Like I said before, it must take a rocket scientist.
- sbroads24

Around here it might. But its pretty obvious which posters have low hockey IQ's themselves.

Not sure weather to root for a sabres win or a loss...

It will be interesting to see if we have the 3rd pick. Do we take the obvious in Hanifin or go for a forward, Strome, Zacha or Marner. I don't have any problem picking Hanifin and if we did we'd have a stud D for 10 years. If the draft isn't what Murray envisions, I can see a trade at the draft.
- mhp

You have to take Hanfin. Hes in a tier above the rest of the draft by himself.

God Tier
McDavid/Eichel
-----
Franchise Tier
Hanifin
-----
Top 3 picks in any other draft Tier
Strome
Marner
Kylington
-----
The rest of the draft

It will be interesting to see if we have the 3rd pick. Do we take the obvious in Hanifin or go for a forward, Strome, Zacha or Marner. I don't have any problem picking Hanifin and if we did we'd have a stud D for 10 years. If the draft isn't what Murray envisions, I can see a trade at the draft.
- mhp

Edmonton might be the only team dumb enough/desperate enough to trade outta 1.

If we pick 3, and they have 1 I wonder what it would take

I really believe that Reinhart and Girgensons will be our future top 6 C's if we miss out on McEichel, and I honestly have no problem with that. Grigorenko can play a 3C OZ sheltered line with some heavy 2 way wingers (think Fasching and Bailey/Baptiste).

If we land Hanifin or Marner to what we have, we'll be fine. And we can still find a Getzlaf, Perry, Giroux from some of the later 1st round picks.
- theblueandgold

I've lived through every Sabres season since year 1 and I have to admit, I'm really intrigued by what we do at the draft and through the summer to make it better.

And a top 3 center group of Eichel, Reinhart and Grigorenko is what I would love. It gets Girgensons to the wing which I kinda prefer. A third line of Compher-Girgs-Lemieux would drive teams batty.

Around here it might. But its pretty obvious which posters have low hockey IQ's themselves.
- theblueandgold

There are local media who rival some here for ridiculously uninformed opinions.

And they apparently study "analytics"

You have to take Hanfin. Hes in a tier above the rest of the draft by himself.

God Tier
McDavid/Eichel
-----
Franchise Tier
Hanifin
-----
Top 3 picks in any other draft Tier
Strome
Marner
Kylington
-----
The rest of the draft
- theblueandgold

If we get Hanifin at 3 and ended up with a group including Bittner, Svechnikov, Greenway or Boeser with our Blues and Isles picks, great. Then I'd make a trade for a winger.

I've lived through every Sabres season since year 1 and I have to admit, I'm really intrigued by what we do at the draft and through the summer to make it better.

And a top 3 center group of Eichel, Reinhart and Grigorenko is what I would love. It gets Girgensons to the wing which I kinda prefer. A third line of Compher-Girgs-Lemieux would drive teams batty.
- mhp

I think I'd rather see Grigorenko on the wing in the event we get McEichel. Girgensons is just proving too much this year.

Edmonton might be the only team dumb enough/desperate enough to trade outta 1.

If we pick 3, and they have 1 I wonder what it would take
- sbroads24

I gotta feeling Edmonton won't win the lottery. Just a hunch. It would take a ton in trade if they had #1. I just hope we finish 29th.

I've lived through every Sabres season since year 1 and I have to admit, I'm really intrigued by what we do at the draft and through the summer to make it better.

And a top 3 center group of Eichel, Reinhart and Grigorenko is what I would love. It gets Girgensons to the wing which I kinda prefer. A third line of Compher-Girgs-Lemieux would drive teams batty.
- mhp

am of the opinion that girgensons could very well be #2 and it will be up to the sabres to figure out where to use the others

I think I'd rather see Grigorenko on the wing in the event we get McEichel. Girgensons is just proving too much this year.
- theblueandgold

If you have Eichel/Reinhart as your top 2 C's, I'd rather move Grigorenko in a trade then play him on the wing. Not his natural position and in my view he would struggle there a bit.

I gotta feeling Edmonton won't win the lottery. Just a hunch. It would take a ton in trade if they had #1. I just hope we finish 29th.
- mhp

It would be poetic justice if we won the lottery after finishing 28th.

Especially with the owners forcing the change on odds for this draft

If you have Eichel/Reinhart as your top 2 C's, I'd rather move Grigorenko in a trade then play him on the wing. Not his natural position and in my view he would struggle there a bit.
- mhp

Agreed.

am of the opinion that girgensons could very well be #2 and it will be up to the sabres to figure out where to use the others
- Michael Pachla

He could very well be the #2, when it all shakes out boos. He clicks nicely now with Moulson and Ennis.

