TOP EIGHT TAKEAWAYS FROM THE 2021 NHL DRAFT
Jul 27, 2021By Jourdon LaBarber for Sabres.com
Kevyn Adams and his staff had added 13 players to the organization over 48 hours by the time the Buffalo Sabres general manager sat down with the media after Day 2 of the NHL Draft on Tuesday.
The weekend represented a step in the direction Adams has outlined since the end of the season, with an emphasis on bringing in competitive players who fit within a long-term vision.
"We need to create a culture here and a foundation that is strong and that is almost one of those situations where they get up in the morning, they just can't wait to get to the rink," Adams said. "… It's so easy to say, but it's hard to do.
"But I've said this probably since the season ended when I talked to [the media]. I see signs of it, and that excites me. The foundation of our organization has to be built the right way, has to be strong. And I think we took huge steps this weekend."
The draft was merely one step in an offseason that continues with the opening of free agency next Wednesday, but a significant one for a team that was energized by the performances of young players such as Dylan Cozens, Rasmus Dahlin, and Casey Mittelstadt to end last season.
Here are eight takeaways from a busy weekend in Buffalo.
1. Summing up the Class of 2021
The Sabres drafted 11 players, including two players in each of the first two rounds. The group included two defensemen (headlined by first overall pick Owen Power), one center, and eight wingers.
Check out the video below to watch director of amateur scouting Jerry Forton break down the class in its entirety.
2. Power's next step
Power expressed his desire to return for his sophomore season at the University of Michigan throughout the process leading into the draft but also said he would make a decision on his future in conjunction with the team that selected him.
Adams outlined the merits of both potential routes on Friday and said the discussion will be had in the coming weeks. Forton pointed to a trio of recent success stories who benefitted from playing a second year in college: Cale Makar, Charlie McAvoy, and Quinn Hughes.
"I will tell you a big part of our process with Owen in this past year, and everyone here will find this out very quickly, he is a very highly driven, high-character human being that is going to do things his way," Forton said.
"He's going to take the path he thinks is best for him. He's a very independent thinker in that regard. It's what makes him special hockey player and a special person, in our opinion. He's going to do what he thinks is best for him and we're going to obviously support that decision."
3. Sabres were high on Isak Rosen
The Sabres received the 14th overall pick (which was actually the 13th selection due to Arizona's forfeited pick at No. 11) as part of a package from Philadelphia for defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. They used the choice to select Swedish winger Isak Rosen.
Forton said Rosen was held in high regard by the organization's area scout, Anders Forsberg, as well as the various crossover scouts who assessed him on video. Their final in-person viewing at the U-18 World Championship - where Rosen scored seven goals in as many games - simply confirmed their opinion.
"We had consensus throughout our staff that he was very high on our board," Forton said.
4. Russian connections
The Sabres selected four players out of Russia, including two second-round wingers in Prokhor Poltapov and Aleksandr Kisakov. Poltapov was linemates in Russia with third-round winger Stiven Sardarian while Kisakov was teammates with sixth-round defenseman Nikita Novikov.
Forton said the picks were partly the result of an organizational effort to heavily scout Russia and the Czech Republic. Live assessments from area scout Frank Musil combined with ample opportunity for video viewings and a wealth of data made for a high comfort level with the players selected.
"I had a pretty good idea a couple of these Russians maybe we were a little bit higher (on) than other organizations, so I had a decent idea that it could fall that way with two or three of them," he said. "I did not anticipate it being four, but we're very happy with the players we got.
5. Breaking down the Sam Reinhart trade
The Sabres acquired a conditional pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and goaltender Devon Levi from the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward Sam Reinhart on Saturday. The pick becomes an unprotected first-round pick in 2023 if the Panthers select in the top 10 next year.
The deal was similar to the one that sent Ristolainen to Philadelphia in that both added long-term pieces in exchange for veterans entering their final year before unrestricted free agency.
"I'm a big believer in Sam Reinhart as a player, as a person," Adams said. "I think he's an excellent hockey player. But the fact of the matter is he wasn't going to be here past this year. … You look at these things and you're projecting where are we gonna be in a year, two or three years, and you have to make hard decisions."
Adams said the organization holds a high opinion of Levi, a 19-year-old who was named the top goaltender at the World Junior Championship after posting a tournament-leading .964 save percentage in seven games with Canada. The organization analyzed recent deals at the trade deadline and determined the package from Florida offered the best long-term value.
"We need to build this up," Adams said. "We need to build our pipeline. We need to get more pieces that we can build around. And that's critical. And that's part of the decision making."
6. Sabres continue to communicate with McCabe, Ullmark
The team has been open about its hope to re-sign goaltender Linus Ullmark since declining to move his expiring contract at last season's trade deadline. Adams said negotiations are ongoing with Ullmark's representatives as free agency approaches next Wednesday.
"We're working hard at it," Adams said. "We've made it very clear to them that we would like to see Linus as our No. 1 goalie. We're going to keep working at it. We'll see where it gets. I also understand the rights players have and sometimes they make decisions but we're going to do everything we can."
