I think this is the year to trade Sam and Risto for draft picks. Do a minor retool and build around Jack/Cozens/Dahlin and multiple picks this year.
- Fattony1187

Agreed

We all want the best player for are team, we can say who we like, or would fit are team better. But after the the first couple pics it's basically a crap shot on who will either hit there potential or who won't. That's the bad thing about drafting them so early, you just don't know.

Soft post
Softer poster
- Boss34

Hope we draft Tuch for you so I don't have to see we need TOUGHNESS!!!

We all want the best player for are team, we can say who we like, or would fit are team better. But after the the first couple pics it's basically a crap shot on who will either hit there potential or who won't. That's the bad thing about drafting them so early, you just don't know.
- Buff36

I love late round picks those are my favorites

Might be time to have my Watkins jersey finally re-lettered to Diggs. Been waiting a long time for a worthy #14.
- TheSabresTaco

Fitzmagic had to be tempting?

I don't dislike Raymond or his potential but this years drafted is loaded up front. I used Gunler as the example, who in the same amount of EV ice time per 60, out scored him at the same rate.

He only played 9 games in the SuperElit unfortunately so we won't know how well he would've stacked there, but even in just that sample his EV primary ppg was lower than guys like Eriksson Ek

It's not a dig at his talent, but there are question marks there. Answering those questions may make a team feel more comfortable picking him higher, or they may scare them away. I unfortunately don't have that kind of access.

Oh yikes I just saw the pic, is he just swedish eichel?
- Michael Ghofrani

He actually looks quite a bit like Okposo, no?

I love late round picks those are my favorites
- gerbe75pts

Not exactly what I meant, but we could use a few of them to work out too

I don't dislike Raymond or his potential but this years drafted is loaded up front. I used Gunler as the example, who in the same amount of EV ice time per 60, out scored him at the same rate.

He only played 9 games in the SuperElit unfortunately so we won't know how well he would've stacked there, but even in just that sample his EV primary ppg was lower than guys like Eriksson Ek

It's not a dig at his talent, but there are question marks there. Answering those questions may make a team feel more comfortable picking him higher, or they may scare them away. I unfortunately don't have that kind of access.

Oh yikes I just saw the pic, is he just swedish eichel?
- Michael Ghofrani

Sounds like a strong draft.

If we pick 7th this year, where does that #7 overall compare to the nylander, mitts , cozens drafts?
Is our 7th comparable to a 5th last year ( as an example?)

Seems like last year was pretty solid?

I think this is the year to trade Sam and Risto for draft picks. Do a minor retool and build around Jack/Cozens/Dahlin and multiple picks this year.
- Fattony1187

Unless they open up a secondary trade deadline, how would that happen, as the way the NHL is outlining things, players under contract will not be allowed to be traded as part of this year's draft.

Sounds like a strong draft.

If we pick 7th this year, where does that #7 overall compare to the nylander, mitts , cozens drafts?
Is our 7th comparable to a 5th last year ( as an example?)

Seems like last year was pretty solid?
- Boss34

Stronger. MUCH stronger.

Unless they open up a secondary trade deadline, how would that happen, as the way the NHL is outlining things, players under contract will not be allowed to be traded as part of this year's draft.
- kingcong39

Well it would be contingent on trades being allowed obviously. Nothing has been released yet. Not even how they are doing lottery

Hope we draft Tuch for you so I don't have to see we need TOUGHNESS!!!
- gerbe75pts

I agree with you that fighting is going away. Face punchers for sure.

Adam did make a good point though:

Wilson cup
Reeves cup (2nd)
Maroon (cup)
Maroon - top regular season team for last year (tampa) signs him in the off season. Indicating that they were missing that type of player or style.

Watching the Sabres lose and get pushed around in their own building is really disappointing as a long time paying fan.
Aside from the winning with toughness arguement. It's entertainment

I agree with you that fighting is going away. Face punchers for sure.

