Buffalo had eight picks in 2023, including three picks in the top 45
The Buffalo Sabres are considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL. This is partially the benefit of selecting so high in recent drafts, but the club has also appeared to have a keen eye for talent and has promising youngsters that they’ve selected in the lower rounds.
Here is a quick update on the players selected in 2023:
Ethan Miedema – LW – 109th overall
The Sabres appeared more focused on adding players with size in 2023 after focusing on skill and speed in the last couple drafts. The 6’4”, 201 lb. Miedema reflected that trend. After being sent by Windsor to Kingston in the Shane Wright deal last year, the big 18-year-old scored 21 points in 32 games with the Frontenacs to finish out the season.
This year, Miedema is second on Kingston behind Jacob Battaglia with 16 goals in 45 games.
Scott Ratzlaff – G – 141st overall
After putting up a 25-8-1 record with a loaded Seattle Thunderbirds squad last season, the 18-year-old numbers are more pedestrian this year (13-15-1, 3.25 GAA, .906 save percentage), but Ratzlaff made Team Canada as the third goalie for the World Junior Championships in Sweden, which will likely have him in the mix for the WJC this December.
Sean Keohane – D – 173rd overall
A physical specimen at 6’4”, 183 lb., Keohane came out Dexter Southfield Prep in Massachusetts and was slated to play a full season in the USHL with Tri-City before heading to Harvard, but after 16 games, the 19-year-old shifted to West Kelowna in the BCHL, where he has three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in eight games.
Norwin Panocha – D – 205th overall
Drafted out of Berlin in the DEL, the 6’2”, 190 lb. defenseman opted to come to North America and play for Chicoutimi in the QMJHL. In 38 QMJHL games, Panocha has 11 assists. The 18-year-old also played for Germany at the WJC in Sweden, where he scored a goal in five games.
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