X. Benedict

It's a boring thing to say, but I think with the Sabres where they are at, this was a market that was best avoided.

I get the frustration, but the draft is building your team 3 years out.....even if they got McKinnon it wasn't necessarily going to give the team more pop for the upcoming year.

Not pedigree...but preparation is the better word. Shattuck St. Mary's - and he'll be going to Notre Dame.

He didn't have a training camp either, which is tough for a kid.

I pretty sure it was 5'11 175 at the combine. check that 177.... He really reminds me of Ryan Callahan - which is a guy I think anyone wants on your team.

Draft notes from NJ: (never made it to the draft - long story). Risto at 8: I was thinking all along that this was the player that the Sabres were targeting. He's the complete package, and there is very little risk in this one. I felt the blood drain from my head a little when Lindholm was chosen by Carlolina. Not a surprise. I didn't think he'd be there at #8. This wasn't the sexiest pick on the board with Nichkushkin available. (Or potentially the pass on the move to 5) I might be on a limb here....but I really thought that Risto was the most NHL ready player in the draft which is remakable for a D man. I think he could win the Calder. No complaints. Zadorov at 16: This was a bit of a surprise, but I think he was the best choice on the board for a team that wanted to get bigger and nastier. We want a team in the future that is hard to play against.....I see the space getting smaller for other teams. I'm okay with this pick especially what the board gave in the second round. Here I think there was a choice. I do think Zadorov was the best player on the board. Plenty of good forwards left.....passing on Shinkaruk was a little painful.....but makes sense with the division Buffalo plays in. Lazar was a choice too. Zadorov can change the profile of this team. I like that. That Buffalo didn't get scoring. Well....ouch, on to the second. 2nd round ----- okay --- I was feeling uneasy about the first round for some reason. Especially the failure to address needs at forward. By the end of the second I was feeling good. My gut instinct was that Buffalo would jump into the late 1st to pick up Hartman or Compher. Sekera for Compher...I'm good with this one. I'm delighted with this one. Peeing my pants with joy about Compher. Hurley - I thought they took him early - especially with Petan and Dauphin on the board. But I wanted him at 52 - so I was pleased. He's the best High School player in the draft and has the pedigree. Nice pick. Bailey - Damn - feel good about this one too. Love the upside. I'm feeling pretty good about the first two rounds in total. I do think they found 5 NHL players...which would be remarkable for any draft.

Red Line Report for Compher........I loved this pick. I thought Buffalo would move into the first to get him. I'm good with this. (aug 2012) http://www.redlinere...r-Spotlight.pdf

Vanek didn't/doesn't belong on the top of the PK, no matter what Lindy said. He still doesn't. Vanek looked good out there until they overloaded his side. That pretty much ended the experiment.

that's cool.

got it.

Garth Snow? The Islanders GM?

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=426488 I wouldn't either. Letang is a nice player. But he is a skater that can log a lot of minutes. If he takes the money with a lesser roster at forward he doesn't shine as bright. The Islanders would make sense for him, if Wang is willing to cough up that kind of scratch.

The magic of milk. You really have to pick a player with all his teeth. They turned down Kassian, who was humiliated.

not a bunch....he's had 3 in his career. 2 in Oct. 2008 in back to back games.

Points for "big galoot"

Thanks. I do appreciate it. Now I see why I've forgotten what it means.

Eat all that, and I guarantee you won't want to move unless you want to.

What's e5 mean again?

at least they have Stamkos. Hedman too.....

wow.

It is. I don't listen to WGR much ....but I think it is ironic that that label is coming from the BNEC....... Buffalo News Echo Chamber. I think I watched a video not long ago of Bucky and Sully nodding their head agreeing with Mike. Three heads, same guy, apparently.

Not really....they have a guy that says, "Why isn't this in bold with an exclamation point, you a__hole!" Which gives me an idea....how about a "Buffalo through NY POST headline Thread".

Good point. I'm pretty sure the fact checkers at the NY Post are allowed to drink in the office.

do they really have an option that levels the ice with Boston, Pittsburgh and Montreal? I'm not sure they do.....especially with Streit gone, that goalie's job got tougher.

Not particular to Briere...but, yes they do. Finding the right vets to mentor a bunch of kids is very important. The NHL season is such a grind that finding the right vets might be more important than finding the more able journeymen.