3 surefire steals the Buffalo Sabres must target in the NHL Draft
The fourth round and later would be magnificent spots to gain a draft-day steal or two for the Buffalo Sabres, and it’s helped them in the past.
Taking a prospect in the third round or later has paid dividends recently for the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL Draft, even if none of their players in recent memory have emerged into stars. Even so, they did not just make great organizational depth, but these players also showed us they were good enough to see time on NHL ice and even put up some serviceable performances.
One player is Jacob Bryson, who lost out in 2023-24 to the numbers game in the defensive rotation, but the 2017 fourth-round pick still saw time in 206 NHL games with four goals and 36 points. Sometimes, those hidden gems are players the Blue and Gold may have wished they signed, like Brandon Hagel, who, through 293 contests, has 90 goals and 207 points.
Other notable players include William Borgan (fourth round, 2015), Victor Olofsson (seventh round, 2014), and Linus Ullmark (sixth round, 2012). We can agree that each of these players has enjoyed successful careers in regard to their draft position, especially Ullmark.
Whether they were all ‘steals’ is highly subjective, but the point is, mid-to-late-round picks can carve out time on NHL squads. So, which three players would be worthy of consideration for Day 2 of the 2024 NHL Draft who could fall to the third round or later and have surefire steal potential?
Jakub Fibigr, D/Mississauga Steelheads
When seeking out these potential steals, I was looking for notable attributes that included either size, playmaking potential, experience, or even the ‘jack of all trades’ reputation. Some players have all of these wrapped into one, and Jakub Fibigr of the Mississauga Steelheads is one of them.
Currently, Fibigr has 61 games of OHL experience in the regular season and another five playoff games on his resume, but that doesn’t account for 50 regular season games last year in Czechia and 35-plus contests internationally. And wow, did Fibigr look good in his first North American season, putting up 43 points in those 61 games with seven goals to show for it. Add another four points in five playoff appearances, and Fibigr ended the year with 47 in 66.
Overall, Fibigr possesses two-way attributes, and that could add to his value when Day 2 of the NHL Draft rolls around. That said, there could be a chance he hears his name called in the third round. But if he drops to the fourth, Kevyn Adams would land an excellent value pick if he rolled with Fibigr.
Ondrej Becher, F/Prince George Cougars
Ondrej Becher possesses experience and versatility, and the 20-year-old prospect can line up at center and both winger positions, giving an organization interested in drafting him next week options. During his debut season in North America with the Prince George Cougars, Becher was good, but by no means great, putting up 38 points and 16 goals in 63 games, but he accumulated just three additional points in nine playoff appearances.
This past season was a breakthrough for Becher, as he registered 96 points and 32 goals in 58 regular season contests, plus another 19 points and five goals in 15 playoff games. Adding up those totals, Becher was good for 115 points and 37 goals throughout 73 contests, which equals 1.57 per, if you’re keeping track.
Despite his outstanding points productivity, Becher is in his third draft-eligible season, and of course, it almost always means a player will fall into the middle rounds. That said, Becher had a strong breakout season, and he plays at an upper-echelon level regardless of the situation; offensively, defensively, in transition, it doesn’t matter for Becher.
Another upside, even if there are downsides to it, is that Becher is already 20, so he doesn’t need to wait another year before entering the AHL. While the Sabres have quite a few highly productive forwards in the AHL at the moment, that may not be the case for long via trade or promotion. Someone like Becher will be ready to scale up sooner rather than later, and he could immediately fill a void someone like Jiri Kulich or Isak Rosen may leave behind.
Viktor Olofsson, LW/HV71
In all fairness, you could call Victor Olofsson a draft-day steal for the Sabres, even if he never became the most prominent player for the Blue and Gold. But he was good enough to make it to the NHL and put up some dominant stints, so why not see if lightning strikes twice and roll with Viktor Olofsson, who, while a small 5’8, 172 pounds, put up some decent numbers in J20?
Okay, just for the record, I didn’t roll with Olofsson here because he has a namesake who played (I’m guessing Victor won’t be back) for the Sabres. Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff had good things to say about the younger Olofsson, including his playmaker potential. And when you have a possible playmaker who will be available late in the draft and otherwise wouldn’t be if he were a few inches taller, you take a chance on them.
Across 47 regular season games, Olofsson gave his hockey club 19 goals and 19 assists, good for 38 points and 0.8 per game. This all occurred around the same time he put up two goals and four points for his J18 club, showing us that Olofsson could develop into a fine player offensively, even if he never possesses ideal size.
It’s also worth looking back at Olofsson’s 2022-23 season to further show us just how much damage he can cause when the puck is on his stick. Across his J18 Region and Nationell, Olofsson played in 29 regular games, yet he scored 16 goals and put up 41 points, and it foreshadowed his successful J20 season in 2023-24.
As with the other two prospects in this piece, Olofsson would most likely spend a lot of time developing before he’s even ready for the AHL. But considering his numbers and playmaking potential, the small yet enticing winger should be on the Sabres shortlist.
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