Crusader1969

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?

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?