Hopefully he's learned & will draft heavy on the defensive side this year
You'd have thought he'd realize this sooner, but this is where we are at

I've said it so much, that I'm beating a dead horse at this point
But GMTM really Fd up the 2nd round of the 2014 draft

Reaching for 2 forwards (Cornel & Karabacek),
when we had just drafted Reinhart, Lemieux, Compher, Hurley, Bailey, Grigorenko, Girgensons, Baptiste & Armia all in current & recent drafts...

And when there were 2 defensemen rated as 1st rounders who had slipped (McKeown & Dougherty), and also Montour were all available...

No excuse for that imo
Just plain STUPID

He ignored defense
It's no coincidence that the ONE good defenseman we have coming is Guhle, the ONE defenseman that he actually drafted in the 2nd round

Meanwhile,
All these teams like Carolina, Minny, Anaheim, etc have all these young up & coming defensemen bc they actually used draft pick on them
Well, duh
Get the f*ck with it Murray!
- jdfitz77

Look at NSH. They just keep drafting them.

Have the best top 4 in hockey and still have Dante Fabbro, Dougherty, and Girard in the pipeline.

They also signed one of the best under the radar bottom pairing players in Matt Irwin

Look at NSH. They just keep drafting them.

Have the best top 4 in hockey and still have Dante Fabbro, Dougherty, and Girard in the pipeline.

They also signed one of the best under the radar bottom pairing players in Matt Irwin
- sbroads24

Agree
And it gave them the freedom to move Jones for Johansen

It's so important to draft them

Much easier to do that, then to trade for a young defenseman

It is what it is. I haven't liked Murray or Bylsma for awhile now but they're our coach and gm for now.

Murray's presser was fine, a lot of you guys are taking things out of context. In fact, I liked some of the things he said, that he said he made Jack a promise to make the team around him better and be a playoff contender for many years.

All I can do is hope for the best.
- chilliard77

Completely agree .............. the responses today are amazing.

makar and heiskanen. you might be right, gotta go bpa since its unlikely anybody at pick 6 would be here for more than a quick look next year anyways.
- rover16

The intriguing thing about drafting either Heiskanen or liljegren is that they can play in Rochester next year. I would value that pretty high and would be interested in snagging one if available.

The intriguing thing about drafting either Heiskanen or liljegren is that they can play in Rochester next year. I would value that pretty high and would be interested in snagging one if available.
- MCGUIZZY

That actually makes some good sense. If we have a bunch of forwards all ready to make the jump to the the pros (AHL), then we should have defenders with similar talent. Not to mention could potentially grow some chemistry within the younger group. Good thought, hadn't ever looked at the draft that way, but makes sense in our situation.

That actually makes some good sense. If we have a bunch of forwards all ready to make the jump to the the pros (AHL), then we should have defenders with similar talent. Not to mention could potentially grow some chemistry within the younger group. Good thought, hadn't ever looked at the draft that way, but makes sense in our situation.
- RhinoFan

Yea now with that said, its not a guarantee they will want to. They may want to stay in their home country. But I believe its in their best interest to come over as soon as they are eligible. It was the same case with Nylander last year. he had the opportunity to play a year in Sweden but he decided to come over.

I love the idea of having them in the AHL immediately and have them on the fast track. They could even spend some time with the big club if their season goes well

Yea now with that said, its not a guarantee they will want to. They may want to stay in their home country. But I believe its in their best interest to come over as soon as they are eligible. It was the same case with Nylander last year. he had the opportunity to play a year in Sweden but he decided to come over.

I love the idea of having them in the AHL immediately and have them on the fast track. They could even spend some time with the big club if their season goes well
- MCGUIZZY

Yeah the last part is the attraction of it all. If we can honestly say it will get them into the league quicker...what's not to like about being 90 minutes down the road. I think it will all depend on where we pick and who is left on the board, but there are a few Euro's this year that could very well meet these criteria and be solid options come #6 or wherever we pick.

The intriguing thing about drafting either Heiskanen or liljegren is that they can play in Rochester next year. I would value that pretty high and would be interested in snagging one if available.
- MCGUIZZY

I would rather them both play overseas but that's just me

I would rather them both play overseas but that's just me
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Murray believes that the AHL is the best development league. Ristolainen and Nylander both went straight to the AHL after being drafted. I would tend to think if its a high enough pick he will go the same path. I think if Murray and scouts believe they need more than a year they will stay in Europe.

