The Buffalo Sabres entered draft day with 1 pick on night one, 11th overall. GM Jared Mitchell had one name circled he wanted from the 2022 draft class. In the weeks leading up to the draft it was looking less and less likely the player would be there for the pick. The player was Jiri Kulich and he went 9th overall to the Flames. Next on the Sabres board was Snuggerud but he was off the board at 10th. Who would the Sabres select at 11th?

11th Overall: Joakim Kemell RW 5'11" 183 lbs - JYP (Liiga) & Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

2022 Stats:

Liiga - 43GP / 12G / 3A / 15P / 14PIM / -16

AHL - Regular Season: 14GP / 6G / 7A / 13P / 21PIM / -5 Playoffs: 14GP / 8G / 2A / 10P / 2PIM / -3

Kemell didn't light the lamp much in Liiga but didn't have a bad season by any means, but it was his North American debut with Milwaukee where he showed an elite goal scorers touch notching 14goal in 28 games. He'll begin his BRHL career next season playing for the Rochester Americans.

At this point the Sabres were offering up Jamie Drysdale to move into round 1 as there was another player that had caught the scouts eyes. Why move Jamie Drysdale you might ask? No, I haven't soured on the player and I do believe Drysdale will be a very good player going forward. But with that said, he did miss most of last season and his ratings this year reflect this. Since the Sabres are going to try to make a run at the playoffs it wouldn't be ideal to carry the player on the roster next season, so the decision was made to use him to acquire more draft capital.

The trade: 

To Buffalo: PHI 1st 2023 (20th Overall), PIT 5th 2023 (129th Overall) & WIN 5th 2023 (138th Overall)

To Ottawa: Jamie Drysdale RHD

20th Overall: Liam Ohgren LW 6'1" 196 lbs - Djurgardens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan)

2022 Stats:

Season: 36GP / 11G / 9A / 20P / 2PIM / +15 Qualification: 17GP / 8G / 5A / 13P / 4PIM / +10

Ohgren's catch and release looks NHL level already, and I think that skill will allow him to play with top players. I like his game best out of the kid line on Djurgardens and had him rated above his linemates who were already drafted at this point. He'll have big shoes to fill since he'll be looked at as the guy that was traded for Drysdale.

Alright, that's it right? Time to call it a night. Well...not so fast. Trade talks picked up after this selection and a deal was struck with the San Jose Sharks.

The trade:

To Buffalo: Dylan Larkin C & FLA 3rd 2023 (78th Overall)

To San Jose: William Eklund C/LW, MON 5th 2023 (159th Overall) & BUF 6th 2023 (171st Overall)

Oh boy, that's a big trade. And with that deal completed the Sabres GM had to stick around to make another pick.

78th Overall: Amadeus Lombardi C 5'10" 165 lbs - Flint Firebirds (OHL)

2022 Stats:

Season: 67GP / 45G / 57A / 102P / 18PIM / +23 Playoffs: 7GP / 5G / 2A / 7P / 2PIM / -2

Lombardi is a speedy center who's skill was on full display this season in the OHL. I'm not really convinced he'll be a center in the NHL and think he'll be better suited to the wing. I had the player ranked in round 2 so I think him falling to round 3 was pretty good value.

The Sabres will make 6 more selections tonight when rounds 4 to 7 commence. The Sabres hold picks 107, 129, 138, 139, 146 & 200. See you all tonight!