2023 NHL draft rankings

[LGR4GM]

RHD on the consensus list:

15. David Reinbacher, 6'2" 187lbs - high 7th, low 20th

18. Axel Sandin Pellikka, 5'11" 181lbs - high 17th, low 21st

27. Lukas Dragicevic, 6'2" 181lbs - high 27th, low 35th

31. Oliver Bonk, 6'1" 176lbs  - high 24th, low 56th

34. Maxim Strbak, 6'2" 198lbs - high 29th, low 63rd

40. Hunter Brzustewicz, 6' 187lbs - high 36th, low unranked

This has their highest and lowest ranking. They used Pronman, Wheeler and McKenzie for their 3 lists to create the list. 

33 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

 

 

[LGR4GM]

My current intriguing non-defensive player in the draft is Ryan Leonard. He is a 6' winger for the USDP.

My second intriguing forward is Gabe Perreault, he's a 5'11" 165lb RW for the USDP.

Edited March 21, 2023 by LGR4GM

[French Collection]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

RHD on the consensus list:

15. David Reinbacher, 6'2" 187lbs - high 7th, low 20th

18. Axel Sandin Pellikka, 5'11" 181lbs - high 17th, low 21st

27. Lukas Dragicevic, 6'2" 181lbs - high 27th, low 35th

31. Oliver Bonk, 6'1" 176lbs  - high 24th, low 56th

34. Maxim Strbak, 6'2" 198lbs - high 29th, low 63rd

40. Hunter Brzustewicz, 6' 187lbs - high 36th, low unranked

This has their highest and lowest ranking. They used Pronman, Wheeler and McKenzie for their 3 lists to create the list. 

 

I did some digging to find out more about these guys. The Sabres should take a RHD with their 1st or one of the 2nd round picks they have.

Reinbacher is ranked 19th in Elite Prospects consolidated rankings. He is Austrian, from a town on the Swiss border. He plays pro in the Swiss National League for EHC Kloten. He is a teammate of Arttu Ruotsalainen. He is a late ‘04 birthday and is a FA after this year so he could potentially play in the AHL. He is 7th in scoring on his men’s team with 22 pts in 46 games. Arttu has 42 in 52. He had 2 pts in 5 games for a weak Austrian team at the WJC.

Sandin-Pellikka is ranked 12th in Elite Prospects consolidated rankings. He is Swedish but the 2nd half of his hyphenated name seems Finnish. He plays for Skelleftea of the SHL. He has 5 points in 22 games. His numbers are similar to D teammate Elias Salomonsson, Jets ‘22 second rounder. Internationally, he scored 1 pt in 7 games at the WJC. From what I saw his ice time and responsibilities increased as the tournament went on. He scored 10 pts in 12 U18 games for Sweden. His hometown is north of the Arctic Circle near where HOFer Borje Salming was born.

Dragicevic is ranked 27th in Elite Prospects consolidated rankings. He plays for the Tri City Americans of the WHL. He is the team’s top scorer, 75 pts in 66 games, despite being a 17 year old Dman. His teammate is Tomas Suchanek, the undrafted goalie from Sabres development and rookie camps. His coach is Stu Barnes. He scored 3 points in 4 games for Canada U18. He attended the same prep school in British Columbia as Dylan Cozens.

Bonk is the son of former Sens forward Radek Bonk. He has 40 pts in 64 games for the OHL’s London Knights. The Knights, under the leadership of the Hunter brothers (Mark and Dale) have produced Memorial Cup winning teams and many NHL players. Bonk is 7th in team scoring. He had 0 points in 5 games for Canada U18. His teammate is controversial Habs ‘22 1st rounder Logan Mailloux.

Strbak is Slovak and plays for Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL. He will attend Michigan State next year. He played 4 years in Finland prior to this season.He has 17 points in 40 games this season. He scored 3 pts in 9 games for Slovakia at the WJC. He has never been a high scoring Dman throughout his minor and junior hockey days.

Brzustewicz is a late ‘04 from Michigan, playing for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL. He has 55 pts in 65 games to stand 3rd in team scoring. This team has 6 NHL draft picks, including 2 Dmen. He has 20 pts in 55 games with the USA U18 team. He scored 9 pts in 25 games at the USNTDP junior team. He scored 2 pts in 5 games at the WJ U18 and 3 pts in 4 games at the U18 Hlinka-Gretzky. His GM and coach is Mike McKenzie, Bob’s son.

 

[Crusader1969]

I’m not too worried about left vs right hand   Could be a LHD that plays on the 3rd pair but has the ability to move up to top pair when injuries warrant it 

Basically, get a guy that who is a strong defender and has the ability to skate and make passes.  Don’t need him to be able to qb a pp or light up the scoreboard 

Reinbacher is ideal but wouldn’t surprise me if he goes before the Sabres draft 

 

 

[LGR4GM]

5 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

I’m not too worried about left vs right hand   Could be a LHD that plays on the 3rd pair but has the ability to move up to top pair when injuries warrant it 

Basically, get a guy that who is a strong defender and has the ability to skate and make passes.  Don’t need him to be able to qb a pp or light up the scoreboard 

Reinbacher is ideal but wouldn’t surprise me if he goes before the Sabres draft 

The only LHD that we could list are: 

23. Mikhail Gulyayev, 5'10" 170lbs Russian defender known for his skating and escapeability. He is noted in multiple reports for being most dangerous with the puck on his stick. 

