Because the 2 1st next year are both unknown quantities. Sure we could end up with two top 5 picks but that's incredibly unlikely.

If we were to take Ekblad and say end up with the 5th and 11th pick. Then you are looking at 2-3 years from 2015 until they are even in the NHL.

Reinhart or Bennett are in the league no later than the 2015-2016 season
- sbroads24

In that case, where we get boxed out of the top 3 or 4, I'm willing to bet Murray goes (frank)ing Rambo and hacks his way to the top. I'm so excited to see what he does during the draft, FA, next trade DL and next draft. I love everything about the guy, and using his small sample size of only one trading period... I have total faith in him. Some may think I'm hasty or naive, but.. I dunno. It's a gut feeling.

Let me add if you will. St Louis missing the playoffs and winning the lottery.
- cabin

Whitewash.

Could Murray look back to his old job and target Turris? would that help ease some pain should they draft Eliteblad?

What would they have to give up to get Turris?

Reinhart is NHL ready IMO. Other 2 might need a year or so.


Even if they aren't elite " still better than what we have
- sbroads24

There are a lot of players in this league that are better than what the Sabres have. You can pick up free agents and get better than what they have. The question is: does it become "good enough" (to borrow a phrase from Darcy)?

In that case, where we get boxed out of the top 3 or 4, I'm willing to bet Murray goes (frank)ing Rambo and hacks his way to the top. I'm so excited to see what he does during the draft, FA, next trade DL and next draft. I love everything about the guy, and using his small sample size of only one trading period... I have total faith in him. Some may think I'm hasty or naive, but.. I dunno. It's a gut feeling.
- TheSabresTaco

Which is possible, but then you are trading valuable assets away because you decided to wait on taking forwards and now you are desperate

Could Murray look back to his old job and target Turris? would that help ease some pain should they draft Eliteblad?

What would they have to give up to get Turris?
- stashu

The price is high to begin with. Seeing as how Ottawa is in the same division, it probably becomes higher.

Could Murray look back to his old job and target Turris? would that help ease some pain should they draft Eliteblad?

What would they have to give up to get Turris?
- stashu

I don't see the point of going after Turris. He's a good player but he's a weak first line center. Seeing as we have 2 2Cs, why bother?

Which is possible, but then you are trading valuable assets away because you decided to wait on taking forwards and now you are desperate
- sbroads24

I guess my point is: even if they get Reinhart, and end up out of the top 5 next year, they're in the exact same spot as if they drafted Ekblad and ended up out of the top 5: void of a franchise center worth building your team around.

http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/story/?id=450886

Which is possible, but then you are trading valuable assets away because you decided to wait on taking forwards and now you are desperate
- sbroads24

I see your point. My counter is this. The valuable assets on this team, like you said I believe, are 2-4 liners. How easy are those to get? How hard is acquiring franchise players? I'd rather draft franchisers and give up those middling assets than hold on and roll the dice on middling picks.

I guess my point is: even if they get Reinhart, and end up out of the top 5 next year, they're in the exact same spot as if they drafted Ekblad and ended up out of the top 5: void of a franchise center worth building your team around.
- buffalofan19

Well, If Ekblad was head and shoulders the best prospect and FLA somehow passed on him then I would agree, but he's not, at least not according to most people around the league. He's rated slightly higher (by some not all) than Bennett/Reinhart and the only reason he's viewed as the top pick is because of who is picking 1st.

Well, If Ekblad was head and shoulders the best prospect and FLA somehow passed on him then I would agree, but he's not, at least not according to most people around the league. He's rated slightly higher (by some not all) than Bennett/Reinhart and the only reason he's viewed as the top pick is because of who is picking 1st.
- sbroads24

TSN and ISS had him # 1 before the lottery took place.

I see your point. My counter is this. The valuable assets on this team, like you said I believe, are 2-4 liners. How easy are those to get? How hard is acquiring franchise players? I'd rather draft franchisers and give up those middling assets than hold on and roll the dice on middling picks.
- TheSabresTaco

Sure me too, but if there is a giant difference between the 3rd pick next year and say the 6th where we are drafting, why would a GM trade the pick to begin with?

IMO we have the 2nd pick now, there are 3 forwards that have top line potential. Take one now

I guess my point is: even if they get Reinhart, and end up out of the top 5 next year, they're in the exact same spot as if they drafted Ekblad and ended up out of the top 5: void of a franchise center worth building your team around.
- buffalofan19

Reinhart could be Toews (could be others as well) but that is a franchise center to build around

TSN and ISS had him # 1 before the lottery took place.
- buffalofan19

http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectbrowse.htm

http://nhl.si.com/2014/04...kings-for-2014-nhl-draft/


Here's 2 that have Bennett ranked 1st. Again, Ekblad is not a clear cut #1.

TSN and ISS had him # 1 before the lottery took place.
- buffalofan19

They also had Reinhart #1 in December of 2013

They also had Reinhart #1 in December of 2013
- Stripes77

When the Sabres had the best chance of picking 1st

When the Sabres had the best chance of picking 1st
- sbroads24

The Sabres also had the best chance of picking 1st in January, February, and March and Ekblad was their highest ranked prospect. The rankings changed so much because of how the players were playing who was picking first etc. The only thing that I believe is their is no clear cut number one. There is not a "huge" gap because of exception status between 1-3, in fact I don't think there is a gap at all.

The Sabres also had the best chance of picking 1st in January, February, and March and Ekblad was their highest ranked prospect. The rankings changed so much because of how the players were playing who was picking first etc. The only thing that I believe is their is no clear cut number one. There is not a "huge" gap because of exception status between 1-3, in fact I don't think there is a gap at all.
- Stripes77

Quoting Kevin Devine, there is no clear cut number one, any of the top 3 could be first.

The Sabres also had the best chance of picking 1st in January, February, and March and Ekblad was their highest ranked prospect. The rankings changed so much because of how the players were playing who was picking first etc. The only thing that I believe is their is no clear cut number one. There is not a "huge" gap because of exception status between 1-3, in fact I don't think there is a gap at all.
- Stripes77

Agreed, which is why you take the forward. Not to mention that historically it's the better option

Agreed, which is why you take the forward. Not to mention that historically it's the better option
- sbroads24

This !!! Here is hoping that Elitebald goes first so it is not even a discussion come Buffalo's pick.

This !!! Here is hoping that Elitebald goes first so it is not even a discussion come Buffalo's pick.
- Maximum Signal

Yes please!

This !!! Here is hoping that Elitebald goes first so it is not even a discussion come Buffalo's pick.
- Maximum Signal

I get what Buff19 and a few others are saying though. If Ekblad was in fact the only difference maker available, then it would be the right choice, I don't don't feel that's the case

I get what Buff19 and a few others are saying though. If Ekblad was in fact the only difference maker available, then it would be the right choice, I don't don't feel that's the case
- sbroads24

I'm with you on that. It's next to impossible to get that High quality forward player via trade let alone the chance to draft one in the top 2 spots.

I get what Buff19 and a few others are saying though. If Ekblad was in fact the only difference maker available, then it would be the right choice, I don't don't feel that's the case
- sbroads24

I'm taking the approach that I want one of two guys out of this draft, in this order:

1. Reinhart
2. Ekblad


The rest underwhelm me, not by their rankings by this organization or that organization, but by what I'm actually reading in the scouting reports. I know it's different sports, but everything I read about Sam Bennett screams "Aaron Maybin" to me. The pull up thing just adds to it.