Draft Preview | Sabres' picks, key dates, and more

We’re less than a month away from the NHL Draft, where the Buffalo Sabres stand to make 10 picks – beginning with the ninth-overall selection in the first round.

As usual, there will be a plethora of options once the Sabres are on the clock. We’ll spend the next month on Sabres.com digging into those options with insight from media analysts and the prospects themselves.

In the meantime, here’s what you need to know to set you up for draft season.

Key dates

The NHL Scouting Combine is currently being held right here in Buffalo through Saturday, June 7. Representatives from all 32 clubs will spend the week meeting with prospects on the KeyBank Center suite level. The fitness testing portion of the combine – and the ensuing media interviews – will take place on Saturday.

The NHL Draft will be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Round 1 will be televised on ESPN and ESPN+ on Friday, June 27 at 7 p.m. Rounds 2-7 will air on NHL Network and ESPN+ beginning at noon on Saturday, June 28.

What’s new

The NHL is moving to a decentralized format for the first time (with the exception of virtual drafts held during the COVID-19 pandemic). Historically, all 32 clubs convened in the draft host city and operated from tables on the arena floor.

This year, while the draft itself will be held in Los Angeles, the clubs will set up homebases in their own markets. It’s a similar model to the one the NFL has long used – which is why the Sabres are taking advantage of shared ownership with the Buffalo Bills and setting up shop for two days in Orchard Park.

The Sabres’ picks

Buffalo holds a total of 10 picks across the following rounds:

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 4 (from Anaheim, originally belonging to Minnesota)

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Round 7 (from San Jose, originally belonging to Washington)

Round 7 (from Nashville)

First-round prospects

Check out our Mock Draft Watch for an early look at seven prospects who could be options for the Sabres with the ninth-overall pick.

The two names most frequently associated with the Sabres in said mock drafts: a pair of physically imposing defensemen in Radim Mrtka and Kashawn Aitcheson.

Mrtka, a right shot, stands 6-foot-6 and is touted for his skating and puck moving. The left-shot Aitcheson is the smaller option at 6-foot-1 but is described by The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy as a “physically punishing intimidator.”