dudacek

I acknowledge the truth in what you are saying here: we don’t seem to have many Mike Griers or Marcus Folignos in the pipeline and guys like that are needed. However, it would be a mistake to think this means the guys we are collecting can’t battle or play defence. Benson, for example, gets in the dirty areas, and is considered one of the top defensive players in the Western Hockey League. By and large, the high pick forward we have taken are diligent, smart and brave and should become as capable of playing playoff hockey as the Yanni Gourdes and Ondrej Palats. Besides, guys like Foligno and Grier aren’t typically getting taken in the 1st round. You hope the Kozaks and Novikovs can provide some of that.

He’s the guy I zeroed in on, I’m not confident he’s there. I wouldn’t be opposed to a move up. Probably the healthiest way of looking at it.

Just wanted to give myself a Pat on the back here. 😜 He was definitely the most skilled guy left. He is behind Michkov and Bedard. Power, and the fact he’s not a centre, are the reasons why Smith, Carlsson and Fantilli were ranked ahead, not talent. Good call. It’s a perfect fit: age and game. 170 and a shade under 5’10” at the combine. He projects into a Marchand physique. Another good observation. I dont buy the “no room” angst. The Sabres forward prospect pool is crucible where no one is handed anything and the strong should survive. No team sucked because they had a 1st liner on their 3rd line. I think the skeptics just need to watch. To quote our GM “he’s a Sabre” Not withstanding my post two replies up, this makes it easier to move a prospect to get the defender we need. My immediate take: The hardest single thing to get in the draft is top-end skill, particularly combined with top-end compete. As a prospect this player combines the two better than Savoie, better than Kulich, probably even better than Quinn. He needs to get stronger and I bet he will. I think we got lucky.

We going to see a lot of angst tomorrow if the Sabres don’t grab a defenceman with one of their next 2 picks? The way the board has fallen there’s a decent chance there won’t be any “good value” D left while forwards have dropped.

I don't know that there is a significant dropoff between #6 and where the Sabres pick. I'd say there are about 10 players in that range who could have gone top10 last year.

Simashev and Moore seem to be increasingly likely at 13 when you match the descriptions, the mocks and the Sabres needs and values. Increasingly looking like Benson might slip. Not a need, but he seems like a Sabre and he's top 5 talent in some years. It would be hard to pass on him if he's there.

Pens have forwards and no money, Smith one year at $5 million is better than a 3rd. I don't get it

There's been a lot of attention out here to Vancouver taking him at 11.

I mostly agree but: "We're going to really be very aggressive if it makes sense for us to do that" doesn't really fit that description. "Going to be" implies intent. To me, that implies there is something on the table that they want to do and that may be possible to do. Might be the framework of a deal contingent on the draft board falling a certain way, or a seperate deal falling into place or apart.

Why?

Wait, are we saying Adams did poorly in getting a 2nd-rounder for Hall? The guy was just given away for free. 😜

Yes. Adams using 13 for Michkov and doing nothing else is a lot different than him using 13 for Michkov and signing Graves, or trading Olofsson, and lesser prospects/picks for Hanifin. Your opinion will be given the proper weight as I reconsider my position.

In a vacuum, I would much rather have 13 turned into Michkov than Hanifin or Pesce.

Toffoli is similar but better and he got Sharangovich and a 3rd. Sharangovich is similar but worse and he and a 3rd got Toffoli. 🤷

Not sure you mean by "pop" but you probably couldn't get a better "value" comparable for Krebs. Same position, same pedigree, similar stats.

Yes, “in”, and Nova Scotia I believe

Report out of Vancouver that Ryan Graves not planning on signing with Canada. I think Pesce and Hanifin are more attractive pieces and better players, but Graves certainly fits what we are looking for and you have to think he’s high on our radar, and probably vice versa.

Kinda slipping by in here, but is “Blackwood to the Sharks for a 6th” the 1st move we’ve seen where we wonder if it was on Adams’ radar? Personally, I think Blackwood is both anti-vibes and a questionable talent and would rather keep UPL, but do any of you think this was a missed opportunity?

What are the numbers for forwards? Does Ryan O’Reilly’s game drop by 5 per cent on the wing compared to centre? How about Sam Reinhart’s? Dylan Cozens? Do you actually know we aren’t short-circuiting Mitts by playing him on the wing? Or is that all VO’s fault?

For some. And now we’re right back to where we started 😄

Agree.

Sure, but aren’t we handcuffing Krebs by forcing him to play with the geezers? Are we really going to get everything we should from Savoie by playing him on the wing? Aren’t we going to have to trade Östlund because we don’t have a slot for him?

A team that had Thompson Mittelstadt Cozens and Krebs on their roster already, went out invested 3 first round picks on centres last year. I was perfectly fine with that - partly because I believe the more options you have the better, but mostly because I believe they were all good players and good value for the pick. Pick the best player and it will all sort itself out.

That it’s June 27 and the Sabres haven’t made the playoffs yet?

Sorry @Thorny but you know I don’t share that particular set of concerns. I’m going to be quite happy if Simashev is a Sabre: big kid, beautiful skater, understands the game, knows how to defend