Sabres Daily: Buffalo Tried To Trade Up At Draft; Atlantic Update

The Buffalo Sabres were looking to be very active at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville, but other clubs were just not very accommodating. The first round of last month’s draft was the first time in 16 years in which there was not a trade completed, but not for a lack of trying.

GM Kevyn Adams indicated after the draft that he was trying to trade up late into the first round to select center Anton Wahlberg (who the Sabres eventually selected 39th overall), but could not find a trading partner. That was the second time that night that Buffalo’s attempts to trade up were thwarted. According to Patrick Johnston of the Vancouver Province, Adams and Canucks GM Patrik Allvin were seen talking on the draft floor before their 11th overall pick and Allvin was seen talking with his staff about trading down two picks, but Vancouver chose to stand pat and select Swedish defenseman Tom Willander.

The Sabres selected Winnipeg Ice winger Zach Benson with the 13th overall pick.

Sabres In Case You Missed It

• Adams Chooses To Stay Away From Goalie Market
• Sabres Rely On Relationships To Attract Blueliners
• Sabres Sign Clague To One-Year Deal
• Friedman: Dahlin And Power Extensions Top Priority
• Sabres Prospects Showing Off At Scrimmage
• Sabres Hope To Promote From Within To Replace Quinn
• Will The Sabres Have To Wait To Deal Olofsson?
• Are The Sabres Still Shopping In The Free Agent Market?
• Amerks Add Assistants Paetsch, Prospal To Replace Peca, Weber
• Miller Bridge Deal May Provide Roadmap For Power
• Sabres Lock Up Jacksonville As ECHL Affiliate

Yeah, so Noah Östlund has some sweet hands. #LetsGoBuffalo

🎥: rp(.)hockey on Instagram (no parentheses in the username; just didn’t want a link) pic.twitter.com/2j74QIGr7J

— Jeff Middleton (@jjmid04) July 7, 2023

The Boston Bruins may have some forward holes to fill with the fate of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci up in the air. On Tuesday, the Bruins signed forward Jesper Boqvist to a one-year, $775,000 one-way deal. The 24-year-old was not given a qualifying offer by New Jersey after scoring 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 70 games with the Devils last season.

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