Crusader1969

He would have torn up the OHL playing with Mcleod and he would be ranked a 9 on all our lists. He played on a terrible Rochester team last season and struggled. When playing against his peers in the WJC he lead the tourney in scoring. I have no reason to believe he wont be Jack's long term LW partner one day.

Great start by Asplund on the weekend but Nylander is still the #2 prospect in the system. I believe that Nylander will see a huge improvement in his point totals as he begins the new season with the Amerks. He will benefit from his own improved play plus he should have much better line-mates than he had last season.. My prediction is that he will be called up to the Sabres sometime early in the New Year, playing LW on Samson's line. If Pysyk was still a Sabre, where would he be slotted this season?

I still think this team is 1 year away from making the playoffs. I hope they do but when I look at the Forward lines I don't see them quite there yet. I'll be happy if they contend for a playoff spot up to the last 3 - 5 games of the season.

I agree about 2 of the 3 being ready but I don't want them on the 4th line (maybe Fasching) but who's job are they taking? Okposo Pommer and Samson rank ahead, or have we definitely moved him to C? ROR and Okposo should be kept together. Maybe Girgs on LW? Kane Eichel and Baptiste Samson with Bailey and Pouliot 4th line of Moulson Larsson Pommer Dont really see Playoffs for the above forward group but team will look a lot better in 2018/19 when you put Nylander and Mittelstadt in the line-up. maybe Clifford Pu too???

TSN's Bob Mckenzie's initial rankings: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/bob-mckenzie-s-pre-season-ranking-show~1207605 http://www.tsn.ca/the-year-of-swedish-defencemen-1.852963 If you are looking for the Sabres to finally take a Dman with their 1st pick you will be happy to know that there are 8 Dmen in the top 20. 7 in the top 11. All are considered to be puck movers with offensive abilities. Though, outside of Dahlin, you are probably waiting until 2020 to see any of them in the NHL. You can definitely see the Karlsson effect as only Dahlin, McIssac and Wilde are over 6'0. IF the Sabres miss the playoffs and get lucky in the lottery (alas NJ / Philly) Brady Tkachuk would be an amazing addition to the forward group.

cough ** Brendan Guhle

what are the expectations of this roster? I see them fighting for a wildcard spot at best. My best guess is that they finish 4-5 points out of the playoffs this season. However, the addition of Mittelstadt, Nylander, Guhle and Asplund put them firmly into playoff / cup contender in 2018-19

Preliminary Prospect Rankings are now coming out. Craig Button released his yesterday: http://www.tsn.ca/craig-s-list-defenceman-dahlin-leads-draft-class-1.847739 You are seeing more and more Dmen under 6'0 on these lists. Kids I will be keeping a close eye on this year are: 1) Adam Boqvist - Swedish RHD. Arguably the best player in this years Ivan Hlinka Tournament. 5GP 1G 7A (lottery pick) 2) Bode Wilde - RHD US National Team Dman who will be attending Harvard this fall. (1st rounder) 3) Quinton Hughes -LHD US national Team grad who is attending Michigan (mid 1st rounder) 4) Ryan Merkley - RHD who plays for Guelph in OHL 5GP 0G 6A in helping Canada win the Ivan Hlinka (Mid 1st rounder) 5) Ty Smith - LHD Spokane WHL - 5GP 0G 3A playing for Canada at Ivan Hlinka (Lottery Pick) 6) Jet Woo RHD Moose Jaw WHL - 0 points an Hlinka but love the name. (1st Rounder) The 2018 draft is shaping up to be much deeper and stronger that the 2017 crop. If teams are looking for a puck moving dman, there should be options available throughout the 1st round. Rasmus Dahlin is considered to be the next big thing, it will be interesting to see if he gets picked apart as much as the other highly touted Dmen entering their draft year - Liljegren, Chychrun and Hanifan come to mind.

We are talking about 2 players drafted 8th overall. If Nylander is ready to produce at the NHL level this season - maybe 2nd half, he should be given that opportunity. I think at some point you will see all three of Bailey, Baptiste and Fasching. Unless by a miracle the Sabres dont have any forwards injured. Mittlestadt could turn pro after 1 season in college - meaning he could be a late addition to the Sabres roster.

thanks for the link. This is as close to a projected line up as you will get. Is this a play-off line-up? im still not sure, though I would say it can compete for a play-off spot assuming they aren't decimated by injury. I think Nylander is going to get every opportunity to win a top 6 LW spot in camp. If he can't make the team out of camp, hopefully, a half season in the AHL is all he needs. Could Bailey or Baptiste switch to LW? Though i do like the long term prospects of having this lineup in another year: LW - Nylander, Mittelstadt, Kane(?? if resigned) C - O'Reilly, Eichel, Reinhart RW- Okposo, Bailey, Baptiste Pominville, Moulson, Larsson, Girgs, Asplund....filling out the bottom of the forward depth.

