The 2024 NHL Draft is nearing its two weeks to go window, meaning speculation surrounding what the Buffalo Sabres will do with their first-round pick is swirling. General manager Kevyn Adams could pick one of a few enticing forwards on June 28th, or what’s not to say he doesn’t take a different route entirely?
Adams could be that general manager who likes a prospect slated to go later and will, therefore, reach for someone few of us thought would go at No. 11. But just because there could be a potential reach, it doesn’t mean we would need to criticize the pick.
I’m one of those believers in the “If you like a prospect enough, you take them” philosophy. And there are three players in particular slated to go later in the draft that I would have zero issues with Adams taking at No. 11, should he keep the pick.
Cole Hutson, D/USDP
Every time I mention Cole Hutson, I’m tempted to put an ‘F’ behind his name instead of a ‘D’ because he plays so well in the offensive zone and has such an array of puck control he looks like a forward. His 51 points and 15 goals in 51 games with the U.S. National U18 team should tell you that. Hutson also had epic outings in the USHL, with 12 points and three goals in 19 games, and at the World Juniors, with 13 points and four goals in seven contests.
His size may scare some Sabre fans, especially following the previous two drafts in which Matt Savoie and Zach Benson were the top picks. Drafting someone like Hutson would also mean potentially passing on effective blueliners who carry more size, like Carter Yakemchuk, Stian Solberg, and Sam Dickinson, if they’re available at No. 11.
If drafted at 11th overall, Hutson would join his brother, Lane, as a prospect in an Atlantic Division team’s system. Lane is currently about to take the next step in his career with the Montreal Canadiens, and if Cole follows his brother’s career path, it wouldn’t be long until he’s in the Sabres rotation if they draft him. Well, that’s if they can find a spot for him in that rotation, considering the young talent they already got.