Crusader1969

This is a must listen. https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-tsn-hockey-bobcast/id1163208774?mt=2&i=400788702 Around the 40 min Bob talks draft and goes over the top 10 in detail.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still drafting Zadina, Svechnikov and Tkachuk at 2,3 and 4. Just saying getting a dmen who will fill out picks 5,6,7,8 isn't that bad and could actually work out better.

I do agree that Boqvist is still preferred to Dobson/Bouchard but I am a little confused by Boqvist at the moment. He was sooooooo good at the Ivan Hlinka, then started off great for the Brynas J20 team. earning a call up for the SHL. Didn't do a lot there, 1 assist in 7 or 8 games. Was then loaned to Altuna of the 2nd division and still couldn't earn ice time. Recalled back to Brynas last week but barely plays. Yesterday he played a grand total of 2 mins. He seems kinda stuck. Too good for juniors but not good enough for the men's team. Just makes me wonder about him a little. I'm hoping he plays for Sweden at the u18s.

i don't lose sleep over the Sabres winning a few games. The odds are that even if you finish last you are probably drafting 4th. Though, I will admit I cheer for teams around the Sabres to win as well and would prefer the Sabres finish as close to bottom as possible, even with them winnng a few games If you are stressing about the Sabres winning, I would suggest to do some research on the following players: Adam Boqvist, Quinn Hughes, Noah Dobson and Evan Bouchard. Boqvist is an Karlsson clone, Hughes is an elite skater and puck mover, Dobson is the prototypical shut down, 25 mins per game guy with offensive upside and Bouchard is an avg skater but has elite vision and incredible shot. Just maybe the Sabres long term will be better off with another 25 min a night dman over an 18min a night winger (zadina, svechnikov and Tkachuk)?

testing results CHL prospects game http://sherwin-williamstopprospects.ca/article/chls-top-prospects-showcase-strengths-in-sport-testing-combine Dobsons name shows up in a lot of the skating drills.

I agree that Dobson and Bouchard will be very good players but the top 4 in this draft are immediate impact players. 4 more assists for Bouchard last night after 4 'S in the prospect game the night before. I thought his production would drop after Pu, Jones and Thomas were traded away but he has actually increased his scoring. for some reason I am still not sold on him and I can't tell you why.

Exactly plus 2 of the wins came against 2 teams disinterested in playing. The Oilers had just won 3 in a row prior to playing the Sabres. So things can turn bad again really quick. Let's not forget that just one week ago today, the Sabres were spanked by the stars. Overall they are still overmatched against most teams they play. Bottom 3 is still the most likely result for them.

Evans up against Mitteltstadt and the Gophers tonight Edit - watched him fairly closely and didn't really see anything that stood out. Still having a good season it seems but no longer leads NCAA in scoring

8 games played. Team has 8 points and Samson has 7. Both goals on track!

Love anti tank snark from a guy with an Eichel avatar

Sure you can. vegas didn't need to learn to Win. Avs got 49 points last year and now look at them. leafs the year before, last and in the playoffs the following year. I feel very confident that drafting top 5 will do more for the franchise long term than an extra 5 wins to close out the season. I'm not losing sleep over a few wins though. Even if they play at .600 clip (100 point season), it would take a huge Tank by either the Canucks, Canadians or Panthers to pass them.

kyrou plus 2019 first and a conditional pick if Kane signs with St.L? I don't need to wait, deal needs to get done.

yes. they sucked for the 3 previous years prior. Whitney 2002 drafted 5th overall Fluery 2003 Drafted 1st Malkin 2004 2nd overall 2005 won a lottery. as for big name vets: Top Vets: Point leaders 2003-04 Dick Tarnstrom 52pts Alexei Morzov 50pts the goalie they put out there for 40 games had a save % of .883 Mario Lemieux did play 10 games for them though.

Did he mention Zadina? I would be surprised if he isn't in the NHL next season as well Tkachuk could be NHL, I'd like to see him dominate at the College level as I don't think he is doing so as of yet.

i always laugh when people think Tanking is a terrible idea. Do they not know who won 7 of the last 10 cups? you could even argue the Kings bottomed out too.

