2026 Sabres Draft Guide: 2nd Round

Welcome to the 2026 xB Buffalo Sabres Draft Guide! The draft guide has been broken down into four parts so that it can be loaded on your mobile device and consumed in multiple readings, allowing you to prepare for the 2026 NHL draft through a week-long deep dive into 23 players that the Sabres could select.

Each player has a BlueSky link with clips that summarize their projection.

If this is the first time you’ve read my draft guide, let me break down how each section will go:

– Each draft pick the Sabres have will be given five players, which I think are reasonable selections for the Sabres. They are broken down as Dream Scenarios (two given for each draft pick), Realistic Selections (two given for each draft pick), and a Wildcard Selection (one given for each draft pick). The first round pick, I will expand to 3 Dream Scenarios, 3 Realistic players, and 2 Wildcards.

– Dream Scenarios are based on my evaluation of the player, and where I believe they are most likely going to go in the draft. They are based on my draft philosophies and don’t take into account the Sabres’ past draft philosophies. They will usually consist of one forward and one defenseman, but depending on the round or the players who might be available, they could deviate from that structure.

– Realistic Scenarios are based on studying the Sabres’ and Kekalainen’s previous draft philosophies, current prospect pool depth, needs, and players that I think the organization may go with the draft pick, and not necessarily who I would pick.

– The Wildcard Scenario is a draft pick that doesn’t fall directly into the two categories above and is a player that I think would go slightly later than the current selection (or undrafted in the later rounds), but I believe would make an interesting selection for the Sabres.

Last year, I struck out in the later rounds, and only Radim Mrtka was guessed correctly. The previous year, this draft guide included Luke Osburn in a Dream Scenario, Adam Kleber in the Realistic Scenarios, and Konsta Helenius in a Wildcard Scenario. Hopefully, this guide will get lucky again and provide insight for some of the players the Sabres draft. If not, then I encourage you to go to my draft rankings article to see if I had any notes about the player in that article before the recap article I will write.

As for Kekalainen’s draft philosophy, my belief is that he will rely heavily on the work of the Sabres scouting staff to build the board, and that staff has remained unchanged from the Kevyn Adams regime. However, if you look at Kekalainen’s previous drafts before he was let go in Columbus, his selections align closely with many of my own philosophies. His selections of Denton Mateychuk, Gavin Brindley(!!), Luca Pinelli, Luca Marrelli, and William Whitelaw are all players who I was a big fan of in 2023 and 2024.

The Sabres currently have the 45th pick.

Dream Scenarios

1. Chase Harrington, LW, WHL

DOB: 10/30/07

6’0, 201 lbs

61gp, 28g, 57 pts

25th percentile outcome: AHL, top-6 player

75th percentile outcome: Second line W, secondary player in transition, and able to put up points and play sound defensively

Flashes of high-end, offensive potential that flourished after the Mathis Preston trade

Chase Harrington is one of those players where the skill is obvious the second he touches the puck, but the way it actually shows up shift-to-shift is a lot more inconsistent than you want for a guy you’re trying to project into a top-six role. I really liked the offensive zone work when he was settled in; he’s a strong passer, the puck comes off his stick clean, and there are moments where he can thread pucks into dangerous areas or snap quick plays off retrievals that lead directly to high-danger looks. There’s enough touch and deception in tight that you can see why he pops in flashes, especially when he’s able to slow the game down below the goal line or operate off puck in-zone where he can time himself into space.

Without Preston, he actually looked more comfortable as a transition driver, and the offensive rhythm made more sense, with his last tracked game being one of the best tracked games from a forward all year. He led my dataset in dangerous shots per 60 minutes, and his ability to play physical and play on the inside to create scoring opportunities points to an offensive ceiling not reflected in his counting stats. He’s a pest, and a physical one at that, who also has a lot of very, very intriguing tracked data points that show he could blossom into a top-six forward.

