Montreal, QC (WGR 550)  -- Following their selection of Zack Kassian during Friday's first round of the NHL Entry Draft, the Buffalo Sabres were at least hopeful that they could move up to the second round, however it never happened. The team did not have a Round 2 pick after it was dealt away during the Craig Rivet trade last summer.

With the 66th overall selection in the third round, Buffalo went with 6'4 defenseman Brayden McNabb out of Kootenay in the WHL. He went to Notre Dame college with last year's number one pick Tyler Myers.

"We tried (moving up in the second round), but the price was just too high", said Sabres Director of Amateur Scouting Kevin Devine. "We actually ended up getting a guy in Brayden McNabb who we thought was going to go in the second round anyway so we're happy with that".  Devine described McNabb as a similar player to Sabres defenseman Mike Weber, but bigger. 

In the fourth round, Buffalo went with a familiar surname... Marcus Foligno, the son of Sabres great Mike Foligno. The left wing is known as a big body who can clear the way for his teammates and also has a nose for the front of the net. At 6'3", he is much taller than his father was when he made the leap into the draft. Marcus played with the Sudbury Wolves in the OHL, where he was coached by his father.  In his second year with Sudbury, he doubled his goals (12), tripled his assists (18) and almost-tripled his penalty minutes (96). 

"Marcus knows Zack Kassian very well, and the both of them are probably the two most physical players in this age group", said Mike Foligno of his son and the Sabres top pick. "Marcus isn't afraid of dropping the gloves; he plays with a mean streak, a physical dimension and with passion that he will bring to Buffalo".

High school defenseman, Mark Adams, was the team's fifth-round selection. The left handed defenseman is listed at 6'1 and 187 lbs.

In the sixth round, Buffalo went with netminder New York, NY native Connor Knapp out of Miami (Ohio) University.  Knapp is a bigger goalie at 6'5 and 215 lbs, and was also invited to try-out for next year’s U.S. Junior team in Lake Placid.

With their final pick, Buffalo selected Shawinigan Cataractes right wing Maxime Legault in the seventh round.  Like their previous picks, Legault is a bigger player at 6'2 and 195 lbs.

 "We were able to add some skill with the size we drafted and even positionally it was a balanced (draft) as well", said Sabres GM Darcy Regier. 

Regier also answered questions about the Sabres other offseason plans, including pending unrestricted free agent Jaroslav Spacek.  "I think he will (test the market).  He's indicated that he would like to stay, and we also told him we would love to have him but we'll just have to see where it goes".  Regier also confirmed the team didn't offer Spacek a multi-year deal.

Besides Spacek, Regier told the media it is a high priority for the team to sign restricted free agents Drew Stafford, Clarke MacArthur, and Andrej Sekera.

You can hear this entire interview, and other draft comments in our Audio Vault.