Crusader1969

The only way the Sabres draft Foote is if they trade back onto the mid to late first round. He isn't a lottery pick (1-14) IMHO

. Totally disagree, it's coming but was never a team that would be a bubble playoff team this season

The man in the last two years or so has brought in Kane, ROR, Okposo and basically gave up nothing at this point for them. Maybe one of the draft picks he traded away becomes a player but at this point not one has. He devised a plan to bring us Eichel and Reinhart. He has 3 of the top ranked prospects outside of the NHL in Pu, Nylander, Asplund His 2nd round pick in 2015 is looking like he is going to be a key member of the team in a year or two He brought in a goalie that is among the league leaders in Sv% and has played behind a flawed and injury plagued d corps I honestly can't think of anyone who I'd rather have in charge to fix the defence. Please don't bring up pysyk and McNabb - neither of them or anything more than a bottom pair player on a good team.

Im sorry but I can not allow anyone to classify the McNabb or Pysyk trades as bad trades! how did McNabb do last night? oh right he was a healthy scratch...... again!! Also, shouldn't we wait on Fasching before making judgement?? As for the Pysyk trade, He is 5th out of 6 regular dmen on the Panthers in TOI at even strength. Is he an analytics darling? yes. but is he trusted by his coaches?? watch the leafs first goal - 1 min into the video.

. Way too early grade this trade. Give it another 3-4 years. At this point none of those prospects have done a thing in the NHL and Lehner has been better than either of those two backups.

Looks like Borgen is returning to St.Cloud for at least another year.. Coach Bob Motzko said Will Borgen (Sabres), Judd Peterson (Sabres), Mikey Eyssimont (L.A.) and Jimmy Schuldt (free agent) plan to return 4 @SCSUHUSKIES_MH next season

If he is similar to Zaitsev we shouldn't be thinking a depth Dman to help out Rochester. Sounds like someone who can help out the Sabres next season. Im not sure why size seems to keep coming up. Id love to look back the the 2015 draft page and see some of the remarks about Mitch Marner. Erik Karlsson 6' 0 190lbs Shane Ghostisbehere 5'11 180ilbs

I apologize if there is already a thread re college Free agents. Here is a scouting report about that he guy bob Mckenzie said that the Sabres are on the short list for: Gavin Bayreuther, Defence, St. Lawrence Saints, Senior (6’1″ 194 lbs), Shoots Left A cousin of Ben Lovejoy of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Bayreuther has put up impressive offensive numbers throughout his college career. In 27 games this year he has eight goals and 27 points. He has an outstanding slap shot, with excellent power and accuracy. He shows the ability to be a power play quarterback with solid puckhandling skill, good vision, and strong passing ability. Bayreuther is also a very good skater showing good speed and the agility to walk the line and open up shooting and passing lanes. He was given offers last year, but opted to return to school. He has added strength which has helped him along the boards and in his own end of the ice. Bayreuther could still use a bit of time in the AHL and to get even stronger though.

I think it's lacking two things. Elite talent and depth. Doesn't mean there won't be a really good player in the top 10. I will admit that the 3 players I really like outside of Patrick and Hischier are Liljegren, Makar and Tippett. All 3 are by no means a sure thing, each having questions about their game. All 3 are elite level skaters and game breakers but have questions surrounding their Defensive game and decision making.

Short answer yes. What was the last "weak" draft? Most say 2012 That draft had Ryan Murray, Morgan Reilly, Hampus Lindholm, Matthew Dumba and Jacob Trouba all go in the top 10.

Obviously there is an adjustment for these guys, even Eichel and Reinhart needed some time to adjust. I would call up Nylander (once we get to 9 games remaining) and Bapiste to finish out the season. I'd even think of giving Nelson a few more games. As i mentioned on the prospect thread - I'm hoping they can entice Borgen to leave school now that his season is over.

For 1 to 3, Id want a LHD to start next to Risto next year. Those type of guys are so hard to come by, especially if they are young - I think your best change to get one is by drafting him. Case in Point - MTL wouldn't give up Sergachev for Kane. (as per Elliotte Friedman)

Here is the March update to one of my favorite Draft resource sites: http://www.draftbuzzhockey.com/ I like where he has Liljegren and Makar - right in line where Sabres will more than likely be drafting. Valimaki is also an interesting prospect that is growing on me as I do more and more draft research. Do you take the best Dman available to them or do you stick with BPA? 9 times out of 10 I say BPA but this year I'm going D unless you are able to pick Hischier or Patrick and possibly Tippett (my guess for picks 1-3).

I think they also have an opportunity for him too. Id like to think they also have a young and up and coming team. I'm more worried about Borgen than I am Cal.

He could go the Vesey route but I have to think that burning a year on his ELC would be tempting?

The 10 dmen to know how n this years draft http://thehockeywriters.com/top-10-nhl-defenseman-prospects/

Borgen's season ended last night - I'm hoping he signs shortly with the Sabres. I'd imagine returning for his junior season is the likely scenario though.

Since the Sabres game is not worth watching , here is an article on Valimaki for you to read http://www.dubnetwork.ca/interviews/nhl-draft-profiles/2017-nhl-draft-profiles-juuso-valimaki/

Craig Buttons mock draft, he is thinking exactly like me with the best 2. Dmen in the draft : Makar at 4 and Liljigren at 5 Hopefully, one falls a bit further to the Sabres or Sabres get into the lottery spots. http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre

This is probably the best scouting report I've seen on Liljegren. Very detailed he is still a young man trying to figure it out but his decision making does worry me a bit. http://draftineurope.blogspot.ca/

since Nov 29th (date of Eichel returning) NHL scoring race: 1) Marchant 2) Crosby 3) Malkin 4) Kane 5) Burns 6) Backstrom 7) Granlund 8) Eichel 9) McDavid Mcdavid has played 3 less games O'Reilly 38th Kane 41 Samson 74 Risto 71 (7th for D) Okposo 81 Then scoring falls off a cliff. Maybe scoring is this unbalanced on most teams but I think it shows that the depth on this team is still a major issue. Oh and it shows that Jack is already one of the leagues best players and shouldn't take a backseat to anyone - including Mcdavid and Matthews

Just released - March rankings. Liljegren ranked at #3 and Makar #10 are top two Dmen. Hopefully one is there when the Sabres draft. http://www.sportsnet.ca/?sn-article=sportsnets-2017-nhl-draft-prospect-rankings-march

Speed an youth through the roster. That means Guhle, Baptiste, Bailey, Carrier, Fasching (I know his game isnt speed) and Nylander (maybe half the season), and Asplund. No more Gionta, Moulson, Ennis, Fransen, Gorges (maybe 7th dman). A healthy Kulikov, an extension for Kane (meaning he has stayed out of trouble), a full season of Eichel healthy, a new coach and a play-off spot.

I would think all Sabres fans should care about this. Why wouldn't you?

Ill respectfully Disagree. The Sabres need 1 dman with elite offensive game breaking abilities. There are only 2 available in the draft Liljegren and Makar. Makar is listed at 5'11 - the exact same size as Erik Karlsson.