29. Dmitri Simashev, 6'4" 201lbs Russian defender known for his good defensive play although he is not known for being a big bruising defender. Just has good gaps, okay skating, and decent passing. 

33. Tanner Molendyk, 6' 182lbs strong skating 2-way defender known for his work ethic and battle. Doesn't have high end puck skills or deception like say a Rasmus Dahlin. Some like his skills more than others but in the brief highlights I have seen he looks okay but not dynamic. 

 38. Caden Price, 6'1" 181lbs is a highly intriguing option in the 2nd round. He plays on a young Kelowna team that has like 1 drafted prospect on it but does have 1st round and potential top 10 forward Andrew Cristall. Price is fun if you watch him (I saw him while watching some Cristall stuff a couple weeks ago). What interests me the most is the fact he is only 3 weeks shy of being 2024 draft eligible meaning he is very young for his class and yet still pretty good. I don't love his draft year production but it did improve. He is the type of player the Sabres could target because they tend to go for guys that they feel have a lot of runway left to develop. 

[LGR4GM]

Not mentioned in the consensus rankings is a player I would want Buffalo to use their 1st second round pick on. 

Hailing from Clarence Center, NY, Gavin McCarthy is a 6'1" 181lb rhd that is very interesting. He has a physical side, he has a scoring side, and he is pretty good defensively. He is committed to Boston Univ next year and won't be 18 until June meaning he has runway and time to get a lot better. In the early 40's he would be a highly intriguing guy that you can let cook in college for 2-3 years. 

[French Collection]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

My current intriguing non-defensive player in the draft is Ryan Leonard. He is a 6' winger for the USDP.

My second intriguing forward is Gabe Perreault, he's a 5'11" 165lb RW for the USDP.

What I have read is that Ryan Leonard plays like a power forward. He has a scoring touch but finishes his checks and plays like he is 3 inches bigger than his actual size.

He and Reinbacher might be available when the Sabres pick.

Perreault is the son of Yanic, the two way centreman who played 800+ games in the NHL. He was known as a faceoff specialist later in his career.

[Flashsabre]

I would consider trading this year’s 1st if it is between 10-16.

It would be for a young dman that is about ready to step in or already established. They have 3 firsts from last year already developing. This offseason is the time to push forward.

They don’t need another small skilled winger coming into the organization, they are stocked.

It has to be for the right piece but if you can get a 22-25 year old version of the top dmen in the draft then I hope they would pull the trigger.

[LGR4GM]

22 minutes ago, French Collection said:

What I have read is that Ryan Leonard plays like a power forward. He has a scoring touch but finishes his checks and plays like he is 3 inches bigger than his actual size.

He and Reinbacher might be available when the Sabres pick.

Perreault is the son of Yanic, the two way centreman who played 800+ games in the NHL. He was known as a faceoff specialist later in his career.

Perreault is chaos in a bottle. 1 inch taller and 25lbs heavier and opposing teams will need swivels for necks. 

15 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

I would consider trading this year’s 1st if it is between 10-16.

It would be for a young dman that is about ready to step in or already established. They have 3 firsts from last year already developing. This offseason is the time to push forward.

They don’t need another small skilled winger coming into the organization, they are stocked.

It has to be for the right piece but if you can get a 22-25 year old version of the top dmen in the draft then I hope they would pull the trigger.

You'd have a give me a name and I will say this yet again, outside of Östlund and Rosen, the sabre have not drafted any small skilled wingers. 

[Crusader1969]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Perreault is chaos in a bottle. 1 inch taller and 25lbs heavier and opposing teams will need swivels for necks. 

You'd have a give me a name and I will say this yet again, outside of Östlund and Rosen, the sabre have not drafted any small skilled wingers. 

I’m a little nervous to say Kisakov  

3 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

The only LHD that we could list are: 

23. Mikhail Gulyayev, 5'10" 170lbs Russian defender known for his skating and escapeability. He is noted in multiple reports for being most dangerous with the puck on his stick. 

29. Dmitri Simashev, 6'4" 201lbs Russian defender known for his good defensive play although he is not known for being a big bruising defender. Just has good gaps, okay skating, and decent passing. 

33. Tanner Molendyk, 6' 182lbs strong skating 2-way defender known for his work ethic and battle. Doesn't have high end puck skills or deception like say a Rasmus Dahlin. Some like his skills more than others but in the brief highlights I have seen he looks okay but not dynamic. 

