thx, sip...I appreciate the warm welcome back from you all

edit:


hatty
- Michael Pachla

Congrats man!

Congrats man!
- jochfr

*bows (to the avatar)*...thx...I appreciate that

hey, sip...yeah...that's what they want...am happy to oblige...good to be back in here
- Michael Pachla

A little late to the party here, but welcome back! Looking forward to many concise blogs that actually talk about the Sabres in the future!

A little late to the party here, but welcome back! Looking forward to many concise blogs that actually talk about the Sabres in the future!
- seedy

better late than never...it's gonna be pretty exciting for sabres fans going forward

You should have stopped reading at "Mike Harrington reports"

Just sayin

Plus if Ekblad is as good as touted, we won't have the option
- sbroads24

Fair point
I want Reinhart... I just font think its the end of the world if we take Ekblad
I think he'll be very good
I already like what our defense is gonna look like in 3-4 years, and adding Ekblad would make it pretty dominant

am of the opinion that he goes first overall, fitz... probably to fla
- Michael Pachla

Ya, I agree

Fair point
I want Reinhart... I just font think its the end of the world if we take Ekblad
I think he'll be very good
I already like what our defense is gonna look like in 3-4 years, and adding Ekblad would make it pretty dominant
- jdfitz77

It won't be the end of the world, but someone else used IMO the right word to describe it and that's disappointed.

Id be disappointed with Ekblad to be honest. I'm sure id love him in 2-3 years or maybe less but I want a dynamic forward

Ekblad is 4th on my "board" with the 2nd pick

If they draft ekblaud I will be dissapointed. Great dmen can be found as late 1st round picks and in the 2nd round too far more often than a elite foward outside of the top 10
- joshs

Agreed.

Not to mention we have 4 1st round D-men already in our system. We need to start using our assets on elite forwards
- sbroads24

We will get our forward/forwards next year with our multiple 1st round picks in a deeper draft. Reinhart and Ekblad are the 2 most NHL ready prospects coming out of this draft. We need to take 1 of the 2. If Ekblad is available at 2 overall, we cant pass on him just because of whats in our system. I personally think Ekblad would instantly become our best defenseman in the system, and this including any veterans. By drafting Ekblad, we could turn around and trade Ristolainen or Zadorov in a package for an established NHL player, or for a similar tier forward prospect. We would be making a 2 for 1 upgrade in that scenario.

I'm not worried if the Sabres draft Ekblad. We're getting our forward next season.

better late than never...it's gonna be pretty exciting for sabres fans going forward
- Michael Pachla

Am I the only one who has no idea who you are? lol

Anyways, I like the looks of our possible WJC representation next year:

USA: Compher, Hurley, Bailey, Petersen,

Canada: Baptiste,

Sweden: Possler,

Russia: Zadorov,

Finland: Ristolainen?,

I might be missing a few but I think we'll be the best represented team there, both in quantity and quality. This also doesn't include this years draft picks.

We will get our forward/forwards next year with our multiple 1st round picks in a deeper draft. Reinhart and Ekblad are the 2 most NHL ready prospects coming out of this draft. We need to take 1 of the 2. If Ekblad is available at 2 overall, we cant pass on him just because of whats in our system. I personally think Ekblad would instantly become our best defenseman in the system, and this including any veterans. By drafting Ekblad, we could turn around and trade Ristolainen or Zadorov in a package for an established NHL player, or for a similar tier forward prospect. We would be making a 2 for 1 upgrade in that scenario.

I'm not worried if the Sabres draft Ekblad. We're getting our forward next season.
- theblueandgold

Recent history suggests it will at the least take him 3-4 years to become our best defensemen or just flat out become an average player.

If he was as good as people claim he is, no one would have Bennett as the top ranked player, yet a lot of people do. Fact is the 3 are very close, and we have 0 1st line players, while we have 5 potential top 2-3 defensemen.

It won't kill me if they take him, just expect a longer turnaround

Am I the only one who has no idea who you are? lol



Anyways, I like the looks of our possible WJC representation next year:

USA: Compher, Hurley, Bailey, Petersen,

Canada: Baptiste,

Sweden: Possler,

Russia: Zadorov,

Finland: Ristolainen?,

I might be missing a few but I think we'll be the best represented team there, both in quantity and quality. This also doesn't include this years draft picks.
- Herzeleid

yes you joined in 2013 he is an old time vet so respect his knowledge
going to be a fun ride


You forgot Hudson Fasching

It won't be the end of the world, but someone else used IMO the right word to describe it and that's disappointed.

