Sabres relinquish rights to draft pick Ethan Miedema, two others

The Buffalo Sabres have relinquished the rights to three draft picks, including winger Ethan Miedema, a fourth-round selection in 2023.

In addition to Miedema, the Sabres did not sign forwards Viljami Marjala and William von Barnekow to contracts before Sunday’s deadline.

They selected Marjala, a Finn, in the fifth round in 2021, and von Barnekow, a Swede, in the sixth round that year.

The Sabres held the rights to Miedema for two years because he played junior in the Canadian Hockey League and the rights to von Barnekow and Marjala for four years because they’re European prospects.

Miedema, 20, scored 23 goals and 57 points in 66 games with the Ontario Hockey League’s Kingston Frontenacs this season.

Marjala, 22, enjoyed success in pro hockey, registering eight goals and a team-best 52 points in 54 contests for Liiga’s TPS Turku this season.

Von Barnekow, 22, also played pro, recording five goals and 10 points in 52 outings for the Swedish Hockey League’s Malmo Redhawks this season.

The Sabres will be heading to Orchard Park later this month for the NHL Draft.

The team announced on Sunday it will be utilizing the Buffalo Bills’ draft room to conduction their operations on June 27 and 28.

With the draft decentralized this year, each team will be working from a base in their respective city.

The Sabres announced on Monday that KeyBank Center will be hosting a 2025 Rivalry Series game between the U.S. and Canadian Women’s National Teams on Nov. 8 at 6 p.m.