The Buffalo Sabres have a lot of decisions to make over the next week. The NHL Draft is this Friday and NHL free agency begins next Tuesday.
General Manager Kevyn Adams on Tuesday held a press conference where he shrugged off trade rumors involving young forward JJ Peterka and the potential buyout of struggling defenseman Mattias Samuelsson. He expressed his sympathy for fans reading what he described as “misinformation” from hockey’s top insiders.
Adams says all assistant coaches behind the Sabres bench will remain and are under contract, even with the team having the 24th-ranked powerplay and 23rd-ranked penalty kill.
While the Sabres GM may have dismissed any rumored upcoming changes, they'll have to come from somewhere if the team wants to break its 14-year playoff drought — and they could start Friday night at the NHL Draft.
Adams says he’s willing to move this year’s first-round pick more than in previous years. However, if the team decides to keep the pick, Adams says they’ll go for the best player available. Assistant GM Jerry Forton, who oversees the amateur and pro scouting departments, says the team has five to seven players in the highest tier of this draft class.
Here are some players the Sabres could look to draft at ninth overall:
Radim Mrtka, defenseman, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Forton has nothing but praise for Mrtka, the 6’6” right-handed defenseman from the Czech Republic.
"Mrtka's a very unique package," Forton said. "To be able to move the way he does at 6'6". Almost more agile with puck, if that's possible. Smart player at both ends."
His first season in North America saw him notch 35 points in 43 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL.
"I was over in the Czech Republic earlier in the year when he wasn't getting a lot of playing time in the mens league over there. To see what he was willing to do to move to North America. Comes from a background where he has very little in way of resources for hockey or anything outside of hockey. Uprooted. High character kid. Huge ceiling, I think."
If there's a team in need of a right-handed shot on the blueline, it's the Buffalo Sabres, and they know it.
“I don’t think I’ve done a good enough job of helping Owen [Power], in terms of just that guy that’s out there on the ice with him every game for his first few years," Adams said at his end of season press conference in April. "I haven’t been able to get that right person ... It would be great to get an All-Star right-shot defenseman that can be next to him for the next bunch of years. But it doesn’t always work like that in terms of acquiring that player. So we’ll look at it."
Don't be surprised to see Mrtka in a Sabres jersey Friday night, as management continues to look for a long-term partner for the left-handed Power.
Kashawn Aitcheson, defenseman, Barrie Colts (OHL)
Aitcheson is a defenseman who can both throw bone-crushing hits and produce offensively.
He scored 26 goals and 59 points in 64 games this past season.
In line with his physical reputation, his first season with Barrie in the OHL saw him fight seven times, and his sophomore season saw him drop the gloves six times.
"Aitcheson brings very much an old-school approach to the game," Forton said. "I could certainly see him be one those players who gets the recency bias bump. There's very few players in junior hockey, college hockey and Europe that plays the way he plays. Very unique. And he brings some offense especially off the heavy shot as well."
After a lack of response to a hit that knocked out star forward Tage Thompson this past season, the Sabres are perceived to lack toughness — Aitcheson would be a good step in addressing that need long-term.
Regarding Mrtka and Aitcheson, Forton says he expects them to be in the top three to five defensemen off the board.
"Two great defensemen who I think will have longtime NHL careers," he said.
James Hagens, center, Boston College (NCAA)
Hagens scored 37 points in his freshman year at Boston College, tallied nine points in seven games with the United States at the World Junior Championship and was named Best Forward of the tournament.
The knock on this highly-productive forward is his 5'11", 177 lb. frame. Hagens was previously expected to be a contender for the first-overall selection, but in a draft class full of talented forwards 6'1" and up, Hagens' smaller size could see him drop — and the Sabres could pounce.
As a Long Island native, Hagens is heavily rumored to be pursued by the New York Islanders. Will they make a move to upstage the Sabres and other teams in the top 10? We'll see Friday.
Roger McQueen, center, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
McQueen is a hulking center whose season was shortened due to injury.
He opened the 2024 season with a four-goal game in what was expected to be his breakout campaign with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL. He would suffer a lower back injury just a few games into the season, but would return in March and finish the season with 10 goals and 20 points in 17 games.
McQueen sustained another injury in the playoffs and was limited to three games. He was cleared for fitness testing at the Draft Combine in Buffalo earlier this month, indicating progress in his recovery.
There's a decent chance the 6'5" McQueen will be available when the Sabres pick. Will they be the team to take a flier?