French Collection

Most players stats are worse in the tighter checking playoffs but there are some great playoff performers who continue at the same level or better their numbers in a Conn Smythe consideration post season. None of these Leafs have raised their games in the playoffs. Tavares .94 ppg career regular season, .78 ppg career playoffs, .58 ppg with Leafs. Nylander .78 ppg regular season, .69 playoffs. Marner 1.07 ppg regular season, .86 playoffs Matthews 1.12 ppg regular season, .83 playoffs.

Congratulations to the East Coast. I love the World Juniors and the Maritimes, I may try to get there.

My hope is for Jiricek to still be there at 9. I think he will be gone especially if the Sabres move down to 10-11. Nazar, Gauthier, Savoie and maybe Lambert could be the pick. All 4 of those guys can play C. I don’t like any RHD until around 20-30, Casey, Nelson, Luneau, Rinzel, Salomonsson, Havelid. Rinzel is an interesting case because he plays High School and Havelid was great at the U18. The Sabres may see one of these guys at 16 but I doubt it. Some of the 4 guys I listed at 9 could still be around at 16. Mesar, Kasper, McGroarty and Ostlund are C options at 16. The Florida pick should provide an opportunity at a RHD that I listed above. Lamoureux, Chesley and Kyrou are 3 more in the 30-45 range. If the Sabres have a RHD picked already, I would look at Beck, Kulich as C with that pick. At 41 take BPA on their board, unless they still have not taken a RHD. I want one goalie picked in the 5th-7th round.

I mentioned I watched a game in Rouyn in the prospect thread. Walking around the old barn I saw this old team photo of the Montreal Junior Canadiens from 1967-68. I’ve seen a few of their 69-70 team with Perreault and Martin but this older one was new to me. Perreault at 17 or 18 in the middle back row.

Yeah, it is pretty far from the rest of the league other than Val D’Or, which is one hour east. They have a 20 hour drive to play Cape Breton, they must bundle some games with Halifax, Moncton, Charlottetown and Saint John. Rouyn must have great scouts/recruiters as they have won two Memorial Cups in the last 10 years. Small old barn built in 1951. Glencore is the arena sponsor but it still has Dave Keon centre as part of the name. Sault Ste Marie in the OHL is more than 3 hours from their nearest team, Sudbury, so there is plenty of windshield time for them as well. In the WHL, Winnipeg to Victoria is more than a 24 hour drive. Geography is definitely a challenge.

Sabres need Cs, RHDs and another goalie prospect. Centres can move to the wing if the pipeline gets full. Goalies are not highly ranked this year so a late round pick could be used and let the kid develop.

I was in Rouyn-Noranda last night and watched Sabres prospect Olivier Nadeau of Shawinigan. He needs to improve his skating to make the NHL. Pure and simple, that is what I saw. It is something that can be worked on so I won’t rule him out. On the plus side, he is a good sized forward who knows his role. His main function is the net front presence on the PP. He stands his ground and does well screening the goalie, tipping pucks and banging at rebounds. He works well in the corners, shielding the puck and playing the cycle. He is not fast but hustled hard on the back check to break up some plays to trailers. He wears an A and looked like a leader out there. One more year of junior hockey to get him faster will benefit him. Cataracts won and move on to the next round.

Jack Quinn with a pair tonight to get back on track and to stick the first nail in Utica’s coffin. Is Mule playing?

Leafs spanked by Lightning. Nylander is the guy I dislike the most on the Leafs. He plays soft, stays on the perimeter and wants to make the pretty dangles without messing up his hair. He is not built for the playoffs. He is, however, 6’0 202 lbs. This clip from last night shows how he treats the corners like a cobra.

Interesting that we are getting nearer to a time when they have to move talent out or let them walk. I view that as a good thing, it means no JAGs. Middle 6 prospects barely make the 4th line, 1st round draft picks spend 1-2 years in the AHL and we don’t sweat over whether a NCAA guy goes back for another year. I can see it happening, a team we can enjoy watching, year after year.

Jeff Marek on HNIC reporting that the Sharks may trying to move 2 RHD, Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson. Huge cap hits for multiple years and they are both past their best before dates. Karlsson still has some tread left on his tires but he is not the gritty, stay at home type to partner with Power or Dahlin.

Savoie has been passed on a few lists. He started the year as a potential #2 after Lambert started his fall. Nazar around the 16 pick would be nice too. I like looking at lists that go beyond 32 and see who is around 41. There are usually guys that get talked about as first rounders so that is encouraging. The Sabres should come out of this draft with at least 4 good prospects and if their scouting group has indeed improved they should find some surprises in the later rounds.

His debt has maybe got him to thinking that he needs longevity as well as some scoring. Maybe he keeps his nose clean for another big contract. Trouble seems to find him so I wouldn’t be the one to give him that deal. I don’t like the Oilers chances to go deep either.

Comrie would certainly come cheaper than Fleury, Holtby or Husso. I am intrigued by Husso and the Blues are committed to Binnington, money wise. Anyone they sign can be moved in a few years if one of the three prospects warrants a starter’s job. It is just another asset unless you give a guy a huge long term contract and he flames out.

It would be nice if one or two of the Russians came over but I doubt they are ready or can even get out of their current obligations.

Watched Shane Wright play last night. He was invisible for the first two periods then made a few nice plays in the third. His positioning is good, his shot is hard and he has decent speed. If the Sabres win the lottery and take him, the expectations should be middle six C. It was only one game up close but I did not see anything jump out at me to say he will definitely be a difference maker. I like him but he doesn’t seem to have taken a big step from his 15 year old season. I know he missed a season with the Covid shutdown but he hasn’t separated himself from the pack. Just my two cents.

Beautiful day and not too hot. Picked up some free fill, I always need dirt. Using the tractor to spread it around our trails.

Everyone only talks about the winners or the potential windfalls. I say the same thing as you whenever people ask me why I don’t gamble, this casino didn’t get built because they lose money.

Good points. I think the way KA surrounds himself with smart people would lead to honest discussion about picks and prospects. This is the culture that they are trying to foster in the dressing room so they need to lead that way from the top.

It is tough to have that steady flow of 3-5 draft picks into the AHL every year. Europeans often stay at home longer, NCAA guys stay in school 1-4 years and some CHL guys never develop enough. I’m pretty sure this is an unusual year for the Sabres past draft picks. KA may find a FA or two from Europe or the NCAA. DG may spot someone at the World Championship.

I can’t remember the reason but I think it was a hockey card promotion that had Alexandre Daigle wearing different outfits, like this nursing one.

Beck is a 2nd rounder on a lot of lists. His offensive ceiling is often mentioned as not very high. He is a solid 200’ C and is one of those hard working types. I would look at him with Florida’s pick as well as a RHD if they haven’t lucked into Jiricek with the first pick. A Peca type guy that may be available in the third or fourth round is Liam Arnsby of the North Bay Battalion. He got the “C” in his draft year, is gritty, will drop the gloves to defend a teammate and works hard at both ends. He plays bigger than his stature.

Like I said, Boychuk was $6M to sit at home. Toews $10.5 for a bottom six C. I’d be OK with those numbers if he can play a shutdown role, mentor young guys, PK and win some face offs.

Chicago. Instead of a pure cap dump like Boychuk why not get a guy with a bit of tread on his tires. Jonathan Toews could replace Eakin on the 4th line. He has won at every level, and has been a leader on those teams. Chicago could retain some salary and/or add an asset for the Sabres to take him. He wouldn’t come in here as a 1C or 2C and block the young guys.

Frank Nazar is not in their top 20? Brad Lambert down to 11th in Euro skaters.