Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) – For the fourth time in franchise history the Sabres will draft first overall.
Buffalo has taken Gil Perreault, Pierre Turgeon and Rasmus Dahlin with the first overall pick.
Kevyn Adams spoke right after the draft. He said, “It’s a great moment for our franchise. It’s obviously been a tough year for a lot of different reasons and we’re here, we’re very excited and proud to have this selection and it’s a step in the right direction.”
Adams and Seattle Kraken GM Ron Francis were teammates with the Carolina Hurricanes.
He said, “I was on the split screen with Ronnie Francis, a former teammate and good friend of mine, so it’s the only time I’ve ever beaten Ronnie, so I’m excited about it.”
When the Sabres won the lottery to selected Perreault in 1970, it was just between the two expansion teams, the Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks. Buffalo got Perreault and the Canucks took Dale Tallon. The Boston Bruins had the third and fourth picks and took future Philadelphia Flyers stars Reggie Leach and Rick MacLeish. The Toronto Maple Leafs grabbed Darryl Sittler with the 8th overall pick.
When the Sabres took Turgeon in 1987, Brendan Shanahan went to the New Jersey Devils and No. 2 while the Boston took Glen Wesley at No. 3. Joe Sakic went to the Quebec Nordiques at No. 15.
In 2018 when the Sabres took Dahlin, Andrei Svechnikov went to Carolina at No. 2 while the Montreal Canadiens selected Jesperi Kotkaniemi with the third overall pick. Brady Tkachuk went to the Ottawa Senators at four while Quinn Hughes was taken by the Vancouver Canucks at seven.
Many feel that University of Michigan defenseman Owen Power will go first overall. Power’s stock was starting to slip, but he’s played very well for Team Canada at the World Championship. Other defenseman high in the rankings are Brandt Clarke from Barrie of the OHL, Simon Edvinsson from Frolunda in Sweden and Luke Hughes who’s headed for Michigan in the fall.
Up front Michigan has Kent Johnson and Matthew Beniers up front. Winger Dylan Guenter played with the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL. The Peterborough Petes feature center Mason McTavish.
Since Darcy Regier talked about pain the Sabres have taken Rasmus Ristolainen at No.8, Nikita Zadorov at 16, Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel at No. 2, Alex Nylander and Casey Mittelstadt at No. 8, Dahlin, Dylan Cozens at No. 7 and Jack Quinn at No. 8.
The only teams that changed position’ in this year’s lottery were the Anaheim Ducks and Seattle Kraken. The 2021 draft order after the Lottery is:
1) Buffalo
2) Seattle
3) Anaheim
4) New Jersey
5) Columbus
6) Detroit
7) San Jose
8) Los Angeles
9) Vancouver
10) Ottawa
11) Chicago
12) Calgary
13) Philadelphia
14) Dallas
15) New York Rangers
The Arizona Coyotes forfeited their first round pick this year and second round pick in 2020 for physical fitness testing of draft prospects.