Crusader1969

If you have access to TSN they may still have some some of Russia's WJC games OnDemand. I think I PVR'd a couple so if I can find some time I may go back and watch him a bit closer. I notice they have him listed as a centre on most draft boards but Im pretty sure he played LW with Russia and he is listed as LW on SKA1946 in the MHL.

I found this but not sure its 100% official There is a private agreement in place between the NHL and the CHL that governs when a player coming from the CHL can play in the AHL. A player from the CHL has to either turn 20 by December 31st of the season (ie a player born in 1987 can start playing in the 2007-08 season, a player born in 1988 can start playing in the 2008-09 season etc.) OR have completed 4 seasons of junior eligibility. This agreement also covers European players if they are drafted out of the CHL (Examples would be players like Petr Vrana and Ivan Vishnevskiy). Also - CHL players are eligible to play in the AHL once their junior season is over (either by virtue of their junior team not making the playoffs or being eliminated from the playoffs) even if they don't yet meet the age or eligibility criteria listed above.

I could be wrong but Samson will have completed 4 full seasons in the CHL. Will that not allow him to play in the AHL next year if needed? Im still anticipating he will be on the Sabres roster but just in case.

how different things are for people. Im an "old" hockey fan and the Tank has completley renewed my enthusiasm for this team. The year after year of being stuck in the middle was was was "turning me off". Now I have a chance to be excitied about the future for my team. I watch the NHL all-star game where our representative just turned 21 years old. I watch the 14/15 WJC and see a Sabres prospect be the #1 centre leading Canada to Gold - a year after I see a Sabres prospect score the winning goal for Finland leading them to Gold. I look at the OHL Goal leaders and see 2 Sabres in the top 10. I look at the roster of the Amerks and see Grigerenko and Armia scoring at almost a point per game. All the above is exciting but the "coupe de grace" is still to come - a top pick in the 2015 NHL draft. The Tank is over come the NHL trade deadline in 4 1/2 weeks. Just don't expect things to turn around on a dime. This team is historically bad. It will take time for ALL of the prospects to be ready to contribute. I will guarantee you this - you may be turned off and may even stop following the Sabres but once you see a team with Rienhart and one of McDavid, Eichel or Marner you will be back and your disgust will be forgotten.

Also NA Central Scouting came out today. 12 is Bittner - much higher than I have seen him before on any list 10 Konecy - a bit surprising since he struggled until recent 16 Debrusk - again higher than I have seen on any list 20 Svechnikov 22 Sprong 31 Vande Sompel almost missed Meier at 33 - I think he would be a steal if he drops into the 20s. Guess Murray will have to figure out how much of his scoring is attributed to playin with Ehlers. My dark horse is Alexander Dergachyov who NA Central Scouting has at 35 and McKeen has at 34. I thought his WJC would have had more of an impact on his ranking. his write-up: A huge unit at around six-foot-four and two hundred pounds, Dergachyov brings a high level of skill and intelligence to the table. Plays with a lot of grittiness and is able to create scoring chances through bullying his way to the net and then exhibiting his fine puckhandling skills. Possesses a set of soft hands and a keen awareness of teammates' positions; although an intimidating sniper in nature, Dergachyov has proven himself to be a formidable and creative playmaker. All-in-all, a sizey power forward that has all of the technical skills to be successful in his role as a scorer, and versatile in the lineup as a gritty grinder

The guys i'm watching all fall in the area Sabres could be drafting if the Blues and/or Isles go out in the first round. 18. Travis Konecny, RC, Ottawa (OHL) 19. Evgeny Svechnikov, RW, Cape Breton (QMJHL) 20. Daniel Sprong, RW, Charlottetown (QMJHL) 29. Jake DeBrusk, LW, Swift Current (WHL) 31. Mitchell Vande Sompel, LD, Oshawa (OHL)

new rankings out today: http://www.mckeenshockey.com/prospect-editorials/youngblood-mid-season-2015-nhl-draft-ranking/ Youngblood does a great job covering the OHL but may have a slight bias towards players he has seen more often than players in other leagues.

Im going to throw a curveball about next year that will certainly slow down the roll of a quick turnaround from the Tank but is there any indication that Eichel isn't going back to school next year? I'll be in the minority but I would be fine with it. Though I do believe he will be ready to play in the NHL. I also believe that the Oilers biggest mistake is by having all these young guys come into the organization at once.

In the new NHL - it may not be the only way but its best way.

