I know you didn’t direct the question towards myself but maybe I can provide some info that will help you out. I scan mock drafts and nhl draft rankings from the beginning of the season till now to get the consensus top 20 or so. Bob McKenzie, Craig Button, Central Scouting, ISS, TPE hockey, Steve Kournianos at Sporting News, Cam Robinson with Dobber Prospects, Jokke Nevalienen for European tidbits but since he’s Finnish it’s generally directed towards Finnish prospects. There’s more but that’s what I can think of off the top of my head.

With all of those rankings in mind I see scout opinions and different rankings. I then just simply go on YouTube and search up the respective names and watch as many videos as I can (or willing to watch depending on how bored I am) and formulate my own opinions and make inferences to players already in the NHL. If you follow enough people on twitter they post a lot of clips as well of different prospect highlights.
- Pegullaville

I generally do the same, but my video watching is compilations that some of the draft sites post as we get to this time of year.

I guess what I'm trying to get st iscwhat are the specific characteristics that make you take notice.
I listed mine above and think I 'll spend some time in weighting them...then trying to piece together ratings for each.

I have not recently read up on each, only a few so I haven't yet prioritized them...but guys who fit the mold I'm looking for are
So far
Cozens
Dach
Boldy

I just believe that the mental side needs more weighting g than most if not all of the physical attributes...with Skating being the exception.
The was a good article on the effect high hockey I Q has had on Tampa's success...yes they have speed and skill to kill, but they play a very smart thinking game...always seeming to have guys open in high danger areas and teammates who know where that is and who is going to get there.

Personally, for the Sabres BPA is probably best way to go, but I'd really have to think twice about pulling on a D-man with our 1st.that said, a very solid young D-man is worth a ton when thinking of trade chips.

So just for sh!ts and giggles, I did the sim and this is the order and my guess on who gets picked by whom.

1. Colorado/Hughes
2. Detroit/Kakko
3. NYR/Podkolzin
4. LA/Byram
5. NJ/Dach
6. Buffalo/Turcotte
7. Edmonton/Cozens
8. Anaheim/Krebs
9. Vancouver/Boldy
10. Philly/Zegras


If we lose the Blues pick and the Sharks pick is around 24, I go Bobby Brink.

You didn't receive your copy of "How to be a Buffalo Fan"

Chapter One:

The Good Players Actually Aren't That Good

Chapter Two:

The Guys Who Try Hard, but Suck, Are Better

Chapter 3:

The Good Players Are Lazy (By My Imaginary Standard)

Chapter 4:

It's the Good Players Fault Na Na Na I Can't Hear You
- jcragcrumple

With the exception of Eichel who’s actually great, this has mostly been true for this team, and is a reason we’ve been so bad for so long

With the exception of Eichel who’s actually great, this has mostly been true for this team, and is a reason we’ve been so bad for so long
- sbroads24

I would argue there's a difference between "the good players aren't good enough," and "we don't have enough good players"

Interesting proposition. I can get behind that. I think we go defense with the other first rounder though if we keep it and go Centre with the top 7 pick but time will tell.
- Pegullaville

I am looking at it for long term, as well as 2020

come back with lavoie or pelletier

I generally do the same, but my video watching is compilations that some of the draft sites post as we get to this time of year.

I guess what I'm trying to get st iscwhat are the specific characteristics that make you take notice.
I listed mine above and think I 'll spend some time in weighting them...then trying to piece together ratings for each.

I have not recently read up on each, only a few so I haven't yet prioritized them...but guys who fit the mold I'm looking for are
So far
Cozens
Dach
Boldy

I just believe that the mental side needs more weighting g than most if not all of the physical attributes...with Skating being the exception.
The was a good article on the effect high hockey I Q has had on Tampa's success...yes they have speed and skill to kill, but they play a very smart thinking game...always seeming to have guys open in high danger areas and teammates who know where that is and who is going to get there.

Personally, for the Sabres BPA is probably best way to go, but I'd really have to think twice about pulling on a D-man with our 1st.that said, a very solid young D-man is worth a ton when thinking of trade chips.

- IonSabres

I was a big fan of Dach when I watched the Hlinka/Gretzky tournament in the Summer time. He seems to have lost a bit of steam playing for Saskatoon during the season, he went through some stretches of hockey with minimal point production. Scouts started to question his straight line speed as well. He’s a big playmaking Centre though and he’s a pretty good PKer. He has great hands and an underrated shot. The tools are there for him to become the next Getzlaf though.

I am looking at it for long term, as well as 2020

come back with lavoie or pelletier
- homiedclown

What you are saying makes complete sense. I just think judging from our prospect cupboards

Wingers: Olofsson, Nylander, Thompson, Smith, Weissbach, Davidsson (C/LW), Pekar, Murray.

Centres: Asplund, Davidsson, possibly Pekar.

Defense: Pilut, Borgen, Samuelsson, Laaksonen, Bryson, Fitzgerald, Hickey, Dougherty, Cronholm.

One of these things are not like the other haha. Our biggest needs are down the middle imo.

What you are saying makes complete sense. I just think judging from our prospect cupboards

Wingers: Olofsson, Nylander, Thompson, Smith, Weissbach, Davidsson (C/LW), Pekar, Murray.