More from TSN Kyrou, 19, becomes the first player in recent memory to join the board as a prospect. He has been on fire for the Sarnia Sting after helping Team Canada to gold at the World Junior Hockey Championship earlier this month in Buffalo. Kyrou collected 11 points in just three contests last week for OHL Sarnia as the Sting halted Sault Ste. Marie’s points streak at 29 games. He has 23 goals and 73 points in just 35 OHL games this season. So, why would the Blues want to move a blossoming 35th overall pick? Well, the short answer is, they don’t. But in order to get, you must give. The Blues are in the market for an impact winger ahead of the Feb. 26 trade deadline. If they were to pursue a player like Buffalo’s Evander Kane, who remains No. 1 on the board and a potential strong fit, it’s possible that Kyrou could be part of some sort of package to make that happen. Plus, the Blues’ three first-round picks from 2016 and 2017 – Tage Thompson, Robert Thomas and Klim Kostin – all play centre. Thompson, 20, has five points in 19 games for the Blues this season. The arms race is on in the Central Division. Kane remains at Number 1 Samson is 25, Lehner is 28. awesome! i basically posted the same thing a couple of nights ago. kyrou should be the Sabres #1 target for Kane. The competition for him will be high though, may have to give up getting a 1st rounder plus Kyrou. Maybe Kyrou, a guy the Blues want to dump from Current roster, and a conditional pick if Kane signs with them or if the win the cup.

Yes. Just throwing out a guy who was drafted around 8th in 2015 Where the Sabres would be if they didn't TanK Lawson Crouse? Let's not forget the Sabres were one of the best teams post all star game in 2015-16. Where did that get them going into the next season? Not saying I want them to Tank. I certainly don't cheer for losses like i did in 2015. JUst win enough to finish 1 point behind the team that finishes 28th

C'mon. You honestly believe they'd be in last right now with either Laine or Matthews on the team? Is the d cor any better? Scandella. Risto zadarov. Pysyk McCabe. Bogo. Antipin. Gorges

If the Sabres stuck to their guns and tanked again in 2016 No ROR Trade, no Lehner trade, No Pysyk trade. the Kane trade still happens cause that trade help solidify Tank of 2015 Assume they come in last again and draft Matthews or Laine. Where would they be today? The tank of 2015 did work because they now have eichel. Imagine them with William Nylander rather than Eichel on the roster? MUrray messed it up being too aggressive with the time line. The good news - we may have gotten extremely lucky if Mittelstadt turns out to be a star. Here is another chance to add an elite talent.

I think you are exactly right. The good news is that we can have it both ways. Win a bit down the stretch as catching the 28th place team is highly unlikely. If you come in 3rd last - you will get an excellent prospect in the top 6.

I agree, long term a Defender could work out for the Sabres but im getting impatient and want immediate impact. so definitely want the Coyotes and the Sens to win some games aswell, to keep the Sabres in the Bottom 2. That 57% scares the me!

Who is good with stats. It the Sabres finish ahead of Ottawa and Arizona (finishing 3rd last) what are the odds that they draft 5th or 6th? I know it would be only be 31% that they draft in the top 3 but its top 4 that I think you need for this draft - if you want the guy playing for you next year. at #5 or #6, you are probably getting a dman. Either Boqvist, Hughes or Smith (though I've seen Dobson and Bouchard ranked high as well). Only other forward after Zadina, Svechnikov and Tkachuk worth considering would be Walhstrom it seems.

Two more games played since last update: 7 games played: Team goal of 41 points in last 41 goals- just behind pace with 6 points in 7 games Reinhart goal of 25 points in last 41 games - ahead of pace 6 points in last 7 games (.85 PPG)

An interesting one would be Merkley. Offensively gifted but a bit of a disaster in his own end and without the puck.

If it's the Blues, please let it be for Kyrou. Not sure if the Blues would give up their prized prospect for a potential rental player. Though Kane and the Blues could be a nice long term match Dealing Kyrou could happen if the Blues are comfortable with Tarasenko, Kostin, Tage Thompson as their Long term right wingers. They also have Robert Thomas in their prospect pool and he could be NHL ready next year as well.