Sabres pick #16 Nikita Zadorov

[Weave]

I remember Darcy talking at some point about there being drop-off points right around both Sabres picks.

 

So after watching the Columbus video and rewatching the Blue and Gold video it's clear that the Sabres targeted Risto at eight and had him ranked higher. But they refused to move Sekera to pick fifth, so they must have had three other guys ranked very close to him, however.

They may have ranked him as high as fourth, Devine talked about him being most ready to play, and it looked like he was at the top of their second tier.

 

It also seemed like they wanted a forward with their second pick. And they were willing to move up to make it happen.

Certainly Domi was a target; Horvat and Nichushkin might have been as well. But after Domi came off the table, they were no longer interested in trading up, satisfied that there wasn't much difference between 13 and 16. He probably marked the last available player in their second tier.

 

Zadorov was clearly someone they liked, but also someone they probably did not want at eight and did not think would be available at 16. He was probably at or near the top of their third tier. They probably had a forward in mind at 16, possibly Lazar, who fit their profile, but Zadarov's surprising availability changed their minds.

 

The talk with Columbus for 27 was almost certainly about moving up to take Compher; Darcy said they had talks about moving up into the late first for him.

 

Damn, those videos are great. I love this ######.

 

I enjoyed it as well. I am fascinated by the inside stories of things like draft day. I'd love to get ahold of a book or interview series that had these sorts of inside stories involving Sabres draft day and trade deadline day dealings.

[Lanny]

 

 

Damn, those videos are great. I love this ######.

Philly has one also that gives away their draft board. They had Risto at 10 and Zadorov at 8.

 

[LGR4GM]

I will take flak for this but, Domi to me is similar to Catenacci. Good skater, fast, good hands, work ethic, and decent shot. If and that is a big IF, I were GM I would look at my prospects and ask 3 questions:

1) Do I have a Domi like player in the system already?

2) Do I have a Zadorov like player in the system already?

3) Is it worth losing out on someone else to move up 2 spots?

 

Zadorov I would guess compares to McNabb. Which of those two will have a better career I can not say but I think I feel better with Zadorov in the system than Domi.

 

Also if guys reach 80% of their potential we could have a D corp in 2-3years of this (in no particular order)

McCabe - Myers

Ristolainen - Zadorov

Pysyk - McNabb (maybe)

Ehrhoff - Weber

[dudacek]

There's a lot I like about Catenacci, but there is one big difference between his skill set and Domi's: playmaking ability.

Cat has been criticized for not being able to use his linemates well enough. Domi excels at this.

That's why Domi went high in the first round and projects as a first-line centre, and why Catenacci slipped to the third round and projects as a third-liner, who may have to move to wing.

Exaggerating for effect, but think Pat Lafontaine versus Randy Wood.

 

 

That Flyer one is great too. Naming names!

They had Morin at 6, one step below Barkov.

And Monahan way down at 13.

Great stuff

[Derrico]

If the Sabres had taken Risto and Domi as their 2 first round picks I think this board would have imploded. There was already a ton of hate for taking 2 dmen in the first. The only thing that I think would have pissed off fans more would have been a Dman and then yet another undersized forward. I loved the Zadarov pick then and I like it even more now. I think Zadarov and Risto, coupled with McCabe and a rejuvinated Myers make for a strong, young D core (especially considering our complimentary pieces in Pysk, Weber and possibly McNabb).

[MattPie]

If the Sabres had taken Risto and Domi as their 2 first round picks I think this board would have imploded. There was already a ton of hate for taking 2 dmen in the first. The only thing that I think would have pissed off fans more would have been a Dman and then yet another undersized forward. I loved the Zadarov pick then and I like it even more now. I think Zadarov and Risto, coupled with McCabe and a rejuvinated Myers make for a strong, young D core (especially considering our complimentary pieces in Pysk, Weber and possibly McNabb).

 

I think Ehrhoff might make the squad too, considering he's still signed for 7 (?) years.

