jad1

That Marleau deal is just plain weird. Why would a team with an internal cap take on a salary dump like this.

Olofsson will be on the Sabres roster this season. Nylander will either be gone next week or will also be on the Sabres roster. So they're leaving the pipeline. Davidsson, Asplund, Pekar, Routsalainen, and Thompson don't project to top six forwards. Cozens does project to a top six forward, but he's at least two years away. Only Asplund, Pekar, Routsalainen and Thompson will be in Rochester next season. If Botterill can acquire a center and winger through free agency or by trade, they should be all right, but it's going to be expensive.

By the time that these guys crack NHL rosters, there's a good chance that GM who drafted them is gone. Using the draft is now the preferred way to build a team in the NHL, but due to the age of the players, it's also incredibly risky.

There doesn't seem to be the desire to stockpile draftpicks anymore. Why trade an NHLer for a prospect who won't crack the league for 3 years from now. Two-thirds of the GMs could be out of their current jobs by then. I don't think that's the expectation. The majority understands that these picks are being made are at least a couple of years away from making the roster. Most also understand that after Nylander and Olofsson, the Sabres winger pipeline is near empty and would like to see it re-stocked with some highly-ranked prospects. I wonder if the NHL has considered increasing the draft age to 20. It would make the draft more exciting.

Sounds like they need to bring video scouting back.

That's fine, but after three drafts, his top six forward pipeline is empty.

He knows that in the modern NHL, the goal is to win games 2-1. That's how Ralph won in the EPL.

Botterill's last 8 picks, 6 defensemen and 2 forwards. He also traded a first round pick for a defenseman (Montour).

So what, we have 5 legit forward prospects in the pipeline?

Sebastian Aho?

Pick the big winger who scores.

All right. Table's set.

Because you would be broke, working the street corners by now. ?

That kid might need a cane to get to the stage.

Cool, now we can stop the Knight nonsense.

Son of a b****!!!

That's a suprise

Kings bringing a jersey to the podium

If Botterill picks Knight, can be be fired before FA starts?

Yep, the draft could go off the rails a bit here.

He does, because he knows he's going to be booed every year (maybe for wrong reasons), but he shows up anyway. Let the hosting team pick the MC and step out of the way for the draft. Let the team spokesperson open the draft and welcome everyone to the event, and get out of the way when they honor their legends.

Bettman is such a smarmy weasel.

The air is thick with anticipation!

So this franchise ends up paying a 3rd and McCabe (a 2nd round pick) for Vesey? How many successful franchises spend a 2nd and 3rd round pick for a 3rd liner with mediocre numbers?

This is the point in time where O'Reilly's contract becomes a bargain.