Sabres.com's 2023 NHL Draft Preview

The first round of the 2023 NHL Draft kicks off Wednesday night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN+. Rounds 2 through 7 will air on the NHL Network starting at 11 a.m. on Thursday. .

The Buffalo Sabres hold one pick in Round 1 and eight total. Following Buffalo's first selection at 13th overall, tune in to the team's official Facebook and Twitter pages to see Sabres broadcasters Brian Duff and Martin Biron give their live reaction.

Leading up to the draft, Sabres.com has put together preview articles and videos with a look at who could be available when the Sabres are on the clock.

Here's everything you need to know - all in one place - before this year's draft.

2023 NHL Draft Preview Show

Hear from Brian Duff and Martin Biron as they discuss the first two rounds of the draft in our three-part video series.

In Episode 1, Duffer and Marty examined potential options for the Sabres with the 13th-overall pick, joined by draft experts Scott Wheeler (The Athletic), Chris Peters (FloHockey) and Sam Cosentino (Sportsnet).

Players to watch out for in Round 1 include forwards Matthew Wood, Oliver Moore and Brayden Yager, and defensemen Axel Sandin Pellikka and Tom Willander.

Wood (6-foot-4, 197 pounds) has been compared to Sabres forward Tage Thompson based on his size and skill. The University of Connecticut forward Video: 2023 NHL Draft Preview Show: Options at 13th overall and look up to Thompson, a UConn alum.

"He's obviously a great role model and a great person and somebody I really look up to," Wood said.

For more on Wood and other possible forward options at 13th overall, Video: 2023 NHL Draft Preview Show: Options at 13th overall.

Our piece on the top defensive prospects Video: 2023 NHL Draft Preview Show: Options at 13th overall.

Episode 2 featured Kris Baker (Video: 2023 NHL Draft Preview Show: Options at 13th overall), who provided insight on six players who could be a good fit for the Sabres with picks 39 and 45 in the second round.

Baker provided analysis on forwards Danny Nelson, Oscar Fisker Molgaard and Anton Wahlberg, and defensemen Maxim Strbak, Oliver Bonk and Aram Minnetian. He also recognized goaltender Adam Gajan as one of his favorite goalies available.

Baker will be featured on tonight's live reaction show, too.

In our Draft Preview finale, Duffer and Marty caught up with Jerry Forton, Buffalo's director of amateur scouting, to talk about this year's draft class and what the organization's scouting and drafting process is like.

Duffer and Marty are also hosting Sabres Live on site from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

On Wednesday's show, they'll be joined by Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams at 12:30 p.m. Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News, TSN's Darren Dreger, and Joywave lead singer Daiuel Armbruster are scheduled to be on set as well. Fans can catch the show on MSG and WGR 550.

The main storyline

While the Chicago Blackhawks are expected to select Connor Bedard with the first-overall pick, there is uncertainty surrounding how the rest of the draft will play out.

Other top forward prospects projected to go early in the first round include Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson and Will Smith, but many mock drafts differ on when the first defenseman will come off the board.

NHL.com posted Video: 2023 NHL Draft Preview Show: Options at 13th overall on Tuesday.

Local ties

The draft will feature two local players and former teammates on the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, Quentin Musty and Gavin McCarthy.

Musty, a native of Hamburg, tallied 26 goals and 78 points in 53 games for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL and has been projected to hear his name called later in the first round.

McCarthy, a product of Clarence Center, recorded 27 points (8+19) in 42 games this season for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL.

The Boston University commit has grown up in the same neighborhood as Adams, who shared what it was like interviewing his neighbor during Combine interviews.

"You learn a lot in this job, but this is the first of a neighborhood kid sitting in the interview," Adams said during his pre-draft media availability. "…It's pretty cool. I'm proud of him. We did laugh about it, though. Quentin Musty's someone that I've watched since he was young. And so, these players in town, it's pretty neat to see them now in this position to be draft-eligible."

To learn more about Musty and McCarthy and other news from the 2023 NHL Combine, Video: 2023 NHL Draft Preview Show: Options at 13th overall.

Pre-draft press conference

During their pre-draft press conference on June 21, Adams and Forton expressed their excitement about this year's draft class and the player who they can get with the 13th pick.

As always, Adams will look to draft the best available player on the board regardless of position.

"We just get our list together, put the best players in our minds and order them the appropriate way, then go to the table and go to work," Adams said. "It's an exciting draft though for sure, especially the player that we feel we'll get at 13."

For other news and notes from the press conference, Video: 2023 NHL Draft Preview Show: Options at 13th overall.

The importance of player development

Back in March, we spoke with director of player development Adam Mair to learn more about the organization's approach to developing prospects after being selected in the draft.

Video: 2023 NHL Draft Preview Show: Options at 13th overall

Final takeaways

Watch: Youtube Video

Adams met with the media again on Tuesday to discuss the team's final preparations for the draft, as well as his thoughts on free agency, which opens Saturday at noon.

"It's busy," Adams said. "I've said it before, this is a great time of year."

He was asked if the tenor of his conversations has changed from years prior, given the Sabres' success this past season.

"It has, which is really exciting, to be honest with you," he said. "…We have a long way to go in terms of the steps that we need to become an elite team in this league. But I do believe that people are seeing what we have built and thinking that we're on the right path.

"When you talk to agents - I'm trying to work on our own contracts with our own players - and them talking about players that want to be here and believe in what we're doing. It feels like we're heading in the right direction."

Video: 2023 NHL Draft Preview Show: Options at 13th overall

The path to Development Camp

The Sabres' annual Development Camp will return to LECOM Harborcenter from July 2 to 6.

The camp will feature current Sabres prospects, including players selected during the 2023 NHL Draft. Attendees will take part in both on-ice and off-ice workouts. The official camp roster will be announced following the draft.

All on-ice sessions are free and open to the public.

Video: 2023 NHL Draft Preview Show: Options at 13th overall for the full schedule, which includes a 3v3 competition on July 6 at 9 a.m.