dudacek

Am I wrong to see Power as the combination of the best qualities of Samuelsson and Johnson with a tad more offence? Is it wrong to project him as the guy always on the ice when you are up a goal, playing against the other teams top forwards?

I remember liking McAvoy a ton before that draft and thinking the Sabres were picking too high for him, but I would be happy if they “reached.” Only other guy I recall feeling that way about pre-draft was Quinn. Hope I am just as right.

If it’s the guy I’m thinking of, he’s a former journalist turned hockey executive who’s been around Sweden forever. I think he might have been the mouthpiece for the IIHF for a while.

First impression is this kid is better than Lucas Raymond, last year’s #4. You’d like a more sure thing at #1, but this kid could end of the best player in this draft.

Are people really taking this as anything other than an oblique way of saying thIs kid is determined to be first overall?

This is awesome. This threat lets us take Beniers at 1, then Power at 33. Kid is already showing how bad he wants to be a Sabre.

The Beard? Does @MODO Hockey know about this?

Marriages evolve.

Why are some people certain that Terry is 100 per cent responsible for the success of East Resources and handed Kim every opportunity she gets? Why can't their marriage be a partnership and their successes and failures the results of that partnership? That's the sexist premise here. They are co-owners.

We might be giving two of our top three assets away, but Anaheim is probably giving away three of their top four. That said, I like your trade better. Doubt Anaheim will.

Sad that the Sabres incompetence squandered Jack Eichel. Happy that they probably got the most talented prospect outside the NHL in return. Happy you’ll get to watch Zegras and Cozens compete to be the centrepiece of the Sabres just like they competed for World Junior gold. Happy you got Beniers and happier you don’t have to count on the Sabres making the right choice between Power and Beniers. Happy you get to see Beniers and Comtois skate like their hair is on fire on both ends of the ice for a long time in Buffalo. Happy you’ve solved the team’s goaltending problems for the foreseeable future with a top 10 goalie. You’re welcome.

This might be the right place for the Jones-haters to state their case. I see Ristolainen without the stupids. When I’ve watched him, he just seems to be a really complete player and a horse. Where do you see the flaws in his game? I don’t mean the charts, I mean the holes in the way he plays, where he gets exploited?

I couldn’t be happier with the results of this lottery. ”Bob Murray, you want Getzlaf and Pronger 2.0? Check out this slick and shiny Jack Eichel and this hot new Owen Power. We’ll take your 3rd overall pick and your Trevor Zegras as your first installment. How do you plan to finish this transaction? Maybe some Max Comtois and John Gibson?” Did you see Murray’s face when he came up #3? He wants to move up. Zegras has always been my top Eichel return. That just became a little more possible.

I'm of a mind that Adams has long desired Beniers; he's a poster child for Adams hockey. The "Sabres gonna Sabre" eruption on the internet if he takes him at #1 will be hard to take. I am convinced the Beniers will be a very good hockey player, the question is will it be Drury or Bergeron. Not sure if Power will be more Aaron Ekblad/Alex Pietrangelo in stature than Eric Johnson/Eric Gudbranson. Not sure if I trust the Sabres scouts to make that call.

Will they be interested? Probably more than just about any team. This is a team with an aggressive, highly competitive GM, that just lost its identity (Torterella). This is also a franchise that has never had a franchise centre and is establishing a troubling history of talent wanting to leave. A shiny first-line star pivot locked up on a fair deal for five more years would be a godsend. Do they have the pieces? It doesn't look like it. They have a lot of intriguing support pieces — guys like Jenner, Bjorkstrand, Domi, Texier, Foudy and their goalies, but completely lack the 4- and 5-star prospects the fans seem to think the Sabres want. Their best piece is the 5th overall pick in a mediocre draft. Unless...two or three years ago, there were people who considered Patrik Laine the top young goalscorer in the game and Seth Jones as its top young defenceman. They are still only 23 or 26, respectively. Laine's star has fallen due to concerns about character and this year's production. Jones has been crucified by the analytics Twitterverse. They both need new contracts. Would this work? Jones, Laine, Merzlikins and the 5th pick for Eichel and Olofsson You are going to get a top 5 prospect and a good goalie at minimum. Laine should be worth at least another 1st if you can't sign him and Jones considerably more. People are going to say it's risky (some on here won't want Laine's 30 goals or Jones' 25 hard minutes under any circumstances), but is it more risky than betting on unproven prospects? Is there a deal to be made with the Jackets?

First overall? Yes! YES! YYEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!! .....sorry? Wrong thread?

He’s done two years in the DEL and had a good year this year. I’d persevere him adjusting to NA rinks and culture in Rochester next year.

He looked like a prospect that first year. I wonder what happened to him?

https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/l/larssjo02.html

Yes. The composition of this first round, the fact Jack Eichel is on the market, and the fact there are teams drafting in the top 10 who might be interested elevate the chances.

I don't think its an awful comparison, but I don't agree with the conclusion because I think Reinhart's game is (relatively) better made for the playoffs than Marner's and I think Jones is good, unlike the rest of you seem to. We have no reference point for Reino and Risto. I've watched Jones eat up Marner in the playoffs just last year. Not to mention how he performed against Tampa the previous year.

I think it means he's been told actual negotiations are going on, as opposed to inquiries. Agree it's big.

I look at how they match up on the ice. Over a 7-game series I think it is way more likely Jones swallows up Marner than Marner embarrasses Jones.

Logically though, a top 5 prospect in the NHL should be on the table. Eichel is in the early stages of his prime. If they hit their absolute ceiling, Zegras or Byfield may still not be as good as Jack is proven to be.There is also a pretty good chance they end up Phil Kessel or Ryan Johansson, or even Alex Galchenyuk or Dylan Strome. From a hockey point of view and from a business point of view, you take the better player. It’s Jack Eichel. For me, there are maybe 10 assets in the league not on the table. Never mind the bird in the hand better than 2 in the bush factor, especially when the one in hand is an eagle.