Hoss

If anyone is following the standings and hoping at least for the consolation prize of a higher draft pick: the Devils just gave up two goals in 22 seconds while up 3-1 late in a game against the Flyers. They’re headed to overtime.

You certainly didn’t say you don’t bump guys up because of it, you said you don’t worry about it. I don’t bump anyone up a ranking for it but as a fan I obviously have a little more interest in a guy I’ll see sooner.

This you?

There’s just no way I’m committing over $4M to Linus Ullmark for five seasons. I’m not even sure I’d give him that for three seasons.

But what are you paying him over five years (in AAV)?

On this: I’ve started some very early work and have seen a couple places say they think William Eklund is a guy who can step in right away and is likely more ready than any other player. This is one of a few reasons his name is growing on me but, again, still early. Been very busy but I like what I’m hearing on him.

ESPN absolutely abandoned hockey because they didn’t have rights. Hockey will return to ESPN’s regular talking points, guaranteed. They’ll make sure to sell their own product.

Thank you for this because I haven’t caught much Sabres hockey this year. I still can’t quite get to five years off this but I do think 2/3 years is a reasonable approach. I’m not giving a goalie five years unless I know very well that he’s a starter which means multiple years of production.

Josh looks too good in shorts and I’d like to stop busting through mine every time I watch him practice

I can’t imagine that actually counts Dahlin and Joker. They’ve both been in the league for several years. Do you have a link?

I’m legitimately curious when Linus Ullmark became anybody’s long-term answer in net. Solid not great numbers for two years on a bad team and has battled injuries all year. Enroth’s numbers were just as good for a stretch. I’m not signing Ullmark to more than two years.

Okay, we’re less than a week out and I’ve settled on what I want in round one. I think the first round is almost definitely CB or DE in an ideal world (the Chiefs acquiring a legit tackle makes this even more true). Jaycee Horn from South Carolina is the IDEAL pick that almost definitely will not be there. He’s a lanky and strong man corner and it’d be a nightmare for opposing WRs to face him and Tre any week. He’s got the athleticism to backup his physical game, too. Realistically, my clear top two are Greg Newsome (CB from Northwestern) and Jayson Oweh (DE from Penn State). On Newsome: This dude feels made for the Bills. He’s got all the athleticism and the fluidity in his hips that you need from a defensive back in the NFL. Enough speed to keep up with next-level receivers. He has limited experience which is the only big worry here because he’s got everything else you want. He’s probably going to make a lot of plays at the next level because how fluid he is in changing direction. On Oweh: I am almost always against the “tools” guys but this guy is the shining stars of having the tools to be a superstar. He’s a freak athlete with speed you never see on the defensive line and don’t underestimate the strength here. The big knock on him that prevents him from being a top five lock is he just doesn’t seem to have been coached. He gets off the ball with no plan and no go-to moves. Just rushes the passer hoping to beat the guy across from him and he often did. Zero sacks in seven games this year but he made things happen. I think this staff will absolutely turn him into a star once they get him to play lower and use the size/strength combo. The next few are: Asante Samuel Jr (CB, FSU) who doesn’t have the size I think they want back there but he’s like his dad in that he’s a ball hawk. Joe Tryon (DE, Washington) is a guy I’m higher on than many. He is one of those dudes who scares you when you line up on the other side. He’s got several pass-rushing moves already that just need to be refined and he’ll have to get better in the run game. Issue here is you probably want him to add weight for a 4-3 and I don’t know that they want to draft another guy that needs to adjust weight to fill a role since that didn’t go well with Epenesa last year. Gregory Rousseau, Caleb Farley or Jaelen Phillips are guys that are falling late that could be the picks here which would sort of go against what the Bills normally do but they’ve built the roster where they could take that risk. Into round two I still like looking corner (Campbell, Robinson), pass rush (Basham, Perkins) but I also think TE (Freiermuth, Jordan), IOL (Dickerson, Humphrey, Davis, Smith, Meinerz) and WR (R. Moore, Eskridge) come into play there. Linebacker/safety hybrid is also probably higher on their list than we might think.

I remember it being widely reported enough to the point where I believe it to be accurate.

You’re giving Ullmark FIVE years!? Ooooof

The thing that’s hard to project is that guys shake loose every offseason that you never would’ve guessed would be available and this team needs to be in on one of those deals this time around.

I think we could probably convince one or both if we overpay a bit for two guys who don’t really produce much though I hope if we’re going to add the bar is set a little higher.

Been waiting on a ranking from you to get an idea on where to start whenever I do.

I love the thrill of the debate too I just wish I had more time and energy to get into this year’s class.

Samson Reinhart and his characterization by the fan base should be studied in a scholarly research article.

Liger watches this thread like a hawk and just draws lines in the sand anytime someone says anything that isn’t exactly what he thinks 😂 I love it because I remember feeling that way about prospects a few years ago.

Hell yea I’d add another Sam Reinhart (or five) to this lineup.

Tuch is a 24 year old currently pacing out at 31 goals. You have to get a little better at giving up value in your mock trades.

We’d have to give up so much more to make this happen. You’re probably adding a 1st.

Ten minutes into the game the Bruins had one shot on goal and it went in. Five seconds into the second ten minutes the Bruins got their second shot on goal and it did not go in. A tale of two halves.

Antti Raanta is my stopgap goalie of choice.