Im actually kind of surprised Asplund didn't come over right away. Might have been something with his contract tho

Murray believes that the AHL is the best development league. Ristolainen and Nylander both went straight to the AHL after being drafted. I would tend to think if its a high enough pick he will go the same path. I think if Murray and scouts believe they need more than a year they will stay in Europe.
- MCGUIZZY

Exactly:

Risto/Nylander (1 year) = AHL
Asplund (2-3 year) = SWE

Charlie Murphy died.

Murray believes that the AHL is the best development league. Ristolainen and Nylander both went straight to the AHL after being drafted. I would tend to think if its a high enough pick he will go the same path. I think if Murray and scouts believe they need more than a year they will stay in Europe.

Im actually kind of surprised Asplund didn't come over right away. Might have been something with his contract tho
- MCGUIZZY

I tend to agree that most of all these guys need a year in the AHL to see how the game is played in North America... because its not played the same as Europe.

Exactly:

Risto/Nylander (1 year) = AHL
Asplund (2-3 year) = SWE
- RhinoFan

Im hoping to see Asplund in Rochester next season. But we will see. Sounds like they talk very frequently and are happy with his development.

Anyone know where i can find individual players possession stats without needing a subscription?

Im hoping to see Asplund in Rochester next season. But we will see. Sounds like they talk very frequently and are happy with his development.
- MCGUIZZY

My guess is him and Olfsson both come over for the 2018-2019 season but I hope they come now.

I tend to agree that most of all these guys need a year in the AHL to see how the game is played in North America... because its not played the same as Europe.
- gordong

I think almost anyone we draft this year will need at least one year in Juniors/AHL/Europe. Would much rather draft an AHL eligible euro and have him develop in our own backyard

Murray believes that the AHL is the best development league. Ristolainen and Nylander both went straight to the AHL after being drafted. I would tend to think if its a high enough pick he will go the same path. I think if Murray and scouts believe they need more than a year they will stay in Europe.

Im actually kind of surprised Asplund didn't come over right away. Might have been something with his contract tho
- MCGUIZZY

I'm going to have to disagree here I think overseas is better for development laine , nylander , Matthews did it and it helped them become the players they are now

I don't need someone in the NHL that's a career fighter or some crap headhunting my player
I want him to play with men

Just my opinion of course

Anyone know where i can find individual players possession stats without needing a subscription?
- bluengold12

Hockey reference gives you some. Couple others

http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/

http://corsica.hockey/

My guess is him and Olfsson both come over for the 2018-2019 season but I hope they come now.
- bluengold12

You are probably right. Read an article recently that sounded like it could potentially go either way.

I think almost anyone we draft this year will need at least one year in Juniors/AHL/Europe. Would much rather draft an AHL eligible euro and have him develop in our own backyard
- MCGUIZZY

Agreed

Agreed
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Even your boy Nico

I'm going to have to disagree here I think overseas is better for development laine , nylander , Matthews did it and it helped them become the players they are now

I don't need someone in the NHL that's a career fighter or some crap headhunting my player
I want him to play with men

Just my opinion of course
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Matthews grew up in the system he knew what it took...
Nylander played in the AHL...
Laine is the one exception, and for the record got is bell rung in the NHL this season, probably because of it.

Matthews grew up in the system he knew what it took...
Nylander played in the AHL...
Laine is the one exception
- gordong

Nylander played over seas then AHl .. it got him ready
point-per-game

So who do you guys think TM is going to pick as captain?

I think it's obviously Jack
- GERBE!!!75PTS

No one. The GM doesn't pick the captains.

If Bylsma is still here. I didn't get even close to "he's safe to go to next year" out of that presser. That was all cover your ass by Murray in case Pegula tells him to fire him, or Murray seeks permission to fire him. Anyway if he's still here, I think it goes to ROR.

A new coach, totally depends, but I'd think they'd want a fresh start and go with Eichel.

If Pegula is going to devote 90% of his attention to the Bills, and that's his prerogative, then they need a step above Murray. He needs someone to a) bounce ideas off of, b) give some guidance and c) someone to answer to in a timely manner. Otherwise, if Pegula is going to spend more time on the Sabres, a VP of operations is kind of redundant.

Nylander played over seas then AHl .. it got him ready
point-per-game
- GERBE!!!75PTS

He played 45 games overseas. Not exactly "seasons" worth of games.