 38. Caden Price, 6'1" 181lbs is a highly intriguing option in the 2nd round. He plays on a young Kelowna team that has like 1 drafted prospect on it but does have 1st round and potential top 10 forward Andrew Cristall. Price is fun if you watch him (I saw him while watching some Cristall stuff a couple weeks ago). What interests me the most is the fact he is only 3 weeks shy of being 2024 draft eligible meaning he is very young for his class and yet still pretty good. I don't love his draft year production but it did improve. He is the type of player the Sabres could target because they tend to go for guys that they feel have a lot of runway left to develop. 

Simashev sounds perfect.  Take him at 14 if you have to and assuming Reinbacher is gone 

[Curt]

5 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Perreault is chaos in a bottle. 1 inch taller and 25lbs heavier and opposing teams will need swivels for necks. 

You'd have a give me a name and I will say this yet again, outside of Östlund and Rosen, the sabre have not drafted any small skilled wingers. 

You meant Kisakov and Rosen?

Östlund is a C.  I know you know, just clarifying for everyone watching at home.

[LGR4GM]

1 minute ago, Curt said:

You meant Kisakov and Rosen?

Östlund is a C.  I know you know, just clarifying for everyone watching at home.

Yes, that's my mistake.

3 hours ago, Crusader1969 said:

I’m a little nervous to say Kisakov  

Simashev sounds perfect.  Take him at 14 if you have to and assuming Reinbacher is gone 

No you're right, kisakov.

[LGR4GM]

 

[Buffalonill]

On 3/18/2023 at 9:40 AM, LGR4GM said:

Lol you're delusional if you think we're gonna finish 6th or 7th.

[LGR4GM]

7 hours ago, Buffalonill said:

You're already going to lose a bet on bottom 4. 

[Zamboni]

Something tells me he will flake out on honoring the bet.

[Carmel Corn]

On 3/21/2023 at 1:24 PM, LGR4GM said:

Not mentioned in the consensus rankings is a player I would want Buffalo to use their 1st second round pick on. 

Hailing from Clarence Center, NY, Gavin McCarthy is a 6'1" 181lb rhd that is very interesting. He has a physical side, he has a scoring side, and he is pretty good defensively. He is committed to Boston Univ next year and won't be 18 until June meaning he has runway and time to get a lot better. In the early 40's he would be a highly intriguing guy that you can let cook in college for 2-3 years. 

Is there anyone in this draft that reminds you of a Jiricek type player at all?

[French Collection]

6 minutes ago, Carmel Corn said:

Is there anyone in this draft that reminds you of a Jiricek type player at all?

There are no highly rated Dmen in this draft like 2022.

A Dman may not get picked until the teens.

I don’t see any of them with Jiricek’s all round skills and size.

Sandin Pellikka and Dragicevic could match his offense, but they lack defensive ability. Sandin Pellikka is kind of small too.

Reinbacher is similar in size and skating ability but he is behind Jiricek’s offensive skillset. He is holding his own playing pro in Europe so he may closer to the NHL than the others.

Gulyayev and Simashev are Russians who could go in the first round. I don’t know as much about them but they don’t seem like high end players.

Oliver Bonk and Cameron Allen are two more RHD but will probably go in the second round.

 

[PerreaultForever]

Reinbacher would be a good pick if it's 10th or more. otherwise, I'd try to go for D in the second round if possible. 

[French Collection]

Just now, PerreaultForever said:

Reinbacher would be a good pick if it's 10th or more. otherwise, I'd try to go for D in the second round if possible. 

Lots of D in the second round plus the Sabres have two picks.

I like Reinbacher or Ryan Leonard where the Sabres might be picking.

[LGR4GM]

8 hours ago, French Collection said:

Lots of D in the second round plus the Sabres have two picks.

I like Reinbacher or Ryan Leonard where the Sabres might be picking.

I love Ryan Leonard. 

"Ryan Leonard's projectable physical profile as an inside-driven finisher coupled with ever-increasing flashes of playmaking skill sent him to lucky No. 7. If you want to get a power forward out of this year's draft, he's your guy." https://eprinkside.com/2023/03/23/the-elite-prospects-pre-u18-ranking-of-the-top-80-prospects-in-the-2023-nhl-draft

 

[LGR4GM]

10 hours ago, Carmel Corn said:

Is there anyone in this draft that reminds you of a Jiricek type player at all?

No 😔

Reinbacher a little

[French Collection]

Tomas Suchanek, Czech goalie who was invited to Sabres Development Camp has improved his numbers in the WHL.

Last year GAA 3.87 SV% .901

This year GAA 3.05 SV% .912

He caught my eye taking the Czech team deep at the WJC. He could be worth a late pick.

[LGR4GM]

Description has hyperlinks to individual players so you can jump to those you are most interested in. 

[DarthEbriate]

On 3/24/2023 at 7:03 PM, Carmel Corn said:

Is there anyone in this draft that reminds you of a Jiricek type player at all?

If there were, he'd be the first D off the board after the top 3-4 forwards. The Sabres would need a 9- or 10-spot lottery jump to get him.