Sabres Prospects 2017-2018

[Doohicksie]

Shouldn't someone start a 2017-2018 prospects thread?

To answer my own question..... yes, and it might as well be me.

 

Starting with the most recent listing in last year's thread,

 

So who are our top 10 prospects heading into camp and which prospects have a shot at making the team at some point this season?

 

Top 10

1. Mittelstud

2. Guhle

3. Nylander

4. Asplund

5. Bailey

6. Fasching

7. Baptiste

8. Pu

9. Borgen

10. Davidsson

Others to watch

Smith, and Malone. I think both guys have a shot at making the team or earning a callup. Ullmark, Nelson and Griffith are beyond their ELCs. So I don't list them as "prospects" per se, but I think we'll see all in Buffalo this season. Nelson might one of the biggest beneficiaries of Housley.

[LGR4GM]

until Nylander proves otherwise I'm not pencilling him in for anything

[Huckleberry]

I'd rank Pu above Nylander at this point.

[korab rules]

I'd rank Pu above Nylander at this point.

really? You think pu is a better prospect? There are 31 GM's in the league who disagree with you.

[pi2000]

until Nylander proves otherwise I'm not pencilling him in for anything

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again

[Thorner]

until Nylander proves otherwise I'm not pencilling him in for anything

It's a prospect list. It's literally filled with players who have proven zilch. It's about potential.

[North Buffalo]

So if I could take Nylander's talent and combine it with Pu's gumption... assume it probably means he has a strong work ethic and fire in the belly... I'd have a helluv a hockey player!

[LGR4GM]

I've said it before and I'll say it again

I love being a turtle

It's a prospect list. It's literally filled with players who have proven zilch. It's about potential.

I'm not pencilling him into the Sabres lineup.

So if I could take Nylander's talent and combine it with Pu's gumption... assume it probably means he has a strong work ethic and fire in the belly... I'd have a helluv a hockey player!

Casey. Mittelstadt.

[GASabresIUFAN]

Question:  Did the Sabres "damage" Nylander's development by playing him in Roch last year?

 

Also if you had to tier our prospects, how would you group them? Here is TSN's Scott Cullen's ranking system:

10 - Generational
9 - Elite Player
8 - First Line, Top Pair D
7 - Top Six Forward, Top Four D
6 - Top Nine Forward, Top Six D
5 - NHL Regular, 350+ NHL games 
4 - Fringe NHLer, 200+ NHL games
3 - Very Good Minor Leaguer, 50-200 NHL games
2 - Minor Leaguer, under 50 NHL games
1 - 10 or fewer NHL games

 

Using this system, I'd tier our guys on potential as follows:

10 - None

9 - Mittelstud

8 - None

7 - Guhle, Nylander and Asplund

6 - Pu, Baptiste, Borgen, Davidson

5 - Bailey, Fasching, Johansson, Karabacek, Fitzgerald, Luukkonen, Hagel, Glotov

4 - Smith, Malone, ERod, Cornel, Bryson, Stephens, 

 

Unknown: Laaksonen

[WildCard]

Question:  Did the Sabres "damage" Nylander's development by playing him in Roch last year?

No. If any damage occurred it's because they were running Dick Disco's system down there

 

Where else was he supposed to play?

Edited September 19, 2017 by WildCard

[Randall Flagg]

No. If any damage occurred it's because they were running Dick Disco's system down there

 

Where else was he supposed to play?

I think Juniors was the best choice in hindsight. 

 

I've got:

Mittelstadt: 7.5 B

Asplund: 6.5 A

Guhle: 6.5 C

Nylander: 7 D

 

The rest: Meh

[GASabresIUFAN]

No. If any damage occurred it's because they were running Dick Disco's system down there

 

Where else was he supposed to play?

He also was eligible to play in the CHL again or go back to Europe.  I agree that sending him back to Europe wouldn't have been the best plan (although it hasn't hurt Asplund), but maybe dominating in the CHL would have been preferable to getting beat up in the AHL.  

I think Juniors was the best choice in hindsight. 

 

I've got:

Mittelstadt: 7.5 B

Asplund: 6.5 A

Guhle: 6.5 C

Nylander: 7 D

 

The rest: Meh

 

The old Hockeysfuture.com system.  Interesting.

[dudacek]

I'll play.

 

My honest expectation of the level they will end up:

Middlesix - 8 Danny Briere level big play first-liner

Asplund - 7 a well-rounded skilled, competitive second-liner, Peca, Luce

Guhle - 7 a capable two-way mobile second pairing guy, Tallinder

Nylander - 7 a soft offensive second-line scorer/PP specialist, Satan

Fasching - 6 a physical, reliable middle-sixer, Grier

Bailey, Baptiste - 4/5, they might hit 200 games on speed and potential, but won't really make an impact, Rasmussen

ERod, Pu - 4/5 fourth line guys who play on the fringes of NHL rosters, Flynn, Porter

 

Haven't seen enough of the more recent guys like Davidson and Luukonnen, but no else has shown me reason to expect they will play in the big leagues.

