NHL DRAFT DAY AS TOLD BY AMERKS PAST AND PRESENT
Jun 26, 2024
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @Mossbrooks48
For the sixth time in franchise history, the Buffalo Sabres are slated to select 11th overall in the upcoming NHL Draft later this week in Las Vegas. It marks the first time the Sabres pick 11th since 2002 (Keith Ballard), but Buffalo is no stranger to early selections in recent years. This year’s draft marks the 12th time in the last 13 years the Sabres own one of the first dozen picks in the draft.
Over this period of time, they’ve amassed a talent pool of prospects widely considered the best of any NHL team. The NHL Draft is a moment fans (especially those following teams picking near the top) look forward to each offseason. Defining moments for entire franchises can often be traced back to the day a player walked across the podium in June to put that team’s jersey on for the very first time. These days create memories for the organizations, the fans, and the players themselves.
“It was an unreal feeling getting drafted,” said forward Isak Rosen, a former first-round pick who went to Buffalo 14th overall in 2021. It’s one of those things where you felt confident you were going to get drafted, but you have no idea what teams are thinking. It was a dream come true for me and my family. It’s hard to describe it better.”
Overall, the Sabres have eight picks in the upcoming draft. One in each of the first three round, plus round five, then two picks in both the fourth and seventh rounds. The future of the Sabres won’t come exclusively from that first round. Several iconic players for the organization were plucked in later rounds.
“Getting drafted was the greatest experience of my life,” said enforcer Rob Ray, who was drafted in the fifth round in 1988 and went on to play 900 NHL games. “When I got home, there was probably 500 people at my house waiting for me to get back. I was the first in my hometown (Stirling, Ontario) to ever be drafted. I just wanted a chance. It’s a huge relief when you finally hear your name called and everything was just going a hundred miles an hour from that point on.”
Drafts are filled with emotions. It’s a day riddled with excitement, anxiety, and stress. A mixed bag, to say the least.
“My draft was in Quebec City, and I remember sitting with my parents and my agent in Quebec Colisée,” said forward Domenic Pittis. I remember the building being really warm and I was in a suit, so it was already a little bit uncomfortable. I was rated around the end of the first round or beginning of the second round by central scouting, so for the first 15-20 picks I was just taking it all in. Then as the first round ended and second round started to go by, it became stressful. As the picks came up, I remember looking at the draft board thinking what my meetings were like with each team and what feedback my agent was giving me. I honestly didn’t hear my name called by the Penguins at the end of the second round (52nd overall). I just remember my agent jumping up and shaking my hand and hugging my parents and seeing the tears of joy in their eyes. It was really special to share that moment with them.”
The NHL Draft offers multiple perspectives from players. Those expected to be drafted early are almost guaranteed to be in attendance the first day of the draft. Those expected to fall later in the selection process may wait and attend the following day’s event. Then there are some who don’t expect to hear a call.
“Draft day was one I’ll always remember because I wasn’t expecting to get drafted, so I stayed home,” said defenseman Jeremy Davies, a former seventh-round pick by New Jersey in 2016. “I followed along with it online and saw my name pop up in the seventh round. It was an incredible moment. I had friends and family with me, so it was a special moment and we had a great celebration.”
“I didn’t go to my draft,” said forward Tyson Kozak, who Buffalo selected in the same draft as Rosen (2021) with its seventh-round pick. “I had been watching the draft throughout the day, but then I had to kind of get my mind off the draft because it was getting late and I hadn’t been picked at that point, so I went out golfing with a couple of buddies. About 15 minutes after getting home from that, I saw my name pop up on the TV in the seventh round and you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Being drafted was a dream come true and a very special moment for me and especially for my family, considering how much time and effort they put into my hockey career over the years.”
Then there’s just some one-of-a-kind stories.
“I got drunk at a buddy’s house party the night of the draft,” said goaltender Tom Askey, who was selected in the eighth round of the 1993 draft. “I wasn’t paying much attention to it at all. I thought I might get drafted because I had met with a few teams, but I wasn’t banking on it. My mom woke me up the next morning and told me I got drafted by Anaheim. My parents read it in the paper. I was definitely excited, but I went right back to sleep. Still, I accomplished more than most eighth-rounders did.”
The Stanley Cup Final is over. Former Sabres like Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues hoisted the cup above their heads, doing so in Florida Panthers jerseys as the organization won its first championship. With playoffs complete, the hockey world shifts its focus to the draft to wrap up June and begin the march toward October.
The Sabres, back under the tutelage of Lindy Ruff, hope to see current Sabres lift that iconic piece of hardware as the organization continues plotting toward what they hope is an eventual Stanley Cup winning team. Every NHL draft sees teams wanting their newly acquired players to find their way to the summit of the sport; the National Hockey League. In this case, general manager Kevyn Adams is looking for the next crop of players to call Buffalo home, but, as it’s happened many times before, a residency in Rochester isn’t a bad thing.
“Rochester was awesome,” said Ray, who played 125 games as an Amerk. It’s so close to Buffalo and the Sabres never hesitate to call guys up due to proximity. I still have lots of friends from my time in Rochester. The vets and ‘Boxie’ (John Van Boxmeer) were special. They did an excellent job teaching young guys how to be pros on and off the ice. It really helped my development.”
“I’ve only been in Rochester for two years now, but my time here has been great,” said Kozak. “We have a great setup at the rink that everyone can take advantage of in terms of development. We’ve also had a great coaching staff and veteran players that all of the young players can learn from.”
“Amerks hockey in Rochester mattered,” said Pittis, who was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2020. “Winning mattered. The older guys recognized that and helped the younger guys understand the mindset and commitment it took to be successful.”
The future of the Buffalo Sabres comes through the draft June 28 and 29, but don’t be surprised if some of the names you see in Sabres sweaters venture to the Flower City at some point.
Each of Buffalo’s draft picks will look to earn that gold and royal blue jersey. Perhaps one of the ways to earn those colors will be to first
wear red, white, and blue in Rochester.