2012 NHL Mock Draft: Die By The Blade Selects Stefan Matteau With 21st Pick
SB Nation's NHL Mock Draft continues along with the Sabres coming up with the 21st pick. Here is the progress thus far
| Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | Edmonton | Nail Yakupov |
| 2 | Columbus | Filip Forsberg |
| 3 | Montreal | Mikhail Grigorenko |
| 4 | New York Islanders | Alex Galchenyuk |
| 5 | Toronto | Ryan Murray |
| 6 | Anaheim | Matthew Dumba |
| 7 | Minnesota | Jacob Trouba |
| 8 | Carolina | Teuvo Tervainen |
| 9 | Winnipeg | Radek Faksa |
| 10 | Tampa Bay | Griffin Reinhart |
| 11 | Washington | Zegmus Girgensons |
| 12 | Buffalo | Cody Ceci |
| 13 | Dallas | Morgan Rielly |
| 14 | Calgary | Olli Maatta |
| 15 | Ottawa | Sebastian Collberg |
| 16 | Washington | Pontus Aberg |
| 17 | San Jose | Tomas Hertl |
| 18 | Chicago | Matt Finn |
| 19 | Tampa Bay | Derrick Pouliot |
| 20 | Philadelphia | Brendan Gaunce |
With the 21st pick, Die By The Blade will take Stefan Matteau of the U.S. National Team Development Program. This pick gives the Sabres the much needed center depth without reaching too far down the list to do it.
Stefan Matteau - C - USNTDP - 6'2 - 210 lbs
Matteau is a solid, young center that has been turning some heads with his performance with the USNTDP this past season. Matteau had 15 goals and 33 points for the team last season and did not perform with the team in the Under-18 tournament due to eligibility issues. Matteau will be playing in the QMJHL next season with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada instead of heading to North Dakota.
Matteau has a strong pedigree as well with his father, Stephane Matteau, being the player that scored the game winning goal in Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Final. The younger Matteau has the size and skill but still needs a few years worth of work if he is going to make it to the NHL.