With the NHL lottery behind us and generation touchdown prospect Conor Bedard all but a certain thing, the rest of the teams in the lottery will have about a month and a half to fill out their draft boards. Now is the time for scouts and other members of the front office to lock down and see which players fit their blueprints and plans for the future.
Notch pick #13 is the Buffalo Sabers after a 91-point season, their best since 2010-11. Oddly enough, this was the last season in which the Sabers made the playoffs. Even though this year has extended the drought to 12 seasons, Buffalo is in prime position for a playoff spot next year after falling just one point last year. Here’s a look at two of the prospects the Sabers could pick in the 13th pick.
Quentin Mustey (left wing), Sudbury Wolves (Ontario Hockey League): 53 games, 26 goals – 52 assists – 78 points
Quentin Musty comes across as a drop child and a great option available to the Sabers when they’re on the clock. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound winger’s hometown is Hamburg, New York, just outside of Buffalo, and he played youth hockey for the Buffalo Junior Sabers. Musty eventually joined the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2021-22 as the first pick of the OHL draft and scored 31 points in 50 games on 12 goals and 19 assists while also recording 70 penalty minutes.
In his scoring-eligible season, Musti more than doubled his scoring production to 26 goals while establishing himself as a talented playmaker with the Wolves with 52 assists for a grand total of 78 points in 53 games. Mustey added four points in four games in a playoff series sweep at the hands of the Peterborough Petes.
As a larger, more physical wing, Musty has no problem going into the dirty spots and using his size and strength to create plays for those around him. However, it wasn’t often needed at Sudbury, and he was able to show off his creativity as a playmaker a lot more but seems to be more of a typical power forward in the NHL. Musty’s shot is also a strong part of his game, and his highlight reel from last season shows glimpses of what his shot can grow.
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One of the ways on Musty is that he might be Not to be the best skater in this draft class. However, as a solid tackler, he’s going to play more of a downhill style of play anyway, so while his skate is a weaker part of his game, his combination of offensive ability and defensive responsibility will likely be balanced by the Buffalo centers he can play. with it.
Colby Barlow (LW), Owen Vocal Attack (OHL): 59 GP 46-33-79
Another OHL player, Colby Barlow, has the goal-scoring touch needed to complement Buffalo’s second linebacker, Dylan Cousins. Barlow scored 46 goals last season, which ranked him fifth in the entire league. In addition to his goals, Barlow is also a solid penalty killer, making him a viable option for tackles in any situation on the ice.
Barlow’s penalty kick and defensive ability set him apart from some of the best goal-scoring prospects of the past. His ability to play a 200-foot game is one of the most attractive parts of his game, even if he is known as a scorer.
The 2021 eighth overall pick in the OHL draft was selected to Team Canada’s U18 IIHF World Championship team in 2023 and scored four points in six games with three goals and an assist. One of his goals opened the scoring in the bronze medal game for Canada over Slovakia.
Barlow scored 30 goals in his first season with Owen Sound in 2021-22 and added 17 assists for a total of 47 points. The sophomore year, he was named captain and led by example, being first in points on the team and boosting his totals across the board while playing every situation.
Captain Owen led Sound back to the play-offs in 2022-23, but they were swept away by the London Knights. However, Barlow scored a hat-trick in the 5-4 Game 2 overtime loss. Although not the best skater, Barlow’s scoring ability and defensive ability mixed with his 6-foot-1, 187-pound size is what will keep him as a viable player in the NHL lineup for years to come.
While the Sabers could go anywhere with a #13 pick, these two players fill the need for a mid-six winger, and while that pick won’t likely see NHL ice this season or next, they could be staples in the lineup. When the Sabers are likely to be a competitive team.
The Buffaloes could trade this selection to stock more picks in the draft One of the deepest layers in a long time If they choose. The uncertainty of the draft is the fun part, and after Conor Bedard is taken in one, the real fun begins.