DALLAS — The Buffalo Sabres selected five players on the second day of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center in Dallas. These five selections join Buffalo’s first-round pick, defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, to complete the team’s 2018 draft class, which includes one forward and five defensemen.

Buffalo began the day by selecting defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (6’4”, 218 lbs., 3/14/2000) with the first pick of the second round, No. 32 overall. Samuelsson spent the 2017-18 season with the USA Hockey NTDP, where he finished second among the team’s defensemen with 31 points (11+20) in 58 games. He also served as Team USA’s captain during the 2018 IIHF World U18 Championship, helping to lead his team to a silver medal en route to being named one of the top three players on his team.

The Philadelphia native was ranked as the No. 21 North American skater according to NHL Central Scouting. He is the son of Kjell Samuelsson, who played parts of 14 seasons in the NHL and won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992.

With their first of two fourth-round picks, the Sabres selected Matej Pekar (6’0”, 170 lbs., 2/10/2000) at 94th overall. Pekar was named USHL Rookie of the Year in 2017-18 after he tied for the rookie league lead with 54 points (14+40) in 56 games for the Muskegon Lumberjacks. His 40 assists led his team and ranked fourth among all USHL players. A native of Turnov, Czech Republic, Pekar also represented his country twice last season, helping the Czechs finish second at both the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and the 2018 IIHF World U18 Championship.

Buffalo’s second fourth-round pick, No. 117 overall, was spent on defenseman Linus Lindstrand Cronholm (6’1”, 172 lbs., 7/3/2000). Cronholm spent most of last season playing for Malmo’s U20 team in Sweden’s SuperElit League, where he posted six assists in 37 games. He also appeared in 18 games for Malmo’s U18 team and recorded 16 points (6+10) and a plus-8 rating.

The Sabres continued to add to their blue line with the first pick of the fifth round, taking Miska Kukkonen (6’0”, 198 lbs., 6/19/2000) with the 125th overall selection. Kukkonen, a native of Jokioinen, Finland, has recorded 12 points (3+9) and a plus-6 rating in 36 games for Ilves of Finland’s junior league during the last two seasons.

In the seventh round, Buffalo took defenseman William Worge Kreu (6’6”, 172 lbs., 5/15/2000) with the 187th overall selection. Kreu spent most of his 2017-18 campaign playing for Linkoping’s U20 team in Sweden’s SuperElit League, where he recorded 14 points (3+11) and a plus-6 rating in 38 games. He also scored two goals in nine games for Linkoping’s U18 squad and made his SHL debut, playing one game for Linkoping’s senior team.

In addition to Buffalo’s selections, the team also acquired a sixth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Buffalo’s sixth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.

By Warren Kozireski — The New York Islanders opened their second round by selecting big defenseman Bode Wilde from the U.S. National Development Program. They picked right wing Oliver Wahlstrom and defenseman Noah Dobson back to back in the first round.

Wilde, a 6’2”, 198 lb. right shot and former University of Michigan commit who will now head to the Ontario Hockey League, scored 12 goals with 29 assists along with 63 penalty minutes in 59 games this past season.

“Super excited; it’s a pretty great feeling,” Wilde said in the media room. “The two years (with the Program) was huge for me. I made incredible strides in my game and I was really fortunate that I got the opportunity to play there.

“I’m a big offensive defenseman, defend hard and can bring a physical aspect to the game and play with an edge. I play with a lot of passion.

“I think this (the Islanders) is a great place for me. They have some incredible players and good group of draft picks this year and some already in the system so I think it’s going to be pretty special.”

They followed with small forward Ruslan Iskhakov, a 5’7”, 152 lb. Russian center who will play for the University of Connecticut this fall. He dished out 24 assists in 33 games for CSKA 2 in the Russian Junior League along with 11 points in 14 games for the Russian U-18 team.

6’3”, 192 lb. Czech goaltender Jakub Skarek was taken in the third round 72^nd  overall.

“It’s a great feeling to be here—I was a bit nervous before the draft, but I think that’s normal,” Skarek said in the media room. “It is a great honor to be a part of this great organization.

Skarek played with Jihlava in the Czech league and finished with a 2.41 goals against average and a .913 save percentage playing against player much older. He has signed to compete in Finland’s top league next year with Lahti. And he has already participated in two World Junior tournaments with another he hopes on the horizon in Vancouver in December.