Adams said that defenseman Jake McCabe has expressed his intention to explore the free agent market but did not rule out a potential return. McCabe missed the final two months with injuries to his ACL, MCL, and meniscus in his right knee.
7. Jack Eichel's future
Adams reiterated that he is listening to all offers that benefit the long-term outlook for the Sabres but said he is willing to open next season with Eichel on the roster should the right offer not present itself.
"I would have no problem at all if Jack Eichel is on our team when we start training camp," he said. "I have said this before and I'll say it again: If we are in a position that we believe will help our franchise, not just short term but for the long term in building this out, building around a core and the foundation of critical assets, then we'd be open and looking at it. If we didn't have that on the table or don't think that makes sense, then we won't do something."
8. Looking ahead to free agency
Adams said the plan for free agency will be to build around the young core without taking away valuable ice time from players like Cozens, Dahlin, and Mittelstadt.
"What I will say is I believe is critically important with our team makeup right now is not boxing young players on our roster right now out of crucial situations and crucial minutes," he said. "…We want to make sure we put the right pieces around the young core of players that we have, but you want to make sure they're also getting out there and having the opportunity to grow and learn."
SABRES DAY 2 DRAFT SELECTIONS
Round 2, Pick 1 (33rd overall) - Prokhor Poltapov, LW
The Sabres selected left wing Prokhor Poltapov with the first of their two second-round picks.
Poltapov tallied 52 points (25+27) in 61 games with Krasnaya Armiya Moskva of Russia's junior hockey league. He scored seven points (2+5) in seven games during Russia's run to a silver medal at the U-18 World Championship.
"Poltapov has a great motor and excellent offensive instincts, and uses his skating speed and hockey sense on every shift, according to Stubb," Mike Morreale wrote for NHL.com. "The 18-year-old led his team with 52 points (25 goals, 27 assists) in 61 games in Russia's junior league, and played well enough to make his debut in the Kontinental Hockey League, playing one game with CSKA."
Round 2, Pick 21 (53rd overall) - Aleksandr Kisakov, LW
The Sabres added another left wing from Russia in Aleksandr Kisakov, ranked as the No. 7 European skater by NHL Central Scouting Services.
Kisakov ranked second in Russia's junior hockey league (MHL) with 36 goals and 73 points in 61 games last season. He added 10 points (5+5) in 14 playoff contests to help lead MHK Dynamo Moskva to a league championship.
"Kisakov (5-10, 150) loves to get involved where the action is, according to Goran Stubb, European director of Central Scouting. The 18-year-old was second in the MHL, Russia's junior league, with 73 points (36 goals, 37 assists) in 61 games, and scored 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 14 playoff games to help Dynamo Moscow win the MHL championship. He plays bigger than his frame, will go to key areas to retrieve pucks and can play both left and right wing."
Round 3, Pick 24 (88th overall) - Stiven Sardarian, RW
The trend continues with a third winger from Russia in Stiven Sardarian, who tallied 30 points (9+21) in 50 games on the same team as second-round pick Prokhor Poltapov. Sardarian is committed to the University of New Hampshire.
Round 3, Pick 31 (95th overall) - Josh Bloom, LW
The Sabres select Josh Bloom from Saginaw of the OHL with their second pick of the third round. Bloom did not play in 2020-21 due to the OHL's canceled season. He scored 14 points (6+8) in 54 games in 2019-20.
Round 4, Pick 1 (97th overall) - Olivier Nadeau, RW
The Sabres select a sixth winger in Olivier Nadeau, who tallied 45 points (13+32) in 34 games with Shawinigan of the QMJHL last season.
Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino singled out Nadeau as a player to watch during a pre-draft conversation with Brian Duff and Martin Biron. Check it out in the video below.
Round 5, Pick 31 (159th overall) - Viljami Marjala, LW
Buffalo goes with another winger from the QMJL in the fifth round with the selection of Viljami Marjala, who tallied 27 points (5+22) in 30 games with the Quebec Ramparts in 2020-21. It was the first North American season for the Oulu, Finland native.
Round 6, Pick 1 (161st overall) - William von Barnekow-Lofberg, LW
The Sabres turn to Sweden for the first of two picks in the third round, selecting William von Barnekow-Lofberg. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound forward scored 43 points (16+27) in 44 games split between Malmo's J20 team and Tyringe SoSS of HockeyEttan. He also played four games for Malmo's SHL team.
Round 6, Pick 28 (188th overall) - Nikita Novikov, LHD
Buffalo adds a second defenseman - and another Russian - in defenseman Nikita Novikov, who was teammates with second-round pick Aleksandr Kisakov on MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL). He tallied 14 points (4+10) in 52 games.
Novikov also tallied five assists in seven games at the U-18 World Championship, winning silver.
Round 7, Pick 1 (193rd overall) - Tyson Kozak, C
The Sabres' final pick of the draft goes to the Portland Winterhawks' Tyson Kozak. He tallied 11 points (3+8) in 18 games in an abbreviated 2020-21 season for the WHL.