Are the Buffalo Sabres going to end up picking at 14, or will they make another move?
The Buffalo Sabres have been very busy behind the scenes going into tonight’s NHL Entry Draft.
Jeff Skinner – The Sabres are saddled with another three years of the forward’s $9 million per year contract as well as a No Movement Clause (NMC) which means the player would have to waive that for the Sabres to trade him, or even send him down to Rochester. Plus, that albatross of a contract means it’s nearly impossible they can find a trade partner without retaining some or all of that salary.
That said, General Manager Kevyn Adams is still looking to trade the player and has indicated that the forward’s camp have not shown a willingness to waive the NMC. Failing that, they have until Sunday to buy him out and deal with cap repercussions, especially three years from now.
Martin Necas – Adams seemed a bit irritated when asked about the Carolina Hurricanes forward, not wanting to spotlight Buffalo’s interest in the Czech. There are legitimate concerns that while the winger has high upside, he poses many of the same issues defensively that Skinner does.
Trading down to #14 – In a tiered draft where there doesn’t appear to be much different between #6 and #15, Adams traded the #11 pick to the San Jose Sharks and added the #42 to the #43 they already had. The Sabres have nine picks in the draft now and more ammunition to trade for a player(s) that can help them now.
How to Watch
Round One
Date: Friday, June 28th 2024
Start time: 7:30 PM EST
TV: ESPN (USA), Sportsnet & TVA Sports (Canada)
Online stream: ESPN+
Rounds Two to Seven
Date: Saturday, June 29th 2024
Start time: 11:00 AM EST
TV: NHL Network (USA), Sportsnet & TVA Sports (Canada)
Online stream: ESPN+
Draft Order
Round One
- San Jose Sharks – Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University (NCAA)
- Chicago Blackhawks – Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State (NCAA)
- Anaheim Ducks – Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa (OHL)
- Columbus Blue Jackets – Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat (WHL)
- Montreal Canadiens – Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg Jr. (Russia)
- Utah Hockey Club – Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna (WHL)
- Ottawa Senators – Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary (WHL)
- Seattle Kraken – Berkly Catton, C, Spokane (WHL)
- Calgary Flames – Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw (OHL)
- New Jersey Devils – Anton Silayev, D, Nizhny Novgorod (Russia)
- San Jose Sharks (from BUF) – Sam Dickinson, D, London (OHL)
- Minnesota Wild (from PHI) – Zeev Buium, D, Denver (NCAA)
- Philadelphia Flyers (from MIN) – Jett Luchanko, C, Guelph (OHL)
- Buffalo Sabres (from SJS via PIT) – Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit (Finland)
- Detroit Red Wings – Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora (Sweden)
- St. Louis Blues – Adam Jiricek, D, Plzen (Czechia)
- Washington Capitals – Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George (WHL)
- Chicago Blackhawks (from NYI) – Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon (USHL)
- Vegas Golden Knights – Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-City (USHL)
- New York Islanders (from CHI via TBL) – Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. U-18
- Montreal Canadiens (from LAK) – Michael Hage, C, Chicago (USHL)
- Nashville Predators – Egor Surin, C, Yaroslavl Jr. (Russia)
- Anaheim Ducks (from TOR) – Stian Solberg, D, Valerenga (Norway)
- Utah Hockey Club (from COL) – Cole Beaudoin, C, Barrie (OHL)
- Boston Bruins (from OTT via DET via BOS) – Dean Letorneau, C, St. Andrew’s College (Ont.)
- Los Angeles Kings (from WPG via MTL) – Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor (OHL)
- Chicago Blackhawks (from CAR) – Marek Vanacker, LW, Brantford (OHL)
- Calgary Flames (from VAN) – Matvei Gridin, RW, Muskegon (USHL)
- Dallas Stars – Emil Hemming, RW, TPS (Finland)
- New York Rangers – EJ Emery, D, U.S. U-18
- Toronto Maple Leafs (from ANA via EDM) – Ben Danford, D, Oshawa (OHL)
- Edmonton Oilers (from PHI via FLA) – Sam O’Reilly, RW, London (OHL)