy is also a big hitter, and physicality is definitely something the Buffalo Sabres can use at every level of their prospects pool.
109th overall, Ethan Miedema, LW/Kingston Frontenacs
If you were still concerned about the lack of size in the Sabres prospect pool, then not only Wahlberg, but Ethan Miedema should also put you at ease. The kid is 6’4, 207 lb, and while he still needs to learn how to better utilize his size, his raw ability and scoring ability could make him yet another steal for Kevyn Adams.
141st overall, Scott Ratzlaff, G/Seattle Thunderbirds
Okay, okay, I can already hear some critics writing off Scott Ratzlaff because of his small size – 6’0, 174 lb. But the kid’s been great over the past two seasons, especially in 2022-23, when he logged a GAA of just 2.15, five shutouts, and a 0.918 save percentage. Sure, the Thunderbirds were a great team, but Ratzlaff constantly held up his end of the deal.
173rd overall, Sean Keohane, D/Dexter Southfield
At this stage in the draft, raw talent boasting prototypical size is what you’re often after, and Sean Keohane fits the mold. I can see him working his way up the rung to at least become a high-end prospect and a solid insurance policy as a stay-at-home defenseman.
205th overall, Norwin Panocha, D/Eisbären Berlin
Once again, we’re looking at another pick with outstanding potential here. Norwin Panocha recorded 25 points in 21 games back in 2021-22 for Germany’s U17 league, and he followed up that performance with 22 points in 34 contests in DNL U18. It will be a long time before Panocha makes it to the NHL, but he could inevitably arrive as a sound offensive defenseman.
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Overall, I love what Kevyn Adams did here, snagging Savoie’s teammate in Benson, taking Wahlberg, and perhaps landing a huge steal in Miedama while adding much-needed size and blueliners to the prospects pool. For that, I’m giving him an A as an instant reaction grade to this draft.
(Statistics and draft information provided by the Elite Prospects Draft Guide and EliteProspects.com)