Draft Preview | 7 forwards who could be available at 13th overall

The Buffalo Sabres hold the 13th-overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, which will be held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on June 28 and 29.

While Connor Bedard is projected to go to the Chicago Blackhawks with the first pick in the draft, things could get interesting from there.

"I think this is a really deep draft class in the first round, and the top 50 all are going to be pretty good players down the road," NHL Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr said. "We do our best to get the order correct, but we won't know for another two or three years."

Since this year's draft features several highly skilled and fast forwards, we will start by profiling seven who could be selected by the Sabres with the 13th pick. On Friday, we will examine seven more.

Gabriel Perreault, RW - USA U-18 (NTDP)

5-foot-11, 163 pounds

Perreault is the No. 10 North American skater available according to NHL Central Scouting Services, making him a strong candidate when the Sabres are on the clock. The Boston College commit tallied 53 goals and 79 assists in 63 games with the U.S. National Team Development Program this season while playing on the first line alongside fellow top prospects William Smith and Ryan Leonard.

The Sherbrooke, Quebec native grew up in the United States, holding dual citizenship. His brother, Jacob, was a first-round pick by the Anaheim Ducks in 2020 while his dad, Yanic, played in the NHL for 13 seasons before his retirement.

"I remember writing my comments, this kid has eyes in the back of his head out there. He's quick and clever with the puck," Marr said. "…Just a pure goal scorer. He's a kid that wants the puck on his stick. But he showed at top speed he can make plays, he can get the shot off, he arrives on time. He's just a pure offensive top-end player."

His talent has also been admired by his teammates and linemate Leonard.
"He loves to have fun. He makes plays. I always say this, he makes plays that you don't even see on TV in slow motion," Leonard said. "The way his brain thinks is truly special and to play with him, it makes my life pretty easy."

What he's saying

On how he would describe himself:"I would say I'm a competitive and creative offensive-minded winger. I think I like to create chances for myself and my teammates and I'm probably more of a playmaker, so I think my best asset is my hockey IQ."

Matthew Wood, RW - UConn (Hockey East)

6-foot-4, 197 pounds

Wood, the fourth-ranked North American skater by NHL CSS, attracted a lot of attention during his rookie season at the University of Connecticut. As the youngest player in college hockey, the winger led the Huskies with 34 points (11+23) in 35 games.

Prior to playing at UConn, Wood compiled 50 goals and 98 points in 64 games over two seasons for the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL and was named the 2021-22 BCHL Rookie of the Year.

His size and skill have been compared to Sabres forward Tage Thompson, a fellow UConn product.

"…He can set up plays, he sees the ice, and then when he has the puck on his stick, he's got one of the best releases and best shots and a finishing touch," Marr said. "We just started to see a lot of similarities to Tage Thompson here. A bigger guy who might take a little longer to get to his true top form, but the package is there, and the player is there."

NHL.com's Adam Kimelman mocked Wood to Buffalo with the 13th pick.

"Wood's game got better as the season went on, capped by 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in seven games for Canada at World U-18s, where he answered any questions about his skating," Kimelman wrote. "His size (6-4, 193) and skill make him one of the best players below the dots in this draft class. The Sabres have built an impressive array of young offensive talent, led by Tage Thompson (also a Connecticut product), Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn. Wood would make a strong group even better."

What he's saying

On looking up to Thompson:"He's obviously been through a lot of adversity and that shows a lot. Credit to him for his character and being able to push through and develop and earn it. He's obviously a great role model and a great person and somebody I really look up to."

Nate Danielson, C - Brandon (WHL)

6-foot-2, 186 pounds

Danielson took on a leadership role this season, serving as captain of the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL while leading the team with 78 points (33+45) in 68 games.

The No. 7-ranked North American skater by NHL CSS, Danielson was named an Eastern Division Second Team All-Star and proved himself as a solid two-way center with a body fit for the NHL.

NHL.com's Mike Morreale mocked Danielson to the Sabres with their only first-round pick.

"It's a great opportunity for the Sabres to add a skilled right-handed shot with vision and patience with the puck," Morreale wrote. "Danielson (6-2, 185) made one of the most significant jumps in Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters, from No. 13 on the midterm list in January to No. 7, after leading Brandon with 78 points (33 goals, 45 assists) in 68 regular-season games. He can play all situations, including the power play and penalty kill."

