Crusader1969

BPA ? Hello Owen Tippett!

This is the most difficult draft to mock. My feeling right now is that Llijegren isn`t going in top 10. Initial Mock Draft. I think there are going to be trades so im just going to do order of the draft Feel fairly confident in the top 4 and the order 1) Hischier 2) Patrick 3) Heiskanen 4) Vilardi Now its just guess work 5) Glass 6) Mittelstandt 7) Makar 8) Tippett Buffalo at this time but still hope they move up to 6th 9) Pettersson 10) Kostin for the record i think Liljegren goes between 12-15.

Bob McKenzie said today that one out 10 scouts surveyed had Makar going #1, so there's that His final rankings come out on Monday.

just a list of guys who come up in the 2nd round often using the 5 publications.

I compiled a list of Defencemen who could still be on the board in Round 2 using the Final Rankings of TSN, Sportsnet, ESPN, McKeens and Recrutes. 1) Pierre-Oliver Joseph D Charlottetown 6'2 / 165lbs - ranked in 2nd round in 4 out of 5 publications. Ranked 13th overall by TSN. Thought of as being a very athletic and strong decision maker. Strongest trait is his skating - weakest is that he is only 165lbs and 6'2 - he obviously needs to fill out. Has a late DOB and if he can get stronger, he could be a gamble worth taking in the early part of the 2nd round. 2) Ian Mitchell 5'11 D Spruce Grove 175lbs- ranked in 2nd round in 4 out of 5 publications, ranked 87th by TSN. A AJHL dman who was overshadowed by Makar. Mobile. strong puck mover, with a good hockey IQ. He like Makar is a bit undersized and has lots of offensive potential - though Makar had double the points of Mitchell. Will play NCAA hockey at Denver. Looks to be an option late in the 2nd round. 3) Max Gildon 6'3 190lbs USA NTDP ranked in 2nd round 3 out of 5 publications. ranked 78 by TSN and 81 by recrutes. Tall defender who plays a physical style and has good mobility. Best asset is his pro level shot. Questions about consistency and hockey IQ should see him go in late 2nd. 4) David Farrance 5'11 190lbs USA NTDP - ranked in 2nd round 3 out of 5 publications, Another smaller puck moving Dman committed to Boston College. good offensive skills, natural speed. late 2nd seems to be his spot 5) Eemieli Rasanen 6'7 208lbs Kingston mobile for his size, good stick, not overly physical. Late 2nd round potential 6) Markus Phillips 6'0 200lbs Owen Sound Well rounded Dman with no exceptional qualities but no real liabilities. Will need time to develop, probably looking at 2 years in OHL plus a year or 2 in AHL. Late 2nd rounder 7) Jarret Tyszka 6'2 190lbs Seattle Stay at home defenceman who battles consistency issues. Skating is above average but won't be pushing the puck up the ice himself. Will make quick and crisp outlet passes. Known more for his defense play. Projects to be the anchor for a mobile defenceman. Late 2nd rounder or later. 8) Nicolas Hague 9) Henri Jokiharju 10) Dylan Samburg

the big question: is Liljegren a reach at #8? I think he is Which brings me to the Tippett, Glass and Mittlestadt options. Liger, im going to study a few of the D you suggested that could be available in round 2 this weekend. as we sit here today; #1 option trade up to get Heiskanen or Makar, #2: take Tippett, Glass or Mittlestandt at 8 #3 trade down and take Liljegren

no issue at all the Glass or Mittlestadt at 8 either.. I guess my main point was don't reach for a dman at 8. The only 2dmen worth the 8th pick to me are Heisken and Makar. Though the thought of Tippett (best shot and one of the top skaters) and Eichel together, to me, is really intriguing. I would want that line scoring goals not playing D.

If you do the same thing with the Forwards, the 2014 and 2015 draft are basically void of any prospects that you can say will play 100 games in the NHL. (Eichel and Reinhart are no longer prospects) So you basically have Nylander and Asplund who I think you should expect 100 games. then a bunch of unknowns. Take BPA at 8, Hopefully its Makar, if not you take a forward. Nothing wrong with using picks the two picks in 2nd round for D help. Tippetts rankings: McKeens Hockey 6th overall Sportsnet.ca - 4th overall ESPN - 6th Future Considerations - 6th NHL NA skaters - 7th Internatioinal Scouting - 5th Recrutes.ca 11th Hockey Propsects #21 Craig Button #23 6 out of 9 publications have him ranked higher than 8th. why isnt it Phil Kessle again?

You do know that in 2015 Sabres drafted 4dmen with their 6 picks?Another 4 were drafted in 2016? There is no reason for them to reach with the 8th pick for a dman just to overload the pipe line. They could do very well drafting BPA at 8 and taking 2dmen in the 2nd round

Are we all in agreement that Hischier, Patrick, Heiskanen and Vilardi are the only 4 that we can say 100% will not be there on he board? Anyone else? As long as you willing to accept that Liljegrens bust probability is much higher than Tippetts. Tippett will play in NHL and will score goals.

Tippett is in the top group, if he isn't actually the best as natural goal scorers in the draft. Mckeens hockey rates him with the best shot in the draft and 6th best skater. Tippett has potential to be a first line winger, Valimaki, seems destined to be a 2nd pair dmen. Roll the dice with Tippett. Draft 2 dmen in the 2nd Should reiterate that I'm drafting Tippett if Makar is gone.