[TrueBlueGED]

If the Sabres had taken Risto and Domi as their 2 first round picks I think this board would have imploded. There was already a ton of hate for taking 2 dmen in the first. The only thing that I think would have pissed off fans more would have been a Dman and then yet another undersized forward. I loved the Zadarov pick then and I like it even more now. I think Zadarov and Risto, coupled with McCabe and a rejuvinated Myers make for a strong, young D core (especially considering our complimentary pieces in Pysk, Weber and possibly McNabb).

 

I think calling Pysyk a complementary piece and Ristolainen, Zadorov and McCabe core defenders is putting the cart before the horse a little bit (or a lot). Right now Pysyk slots in above all of them.

[tom webster]

 

 

I think calling Pysyk a complementary piece and Ristolainen, Zadorov and McCabe core defenders is putting the cart before the horse a little bit (or a lot). Right now Pysyk slots in above all of them.

 

I have said it before, the most under rated player by this board is Pysyk. In my opinion, this guy has top pair potential and is easily the best passing d-man on the team already.

[drnkirishone]

 

 

I have said it before, the most under rated player by this board is Pysyk. In my opinion, this guy has top pair potential and is easily the best passing d-man on the team already.

i did like the poise he showed with and without the puck. I want to see some positive standout stuff as far as defending before i say top pair potential thou

[Claude_Verret]

I have said it before, the most under rated player by this board is Pysyk. In my opinion, this guy has top pair potential and is easily the best passing d-man on the team already.

 

I am high on Pysyk as well, I think his development is a big reason why Sekera became expendable.

[qwksndmonster]

I am high on Pysyk as well, I think his development is a big reason why Sekera became expendable.

As much as I like Sekera, the trade makes a lot more sense now than it did to me at the time. They want the D corp to be bigger and they already picked two giants. Sacrifice the D corp this season for a better chance at a good rebuild (picking up Compher). This would make even more sense if one of Vanek/Miller were traded and Darcy actually committed to this whole rebuild thing.

[dudacek]

 

 

I have said it before, the most under rated player by this board is Pysyk. In my opinion, this guy has top pair potential and is easily the best passing d-man on the team already.

 

 

I am high on Pysyk as well, I think his development is a big reason why Sekera became expendable.

i did like the poise he showed with and without the puck.

 

This, this and this.

Pysyk might be the safest bet of our prospects to have a long, solid career.

He should develop into a Numminen/Patrick type and will be top four by the end of the year.

[nfreeman]

I am high on Pysyk as well, I think his development is a big reason why Sekera became expendable.

 

Good call, although I also think Reggie kinda leveled off last year and didn't make nearly as much of an impact in skating the puck up ice as the Sabres' brass (and I) were hoping. It might've been too soon to give up on him though -- and I don't think Pysyk's wheels are as good as Reggie's.

[LTS]

I have said it before, the most under rated player by this board is Pysyk. In my opinion, this guy has top pair potential and is easily the best passing d-man on the team already.

 

Agreed. The one thing that I noticed with him was that for the most part the puck never stayed with him for long. He had somewhere to send it as soon as he got it. At least it seemed that way.

[Andrew Amerk]

 

 

 

 

This, this and this.

Pysyk might be the safest bet of our prospects to have a long, solid career.

He should develop into a Numminen/Patrick type and will be top four by the end of the year.

 

Agreed.

[nfreeman]

 

 

I have said it before, the most under rated player by this board is Pysyk. In my opinion, this guy has top pair potential and is easily the best passing d-man on the team already.

 

 

I am high on Pysyk as well, I think his development is a big reason why Sekera became expendable.

 

 

 

 

This, this and this.

Pysyk might be the safest bet of our prospects to have a long, solid career.

He should develop into a Numminen/Patrick type and will be top four by the end of the year.

 

 

Agreed. The one thing that I noticed with him was that for the most part the puck never stayed with him for long. He had somewhere to send it as soon as he got it. At least it seemed that way.

 

Well, I will say that the 4 of you are all pretty astute hockey observers, so this puts another coin in the optimism bank for this season.

