One way-too-early mock draft penciled in a potential playmaker for the Sabres in 2025

Will the Buffalo Sabres finally get to pick toward the second half of the first round in the 2025 draft? If we substitute the numbers ‘2’ and ‘5’ when applicable, we can honestly say we’ve been asking this question for nearly a decade, at some point after the Blue and Gold drafted Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart back in the mid-2010s. 

Anyway, with one of what I’m sure will be many “way-too-early” mock drafts, things aren’t looking up for the Sabres if you ask Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report, whose mock has Buffalo slated to pick Jackson Smith 13th overall. 

That said, the good news is obvious: It means the Sabres might at least find themselves in the same position the Philadelphia Flyers ended up in last year. Hey, at least it means they would make things moderately interesting like they did in 2022-23 instead of what happened last year. 

But anyway, let’s check out Smith and see what could make him a good pick at 13th overall should the Sabres once again find themselves picking in the top half of the first round. Again, might I add. 

One way-too-early mock has the Buffalo Sabres rolling with Jackson Smith

Anyway, this one is not a forward but a blueliner, and as you know, it’s been a while since the Sabres rolled with a defenseman in the first round. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the last time it occurred was in 2021 when they took Owen Power, who has so far been solid with the Sabres. 

General manager Kevyn Adams, assuming he’s still in town should the Sabres again fall short of the playoffs, would do well to take a hard look at Jackson Smith. He clocks in at a solid 6’3, 190 lbs, and he’s got some two-way potential with 29 points and eight goals in 62 outings with the Tri-City Americans last season. 

No, those aren’t bad numbers at all for his first full-season foray into the WHL, and there’s a 100 percent chance those stats will only improve as we venture into the 2024-25 season. 

Even if Smith isn’t there when the Sabres draft in what would preferably be the latter part of the first round, Adams would nonetheless be wise to take a defenseman. He has some solid players both with the big club and in the pipeline, but top-tier depth is rather weak at the moment.