PHN’s 2019 Mock NHL Draft: Sabres go for help on offense with final pick of first round

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BUFFALO, NY – When the Sabres traded for defenseman Brandon Montour from the Ducks on Feb. 24, they gave the Ducks the option to choose one of the picks acquired from the Sharks or Blues.

The Ducks have until the day before the draft to decide which pick they’ll take.When the Sabres traded for defenseman Montour from the Ducks on Feb. 24, they gave the Ducks the option to choose one of the picks acquired from the Sharks or Blues.

The Ducks have until the day before the draft to decide which pick they’ll take.In addition to San Jose’s pick, Buffalo acquired St. Louis’ first-round pick as part of the trade for forward Ryan O’Reilly on July 1, 2018.

The Buffalo Sabres are back on the clock thanks in part to the St. Louis Blues winning the Stanley Cup. Buffalo acquired the 31st overall pick as part of the huge trade that sent Ryan O’Reilly trade to the Blues.

All things being equal, we think the Sabres would prefer to have O’Reilly back over the pick, especially on the heels of his Conn Smythe winning performance as the MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs,

Earlier in PHN’s mock draft, the Sabres held the 7th overall pick and used it on Dylan Cozens from the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League. Cozens is listed as a center by Central Scouting but he can play both wing and center. Our gut feeling is Cozens will stay at center which is why we see the Sabres going for help on wing.

Jason Pominville is an unrestricted free agent and he is going to be 37 years old in November but he did manage to score 16 goals. Only one other right winger on the team had over 10 goals was Kyle Okposo with 14 but he is 31 one years old with a hefty cap hit of $6 million will four years left on his deal.

In a forward heavy draft, despite some needs on defense, we see Buffalo going after more offensive help for Jeff Skinner and Jack Eichel. PHN see going back to the Western Hockey League for more offensive help when Buffalo comes to the podium again at the end of the first round in Vancouver.

“With the 31st overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, the Buffalo Sabres, are proud to select, from the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League, Brett Leason.”

Brian Jennings covers the Philadelphia Flyers for prohockeynews.com and can be found on twitter at @Flyersfan22.