By and large, Sabres address needs
Size a common theme among organization's draft picks
MONTREAL — Things seemed to work out in the Buffalo Sabres' favor at the 2009 NHL entry draft. The prospect list was filled with strong, tough kids who like to hit, fight and score. In other words, it was filled with exactly the type of players the Sabres need.
They did their best in picking them.
The Sabres left the draft Saturday with six players, and all have the physique to stand out in a crowd. The three forwards and two defensemen average nearly 6-foot-2 1/2 inches and 198 pounds, and the goaltender is a 6-5, 215-pounder.
"We like the fact that we've been able to add some size in this draft," Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier said. "We really have emphasized competing, players that are going to compete. It shows itself in a lot of different ways, competing for pucks, competing physically, trying to get somewhere and making sure you've got the will to get there. For the most part, I think we accomplished that."
The Sabres have long been regarded as a small team with skilled players, and folks continually question their toughness. This group has the potential to change that, led by first-round pick Zack Kassian.
"Zack is a big, tough guy, and we've been looking for a guy like him for the last three, four years," said Kevin Devine, the Sabres' director of amateur scouting. "There always seemed to be baggage with some of these other kids that we liked, but Zack, all roads led to him in the first round."
The Sabres didn't have a second-round selection Saturday in Bell Centre, but they caught a break when defenseman Brayden McNabb fell to them with the 66th overall pick in the third round. The 6-4, 195-pounder from Kootenay of the Western Hockey League had 140 penalty minutes last year and tied for the team lead among defensemen with 10 goals.
"We tried to get in [the second round], but it was just going to be too high of a price," Devine said. "We ended up getting a guy in Brayden McNabb that we thought was going to go in the second round anyway, so we're pretty happy about that."
Though scouts have questioned McNabb's agility, Devine dismissed those doubts and likened the Saskatchewan native to Sabres defenseman Mike Weber.
The feel-good story of the day came in the fourth round when Buffalo picked Marcus Foligno, another rugged player who skates for Sudbury of the Ontario Hockey League for his father, Mike Foligno. The Sabres Hall of Famer likes the direction Buffalo headed this weekend.
"He's a very physical player," Mike Foligno said of his son. "With a guy like Kassian as well, they probably have two of the toughest in the draft."
The fifth-round selection was defenseman Mark Adams, an 18-year-old high schooler from the Boston area who is headed to Chicago of the United States Hockey League.
Next came goaltender Connor Knapp, a freshman at Miami University who has been invited to the United States' national junior team evaluation camp. Knapp went 13-5-3 with a 2.09 goals-against average and .906 save percentage for Miami.
The Sabres' pick in the seventh round allowed Maxime Legault and his six-person entourage to exhale in the stands. The right winger for Shawinigan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League made the short drive and anxiously waited to hear his name.
"It's a really good feeling," said Legault, who had 28 goals and 44 points in 63 games. "I had no expectations before coming to the draft. I was not even on the draft list, but I talked to Sabres [on Friday] night. They called me to say they were interested in my kind of player, so I'm really happy to be part of the organization.
"I play hard. I'm a good hitter. I can score and skate. I don't have the best hands in the league, but I can do my part."
. . .
Free agency opens Wednesday, and Regier expects defenseman Jaroslav Spacek to enter the marketplace. The GM offered Spacek a one-year contract, but the 35-year-old blue-liner is looking for a longer term.
Spacek was the Sabres' top-scoring defenseman last season with eight goals and 45 points.
"He's indicated that he'd like to stay in Buffalo. We indicated to him that we'd like to have him," Regier said. "We'll just have to see where it goes."
Sabres right wing Drew Stafford is a restricted free agent, but Regier said signing him before Wednesday is not a priority despite the fact the 23-year-old could attract an offer sheet. The Sabres were victimized by a bid two years ago when Edmonton signed Thomas Vanek to a $50 million offer, which Buffalo matched.
"It's something that we balanced out and weighed, and we want to do what's right for both the player and the organization, and so I think you're going to see it go beyond July 1," Regier said. "I think ownership made a very serious statement in Thomas' case, and I would hope that would send a signal to the rest of the league that as an organization we're going to protect the assets we have, we're going to make decisions that are best for the organization."
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