LGR4GM

Byram is worth more than Mittelstadt

If we ran the Sabres, they would have made the playoffs at least once.

Terry Pegula is the reason, he took us here.

Good job conservatives, you voted for a guy who will literally be taking bribes from foreign governments but hey! At least he's arresting mayors and college students, so tough. I feel safer already.

https://www.npr.org/2025/05/10/nx-s1-5391962/va-job-cuts-limit-doctor-nurse-resignations-veterans

I'm mildly convinced teams will see value in Samuelsson. He's big and teams love big defensemen.

I'd rather have his sister Meghan. She seems smart and well versed in the analytics side.

I'd trade up in the 2nd to get him. We pick 39th I think and I'd try to get to 34 if possible. Nestrasil gets a lot of love in some draft circles. He's the poster child of "big and growing into his body" and has physical.

Idk if he'll still be on the board, but yes. Very much yes.

The question is what assets of these teams would help Buffalo. That's the starting place.

There's your list.

Yea... smells like "okay, I'll give my boy until Christmas and then if it's bad, the "advisor" becomes gm"

Terrified of that being the pick. I need a guy who demands the puck more.

Samuelsson isn't good and should be moved regardless of Byram or Power.

Which teams are either old on defense or just lack defense in general?

This reaks of "we should fire our GM but his contract and he's a guy Terry likes" The longer this goes on, the more laughable it becomes.

I'm going to throw out another option at 9 that we've not talked about much, Justin Carbonneau. His game needs to mature but the guy has every tool in his box. He's a 6'1" 192lb winger, with excellent skating, a good shot, strong work ethic, and maybe the best hands in the draft. Hus biggest criticism is turning his game from high event to high possession meaning better play selection. That's not uncommon for Jr players with more skills and ideas than puck touches, although, he gets a lot of touches. Topped his team in pts by 8 and in goals by 18. They lost in the first round because the opposition decided to take Carbonneau away and he managed just 3g. He was really the engine for his team. Carbonneau needs work on getting his ideas in the right order but the fact he's got the underlying manipulation skills needed is good. He also has an excellent shot that makes those fakes with his amazing hands something defense reacts to. Carbonneau is a bit high risk high reward. The risk, he never quite adapts to a pro game and ends up more of a pp specialist you can run on your 3rd line. The reward, he's a 40g, 45a rw with edge who's defensively engaged with skills to spare. Carbonneau will likely remain in my top 10. There's games where he adapts and plays a more pro style and I think he's smart enough to know how to translate his game. Give him another year in Jr and 2yrs in the AHL, I think you'll have a hell of a winger.

And what 1 NHL scout said about Martin's physical game: "And for at least one NHL scout, it’ll be a separating skill in the NHL as well. "He's not just the best hitter in junior. He'd be one of the best in the NHL right now.""

And from the same article about Frondell "The powerful pivot was unable to create much in the way of offense. He failed to make plays, instead choosing to dump pucks in. His weapon of a shot was invisible." Now 1 tournament doesn't make or break a guy and Frondell was good in the Allsveskan playoffs, his team got promoted, but impo I don't see enough offensive creation from Frondell. There's not enough chaos creation.

Since ik Mrtka will come up a bunch and I wouldn't be surprised if the Sabres suck at drafting and pick him 9th overall. "Blessed with incredible size, reach, and stopping potential, Mrtka failed to dominate in any of the three zones. His lack of physicality was note-worthy. If a team is expecting a bruiser, they’ll be sorely disappointed." - Cam Robinson on Mrtka post u18s https://www.eliteprospects.com/news/2025-u18-world-championship/risers-and-fallers-from-the-2025-u18-world-championships

Hmm. Good read and I like Vinny. Helenius has a long way to go.

You can keep Power or Byram, not both. I hope this helps nail that point home.

He has physicality, it's not consistent and I don't see Tom Wilson at all when I watch him.