Sabres Load Up on Size, Skill, and Grit in 2025 NHL Draft Day 2
Alright, let’s talk NHL Draft — and more specifically, let’s dive into what the Buffalo Sabres just pulled off on Day 2. If you’re a Sabres fan, you’ve got plenty to be intrigued about. The draft kicked off with Buffalo selecting towering defenseman Radim Mrtka ninth overall, and that set the tone for what became a clear trend throughout the rest of the draft: size, skill, and a whole lot of heart.
So let’s walk through it.
After nabbing Mrtka — a 6'6" right-shot defenseman from the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds — Buffalo wasted no time reshaping their blue line. Mrtka didn’t even begin training seriously until age 14, which is wild considering his upside. NHL draft analysts are calling his ceiling one of the highest in the entire draft class. And you can see why — the Sabres needed size and strength on the back end, and they got it in a big way.
Also Read:- Kneecap Defy Politics and Pack Glastonbury with a Message of Resistance
- Hawthorn Outclass North Melbourne in Slick Round 16 Display
But that was just the beginning. The Sabres started the second day with nine total picks and ended up stacking their system with size and grit. They traded their first pick of the day, 39th overall, to the Penguins along with Connor Clifton, and in return picked up Conor Timmins and Isaac Belliveau — two more defensemen. The message from GM Kevyn Adams was loud and clear: Buffalo is building from the back out.
In Round 3, they picked up David Bedkowski — another big right-shot defenseman, 6'4", known for throwing punishing hits. This guy said it himself: he’s a "heart and soul" player. Physical, fearless, and someone who could energize a team with one big open-ice hit.
Then came Matous Kucharcik in the fourth — a 6'4" centerman with a strong two-way game. He’s got some international experience under his belt and clearly a hockey pedigree, with a father who played all over Europe.
The Sabres also added two goalies, Samuel Meloche from the QMJHL and Yevgeni Prokhorov from Russia’s junior league. Meloche tied for the QMJHL lead in shutouts and was second in wins — not bad for a fifth-round pick. Prokhorov, on the other hand, posted a .943 save percentage in MHL playoff games. That’s serious composure under pressure.
And then there’s the late-round forward pickups — Ashton Schultz, Melvin Novotny, and Ryan Rucinski. Schultz and Rucinski are both coming from the USHL and heading to top NCAA programs, while Novotny is a Swedish product bringing creativity and intensity to both ends of the ice.
What ties all these picks together? The Sabres didn’t just go for the flashiest names. They went for players who bring character, compete level, and physicality — all things that Buffalo’s front office clearly believes will be essential in shaping this next generation of Sabres hockey.
So, to wrap it up — Buffalo walked away from the 2025 NHL Draft with a draft class that’s big, battle-tested, and full of upside. From Mrtka's towering presence to Prokhorov’s calm in net, it’s a group that could play a big part in Buffalo’s future identity: hard to play against, tough on defense, and relentless on both ends of the ice.
And honestly? That’s exactly the kind of foundation you want if you're trying to build a contender.
Read More:
0 Comments