‘Prior to the ratification of the new CBA, much of the Sabres drafting of the past seven or eight years had been dictated by the bottom line. Many of their top selections came from the college or European ranks, which virtually ensured that the player would not have to be signed to a contract as quickly as would a player from the junior ranks. While there may still be some of that past strategy in the Sabres approach to their first round selections in the post-CBA world, the more even financial landscape should allow Darcy Regier and the Sabres scouting department to focus more fully on all prospects available.’