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An early look at the Sabres biggest needs for the 2024 NHL Draft

With the best prospects pool in the game, it’s hard to believe the Sabres lack organizational depth, but the reality is, every team does.

By Todd Matthews

Sep 24, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Buffalo Sabres forward Jiri Kulich (20)
Sep 24, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Buffalo Sabres forward Jiri Kulich (20) / Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
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There is no high-end right-hand defenseman on the current depth chart

Is it just me, or are we having this conversation about landing quality right-handed defensemen every year? This isn’t just an issue in the prospects pool; the only viable right-handed blueliners in the Sabres lineup this season were Connor Clifton and Henri Jokiharju. 

Shift gears to the prospects pool, and Scott Wheeler’s top-rated RHD is Maxim Strbak, who is 19 and not likely to make the NHL anytime soon. Vsevolod Komarov is another one, but he should have a ticket to the AHL next season following a year when he put up 69 points and 14 goals in 60 regular season games for the Quebec Remparts and Drummondville Voltigeurs, along with an incredible plus-47. 

Komarov has a lot of playmaking potential, and no doubt, he will be fun to watch with the Amerks in 2024-25, as his overall productivity has more than just sailed north since 2021-22. He has a lot of upside, but if Kevyn Adams finds an RHD early in the 2024 draft, there is a good chance they will bring even more to the table. 

Should Adams land a better draft spot than 11th overall, Zayne Perekh (96 points and 33 goals in 66 games with Saginaw) would be a logical choice. But if he rolls with a pure right winger, prospects like Ben Danford and Anthony Cristoforo should be there in the second round. 

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