Nashville, Tenn. (WGR 550/WBEN) – Wednesday marks the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, and the Buffalo Sabres own the 13th overall selection.
Of course there’s a chance general manager Kevyn Adams could trade the pick, but it would have to be an awfully big trade for him to consider it. That is unless he does trade the pick to move down the draft board and pick up extra picks.
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As most of you know, the NHL drafts 18-year-olds, so it really is a take the best player available league, according to Adams.
"We don’t worry about forward-heavy or [defense]. We just get our list together, put the best players in our minds in order in the appropriate way, and then go to the table and go to work. It’s an exciting draft, for sure, especially with the player that we feel we’ll get at 13."
Sabres director of amateur scouting Jerry Forton believes what the team needs right now isn’t what goes into their scouting or meetings.
"How much should our current team’s needs influence our decision going into the draft and in general, the answer to that is it doesn’t," said Forton. "We’re trying to find the best prospect for our organization for the future, and having said that, Kevyn does a great job of talking to all of us all the time about what the NHL looks like right now, who are the players that are having success on our big club, what’s important to him and to 'Donny' [Granato] for the piece that we’ll need ultimately on our big club. That’s in the back of the scouts' heads. It’s not an end-all, but you’re definitely thinking about it as you’re viewing players all year."
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I’ve read several times that defensemen may not go off the board until after the 15th pick. I don’t believe that. I think if David Reinbacher were available at 13, which I don’t think he will be, the Sabres would jump at the chance to take the right-shot defenseman.
"The concept that it’s a forward-heavy draft, I would agree with that. But I also think there are some really good D that are exciting in this draft," Forton said.
"I’ve been shocked to see some mock drafts have a lack of defensemen near the top of the draft. I think there's a handful of defensemen in this draft that could be really good long-term NHL players that are worthy of a top-15 pick."
Adams tells Forton and the scouts to rate all the players as hockey players first. It doesn't matter where they’re from, just as players. Then they talk about other factors.
When it comes to Russian players, Buffalo has a distinct advantage because they have something that very few teams have, a full-time scout that lives in Russia. He can talk to these players and get a feel for them.
Not only have the Sabres drafted six Russians in the last two years, they’ve been able to sign four of them.
Two Russian defensemen to keep an eye on in this draft are Mikhail Gulyayev and Dmitri Simashev.
Matvei Michkov is probably right up there talent-wise with projected No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard, but many feel he’ll fall because of his three-year contract remaining in the KHL. I don’t think he should fall at all, and if he’s there at 13 - I don’t think he will be - I think Buffalo would jump at him.
You may have to wait until he’s 21 to get to North America, but you’d have a guy worthy of a first overall pick.
Noah Ostlund was taken in the first round of last year's draft by the Sabres, and he said right away he was going to spend two years playing in Sweden. I just don’t think it’s a big deal.
I understand the Anaheim Ducks will likely want Hobey Baker Award winner Adam Fantilli, but I think the Columbus Blue Jackets would be crazy to pass on Michkov.
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The Sabres have made the 13th overall pick six times in franchise history, taking Zack Kassian, Marek Zagrapan, Drew Stafford, Philippe Boucher, Joel Savage and Larry Playfair.
Coverage of Wednesday's first round of the 2023 NHL Draft will get underway at 7 p.m. ET with Brayton Wilson and Josh Schmit. I’ll also be live in Nashville checking in from time-to-time throughout the night.