What he's saying

On his two-way game: "I think it's very good. I think that's sort of something I pride myself on is being able to play a good, two-way game and something I've always had since I was younger. So yeah, I think it's one of the strongest parts of my game."

Brayden Yager, C - Moose Jaw (WHL)

5-foot-11, 170 pounds

Yager sits 11th on the NHL CSS list of draft-eligible North American skaters after serving as an alternate captain for Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL.

The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native ranked second on the team with 28 goals and 50 assists in 67 regular-season games and 16 points (6+10) in 10 playoff games. Last season, Yager was named the CHL Rookie of the Year following a 59-point campaign.

Sabres.com met with Video: 2023 NHL Draft Preview Show: Options at 13th overall, who called Yager "a goal scoring talent."

"He's a gifted goal scorer," Peters said. "He's got a tremendous shot. That's a big part of why he can score goals. …The skill is absolutely there. His point totals went up, he became more of a shot-pass threat this year. So, that was a very good development in his game that he kind of diversified his offensive talents a little bit more."

What he's saying

On who he models his game after:"I like to watch Nathan MacKinnon. The way he skates, he's so powerful. Also, how he shoots the puck in stride is something I like to emulate. But I also like to watch Jonathan Toews and Patrice Bergeron, just how they play both ends of the ice."

Samuel Honzek, LW - Vancouver (WHL)

6-foot-3, 195 pounds

Also from the WHL, Honzek tallied 23 goals and 33 assists in 43 games for the Giants. Despite missing months of time due to a leg cut at World Juniors, the 18-year-old still ranked second on the team in both points and goals scored during his rookie season.

In Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino's Video: 2023 NHL Draft Preview Show: Options at 13th overall, Honzek ranks 10th. Cosentino wrote, "His game and personality scream pro. Skill set will allow him to flourish in a cycle system, or with a team that excels off the rush."

Eduard Sale, LW - Brno (Czechia)

6-foot-2, 175 pounds

As the fourth-ranked European skater by NHL CSS, Sale has been mocked everywhere from the top 10 and beyond, making him a possibility for the Sabres with the 13th-overall pick.

The Brno, Czech Republic native played in Czechia's top league this season, appearing in 43 games and seeing limited minutes.
Sale helped lead Czechia to a silver medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, tallying six points (1+5) in seven games alongside Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich.

Cosentino recently described Sale as a "really interesting player" in a conversation with Sabres.com.

"I think there are a lot of gifts offensively that he can really bring to the table," Cosentino said.

Although some experts are concerned about inconsistencies in Sale's game, Cosentino was impressed with his play at World Juniors and believes he will grow from there.

"Some of those things that came out in his game, that he put on display for that short period of time, really led me to believe that if this is something that you can bottle and take forward, that you're going to have a really solid player who's probably better in a lot of those areas than what he's been criticized for," Cosentino said.

"I like a player who's got pro experience. I like a player who comes back to work with his age group and produces points when that might not be so much of an option based on ice time and opportunity playing in a men's league. There's a lot to like about this player, but if you had to pinpoint one element of his game, it would be the offensive side, for sure."

What he's saying

On his chemistry with Kulich: "I think we are good friends. I've known him a long time and I think he's a scorer and shooter. I think I can pass to him, and he'll always score a goal."

Ryan Leonard, RW - USA U-18 (NTDP)

6-foot-0, 190 pounds

Like his linemates Perreault and Smith, Leonard is committed to Boston College after amassing 51 goals and 94 points in 57 games for Team USA.

The top-line winger scored the game-winning goal in overtime at the 2023 U-18 World Championship to total 17 points (8+9) in seven games and lead his team to gold.

Video: 2023 NHL Draft Preview Show: Options at 13th overall, The Athletic's Scott Wheeler raved about Leonard's versatility and compete.

"Leonard is a prospect that everyone likes. It's impossible not to," Wheeler wrote.

What he's saying

On his golden goal at the U-18 World Championship:"It's kind of something you dream about as a kid, winning a gold medal. But then scoring that golden goal was a pretty special feeling, and to do it with those guys I had by my side for two years was awesome," he said. "I wasn't supposed to go on in overtime when I scored. Leg was a little banged up, but it's a gold medal game, it's overtime. Your adrenaline takes over and you're not feeling anything. I told them I was fine to go, and name got called, and then yeah, game."