Edited September 19, 2017 by dudacek

[Crusader1969]

I think Juniors was the best choice in hindsight. 

 

I've got:

Mittelstadt: 7.5 B

Asplund: 6.5 A

Guhle: 6.5 C

Nylander: 7 D

 

The rest: Meh

 

 

He would have torn up the OHL playing with Mcleod and he would be ranked a 9 on all our lists.

 

He played on a terrible Rochester team last season and struggled. When playing against his peers in the WJC he lead the tourney in scoring.

 

I have no reason to believe he wont be Jack's long term LW partner one day.

[Randall Flagg]

He would have torn up the OHL playing with Mcleod and he would be ranked a 9 on all our lists.

 

He played on a terrible Rochester team last season and struggled. When playing against his peers in the WJC he lead the tourney in scoring.

 

I have no reason to believe he wont be Jack's long term LW partner one day.

I'm aware of Alex Nylander's story, and that doesn't change my answer

[dudacek]

Interesting Housley is talking about Bailey using his speed to be a puck pressure guy.

Looks like he agrees with Bylsma (and not with Justin) on how his size, speed and hands best translate to the NHL.

[LGR4GM]

Eric Vegoe‏ @evegoe  Sep 21

More#Gophers captain @TSheehy22 said with BTN Wed, I think when @CMittelstadt got here most of us were even more surprised just how good he was

 

Eric Vegoe‏ @evegoe  Sep 21

MoreSheehy on Mittelstadt: He’s got a great mind for the game, just these last couple days we’ve really noticed he’s an unbelievable player

 

Eric Vegoe‏ @evegoe  Sep 19

MoreLucia said players are commenting on Casey Mittelstadt's elite hockey sense and skating ability, and thinks he'll make major impact in NCAA

Edited September 23, 2017 by LGR4GM

[Derrico]

 

Eric Vegoe‏ @evegoe Sep 21

 

More#Gophers captain @TSheehy22 said with BTN Wed, I think when @CMittelstadt got here most of us were even more surprised just how good he was

 

 

Eric Vegoe‏ @evegoe Sep 21

 

 

MoreSheehy on Mittelstadt: He’s got a great mind for the game, just these last couple days we’ve really noticed he’s an unbelievable player

 

 

Eric Vegoe‏ @evegoe Sep 19

 

 

MoreLucia said players are commenting on Casey Mittelstadt's elite hockey sense and skating ability, and thinks he'll make major impact in NCAA

Looking forward to following Casey's season. Anyone know when their league starts?

[GASabresIUFAN]

10/6 against Minn Duluth

 

If you want to watch him and the Gohpers, get BTN. I record many of the Big Ten Hockey games to see how the prospects are doing.

 

Dudacek, i just noticed that you don't think Pu has potential upside beyond that of a AAAA or 4th line player.

[Derrico]

10/6 against Minn Duluth

 

If you want to watch him and the Gohpers, get BTN. I record many of the Big Ten Hockey games to see how the prospects are doing.

 

Dudacek, i just noticed that you don't think Pu has potential upside beyond that of a AAAA or 4th line player.

I'm not even sure what station that is or if available up here. Please provide some updates throughout the year if u can.

[GASabresIUFAN]

BTN is the Big Ten Network. Here in Atlanta it's part of the $5 a month sports package with Comcast/Xfinity. It's available on cox, u-verse, directtv, dish, optimum, charter/spectrum and many others. Isn't Charter/Spectrum the main cable comany in Buffalo?

[3putt]

He lives in Canada.  It may not be avalable.  

[GASabresIUFAN]

http://btn.com/about/btn-channelfinder/

 

Here is a link to the providers in Canada. Shaw, Cogeco, Rogers and Eastlink are listed as having BTN.

 

I know Rogers dominates the Toronto area. Their webpage shows it as a bonus channel for $7 per month.

Edited September 24, 2017 by GASabresFan

[Derrico]

Rasmus Asplund has 2 goals and 2 assists through the first 3 regular season games. From all accounts it sounds like he is playing at a very high level as the #2 Centre on the team. The SHL is a notoriously low scoring league so it has been a nice start for him. After this season he should be ready for the jump to NA.

Cliff Pu picks up 2 assists in his first game back with London.

[LGR4GM]

Victor Olofsson, 1g,1a through 3games with Frolunda (SHL). I believe this is the last year of his SHL contract, so we will know if he will give NA a go by seasons end.