DeBrusk also scored last night in a 3-2 Shoot-out win over Brandon. His 28th goal and is tied for 7th in the WHL on the season

in 45 years of trying it the Non-tank way - how many cups did it bring the Sabres? again your happy with good teams that go out in the first round but put up a fight. Sure maybe once and a while you may even win a round but at the end of the day its all false positives. You are never really a true cup contender. Being stuck in the middle is a fate worse than death - just listen to Leaf Radio if you want for their perspetive of a team exactly that. For me, I have no issue for the Sabres to sucking for 4 years if it means they add high end talent that will allow them in time to become cup contenders -year in year out As I said before - I would trade every single guy on your "good" Sabres team of 2010 for McDavid or Eichel and now you are possibly adding that player to Reinhart, Girgensons, Risto, Zadarov - plus all the other prospects filling the pipeline. If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel I have think you either aren't looking very hard or don't want to admit that the Tank crowd is starting to look pretty smart.

the at the end of the day we will never know what would have happened if Briere and Drury didn't walk - a huge blow to the team and definitely not worth debating any more. Luckily we are 35 more games away from all being on the same page and cheering for the Sabres to win games once again.

youre hitching your horse to 2 seasons over the last 14 since Hasek left them? Again it seems non-tankers are stuck in 2005. I want better than that - Im looking for them to be perennial cup contenders for the next 10-12 years once the "tank" is over. Plus lets not forget the President Trophy winning Sabres got beat easily by Senators and would have been lambs to the slaughter vs the Ducks. But yes they, messed up letting the FA's walk for nothing. Glad we didn't do the same with Pommer, Gaustad, Vanek and Miller.

wow, what hunt were the Sabres ever in? the hunt for 8th place?? being stuck in the middle is what sucks. I would say that there is a higher risk of being stuck in mediorcrity for a lenghier period than there is of coming in last picking up prospects like Reinhart and McDavid / Eichel and not become a contender. you can have your 40 years of mediocrity if thats what you want. I'll take my 4 or 5 years of losing to build a true contender.

I will agree to disagree with you about the landscape of the NHL not changing post 2004. Trades are rare, big name Free agents are rare. Hell, the LA kings cant even trade Mike Richards for a bag of pucks.

150 nights from now the Buffalo Sabres select.........

I would include Anhiem in a team that did it without "suffering". Obviously they had great drafting but by tradiing for Pronger and adding free agent Scott Niedermayer put them over the top. Guys like Niedermayer don't hit free agency anymore - even guys like Neon Dion here in Toronto get signed long term before hitting FA status. Its a different world now is my point. Good teams are now primarily (doesn't mean always) built through the draft.

You can't go back prior to lock-out because the landscape completely changed once the salary cap came into play. Since, there is very few quality players make it to free-agency. No longer can teams out-spend. I won't include the Devils but the Wings/ Rangers were known as big spenders back in the day.

w Again you are stuck in 2005. You do realize its now 2015 and Drury has long since retired? You guys are great at saying a lot of teams didn't go through a 3 year period of sucking (a reasonable time) before winning the cup but no one seems to want to name them - Please don't go back and mention the 1978 Montreal Canadians. lets keep it post Lock-out salary cap years. I think its funny that I am willing to go through a 4 year period of sucking but you are willing to sit through 40 years of being stuck in the middle. Maybe you're a lot more patient than me.

Rumour Mill about to heat up more as the Avs will have more pressure on them to get a deal done for ROR for a D help sooner than later Johnson out for 3 to 8 weeks.

Tell me about all these teams that won the cup who didn't suck for 3+ years? You've come up with don't get rid of Dumont? something that happend 10 years ago??? and trade a 25 year old power forward who just scored 30 goals? none of these things would get you the elite talent you need to be a contender for the cup. You're happy with a Play-off contender and I am not. I want a Cup contender.

Im ok with sucking for 4 years - no problem at all. Sabres have been sucked into the middle of the standings for the most part of 40+ years. Im tired of it and this is how you build a Champion. Besides saying are you ok with Tanking for 4 years - give me a couple of things they should have done different? Would anyone disagree that you wouldn't trade old core for Eichel straight up? For McDavid you may have even traded the entire 2011-12 roster.

I think he had an eye on 2015 when he decided "suffering" was the best way to go. McDavid was well known when he decided to rip it apart. He didn't count on getting fired though - he was implementing the plan perfectly. On purpose of just dumb luck - still leads to perfect timing for the organization.

I'll give you that but his timing has been perfect in that it happened to coincide witht he 2015 draft. what year did the Lucic Miller thing happen?

no doubt they have depth but its not easy to replace a pt/game 6'0 217lb Power Forward. Im just hoping that they are caught by the Pens, Rangers and Caps and end up in the Wild Card spot. An extended Injury to Halak would certainely help the cause. and then go out in Rd 1. Maybe we are then lookin at at pick 18 or so. what he said