2013 NHL Entry Draft: Buffalo Sabres Select...

[X. Benedict]

I got.

 

Colorodo - Jones

Florida - McKinnon

Tampa - Drouin

Nashville - Barkov

Carolina - Nurse

Calgary - Monahan

Edmonton - Lindholm/Nikushkin?

Buffalo - Nikushkin/Lindholm?

[26CornerBlitz]

Most 17 year olds don't play in the Under-20 tournament. And almost no 17 year olds play in the KHL. His stats aren't impressive because he's playing against much higher competition than most players his age.

 

 

In Soviet Russia....oil wells frack you!

 

Gonna be a couple of years before Nichushkin is NHL ready anyway as he's barely 18. As such, I don't think the KHL contract status will really deter a team from drafting him. Due diligence would certainly be prudent however.

[X. Benedict]

Gonna be a couple of years before Nichushkin is NHL ready anyway as he's barely 18. As such, I don't think the KHL contract status will really deter a team from drafting him. Due diligence would certainly be prudent however.

Nikushkin at under 17's - year ago. I think he'll be ready.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS-JhqBKj_Q

[26CornerBlitz]

Nikushkin at under 17's - year ago. I think he'll be ready.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS-JhqBKj_Q

A better measure is how he's done in the KHL. Still needs experience and a chance to mature to excel in the NHL IMO.

[carpandean]

For the #16 pick, I'm hoping Alex Wennberg is there.

 

Did they change the way that playoff teams draft picks are ordered under the new CBA? If not, then that pick could move as late as #30, depending on how deep they go.

[LabattBlue]

The good news about Tampa and Florida moving into our division...

 

we are probably going to get to see MacKinnon and Drouin(players we could have had a shot at) up close several times a year. :)

[26CornerBlitz]

Did they change the way that playoff teams draft picks are ordered under the new CBA? If not, then that pick could move as late as #30, depending on how deep they go.

 

Minny will get bounced by the Blackhawks so we won't have to worry about it at all.

[Robviously]

Did they change the way that playoff teams draft picks are ordered under the new CBA? If not, then that pick could move as late as #30, depending on how deep they go.

I posted a link to nhl.com that outlines the current rules for this 1-2 pages ago in this thread. Minnesota has to win the Cup for that pick to go to #30.

 

The draft is: lottery teams, playoff teams that didn't win their division, division winners, and finally the Stanley Cup winner at #30.

 

And it's confusing as hell because the NHL keeps changing this stuff.

[Robviously]

I got.

 

Colorodo - Jones

Florida - McKinnon

Tampa - Drouin

Nashville - Barkov

Carolina - Nurse

Calgary - Monahan

Edmonton - Lindholm/Nikushkin?

Buffalo - Nikushkin/Lindholm?

Edmonton needs to be cool about this and draft a defenseman.

[Two or less]

Edmonton needs to be cool about this and draft a defenseman.

 

Agreed. I don't think they pass up on Nurse if they get a chance, but if he's gone, Rasmus Ristolainen seems like a perfect choice there.

[X. Benedict]

Edmonton needs to be cool about this and draft a defenseman.

Ristolianan?

[SabresBillsFan]

Nikushkin is signed in the KHL for two more seasons so who knows if he will leave. They can't waste a top ten pick on uncertainty. I would use all 4 picks in the first two rounds to draft players with size, skill and skating ability. This team lacks offensive talent and can get defenseman in later rounds or next years draft. Plus they don't need any more goalies.

[TrueBlueGED]

Nikushkin is signed in the KHL for two more seasons so who knows if he will leave. They can't waste a top ten pick on uncertainty. I would use all 4 picks in the first two rounds to draft players with size, skill and skating ability. This team lacks offensive talent and can get defenseman in later rounds or next years draft. Plus they don't need any more goalies.

 

If Nichushkin is there at 8, he'll be the last of the top-tier talents in the entire draft. IMO the Sabres can't afford not to take that risk. If the Sabres pass on him, the guy they're getting will be basically equivalent to whatever they use the Minnesota pick on--there's simply no advantage to playing it safe there.

[SabresBillsFan]

I don't see Vanek and Miller in Buffalo's future. I see them trying to unload both. The reason I say that is neither is going to want to stay for a rebuild.

 

 

 

If Nichushkin is there at 8, he'll be the last of the top-tier talents in the entire draft. IMO the Sabres can't afford not to take that risk. If the Sabres pass on him, the guy they're getting will be basically equivalent to whatever they use the Minnesota pick on--there's simply no advantage to playing it safe there.

 

I'm not taking a player with the 8th pick who might not be here for another 3 years. There is no denying the kid is good but not many fans will want to wait 3 years to see this kid. Fans are already pissed about the garbage on the ice now I don't think fans want 2-3 more years of this. Plus who is to say if the Sabres are that bad and get some top 5 talent they won't end up in Edmonton's situation. I really don't put much faith in Darcy and his scouting staff. And the last thing I want them to do is draft a defenseman in round one or two. The Sabres lack firepower up front.

