The Buffalo Sabres don’t have to go far to see the NHL’s top prospects ahead of the June 27-28 draft. In fact, they don’t even have to leave their own arena.
Ninety prospects were invited to this year’s NHL Scouting Combine at KeyBank Center and LECOM HarborCenter. The combine runs from Monday-Saturday.
For the prospective pros, the combine will include interviews with clubs, medical exams and fitness tests. The Sabres will be looking for the best fit for their No. 9 pick in the first round; the New York Islanders have the top pick, followed by the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks.
They may be off the board in Los Angeles once the Sabres’ pick comes up later this month, but the top-ranked prospects according to NHL.com are Ontario Hockey League defenseman Matthew Schaefer (North American skaters) and Swedish center Anton Frondell (international skaters). Frondell is one of a number of players NHL.com lists as having gone to Buffalo in mock drafts.