Sabres Surprise on Draft Day
2018-07-30With two picks in the top 10 of the EHE Entry Draft, the Buffalo Sabres were bound to select a defenseman, at least that’s what everybody thought. The Buffalo Sabres decided to surprise the rest of the league and draft two forwards with their 4th and 8th overall selections. Taking a quick look at the Sabres’ lineup and prospect pool, it would seem almost certain that they would go ahead and select a blueliner with one of their 1st round picks, however the management team opted not to. Instead, Sabres fans had to wait until pick 34 to finally have a defenseman called to don the Sabres jersey. While they may have surprised a few, let’s look at their draft picks.
BRADY TKACHUK
Selected: Round 1, Pick 4
Position: LW
Team: Boston University, NCAA
GM’s Comments: “While there were plenty of discussions and rumours surrounding the 4th overall pick and if it was even going to be in our hands on draft day, no deal enticed us enough to move the pick. We were very pleased to pick up a player of Brady’s calibre with the pick. Not only is he a threat in the offensive zone, but he’s defensively responsible and has the size to out muscle anybody in a puck battle. We are very excited to have him in the system and adding him to our talented young core.”
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VITALI KRAVTSOV
Selected: Round 1, Pick 8
Position: RW
Team: Traktor Chelyabinsk, KHL
GM’s Comments: “Vitali is another guy that we were very high on in Buffalo. While there may have been some who thought we were going to select a defenseman here, we just couldn’t turn down the potential upside we see in Vitali. Similar to Brady (Tkachuk), he’s a very big guy, but the offensive upside that he shows was something that left us wanting more. He will be a great addition to an explosive offensive core here in Buffalo.”
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JAY O’BRIEN
Selected: Round 2, Pick 33
Position: C
Team: Thayer Academy, USHS-Prep
GM’s Comments: “We couldn’t believe a Jay was available at pick 33. We had him much higher on our draft board and to have him fall to us where he did was incredible. Another offensive player that is going to contribute to a very strong, young center core for many years to come. Building down the middle of the ice is important, and we believe this pick helps solidify our centers for many years.”
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ALEXANDER ALEXEYEV
Selected: Round 2, Pick 34
Position: D
Team: Red Deer Rebels, WHL
GM’s Comments: “Alexander was one guy we were looking at with our 2nd rounders closely. We believe he is going to be a complete defender who will be able to play in all situations. For his size, we particularly like how mobile he is. He can skate and move the puck well, all the while playing a very responsible defensive game. He uses his body when he needs to and we believe his skillset is the new-age defenseman in hockey.”
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LAWRENCE PILUT
Selected: Round 2, Pick 35
Position: D
Team: HV71, SHL
GM’s Comments: “This was one of the picks I was the most excited about. We knew being older would perhaps mean not many other teams had him on their list and we knew we were going to take him with one of our 2nd round picks. At just 22 years old he led his team in scoring and won SHL defenseman of the year, so what’s there not to like? For a team with very little on the blueline, he’s going to be an excellent addition to the organization and we look forward to seeing his transition to the pros.”
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David Kampf
Selected: Round 3, Pick 64
Position: RW
Team: Chicago Blackhawks, NHL
GM’s Comments: “Once again we were looking at a player who was eligible to be selected but older. David has already played at the pro level with the Blackhawks and put up respectable numbers. He’s a guy that’s going to come in immediately and help us out, so I can’t wait to have him in the lineup. His energy and skill is noticeable, and we’re looking forward to watching him continue to improve and grow with the club.”
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While the Buffalo Sabres may have surprised many with their picks, they are please with the draft’s outcome. Lots of talent was injected in to the system which will help the team compete in the coming years. The past few years haven’t been easy on the city and fans of Buffalo, however it looks like things are starting to turn around.
