2025 NHL Entry Draft Thread, Sabres Draft 9th

[DarthEbriate]

6 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Here's something I suspect the Sabres are very much aware of even if Sabrespace is not:

Owen Power is the only LHD the Sabres have picked in the first 3 rounds of the past 5 drafts.

• Centre: Kulich, Östlund, Savoie, Wahlberg, Helenius
• RSW: Quinn, Sardarian, Rosen, Zeimer
• LSW: Peterka, Bloom, Kisakov, Poltapov, Neuchev, Benson
• LSD: Power
• RSD: McCarthy, Strbak, Kleber
• Goalie: Leinonen

That glut you see on the NHL roster? Bryson is a spare part, Dahlin is comfortable on the right, Byram is getting traded and Samuelsson may follow him out the door.

If I had to predict their pick, it would be Smith: a big, mobile 2-way D who plays with the edge Lindy says is missing, and is headed to Terry's alma mater.

Aitcheson is also in the mix.

Good call.

5 drafts? Sheesh, Ryan Johnson is old. Too old to begin the training.

For everyone else keeping score on LSD: Osburn 4th, Geary 6th, Keohane 6th, Panocha 7th, Novikov 6th

[LGR4GM]

Osburn is underrated. 

As long as Buffalo keeps their 2nd and 3rd, they'll have a bunch of lhd options. 

[dudacek]

10 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Osburn is underrated. 

As long as Buffalo keeps their 2nd and 3rd, they'll have a bunch of lhd options. 

I think @DarthEbriate is correct to add Johnson and Novikkv to the mix and agree with you on Osburn.

The TLDR version is the Sabres are well-balanced in all positions in the pipeline, to the point that position this year is probably irrelevant.

I’d take the best player available with size and/or edge and make that the theme of my entire draft.

Plenty of that available at 9. 

And for the record, I would happy if the Sabres decide that is Smith.

[DarthEbriate]

14 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Osburn is underrated. 

As long as Buffalo keeps their 2nd and 3rd, they'll have a bunch of lhd options. 

Quick prospect aside in the draft thread:

Osburn has a good opportunity with a very young Badgers squad the next two seasons -- he's their only incoming freshman defenseman this year and his offensive skills should earn him PP time this season, when compared against the returning members of the D-corps. As to NHL talent, their other NHL D prospects are Phelan and Schulz who are definitely not offensive studs.

[LGR4GM]

8 minutes ago, dudacek said:

I think @DarthEbriate is correct to add Johnson and Novikkv to the mix and agree with you on Osburn.

The TLDR version is the Sabres are well-balanced in all positions in the pipeline, to the point that position this year is probably irrelevant.

I’d take the best player available with size and/or edge and make that the theme of my entire draft.

Plenty of that available at 9. 

And for the record, I would happy if the Sabres decide that is Smith.

Smith has sublime skating. He has decision making issues but he's got good size and plays physical. He works hard all over the ice and I don't think his offensive game has even scratched the surface. Outside of needing to refine his overall game, there's a ton to like in his package. At 6'4" 199lbs, there's a potential top pairing defender there. 

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Smith has sublime skating. He has decision making issues but he's got good size and plays physical. He works hard all over the ice and I don't think his offensive game has even scratched the surface. Outside of needing to refine his overall game, there's a ton to like in his package. At 6'4" 199lbs, there's a potential top pairing defender there. 

 

And again, the Penn State connection raises the Bat Signal.  And THIS GM seems to do what his owner wants unlike some in the past (Nylander fiasco, cough, cough, cough).

[shrader]

2 hours ago, Taro T said:

 

And again, the Penn State connection raises the Bat Signal.  And THIS GM seems to do what his owner wants unlike some in the past (Nylander fiasco, cough, cough, cough).

Have they actually drafted any Penn State player other than Brett Murray?

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, shrader said:

Have they actually drafted any Penn State player other than Brett Murray?

Has any Penn State player actually been ranked this high?

