Sabres Could Be Willing To Deal First-Rounder
The Buffalo Sabres are one of 11 NHL clubs that have a chance to win the NHL Draft Lottery being held on Tuesday in Secaucus, N.J., and select presumptive first overall pick in Macklin Celebrini in Las Vegas next month, but the question is if the Sabres did not win and select 11th or 12th, what will GM Kevyn Adams do next.
The Sabres have over the last few years been content to accumulate draft capital and develop young prospects, but the dismissal of Don Granato in favor of Lindy Ruff, the large stockpile of talent already in the organization, and the emphasis on snapping the 13-year playoff drought may see Adams shop the club’s first-rounder.
Buffalo was fortunate to get immediate help in winger Zach Benson, who fell to #13 at the NHL Draft in Nashville last June and played the most games of any player selected in the 2023 Draft, but more than likely a player selected where they are picking will not play in the NHL for three years.
Adams and the Sabres organization are well positioned in that they have five former first-rounders in Jiri Kulich, Noah Ostlund, Isak Rosen, Matthew Savoie, and Ryan Johnson in the pipeline in the CHL or playing for AHL Rochester, so dealing their 2024 pick to a club for veteran help would not impair their developmental blueprint.
This is something that the Sabres were not open to doing last summer, because there were reportedly opportunities to trade for veteran defensive help who had short-term left on their contracts. Adams was not willing to trade a future asset for a player who could be in Buffalo for one year.
This summer the landscape appears to have changed.
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