Most of the questions at the Buffalo Sabres media availability we directed at GM Kevyn Adams and the disposition of players currently on their roster, including the contract situation of restricted free agent winger JJ Peterka and defenseman Bowen Byram, and veteran winger Alex Tuch entering the final year of his deal.
Assistant GM Jerry Forton and who the Sabres were going to select ninth overall at the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles on Friday seemed to be an afterthought, but comments about a pair of defenseman expected to be there when Buffalo’s pick is up were particularly revealing. At ninth overall, it is expected that Buffalo will miss out on the cluster of center prospects (Michael Misa, Caleb Desnoyers, Anton Frondell, Brady Martin, Jake O’Brien, Roger McQueen) and the top power forward in winger Porter Martone, but the Sabres may be in position to take one of the top defensemen after presumptive first overall pick Matthew Schaefer.
Other Sabres Stories
Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday?
Sabres Summer Dilemmas – Bowen Byram
Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of Change
Forton spoke of Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Radim Mrtka and Barrie Colts blueliner Kashawn Aitcheson as two intriguing prospects. Mrtka joined the WHL’s Thunderbirds after starting the season in the Czech League, and while he put up solid offensive numbers in the WHL, scouts aren’t expecting him to duplicate that in the NHL. There’s still a lot to like about the big 18-year-old as a future middle-pair blueliner, who models his game after Victor Hedman and Moritz Seider.
"Mrtka (offers a) very unique package to be able to move the way he does at 6'6", (is) almost more agile with the puck, if that's possible," Forton said. "A smart player at both ends. I was over in Czechia early in the year when he wasn't getting a lot of playing time in the men's league over there to see what he was willing to do to move to North America. He comes from a background where he has very little in the way of resources for hockey or anything outside hockey. He uprooted, high character kid, a huge ceiling."
The 18-year-old Aitcheson had a breakout offensive year with the Colts, jumping from eight to 26 goals last season, finishing behind only 2024 first-rounders Zayne Parekh and Sam Dickinson among OHL defensemen. Aitcheson led the Colts with 59 points and scored 12 points in the OHL playoffs.
“Aitcheson brings very much an old-school approach to the game. I could certainly see him be one of those players that might get the recency bias bump (from the Florida Panthers winning the Stanley Cup),” Forton said. “There's very few players in junior hockey, college hockey and Europe that play the way he plays. Very unique, and he brings some offense, especially off the heavy shot as well."
Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
Read the full article here