4 prospects who could be drafted by the Buffalo Sabers

While the Bills finish off-season OTA workouts and the Bandits bask in the glory of being back-to-back national champions, let’s take a look at the Buffalo Sabers and Upper Deck’s upcoming 2024 NHL Draft.

The NHL Scouting Combine will take place in Buffalo at LECOM Harborcenter June 2-8, where top prospects will meet with teams and complete a series of tests and interviews.

The draft will take place at the Sphere in Las Vegas on June 28-29. This is the first time “Sin City” will host the draft and will be the first live televised event from the Sphere. The first round begins at 7 p.m. on the 28th and the second round begins at 11:30 a.m. the next day.

The Sabers have eight selections, including the 11th overall pick. The 1979 selection of defenseman Mike Ramsey at 11th overall is arguably the best pick Buffalo has made at 11th overall, but the Sabers have chosen 11th on four other occasions.

4 prospects who could be drafted by the Buffalo Sabers

Most mock drafts list forward Berkly Catton of the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs, defenseman Carter Yakemchuk of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, forward Cole Eiserman of the WHL Development Program U.S. national team and forward Konsta Helenius of Finland.

1. Berkley Catton

At 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, Catton’s speed and success in transition sets him apart, plus his 116 points (54 goals, 62 assists) rank fourth in the WHL.

2. Carter Yakemchuk

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

3. Cole Eiserman

At just 17 years old, Eiserman was described as “the best shot in the draft” by the NHL’s Adam Kimelman. The Boston University commit scored 58 goals in 57 games for the USNTDP and recorded 10 points in seven games against Finland at the IIHF U18 World Championships, where he won a silver medal .

4. Konsta Helene

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

Buffalo is up seven spots entering Day 2 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 whether the Panthers win the house. the Stanley Cup.