Michael Pachla: Matthew Tkachuk serves notice, may be just out of reach for Buffalo

My allergies are driving me crazy.

Ah, ah, ah, Tkachoooook!!!!!

As much as I would like a winger with the size of Tkachuk I think Buffalo needs to get a defenseman first. Not enough depth on the blue line and not many FA's that are all that exciting.

My allergies are driving me crazy.

Ah, ah, ah, Tkachoooook!!!!!
- Der Kaiser

Bless you.

Bogosian, Gionta, Johnson and Co. just had to win all those games down the stretch didn't they??....

Tkachuk will be taken at #4 or #5... He's "long gone" by #8. There's no point in Sabres fans discussing drafting Tkachuk unless the Sabres trade up.

That said, what are the Sabres dealing to get up to #4 or #5?

Tkachuk will be taken at #4 or #5... He's "long gone" by #8. There's no point in Sabres fans discussing drafting Tkachuk unless the Sabres trade up.

That said, what are the Sabres dealing to get up to #4 or #5?
- As_I_See_It

So, you didn't read the blog?

The Canucks will most likely take Matthew Tkachuk (if available) or if Tkachuk is taken then it will probably be Pierre Luc-Dubois. The McCann for Gudbranson deal pretty much points to Van taking a forward, but if they were to take a D-man they would probably take Sergachev, not Juolevi.

Tkachuk will be taken at #4 or #5... He's "long gone" by #8. There's no point in Sabres fans discussing drafting Tkachuk unless the Sabres trade up.

That said, what are the Sabres dealing to get up to #4 or #5?
- As_I_See_It

That was the point of the blog. I don't think the Sabres move up but if they do I'm thinking it takes the 8th overall, Guhle, Ennis

I'm curious, has anyone heard 89 handicap the Stamkos sweepstakes? I know he can't know, but I was wondering what he thought the odds were for each of the potential suitors.

That was the point of the blog. I don't think the Sabres move up but if they do I'm thinking it takes the 8th overall, Guhle, Ennis
- doppelthat

Draft the winger trade for the d-man.

I'm curious, has anyone heard 89 handicap the Stamkos sweepstakes? I know he can't know, but I was wondering what he thought the odds were for each of the potential suitors.
- Cup Crazy '07

You have to give to get.

I'm curious, has anyone heard 89 handicap the Stamkos sweepstakes? I know he can't know, but I was wondering what he thought the odds were for each of the potential suitors.
- Cup Crazy '07

Opinions vary.

I'm curious, has anyone heard 89 handicap the Stamkos sweepstakes? I know he can't know, but I was wondering what he thought the odds were for each of the potential suitors.
- Cup Crazy '07

Hitchcock is a fat pig.

I'm curious, has anyone heard 89 handicap the Stamkos sweepstakes? I know he can't know, but I was wondering what he thought the odds were for each of the potential suitors.
- Cup Crazy '07

When are we getting Olli?

I'm curious, has anyone heard 89 handicap the Stamkos sweepstakes? I know he can't know, but I was wondering what he thought the odds were for each of the potential suitors.
- Cup Crazy '07

Boat anchor

I'm curious, has anyone heard 89 handicap the Stamkos sweepstakes? I know he can't know, but I was wondering what he thought the odds were for each of the potential suitors.
- Cup Crazy '07

I don't like your attitude.

I'm curious, has anyone heard 89 handicap the Stamkos sweepstakes? I know he can't know, but I was wondering what he thought the odds were for each of the potential suitors.
- Cup Crazy '07

He stinks.

So, you didn't read the blog?
- rmiethaner

I read it and was emphasizing that Tkachuk being "just out of reach" was a massive understatement. A player being drafted three or four players ahead of the #8th pick is huge at that point in the draft.

I read it and was emphasizing that Tkachuk being "just out of reach" was a massive understatement. A player being drafted three or four players ahead of the #8th pick is huge at that point in the draft.
- As_I_See_It

Your location is dead on, if by "pain" you mean "pain in my ass."

Your location is dead on, if by "pain" you mean "pain in my ass."
- Der Kaiser

Not that there is anything wrong with that...

Not that there is anything wrong with that...
- Wildschwein

F canada

While I like daydreaming as much as the next guy, you've got to fix some holes in your logic regarding the Oilers.

First off, the Oilers are not going to draft a defenceman. They have quite a few defensive prospects and young defensemen as it is. What they need is a defenceman that can contribute now, not three or four years from now. So if they are staying in the #4 slot they are not drafting a defenceman based on team need. Forget about Tkachuk dropping to 5.

Secondly, the Oilers drafting a forward with four of the last six first overall picks. So what? Let's actually look at Edmonton's forward situation. Yakupov is a bust. And it's almost a certainty that one of Hall, Eberle, and/or Nugent-Hopkins will be traded for an established right-shot defender. So we are left with two of the three listed, McDavid, and Draisaitl as their young forwards. Still a really good group, but exactly as deep as the Strome, Murphy, Duclair, Domi foursome you mention at Arizona. And that's neglecting Christian Dvorak who should have been on that list. While Edmonton's "depth" of young forwards means they should now draft a defenceman, Arizona's "depth" means it would be a great idea to draft another forward? Where is the consistency in that logic?

