Buffalo, NY (WGR 550)  -- On June 26^th in Montreal, the Sabres will have the 13^th overall selection for the 7^th time in their existence. In 1978, Buffalo took Larry Playfair, in 1988 it was Joel Savage, 1991 saw the selection of Philippe Boucher who just won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh. In 2004 Buffalo took Drew Stafford, in 2005 it was Marek Zagrapan who just signed to play in Russia and in 2008 Buffalo traded up one slot to number 12 so they could take Tyler Myers. The defenseman just finished off a great junior season and has inked a contract with the big club. So overall, the 13^th pick has been pretty good to this franchise.

Buffalo has done a good job of restocking the cupboard with young defensemen. Andrej Sekera (3^rd, 2004) and Chris Butler (4^th, 2005) are already here. Mike Weber (2^nd, 2006), Marc Gragnani (3^rd, 2005), Mike Funk (2^nd, 2004) and Mike Card (8^th, 2004) have all seen time in Buffalo. As I said, Myers has just been signed as have Dennis Persson (1^st, 2006), T.J. Brennan (2^nd, 2007) and Drew Schiestel (2^nd, 2007).

Before I take a look at how Darcy Regier has done with his drafts I think it’s important to clear up misconceptions out there on what the Sabres do with scouting. Most of the information you read out there about that is inaccurate and in some cases written by folks who have personal scores to settle with Tom Golisano, Larry Quinn or Regier. Many want you to believe that Director of Amateur Scouting Kevin Devine sits in his office all day long and looks at tape. They also want you to believe the Sabres have no scouts and the ones they do have just sit in tape rooms too. First of all the Sabres have nine amateur

scouts including Devine. Do they watch video, yes they do, but most of that is after the season is over or if they want to check up on a player they’ve seen. They use it to see how a player reacts in certain situations, or does he do the same thing every time faced with duress. Devine told me personally that he sees hundreds of games every season. The scouts are out watching live games too. Do they see the same amount as others around the league? I don’t know, but I think you all need to know that it is not all video scouting. The Sabres have had three drafts using the video system and have gotten players like Persson, Jhonas Enroth, Weber, Felix Schutz, Brennan, Schiestel, Myers and Tyler Ennis. I think it’s way too early to say yes it works or no it doesn’t.

Regier’s first draft was in 1997. He chose Mika Noronen with the 21^st pick. Although he did play in the NHL, he didn’t have the make-up to be a full time goaltender and now plays in Russia. Henrik Tallinder was taken in the second round and that worked out, Max Afinogenov came out of the third round and Brian Campbell was selected in the 6^th and is a three time All Star. 8^th rounder Kamil Piros played 28 NHL games in Atlanta and many more in the AHL and Europe.

Dmitri Kalinin was the 18^th overall selection in 1998. Andrew Peters was one of three second round picks and has done the job he was drafted to do. The other two second round picks, Norm Milley and Jaroslav Kristek played a few games up here, but would be considered busts. Ales Kotalik was a solid 6^th round pick in that draft.

In 1999 Buffalo got one important hit and the rest of the draft was a total bust. Ryan Miller came to the Sabres in the 5^th round. Barrett Heisten was taken 20^th overall. He played ten games with the Rangers. 2^nd round picks Milan Bartovic and Doug Janik played a little in the NHL and a lot in the AHL. Mike Zigomanis has been a fringe player with Carolina, Phoenix, Pittsburgh and St.Louis and has put in 189 NHL games. He’s the guy the Sabres missed out on because they got the contract into the NHL too late due to a fax malfunction. That is a black mark on Regier.

2000 was again a total failure except for Paul Gaustad who came to Buffalo in the 7^th round. First round pick Artem Kriukov may have been a good player, but concussion problems and a fear of coming to North America from Russia made it so we never found out. He was taken 15^th overall. Second round pick Gerard Decaire was a bust.

2001 was a much better draft for Buffalo. First round pick Jiri Novotny was 22^nd overall and netted the Sabres Dainius Zubrus in a trade. He hasn’t lived up to first round billing, but he’s still in the league with Columbus. The second round picks were Derek Roy, Chris Thorburn who plays in Atlanta and Jason Pominville. Buffalo didn’t have another pick until the 5^th round.

2002 saw Keith Ballard who is now doing well in Florida. He helped the Sabres trade for Chris Drury. Dan Paille was the other number one pick and if he puts his mind to it, can become a very good NHL player. 7^th round pick Radislav Hecl played 14 games in Buffalo and then went back to Slovakia. He now plays in Italy. Regier made a huge error not signing 8^th round pick Dennis Wideman. He has played 302 NHL games and had 50 points for the Bruins this season from defense.

2003 brought in Thomas Vanek 5^th overall. Second rounder Branislav Fabry is playing in Slovakia with no success. Clarke MacArthur is turning out decent for a 3^rd rounder. 4^th rounder Jan Hejda has played 202 NHL games with Edmonton and Columbus. Nathan Paetsch was back in the draft after the Caps failed to sign him as their 2^nd round pick. Buffalo took him in the 7^th and got value there.

2004 was Stafford which I think will turn out to be a dynamite pick. Funk has had concussion problems and Sekera was chosen OHL defenseman of the year after Buffalo took him in the 3^rd round. He too has the chance to be a very good player in this league. Pat Kaleta came in the 6^th round which has been value for Buffalo, Mark Mancari was a 7^th round pick and likely won’t amount to much in the NHL. He’s appears to be a tweener like Jody Gage and Mal Davis were. Mancari is an AHL All Star. Mike Card came in the 8^th round and Dylan Hunter in the 9^th. He likely is a career AHLer.

2005 first rounder Marek Zagrapan showed spurts of talent in Rochester and Portland, but was too inconsistent. He left for Russia and would have to be considered a bust. 2^nd round pick Philippe Gogulla is a total unknown, but we’ll get to know him this year. Gogulla bucked the Sabres and played five years for Cologne in Germany. Buffalo wanted him over here in the AHL which he will now do. He has played preseason games and he’s been to Buffalo’s  training camp. 3^rd and 4^th rounders Butler and Gragnani appear to be very good value picks. Butler may have been a steal. Nathan Gerbe came in the 5^th round and many around here are very high on this season’s AHL rookie of the year. 6^th round pick Adam Dennis has been hurt for much of his AHL career.

I really can’t evaluate the last three drafts as the players are just getting to pro hockey. That’s for a few years down the road.