LGR4GM

I'd guess Chicago takes Levshunov

I'm skeptical of JEE being available but would be very interested if true.

Catton is going to plummet.

NHL does a truly awful job of covering this event. I think physical testing starts today so we should get height and weights.

He's definitely being overtaken as a 23yr old guy with 26pts as his best season. He's about to do his 3rd full season and technically has 3 nhl seasons under his belt. He might be good eventually but what if we aren't the ones to take the chance? Why can't half a dozen ufas or draftees do what he does?

Man... saying Liiga and SHL is run and gun is something you could do... i don't think it would be correct, those leagues are very much structured and cycle based. Idk about the German pros. That might be more rush based. Czech league is well known for its hard nosed players. Russian Jr's certainly have a run and gun element. I think in the Swedish and Finnish leagues, there's more room so they learn to play with more time but that's nothing to concerning. But Quinn, JJP, Samuelsson are and that's about the only players I can think of who spent significant time in Rochester.

I like Krebs as a person and think he had an NHL future. I'm just not convinced that future is in Buffalo.

If he were taller, I think he'd go higher. Teams gets silly at the draft. I like Helenius.

No it's literally a trade the Sabres did with Eichel. Dahlin for Tuch, 1st rounder, Krebs and a 2nd. Who says no?

I think you could flip 2 and 3 and there's rumors that Montreal will take Sennecke. Other than that, I actually feel pretty good.

Probably because he's the best player on the Sabres, with good size, great skill, and a physical element that would do well in the playoffs. We should totally trade that out, I mean it would be great. I would know who to bet my house on to win a cup next year aka the ROR, Eichel, and potentially Reinhart special.

Then Kevyn Adams should be fired on the draft floor.

And I am saying "try" seems to be turning into "will" I am saying that I see a shift in that he seems to be seeking changes to his top 6 which is not what he has said. You are arguing with me over top 6 versus top 9. I feel there is a difference. I don't honestly care if others don't, to each their own.

More Russians

He has repeated said that he is looking to fill out his bottom 6. I believe the paraphrasing was wants to fill out the bottom 6 and give them a more physical dimension/identity. Now it is sounding like he will make a move in the top 6 and to me that seem to indicate a shift.

If you want more on the Russians in the draft:

Ah yes, Buffalo and their fans favorite activity. Waiting until a player is the best on the team and then shipping them off for some picks and prospects.

Seems there has been a shift in terms of what Adams said at the end of the season until now, although I won't believe he will trade one of his precocious top 9 until I see him do it.

The player that this board and Sabres twitter would implode over... Let's talk about Justin Poirier, the 5'8" winger who won't be 18 until Sept4th. Why should we talk about him? he scored 69g in 85 QMJHL games this season. That's insane to be quite honest. I am really interested to see if we can get an updated height and weight although it doesn't appear that he is a combine invite which is surprising. Anyways, he's almost a full year younger than some of the other guys being talked about in the first round (Nygard) so that is something to keep in mind. He loves to shoot. I think if Eiserman and Poirier were put on the ice together there would be like 100 shots a game. Now the good news is Poirier has a good shot and there are about 20 videos you can watch to see his goals. The bad news is I am not really sure he is creating enough chances himself and what I mean by that, he does put himself in prime scoring spots but a lot of the time he is asking his teammates to then give him the puck there. There's some decent handling and a good ability to make adjustments that will translate. Skating is solid and he seems to have a physical side to his game but idk how effective that will be. Really you are drafting him because you think he is Cuafield Jr. I am not personally convinced of that. A lot of his shots a facilitated by others, he doesn't seem to make a lot of high level manipulations or passes. He is really lesser Eiserman who I like far more. Still at 43, maybe you get lucky and Poirier ends up as a 2nd line scoring winger and top PP guy. At 43, that would be pretty good. Personally, I would look elsewhere and I think Poirier will slide into late 2nd or even the 3rd.

Let's talk about Dominik Badinka, 6'3" 190lbs RHD out Czechia who played 33 games in the SHL this year. If Stiga is gone, I think I wouldn't mind Badinka at 43. First, the number of clips for a guy who has only 4 SHL points is low, not 0 but low. He reminds me a bit of Mattias Samuelsson in that he is big and physical while being calm without having much offense. Now when I say physical, I don't mean Pronger, he can use his body to get leverage and try and separate others from the puck but I don't read or see that as his go to. I wonder if playing in men's league at 18 has some to do with that. His skating I actually really like as his movement looks fluid and there is a fastness to it. That said, needs to be quicker and needs to add that extra short area burst. I think he is smart but have read other places that would disagree. In the all shifts below, there are time you really see him patiently and effectively get position and under pressure make good plays out or start the rush with his skating. You also see sometimes where his is just a half second behind and I think that isn't processing speed per say but more of the experience and maturity that young guys struggle with. EP has some reports from March when he went back to jrs for a few games and it is all basically he is really good defensively and getting pucks up ice but don't expect a bunch of fancy offensive zone plays. I have seen him tagged anywhere from #2 defender to the more numerous 2nd pairing guy and 1st PK type. At 43, if you get an NHL player in your top 9 or top 6, you've done well and I think Badinka is a solid guy who will probably play NHL games either as a 2nd pairing guy or a really strong 3rd pairing guy. I hope his physical game continues to develop as he gets stronger because there is certainly a willingness to engage that way that could help him carve out a role. Long reach and good skating can go a long way if you have a physical side too. Do we have to take him at 43, no, but he would be an interesting pick. He is #6 in white

They aren't as nice as 47 Brand I know that.