Yeah, a Tyler Ennisesque guy that only got those points because he was the defacto 1C. He's not a 1C. He and Raanta are not worth 7. I don't care how "weak" the draft is.
- Wetbandit1

Stepan has scored 50+ points 5 of 7 years, had 44 in 48 in the lockout year.

He's one of the more solid 2C's in the league.

Ennis?

It's ok, neither do I half the time.
- Wetbandit1

Great trades by the Yotes IMO
- jdfitz77

The Hjalmarsson one was, the Rangers one wasn't. Stepan is very overrated.

Thats fine and i hope im wrong, i just saw an opportunity at 8 to grab someone who could be game changer. tippett comes to mind.

These numbers im putting out on mittelstadt arent to label him a bust, but there are enough red flags there that make you wonder why it had to be him at what they probably hope is their last top 10 pick?
- Sabresfan-365

Tippett was.descibed by one scout as "being fkning useless when he doesn't​ have the Puck. Not useless, fkn useless."

Sorry I'm just really not feeling this pick. Tippett was the guy to grab there. I just feel like taking this kid out of high school is a much riskier choice

Stepan has scored 50+ points 5 of 7 years, had 44 in 48 in the lockout year.

He's one of the more solid 2C's in the league.

Ennis?
- sbroads24

Ennis? You didn't hear? He is going to Vegas.

Sorry I'm just really not feeling this pick. Tippett was the guy to grab there. I just feel like taking this kid out of high school is a much riskier choice
- MCGUIZZY

This is all im saying. not that hes doomed to be a bust just that there are a lot of red flags here.

Stepan has scored 50+ points 5 of 7 years, had 44 in 48 in the lockout year.

He's one of the more solid 2C's in the league.

Ennis?
- sbroads24

In that he gets the points he gets because he plays above where he should. When Ennis had his best season it was because he was playing as the 1C.

On a team with good centers Stepan either would be a winger or the 3C.

I've hated the last 3 of 4 of the sabres 1st round picks.
- Mentalorgasm5

blame gmtm

We should package our two seconds to move back into the first and take a defenceman

So all you have to look forward to is hoping Phil Housley has a "come to Jesus" meeting with the team and all works out well.


See ya at next years draft all.

This is all im saying. not that hes doomed to be a bust just that there are a lot of red flags here.
- Sabresfan-365

Would have felt More comfortable going with liljegren. Or tolvanen for that matter

i enjoyed this though

Would have felt More comfortable going with liljegren. Or tolvanen for that matter
- MCGUIZZY

oh well. no more female doging about it, i promise

Jeff Marek of Sportsnet - Mar. 8th: "Was over a point per game player in the USHL and since going back to play high school hockey at Eden Prairie he’s more than doubled that rate of production."

Kevin Wickersham - Feb. 10th: "At 6'1" and 201 pounds, the soon-to-be University of Minnesota Golden Gopher is the real deal with size, elite-level skill, speed and hockey smarts revealed by his superior puck handling, positioning and ability to initiate complex and deceptive offensive plays. In addition to his prolific scoring, he has a great work ethic and doesn’t back down when challenged by larger, stronger opponents."

ISS Hockey - Feb. 7th: "Skill-set among top in the draft class. Elusive one-on-one talent & electric quickness."

Mike Morreale NHL.com - Jan. 20th: "The University of Minnesota recruit has elite puck skills, NHL quickness, and has excelled at every level. Mittelstadt (6-1, 201) was MVP of the USA Hockey All-American Top Prospects Game in September, had 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 16 games with Green Bay of the United States Hockey League early in the season, and now is the leading scorer for his high school team."