The concern is everything outside of those controlled offensive-zone moments. He just isn’t a natural transition driver, and too often the play dies when it hits his stick in movement. The puck skill and lateral mobility aren’t quite at a level where he can consistently beat defenders cleanly through the neutral zone, which leads to a lot of dump-and-chase rather than controlled entries. Even when he does get pressured, there are too many plays where he struggles to connect on simple exits or advance the puck cleanly through layers. Defensively, there’s some value as he reads developing plays well and will use his stick to disrupt, and he’s willing enough physically for an offensive-leaning forward, but the projection question is whether this is anything more than a complementary offensive piece. Right now, I am projecting the top-six passenger skill set fully materializing, which puts him more in that late first/early second range, where you’re betting the offensive flashes become more consistent than the inefficiencies.

2. Juho Piiparinen, RHD, Liiga

DOB: 8/10/08

6’3, 203 lbs

29gp, 0g, 3pts

25th percentile: Bottom-pairing RHD, Shutdown defender with PK usage, No PP potential

75th percentile: Middle-pairing RHD, Shutdown defender with good zone exit passing ability and PK stalwart, No PP potential

More offensively raw than Hakansson and not as great a skater, but with the same qualities of a defensive defenseman

Piiparinen is a low-risk, high-reliability defensive prospect whose game is built around efficiency, structure, and consistently doing the simple things right against men. Playing significant minutes in Finland’s top league as one of the youngest players in the class, he rarely looks overwhelmed and instead tends to blend into the game in a positive way by playing defensively responsible shifts and making clean, controlled decisions under pressure. His retrievals are calm and efficient, with good body positioning and puck-protection habits to absorb pressure and move pucks away from danger. He leans heavily on a direct outlet game in transition, prioritizing clean exits over creativity, and generally keeps possessions alive through safe, predictable decisions.

There is a clear defensive backbone to his projection. He closes space well, maintains strong gaps, and defends in-zone with good posture and awareness, rarely getting caught chasing or overextending. When he does activate, he shows enough mobility and edgework to support the rush or step into the offensive zone, but his game is not built around generating offense in volume or with creativity. Instead, he tends to default to getting pucks to the net quickly or by dumping pucks down low rather than manipulating structure at the blueline. The foundation is that of an everyday NHL defenseman who can be trusted in defensive situations and move pucks cleanly, but the next step will require him to take more initiative and introduce more offensive impact if he is going to elevate beyond a steady, matchup-dependent role.

Realistic Scenarios

1. Niklas Aaram-Olsen, W, U20 Nationell

DOB: 4/19/08

6’1, 187 lbs

29gp, 20g, 40pts

25th percentile: Third-line winger, passenger who specializes in shooting, PP2 as a triggerman

75th percentile: Middle-six winger, secondary transition, Power Play specialist a la Dorofeyov

Great pace and shooting, but he has to round out the rest of his game to be an effective NHL player.

Aaram-Olsen is one of the more dangerous pure scoring threats in the class, combining speed, a shooter’s mentality, and a willingness to attack the interior of the ice. He plays the game in constant motion, regularly making himself available as an option and demanding the puck when offensive opportunities develop. His skating is a major weapon, allowing him to pressure defenders on the forecheck, arrive in scoring areas ahead of coverage, and create separation through pace. Once he gets into dangerous ice, his finishing ability stands out. He can beat goaltenders from distance with a heavy wrister, punish defenses from the circles, and has the one-timer and catch-and-release ability to be a legitimate power play weapon. The offensive instincts are easy to see, and there are flashes that suggest another level of production is waiting to emerge as he continues to develop physically and gain confidence against higher levels of competition.

