LGR4GM

TNT was 23 and Mitts was 23 when those conversations took place. OEL is 32. OEL sucks and I don't wanna be the team to waste ice time trying to rehabilitate his career. I wanna compete, not be hopeful oel can idk, be slightly better Bryson. Not interested. OEL won't bounce back.

Ranking Name Position Height/Weight 14 Colby Barlow 6'1" 195lbs - A bunch of ppl say that his peak is basically where he sits now, that of a hardnosed middle forward with a good shot who is sound defensively. There supposedly isn't much room for growth because for the most part you are getting a physical mature player but I tend to disagree. I think Barlow can add more things to his toolbox and not having to worry about his physical maturity as much might help him do that. His shot is good, his IQ is really good, he works hard, and he is physical. Basically he is a poor man's Cozens. The catch here is that Barlow might not have as high of ceiling, certainly it is lower than my next player but his floor is exceedingly high and if he can work on a bit more deception and some softer hands, I think you could get a really good mini-tuch/cozens type of player. His drive to the net and his quick and heavy release make you hope the rest will come. 15 Lukas Dragicevic RHD 6'1" 194lbs - He has some skating issues and that almost meant he was in the late 20's but I can't ignore the rest of the package and I think a lot of players manage to fix their skating. You want offense? Oh man does he have offense, the converted forward is a all about attacking you with the puck. He has handling moves and solid passing. Really that the jr level he is a blast to watch in transition and the offensive zone. Now the defense is... a work in progress but it isn't that he doesn't try more that he is just not as developed as others. You want a solid defender draft Willander. I think Lukas can get there but this is a higher risk higher reward type of player. The skating needs upgraded and the defensive zone work needs to be ironed out. If you manage that, you might have a #2 or at least a #3 defender who can run a pp. I think the rewards outweigh the risks which is why I rank him higher than most. 16 Calum Ritchie C/RW 6'2" 187lbs - Quick name a player that played their entire draft year injured. Seriously at the Hlinka he injured his shoulder and then just played the entire year anyway... because idk badassery? For me I think this limited him a bit this year but when I watch him I see a decent handler, with good ideas, effective passing, and a very well rounded 2 way game. I think he has really good offensive and defensive zone awareness and he uses that to his advantage, finding open ice or teammates with passes. He really does a good job of creating space for himself and others which will be a big help in the NHL. I think his skating is averagish but I do see where others have critiqued his posture and his pop. I think some refinement will really allow him to access even more things that he is already good at. My final comment is watch him battle for a puck, he might be one of the best at it. I didn't pay that much attention to it when I was watching him (because I am an amateur blogger looking at this stuff for fun) but a scouting report talked about it so I went back and looked. Ritchie really is great at separating opponents from the puck and he has multiple tools for the job, stick lifts, checks, body positioning. In a few ways I was reminded of Lidstrom and how he would just always emerge with the puck. No I am not saying he will be as good as one of the very best defenders ever, mainly because he plays forward, but it just made me think of that. 17 Axel Sandin Pellikka RHD 5'11" 181lbs - I went back and worth with Peillikka. At first I didn't care for him because he reminded me a little of Pilut and that was bad. But he is actually really good at the small stuff and I think has enough skill to be effective even if he isn't over 6' tall (this will shock you all but I actually want defenders to be 6'1" or taller if possible). He has good skating and nice hands, his reads are fairly solid. There just isn't that many issues with his game other than his size. That said he engages defensively and has pro level habits down low. You do see his lack of physical stature at times but I think with more maturity and refinement to his game he can handle it. My issue really is that I don't have some high end trait to point to as a game breaker and that is the concern for me. He's good at everything with very good skating but I think you are probably getting a 2nd pairing defender who can run your pp. At this point in the draft players will have limits that you have to think about and decide what you are comfortable with. I think he will get drafted after Willander. 18 Samuel Honzek C 6'3" 195lbs - I like Honzek quite a bit. In a lot of ways he has similarities to Ritchie. Both use their bodies well and win a lot of battle. Where the difference is, comes from Honzek being less of a distributor and more of a shooter. He played on a bad WHL team so maybe that had to do with him shooting more. I really enjoy his shot and would compare it to Barlow's but maybe just a touch below him. His skating his good and if you watch him you will see pretty good finesse from the 6'3" forward as he makes some nice cuts and has good speed. His defensive game needs some work because he doesn't always get in the correct position and get pucks up ice fast enough. I wonder if some of that was a weak team but I think his hockey IQ isn't as good as a guy like Ritchie so that is why he is a bit below him. Still, this is a solid NHL player and will be a middle 6 guy in all likelihood. Could become a 50-60pt player because he has the size and skills to be pretty good. He is another in that Tuch/Cozens mold. 19 Nate Danielson C/RW 6'2" 186lbs - First thing first, he's old. In fact he is 350 days older than Juraj Pekarcik but they are in the same draft. Okay with that out of the way he is another in the Barlow, Ritchie, Honzek mold of bigger guy with certain skills but a few limitations (if you haven't see the pattern yet, there it is). So why is he ranked here? I think he has the lowest hockey IQ of the 4 guys just mentioned and that worries me more than someone skating. He has skills, his shooting and passing are solid. He physically engages and his skating is good but there is just always a "but why not do that instead" feel to watching him. I just want to see him really flow better with his linemates and I think sometimes if you watch him, he has simple solutions to complex problems that that don't always work. Still at worst you get a 3rd line center with some scoring and a sound defensive game. At best, you might have a 2nd line center. His age and his IQ though put him a bit lower IMPO. 20 Gracyn Sawchyn RW 5'11" 155lbs - Dude needs to eat some burgers. He isn't small but he is light (kinda the same thing) and that is the issue. He can be pushed off of pucks at times and sometimes will lose battles to bigger players. So... why do I have a guy who's consensus ranking is 35 and his lowest is 80 or 90 at 20? Go watch him play. Holy crapballz does he do everything you want. His puckhandling is great, not good, great. He has handles, dangles, dekes, fakes, humdingers, and hornwanglers... wait this is turning into Dr. Seuss. His manipulation tactics and ability to execute them at speed are top 10 in this class. If he were built like Barlow, I would tell the Sabres to kick the shins of all the other gms as they ran to the stage to take him. Now you look at this point totals and probably think, ummm that isn't that impressive with 58pts in 58games but he played on a team with Lambert, Korchinski, Schaefer, and Guenther so ice time was little hard to come by. Also I think he needs to improve his shot which is fine but nothing special. He has a high motor and the skills needed to turn that into effective game play. His playmaking is the highlight and he can make just about any pass you need. Also, take the puck the from him, I hope you outskate him or pass quick because if not that little ball of hate will becoming for your ass. I love Sawchyn but his skating isn't elite and his size will hold him back a bit. I think if he adds muscle the skating with ramp up to be more explosive and also his ability to facilitate plays will really shine when you put him with shooters. This simply isn't a smaller player with good skating and high energy. He is a manipulative stickhandler with high end skills who is pretty good at attacking and defending. This is a high risk high reward guy who can be a 2nd line player in the NHL if all the breaks go right... the concern is I am not sure if he makes a good 3rd or 4th liner if he can't quite make the top 6, his motor might allow him too though. ^ Tier 4 ^ it is a bigger tier and I almost went another 2 players but really after Sawchyn I think there is less certainty so I cut it off.

