By Warren Kozireski; Photos by Janet Schultz
With the 2026 NHL Draft less than three weeks away, many mock draft lists are being released. The Buffalo Sabres barring a trade have the 27th selection in the first round and do not have a second or third round pick due to previous trades.
This is the latest selection the Sabres have had since trading their 2007 first rounder and taking defenseman T.J. Brennan 31st overall in the second round in 2007.
Several players are being projected to Buffalo with the 27th pick including Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) center Jack Hextall, Swedish left wing Marcus Nordmark and U.S. National Team Development Program right wing Casey Mutryn.
Hextall: ranked 34th among North American skaters, the 6’0”, 188 lb. right shot was on the Team USA last August when they won the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Headed to Michigan State this fall, Hextall netted 20 goals with 38 assists in 59 games with Youngstown last season. Scouts say he is committed to both ends of the ice.
Nordmark: slotted 8th among International skaters by Central Scouting, the 6’1”, 180 lb. left shot was the top scorer for Team Sweden at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer. With Djurgarden he scored 14 goals with 24 assists over 25 games with the U20 Nationelle squad. Consistency of effort for 60 minutes is a concern among scouts, but the offensive talent is there.
He added 37 points over 25 international games and did play eight games for Djurgarden’s SHL team against players much older that will aid in preparing for the coming season.
“I’m a guy that likes to score, playmaking guy, great vision, great hockey IQ, I would say,” Nordmark said at the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo. “I would say I can probably be a great guy in the future if I work hard and work on the things I need to improve and that can make me the steal of the draft.”
Mutryn: ranked 24th among North American skaters, the 6’3”, 200 lb. power forward is heading to Boston College after he had an 18 goal-28 assist season in 62 games with the USNTDP.
“I’m a competitive, physical power forward…but at the same time my compete and my physicality creates a lot of space for myself and my teammates and I think that’s where you can see my skill,” Mutryn said after his Combine testing.
“I’ve put on a lot of weight the past few years and I think I have room to grow and think I’m just scratching the surface of what I can be as a player.”
The NHL draft is June 26-27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.