Crusader1969

If Bob Mckenzie is right (he most often is) and Juolevi has moved into the 4th slot that means Dubios and Tkachuk will be availabe 5. Its still really really tight but the Sabres should be drafting 5 to 7.The biggest question Murray will have to answer is how much better is Dubios/Tkachuck than what the Sabres currently have in their system - specifically Bailey and Fasching. You could even through Girgensons in that conversation, though i think there is a high probability that he is traded this summer I'm a big fan of Bailey and think he could be the winger to play with Eichel and Reinhart. That is why I'm starting to lean for the Sabres to take a Dman with their first pick, a guy like Chychrun will be mighty tempting if he is on the board when the Sabres are up. Give him a year or two and then you slot him next to Risto for the next 10 years on your top D-pair. Plus I would think its easier to get a top line winger in a trade than a top 2 LHD. .

im also huge into the draft and when I think there are guys who I think can really help the Sabres (Laine, Tckachuk, Dubois) I want the Sabres to be in a position to grab one of them. If this means they lose some meaningless games - so be it. I don`t believe in the `learning to win`` when there is no pressure. Turn up the pressure - playoff games or late season games with play-off implications can be a learning experience. When the Sabres are playing in these type of pressure games - thats when my tune will change. and yes i will be hopeful that the Canadians win tonight but at the same time I like to Eichel and Reinhart continue to produce. I don`t outwardly cheer either way (unless its eichel or reinhart), unlike last year when it was life or death when it came to winning v losing.

interesting tidbit from Bob Mckenzie: https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/status/710136424352378880 new out today: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/sportsnets-top-30-2016-nhl-draft-prospects-march/

If the oilers problem has nothing to do with the guys they drafted at the top of the draft. It has everything to do with their inability to add anything around them. I would assume that the current management is going to make a major overhaul of their roster next year so that the talent is spread around the entire roster, not just the top 2 forward lines.

I'll guess Shane Done captain of the Coyotes on March 22 right before they beat Philly and Buffalo and ensuring that the Sabres wouldn`t pass them in the McEichel sweepstakes? Cant they wait 12 more games and add a great player to the roster before they start learning to win? do you really think that the last few games of this season will have any correlation at all to how the team performs next October? The Blackhawks made their jump from 71 points in 06-07 to 88 points in 07-08 and they finished the 06-07 season wining 4 of their last 12 games. There is absolutely no correlation between how you end a season and the following season. Learning to win is just a function of younger players gaining more experience (including the experience of losing) and chemistry being built between players as they gel as a team. the most important factor to winning is adding more talent - like the talent found at the top of the Draft. The argument that the Sabres will be better next year because they won a majority of their last 12 games and end up with drafting 10th or 11th over winning 4 of their last 12 games and drafting a guy like Laine or Tkachuk is absolutely wrong. Yes, the Sabres can add guys through FA and trades but you can still add a top 5 pick (who will probably play for them next season) and make the same moves. Plus any trade you make will weaken you in another area or subtract from your depth. The guy you get in the draft costs you nothing - except for a couple of meaningless losses down the stretch. And lastly GO Canadians!

you are right "elite" is too strong a word for guys outside the top 3 but drafting anywhere in top 10 is going to net you a top 6 Forward or a top 4 Dman, so I should have used the term "blue-chip" prospect.

I thought the Hawks example of tanking is the model that the Sabres are trying to follow? no one is going to argue that they didn't tank nor that it was highly effective.

I will never understand the anti-tank people I do get that its a long process and there are no guarantee's that it will bring a Stanley Cup but they tried the alternative for over 40 years and have absolutely nothing to show for it. I also think it is crazy for anyone to look at this year and not see improvement or think that this wasn't a successful season. They may end up with four players with 20+ goals - all of whom are playing their first season in the Blue and Gold. Risto has proven that he is a legit top pairing D-man and how old is he? 21 maybe 22? McCabe and Pysyk have played decently in their first full season. Maybe they can be the 3/4 Dman pairing, maybe they slot 5/6 on a true cup contender but definitely are assets to the team. Next season you are going to add one more elite prospect through the 2016 draft, there will be more competition for 1st team jobs as guys like Fasching (if he signs), Bailey, Carrier, Baptiste fight for NHL jobs. Guys, like Moulson, Girgensons, Foligno will have huge pressure on them to perform and if they don't they will be likely watching games in the rafters or lining up for the Americans. Eichel and Rienhart have been terrific in their rookie years and will most likely improve next year. I would be surprised if Murray doesn't make at least 1 significant trade over the summer to improve the team. Though, I can already hear the moaning this time next year if they improve by another 20 points but sit just outside the play-offs.