“I think I need to improve every part of my game if I want to be part of (the) NHL, but I have great coaches and great players around me so I will do my best to improve those skills and be ready.

They went with an NHL pedigree in the fourth round (103^rd overall) in USNDTP center Jacob Pivonka, son of former NHLer Michael Pivonka.

In the fifth round, Saginaw left wing Blade Jenkins was taken 134^th overall. He is coming off a 20 goal, 44 point OHL season after leaving the USNDTP after just one season. The 6’1”, 195 lb. left wing was born in Michigan.

“Probably the aspect of just being able to produce and show what kind of player I am,” Jenkins said about his decision to transfer to the Spirit. “And the playmaking ability and goal scoring that I can have, so I think it was beneficial for me.

“For me (getting drafted) is something special. It’s something you really worked on your whole entire life and to be able to make that dream become a reality is really truly special.

And they went back to the NHL pedigree with their seventh and final selection (196^th overall) with USHL defenseman Christian Krygier. He is the son of former NHLer Todd Krygier and twin of Cole, who went five picks later to Florida.

Playing for Lincoln, the 6’2”, 192 lb. registered eight assists in 48 games with 137 penalty minutes. He is committed with his brother to lay at Michigan State this fall.

“The whole draft, I don’t think we could be happier with how it turned out,” new General Manager Lou Lamoriello said on the draft floor. “We got three quality defensemen all 6’3” and all different dimensions, a goaltender who our department is excited about and four forwards all with different dimensions as far as skill, size and strength.

“So what I’ve think we’ve done is put players into our system and they are all in different areas whether it is college, junior so we can decide what the development process is.”

By Warren Kozireski – Dallas, TX —

New General Manager Lou Lamoriello and head coach Barry Trotz entered their first draft at the helm of the New York Islanders and were able to snag two players ranked seventh and fifth among North American skaters back-to-back at 11^th and 12^th overall respectively.

Right wing sniper Oliver Wahlstrom from the U.S. National Development Program was the 11^th overall selection in the first round of the NHL Draft held in Dallas.

The 6’1”, 205 lb. Massachusetts native tallied 47 goals and 45 assists over 60 games with the Program and added seven goals with nine points in seven games at the U-18 championships.

“It’s a dream come true and to be in New York—that’s city is awesome,” Wahlstrom said to assembled media in Dallas. “This organization or a powerhouse so I can’t be more happy.

“I think I can bring a lot of offensive flair and I’m a kid that likes winning, so I’m going to raise a Stanley Cup for this organization. The talent that they are bringing in is very exciting and I’m very fortunate to be a part of it.”

He is scheduled to join Boston College this fall.

The Islanders next went for offense from their defense in 6’3”, 179 lb. Noah Dobson from Acadie-Bathhurst in the Quebec Major Junior League.

The Prince Edward Island native netted 17 goals with 52 assists in 67 games this past season in the traditionally high scoring league,

“As a kid you dream of getting drafted in the NHL so to be with friends and family it is a humbling feeling,” Dobson said.

“I bring a two-way, puck moving game and very reliable defensively where I can play against the other team’s top players and at the same time get up in the rush and create offense.

“I haven’t really set a timetable for myself for when I want to be in the NHL, but my goal this summer is to add some strength where I can go into an NHL camp with the Islanders this September and be able to compete against men and make the decision tough for management to send me back to junior.”

(NHL.com photo)

By Warren Kozireski — Dallas, TX –

The New York Rangers went with a high-end, physical forward in Russian Viatli Kravtsov with their first of three first round draft selections and then focused on defense trading up with Ottawa to get K’Andre Miller and grabbed Swedish defenseman Nils Lundkvist 28^th overall. It marked the first time in team history the team has had (kept) three first round draft picks.

Kravtsov is a 6’2, 183 lb. right wing who made a great late impression scoring six goals and 11 points over 16 playoff games with Traktor in the KHL postseason.

“I’m so happy; I’ve worked for this,” he said with an interpreter in the media room at the NHL Draft in Dallas. “I am a playmaker with passing and shooting skills.”

His contract ends after this coming season when he can consider coming to North America.

Miller, heading to the University of Wisconsin this fall, is a 6’4”, 205 lb. forward-turned defenseman who scored nine goals with 20 assists in 58 games and added three points over seven games at the U-18 World Championships.

