French Collection

A bunch of reporters are saying how great of a deal it is for Chicago. Well, they need someone to skate with Bedard and they got Hall for basically nothing, so it is a good deal for them. I think Foligno will help from a leadership angle and I hope he gets a deal in Chicago. Some of those reporters are saying it’s a great move by Boston to shed that salary. Sure is, when it’s $6M for Hall’s production. It is part of the cap massaging they will have to do. From Hall’s angle, how does it feel to be a former MVP and traded for a roll of tape. What about Johansen, paid $4M by your former team to play for a rival. I guess they need thick skin, think it’s all business and laugh all the way to the bank.

He has a history of helping teams get the #1 overall pick. His contribution is a little late but he’s there. Chicago probably wants him because of his leadership qualities and he knows what it’s like to be a first overall superstar. His numbers with Bedard may make this trade look good but I still don’t like him.

You are right on about the comment on being weak. This team doesn’t seem to have the in your face grit but outside of VO they all want to compete. That is a characteristic that KA talks about a lot and I think it leads to not backing down from any battle. They don’t have a designated face puncher but when guys like Cozens, TNT and Krebs drop the mitts there is no question they want to stand up for themselves and their teammates. I would think the youngest team in the league will be the one to add the most weight over the next year or two. Maturity will add strength to more than half of the team. The bond they have from growing together will lead to a pack mentality which adds another layer of toughness. While I would love to see Power channel Pronger and Mule drop guys like Hatcher did, just having their compete level win battles is great. Part of toughness is not retaliating and putting your team on more PPs. Being competitive bulldog types can lead to being on the right side of the PIMs. With the talent available for PP1 & 2, other teams would be leery of going over the edge vs the Sabres.

Good insight on BPA. He says thinking positionally is a trap that can get you into trouble.

I want the Sabres to take a Dman due to a lack of them in the pipeline. BPA is what I believe should be taken, especially in the first round. I think Reinbacher will be gone because of a lack of high end Dmen. He has size and is a coveted RHD. Sandin-Pellikka may be available but imo is not a fit for the Sabres. Minus Dahlin or Power I would want him as a potential PP QB. Simashev is who I love at 13 (skates like a gazelle and is built like a truck) but that may be a reach. He could go anywhere from 10-35. Willander could end up as the best Dman in this class. He skates well, is a good all around player and is a RHD. At forward if any of Benson, Leonard or Dvorsky fall then they are probably BPA. I would be happy with any of Moore, Wood, Barlow or Perreault. I would be surprised but OK with Danielson, Honzek, Musty or Ritchie. This is a very wide list but I find there are a lot of possibilities.

My initial shock at the Quinn draft has turned into a total buy in on the kid. He’s got a lot of skills and he is just scratching the surface. When he gets onto PP1, he will improve that unit by being a shooting threat as well as having the vision, IQ, puck handling and passing ability to enhance the probability of scoring. His defensive game is decent and will get better. He was an effective PKer in junior and perhaps can get some of that ice time soon.

Imagine the points Bedard would have added playing a full Covid-19 season. Benson may slide but I can’t him dropping to 13. It would be great to have him and Savoie as prospects.

OK, I did some work on this question because I was curious about this as well. I used the 2003-2022 drafts, 20 years. I used the threshold of 75 games played to qualify as an NHL goalie. I often see 100 games for a player and I thought goalies at best play only 3/4 of the season (60/82). I didn’t use drafts from 2018-2022 for career numbers because most of those guys haven’t broken in to the league yet. Even guys from as far back as the 2012 draft can still get to 75 games so the numbers of NHLers will change. 475 goalies drafted, almost 24 per year. 125 of them were overage draftees, 26%. 73 goalies played at least 75 games in the NHL. 19 of them were overage draftees, 26%. 84 more goalies have played between 1 and 66 games, mostly in the 1-10 game range. 25 of them were overage draftees, 30%. Nothing groundbreaking about overage goalies from these numbers. It seems like teams are picking mostly 18 year olds because it is their first year of eligibility and they don’t want to miss out on them. Notable overage goalies drafted in this period: Rinne, Hellebuyck, Quick, Kuemper, Sorokin, Andersen, Howard, Ullmark, Hill, Merzlikins, Vejmelka. Goalie development is strange, many later picks turn out pretty good. It’s tough to select players at 18 who will need 2-5 years of development. Goalies need even more time.

