Curt

I like it. I wish there was slightly more quality in the top 6, but it looks like 4 lines that Lindy can roll.

This is pretty good, right? It feels good.

I think it’s going to have to be a trade.

Not really better. Kind of treading water. Worse top 6, probably better bottom 6, probably better goaltending. Maybe a little better overall due to internal development. It’s not enough. The roster needs at least one of a top 6 wing or middle 6 C. Ideally both, but that seems unlikely at this point.

Sabres are one Shane Pinto away from having a great offseason.

This is funny, but this guy wasn’t actually on my list. I felt so sure that he was but I was wrong. Just because he isn’t young enough though. He is still a physical beast.

If he had qualified via birth date, yeah, I think I would have put him on there. I was basically just looking for young guys with an above average combination of size, physicality, and defensive play. I didn’t spend much time on it this year. Last year I made the list too, although I spent more time on it. From last year’s list of around 25 guys, Sabres picked Walberg and McCarthy off of it.

I don’t think I considered him young enough. I think my cut off was around May 20th. He just missed it.

Last years draft was like this also. Not disagreeing with you, just adding that it seems like it was last year that there was a bit of a mindset change.

Before the draft, I made a list of guys who were young for the draft year, and also had characteristics that I felt made them “playoff guys”. It was 30-something guys long. Osburn was on that list.

Before the draft, I made a list of guys who were young for the draft year, and also had characteristics that I felt made them “playoff guys”. It was 30-something guys long. Kleber was on that list.

This is a fine pick. This is a versatile, well rounded C who has the offensive skills to be a future top-6 forward and the defensive skills to be part of a shutdown line. Obviously not going to help the team immediately, but it’s really good value at 14.

If I’m adding McDavid to the team, I’m making sure that I keep Levi and Lukkonen. I’m not sure that any of the others would hurt the team as much as losing those goalies.

The funny thing is that the taller one plays in the NHL.

Oh yes, I forgot about that.