“It means the world to have a team want you that bad that they basically trade for you,” the Minnesota native said about the Rangers dealing their 26^th pick in the first round and one of their two second rounders (48^th overall) to Ottawa to move up four spots.

“My heart dropped and I looked over to my mom and she started crying, so it was pretty emotional but I’m happy I got experience that with her and excited to be a Ranger.

“I’ve only played defense for the last two years, but I’m really hard to play against in the defensive zone, but every once in a while I like to use my offensive abilities from playing forward most of my life.”

And Lundkvist, projected as a late second-rounder, became one of 14 defensemen selected in the first round at 28^th overall. At 5’11” and 174 lb. he is the blueliner many NHL teams now look for—quick skating and willing to jump into the offense.

He played with Lulea in Sweden and dished out two assists in seven games at the U-18’s against his peers.

“I was so glad and a lot of emotions at the same time and really couldn’t believe that it happened, so I’m really glad,” Lundkvist said in the media room.

“I think I am a skilled two-way defenseman with great hockey sense and great skating.

When asked if he had a timetable for leaving Sweden, he said, “I need to develop a lot I think—I’m pretty young and pretty small.”

The Rangers have one selection in Saturday’s second round (39^th overall), two in the third and one pick in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds.

(Photo NHL.com)

By Warren Kozireski — Dallas, TX –

U.S. National Development Program forward and Cicero native Joel Farabee was projected in most pre-draft rankings to go in the middle of the first round, and that he did—14^th overall to Philadelphia.

“It’s just awesome—I really don’t have any words for it right now, but it’s really cool to be a part of such a great organization,” Farabee said in the media room at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft in Dallas.

“I’m not going to lie; coming into the draft I wanted to go 14 to Philly, so I think it’s really cool for that to happen. I really liked their interviews—I talked to them a few times—and my dad (Dave) actually is from Philly, so I grew up watching the Flyers.”

The second of five players drafted in the first round to come through the USNDTP, Farabee is a two-way forward who is committed to play at Boston University this fall.

“Hockey IQ, playmaking ability along with two-way is something I pride myself on. Definitely like scoring goals, but definitely hate getting scored against; it’s kind of my motto.

“I think I’m pretty light (weight) right now, so putting on some weight in college and work on playing down low and I think that will help me.”

The 6’0”, 168 lb. left wing scored 31 goals and 71 points over the 58 games junior schedule and added four goals with four assists in eight game with Team USA at the U-18 world championships this past season.

“Up to this point it’s been pretty stressful and to hear my name called was definitely a relief and I’m really excited. The hard work starts again Monday and hopefully one day I’ll be able to play for this club.”

BY WARREN KOZIRESKI – DALLAS, TX —

To the surprise of absolutely no one, the Buffalo Sabres made Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin the first overall selection in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft in Dallas. Dahlin becomes the third Sabres to be selected first overall along with Gilbert Perreault and Pierre Turgeon.

The 6’2”, 183 lb. left shot finished this season with seven goals and 20 points playing against men with Frolunda and added six assists with a silver medal over seven games at the U-20 World Junior tournament in Buffalo. He was also one of the youngest players on any roster for the Winter Olympics in Korea.

“Yeah, it’s amazing,” Dahlin said in the draft media room. “I’ve been like finally, yeah, put on the Buffalo Sabres jersey. I’ve been there twice and I love that city. I can’t wait to get everything started. I was kind of nervous. It was amazing when I heard my name.

Dahlin brings an offensive skillset to the Sabres blueline. There are multiple videos of him online making fore-checkers look silly as he danced around them with the puck.

“That’s a fun style to play, but if he was saying that we are playing a slow game, I would do that, too. I will do whatever the coach says.

The native of Trollhatten, Sweden is looking forward to the fans in the city of Buffalo, especially after two trips there over the past six months.

“Yeah, they are great fans. I heard so many great things about them. Like they love hockey in that city and I can see that, when they come to me, they know me and I don’t even play in the NHL. So they probably love hockey. I’ve heard so many great things about them. I’m super excited to meet all the fans.

“It’s not the biggest city but I came from a small city, so I’m used to that size, so that’s amazing.”

Asked if he thinks he can make an impact next season, he responded, “I really hope so. I will try 100 percent to do that.”

(Photo By Janet Schultz)