Crusader1969

Owen Tippett goal from yesterday at 1:30 second point in the high-lite package. http://ontariohockeyleague.com/video/oct-3016-miss-2-osh-3 I think he is the Marner / Dubios prospect who starts the year way down the ranking list but ends up in top 5 so (hopefully) out of the Sabres reach.

.iv seen them both play numerous times since being drafted. I think they are both high End prospects who will have long NHL careers, thoughI've always thought Baptiste was a bit more polished and much more of a 2 way player. Can't wait till both are full time players as Sabres could really use their speed.

8 kids put up 100 points last year in the OHL. Of the 6 who still had eligibility to play junior again this season, only Debrincant isn't in the NHL. Long way to go for Cliff but he could be in a Sabres uni faster than anyone could have imagined.

Whatever it was it was 4 points too many! Could have had Laine :(

How quickly we forget that last year the team improved by over 30 points from the previous year. I would have hoped they would have increased another 10 this season but an unfortunate injury(s) may keep us from seeing an improvement. Though I'm still upset they didn't improve by 26 points (instead of 30) end up in 6th last and take my guy Patrick Laine!

The topic of the 2nd hour was "the identity" of the Sabres this season and I think the biggest issue with the team is that they don't have one yet. I do think that Murray still has a clear idea of how his team will eventually take shape and its one built on Speed, size and skill. They are still a year (or two) away from getting there but I firmly remain optimistic that this team will turn the corner and become one of the top teams in the league. The prospects in the pipeline eventually will be ready to play in the NHL and they all seem to have speed and skating ability as their top attribute. Nobody said this was going to be easy and I was really hoping to see the team reach 90 points (maybe they still will) but the Eichel injury seems to large for them to overcome. But to me its really about 2017-18 and beyond. Maybe another top 10 pick may actually turn out to be a good thing for them?

man you guys are sensitive. Even when the Sabres are actually good and drafting in the 20's there will still be reason for a draft thread.

I don't agree - sure there isn't a sure fire superstar but there are a lot of high end prospects. Assuming Jack is out for 20 - 25 games I'd think the Sabres will end up picking in around 7th or 8th. It's really early to pin-point the exact player but I really like Owen Tippett from Mississauga. I've seen him ranked anywhere from 5 th to 25th but he's really stood out the few times I've seen him play. In 12 games he has 12 goals and is a speedster. - I've read comparisons to Phil Kessel but I believe Owen is much bigger being listed at 6'2. 204lbs

exactly. A couple of mid round picks and maybe a prospect not named Bailey, Nylander, Baptiste, Guhle, or Asplund,

if you trade for Fowler and don't give up a D from the existing roster. What are your pairings? I would rather Sabres go after a good bottom pair Dman who can be decent if he has to play for a time in the bottom 4. This shouldn't cost you as much as Fowler would. Unless Anaheim is desperate to get rid of Fowler and his salary and we can steal him.

The biggest problem the Sabres have is on defense. As long as Gorges and Franson are in the top 6 the team will not be a true contender. Once Kulikov comes back and it drops Gorges to the bottom pair and Franson ends up in the press box, the team should be a lot better (even without Eichel). How long till the next injury though?

I don't think they are going to make another trade for a Dman at this point - they are probably pretty comfortable with a top 4 of Risto, Bogo, Kulikov and McCabe. They will have to sign a couple of depth Dmen to fill out the roster through Free Agency. They would probably be looking at adding a couple of wingers, hopefully Vesey is one of them. I honestly don't mind this team going forward with a ton of cap space. They will have no issues when Jack and Sam come up in a couple of years plus they are giving the young players on this team a couple of years to define their roles. Why spend $7mill on Okoposo if Bailey turns out to be a better player than him? In 2 years after a couple of playoff runs then you fill out the holes by going big. Plus you have a better chance of star players wanting to be that "missing piece". If the Sabres were 2 years ahead in their development I think Stamkos may have signed.

not to piss on your cereal but if there is one team that Murray isn't going to sign an RFA from its his uncle's Bryan Murray's team.

I will say thank God the Sabres were just saved from themselves with Stamkos. And I saved $120 not having to buy a Stamkos Sabres jersey to wear around the GTA to piss off Leaf fans!

Though it would be instant gratification if the Sabres signed Stamkos but I'm in the camp where I hope the Sabres are just driving up the price to $12 million territory for the Leafs. Leafs would then put them well over the cap, not sure how this would effect the bonus's they would be able to offer Vesey In 2 years how much worse is: Vesey Eichel Reinhart Kane O'Reilly Nylander compared to Nylander Eichel Reinhart Kane Stamkos O'Reilly and is it $10 million better? Money you could use to build one of the top 3rd lines in the NHL or a legit #2 D man to play next to Risto. Thoughts?

Agreed.

I do like Larsson but I am looking 3 or 4 years down the line when Larsson has the potential to be a UFA. Im assuming the Sabres won't have the cap space at that point to pay him $4 million or so and will need to replaced by someone on their ELC.

Good Analysis, I would expect Pu to become an over a point per game producer for the Knights this season with a shot of hitting 90 points on the season. He scored at a rate of .49PPG in regular season and was able to increase his production to .72PPG in the playoffs. The important thing to remember is that he didn't get anytime of the vaunted London Power Play last season. Assuming he is on the PP for the 16/17 season we should see his stats take off.

In 2014 he captained the Swedish U-18 team - he was only 16 at the time in the last WJC he had the tough assignment of playing against the top lines of Finland, USA and Canada (Aho, Matthews and Point) and was able to shut them all down completely. All 3 players went scoreless v Asplund in the head to head match-up. Sounds to me that Larrson is just keeping that 3rd line center spot warm for his fellow Swede.

Great way to look at it. That being said, who was the high priced Free Agent on the Penguins this past year? I'm sure there was one or two but can't think of them.

Be prepared - if they are willing to match the highest bidder he goes to Toronto. unfortunately, the Sabres are just a pawn for his Agents at NewportSports I'll be very happy if Stamkos goes to leafs for at least $11+ and Sabres add Vesey.

No doubt in my mind he is going to Toronto. Hopefully the price gets up to around $12million per!

I'd imagine he will have about 10 to 12 million reasons to get the 8th year on his contract

This kid is going to put up huge numbers in London. Great pick for Sabres!

Trade next years first for Chychrun