Crusader1969

they were also a bit lucky that he dropped due to questions about his strength and his commitment to hockey. If your scouting department is that good, wouldn't you want them to be able to draft the guy they like best after the top 3? rather than being left with maybe their 3rd or 4th ranked prospect. Has there ever been a study done that correlates the end of one season to the beginning of the following season? if we look at this season, the 2 biggest turnarounds are New Jersey and Colorado. from Feb 1 Coloradoon - 9W 23L 2ROW New Jersey 7W 19L 5ROW somehow, even though they struggled to the end they were able to turn it around the following season.

Exactly, good players begets winning. Mike Babcock on winning the draft lottery "I remember when we got to three (in the draft lottery), I was jumping up in the living room. When we got to one, tears. People don't understand. You need real players." not "we needed to win some games late last season when it didnt matter". real players beget winning. end of story.

. I do not agree

From hockey news 5'prospects to know Dylan Sikura, RW, Northeastern University Huskies (Hockey East) – I’ve given Gaudette a lot of pub this season, so let’s share the love for Sikura, a silky playmaker who had two points of his own in the Beanpot final. Gaudette’s linemate, Sikura is a Chicago Blackhawks pick who is attracting a lot of attention right now – and with good reason. NHL arrival: 2018-19 (though there’s a chance he gets into a game this year)

i think we are at where we have always been. A pretty good top 6 without any support for the bottom 2 lines. In the long run, its a losing proposition. when the top lines go cold again, they won't have any support for the bottom 6 and the Sabres will be back to being shut-out or scoring 1 or 2. it does give me hope for next year though as I think that 5 out of the 6 bottom forwards will be replaced by younger, faster and better players. 5 out of 6 Out - Larsson, Pouliot. Nolon, Josefson, Pominville (13th forward) In - Erod, Mittelstadt, Baptiste, Smith, ??? to fill their spots

he still has 1 more season under the Sabres control. Need to get him to sign once the NCAA ends!

From Elliotte's 31 thoughts, further confirmation that Sikura may test free agency. Plus, a few more names to keep an eye on this summer. Canucks prospect Adam Gaudette had a hat trick as Northeastern won the Beanpot for the first time in 30 years. While Vancouver fans salivate at the possibility of him joining them following this, his junior season, he has one more year before they really start sweating. Teammate Dylan Sikura, who had two assists, is on the clock, with the opportunity for free agency Aug. 15 if he doesn’t sign in Chicago. There are a lot of contradictory rumours, but the Blackhawks will do what is necessary. According to NHL clubs, the number of potential August free agents is higher than normal, although there are different opinions on how many are worth chasing. Of course, some teams may decide to let players loose. 29. Just some names to keep an eye on, with NHL team followed by school: Brian Pinho (Washington/Providence), Ryan Donato (Boston/Harvard), Anthony Angello (Pittsburgh/Cornell), Louis Belpedio (Minnesota/Miami), David Pope (Detroit/Nebraska-Omaha), CJ Suess (Winnipeg/Minnesota St.), Jake Evans (Montreal/Notre Dame), Brandon Hickey (Arizona/Boston University — traded to the Coyotes in the Mike Smith deal), Nolan Vesey (Toronto/Maine) and Nolan Stevens (St. Louis/Northeastern). The latter Nolan, John Stevens’s son, scored a beauty in the Beanpot final.

From Elliotte's 31 thoughts: "Nashville definitely is all in on Rick Nash. The question is if they can outbid a large field. They already dealt Sam Girard, Vladislav Kamenev and their second-round pick in the Kyle Turris deal, so how deep are they willing to go? A first-rounder that might be 27th or lower won’t do it. They’ve still got excellent prospects (Dante Fabbro and Eeli Tolvanen atop the list) and no doubt the Rangers will try to leverage from those." If Nashville can't land Nash, do they set their target on Kane? Fabbro would be a nice piece for the Sabres to land.

Lots of Dman prospects. I read that the only non-negotiable prospects are Hart and Frost

how great would drafting one of the big 3 LW prospects with your first pick and then getting Merkely with the pick they get (hopefully) for Kane in the mid 20's?

True about Jost but I could have used Dylan Larkin or Clayton Keller as examples. If Mittelstadt is one of the top 9 fowards at training camp next fall, he should make the team.

I haven't seen enough of Olofsson but I wonder if he anything more than a PP specialist? 21 of his 37 points are on the PP. My gut feeling is that its going to take him some time to figure how to create enough space to get his shot off 5v5.

