4 Prospects That Could Be Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres

While the Bills are finishing up OTA offseason workouts and the Bandits are basking in the glory of being back-to-back national champions, let’s take a look at the Buffalo Sabres and the upcoming 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft..

The NHL Scouting Combine will be held in Buffalo at the LECOM Harborcenter from June 2 until June 8 where top prospects meet with teams and go through a series of testings and interviews.

The draft will be held at Sphere in Las Vegas on June 28-29,  which is the first time “Sin City” will welcome the draft, and will be the first live-televised event from the Sphere. Round one starts at 7 p.m. on the 28th and round two begins at 11:30 a.m. the following day.

The Sabres have eight selections, including the 11th-overall pick. The selection of defenseman Mike Ramsey in 1979 at No. 11 is arguably the best pick Buffalo has made at 11th overall, but the Sabres have picked 11th on four other occasions. 

4 Prospects That Could Be Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres

Most mock drafts mention forward Berkly Catton from the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League, defenseman Carter Yakemchuk from the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, forward Cole Eiserman from the U.S. National Team Development Program and forward Konsta Helenius from Finland.

1. Berkly Catton

Standing at 5-foot-10, 170-pounds, Catton's speed and success in transition makes him standout, in addition to the fact that his 116 points (54 goals, 62 assists) marked him fourth in the WHL.

2. Carter Yakemchuk

Yakemchuk’s size (6-foot-3, 201-pounds) could be beneficial for Buffalo’s defense or power play, and he led all defensemen in WHL with 30 goals in the 2023-24 season.

3. Cole Eiserman

At only 17, Eiserman has been referred to as “the best shot in the draft,” by NHL’s Adam Kimelman. The Boston University commit had 58 goals in 57 games for the USNTDP and recorded 10 points in seven games against Finland in the IIHF U18 World Championships, where he brought home a silver medal.

4. Konsta Helenius

Helenius is skilled and quick, and posted 36 points in 51 games in Finland's top professional league, good for fourth-most in a season by a U18 player. He played in four games for Finland at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championships.

Buffalo has seven spots on day two as they hold the 43rd, 76th, 108th, 109th,172nd and 204th overall picks, with a seventh-round pick from the Florida Panthers potentially becoming a fifth-round pick, depending on if the Panthers take home the Stanley Cup.