Top 3 picks for the 2nd round 1) Josh Brook dman Moose Jaw - mobile puck moving dman. 2) Jason Robertson LW Kingston - great puck possession skills and can shoot. Needs to improve skating. Scored 24% of Kingstons goals. 3) Connor Timmons -D SSM - 54 assists and plus 53 +\- smart, moves puck well and can defend.

My pick too. Alas, he will be a Blackhawk

Top dmen still on the board: Connor Timmons NIc Hague Henri Jokiharju Josh Brook David Farrance Eemeli Rasanen

Didn't expect Mittelstadt to be there. Very happy with the pick. Wonder if they project him as a C or LW?

so Tippett?

with both Friedman and Dreger linking Shattenkirk to Buffalo, does this change the opinion of the "draft a dman at 8 regardless" crowd at all?

would you hold onto Kane to try make play-offs this year? trade at deadline if they are out of contention. If they are in the race, come the deadline, let him potentially walk for nothing? I think I would, unless someone knocks my socks off with a deal.

2 of the 3 - Liljegren has been discussed and has a good possibility of being a Sabres.

For what its worth - ESPN's mock from today has Tippett going to Buffalo. "I've heard they (Sabres Brass) like Tippett quite a lot". "Tippettt is the best speedster in the draft (NOT A POWER FORWARD), his ability to go from 0-60 is impressive, and he can gain the offensive blue line with ease". "High Skill level and can make open-ice plays". "he can play shorthanded due to his speed and IQ" "His ability to make plays to his teammates improved as the season went on"."Tippett is an elite skater". from Future Considerations: on Tippett "shot is impressive for not only quantity for its quality. His wrist shot off the rush is especially deadly. When he is further back, he has an effective slap shot that has many defenders turning away due to its power" "High end skater with a great burst". "edges are powerful as well, making him very effective in the cycle game" "good puck skills although definitely more of a goal scorer than playmaker" "future first line winger" The Draft Analyst: "Rugged goal scorer with a lethal shot who produced one of the best wire-to-wire seasons of any 2017 draft prospect. A power forward who can skate extremely well and has tremendous balance and agility, Tippett led the Steelheads with 44 goals and 284 shots. He’s a tenacious goal scorer with a strong desire to succeed. Tippett has an excellent shot and bullies his way into any scoring area to get his stick on the puck. He’s certainly benefitted from flanking a high-end playmaker like Mike McLeod, but he takes a never-say-die approach to every shift and proved to be a low-maintenance goal scorer as the season progressed.

this is the best break down of Liljegren I have seen. http://draftineurope.blogspot.ca/2017/02/ definitely worth a read.

Power Forward? he is not a power forward at all. He is a goal scorer and elite skater who will play next to Eichel for years and score a ton of goals.

Tippett is a shooter and pure goal scorer. Why wouldn't we want him to play wing with Eichel? He skating is also considered high end and has a great burst. Tippett is also very effective in the cycle game. Contrary, to what most think he is actually a very good passer and play-maker but does have a shoot first mentality. Wrist shot is deadly and slap shot is extremely effective. He is 18 and will need to be coached so that he isn't a liability in his own end. I figure, if he is playing with Jack, how much D do I really want him playing? I'll be excited to see the Sabres draft him

I don`t understand how the best pure goal scorer in the draft has bust potential. Yes, he is a Kessle clone and that will infuriate some but no one is questioning his hockey sense, skating or shot. Tippett will score a lot of goals in the NHL, I have no doubt about that.

THAT looks pretty acCurate - I`d be tempted to put Heiskanen in the top tier. All signs for him going 3rd. Im in the Minority but I still take Tippett over Liljegren in this scenario. Liljegren seems like a real roll of the dice to me and the Sabres cant afford to miss.

Craig Button had Liljegren mocked to Arizona at 7. Would you trade up to get him at 6? Dallas is open to trading the third pick. Would you pay a steep price to get in front of Colorado to get Makar or Heiskenen?