The next step in his development is to round out his game away from the puck. He can get so focused on attacking that he occasionally misses opportunities to support defensively or involve teammates more consistently when simpler plays are available. There are times when slowing the game down and playing with a little more composure would help him maximize his skill rather than trying to force the pace on every touch. That said, he is far from a one-dimensional scorer. He tracks back, competes, protects pucks well along the wall, and is willing to drive through contact to get to the net. The combination of skating, athleticism, shooting talent, and offensive confidence gives him legitimate top-six upside, and if the defensive details and play-driving continue to progress, there is a lot to like in his projection.

2. Adam Goljer, RHD, Slovakia

DOB: 6/7/08

6’2, 194 lbs

25th percentile: Bottom-pairing RHD, Shutdown defender with PK usage, No PP potential

75th percentile: Middle-pairing RHD, Shutdown defender with good zone exit passing ability and PK stalwart, No PP potential

If I missed on Piparinen but wanted the defensive game he provides, then Goljer would be my next pick

Goljer is a steady, defense-first right-shot defender whose value comes from positioning, reads, and an ability to stay composed against higher levels of competition rather than any standout offensive flash. He has already spent meaningful time playing with and against professionals, and that environment shows in how comfortable he is handling pace, managing gaps, and keeping his game simple under pressure. He defends with a strong stick and good positioning, closes the blue line on time, and generally makes clean, efficient first passes to exit the zone. There is enough mobility in his skating to support both defensive coverage and occasional activation, and he will step into the rush or slide along the blue line when opportunities present themselves, even if he is not a consistent offensive driver.

The defensive profile is the foundation here. Goljer reads plays early, maintains solid backward mobility, and tends to rely on stick positioning and shot blocking more than physical disruption, which works well when he is in control of his timing but can leave him exposed if opponents get him moving laterally or force him to defend wide speed. There are still areas that need refinement, particularly in his decision-making under pressure and his ability to be more decisive with offensive opportunities when they appear at the point. At times, his execution lags behind his reads, leading to occasional miscues, but the overall trajectory is positive. With his size, pro experience, and defensive reliability, he projects as a dependable two-way defenseman who can handle regular minutes and provide structure and stability in an NHL lineup, even if he is unlikely to be a primary offensive contributor.

Wildcard Scenario

1. Beckett Hamilton, C, WHL

DOB: 3/28/08

5’11, 170 lbs

67gp, 24g, 62pts

25th percentile: Bottom-six winger, secondary transition, two-way menace

75th percentile: Middle-six NHL center, secondary transition, PP2, and Corsi King

Has all the tools and competes with the best of them but hampered by playing on a bad team

Beckett Hamilton is one of those players who becomes more appealing when you start looking at the environment around him. There were games where he carried almost all of the offensive responsibility on his line, and despite not possessing high-end puck skills, he still found ways to drive play through sheer pace and effort. The skating is the first thing that jumps out. He’s constantly moving, constantly hunting pucks, and rarely takes a shift off. I thought his best offensive moments came when he kept things simple. He’d identify a dangerous option quickly, move the puck there, and if nothing developed, he’d put a shot on net himself.

The tracking data paints a picture of a player who is heavily involved in generating offense, ranking as the highest-volume shooter per 60 minutes in the dataset while also posting solid passing efficiency. Add in the defensive work rate, and you’ve got a player who impacts games even when he isn’t producing.

The question is how much offense is actually there. Hamilton’s motor and skating allow him to get involved everywhere, but the skill and processing don’t always keep up with his feet. There were plenty of shifts where he’d win a race to the puck, and then fail to turn it into anything meaningful because the next play wasn’t there. He doesn’t naturally manipulate defenders, create passing lanes, or consistently solve pressure with skill. That’s what keeps him from climbing higher on my board.

At times, there were flashes that made me think there could be more, especially when he was forced to create offense with very little support from his linemates. The foundation is certainly there. He skates well enough, competes hard enough, and defends well enough to give himself a chance. If the offensive reads and puck skills continue to develop, there’s a path to becoming a useful middle-six player who can pressure opponents and drive play with his pace. For now, I see him as a worthwhile late-second/third round swing with more upside than his production might initially suggest.