Id be disappointed with Ekblad to be honest. I'm sure id love him in 2-3 years or maybe less but I want a dynamic forward

Ekblad is 4th on my "board" with the 2nd pick
- sbroads24

The problem is that if Reinhart is gone, they'll have to wait for the dymanic forward next year anyway.

Am I the only one who has no idea who you are? lol

Anyways, I like the looks of our possible WJC representation next year:

USA: Compher, Hurley, Bailey, Petersen,

Canada: Baptiste,

Sweden: Possler,

Russia: Zadorov,

Finland: Ristolainen?,

I might be missing a few but I think we'll be the best represented team there, both in quantity and quality. This also doesn't include this years draft picks.
- Herzeleid

I don't think baptiste will make team Canada and I'm pretty sure Ristolainen is too old now (could be wrong though).

The problem is thqt if Reinhart is gone, they'll have to wait for the dymanic forward next year anyway.
- buffalofan19

Bennett and Draisaitl both have a huge ceiling. You severely under rate those two while putting Ekblad on a pedestal. All 4 are impact players.

Bennett is just as talented as Matt Duchene but is grittier, I'll take that all day

yes you joined in 2013 he is an old time vet so respect his knowledge
going to be a fun ride


You forgot Hudson Fasching
- gerbe75pts

ya, couldn't quite remember his age

Bennett and Draisaitl both have a huge ceiling. You severely under rate those two while putting Ekblad on a pedestal. All 4 are impact players.

Bennett is just as talented as Matt Duchene but is grittier, I'll take that all day
- sbroads24

I'm always wary of the guy that comes out of nowhere (Bennett) to the top of the charts. We're all going to be wondering what the hell happened to Draisaitl in 5 years. I called it months ago and I stand by it. Admittedly, this is my gut more than anything else.

I'm always wary of the guy that comes out of nowhere (Bennett) to the top of the charts. We're all going to be wondering what the hell happened to Draisaitl in 5 years. I called it months ago and I stand by it. Admittedly, this is my gut more than anything else.
- buffalofan19

I disagree on Draisaitl. He will be this years Barkov and go ahead of 1 of the Sams.

Bennett also is incredibly gifted. It's not like he's playing 2nd fiddle to a superstar and has inflated stats, he's blowing up on his own merit.

I have watched all 4 of these guys.... Quite a few times.

All 4 are incredibly close IMO

Bennett and Draisaitl both have a huge ceiling. You severely under rate those two while putting Ekblad on a pedestal. All 4 are impact players.

Bennett is just as talented as Matt Duchene but is grittier, I'll take that all day
- sbroads24

I don't think his ceiling is that high. Duchene was basically a team canada lock, implying that bennett is anything close or better may be a bit of stretch.

I'm sure both players are very good but aside from CSS, most scouts and analysts have put Reinhart and Ekblad in a category above Draisaitl/Bennett.

I don't think his ceiling is that high. Duchene was basically a team canada lock, implying that bennett is anything close or better may be a bit of stretch.

I'm sure both players are very good but aside from CSS, most scouts and analysts have put Reinhart and Ekblad in a category above Draisaitl/Bennett.
- Sabresfan-365

He absolutely has that skill level IMO

He is just as good of a playmaker as Reinhart too, another part of his game that gets under rated. The reason he won't go 1 is because he isn't NHL ready. Reinhart is farther along in his development

yes you joined in 2013 he is an old time vet so respect his knowledge
going to be a fun ride


You forgot Hudson Fasching
- gerbe75pts

Homie has been posting the links to his blogs for a couple years . Kept us in link. If you guys never had the chance ... Has always a decent perspective of the team and what seems/is going on with them. Great to have him as a regular.

I disagree on Draisaitl. He will be this years Barkov and go ahead of 1 of the Sams.

Bennett also is incredibly gifted. It's not like he's playing 2nd fiddle to a superstar and has inflated stats, he's blowing up on his own merit.

I have watched all 4 of these guys.... Quite a few times.

All 4 are incredibly close IMO
- sbroads24

I absolutely would not be shocked if Draisaitl goes ahead of Bennett, because I think both Reinhart and Ekblad are both ahead of them, in both ceiling and NHL readiness.

I really hope LA pulls this out. They remind me of the 06 and 07 Sabres teams that just figured out ways to come back no matter what happens.

Kane

Doughty

I really hope LA pulls this out. They remind me of the 06 and 07 Sabres teams that just figured out ways to come back no matter what happens.
- buffalofan19

Those were good times. Never worried about being behind in the game.

I really hope LA pulls this out. They remind me of the 06 and 07 Sabres teams that just figured out ways to come back no matter what happens.
- buffalofan19

miss that team....