Derrico

Wow, I'll be pissed if we give Reinhart a Larkin type contract. There's a reason you very rarely ever see 4 or 5 year deals after a players elc.

Agree with this. I thought those two (particularly Samuelsson) is way too low on this list. Also, how does Pekar not move up your rankings after Sabres development camp? He was one of the top 5 guys there most of the week and for sure a top 5 player in the 3 on 3 tourney IMO.

In one of his wgr segments he said his favourite number was something like 23 growing up (or some other reasonable number) but someone already had it his junior year in the ohl so he went with 53 and stuck with it ever since.

A lot of people rushed to judge this draft as a poor one for JBotts immediately after the draft. I've been quite impressed with what I've read and seen from some of our later round picks so far.

@Eleven - Did you ever get enough people for the new league?

I don't disagree. But we also have no clue what the return is for him out there. There have been pretty serious rumblings he is looking to sign longer term with Tampa. There's a decent chance whoever trades for him is only getting him for that one season. He will for sure get more than skinner but I have no clue what is being offered. Is this a case where Ottawa is holding out until closer to the start of the season to get more or a case where there haven't been any offers overly appealing?

I could see a scenario where he stays until the deadline. Even though giving up their first round pick is a sunk cost it will be a pr nightmare if they end up dfl and have to give that pick away. I’m not saying that’s the right reason to keep him for part of the year and not what I would do. But I also wouldn’t ignore it as a factor. I would think the return is more than what Carolina got for Skinner but if it’s still not what they deem sufficient, I could see a scenario where he stays until the deadline.

I hate pay walls but this one is worth the subscription imo.

Ok last change (I hope). Draft will be at 7 instead of 730. That will for sure have us done by 9.

Let's hope Skinner works out here and signs long term. I think he can be the Sabres version of Hossa.

When was the last time the sabres had a regular bottom six guy score 20+? 2007?

I like GA first line up above but replace pommers with Baptist on that 4th line.

The faces are hardly the same. The forward group is nearly 50 percent new players this coming year. Both goalies are new and yes, just the one d. That's pretty significant turnover.

Agreed. It's more important mitts looks good than Dahlin this coming season imo. He's such a huge piece for this forward group.

I like the idea of Skinner-Jack-Samson. Samson can take more D responsibilities and is smart enough to dish the puck to the other two. Questions is whether he can keep up with them. However, if he's a guy that likes to hang onto the puck like Randall says then I wouldn't mind seeing him play with Mitts. Let Mitts be a secondary type player on his line come his rookie year and Skinner may do wonders for the kid. Going to be fun to see what happens in another month or two.

It just occurred to me. Didn't the Sabres just hire Steve Smith as assistant coach? The guy was most recently the assistant with Carolina the past 4 years. Phil should be getting some good intel on how to use Skinner.

I might. I'm the guy that is all about our prospects and all about futures. But FFS we have to start winning soon. How much longer until someone like Eichel becomes discontent and wants out? I don't want Dahlin or Mitts to start getting ingrained to losing like Risto may have. It's not due or die we make the playoffs this year but we had better be within striking distance come March, not out of it by Halloween.

thumbs up. Exactly 9 weeks today is the season opener!!

Ok sounds good. I'll set the draft for Tuesday September 4th at 7:30 and if there are big issues with the time it can still be changed.

This being August the 2nd (aka dog days of summer) I don't see how there can't be a couple of other non-hockey threads going. You can only talk about our 'depth wingers' for so long seeing as non of these guys are actually playing to be evaluated and the roster hasn't changed in nearly a month.

I don't see why he wouldn't be eligible. Mittlestadt was committed last season and he attended training camp no?

Just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in!! Are you busy all that night juju or just starting at 9? If so, and it's not too early for everyone we could do 730. That way it should be over by 9.

Anyone that hasn't chimed in yet, right now we're looking at Tues right after labour day at 8pm eastern for the draft.

Does 8pm (5pm for you westerners) work for you Pi?

Tuesday is good for me too. What say the rest of you? Tuesday September 4th at 9pm Eastern work?