This is your post in a nutshell.... "I never said we should sign him... but let me tell you why we should sign him."

You said and I quote "Granato is a development coach" and I take exception to that characterization of him. If you really want argue that the word "just" is unfair, fine. But you said and I quote a 2nd time "Granato is a development coach" and you proceed to imply heavily that his lack of ability beyond being a development coach has resulted in the other coaches being somehow downgraded because of his tactics. I don't agree. I don't think I mischaracterized what you wrote at all. I think I took a sentence in context and disagreed with it. With or without the word "just" hardly changes the tone, underlying meaning, or the sentiment expressed therein. I don't think Granato has serious tactic issues. I think he went into the season with a plan to allow the younger guys on the roster to play in all situations and to take their lumps just like how he kept playing Dahlin the year before, even though in November there was talk on this very board of trading young Dahlin away because of his play. What I am saying is they weren't matching up early in the year and doing some of the finer details of putting line x against line y because they wanted line z to get all the experience they could. That is why we saw it more towards the end of the year. Granato has to upgrade his way of coaching the strategies of the game this year, the pp and pk have issues. That said calling Don Granato "a development coach" is code IMPO. I see it on here often from posters that seem to heavily imply or say that DG is basically keeping the seat warm for the next guy when we "get serious" about winning. I think that is false.

