2013 NHL Entry Draft: Buffalo Sabres Select...

[MattPie]

pretty sure it was the first time i had mentioned the "men" thing.

 

No worries, just seems like I've read that a few times before this.

 

the average age of most teams is around 26 years old. with players as old as 30's. i consider these men. and for an 18 to be playing at that level, especially D, i consider it to be more valuable than a 18 year old playing with other 17 and 18 year olds. the level of competition should be way higher considering it is considered europes 2nd best league. this is the same reason i want lindholm. oh and i agree it is going to take some time for him to adjust. but it is going to take time for most every player to adjust. Especially for a Dman.

 

Fair enough, I just worry about the adjustment being tougher for D. And, that euros raised in the euro leagues tend to underwhelm in the physical areas. I'm not looking for a team of Darian Hatchers, but we could use a D-man in that mold more than another Sekera/Erhoff/etc. (whom are solid D, don't get me wrong).

[Robviously]

I'm not sure if it's the same person saying this every time the subject comes up, but two questions:

- Sure he's playing against men, but is the level of competition better than the Major Juniors? He could be playing in a bar league and still claim to be playing against "men". Plus, the main thing about "men", I would think is physical play. Which the euro leagues are not known for.

- Is he playing on NHL or Olympic ice? D seems to be very dependent on angles and experience. If he's playing on different ice, he's going to take time to gain experience on the ice the Sabres need him to play on.

 

I'll hang up and listen to the answers.

1. Ristolainen is playing in the top league in Finland. So that's definitely a huge step up from the CHL. (The Sabres kept Joel Armia in the same league the last two seasons because they said the level of competition was above what he'd face in the AHL.)

 

2. Not sure about the ice size there, but I don't think I'm super worried about it. I figure a smaller NHL ice surface makes things easier for defensemen (and probably harder for skill guys who are used to having room to maneuver).

[LGR4GM]

No worries, just seems like I've read that a few times before this.

 

 

 

Fair enough, I just worry about the adjustment being tougher for D. And, that euros raised in the euro leagues tend to underwhelm in the physical areas. I'm not looking for a team of Darian Hatchers, but we could use a D-man in that mold more than another Sekera/Erhoff/etc. (whom are solid D, don't get me wrong).

Ristolainen likes to model his game after Pronger and is known in the Euro leagues for his physical play. He has mentioned on numerous occasions and scouts have said as well that he likes to play physical. He is a very good shoulder to shoulder checking defender.

 

[LaFontaineToMogilny]

I'm not sure if it's the same person saying this every time the subject comes up, but two questions:

- Sure he's playing against men, but is the level of competition better than the Major Juniors? He could be playing in a bar league and still claim to be playing against "men". Plus, the main thing about "men", I would think is physical play. Which the euro leagues are not known for.

- Is he playing on NHL or Olympic ice? D seems to be very dependent on angles and experience. If he's playing on different ice, he's going to take time to gain experience on the ice the Sabres need him to play on.

 

I'll hang up and listen to the answers.

 

As others have pointed out, the Finnish Elite League is ranked pretty similar to the AHL in the 'level of opposition' or whatever they call it. The Swedish Elite league is ranked higher which is one of the reasons I really like the idea of Lindholm over Monahan, Lindholm is already playing in a league that is considered above the AHL, and well above the OHL.

 

As for the ice size, both the Finnish and Swedish Elite Leagues play on the international size ice surface. This of course means Ristolainen has to deal with controlling more space, but it also means that players coming out of these leagues have to adjust to getting closed down faster and adapt to playing the game with bodies on you much more frequently.

[26CornerBlitz]

As others have pointed out, the Finnish Elite League is ranked pretty similar to the AHL in the 'level of opposition' or whatever they call it. The Swedish Elite league is ranked higher which is one of the reasons I really like the idea of Lindholm over Monahan, Lindholm is already playing in a league that is considered above the AHL, and well above the OHL.

 

As for the ice size, both the Finnish and Swedish Elite Leagues play on the international size ice surface. This of course means Ristolainen has to deal with controlling more space, but it also means that players coming out of these leagues have to adjust to getting closed down faster and adapt to playing the game with bodies on you much more frequently.

 

One of the main criticisms of Risto's game:

 

Not everyone is convinced that he will transition well to the next level mostly due to how quickly the game is played and a concern if he can process the play at the rate of speed in the NHL. The example used in this is that while he is a heads-up player and does make smart poised plays, he often reacts to situations after it is too late in his own zone.

 

He does not always see the play developing and does not instinctively know to cover for his teammates when they make a mistake, leading some to ask if he has enough hockey sense to guide what to do when creative thinking is needed.

[LaFontaineToMogilny]

One of the main criticisms of Risto's game:

 

Not everyone is convinced that he will transition well to the next level mostly due to how quickly the game is played and a concern if he can process the play at the rate of speed in the NHL. The example used in this is that while he is a heads-up player and does make smart poised plays, he often reacts to situations after it is too late in his own zone.

 

He does not always see the play developing and does not instinctively know to cover for his teammates when they make a mistake, leading some to ask if he has enough hockey sense to guide what to do when creative thinking is needed.