 

I liked some of what I saw from Pysyk too, and I agree that he didn't look mentally lost or make too many mistakes in the D zone. I was kinda expecting to see more speed and puck moving though. But he wasn't up for very long, so we could see it this year.

[IKnowPhysics]

I'm pretty hopeful for our defensemen in the next one to two years. Having Devine describe Pysyk as the 3rd man on the depth chart, behind Ehrhoff and Myers, and having Risto ready in the next year or two has sort of set that tone.

 

TEAM defense on the other hand, really lies in the hands of our 3rd and 4th liners and is probably where Rolston will have to work magic.

[LGR4GM]

I'm pretty hopeful for our defensemen in the next one to two years. Having Devine describe Pysyk as the 3rd man on the depth chart, behind Ehrhoff and Myers, and having Risto ready in the next year or two has sort of set that tone.

 

TEAM defense on the other hand, really lies in the hands of our 3rd and 4th liners and is probably where Rolston will have to work magic.

Just remember that you can pencil in Compher, Larsson, Girgensons into that 3rd line in the future plus you also have Tropp who is defensively sound. I think our 3rd line as the very real potential of being a beast in 2years

 

Larsson - Girgensons - Compher

 

That is a lot of aggressive aggravating backchecking and forechecking especially if Compher is your RW anchor. Also you got 3 guys who will probably all be 190+ with Larsson and Girgensons already there and Compher still a growing boy. They could be something fun to watch on the 3rd line.

[IKnowPhysics]

Oh, I know. I think our biggest problem on defense last year was only in part due to the defensemen and that may have been corrected with all of the D shuffling. A bigger part was due to the forwards' poor defensive play.

 

While I'm hopeful that our third lines guys will be ready, I'm afraid that asking them to play shutdown minutes against top opponents will be too much to ask right away, and we'll be back to top-line-vs-top-line matchups, quite possibly resulting in similarly poor defensive play again this year.

 

Can Rolston be a good enough coach to put six of the best from Kaleta/Flynn/Porter/Scott/Tropp/Larsson/Girgensons/Compher/Foligno/etc in a defensive stand against the likes of Crosby, Malkin, Datsyuk, Stamkos, Kessel, etc night-in night-out?

 

GREAT MOMENTS ARE BORN FROM GREAT OPPORTUNITIES. Heh.

[LGR4GM]

Oh, I know. I think our biggest problem on defense last year was only in part due to the defensemen and that may have been corrected with all of the D shuffling. A bigger part was due to the forwards' poor defensive play.

 

While I'm hopeful that our third lines guys will be ready, I'm afraid that asking them to play shutdown minutes against top opponents will be too much to ask right away, and we'll be back to top-line-vs-top-line matchups, quite possibly resulting in similarly poor defensive play again this year.

 

Can Rolston be a good enough coach to put six of the best from Kaleta/Flynn/Porter/Scott/Tropp/Larsson/Girgensons/Compher/Foligno/etc in a defensive stand against the likes of Crosby, Malkin, Datsyuk, Stamkos, Kessel, etc night-in night-out?

 

GREAT MOMENTS ARE BORN FROM GREAT OPPORTUNITIES. Heh.

Lol I hear you. Our forwards screwed over our defense repeatedly.

 

Side note I wouldn't expect Compher in a Sabres Uniform for about 2 years. My projection admitadely for him may have been accelerated. I could easily see him doing College for 2-4years and then being and Amerk for another 1-2years before becoming a Sabre.

[Trettioåtta]

Compher could have been Fucale :(

[LGR4GM]

Compher could have been Fucale :(

Compher wasn't Fucale :worthy:

[qwksndmonster]

If Compher becomes Ryan Callahan and Fucale becomes Carey Price, I won't worry.

[LGR4GM]

Zadorov is in Buffalo working out and has been most of the summer. He currently is waiting for his Canadian Visa which is on hold due to a strike in Canada... wait a second Canada has strikes? Learn something new everyday.

http://www.lfpress.com/2013/08/22/championship-has-nice-ring-to-it

[LTS]

Canada has always had strikes.. they just don't have any balls.