Coming out of the NHL Scouting Combine earlier this month, the Buffalo Sabres got the lowdown on a number of prospects that could be their with the ninth selection at the 2025 Draft in Los Angeles later this month, but barring a trade up they will have to rely on the player they want slipping through the cracks.
The NY Islanders are likely to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the top overall pick, but there is no accurate read on how the remaining seven picks will break. That seems to be reflected in various mock drafts that have emerged since the combine. After Schaefer, names like Michael Misa, Caleb Desnoyers, and rising star Anton Frondell are likely to go in the top five, but at that point, any of a number of players could be there for the Sabres at #9.
Other Sabres Stories
Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday?
Sabres Summer Dilemmas – Bowen Byram
Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of Change
Jake O’Brien is among a large cluster of top center prospects expected to go in the top 10 in Los Angeles later this week, and depending on how things fall, could be there for the Sabres at #9. The 18-year-old Toronto native came out of the GTHL and averaged over a point-per-game as a 16-year-old for the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs. This season, the 6’2”, 170 lb. pivot had 98 points (32 goals, 66 assists) in 66 games and 11 points in the OHL playoffs.
According to the Hockey News Draft Preview, O’Brien earned Team East MVP honors at the OHL Top Prospects Game and is considered a cerebral player with excellent playmaking skills and is very good defensively. One scout compared him to Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston. The one critique is that he is not overly physical.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
Read the full article here