31 Teams in 31 Days - Buffalo Sabres

Only one OHL prospect for the Buffalo Sabres currently.

1. Matej Pekar - Sudbury Wolves
Splitting the shortened year between Barrie and Sudbury, Pekar saw a slight uptick in production from a year ago, but still didn't take that next step as an offensive player that I was hoping for/anticipating. I think we have a pretty clear picture of the type of player that he is and the type of player he projects to be at the NHL level. He operates best as a complimentary piece with more skilled players. He drives the net wide and has enough speed to catch defenders flat footed. He is great in puck retrieval situations, on the forecheck, and when prolonging possession along the wall. He engages physically and can be a real pain in the ass to play against. His shot still hasn't really developed into a significant weapon, but he can finish off plays in tight. Pekar does have good vision coming off the wall and works well to open up that space for his more skilled linemates. Moving forward, the key for him will be to continue to improve his skating so that he fits in the mold of today's checking line player. That's not to say that Pekar is a poor skater, as I did mention that he can beat defenders with speed. But I think if he could get it to that next level, he would be an even more effective. If he could just get a little quicker, his aggressiveness away from the puck would be even more of an asset. Buffalo will have some options next year as to what to do with Pekar. His most likely destination is in the AHL, where I would suspect that he is eased into a larger role and plays most of the year on a third or 4th line. I wouldn't expect a lot of offense in his first year, but he does project as an NHL player down the line IMO.