By Budd Bailey
Curtis Brown of the Sabres
Taken in Round 2 in 1994
The next pick: Jose Theodore of the Canadiens went on to win the Hart Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2001-02. It should be noted that the Sabres didn’t really need a goaltender in the summer of 1994, thanks to Dominik Hasek.
Other picks in the round: Patrik Elias of the Devils might be the star of the round, even though he went next-to-last. Patrik scored 408 goals in 1,240 games. Rhett Warrener, who spent time as a Sabres, went first in that second round. Ryan Johnson (Florida), Mathieu Dandenault (Detroit) and Richard Park (Pittsburgh) all played more than 700 games.
The details: Curtis Brown broke in with Buffalo during the 1996-97 season. He stayed through 2004, ranking as a solid two-way forward who contributed 47 points to the 1998-99 team that reached the NHL finals. Curtis was dealt to San Jose in 2004, and also played in Chicago and in Switzerland.
Other 43s: Randy Wyrozub was taken in the fourth round of the Sabres’ first draft in 1970. He played in 100 games for Buffalo, and spent part of a season in the World Hockey Association. No Bills ever have been drafted at No. 43.
(Follow Budd on Twitter @WDX2BB)
Leave a Reply