BUFFALO SABRES
Top priority: Best player available
First pick: No. 11
The situation: The Sabres missed the playoffs for an NHL-record 13th consecutive season after finishing sixth in the Atlantic Division, seven points behind the Washington Capitals for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Lindy Ruff is back as coach after being hired April 22, six days after Don Granato was fired. Ruff previously coached the Sabres from 1997-98 to 2012-13, guiding them to eight playoff appearances, including reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 1999, and consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference Final in 2006 and 2007. The 64-year-old coach has some work do to as the Sabres finished 23rd in the League in goals per game (2.98), 29th on the power play (16.6 percent) and last in face-off efficiency (45.0 percent). The good news is there’s plenty to work with and an impressive pool of prospects led by forwards Jiri Kulich (2022, No. 28), Matt Savoie (2022, No. 9), Noah Ostlund (2022, No. 16) and Isak Rosen (2021, No. 14), defensemen Ryan Johnson (2019, No. 31) and goalies Devon Levi (trade, Florida Panthers) and Topias Leinonen (2022, No. 41). They’ll need to continue to gain assets for a possible push to qualify for the postseason in 2024-25.
Possible fits: Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit (FIN); Cole Eiserman, LW, USA U-18 (USHL); Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa (OHL)
