Who should the Sabres Draft in the first and second round?

[North Buffalo]

Any two of Faksa, Ceci, Maatta, Girgensons would be great in my view (1 forward and 1 defenseman ideally). Another guy I really like the more I read about is Mark Jankowski, and I'd be OK with packaging our two seconds to move up higher to secure him early in round 2 or late round 1, particularly if we miss out on the centers in round 1 (it's distinctly possible Faksa is gone before 12, and Girgensons is taken between 12 and 21).

 

I also like the write up on Hertyl. Any of the above would be great. I say at this point unless the Sabres can someone like a Ryan I saw use as many of the first 4 draft picks on forwards as reasonably possible. If 2 make it I say the draft is a success. But the Sabres still need a center for next year and need to get rid of Roy.

[darksabre]

 

 

If they pass Grigorenko up at 21 or even 12, they both should be fired.

 

Nah. Their concerns about the KHL are very reasonable. Just look at what happened in Nashville. Radulov is basically a wasted pick for them.

[chileanseabass]

Two guys I'd love to see the Sabres consider as possible 2nd rounders are Nic Kerdiles (F) and Jake McCabe (D). Both will be playing this coming season at Wisconsin (McCabe was a solid freshman last year). Mike Eaves keeps churning out talented NHL players - Gardiner, Shultz, B. Smith, C. Smith, Geoffrion, Pavelski, Drewiske, Burrish, McDonough, McBain, Stepan, etc. I'd love to see more Sabres prospects filtering through Madison along with Brad Navin. The Badgers may not always field a top team, but you can't argue with the success these guys are having in the NHL.

[IKnowPhysics]

Two guys I'd love to see the Sabres consider as possible 2nd rounders are Nic Kerdiles (F) and Jake McCabe (D). Both will be playing this coming season at Wisconsin (McCabe was a solid freshman last year). Mike Eaves keeps churning out talented NHL players - Gardiner, Shultz, B. Smith, C. Smith, Geoffrion, Pavelski, Drewiske, Burrish, McDonough, McBain, Stepan, etc. I'd love to see more Sabres prospects filtering through Madison along with Brad Navin. The Badgers may not always field a top team, but you can't argue with the success these guys are having in the NHL.

 

Without using Wikipedia, I'll add Brian Elliot, Tom Gilbert, Kyle Turris, and Jack Skille to Eaves' list and Dany Heatley, Ryan Suter, Brian Raflaski, Brad Winchester, Chris Chelios, and Mike Richter to Wisconsin's list. There are many more.

 

With the the reorganization of NCAAH, the Big Ten hockey conference is going to develop into the premier American amateur development program, one that will truly compete for prospects against Canadian major juniors. Wisconsin will be a cornerstone in the development of North America players.

[chileanseabass]

Without using Wikipedia, I'll add Brian Elliot, Tom Gilbert, Kyle Turris, and Jack Skille to Eaves' list and Dany Heatley, Ryan Suter, Brian Raflaski, Brad Winchester, Chris Chelios, and Mike Richter to Wisconsin's list. There are many more.

 

With the the reorganization of NCAAH, the Big Ten hockey conference is going to develop into the premier American amateur development program, one that will truly compete for prospects against Canadian major juniors. Wisconsin will be a cornerstone in the development of North America players.

 

Yep, you can include Elliot, Gilbert, and Skille (although Skille's been a bit of a bust). I intentionally left Turris off there, as he only spent one year in Madison. I find it more interesting to see how Eaves manages to develop some of these kids over 2-4 years.

[IKnowPhysics]

(although Skille's been a bit of a bust)

 

That's why I left Robbie Earl off.

[shrader]

That's why I left Robbie Earl off.

 

The diving never translated to the pro game?

[chileanseabass]

That's why I left Robbie Earl off.

 

While Earl was a stud at Wisconsin, he was a 6th round pick, so not a huge bust. Skille went 7th overall, and has never been more than a 3rd/4th liner. When given 2nd line minutes in Chicago he couldn't hack it.