Okay you haven't said it directly but if this isn't heavily implying we should go after OEL (you literally started this thread) than idk what you are talking about here. Every posting is basically saying "why don't we at least think about signing OEL." I wouldn't sign him. He hasn't been good in several years, is on the wrong side of 30, doesn't shoot right, isn't particularly big or physical, has a long injury history, doesn't bring anything to the team we need. Also, I don't need OEL as my bottom pairing defender. I need someone who can actually you know, play defense for that.

I think it's fair to criticize Granato. I don't think it is fair to label him "a development coach"

For a guy who's been constantly posting in every thread how Adams needs to upgrade the defense, I'm absolutely floored that you're arguing we should acquire OEL. If both Dahlin and Power are injured, there isn't a player we can acquire this offseason to make up for that. That's like asking why Edmonton doesn't add P Kane in case Draisaitl and McDavid get injured.

OEL isn't going to mentor him do anything. Okposo and all the other team leaders can mentor him. I would not give a dollar for OEL at this point. I want to win and make the playoffs. Cuz he's only playing on PP two?

Fairly certain his model still says Quinn isn't good.

He's disagreeing with you saying OEL could be an asset.

To be fair, I don't think there's a bunch. Skinner - Tage - Tuch JJP - Cozens - Quinn Greenway - Mitts - Krebs? ? - ?(Jost)? - Okposo That's if VO is traded and they don't sign Jost. There's only 2 open forward jobs. If they sign Jost then you have 1 forward starter and a depth injury slot.

Kulich is not ready.

No. Absolutely not. He's had defensively and shoots left. He brings nothing to the Sabres except "I'm old now" Also, Owen Power pretty much proved he is the stable presence. He was the best defender on the team last season, he doesn't need OEL.

I'm really confused how he gets a 21 for defense when all his numbers are better except "defensive impact" Like, that doesn't add up.

No, Granato can still fail but it won't be because "he's just a development coach." Idc about being right. I care about winning the cup. It's why Adams must, I repeat must, strengthen the defense this offseason with a big move.

I see it here, I see it there, I see it most everywhere. Lukáš Rousek isn't promoted to Buffalo, instead we see Kulich or Savoie. I don't think that will be the case. I think Rousek will have a spot on this roster to open the season and we should be talking about how he might actually be fairly decent.

You don't wanna see Bryson. It's bad, like I'd rather play Novikov right off the bat in his spot instead of letting him get ice time. I feel bad because I like Bryson but he's reached his peak.

Last season 22-23, was the first full season Granato had his team together. Yes, last year was about developing because we were the youngest team in the league and if you're not developing that, idk what you're end goal is. Through that process we beat some really good teams and we came up short. I think coming up 1 game short might be the best thing because adversity helps ppl grow. This team will be better for that experience because I think internally their goal was playoffs. Now it is the Stanley Cup, players expectations changed. Granato has been mostly great. He's honest and if you listen to him you get a good glimpse of his hockey knowledge. He's not "just a development coach" and I think this team isn't just going to make the playoffs next year with him, they are going to make noise.

I don't agree and I'm not going to agree. Calling him just a development coach is just not true. There is an underlying bias there whether you want to admit it or not. This board and in this case you, constantly say "he's just a development coach" even though we have evidence that's not true. Granato not pulling goalies is such a low bar because what's he supposed to do? Pull Comrie for UPL? Pull UPL for Comrie? That's like peeing into the wind and wondering why you're wet. Line combos? They scored the 3rd most goals in the league. Defense? He only had limited options there. Granato is fine. He did exactly what he needed to last year. He got the team to consistently play their style. He wanted them to be free offensively first and has said as much. We watched them adjust down the stretch. We watched them grow when the pressure ramped up. "Jump from a development coach" is such a low blow for a guy who has won and just about every level of hockey except one. Don Granato isn't just a "development coach" and I stand by saying your take on him is bad.

Negative Ghost Rider

This is honestly *****. This entire post is atrocious and wrong. You're wrong, flat out about Granato and I think this post reflects a deep seeded bias against Granato simply because he wasn't some well known ex head coach.

Sign power for 8 years. Worry about what 3 time cup winner Power's next deal is in 8 years.

Who the ***** cares about Jack Eichel anymore? OR Why? Let him go and move on.