[shrader]

7 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Has any Penn State player actually been ranked this high?

To be fair, this is the first time they’ve been able to buy one. 

[LGR4GM]

This is Caleb Desnoyers who most consider an excellent 2way forward that will probably go in the 3-6 range:

 

this is Carter Bear who almost no one even talks about as a top 10 pick... because ppl don't evaluate players like Bear correctly:

[Mr. Allen]

I’m starting to get a sense that we aren’t making the pick at 9. 

[The Jokeman]

3 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

This is Caleb Desnoyers who most consider an excellent 2way forward that will probably go in the 3-6 range:

 

this is Carter Bear who almost no one even talks about as a top 10 pick... because ppl don't evaluate players like Bear correctly:

Bear gets buried because of the injury but I stated earlier he'd be on my short list of guys I'd take for the Sabres if we keep 9OA.

[LGR4GM]

Reason #54 why I don't trust Pronman...

He ranks the best skills and one of them is "compete level". Carter Bear doesn't appear on the list, at all.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6372836/2025/06/13/2025-nhl-draft-prospects-skills-tools-traits/

 

[SABRES 0311]

I might just take this day off. I’m genuinely excited to see what the Sabres do. KA better not screw this up.

[JoeSchmoe]

7 minutes ago, SABRES 0311 said:

I might just take this day off. I’m genuinely excited to see what the Sabres do. KA better not screw this up.

It's exciting for sure, but before you dig into your PTO, remember we don't get to see them play until training camp.

I'm excited too since this would have been my son's draft year and he's played with or against a lot of the Ontario and US kids (he wasn't quite big/good enough to play major junior).  But with all the lead up, I'm expecting to feel a bit of the "now what?" feeling once it's all over. 

[LGR4GM]

26 minutes ago, SABRES 0311 said:

I might just take this day off. I’m genuinely excited to see what the Sabres do. KA better not screw this up.

Take a half day at most. Nothing will happen until after noon. 

[SABRES 0311]

17 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Take a half day at most. Nothing will happen until after noon. 

I’m on PST and it’s an hour drive to work one way.

[GASabresIUFAN]

16 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Reason #54 why I don't trust Pronman...

He ranks the best skills and one of them is "compete level". Carter Bear doesn't appear on the list, at all.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6372836/2025/06/13/2025-nhl-draft-prospects-skills-tools-traits/

 

I found that funny as well.  Isn't "compete" Carter Bear's best attribute? I haven't (and won't) do my usual deep dive into this draft, but Bear seems like the right choice for the Sabres at 9 unless something crazy happens early in the draft.

Edited 14 hours ago by GASabresIUFAN

[steveoath]

What’s the deal with the O’Brien kid? Few mocks have us taking him at 9. And heard him compared to Krebs (playmaker type player). Cant say that comparison gets me excited. 

[Flashsabre]

7 minutes ago, steveoath said:

What’s the deal with the O’Brien kid? Few mocks have us taking him at 9. And heard him compared to Krebs (playmaker type player). Cant say that comparison gets me excited. 

He’s a tall lanky RHC with tremendous hockey sense, playmaking ability. Great skill but he doesn’t compete like a Martin or Bear. Has potential to be a top 6 centre.

 

https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=271144

Edited 14 hours ago by Flashsabre

[LGR4GM]

52 minutes ago, steveoath said:

What’s the deal with the O’Brien kid? Few mocks have us taking him at 9. And heard him compared to Krebs (playmaker type player). Cant say that comparison gets me excited. 

A lot of pp assists and he's not physical. He also played with a guy who got 71g and sure, his setup helps but Lardis has a great shot. O'Brien needs to work on rounding out his defensive game. Idk, I just don't love the profile and think his assent is because of his last couple months. If he was nastier, I'd be interested but he's a 6'2" center with great passing and hands who isn't particularly adept at checking. If you want one of most creative puck distribution machines in the draft, he's your guy. 

[LGR4GM]

 

 

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