Future Consideration: "A smart, quick and highly skilled center…has a tremendous first-step jump, change of pace and ability to make defenders miss…though not the biggest or strongest player on the ice, he finds success in loose puck battles by using his smarts and insane ability to shield the puck from defenders…never takes a shift off, and has added noticeable muscle and speed this season…will finish chances with a quick release on a wrister or powerful snap shot…puckhandling skills are excellent and he is able to create scoring chances in almost all of his offensive-zone shifts using his great vision and understanding of the game"

http://www.mynhldraft.com...rofiles/Casey-Mittelstadt

I love the pick. he has the speed, quickness and dynamic talent no one on this team has except Jack and he has size. He needs to get stronger but if he was stronger he would have been drafted a few spots higher and the Sabres wouldn't have snapped him up.
- GilPerreault11

yeah, gil...but none are Dhiren Mahiban ‏Verified account
@dcmahiban

sheesh

blame gmtm
- Michael Pachla

Why can't I blame Devine? I want to blame him.

I'm gonna get ahead of the trend. #fireGMJB

tank on!

Jeff Marek of Sportsnet - Mar. 8th: "Was over a point per game player in the USHL and since going back to play high school hockey at Eden Prairie he’s more than doubled that rate of production."

Kevin Wickersham - Feb. 10th: "At 6'1" and 201 pounds, the soon-to-be University of Minnesota Golden Gopher is the real deal with size, elite-level skill, speed and hockey smarts revealed by his superior puck handling, positioning and ability to initiate complex and deceptive offensive plays. In addition to his prolific scoring, he has a great work ethic and doesn’t back down when challenged by larger, stronger opponents."

ISS Hockey - Feb. 7th: "Skill-set among top in the draft class. Elusive one-on-one talent & electric quickness."

Mike Morreale NHL.com - Jan. 20th: "The University of Minnesota recruit has elite puck skills, NHL quickness, and has excelled at every level. Mittelstadt (6-1, 201) was MVP of the USA Hockey All-American Top Prospects Game in September, had 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 16 games with Green Bay of the United States Hockey League early in the season, and now is the leading scorer for his high school team."

Future Consideration: "A smart, quick and highly skilled center…has a tremendous first-step jump, change of pace and ability to make defenders miss…though not the biggest or strongest player on the ice, he finds success in loose puck battles by using his smarts and insane ability to shield the puck from defenders…never takes a shift off, and has added noticeable muscle and speed this season…will finish chances with a quick release on a wrister or powerful snap shot…puckhandling skills are excellent and he is able to create scoring chances in almost all of his offensive-zone shifts using his great vision and understanding of the game"

http://www.mynhldraft.com...rofiles/Casey-Mittelstadt

I love the pick. he has the speed, quickness and dynamic talent no one on this team has except Jack and he has size. He needs to get stronger but if he was stronger he would have been drafted a few spots higher and the Sabres wouldn't have snapped him up.
- GilPerreault11

To be fair, even 3rd rounders get stupid good scouting reports praising their speed, skill, vision, shooting, whatever. Very rarely will they ever give a real report and give real weaknesses they just won't reference them. Sam was never listed as "slow".

Word is he is Russ Brandon's sister's niece's boyfriend

curious to see where liljegren and brannstrom go

In that he gets the points he gets because he plays above where he should. When Ennis had his best season it was because he was playing as the 1C.

On a team with good centers Stepan either would be a winger or the 3C.
- Wetbandit1

On Pittsburgh, Eichel would be a 3C. So what?

Regardless, they didn't trade 7 for a goalie.

That's like saying we traded Zadorov for Jamie McGinn

One thing that pick tells me.... we are not in a win soon mode. This kid is about 3 years away at best

I tried to Pull-up some Middlestadt videos, couldn't find one

On Pittsburgh, Eichel would be a 3C. So what?

Regardless, they didn't trade 7 for a goalie.

That's like saying we traded Zadorov for Jamie McGinn
- sbroads24

Good centers, not the best centers. He'd be the 3C in Colorado.

Yeah, but we traded 21 for a goalie and a PK guy. 21 and 7 are miles and miles apart. I wouldn't even trade 21 for Stepan.

oh well. no more female doging about it, i promise
- Sabresfan-365

No promises.