[Bullwinkle III]

Nah. Their concerns about the KHL are very reasonable. Just look at what happened in Nashville. Radulov is basically a wasted pick for them.

 

Nonsense. Just look at all the non-starters the Sabres have drafted with their first pick in the past...Persson, Zagrapan, Novotny, Kryukov, Heisten, Rasmussen...I could go on.

 

The point here being, you're taking a chance with every pick. So how do you turn down a chance on a guy who could be the next Malkin? That's who they're comparing him to. And there's no excuse to turn your back on a guy who could be that good.

[bunomatic]

Apparently they've interviewed Jordan Martinook. 6-foot 1 and 200 pound centre. Scored 40 goals in only his second season with the Vancouver Giants up from 11 the previous year. Compared to Lucic and Evander Kane, both former players with the Giants.

 

I should add he's overaged at 20. Possible late 2nd or 3rd maybe?

[ubkev]

Apparently they've interviewed Jordan Martinook. 6-foot 1 and 200 pound centre. Scored 40 goals in only his second season with the Vancouver Giants up from 11 the previous year. Compared to Lucic and Evander Kane, both former players with the Giants.

 

I should add he's overaged at 20. Possible late 2nd or 3rd maybe?

 

3rd or 4th round pick on a late bloomer who projects to be a third liner and a penalty killer...I'm good with that.

[Bullwinkle III]

I'd like to talk simply about the draft. Trade rumors have their own thread. And naturally draft picks can be part of them. But I'd like to discuss what we're going to do Friday.

 

IMO if the Sabres don't want to take a chance on Grigorenko or Galchenyuk, they have to get Faksa. We obviously need a potential first line center and I wouldn't wait for a trade anytime soon to fill that need.

 

My thoughts are that Caolina (8) will pick Faksa and failing that, Washington (11) will definitely take him. If I were Darcy I'd be looking to trade for Carolina's pick.

 

If they can't do that, they can only wait to see if Faksa slips past them. If so, then approach Washington. I'd give them Roy + our 21st for their 11th. Or our 12th plus a second rounder for that pick.

 

IMO Faksa is head and shoulders above Gaunce, Sissons, Matteau, or Girgensons. We have to pick him up or at least try.

 

P.S. If by some fluke Grigorenko falls to 12th YOU PICK HIM UP!!!! We'd be insane not to.

[IKnowPhysics]

C'MON MAN!

[TrueBlueGED]

@dchesnokov It's interesting the all of the speculation about Yakupov et al and the KHL comes from NA. Not one word of interest from Russia.

[Bullwinkle III]

Didn't see it/couldn't find it/never hurts

[LGR4GM]

Didn't see it/couldn't find it/never hurts

Chz had your back no worries.

 

I probably wont get to see the draft tomorrow but again I am with a lot of other people hoping we trade up to take a center or if Grigorenko falls than great.

[Iron Crotch]

Two guys I'd love to see the Sabres consider as possible 2nd rounders are Nic Kerdiles (F) and Jake McCabe (D). Both will be playing this coming season at Wisconsin (McCabe was a solid freshman last year). Mike Eaves keeps churning out talented NHL players - Gardiner, Shultz, B. Smith, C. Smith, Geoffrion, Pavelski, Drewiske, Burrish, McDonough, McBain, Stepan, etc. I'd love to see more Sabres prospects filtering through Madison along with Brad Navin. The Badgers may not always field a top team, but you can't argue with the success these guys are having in the NHL.

 

Bass nailed the McCabe pick! Well done, sir!

[IKnowPhysics]

Yeah, Devine said they had him going late in the 1st round, so they had to nab him when he dropped. I like his chances of developing well.

[Weave]

Some good stuff in page 1 of this thread. Apparently Grigorenko is a much better pick now than he was in April. :P

 

 

And just for poops and giggles do a site search on "Grigorenko" and follow some of the links when the team started to come around in the 2nd half. Apparently we were supposed to move Roy and other to have a shot at him. Fun stuff to look back on.

