I sorta see what you're trying to do, but why.
- TheSabresTaco

Just a though among the usual same old fan bs here on this board with the same guys we aren't going to get bla bla bla. Anyone like us taking Leon Draisaitl with the second pick ? Id say if TM serious about keeping our first rounder off the big club next year why not take him ?Also Ive heard him listed as both a center and a winger by different draft boards.Anyone know if hes a true center ?

Just a though among the usual same old fan bs here on this board with the same guys we aren't going to get bla bla bla. Anyone like us taking Leon Draisaitl with the second pick ? Id say if TM serious about keeping our first rounder off the big club next year why not take him ?Also Ive heard him listed as both a center and a winger by different draft boards.Anyone know if hes a true center ?
- buffalo 1

Jochen Hecht was a "natural center"...or so Lindy Ruff and Darcy Regier wanted us to believe.

I ment Zemgus Girgensons for captain not that lasey Russian.

Jochen Hecht was a "natural center"...or so Lindy Ruff and Darcy Regier wanted us to believe.
- buffalofan19

Intresting comparison.Not sure that's a good thing for a top 5 pick.

It may take Grigs longer than other early first rounders to be an NHL regular, but I won't lose faith for at least 2 more years. He's starting to get it. Starting to realize he has to play like a NHL player, not a junior. He has the ability and by the sounds of it, he has the will. Hopefully next year he gets a top 6 role and can manage to score 50 points.
- TheSabresTaco

Agreed. I haven't lost faith in him either. Just have to be a little patience.

Ya know, Seguin and Reinhart draw a lot of similarities.

Seguin: "A very talented center with great skills in all three zones. An excellent playmaker but also a very efficient finisher. A good skater with good size. "

Reinhart: "Reinhart is a nice blend of poise, maturity and a high hockey IQ. He's got creative hands, excellent vision and superb instinct in the offensive end. He's able to slow things down and dissect the play. He battles hard and is a true team leader."

Both 200' players with +100 point draft year seasons. Kept similar point outputs at equal ages. Excellent playmakers. Both captained their junior team. It even seems that Reinhart is possibly the better product. Although I think Seguin had/s a better projection to score more goals, where as Reinhart may be more of the Joe Thorton ilk.

Jochen Hecht was a "natural center"...or so Lindy Ruff and Darcy Regier wanted us to believe.
- buffalofan19

Brad Boyes was a 4th line center. lolzatron.

I ment Zemgus Girgensons for captain not that lasey Russian.
- buffalo 1

So you understand how ridiculous you sounded when you said Grigorenko.

Ya know, Seguin and Reinhart draw a lot of similarities.

Seguin: "A very talented center with great skills in all three zones. An excellent playmaker but also a very efficient finisher. A good skater with good size. "

Reinhart: "Reinhart is a nice blend of poise, maturity and a high hockey IQ. He's got creative hands, excellent vision and superb instinct in the offensive end. He's able to slow things down and dissect the play. He battles hard and is a true team leader."

Both 200' players with +100 point draft year seasons. Kept similar point outputs at equal ages. Excellent playmakers. Both captained their junior team. It even seems that Reinhart is possibly the better product. Although I think Seguin had/s a better projection to score more goals, where as Reinhart may be more of the Joe Thorton ilk.
- TheSabresTaco

"Reinhart reminds me of Briere. Great guy on complete team not so much to build a team around altho he could be the next Martin St Lous as well.

Agreed. I haven't lost faith in him either. Just have to be a little patience.
- cabin

I blame Garth and his FreakoInsanoPsychoPhanaticorenko blogs.

Well before the '12 draft, Grigs was billed as the best raw talent available. Too many people forget that word. Raw=wait it out.

So you understand how ridiculous you sounded when you said Grigorenko.
- TheSabresTaco

"Reinhart reminds me of Briere. Great guy on complete team not so much to build a team around altho he could be the next Martin St Lous as well.
- buffalo 1

I'm not sure if you're pulling the size card because you mentioned those two players. I don't know about you, but I'd be ex-static (read ecstatic) to have Briere prime for like 10 years.

Well you should, because apparently it affects his on ice stuff.

Personality flaws aside, you're right, he does fit the rebuild. He's a better Foligno, so make sure Foligno goes the other way. It's about cost. I'm not willing to unload for him because he simply has not done that much. In free agency, that's a different story. He's just not. that. good.

Adding to my post. Seguin, now he was that good. Dallas turned Boston around and made them grab their toes. He has/d personality issues but he's also extremely talented. 67 points in his second year and more than a ppg in his fourth year, after the trade. Kane has yet to eclipse 60 points. I do in fact believe he will eventually, but the way he plays, he's going to be broken down sooner than later. So, what, he's good (maybe) for the next 5 years, then starts to get all Callahan? Seguin is a guy you unload on because his play style and his proven NHL ability will last for the next probably 12 or so years.
- TheSabresTaco

Kane had a 30 goal season his 3rd year in the league. He has the talent. I understand the reservations some have but i say be bold and go for it.

Kane - McDavid - Kane in 2016 sounds like a hell of a line.

Kevin Devine has been doing a stellar job ever since he got a real scouting staff. I see no reason why he deserved to be let go.
- TheSabresTaco

I thought Kevin Pendergrass was your chief Amateur scout.

