Buffalo Sabres Top 5 Countdown: Biggest Busts in Franchise History
Buffalo Sabres will be the fourth of 30 teams in a series dedicated to the top five draft busts in franchise history. Over the next while, we plan to explore all 30 teams (in alphabetical order) big misses on the draft floor since their inception.
For those expansion teams from the early and late 1990s into 2000, their franchise draft history is obviously skewed in comparison to older teams. Even with a limited sample size to choose from, each and every franchise has been victimized by the imperfect art of selecting 18-year-old prospects.
The Buffalo Sabres have a rich draft history dating back over 40 years. Since we’re dealing with a top five spanning across five decades, we once again present a special extended edition of honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions:
Jiri Dudacek – 17th overall in 1981
Picks after Dudacek: Scott Arniel (WPG) – 22nd overall, Claude Loiselle (DET) – 23rd overall, Chris Chelios (MTL) – 40th overall
Joel Savage – 13th overall in 1988
Picks after Savage: Stephane Fiset (QUE) – 24th overall, Tie Domi (TOR) – 27th overall, Tim Taylor (WSH) – 36th overall
Barrett Heisten – 20th overall in 1999
Picks after Heisten: Nick Boynton (BOS) – 21st overall, Martin Havlat (OTT) – 26th overall, Jordan Leopold (ANA) – 44th overall
Dennis Persson – 24th overall in 2006
Picks after Persson: Patrik Berglund (STL) – 25th overall, Nick Foligno (OTT) – 28th overall, Michal Neuvirth (WSH) – 34th overall
Zack Kassian – 13th overall in 2009
Picks after Kassian: Dmitry Kulikov (FLA) – 14th overall, Nick Leddy (MIN) – 16th overall, Chris Kreider (NYR) – 19th overall, Marcus Johansson (WSH) – 24th overall, Kyle Palmieri (ANA) – 26th overall
Buffalo Sabres Top 5 Draft Busts
5. Artem Kryukov – 15th overall in 2000
Ever wonder where the term “Russian factor” came from? It was situations such as these around the time the KHL was first being organized. Kryukov never appeared in a single NHL game, or even made the trip to North America to serve time in the minors.
Still playing in the KHL, Artem Kryukov continues to be a rather ineffective player for over six seasons now.
Picks after Kryukov: Brooks Orpik (PIT) – 18th overall, Steve Ott (DAL) – 25th overall, Justin Williams (PHI) – 28th overall, Niklas Kronwall (DET) – 29th overall
4. Normand Lacombe – 10th overall in 1983
Happy 51st b'day to @UNHHockey star winger Normand Lacombe who won a Cup with Oilers in '88. pic.twitter.com/plttS3yVJH
— O-Pee-Chee Stars (@opeecheestars) October 19, 2015
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Buffalo Sabres had three picks in the top 11 in 1983. They made out well with Tom Barrasso at 5th and Adam Creighton at 11th, but swung and missed on University of New Hampshire product Normand Lacombe with the 10th pick.
This one hurts that much more with several big names still on the board. Lacombe still mustered up a better career than most that reach draft bust countdowns with 319 career regular season games (115 points).
He won a Stanley Cup with Edmonton in 1988, putting up a career-high 28 points that season. His career was otherwise uneventful, especially the early years between Rochester/Buffalo.
Picks after Lacombe: Dave Gagner (NYR) – 12th overall, Dan Quinn (CGY) – 13th overall, Bobby Dollas (WPG) – 14th overall, Bob Errey (PIT) – 15th overall, Gerald Diduck (NYI) – 16th overall, Jeff Beukeboom (EDM) – 19th overall
3. Marek Zagrapan – 13th overall in 2005
Missing near the top of one of the NHL’s deepest drafts in history stings. A class headlined by the likes of Sidney Crosby, Bobby Ryan, and Carey Price, Zagrapan was one of only three first round selections not to play a single NHL game.
After two more years of junior hockey, Marek Zagrapan spent three years playing in the AHL before crossing the pond to play in Europe. Still active, Marek has spent time in the KHL, Czech Mens League, SM-Liiga, and Austria (past two seasons).
Picks after Zagrapan: Martin Hanzal (PHX) – 17th overall, Jakub Kindl (DET) – 19th overall, Tuukka Rask (TOR) – 21st overall, T.J. Oshie (STL) – 24th overall, Andrew Cogliano (EDM) – 25th overall, Matt Niskanen (DAL) – 28th overall, James Neal (DAL) – 33rd overall, Marc-Edouard Vlasic (SJ) – 35th overall, Kris Letang (PIT) – 62nd overall
2. David Cooper – 11th overall in 1992
*The above is obviously 1st overall pick Roman Hamrlik. We were unfortunately unable to locate a suitable photo for David Cooper.
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Selected to the WHL First All-Star Team back in 1991-92, David Cooper was a big,physical defender that could move the puck and put up points leading into the draft.
Unfortunately, his game never translated to the NHL level. The Buffalo Sabres quickly noticed this might be the case, giving up on the young defenseman after three years of AHL service.
David Cooper only played 30 NHL games for the Toronto Maple Leafs over four seasons.
He eventually made his way to Europe spending time in the DEL (Germany), Russia, Italy, and Denmark before finally retiring from pro hockey in 2007-08.
Picks after Cooper: Sergei Gonchar (WSH) – 14th overall, Jason Smith (NJ) – 18th overall, Martin Straka (PIT) – 19th overall, Grant Marshall (TOR) – 23rd overall, Boris Mironov (WPG) – 27th overall
Next: 10 NHL Careers Cut Too Early
1. Shawn Anderson – 5th overall in 1986
Even with 255 games of NHL experience, Shawn Anderson still takes top spot in our countdown. The Buffalo Sabres have an excellent track record over their history with top five picks – that is if you disregard this minor blemish.
Anderson spent time with Buffalo, Quebec, Washington, and Philadelphia over his short eight year career bouncing back and forth between the AHL. The most NHL games he played in a single season was 60 with Washington back in 1992-93.
Shawn spent his final year of North American Pro Hockey in the IHL before travelling across the pond to play in Germany. Other than one year in Austria, Anderson spent a total six years in the DEL before retiring in 2003-04.
The Buffalo Sabres missed a golden opportunity to snag a franchise player. Imagine Vinny Damphousse or Brian Leetch going to Buffalo instead?
Picks after Anderson: Vincent Damphousse (TOR) – 6th overall, Brian Leetch (NYR) – 9th overall, Scott Young (HFD) – 11th overall, Tom Fitzgerald (NYI) – 17th overall, Adam Graves (DET) – 22nd overall, Teppo Numminen (WPG) – 29th overall