Buffalo Sabres Draft Prospects with No. 4 Pick

The Buffalo Sabres have drastically changed their draft picture with two trades, moving up from No. 27 to No. 20 and then acquiring the No. 4 pick.

What happened?

The Sabres sent defenseman Michael Kesselring to the Sharks and swapped first-round picks, then dealt defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway to Chicago for a package headlined by the No. 4 pick.

The last time a top-five draft pick was traded was 2008, when Toronto acquired the No. 5 pick from the Islanders.

Why it matters for Buffalo Sabres

GM Jarmo Kekäläinen has plenty of draft capital to add impact players or make trades for immediate NHL help.

Kekäläinen said the team will listen to offers and take notes on the value of the No. 4 pick.

The Sabres are currently 2nd in the Eastern Conference with a 50-23 record, on a L1 streak after losing 2-3 to the Montreal Canadiens on 2026-05-18.

What comes next?

If the Sabres make the pick at No. 4, they'll have a wealth of options, including highly regarded defensemen and another intriguing center in Viggo Bjorck.

Most media mock drafts project three forwards to be selected with the top-three picks, leaving the Sabres with several choices.

The team will gather information around the league and see what the value is, and if they don't think it's as much as making the pick, then they'll make the pick, said Kekäläinen.

The Sabres have eight potential prospects to consider with the No. 4 pick, according to NHL Central Scouting rankings.

And the team's recent trades have given them the flexibility to make a significant impact in the draft.

But the Sabres will have to weigh their options carefully to make the most of their newfound draft capital.

So the team will take their time and consider all their options before making a decision.

The Sabres' draft strategy will be crucial in determining their success in the upcoming season.