If you have Eichel/Reinhart as your top 2 C's, I'd rather move Grigorenko in a trade then play him on the wing. Not his natural position and in my view he would struggle there a bit.
- mhp

Yeah wingers gotta be able to skate well. Either have speed, good endurance, strong balance or explosiveness.

He could very well be the #2, when it all shakes out boos. He clicks nicely now with Moulson and Ennis.
- mhp

yup...wadr to those watching the jrs., still not completely sold on reinhart...grigopalooza either

It would be poetic justice if we won the lottery after finishing 28th.

Especially with the owners forcing the change on odds for this draft
- sbroads24

We need Carolina and Arizona to start winning some games. I have a feeling the Yotes start selling soon.

We need Carolina and Arizona to start winning some games. I have a feeling the Yotes start selling soon.
- mhp

I know I'm biased but I feel giving the pick to Buffalo instead of the Canes or the Yotes would benefit the league more if the the draft lottery hoax is true. We have the benefit of being right on the border to attract interest from both countries. HarborCenter is looking great and we'll be more involved than ever in terms of hockey. We may be small market but I feel we can tremendously grow.

Edit:

NHL Team Worth
http://www.forbes.com/nhl...t:0_direction:asc_search:

Sabres Yearly Attendance
http://www.hockeydb.com/n...ce/att_graph.php?tmi=5054

Yotes Yearly Attendance
http://www.hockeydb.com/n...ce/att_graph.php?tmi=7450

Canes Yearly Attendance
http://www.hockeydb.com/n...ce/att_graph.php?tmi=5154

Even if they went .500 hockey the rest of the way, they are making the playoffs. Would give them 90-something points. With the way the East is this year... thats a shoe-in. They'll be making the playoffs. But I also share the sentiment that they wont win more than 1 round in the playoffs. Nothing against them or anything, just dont see them getting through a team whos been there before in the Atlantic (PIT, NYR, TB, perhaps WSH).

Same thing goes for STL. They would have to go through CHI, dont think they make it. We'll be looking at 2 picks in the 15-26 range. Likely 1 in the 18-22, and one in the 24-26 range.
- theblueandgold

I'll take the Islanders winning one round this year. Never expected a long run even with adding Boychuck and Leddy and the hot start. Future is bright, but team is not a real Cup threat yet. Should be a good year of growth for guys like Nelson, Lee, Strome, and deHaan among others.

I know I'm biased but I feel giving the pick to Buffalo instead of the Canes or the Yotes would benefit the league more if the the draft lottery hoax is true. We have the benefit of being right on the border to attract interest from both countries. HarborCenter is looking great and we'll be more involved than ever in terms of hockey. We may be small market but I feel we can tremendously grow.
- SabresNHL

I think it'll be a nightmare for the league if Arizona wins the lottery and gets McDavid.

I'll take the Islanders winning one round this year. Never expected a long run even with adding Boychuck and Leddy and the hot start. Future is bright, but team is not a real Cup threat yet. Should be a good year of growth for guys like Nelson, Lee, Strome, and deHaan among others.
- ses111

Yep. Obviously, I wanted as low a pick as possible. I even said the Isles would struggle this year and we'd have a guaranteed top 10 pick with the Isles. But by the same token, its great for you fans to finally see the upside in the long build. I like 3 of the players you mentioned (Strome, Nelson, and Lee) so its good to see a young nucleus of quality players form. I will lose my poop if you guys go back to a top 10 pick next year though.

I think it'll be a nightmare for the league if Arizona wins the lottery and gets McDavid.
- mhp

Definitely. I just attached some links on my post that are self-explanatory to prove the points made here.

I think it'll be a nightmare for the league if Arizona wins the lottery and gets McDavid.
- mhp

I don't think so, could resurrect the franchise like Crosby did for Pitt. I clearly think Bettman would help them, just a hunch....

If you have Eichel/Reinhart as your top 2 C's, I'd rather move Grigorenko in a trade then play him on the wing. Not his natural position and in my view he would struggle there a bit.
- mhp

Its a lot harder going from wing --> center than going from center --> wing.

I'll take the Islanders winning one round this year. Never expected a long run even with adding Boychuck and Leddy and the hot start. Future is bright, but team is not a real Cup threat yet. Should be a good year of growth for guys like Nelson, Lee, Strome, and deHaan among others.
- ses111

If the playoffs started today, the Isles and Rangers would play each other. And if both teams keep pace throughout the rest of the season, we will play each other. So you guys ain't winning one round.