Can you help me out and remind me when these teams, save Chicago, Tanked? . When did the Leafs purposely sell off their core players and made a concerted effort to come last place prior to this season? Rangers? Bruins? Red Wings?? I've been watching hockey for 40+ years and can't remember this time you speak of. are you still mad that Johnson isn't playing all the games?

] perfectly said! +1 as I've all season, give me 75 points and 5th last and I think its a win-win for the Sabres

oops! For the record, I am not a pessimist, I just think it will take some time. Eventually, (3 or 4 years) I really believe that the Sabres will be one of a small group of serious cup contenders, year in - year out. I would say Drouin's top end potential would be greater than any of the guys drafted 8 - 10. However, I think he has a greater chance of JD being a bust as well. Plus you wont get drouin straight up for that pick. The Sabres would also have to give up Pysyk and another decent prospect to make the trade happen.

a 20 point improvement is great and extremely difficult. It would be fantastic if they can improve by another 20 points next year, However, if they do improve by 20, there is a good possibility they end up missing the play-offs and definitely won't be contending for a division title. In 3 years since the play-offs: TB is on pace for a 102 point season this year. Mtl won with 110 last year Bruins with 117 the year prior

They barely beat an AHL team on Monday night. I can't see how you can predict they will be any better than a contender for a play-off spot.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/breakaway_blog/2016/03/leafs-tank-job-not-nearly-as-embarrassing-as-buffalo-s-last-year.html I know Im not embarrased by what the Sabres did, I actually think it was genius.

That's pretty optimistic thinking as they can barely beat a bunch of AHL players at the moment. I hope you are right but I think its more likely that next year they contend the for 8th spot, the year following they make the playoffs. Maybe get to the 2nd round? 3rd year - now we are contending. Year 5 we are winning.

I'll take the player who is going to better in 3 to 5 years when they are ready to challenge for the cup. This is about putting together a team that has the best chance at winning the cup not about merely being a play-off contender.

you get to 9th or 10th and you may not be drafting Sergi either

At this point, looking at the standings and the teams around them - we may be looking at the 8th to 10th rated player. Guys like Gauthier, Mcleod, Keller all fine players but none who would be projected to be a Sabre anytime before the 2017-18 or 18/19 season. My guy feeling is the Sabres end up with Juolevi.

Good analysis, I would suggest adding Dubois to the potential top 5 picks. 37G 50A 1.52PPG QJMHL not to mention 6'3 202lbs - father was a professional body builder. Kid takes fitness seriously

Its not looking as good for a top 7 pick - Arizona has lost 7 in a row, Calgary is brutal as we saw last night, I went to sleep with Vancouver having a 2-0 lead and ended up losing 3-2, Winnipeg gives up a 2-1 lead with 20 seconds to go and the Isles score in ot off of Ehlers face, Only hope is Edmonton and Columbus to continue to put up points. Hoping for a 3 points game between Oilers and Blue Jackets tonight. That being said I can see the Sabres losing to Minnesota tomorrow and I think the Leafs / Sabres game will be close and could go either way. -+

improved on the back of players all under the age of 24. Im with you, if people cant see the improvement then Im really not sure what the heck they have been watching. Actually, im sure they are not watching - they are just looking at the standings.

Sorry was talking the Oilers draft Board.

If a Sabres are eyeing Chychrun, I think it's important to pick before the oilers as they will take Him, assuming they don't win one of the lottery spots. Their draft board will be Matthews, Laine, Puljujarvi, Chychrun.

to be honest, I don't know. I've tried to contact him but to no avail. He is followed by Bob McKenzie and Bob has retweeted him a couple of times. So im assuming there is validity to his work.

DTM about Heart now gives Sabres 3rd best percentage to land one of the big 3 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ccj1K-2XIAEiuWT.jpg:large They just lost to the Oilers on home ice and scored 1 goal. WInning more the 3 of those 6 games will be difficult for them.