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Buffalo Sabres

Mock Drafts Have Sabres Taking American Prospects At #13

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Quentin Musty

The Buffalo Sabres will be turning their attention toward the 2023 NHL Scouting Combine from June 4 to 10 and the upcoming Draft in Nashville later this month, where they hold the 13th pick in the first round.

GM Kevyn Adams has one of the most prospect-laden organizations in the NHL, but one of the keys to a club remaining competitive is the ability to restock the shelves with cheap talent on entry-level contracts. The Sabres appear to have made the best use of three first-rounders in 2022, center Matthew Savoie, Noah Ostlund, and Jiri Kulich. With significant ties to USA Hockey through their Director of Pro Scouting Jeremiah Crowe and head coach Don Granato, it seems likely that the Sabres could lean towards an American player with their pick.

According to Russ Cohen of Sportsology in his mock draft for Full Press Hockey, Buffalo may target a Western New York product with their selection in the middle of the first round.

Musty Is A Must

Sudbury Wolves winger Quentin Musty is ranked anywhere from the teens to 20s by most draft lists. The Hamburg, NY native played for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres for two seasons before heading to the OHL in 2021. The 6’2″ 190 lb. winger improved in his second season with the Wolves, improving from 31 points as a 16-year-old to 78 points (26 goals, 52 assists) in 53 games last season, and the 17-year-old registered five points (1 goal, 4 assists) for the US at the under-18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.  Cohen describes Musty as “a big power forward with speed and an eye on the two-way game, who creates offensive chances.”

A Familiar Name

In The Athletic’s mock draft, Scott Wheeler has Buffalo selecting winger Gabriel Perreault at #13. Not related to Hockey Hall of Famer and all-time Sabres great Gilbert Perreault, the 18-year-old is the son of former NHLer Yanic, who was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 1991 NHL Draft in Buffalo. The 18-year-old holds dual citizenship and chose to play for the US, where he scored a record 132 points with the National Development Program last season and 18 points (5 goals, 13 assists) in 7 games at the 2023 IIHF under-18 World Juniors.

 

 

Wheeler believes the Buffalo “can’t pass on Perreault’s playmaking and handedness to complement right-shot scorers like Jack Quinn and someday replace Jeff Skinner at left wing in the top six.” 

 

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