The 2016 NHL Draft is one of those classic "what ifs" for the Buffalo Sabres, and it is headlined by Alexander Nylander, who was selected eighth overall that year. Nylander has struggled to establish himself as an NHL player but might be getting his best chance yet after signing a professional tryout with the Calgary Flames.
Nylander made his NHL debut with the Sabres during the 2016-17 season and appeared in three seasons total during his time with Buffalo. However, he struggled to earn a full-time role and appeared in only 19 games during that stretch, with three goals and three assists.
He would be traded prior to the 2019-20 season to the Chicago Blackhawks for Henri Jokiharju, ending his time in Western New York. That season with the Blackhawks was the most he played in a season at the NHL level, with 65 games, and since then he has bounced between the NHL and AHL with several teams.
If Nylander makes the roster with the Calgary Flames, he will play in his first NHL game since December 7th, 2024, with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This past season, he played the entire season with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL.
While it is a professional tryout and not a guaranteed contract, Nylander has a great chance to stick on the Flames' roster. On paper, they are currently one of the worst teams in the NHL with plenty of room to improve. He likely will not be the Top 6 player the Sabres envisioned when they drafted him, but he does have a decent shot with almost 50 goals in the AHL over the past two seasons that could fit in nicely on their third line.
Buffalo Sabres missed out on several impact players in the 2016 NHL Draft
The Sabres' struggles in the NHL Draft aren't the only reason for their 14-season playoff drought, but they definitely played a major role. There is no question we have the benefit of hindsight, but there were too many times that they made the wrong pick that cost them some excellent players who would have helped.
The 2016 NHL Draft was no different, and it starts with the Alex Nylander pick as the Sabres just missed out on Matthew Tkachuk and Clayton Keller, who went the two picks before their pick, but also passing on players like Mikhail Sergachev, Tyson Jost, Charlie McAvoy or even Tage Thompson.
It wasn't only the first round they missed on as in the second, the Sabres selected Rasmus Asplund but could have picked Jordan Kyrou or Alex Debrincat.
Not all the picks were bad, and in fact made one of the best late-round picks in the entire NHL of the past decade in Brand Hagel. Unfortunately, they gave up on him too soon and never extended an entry-level contract.
Hagel has gone on to have a great career with the Tampa Bay Lightning and has been one of their best players the past few seasons. In fact, Hagel has more career NHL games than the rest of that draft class combined (404).
The Buffalo Sabres missed on that draft class but Nylander has one more chance to show he can play in the NHL with this recent contract signed by Calgary Flames. It will be interesting to see during training camp and the preseason if he is able to earn a full-time role.
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