I thought Kevin Pendergrass was your chief Amateur scout.
- Jeropotato

nope...he's a pro/amateur scout

I for one would go after E Kane.

Foligno + Armia + Stl 1st + Non Buf 2nd rd pick this & next year

Not enough?
- ImThatGuy

i know im not breaking new ground here, but compare his stats with drew stafford. ds age 28: 513-136-162-298-288(pim). ek age 22: 324-99-101-200-329(pim). both are listed as 6'2" 200.

so with stafford you get .27 goals, .32 assist, .58pts per game
and with kane you get .31 goals, .31assists, .62pts per game

each has scored 30 once. kane is younger and more physical. kane is less mature. its intriguing. seems like we would be giving up a lot. i think i would probably do it at this price, but im not adding a smidgen more.

p.s. i tried looking at advanced stats to see if that told a better story, kane was the 28th rated left wing for time of possession, stafford was the 70th rated right wing. do what you will with that, both teams missed the playoffs, winnipeg is not in the middle of a controlled burn rebuild.

nope...he's a pro/amateur scout
- Michael Pachla

As long as he's not on charge there, that will be better for the Sabres ....he was the worst head scout in Oilers History.

As long as he's not on charge there, that will be better for the Sabres ....he was the worst head scout in Oilers History.
- Jeropotato

devine has been with the team for quite a while and worked his way up...he's agm/director of amateur scouting

devine has been with the team for quite a while and worked his way up...he's agm/director of amateur scouting
- Michael Pachla

Great! When Stafford was hired I thought it was to be the main guy. Could not think of a worse hire at such a critical time for Buffalo. But I'm sure in this somewhat lesser role that he can offer something good to the club.

Great! When Stafford was hired I thought it was to be the main guy. Could not think of a worse hire at such a critical time for Buffalo. But I'm sure in this somewhat lesser role that he can offer something good to the club.
- Jeropotato

I'm going to assume TM or Devine or whomever did the hirings was fully aware of the skillset and history Prender brought. It's possible they brought him in for a particular skill that's not exactly visible to us. Like you said, in a lesser role, he could be useful. Of course I doubt we'll ever know unless TM comes out and says something along the lines of "kevin prendergast insisted we drafted this guy in round 7 and now he's Pavel Datsyuk jr."

I'm going to assume TM or Devine or whomever did the hirings was fully aware of the skillset and history Prender brought. It's possible they brought him in for a particular skill that's not exactly visible to us. Like you said, in a lesser role, he could be useful. Of course I doubt we'll ever know unless TM comes out and says something along the lines of "kevin prendergast insisted we drafted this guy in round 7 and now he's Pavel Datsyuk jr."
- TheSabresTaco

Exactly.....even with the Oilers, he worked for us before Katz owned the team and we had a group of 30-40 locals that all pitched a million or 5 to keep the team in Edmonton. Even though it appeared to look like a NHL franchise, we had no farm team, no development staff and I'm pretty sure we had 3 or 4 Amateur Scouts. In Pendergrass's defense, he didn't exactly have a wealth of resources.

Still....Jani Rita, Jesse Ninnimaki,Alexei Mikhinov, Michel Reisen, Michael Heinrich, M-A Poulliot? Didn't exactly set the world on fire with those first round picks.

18 points

12:45 a night (good for 11th on the team for forwards)

2:04 pk TOI (good for 1st for forwards)

10:28 ES TOI (good for 13th for forwards)

0:13 pp time.

That is a 4th line plug that can play the 3rd line if needed. He isn't the player he was 4 seasons ago when he scored 21 goals. He had 5 points in 12/13. He'll more than likely get 2+ mil as a UFA. IMO not worth it.

I liked him a lot a few years back, now not so much.
- dadeadhead

Guys like Boyle are the kind of players we can get a 2yr contracts though
Reason I like him is bc he can play a 3rd line defensive role, and take pressure off Girgensons... Let him focus on improving his offensive game so he doesn't just turn into another Gaustad... Not that it would be horrible, but I'm looking for more outta Girgs... Esp if he's potentially gonna be our future captain like many think

The point is there will be no kids to bring along this year . The kids will be on the farm or left in Junior . You are a year early . And we are not going to trade assets to anyone for one . First thing we are doing is building up assets . They will plug holes this year with short term deals . Look for 2015 off season for any drastic moves to be made.
- Maximum Signal

Idk about that
If we aren't expecting any kids in the lineup, who plays defense for us?
Ehrhoff, who most think will be traded
Weber, who most hate and want gone
McBain, just not very good
Myers, looked better (finally), could use some support

Those 4 are the current NHLers we have
Looks to me like Pysyk & Ristolainen will be here, unless we can sign some guys to plug in

If Ehrhoff gets traded, that makes Weber our senior defenseman with possibly 3kids (incl Myers) that are a big part of the future begins him

It's assumed Grigorenko & Armia will be in the AHL, but I don't know for sure that Reinhart/Bennett would go back...
up front, there's also a chance Stewart &/or Stafford are traded, and I think it's also possible we see guys like Ennis, Hodgson or Foligno moved as well

Again we will have to bring guys in, maybe a lot of them...
Which I think could be difficult

That could force us to bring up guys like Larsson, Carrier, etc

It's one thing if we can keep ALL the kids down another year
But I'm not as sure as u that it will be the case
Not with all of them anyways