Baker said they were "really,really high on Draisaitl".

Maybe Bennett's bad shoulder made him lower on all 3 teams board.

I don't blame Murray for picking Reinhart, or the Sabres in general. All 3 were close.

Just sick of being a bridesmaid in all of these drafts. I want one of ours to turn out to be the best player
- sbroads24

I still have high hopes for Nylander.

Baker said they were "really,really high on Draisaitl".

Maybe Bennett's bad shoulder made him lower on all 3 teams board.

I don't blame Murray for picking Reinhart, or the Sabres in general. All 3 were close.

Just sick of being a bridesmaid in all of these drafts. I want one of ours to turn out to be the best player
- sbroads24

i'm with ya...

then again one thing I keep in mind is that draisaitl was nhl-ready from a physical standpoint...add in his talents, which are definitive, and you have a player ready to make an immediate impact

I still have high hopes for Nylander.
- buffalofan19

you and everyone else in buffalo, including murray

you and everyone else in buffalo, including murray
- Michael Pachla

What I mean is, I thought he should have been picked higher than he was.

If by chance we win a top 3 pick in the lottery, I wouldn't be against moving Sam + for Risto's partner. Eichel, Nico, Nylander, Kane, RoR, and Okposo (hopefully) is a find top 6 to me.

Baker said they were "really,really high on Draisaitl".

Maybe Bennett's bad shoulder made him lower on all 3 teams board.

I don't blame Murray for picking Reinhart, or the Sabres in general. All 3 were close.

Just sick of being a bridesmaid in all of these drafts. I want one of ours to turn out to be the best player
- sbroads24

One of the best posts yet. At the time Rhino was definitely in the top 3. Can you imagine the ridicule on this board - and around the league - if we had picked a guy like Pastrnak? Hind-sight is 20/20 but if we could re-do that draft, I am sure Murray would have taken Leon D.

I also agree with your post about being the bridesmaid all the time. We need to hit a home-run on one/some of our picks. Enough with the singles and doubles. And calling Jack a home-run doesn't count. If my dog Jake was the GM of the Sabres at the time, he would have picked ECHL.

What's Murray's negotiating strategy with Jack/Rhino going to be? Let Chiarelli establish the benchmarks with McJesus and Leon first and then sign Jack/Rhino to their deals - or does he try to sign Jack/Rhino first?

What's Murray's negotiating strategy with Jack/Rhino going to be? Let Chiarelli establish the benchmarks with McJesus and Leon first and then sign Jack/Rhino to their deals - or does he try to sign Jack/Rhino first?
- SabreWest

I hope he does it first, no point in waiting. Give jack 8x8 and Sam 5x5 and move on to bigger issues like moving Moulson, Gorges, and Badgogian.

I hope he does it first, no point in waiting. Give jack 8x8 and Sam 5x5 and move on to bigger issues like moving Moulson, Gorges, and Badgogian.
- sskkoo1

Getting Jack done for $8M is going to be tough IMO, Sam will be a little easier as he hasn't taken the step necessary for anything larger than what you quoted.

What I mean is, I thought he should have been picked higher than he was.
- buffalofan19

if he ended up behind Matthews and laine, it wouldn't be such a bad thing

- GERBE!!!75PTS

..No one

I wouldn't commit money & term to Reinhart until he gets a chance to be a full time center.

He has been miscast as a winger. He doesn't have the speed, strength or instincts to be a top NHL winger.

He was a top prospect because he was projected to be a play making center with excellent smarts and vision.

If the Sabres aren't going to make him the 3rd line center this season, they should be trading him before all of his value is gone.

What's Murray's negotiating strategy with Jack/Rhino going to be? Let Chiarelli establish the benchmarks with McJesus and Leon first and then sign Jack/Rhino to their deals - or does he try to sign Jack/Rhino first?
- SabreWest

jack: 8yr/$64-68 million plus he'll probably get the captaincy

reinhart can wait

Getting Jack done for $8M is going to be tough IMO, Sam will be a little easier as he hasn't taken the step necessary for anything larger than what you quoted.
- BigStew

Maybe on Jack, but honestly he hasn't done anything above 8M, either. I know he will, and we will be committing to him, but if he wants 10M than the contract needs to wait and he needs to show us more next season.