[TrueBlueGED]

Some good stuff in page 1 of this thread. Apparently Grigorenko is a much better pick now than he was in April. :P

 

 

And just for poops and giggles do a site search on "Grigorenko" and follow some of the links when the team started to come around in the 2nd half. Apparently we were supposed to move Roy and other to have a shot at him. Fun stuff to look back on.

 

Haha. I think a lot of that was based on a quote from a single anonymous scout totally blasting Girgorenko's work ethic. Whereas now a lot of us have read probably a dozen articles or scouting reports on him, so there's more complete information. And yes, getting a legitimate elite talent at pick #12 may have some minimal influence in downplaying some concerns ;)

[Robviously]

Some good stuff in page 1 of this thread. Apparently Grigorenko is a much better pick now than he was in April. :P

 

 

And just for poops and giggles do a site search on "Grigorenko" and follow some of the links when the team started to come around in the 2nd half. Apparently we were supposed to move Roy and other to have a shot at him. Fun stuff to look back on.

Yeah, I checked page 1 yesterday just to see if I said anything stupid. (Luckily, nothing dumber than usual there.)

 

As someone who was pretty skeptical of Grigorenko though, I can say there's a big difference in getting him at #12 and trading up to get him at the very top of the draft (which was the original scenario and probably would have required both 1st round picks and more). I'm also more comfortable with him thanks to the new (to me) information about his ankle injury and the mono. That stuff coincided exactly with him suddenly going from "maybe no.1 overall" to scary, lazy potential bust. His story about moving to Quebec with his mother and brother and learning both French and English makes me feel better too; it's harder to question his drive and commitment when you know he did all that.

[Weave]

Haha. I think a lot of that was based on a quote from a single anonymous scout totally blasting Girgorenko's work ethic. Whereas now a lot of us have read probably a dozen articles or scouting reports on him, so there's more complete information. And yes, getting a legitimate elite talent at pick #12 may have some minimal influence in downplaying some concerns ;)

 

LOL

 

I wasn't going to name names but your opinion at the time did have an influence on me bringing it back up. :P

 

One of the "other" threads I mentioned had one VERY opinionated poster wanting nothing at all to do with Grigorenko. I haven't gone back to check the Grigorenko draft thread but I'm betting he's got a more positive view now too.

 

Fun stuff. We all change opinions as the situation evolves. Hopefully noone gets butthurt because I am looking back and finding humor (I know you won't, at least I don't expect it).

[TrueBlueGED]

LOL

 

I wasn't going to name names but your opinion at the time did have an influence on me bringing it back up. :P

 

One of the "other" threads I mentioned had one VERY opinionated poster wanting nothing at all to do with Grigorenko. I haven't gone back to check the Grigorenko draft thread but I'm betting he's got a more positive view now too.

 

Fun stuff. We all change opinions as the situation evolves. Hopefully noone gets butthurt because I am looking back and finding humor (I know you won't, at least I don't expect it).

 

Ha, if something like that starts to offend me at some point then I need to sit down and re-evaluate my life.

[dudacek]

Anyone notice the open admission by Devine that the Sabres did not take "the best player available" when they traded up for Girgensons?

He said they had Teravainen ranked higher, but thought with skill already picked, they went for a bull centre instead.

Be interesting to see how Teravainen develops versus Girgs.

(for the record, I completely support their decision)

[Kelly the Dog]

Anyone notice the open admission by Devine that the Sabres did not take "the best player available" when they traded up for Girgensons?

He said they had Teravainen ranked higher, but thought with skill already picked, they went for a bull centre instead.

Be interesting to see how Teravainen develops versus Girgs.

(for the record, I completely support their decision)

Yeah, you rarely hear an admission like that. I wonder if he (minorly) regrets saying that. It made perfect sense though, not to mention that the Sabres lacked size, skill and grit down the middle. Grigs takes care of two of the three and Girgs takes care of two of the three.

 

I liken it somewhat to the Bills taking Zebrie Sanders as a LT in the 5th round. If they would have just taken him as a possible LT replacement it would have been a horrible choice. But the fact they took him after Cordy Glenn and can let him develop a couple years made it an inspired choice, and now a clear weakness could soon be a strength.