The 1980s was an eventful decade for the Sabres on the draft front. They owned three first-round picks in '82 and '83. Look for decade-by-decade wrapups all week.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1980s
Taken 20th overall by the Sabres in 1980, winger Steve Patrick appeared in 152 games over five years, totaling 21 goals and 55 points. He and Jim Weimer were traded to the Rangers on Dec. 6, 1984 for Dave Maloney and Chris Renaud.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1980s
As unproductive as any first-round selection in league history. Plucked 17th overall from Czechoslovakia, Jiri Dudacek never appeared in an NHL game.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1980s
The Sabres chose defenseman Phil Housley sixth overall in 1982 out of South St. Paul High School. A slick skater, Housley played eight seasons in Buffalo before being dealt to Winnipeg in a mega-deal that brought Dale Hawerchuk to the Sabres. Housley played for seven teams in a 21-year career and ranks 38th in all-time scoring (1,232 points). But his teams advanced past the first round of the playoffs just twice.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1980s
Winger Paul Cyr went ninth overall as the second of Buffalo's three No. 1's in 1982. Had a couple 20-goal seasons during his five years with the Sabres but his plus-minus (minus-30) tells the story.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1980s
The Sabres drafted again at No. 16 and nabbed one of the more offensively productive players in NHL history. Center Dave Andreychuk scored 368 of his 640 career goals with the Sabres, won a Cup with Tampa Bay in his 22nd and final season and may have had the keenest hand-eye coordination of any player in Sabres' history.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1980s
For the second straight year the Sabres took a high schooler with their first of three No. 1's, and goaltender Tom Barrasso slid right into the Buffalo net out of Acton-Boxorough High near Boston. In November of '88 Buffalo dealt Barrasso and a draft pick to Pittsburgh for Doug Bodger and Darrin Shannon. It was a great trade. For Barrasso. He backstopped the Mario Lemieux-led Pens to Cups in 1991 and '92.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1980s
Winger Norm Lacombe, selected 10th overall in '83 as the second of three first-rounders, never panned out. He played sporadically in Buffalo, went on to Edmonton and Philly and finished with 53 career goals in 319 games.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1980s
The Sabres chose center Adam Creighton right after Lacombe, completing their trio of 1983 first-round selections. Creighton's best years came after he was traded to Chicago for Rick Vaive in 1988. The next two picks in the draft, Dave Gagner and Dan Quinn, each scored more career goals than Lacombe and Creighton combined.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1980s
Fifty-four goals in 435 NHL games - most played with Hartford -- hardly justified selecting Mikael Andersson out of Sweden with the 18th overall pick in 1984. Meanwhile, Stephane Richer and his 421 career goals went 29th.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1980s
The Sabres went European again in 1985, choosing defenseman Calle Johansson out of Sweden. He had a solid 15-year NHL career, the last 13 of them spent in Washington. Buffalo dealt Johannon and a draft pick to the Caps for Clint Malarchuk, Grant Ledyard and a draft pick.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1980s
The Sabres swung and missed again in 1986, selecting defenseman Shawn Anderson fifth overall. He was a bit player over his four seasons in Buffalo. They could have had Brian Leetch, who went ninth to the Rangers.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1980s
Despite the glut of first-rounders earlier in the decade, the Sabres found themselves drafting first overall in 1987. Pierre Turgeon would go on to score 515 career goals but only 122 of them came with the Sabres. He was dealt to the Islanders in the Pat LaFontaine trade.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1980s
Winger Joel Savage was taken No. 13 overall in '88 and busted. He played three NHL games, then spent his career as an average talent in the minors and in Europe. It proved a lean draft year until the fourth round, when Mark Recchi and Tony Amonte went back-to-back and produced more than 1,000 career goals between them.
Sabres First-Round Draft Picks: The 1980s
The Sabres selected Kevin Haller 14th in '89, 39 picks before the Red Wings nabbed seven-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Niklas Lidstrom. Haller played 81 games with Buffalo, then was sent to Montreal for defenseman Petr Svoboda.
Power is the Sabres’ presumed selection with the first overall pick, but it’s uncertain where he will play this season.
