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.
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Defenseman Jackson Smith has been ranked in the top 10 of many mock drafts, and based on some of the projections that have the Sabres selecting top blueline prospects Radim Mrtka or Kashawn Aitcheson, the offensively gifted Smith could be in the mix as well. The 18-year-old broke out in his second full season with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, more than doubling his production with 54 points (11 goals, 43 assists). With the rules change allowing players to shift to the NCAA, Smith is one player taking advantage and is heading to Penn State, the alma mater of Sabres owner Terry Pegula.
According to the Hockey News Draft Preview, Smith has shown flashes offense and physicality to get scouts excited about his potential. He has good size and strength and will improve once he adds more consistency to his game and projects as a top-pairing ‘D’ at the NHL level. He logged big minutes in all situations in Tri-City and finished tied for second in ice time among draft-eligible CHL defensemen this season.
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