Maybe a lot of work is an overstatement but not nearly in the class of Ligers top 3 dmen. hockey news ranked him 18 and had a scout saying his skating was a bit "surprising". Recrutes draft guide has him at 19 NHL scout quote " watch for his pivoting..he has some difficulty with his mobility". "He can get out of position because pivots and gap control are below par" . Not saying I don't like him, just saying he isn't in the top tier

yes, your top group has elite skaters. What I've read about him, Valimaki needs a lot of work on his skating and Defensive zone play.

I still like Tippett as the best option at 8. Probably the best skater - especially of the guys who will be there at 8, best shot, scores big goals. yes, you roll the dice a bit on his reluctance to play D but you hope that will change as he gets older and under NHL coaching. Any guy at 8 is going to have warts this draft.

If Makar and Heiskanen are gone, im now leaning Owen Tippett with the 8th pick. he will drive scouts crazy with his one-dimensional game and his lack of effort without the puck but he can score like no one else in this draft. Here is one qoute from a scout :" without the puck he is f'n useles..but...he scores goals...big goals." When we get to the 8th pick in this years draft you arent going to find a guy without warts. This guy has a chance to be a star and worth the gamble IMO. Liljegren to me is a bigger risk to me to be a bust. Take the goal scorer and draft two Dmen in the 2nd round.

If Heiskanen, Makar, Patrick and Hischier are all taken before 8 is there any top prospect that you would be disappointed in getting? I'm not sure there is for me. Thought it would be Rasmussen for me but the more I read the more I am intrigued about his potential. Seemed originally that he was basically a Power Play specialist but ive read a lot of scouts comments and seems he is a very good skater for his size (6'5) and has really good skill. Could become the Sabres #2 Center in a few years. only thing I would add is that he is 6'2 and skinny. needs to grow into his body, as they say.has a good motor and plays consistently. you know what you are getting with this kid. SOmething you can't say about a lot of the top prospects this year. Probably gone before the Sabres draft in 2nd round

Completely agree that there is some D depth available in the 2nd round. I could see the Sabres go F if both Makar and Hiskanen are gone and then use both 2nd round picks on Dmen

Rasmussen, Tippett and Glass have a real shot Elias Pettersson has a shot as well.

I think I can say with certainty that Patrick, Hischier, Heiskanen and Vilardi will be gone prior to the Sabres picking at #8 Would anyone rate Mittlestadt, Rasmussen, Glass, Vesalainen or Tippett (or any other forward) as being an elite player compared to Liljegren or Makar? I would venture to guess that they all will be rated very close to each other. Therefore, I'm taking Liljegren or Makar (assuming one is still on the board). Both Liljegren and Makar are RHD, so they would fit in nicely with Risto on the right side. Now that Antipin is officially on board, the Sabres have McCabe, Guhle and Antipin as the 3 LHD of the future.

Mittelstant actually played in the USHL this season as well. He went back to play high school (short season) in Minnesota in hopes of winning the state championship then came back to the USHL.

i like Carrier too but him and Nylander are going to have a tough time replacing Kane's production next season.

Here is the Sportnet Top 10 that surveys NHL scouts. Here is the top 100: 1. Nolan Patrick – C, Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL 2. Nico Hischier – C, Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL 3. Miro Heiskanen – D, HIFK, Liiga 4. Owen Tippett – RW, Mississauga Steelheads, OHL 5. Cody Glass – C, Portland Winterhawks, WHL 6. Gabriel Vilardi – C, Windsor Spitfires, OHL 7. Timothy Liljegren – D, Timra, Allsvenskan 8. Casey Mittelstadt - C, Eden Prairie, Minnesota High School 9. Cale Makar – D, Brooks Bandits, AJHL 10. Martin Necas – C, Brno, Czech Extraliga Liljegren and Makar could both be in play at 8. It really depends on Arizona preference between the two. I was finally able to see Makar play on Sunday at the RBC Cup and though he was very impressive I can't help wonder how Liljegren would look against AJHL opponents. I think I prefer taking one of them than moving back and getting one of the lower ranked guys, as Liljegren and Makar have game breaking ablilites and are elite skaters that you don't see in the other D prospects. Valimaki's coach has said that his positioning and gap control is often a problem. He can be caught flat-footed at times and needs to improve his pivoting. Overall though, if he can improve in this area he could be a top pair Dman and a QB for the powerplay. Brannstrom is an interesting prospect. I had highlited him as a top guy if available in the 2nd (though probably will be gone). Timmons is a smart defender and rarely makes a mistake but I definitely agree with Liger that there are better prospects at 8.

Im still scratching my head at the notion that the team has no D depth in pipeline. As we discussed yesterday 4 out of 6 draft picks in 2015 were dmen and 4 more in 2016. We are starting to see them at the pro level now with Guhle and Stephens. next year I would expect Borgen and Fitzgerald to be added. Soon the pipeline will be over-flowing with D prospects while the Forward depth will look weaker. Though I do agree that adding 1 more dman through trade or UFA is needed this off-season. I'm still leaning Dman with the 8th pick but if they believe that a guy like Mittelstadt, Tippett or Glass is a much better prospect than the D at 8, I think you take the Forward. There will be decent prospects available in the 2nd round or they can use the 2 second rounders to move up to grab a guy they like.

Isnt Makar the same height and weight as Karlsson was during his draft year? not sure how Karlsson is/was ranked by you.

Helps the argument for those that say keep the pick! Thanks!! Im not trading the 8th pick for a guy who could be my 4th dman. makes no sense.