ORCHARD PARK – By his own admission, Buffalo Sabres prospect David Bedkowski arrived in the Ontario Hockey League as a “really soft” 15-year-old.
The toughness that has become the 6-foot-4, 221-pound right-shot defenseman’s greatest asset was non-existent.
“That wasn’t really part of my game at all,” Bedkowski said on a Zoom call Saturday after the Sabres selected him in the third round, 71st overall, in the NHL Draft.
So Derek Laxdal, his coach with the Oshawa Generals, challenged Bedkowski to add some grit. He said he fought against it for a long time.
But Laxdal stayed on him. Over time, he realized he must find an identity and a role that could earn him ice time.
“That physical play has gotten me to where I am,” he said. “It earns respect not only for me on the ice, but for my teammates as well. For me, it was about building an identity.”
Bedkowski said he has developed into “a heart-and-soul guy.”
“Loyal to the soil,” he said. “Just compete is the name of the game for me – sacrificing, blocking shots, whatever it is, whatever it takes. That’s what I am: a big, physical, hard defenseman. Shutting down the opposition.”
Sabres assistant general manager Jerry Forton said the “very unique” Bedkowski has built himself into the “the same mold of a throwback player.”
“I’m very convinced he’s going to get the most out of his abilities,” he said following the draft at One Bills Drive.
The maturity and passion Bedkowski, 18, possesses was evident throughout his 10-minute chat with the media and to the Sabres’ decision makers.
Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said after he had a two-minute conversation with Bedkowski, he wrote down “it was very clear to me that this was going to be a good pro.”
“Just his head on his shoulders, how he conducted himself,” he said.
Bedkowski couldn’t hide his excitement as he spoke from Los Angeles, where some of the top draft prospects went on stage after being picked, sporting a blue Sabres jersey.
“Looking at myself with these colors, the Blue and Gold, it’s truly an out-of-body experience for me,” he said. “I’m super excited to be going to Buffalo.”
Clearly, he did his homework. He mentioned Buffalo’s once-booming steel industry – “It’s a blue collar city,” he said – and the city’s rich history.
“I’m sure the fans will appreciate my game,” he said.
Bedkowski knows the Sabres haven’t made the playoffs since 2011 and have a loyal fan base.
“Making the playoffs is the first priority for me,” he said.
He said he loves the challenge of joining an organization trying to end a 14-year drought.
“Nothing lasts forever, so it’s bound to happen eventually,” he said.
Bedkowski, of course, hopes the Sabres crack the postseason while he’s finishing his junior career.
He spent most of last season with the Owen Sound Attack, compiling three goals, seven points and 73 penalty minutes in 35 games after Oshawa traded him early in the campaign.
He acknowledged being dealt changed his perspective.
“It’s a hard thing to say, but it is a business, you are a commodity,” he said. “It’s kind of made me harder and more business oriented in my approach.”
A broken right hand and wrist sidelined him about half of the season. Still, he fought five times. His willingness to drop the gloves could also help him make the big leagues.
“It’s something I’ll continue to get better at and get comfortable with and working on that,” he said of fighting. “It goes back to developing that physical side of the game. If you’re a big, physical defenseman, you have to be able to fight.
“I really don’t think there’s anything more courageous and admirable you can do in the eyes of a teammate and a coach than to fight and risk losing a tooth or whatever it might be, risk getting hurt for your team.”
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Sabres prospects have their first session of development camp today at 1:30 p.m. in LECOM Harborcenter.
Update: Bedkowski missed today’s opening session of development camp at LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo because he was sick, according to the team.
Twenty-five prospects, including all nine players the Sabres drafted over the weekend, are on the camp roster the Sabres released today. Eight forwards, 12 defensemen and five goalies are participating.