 

I haven't heard this concern about Ristolainen, but it makes sense. If he is reacting after the fact in Finland, he will have a hard time in North America. Still a kid though, and it's not uncommon for players to adjust to the game speed after the fact. Same with hockey sense, if he is in his first professional season he could still be adapting to the speed of the professional game and that he still has lots of room to grow.

 

Still, if we pick Ristolainen at 8th, I will be mildly underwhelmed.

[Hoss]

So it was being rumored I guess that the Avs don't want Jones and are looking at Barkov? Saw this yesterday on a ticker on one of the sports shows

 

I know there were some here who wanted him and speculated he could be the guy the Sabres are after which may be why there has been more talk of a Sabres/AVs deal

 

Kind of. They said they're deciding between MacKinnon, Drouin or Barkov, but it'll be MacKinnon or Drouin. Most likely MacKinnon.

[apuszczalowski]

Kind of. They said they're deciding between MacKinnon, Drouin or Barkov, but it'll be MacKinnon or Drouin. Most likely MacKinnon.

I would assume that to be true, the ticker I saw on sportsnet was just saying barkov though, thats why I figure they would be willing to move down in the top 3-4, but no futher. Teams will fight for the other 3 and they can still most likely get Barkov at 4 at the worst

[26CornerBlitz]

Okay...back to the reality of 8 and 16.

[LGR4GM]

Okay...back to the reality of 8 and 16.

We are taking a forward at 8 and from what Devine said I have no freaking clue what happens with 16

[JJFIVEOH]

I like it! Good move Darcy. I've always been leery of giving up the farm for one player. Putting all your eggs in one basket. Choose an idiom. Just way too much at risk. Most of the successful Sabres teams were always known to be great all-around teams that could rely on pretty much all four lines. I think they need to look at that for the future.

[Claude_Verret]

We are taking a forward at 8 and from what Devine said I have no freaking clue what happens with 16

 

Sounds like if the guys they target there are gone maybe trade back to 20-24, take Fucale and pick up another 2nd rounder in the process.

[26CornerBlitz]

If the Sabres want a top three pick in the Entry Draft, they'll just have to suck bad enough to earn it themselves.

[TrueBlueGED]

If the Sabres want a top three pick in the Entry Draft, they'll just have to suck bad enough to earn it themselves.

 

That's what kills me...they did suck enough this year! They just got a miraculous level of goaltending in the latter portion of the season while playing the trap to ruin everything.

[Robviously]

We are taking a forward at 8 and from what Devine said I have no freaking clue what happens with 16

I don't think we're taking a forward at 8 if the magnificent 7 are gone by the time we draft. (Sad that our entire draft strategy is hoping that one of the teams ahead of us does something silly with their pick.)

 

No idea for #16. Again, we have to hope someone magically drops to us.

[26CornerBlitz]

That's what kills me...they did suck enough this year! They just got a miraculous level of goaltending in the latter portion of the season while playing the trap to ruin everything.

 

I know and it was painful watching the little meaningless spurt and the end of last season.

[MattPie]

I think it's neat that anyone takes anything said to the press at this time of year without a healthy grain of salt.

[26CornerBlitz]

I don't think we're taking a forward at 8 if the magnificent 7 are gone by the time we draft. (Sad that our entire draft strategy is hoping that one of the teams ahead of us does something silly with their pick.)No idea for #16. Again, we have to hope someone magically drops to us.

 

Nurse could easily be taken within that top 7.

[TrueBlueGED]

I think it's neat that anyone takes anything said to the press at this time of year without a healthy grain of salt.

 

So, you think trading up to the top-4 is possible? Jeremy, is that you? :P

[LGR4GM]

I don't think we're taking a forward at 8 if the magnificent 7 are gone by the time we draft. (Sad that our entire draft strategy is hoping that one of the teams ahead of us does something silly with their pick.)

 

No idea for #16. Again, we have to hope someone magically drops to us.

Nurse could easily be taken within that top 7.

Nurse... if Carolina or Edmonton take a defender (or Both) then we get 1 of the Magnificent 7. That being said I saw a mock on something (Spector?) that had Edmonton taking Bo Horvat at #7. All kinds of crazy things can happen. Hell if last year you said Mikhail Grigorenko would fall to us at #12 I would have laughed at you and said he won't make it past 6. Things happen and teams draft some in various ways.

[MattPie]

So, you think trading up to the top-4 is possible? Jeremy, is that you? :P

 

Top 4? Not particularly, but it also wouldn't surprise me if there was something cooking and they're blowing smoke.

[LaFontaineToMogilny]

So, you think trading up to the top-4 is possible? Jeremy, is that you? :P

 

I think it's possible, but not advisable

[dudacek]

Anyone else think that if Lindholm or Monahan doesn't fall to us they will piss off the size lovers and nab Shinkaruk or Domi at 8? Best chances at adding that elusive front-line talent.

[X. Benedict]

Anyone else think that if Lindholm or Monahan doesn't fall to us they will piss off the size lovers and nab Shinkaruk or Domi at 8? Best chances at adding that elusive front-line talent.

I think Domi or Shinkaruk could fall just because of stature. I'm just not sure if it will be to 16.

[inkman]

I think Domi or Shinkaruk could fall just because of stature. I'm just not sure if it will be to 16.

Domi wouldn't bother me as he plays with an edge