I wouldn't commit money & term to Reinhart until he gets a chance to be a full time center.

He has been miscast as a winger. He doesn't have the speed, strength or instincts to be a top NHL winger.

He was a top prospect because he was projected to be a play making center with excellent smarts and vision.

If the Sabres aren't going to make him the 3rd line center this season, they should be trading him before all of his value is gone.
- Losman

Yes. He a center, plays better at center, and was supposed to be a center for us. He needs to be the one with the puck, not lurking around the crease looking to tip shots, we can bring Vanek back for 1m to do that. Put Sam at center where he excels or move him for a much needed top pair Dman.

Maybe on Jack, but honestly he hasn't done anything above 8M, either. I know he will, and we will be committing to him, but if he wants 10M than the contract needs to wait and he needs to show us more next season.
- sskkoo1

Yeah, I'm not sure you get top dollar in your first contract outside your entry level unless your name is McDavid but we'll see what his agent comes up with. Katz is going to have to break the bank for his star as I don't see how he can't make him the highest paid player when his contract is due.

Yeah, I'm not sure you get top dollar in your first contract outside your entry level unless your name is McDavid but we'll see what his agent comes up with. Katz is going to have to break the bank for his star as I don't see how he can't make him the highest paid player when his contract is due.
- BigStew

draisaitl won't come cheap either

Yeah, I'm not sure you get top dollar in your first contract outside your entry level unless your name is McDavid but we'll see what his agent comes up with. Katz is going to have to break the bank for his star as I don't see how he can't make him the highest paid player when his contract is due.
- BigStew

100 pts in year two, yeah, McDavid is getting paid. Let's offer sheet Leon once they sign McDavid and lock up that much cap, just to pay them back for Vanek.

..No one
- chilliard77

I left to many goddamn people to stay for a sub

I still have high hopes for Nylander.
- buffalofan19

I don't. If you can't beat AHL goalies, you won't beat NHL. He won't be any good. Mark it down and put it in a safe place. My prognostications are generational.

People talk about good cheap players, I would grab Del Zotto on the cheap.

I don't. If you can't beat AHL goalies, you won't beat NHL. He won't be any good. Mark it down and put it in a safe place. My prognostications are generational.
- Hatboro_Swords

It's amazing how easy it is to hold hindsight drafts, every GM in the league drafts players that they believe will become stars. Heaven forbid that Nylander, who played almost the entire season as an 18 year old, struggles with the nuances of playing pro hockey. Maybe they should have left him in the Juniors or over in Europe where he wouldn't have been in the cross fire of some of the most Cynical Trolls of any blog on HB. Every scout who has watched this kid raves about his hockey skills, it is called development for a reason.

People talk about good cheap players, I would grab Del Zotto on the cheap.
- SABRES 89

We don't need him

You haven't won anything in over 50 years, and even when you did there was only 6 teams in the league. You haven't been to the playoffs in over 10 years. So lets stop talking about how good your organization is run. You're cocky and smug and come into our board with an attitude of superiority and then get your panties in a bunch when you can't get Sabres fans to agree with your delusions of grandeur.

Your Leafs will more than likely be swept, and then the dream will be over. You are the 2013-14 Colorado Avalanche, see you in the basement next year.
- sskkoo1

Thanks for the history lesson. 50 yrs r 46 yrs. Does it matter? Relevant? Nope.

I deal with certainties. Garbage In, garbage out. For years the Leafs garbage organization. Stellick, McNamara, Floyd Smith, JFJ ahnd Burke. Pure rubbish. Predictably the team was crappy Not now though.
You keep on changing the narrative to prove a another point. Not cocky. No parades planned. The SABRes are run by a novice GM with a very thin resume. Both coach and GM are on the ropes. It's unfortunate as Sabre fans deserve better