[X. Benedict]

I don't see Vanek and Miller in Buffalo's future. I see them trying to unload both. The reason I say that is neither is going to want to stay for a rebuild.

 

 

 

I'm not taking a player with the 8th pick who might not be here for another 3 years. There is no denying the kid is good but not many fans will want to wait 3 years to see this kid. Fans are already pissed about the garbage on the ice now I don't think fans want 2-3 more years of this. Plus who is to say if the Sabres are that bad and get some top 5 talent they won't end up in Edmonton's situation. I really don't put much faith in Darcy and his scouting staff.

 

After the first few picks, there will be waiting for nearly everyone.

[Robviously]

Ristolianan?

Or Zadorov, who was still in Bob McKenzie's top ten during the draft lottery tonight.

[SabresBillsFan]

 

 

After the first few picks, there will be waiting for nearly everyone.

 

But who knows if the kid wants to leave Russia after two more years left on his contract.

 

 

Or Zadorov, who was still in Bob McKenzie's top ten during the draft lottery tonight.

 

Last thing they need is another defenseman. Up front this team scares no one. They need some serious fire power

[X. Benedict]

Or Zadorov, who was still in Bob McKenzie's top ten during the draft lottery tonight.

 

Ristolianen is said to be a mean mofo. Total package.

 

This isn't a bad draft to have extra picks in.

But who knows if the kid wants to leave Russia after two more years left on his contract.

 

True....but that's why he won't be in the top 5.

[Robviously]

I don't see Vanek and Miller in Buffalo's future. I see them trying to unload both. The reason I say that is neither is going to want to stay for a rebuild.

 

 

 

I'm not taking a player with the 8th pick who might not be here for another 3 years. There is no denying the kid is good but not many fans will want to wait 3 years to see this kid. Fans are already pissed about the garbage on the ice now I don't think fans want 2-3 more years of this. Plus who is to say if the Sabres are that bad and get some top 5 talent they won't end up in Edmonton's situation. I really don't put much faith in Darcy and his scouting staff.

After the first few picks, there will be waiting for nearly everyone.

Yeah, you're pretty much waiting 2-3 years for anyone you draft at no.8 overall.

 

I don't care about Nichushkin playing two more years in Russia. I care about if we're EVER going to be able to get him over here and what he'll be like when that happens. The great thing about Grigorenko was that he was committed to playing in the NHL and spending his formative years in North America. I don't know what we'd be getting from Nichushkin.

 

But like I said a few days back, we never draft high enough to get guys this talented. We may have to just roll the dice and hope he comes through.

 

Of course, if he aces all his pre-draft interviews, he probably never makes it to us anyway.

 

Last thing they need is another defenseman. Up front this team scares no one. They need some serious fire power

I was talking about what Edmonton needed.

 

But the Sabres aren't set at defense either. With Myers in a downward spiral, we don't have a franchise defenseman. We have a bunch of second and third pairing guys and nothing in the way of blue chip prospects at that position. At least up front we have Armia and Grigorenko.

[X. Benedict]

Yeah, you're pretty much waiting 2-3 years for anyone you draft at no.8 overall.

 

I don't care about Nichushkin playing two more years in Russia. I care about if we're EVER going to be able to get him over here and what he'll be like when that happens. The great thing about Grigorenko was that he was committed to playing in the NHL and spending his formative years in North America. I don't know what we'd be getting from Nichushkin.

 

But like I said a few days back, we never draft high enough to get guys this talented. We may have to just roll the dice and hope he comes through.

 

Of course, if he aces all his pre-draft interviews, he probably never makes it to us anyway.

 

 

I was talking about what Edmonton needed.

 

But the Sabres aren't set at defense either. With Myers in a downward spiral, we don't have a franchise defenseman. We have a bunch of second and third pairing guys and nothing in the way of blue chip prospects at that position. At least up front we have Armia and Grigorenko.

 

Finding top 6 forwards is more of a priority. IMO.

[SabresBillsFan]

 

 

Yeah, you're pretty much waiting 2-3 years for anyone you draft at no.8 overall.

 

I don't care about Nichushkin playing two more years in Russia. I care about if we're EVER going to be able to get him over here and what he'll be like when that happens. The great thing about Grigorenko was that he was committed to playing in the NHL and spending his formative years in North America. I don't know what we'd be getting from Nichushkin.

 

But like I said a few days back, we never draft high enough to get guys this talented. We may have to just roll the dice and hope he comes through.

 

Of course, if he aces all his pre-draft interviews, he probably never makes it to us anyway.

 

 

I was talking about what Edmonton needed.