It is a good problem to have. KA must not fall in love with his picks, prospects and players because there will need to be moves. Power play ice time will be at a premium but I think the scoring talent means the Sabres can play a third line that can score like many teams’ second line. The matchups this creates is a good thing. If Krebs ends up as a long term 4C the Sabres C spine will be in great shape.

I don’t know and will probably not put in the research. Maybe do a bit on that tomorrow. I watch a lot of junior hockey and draft eligible guys are often the backup on a good team or starting for a rebuilding team.

Sounds like the majority of people love their local sports teams and casually follow the sport when the teams are out. I think Canada might be different because hockey is a big part of the culture. I would expect the numbers to be dropping because of the changing demographics. The young people I know also don’t sit down to watch an entire game, just want the highlights. Vegas vs Florida wasn’t the best draw for a national audience but HNIC highlighted the 18 or so Canadians on the Vegas roster.

Forest fire smoke is brutal here again, can’t see the sun and stinky. My throat feels like I had half a pack of darts and I was only outside an hour.

I like overage goalies because there is a larger body of work and they can turn pro right away, joining Rochester or Jacksonville. Thomas Milic, Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. 20 years old. 6’ tall. Last 3 years of junior his SV% has been .913, .912, .928 while his GAA has dropped. 2.74, 2.44, 2.08. He was backup for Canada at U18 (Gold) and the starter at the U20 (Gold). .932 1.76 at WJHC. 1 win away from capturing the Memorial Cup last month. Ranked from 131-173 according to elite prospects. Tomas Suchanek, Tri City Americans of the WHL. 20 years old. 6’2”. Last two years of junior .901 3.87 to .912 3.05. He led Czechia to a silver medal at the U20, putting up better numbers than Milic. .934 1.52. Was at Sabres Development camp last year. Ranked from #103-205 at elite prospects. William Rousseau, Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. 20 years old, 6’1”. Last 3 years of junior his numbers have improved .833, .899, .908 and 3.72, 2.45, 2.22. His last two playoffs he was .922 2.16 & .915 2.22. Won Memorial Cup last month. Coached by Patrick Roy for 3 years. I would look at rounds 3-6 for the first two and Rousseau may last until the 7th.

Good question. I’ll butt in here with my two cents. That first group I like Dvorsky, Reinbacher, Moore and Sandin-Pellikka. Dvorsky has a combination of versatility& size I like. Reinbacher and Moore are really close but I lean to position there. Sandin-Pellikka I would put after Perreault in the next grouping. I would rank the second group Simashev, Barlow, Wood, Perreault, Danielson, Yager, Sale. Simashev is just a guess that he will improve his offense a bit to supplement the great foundation of skating and size. I see him as a solid top 4 Dman. I wouldn’t be upset with any of the first 4 guys of that group.

Is it possible his entire family is here for the draft?

I’m still hoping for Pesce but I would be happy with Hanifin.

We already have Bryson and Clague to complain about.

Picking up a RHD and they have Burns + Pesce + Chatfield as RHD.

No. Sabres need big, defensively strong Dmen. He’s a higher skilled Bryson, making $6M.

If they get Hanifin without an extension, they have almost a year to convince him to sign. The situation will be better than Calgary, who badly need a new rink. They seem to have a lot of guys wanting out. He may love playing for DG. KA will make him feel appreciated. He will be in the USA. He will be closer to home. The group is tight and are learning to play for each other. The dressing room is full of guys around his age, he would be a veteran. His role beside an emerging star on D. The team is improving and ready for contention, especially with him. There is cap space to get a good deal.

Johansen will help the Avs. He is past his best before date but is still a 2/3C. Nashville is definitely retooling, retained half of his $8M salary for two more years. They may move more out. They are hosting the draft and under new management, could be active.

I know a Russian kid playing junior over here. He stayed at his billet family’s place for the summer. I can see why he doesn’t want to go back.

Bryson is not good as a LHD. He may have volunteered to play RHD to remain on the team.

Had to look it up. There have been a huge number of falls out of windows. Oligarchs must be moving into single story mansions.

As I said earlier, Pesce would be a better fit but Hanifin is a really good Dman. The only issue with him and Power is one of them would have to play RHD. Dahlin can do it, maybe Power can.