dudacek

I'm surprised to read the bold, considering Power put up better numbers this year than Johnson did despite being 1 1/2 years younger. Also, how does Power's 16 points in 26 games compare historically? I think people were saying it's a very low NHLe, but on the surface they seem like pretty solid numbers for a true freshman college defenceman. 40 points in 45 games as a 16-year-old D in the USHL seems pretty damn good too. EDIT: Posted before I read your latest.

I think Sabres fans are ready for a “type” and Beniers fits that type to a “T” I think they recognized there was no franchise player at the top of this draft, and didn’t dream they would be picking first and found themselves very comfortable with the idea Beniers at #3. Now they are being jolted out of that comfortable slot and forced to consider “Best Player Available” when that decision won’t be easy and they don’t trust their team to make the right one.

From an anonymous NHL executive to Pierre Lebrun on what the Leafs need to change. If you speak to senior people they will quietly tell you they have concerns about the Leafs’ philosophy of: Focusing only on high octane offense with the belief that if you outscore everyone you will win. It seems they would rather beat you 6-5 than 2-1 and we all know that’s not how you succeed in the playoffs. And, reduce their myopic obsession with analytics as being the defacto decision maker. Analytics are important but should only be one of several criteria evaluated in every decision. Both publicly and privately people know that analytics has a disproportionate influence and makes all the player personnel decisions.

I know he has nowhere near the physical presence, but am I wrong to think he can evolve into playing the role Ristolainen plays for Buffalo, except do it well?

So Quinn and Peterka and Thompson and Mittelstadt and Cozens (not to mention Eichel, Reinhart or their returns) aren’t reasons for not drafting a forward, but Samuelsson and Johnson mean drafting a defenceman is a mistake? Not following your reasoning there. I have no idea who the best player is, but if there is a player who is better than the rest, that’s the one I want, regardless of position. You don’t not draft Malkin because you have Crosby.

Am I wrong to see Power as the combination of the best qualities of Samuelsson and Johnson with a tad more offence? Is it wrong to project him as the guy always on the ice when you are up a goal, playing against the other teams top forwards?

I remember liking McAvoy a ton before that draft and thinking the Sabres were picking too high for him, but I would be happy if they “reached.” Only other guy I recall feeling that way about pre-draft was Quinn. Hope I am just as right.

If it’s the guy I’m thinking of, he’s a former journalist turned hockey executive who’s been around Sweden forever. I think he might have been the mouthpiece for the IIHF for a while.

First impression is this kid is better than Lucas Raymond, last year’s #4. You’d like a more sure thing at #1, but this kid could end of the best player in this draft.

Are people really taking this as anything other than an oblique way of saying thIs kid is determined to be first overall?

This is awesome. This threat lets us take Beniers at 1, then Power at 33. Kid is already showing how bad he wants to be a Sabre.

The Beard? Does @MODO Hockey know about this?

Marriages evolve.

Why are some people certain that Terry is 100 per cent responsible for the success of East Resources and handed Kim every opportunity she gets? Why can't their marriage be a partnership and their successes and failures the results of that partnership? That's the sexist premise here. They are co-owners.

We might be giving two of our top three assets away, but Anaheim is probably giving away three of their top four. That said, I like your trade better. Doubt Anaheim will.

Sad that the Sabres incompetence squandered Jack Eichel. Happy that they probably got the most talented prospect outside the NHL in return. Happy you’ll get to watch Zegras and Cozens compete to be the centrepiece of the Sabres just like they competed for World Junior gold. Happy you got Beniers and happier you don’t have to count on the Sabres making the right choice between Power and Beniers. Happy you get to see Beniers and Comtois skate like their hair is on fire on both ends of the ice for a long time in Buffalo. Happy you’ve solved the team’s goaltending problems for the foreseeable future with a top 10 goalie. You’re welcome.

This might be the right place for the Jones-haters to state their case. I see Ristolainen without the stupids. When I’ve watched him, he just seems to be a really complete player and a horse. Where do you see the flaws in his game? I don’t mean the charts, I mean the holes in the way he plays, where he gets exploited?

I couldn’t be happier with the results of this lottery. ”Bob Murray, you want Getzlaf and Pronger 2.0? Check out this slick and shiny Jack Eichel and this hot new Owen Power. We’ll take your 3rd overall pick and your Trevor Zegras as your first installment. How do you plan to finish this transaction? Maybe some Max Comtois and John Gibson?” Did you see Murray’s face when he came up #3? He wants to move up. Zegras has always been my top Eichel return. That just became a little more possible.

I'm of a mind that Adams has long desired Beniers; he's a poster child for Adams hockey. The "Sabres gonna Sabre" eruption on the internet if he takes him at #1 will be hard to take. I am convinced the Beniers will be a very good hockey player, the question is will it be Drury or Bergeron. Not sure if Power will be more Aaron Ekblad/Alex Pietrangelo in stature than Eric Johnson/Eric Gudbranson. Not sure if I trust the Sabres scouts to make that call.

Will they be interested? Probably more than just about any team. This is a team with an aggressive, highly competitive GM, that just lost its identity (Torterella). This is also a franchise that has never had a franchise centre and is establishing a troubling history of talent wanting to leave. A shiny first-line star pivot locked up on a fair deal for five more years would be a godsend. Do they have the pieces? It doesn't look like it. They have a lot of intriguing support pieces — guys like Jenner, Bjorkstrand, Domi, Texier, Foudy and their goalies, but completely lack the 4- and 5-star prospects the fans seem to think the Sabres want. Their best piece is the 5th overall pick in a mediocre draft. Unless...two or three years ago, there were people who considered Patrik Laine the top young goalscorer in the game and Seth Jones as its top young defenceman. They are still only 23 or 26, respectively. Laine's star has fallen due to concerns about character and this year's production. Jones has been crucified by the analytics Twitterverse. They both need new contracts. Would this work? Jones, Laine, Merzlikins and the 5th pick for Eichel and Olofsson You are going to get a top 5 prospect and a good goalie at minimum. Laine should be worth at least another 1st if you can't sign him and Jones considerably more. People are going to say it's risky (some on here won't want Laine's 30 goals or Jones' 25 hard minutes under any circumstances), but is it more risky than betting on unproven prospects? Is there a deal to be made with the Jackets?

First overall? Yes! YES! YYEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!! .....sorry? Wrong thread?

He’s done two years in the DEL and had a good year this year. I’d persevere him adjusting to NA rinks and culture in Rochester next year.

He looked like a prospect that first year. I wonder what happened to him?

https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/l/larssjo02.html