Adam did make a good point though:

Wilson cup
Reeves cup (2nd)
Maroon (cup)
Maroon - top regular season team for last year (tampa) signs him in the off season. Indicating that they were missing that type of player or style.

Watching the Sabres lose and get pushed around in their own building is really disappointing as a long time paying fan.
Aside from the winning with toughness arguement. It's entertainment
- Boss34

I am good with having a 4th line that includes both Maroon and Simmonds, along with Larsson, as they would be tough to play against and good defensively.

Overall, it would be great to get players like the Tkachuk brothers. There just aren't many of them and they aren't frequently available.

Sounds like a strong draft.

If we pick 7th this year, where does that #7 overall compare to the nylander, mitts , cozens drafts?
Is our 7th comparable to a 5th last year ( as an example?)

Seems like last year was pretty solid?
- Boss34

The top end in this years draft, particularly at forward, is very good. Quite a few of them were on pace to break draft year records for top 10 picks. Obviously not a guarantee but an encouraging sign.

7th pick on average will always be what it is assuming teams go BPA. Which is that you're getting a very good player, but 6 better/more reliable prospects went before him.

Each pick after 1 in theory is less certain than the next, that's why picks 6-8 are very difficult. Because the teams picking there really need to hit the mark, but the near guarantees are off the board by then.

16 and 17 drafts are good examples of that, they're prime "trade down drafts". They kinda did a simulated version of that when they flipped Nylander for Jokiharju.

They were fortunate to get Cozens at 7 though.

Hope we draft Tuch for you so I don't have to see we need TOUGHNESS!!!
- gerbe75pts

I wouldn’t mind him in the 2nd or 3rd round.

Might be time to have my Watkins jersey finally re-lettered to Diggs. Been waiting a long time for a worthy #14.
- TheSabresTaco

I may get a 27 sabres jersey and put white on the back of it

Love Canal pile......
- dadeadhead

I just listened to Tyler Dunne on one bills live (the guy who wrote the Watkins article)

He was basically like "lol, what a kooky guy."

No man, it sounds like he's schizophrenic or he has CTE
- jcragcrumple

https://www.usatoday.com/...en-worth-a-bet/111537248/


I am throwing $30 on him

I may get a 27 sabres jersey and put white on the back of it
- navinrjohnson

Racist

The top end in this years draft, particularly at forward, is very good. Quite a few of them were on pace to break draft year records for top 10 picks. Obviously not a guarantee but an encouraging sign.

7th pick on average will always be what it is assuming teams go BPA. Which is that you're getting a very good player, but 6 better/more reliable prospects went before him.

Each pick after 1 in theory is less certain than the next, that's why picks 6-8 are very difficult. Because the teams picking there really need to hit the mark, but the near guarantees are off the board by then.

16 and 17 drafts are good examples of that, they're prime "trade down drafts". They kinda did a simulated version of that when they flipped Nylander for Jokiharju.

They were fortunate to get Cozens at 7 though.
- Michael Ghofrani

The Detroit pick sure helped, but they're going to get a player with more promise then Cozens this year at 7 as well.

The Detroit pick sure helped, but they're going to get a player with more promise then Cozens this year at 7 as well.
- kingcong39

Yeah at that stage in a rebuild going high risk/high reward isn't as bad when you're fairly certain you're getting another few top 3/5 picks

The Detroit pick sure helped, but they're going to get a player with more promise then Cozens this year at 7 as well.
- kingcong39

As much of a surprise that Seider pick was at the time, he looks like he’s going to be stud.

As much of a surprise that Seider pick was at the time, he looks like he’s going to be stud.
- Pegullaville

Im not so sure. I dont know what they project him as but even the defensive defensemen put up better even strength numbers than he did, if only because their ability to transition from defense to offense is really good.

- navinrjohnson

It's sad. It seems like he could be one of those former athletes that's broke, dead or in jail by 50. I hope someone gets him actual help