You aren't wrong either way. Boqvist has by far the most offensive upside, some say better than Karlsson at the same age, but not being trusted by his coaches in either the SHL or the Allsvenskan really concerns me. The Sabres can't afford to miss with their top pick in 2018. I could see them going with both Dobson and Bouchard over Boqvist. Of course I've seen way more of the CHL players than I have of Boqvist. So my opinion could be swayed today when its Sweden vs USA at the 5 Nation tonight at 7pm. You can watch on hockeytv.com hopefully they stream it for free.

i see that point but then I see so many examples of guys coming out of college after 1 year and doing well. In the last game against Colorado, Jost was an example of a guy who has 5 AHL games on his resume and is now a big part of the teams turnaround. As for the muscle point, I would ask "How much muscle does Mitch Marner have?" How about Matthew Barzal? If Mittlestadt signs after his freshman year and is one of the best players at camp next year, why would he be sent down? next year, the motto should be "the best players play".

Watched him pretty closely tonight during the Beanpot final and I have no concerns with his skating. I would say that he skates well for a big guy but that wouldn't be giving him his due. I think you can just say "he skates really well"

Really impressed by the 2 seniors who play for Northeastern tonight in winning the beanpot. Nolan Stevens had a nice goal tonight (20th of season. His is a big bodied forward who is currently property of the Blues. Dylan Sikura is smaller forward and has become one of the Black Hawks top prospects. Reports are that he isn't convinced to sign with chicago and could test free agency. https://www.secondcityhockey.com/2018/2/12/17004098/dylan-sikura-signing-chicago-blackhawks-northeastern-nhl-free-agency-2018

Is throwing out the same lineup and telling them go out and win enough? I believe that you are one of the best posters on this site and have way more to add than "just win". What would you like to see Botterill do? UFA Or trades?

Here is the summary on Boqvist - again from Mckeens hockey. Very similar to my post a couple of weeks back Still ahead of Dobson as my #2 dman but I will be watching the 5 nations u18 closely. Summary: After an impressive performance at the U18 Hlinka tournament last fall Adam Boqvist raised on many draft boards. His regular play in Sweden is not in a very good situation. The coach in Brynas, former NHLer Tommy Sjodin, does not seem to trust his defensive game to give him the ice-time he needs to maximize his development. In Allsvenskan he has only played sporadically and has not been able to be there full time as Brynas seems to pick him back up as a 7th defenseman every time they have an injured defenseman. He has played most of his games at the junior level and he has dominated there, scoring goals at an impressive pace. Boqvist is a great prospect and I see him as a can’t miss pick at the top of the draft, probably as the second-best defenseman. His offensive upside is so good and the way the game is going with higher pace and skill the size should not be as decisive a factor any longer. He will need time to develop his senior game and hopefully he will have a better situation soon where he can play more regularly. If he can get stronger and more pro-active in his own end the development will go fast in the right direction. He is far more skilled than most SHL players already. Adam Boqvist has the potential of becoming a number one defenseman at the NHL-level.