If you know anything about the Oilers, you would know that they need a top 2 right shot defenceman more than anything. They don't need someone who may eventually turn into one. They need one who can fill that role now. The #4 pick is there for the taking for Buffalo if they bring Ristolainen or Bogosian to the table. Not a one for one swap, obviously, but Edmonton would need one of those players coming their way for it to happen. Stop dreaming about Guhle swaying Edmonton. Left shot defenders need not apply.

#7 and #20 for the #4 is intriguing. I wouldn't do it, personally, but it may sway the Oilers if they indeed believe that there is only a small talent difference from 4 to 9. How you can say that with Tkachuk on the table looking like (and scoring like) an elite prospect, I don't know. But if they've truly convinced themselves there is someone in the ball park of Tkachuk, I could see it happening. It wouldn't be the right move, but... Oilers...

While I like daydreaming as much as the next guy, you've got to fix some holes in your logic regarding the Oilers.

First off, the Oilers are not going to draft a defenceman. They have quite a few defensive prospects and young defensemen as it is. What they need is a defenceman that can contribute now, not three or four years from now. So if they are staying in the #4 slot they are not drafting a defenceman based on team need. Forget about Tkachuk dropping to 5.

Secondly, the Oilers drafting a forward with four of the last six first overall picks. So what? Let's actually look at Edmonton's forward situation. Yakupov is a bust. And it's almost a certainty that one of Hall, Eberle, and/or Nugent-Hopkins will be traded for an established right-shot defender. So we are left with two of the three listed, McDavid, and Draisaitl as their young forwards. Still a really good group, but exactly as deep as the Strome, Murphy, Duclair, Domi foursome you mention at Arizona. And that's neglecting Christian Dvorak who should have been on that list. While Edmonton's "depth" of young forwards means they should now draft a defenceman, Arizona's "depth" means it would be a great idea to draft another forward? Where is the consistency in that logic?

If you know anything about the Oilers, you would know that they need a top 2 right shot defenceman more than anything. They don't need someone who may eventually turn into one. They need one who can fill that role now. The #4 pick is there for the taking for Buffalo if they bring Ristolainen or Bogosian to the table. Not a one for one swap, obviously, but Edmonton would need one of those players coming their way for it to happen. Stop dreaming about Guhle swaying Edmonton. Left shot defenders need not apply.

#7 and #20 for the #4 is intriguing. I wouldn't do it, personally, but it may sway the Oilers if they indeed believe that there is only a small talent difference from 4 to 9. How you can say that with Tkachuk on the table looking like (and scoring like) an elite prospect, I don't know. But if they've truly convinced themselves there is someone in the ball park of Tkachuk, I could see it happening. It wouldn't be the right move, but... Oilers...
- Centacre

disagree

While I like daydreaming as much as the next guy, you've got to fix some holes in your logic regarding the Oilers.

First off, the Oilers are not going to draft a defenceman. They have quite a few defensive prospects and young defensemen as it is. What they need is a defenceman that can contribute now, not three or four years from now. So if they are staying in the #4 slot they are not drafting a defenceman based on team need. Forget about Tkachuk dropping to 5.

Secondly, the Oilers drafting a forward with four of the last six first overall picks. So what? Let's actually look at Edmonton's forward situation. Yakupov is a bust. And it's almost a certainty that one of Hall, Eberle, and/or Nugent-Hopkins will be traded for an established right-shot defender. So we are left with two of the three listed, McDavid, and Draisaitl as their young forwards. Still a really good group, but exactly as deep as the Strome, Murphy, Duclair, Domi foursome you mention at Arizona. And that's neglecting Christian Dvorak who should have been on that list. While Edmonton's "depth" of young forwards means they should now draft a defenceman, Arizona's "depth" means it would be a great idea to draft another forward? Where is the consistency in that logic?

If you know anything about the Oilers, you would know that they need a top 2 right shot defenceman more than anything. They don't need someone who may eventually turn into one. They need one who can fill that role now. The #4 pick is there for the taking for Buffalo if they bring Ristolainen or Bogosian to the table. Not a one for one swap, obviously, but Edmonton would need one of those players coming their way for it to happen. Stop dreaming about Guhle swaying Edmonton. Left shot defenders need not apply.

#7 and #20 for the #4 is intriguing. I wouldn't do it, personally, but it may sway the Oilers if they indeed believe that there is only a small talent difference from 4 to 9. How you can say that with Tkachuk on the table looking like (and scoring like) an elite prospect, I don't know. But if they've truly convinced themselves there is someone in the ball park of Tkachuk, I could see it happening. It wouldn't be the right move, but... Oilers...
- Centacre

If I were the Oilers, I'd be trying like hell to get Trouba.