 

But the Sabres aren't set at defense either. With Myers in a downward spiral, we don't have a franchise defenseman. We have a bunch of second and third pairing guys and nothing in the way of blue chip prospects at that position. At least up front we have Armia and Grigorenko.

 

Grigrenko who really knows what will be of him in the future. Same goes for Girgensons. I just think u can add defence at a later time. U look at most teams needs and its one or two scoring forwards. Use the picks for forwards and worst case scenario u can always trade one for a d-man. Look at Nashville yes they had Weber, Suter, and many other high first round picks and no fire power up front. How many years did they go and had a mediocre team. Same way this year they can't score. Look at Montreal two rookie scorers and they are back in the playoffs.

[Stoner]

Grigrenko who really knows what will be of him in the future. Same goes for Girgensons. I just think u can add defence at a later time. U look at most teams needs and its one or two scoring forwards. Use the picks for forwards and worst case scenario u can always trade one for a d-man. Look at Nashville yes they had Weber, Suter, and many other high first round picks and no fire power up front. How many years did they go and had a mediocre team. Same way this year they can't score. Look at Montreal two rookie scorers and they are back in the playoffs.

 

Build from center on back instead of goal on out? I like it.

[Two or less]

Finding top 6 forwards is more of a priority. IMO.

 

I wanted Nurse but been thinking about this all day, while searching some of the prospects and watching youtube videos like it's my job, and i agree. This team needs so much help on offense. Monahan seems like the wiser pick at this time, even if Nurse is still available.

[SabresBillsFan]

Look at the really good teams in the league they have damn good offensive players. Look at the Devils last year they didn't have any big names on defense. Same with Canucks and Philly and they all made it to the Cup with good offensive players and a decent defensive core. I'm a firm believer u can always get a defenseman later on. This team spent too many seasons building on defense. And without building on the offense it's showing in the prospects in the System and now in the minors. Think about this you take another high defenseman in the draft who is going to score. You want to play like Nashville and have to win games 2-1.

[Trettioåtta]

1) Colorado - Jones

They need that stud on D and he is the total package - no brainer. Plus they have Reilly, Duchenne as centres and Landeskog at wing

 

2) Florida - MacKinnon

They have a pretty good pool of young talent, especially at centre, but this gives them a recognisable name. They are too high to take a defenceman. But their wings are worse than their centre, so I could see them taking Drouin. I may change this choice nearer the time

 

3) Tampa - Drouin

If available this is a no brainer. He plays like Stamkos' current ageing winger. Plus they already have that go to number 1 C. Plus Stamkos is a scorer and Drouin a playmaker

 

4) Nashville - Barkov

They need high end offensive players. They can't afford to risk it with Nichushkin

 

5) Carolina - Nichushkin

This is risky. Nichushkin is hard to spell and such a spanner in the works. I could see him dropping to 10th. But Carolina dropped so low because of Ward's injury. This team is not this bad when healthy, so i think they go for the big reward, big bust. This guy is ranked 2nd overall by ISS - better than Drouin, MacKinnon and Brakov. Hard to pass the talent up, especially when you don't really need it. They also have Semin (maybe he could convince him) and they have their top 2C set, but Nich can play wing as well

 

6) Calgary - Nurse

They need a lot, but at this point the high end forward talent is gone and they really need an offensive Dman. Especially after trading what's-his-name (mind blank). They also need a player to build around, and so I think they could take Monahan instead, but Nurse would be the better pick for this team. I also think they take Fucale with on of their later picks if he is there

 

7) Edmonton - Ristolainen

No brainer. They have the forwards, they can sign the dpeth grit guys. Risto is a two way player who can cover for the forwards and let them be a bit more risky in the offensive zone and he can make things happen with them. Also he has been playing against pros

 

8) Buffalo - Monahan

Maybe this list was just me hoping...However, we need size and leadership at centre, and top end talent. Monahan is not top end talent, but he is talented and does bring the rest. This guy has to be Darcy's target if trading for the top 4 is too difficult. Carolina and Calgary are the wild cards for him, but I don't think he is talented enough to be worth a 5/6 pick. If Monahan is gone, then we take Nichushkin, and if he is also gone then we taken Lindholm

 

9) New Jersey - Lindholm

They are thin at centre in both the AHL and NHL. He is the highest quality player left. They have their franchise D-man in Larsson. If Lindholm is not available because we took him because Nich was not taken, then NJD take Nich. They really lack star players. However, my reptile brain is saying they have a long look at Fucale - what with their two goaltenders totalling 79 years. However, they don't have a first next year (punishment), so I think they go for the safer bed of Lindholm and trade for a goalie

 

10 - Dallas - Shinkaruk

They don't need more shutdown defencemen, so Zadorov is out. Shinkaruk can play LW, which is where they are weakest in their prospect pool. He is exciting to watch, which will help in a non-traditional market