Centres: Asplund, Davidsson, possibly Pekar.

Defense: Pilut, Borgen, Samuelsson, Laaksonen, Bryson, Fitzgerald, Hickey, Dougherty, Cronholm.

One of these things are not like the other haha. Our biggest needs are down the middle imo.
- Pegullaville

but if your trading risto for a center

I would argue there's a difference between "the good players aren't good enough," and "we don't have enough good players"
- jcragcrumple

I would argue that the good players who are paid like good players have been mostly underwhelming on this team for years upon years.

Eichel
Miller
Vanek

Are the exceptions

Roy
Stafford
Myers
Ennis
Ristolainen
O’Reilly
Leino

Which of the above did anyone feel like they got value for what they were paid?

Skinner comes in and scores 38 goals and 60 points at 5 mil. Great value

I hope we take the L tonight in Detroit to lock in the 4th best odds at the lottery.

Flying out to AZ today and will be at Yotes/Jets tonight... was hoping there would be playoff implications for the Yotes but oh well, should still be fun.

I hope we take the L tonight in Detroit to lock in the 4th best odds at the lottery.

Flying out to AZ today and will be at Yotes/Jets tonight... was hoping there would be playoff implications for the Yotes but oh well, should still be fun.
- Sabre_Tooth

don't really care where the sabres end up but I do hope St Louis loose

don't really care where the sabres end up but I do hope St Louis loose
- gordong

They’re beating Winnipeg

So just for sh!ts and giggles, I did the sim and this is the order and my guess on who gets picked by whom.

1. Colorado/Hughes
2. Detroit/Kakko
3. NYR/Podkolzin
4. LA/Byram
5. NJ/Dach
6. Buffalo/Turcotte
7. Edmonton/Cozens
8. Anaheim/Krebs
9. Vancouver/Boldy
10. Philly/Zegras


If we lose the Blues pick and the Sharks pick is around 24, I go Bobby Brink.
- mhp

With the 24 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, the Buffalo Sabres select...

From the US Development Team...

GOALIE - SPENCER KNIGHT!!!

How many fans then disavow any support for the Sabres going forward?
Epic selection, proving Botts has big balls

They’re beating Winnipeg
- sbroads24

except they play Vancouver, St Louis already clinched so maybe they will have a let down.

except they pay Vancouver, St Louis already clinched so maybe they will have a let down.

- gordong

I thought you meant round one

https://www.quanthockey.c...r-old-nhl-defensemen.html

2 points in the loss for Dahlin, last game as a rookie

Wings 5 Sabres 3

but if your trading risto for a center
- homiedclown

Is that what Botts is doing though ? I’m assuming he’s swinging for Duchene in FA. But we can’t guarantee either solution happens. I also think Turcotte/Zegras has higher potential then whoever we trade Risto for and Duchene regardless. Duchene could even move to the wing if he ultimately signs here in year 3 of his deal. Or Mittelstadt could move to the wing as well.

I thought you meant round one
- sbroads24

I think Winnipeg will wake up come playoff time and get it done.

Is that what Botts is doing though ? I’m assuming he’s swinging for Duchene in FA. But we can’t guarantee either solution happens. I also think Turcotte/Zegras has higher potential then whoever we trade Risto for and Duchene regardless. Duchene could even move to the wing if he ultimately signs here in year 3 of his deal. Or Mittelstadt could move to the wing as well.
- Pegullaville

Maybe.
But if Botts called during the deadline and they couldn't get a deal done then, I suspect it is an even bigger uphill battle now to ink him.
I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope for him in FA.

I'd rather use Risto to get that 2C, and use FA for the 3rd line guys where money out isn't as obscene.

With the 24 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, the Buffalo Sabres select...

From the US Development Team...

GOALIE - SPENCER KNIGHT!!!

How many fans then disavow any support for the Sabres going forward?
Epic selection, proving Botts has big balls
- IonSabres

I’ve been talking about drafting Knight for a while now
He should definitely be considered with that late 1st

6k has looked great,
but he’s far from a sure thing

And even if he does work out...
Having a 2nd really good goalie prospect isn’t a bad thing at all

That wasn’t my pick I believe DD was all over him

I wanted Kane saw him as iggy

Woopsie Daisy
- gerbe75pts

Hunter Shinkaruk.

I’d recommend checking out the new Blue and Gold feature. It’s on UPL and it’s one of the best I’ve seen. Great stuff.

I’d recommend checking out the new Blue and Gold feature. It’s on UPL and it’s one of the best I’ve seen. Great stuff.
- Pegullaville

I literally just watched it. I'm pumped to see him here sooner than later.

With the 24 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, the Buffalo Sabres select...

From the US Development Team...

GOALIE - SPENCER KNIGHT!!!

How many fans then disavow any support for the Sabres going forward?
Epic selection, proving Botts has big balls
- IonSabres

This wouldnt make any sense. UPL (6K) is the future.

This wouldnt make any sense. UPL (6K) is the future.
- Sabre_Tooth

Unless we want to hedge our bet on UPL. Goaltending is a more important position then people realize. I wouldn’t complain if we took Knight, I just think there are options past the first round we can look at to take to supplement UPL and use the other first on a d-man or trade it.