Sabers 2024 NHL Draft Summary

The Buffalo Sabers have completed the 2024 NHL Draft with various picks and trades, adding to their pool of highly regarded prospects. After moving down three spots with the San Jose Sharks before the draft began, general manager Kevyn Adams continued to work the phones on draft positioning and even acquiring an NHL player.

Here’s a round-by-round breakdown of Buffalo’s draft and a complete list of all selections at the end.

First round

Selection: Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit (Liiga)

Adams traded Buffalo’s first pick, 11th overall, to the Sharks in exchange for the 14th pick and a second-round pick (42nd overall). After seeing highly coveted Finnish center Konsta Helenius fall to 14th, Adams denied all subsequent demands for a price reduction from other teams.

Helenius is the definition of a two-way center, whose offensive production at age 18 in the Finnish Elite League was among the best ever for a player his age. He is a shooting assist machine, showcasing his offensive skills through his play.

More: Sabers draft Konsta Helenius 14th overall

Second turn

Selection: Adam Kleber, D, Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)

Day 2 of the draft got off to a flying start, as the Sabres set off a chain reaction of trades after sending their 43rd overall pick to the Washington Capitals for bottom-six forward Beck Malenstyn. Malenstyn is a physical player who is defensively responsible and has been a key hitter for the Caps.

Trade Analysis: Sabers trade 2nd round pick to Capitals Forward

The trade with San Jose made the pick traded for Malenstyn a luxury. The Sabers used the 42nd overall selection acquired from the Sharks to select defenseman Adam Kleber. Kleber is a mobile right-handed shot who stands 6’6″ and weighs 214 pounds.

Here’s an excerpt from EliteProspects’ 2024 NHL Draft guide:

With his agility, reach and detail, Kleber is a formidable defender. He directs opponents to the outside and times his shots just as they expose the puck. He has the ability to switch between high, low and off-puck coverage with ease. He is physical, but rarely runs or finishes in the box.

Third round

Selection: Brodie Ziemer, RW, USNTDP

The Sabres made a trade in the third round, acquiring the 71st overall pick from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for the 76th overall pick and their 161st overall pick in the fifth round. They used the pick to sign Brodie Ziemer out of the U.S. national team development program. Ziemer is a hard-working shooter who has captained his team.

Here’s an excerpt from EliteProspects’ 2024 NHL Draft guide:

With Ziemer, the puck touches are short, but numerous. He plays the short-range passing game, but also finds the inter-slot threats. In space, he deceives the defenders. Without it, he skillfully redirects the opponents’ passes into space.

Fourth round

Selections: Luke Osburn, D, Youngstown (USHL) and Simon-Pier Brunet, D, Drummondville (QMJHL)

The Sabres held two fourth-round picks before the draft and used the first to select Luke Osburn from Youngstown of the USHL. Osburn is a left-shot, puck-moving defenseman and his selection sparked a run of defensemen taken by Buffalo.

Here’s an excerpt on Osburn from EliteProspects’ 2024 NHL Draft guide:

For Osburn, activation seems instinctive; he instantly joins the play at the right time and stays in the passing lanes. From the point, he uses stop-starts and heel-to-heel skating to lure defenders before sliding across the boards. In the run, he manipulates defenders with crossovers, weight shifts and feints, then goes in for a chance to score.

The Sabres traded the 109th pick, acquiring the 123rd and 219th overall picks in the draft. The 219th pick gave Buffalo a second seventh-round pick in the draft. With the 123rd pick, the Sabres selected Simon-Pier Brunet, another right-handed defenseman.

Brunet was teammates with Sabers prospect Vsevolod Komarov in Drummondville, although he was a much more of a home defenseman than Komarov.

Here’s an excerpt on Brunet from EliteProspects’ 2024 NHL Draft guide:

Brunet moves around the ice with good skating posture for a 1.88 m player. With his skating and reach, he prevents the opponent from taking up space, gets closer to them in transition and protects the front of the net. Attackers cannot get through him. He prevents them from accessing high-risk areas.

Fifth round

Since the Sabers traded the 161st selection in the deal to move into the third round, they were dormant in the fifth.

Sixth round

Selection: Patrick Geary, D, Michigan St. (NCAA)

Local product Patrick Geary was selected by the Sabers in the sixth round, adding another defenseman to the 2024 draft picks. Geary played for the Jr. Sabers and was coached by Sabers development coach Tim Kennedy. He is a defensively responsible player with great competitiveness.

Here’s an excerpt from EliteProspects’ 2024 NHL Draft guide:

The Hamburg, N.Y.-born defenseman closes in on opponents early, creates a tight gap, reverse surfs, takes away the center lane with his stick, then closes in on the puck carrier with force. Geary scans the puck dutifully, makes the right read more often than not, and when you need someone to step in and stop the cycle, he’s your guy.

Seventh round

Selections: Vasily Zelenov, AD, RB Hockey Juniors (AlpsHL) and Ryerson Leenders, G, Mississauga (OHL)

Vasily Zelenov has 37 points in 40 games in the AlpsHL, which features teams from Austria, Croatia, Italy and Slovenia. Ryerson Leenders is a promising OHL positional goaltender who will work in tandem with Mississauga this season.

Here’s an excerpt on Leenders from EliteProspects’ 2024 NHL Draft Guide:

For an average-sized goalie, Leenders takes up surprisingly a lot of net. His stance is balanced and tight as the puck travels around the zone, giving him excellent access to his edges and keeping him patient on point attempts. He rarely makes the first move and can make last-second adjustments with his edge work.

Must Read: Offseason Mock: Sabres Use Trade Market; Kane Returns Home

Sabres 2024 Draft Picks List

Round 1, 14th overall: Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit (Liiga)

Round 2, 42nd overall: Adam Kleber, D, Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)

Third round, 71st overall: Brodie Ziemer, RW, USNTDP

Round 4, 108th overall: Luke Osburn, D, Youngstown (USHL)

Round 4, 123rd overall: Simon-Pier Brunet, D, Drummondville (QMJHL)

Round 6, 172nd overall: Patrick Geary, D, Michigan St. (NCAA)

Round 7, 204th overall: Vasily Zelenov, RW, RB Hockey Juniors (AlpsHL)

Round 7, 219th overall: Ryerson Leenders, G, Mississauga (OHL)