2018 NHL mock draft: Arizona Coyotes get Rasmus Dahlin
. Right Wing. Barrie Colts (OHL). Andrei Svechnikov. 2. player. 12
The Buffalo Sabres have neglected their blueline for too long. So if they fall to the second spot, they should probably be open to trading it. But at the same time, the Sabres need talented players across the board. Andrei Svechnikov is the next best player after Dahlin.
As of March 12, Buffalo has 165 goals, which ranks 30th out of the 31 teams. Sure, they’re probably bringing over Victor Olofsson, but you can never have too much scoring. Svechnikov is the best goal scoring threat in the 2018 NHL Draft.
However, he’s more than just a goal scorer. Svechnikov is a physical force to be reckoned with. Much like Alex Ovechkin, he dishes out hits and shoots pucks at an impressive rate. Ideally, you should draft a center over a wing.
SEE ALSO: Svechnikov’s Draft Profile
However, Brady Tkachuk isn’t as good as Svechnikov. And the difference between the two is more than irrelevant, so the Sabres should go with the better player.
Another option: In the NHL Draft, there’s a theory you should just draft who you want. Screw where you get your guy, if you get him, that’s what matters. If the Sabres subscribe to this theory and really want a defenseman, Adam Boqvist would be a good choice here too. However, he doesn’t have the upside that Svechnikov has. Nor is Boqvist NHL ready right now like Andrei is.