It is June which means the 2025 NHL Draft will be taking place in a few weeks. For the Buffalo Sabres, they hold the ninth overall pick in this years draft. With the longest playoff drought in the NHL, Buffalo is looking to exorcise their demons and finally make the postseason.
As every hockey fan knows, the following season always begins on draft night. In the Sabres case, they could use the draft to improve the team. The last time Buffalo had 9th overall was in 2022 where they selected Matthew Savoie, who was later traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Ryan McLeod.
If general manager Kevyn Adams hopes to turn things around, he should consider trading the pick in exchange for a solid and PROVEN NHL player. I know I'm not the general manager, but the Sabres need to end this decade and a half of no playoffs in Buffalo.
The city and fans are starving for a good product on the ice
In my opinion, trading their first round selection would be a step in the right direction. In terms of young talent, Buffalo has tons of it both in the NHL and down in the AHL with the Rochester Americans.
Trading the pick for a bonafide NHL player should be the way to go for Adams. Head coach Lindy Ruff needs more talent with his current core and in the wake of the Jarmo Kekalainen hiring, hopefully the Sabres can pull the trigger and trade the pick.
While it's always good building up your farm system, bringing in NHL talent should be a priority for Adams and company. Bring in a player who can be a pain in the neck to play against and add them to the core that Buffalo already has.
Besides, drafting players with a top ten pick doesn't mean it'll work out. But trading the pick for a helpful roster player could really help the franchise going forward and I think that's what Buffalo should do this offseason.
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