Sabres hold 27th pick, could turn to a top KHL winger in early 2026 draft

The Buffalo Sabres enter the 2026 NHL Entry Draft with the 27th overall selection, and one recent draft projection suggests the club could use that late first-round slot to target a “big” winger coming out of the KHL. The idea is straightforward in roster-building terms, a high-ceiling winger profile from a major European pro league could provide Buffalo with a prospect type that can accelerate the transition from system hope to NHL contributor.

Buffalo’s first-round position matters because it sets expectations for what kind of player the organization can realistically target. At 27th, the Sabres are not picking at the top of the draft where certainty tends to be highest, but they are far enough into the opening frame to still find prospects who scouts believe can move quickly. That balance, between value and development risk, is where many rebuilds and “next wave” roster phases live.

The projection centers on the concept of importing a KHL winger profile, rather than leaning solely toward North American junior or collegiate pathways. Players in the KHL generally face a different competitive environment than many draft-eligible prospects, with full-season travel, a pro-style schedule, and games that can be more physical and tactical depending on the club. For NHL teams, that can translate into a bet that the player’s underlying tools and game pace will carry over sooner than it might for a prospect still learning the rigors of the North American ice and smaller-rink spacing.

The article also frames the timing through Buffalo’s recent competitive level, noting the Sabres have been among the better teams in the NHL in the current season. That matters because teams that are winning typically prefer prospects who can help in the near term, not only those who fit a long-term developmental arc. In that sense, the question for Buffalo is not whether the organization should draft talented players, it’s whether it can translate a late first-round pick into a forward who can challenge for meaningful minutes on the depth chart once the team turns back toward the playoffs.

At the same time, it is important to treat this as a projection, not a decision already made. A draft slot does not guarantee a specific player, and KHL prospects introduce additional variables, including contract situations, the timing of development plans, and how the player’s role translates once the organization secures the rights and moves him into the Sabres’ North American structure.

For Buffalo’s fan base and development staff, the most actionable takeaway is the direction of the club’s thinking: using the 27th overall pick to chase a winger who can fit the Sabres’ physical and skill needs while still coming with enough certainty to justify a first-round investment. The “big winger” framing suggests emphasis on size, reach, and finishing threat, traits that can complement teams that prioritize structured zone entries and reliable defensive responsibility.

Heading into the remainder of the scouting cycle, the questions to watch are which prospects are trending toward the later part of the first round, whether any KHL forwards are drawing stronger consensus evaluations from North American scouts, and how the Sabres prioritize immediate impact versus long-range upside. Once the final prospect rankings firm up closer to draft weekend, it will become clearer whether the idea stays a mock-draft storyline or evolves into a credible board-alignment for the organization.

Until then, Buffalo’s draft posture will remain the same in principle: the 27th pick is late enough to require sharp evaluation, but early enough that the right selection can still meaningfully influence the organization’s forward depth for seasons to come.