Free prospect profile from McKenns hockey: Filip Zadina 2018 NHL Draft Eligible Position: RW, Shoots L H/W: 6-0", 200 lbs Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS) Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL, (41-33-26-59-26) Czech U20, WJC (7-7-1-8-2) Skating: Zadina drifts everywhere on the ice with ease. He is a shifty and effortless skater that seemingly floats above the ice. His stride and footwork do not seem to match up with his actual speed because it is so effortless. His agility is at an elite level already; his edges allow him to blow by defenders cutting out of a corner into the slot. He can turn on a dime and cut at his fastest. His top speed is great but not the highest tier. It may be the only bad mark on his skating to date, but at this level, it does not matter. His skating gives him free access to just about anywhere on the ice if he so chooses. Grade: 65 Shot: Zadina has a big shot for a smaller player. His wrist shot is his weapon of choice, mostly on his off-hand side, accommodating his position. Most of his shots are from 25 feet or closer to the net, and his heavy wrister has speed and spin. He does most of his work from within that right low quadrant of the ice, where he can pick corners and get the puck to the net quickly. His slapshot is good, but he rarely uses it, usually only on the man advantage on a one-timer. Grade: 70 Skills: Zadina’s favourite spot on the ice is between the right wing half-wall and the right corner. He has found a pocket of loose coverage in there where the defender cannot quite harness his explosiveness and his agility, and he attacks. As a lefty, it gives him the optimal angle to get pucks up in tight in a hurry, and he uses that to his advantage. His hands are lightning-quick; he can stickhandle in a phone booth, as opposition defenders have found out this season. His passing has been a huge asset as well, in particular on the powerplay, where a Zadina pass has been slapped in by Max Fortier or B-O Groulx across the zone right to the tape. Zadina has a knack for hitting his teammates in stride no matter the oncoming speed; he can hit a teammate in full gallop across the ice to the tape. Grade: 65 Smarts: Zadina is one of the most creative offensive minds in the QMJHL. He can make plays with his quick hands and feet by reading the play and what is given to him and reacting appropriately, be it on the rush or in the low-right zone of the offensive attack. He reads the play offensively as quickly as he skates, and that allows him to slip around the offensive zone, finding the right area to attack with the least resistance. His creative mind allows him to see the game like a chess match, and find passing seams before anyone else on the ice. Like many of the Mooseheads top players, Zadina works the points up high on the penalty kill, and is very effective with Somppi down a man. His aggressiveness and anticipation helped the Mooseheads lead in shorthanded goals earlier this season. Grade: 65 Physicality: Zadina will never be confused with a bruising forward, but he does have more bite than meets the eye. He is aggressive on the puck and that can lead to some physical play, though he does not go out of his way to hit players. He takes a lot of punishment, certainly, as that comes with the territory of being a finesse forward who plays in the high-traffic areas, but he can be worn down a bit with consistent physical defending from blueliners who can keep up with him. Grade: 50 Summary: There is no doubt that Filip Zadina will be the highest-picked QMJHL player in June in Dallas. The shifty winger has superstar potential and will have an impact offensively at the professional level. He plays well enough defensively to make his shifts stay impactful without defensive lapses. He has been remarkably consistent, even while looking a bit fatigued over the last month or so his point totals have not suffered. He is a main reason for the resurgence of Tampa Bay pick Otto Somppi, and Islanders’ selection Arnaud Durandeau’s speed on the opposite flank has given the Mooseheads enough options to keep the defenders honest with Zadina’s line on the ice and away from the Groulx-Fortier tandem. Halifax’s collection of dynamic forwards have allowed them all to have success this year, as all of their talented options up front have played together at some point, and their chemistry all together has created massive matchup problems for the opposition. Having Zadina in the fold next season for a potential Memorial Cup-hosting Halifax squad, though, would be a surprise. The Czech forward will always be compared to his immediate predecessor as an import of the Mooseheads in New Jersey Devil center Nico Hischier. Like Hischier, he is a very skilled offensive player. Unlike Hischier, Zadina is a bit weaker in the defensive zone, but maybe a slightly better skater, which is why he is most effective on the wing. Zadina is ready to make the jump to the NHL, depending on what team picks him and what type of scoring depth they have.

What's the game plan for the Sabres next season? What expectations for the 2018/19 season do you have? Can they become a playoff team or are we still "a couple of years away"?

15 games into the 2nd half of the season and my goal of playing .500 hockey seems to have become unattainable due the Eichel injury. 15 games played 12 points earned. .400 If they continue along this pace over the last 26 games, they will finish with 62 points. Sam Reinhart, who I wanted to get back to his career avg of .6 pts/game has 14 points so far. That's an impressive .93 pts/game pace. Over an 82 game schedule he would end up with a 76 point season.

Sorry, been burnt too many times to think the 70% will come through. Sure, if they are completely out of it and only 5 or 6 points from last. If you have both Dahlin and Eichel, plus the other prospects I expect to be on the roster next season, I seriously doubt they are in this position. If they are, the good news is that the top of the 2019 draft looks really good. Jack Hughes could be the best forward prospect since McDavid.

Yep, about 26 more times Tell the 2017 Avalanche that who fell from 1st to 4th and the Canucks who fell from 2nd to 5th. Out of curiosity, do you know the odds of finishing 2nd last and drafting 5th?

I care, this draft has 4 surefire prospects. I want the Sabres to get one of them. Plus all 4 are NHL ready, the guy at 5 you will have to wait on for 2 years, if not more. I'm done with losing and adding young talent is the only way to get there.

Sportsnet rankings with a closer look at Bouchard and Lundestrom https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/rasmus-dahlin-leading-way-top-nhl-prospect/