French Collection

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.

I think Pesce is the perfect player for what the Sabres blue line needs. KA may not be able to meet their price so he is looking at alternatives, as he should. He may circle back at some point. Hanifin is a definite upgrade to the Sabres D core. Olofsson, Rosen and a second round pick seems like plenty to me. If all of these guys want out of Calgary they may need a guy like Olofsson to pot a few goals for them.

It is concerning. Things seem to be changing, could go in any direction.

Michkov is already in Nashville for the draft.

I really like Levi and want him to succeed in becoming the next great Sabres goalie. I don’t know if he is ready for 50+ NHL starts next season and one of UPL/Comrie are questionable as a 1B. I would sleep better with a known 1A/1B in the mix.

Erik Haula has re-signed with the Devils.

A guy I’m starting to consider a possibility at 13 is Colby Barlow. He isn’t my first choice but I would be OK with this pick. Someone (Baker?) said he reminds him of Cam Neely. If he gets close to that level he would be a steal at 13. Many worry that he has peaked because of his size, but there is a lot of improvement needed strength wise to get faster and stronger. He’s got leadership ability, wearing the C as a draft eligible player. He may have scored 50 goals if he wouldn’t have missed a few games. He did not impress me at the U18s, where Matthew Wood did. That tournament is a small sample size of their season so it’s tough to base a lot on it.

Danny Nelson as caught my attention. He has been mentioned more and more lately as a potential first rounder. Big kid, 6’3” 203 who was a Dman but now plays forward. I think he was moved this past season. He played at the USNTDP and did well at the U18s. If he is around at 39 I might take him.

That behaviour gets under my skin. I have done roadside construction (Powerline industry) for almost 40 years. Sometimes traffic is the biggest hazard on the job site. There must be a plan in place to deal with it and dedicated workers to focus on moving that traffic along. Traffic control people must have no other duties, so they can deal with traffic to protect the crew, pedestrians and other drivers.

This is my favourite list because it’s compiled by taking the information from 10 actual NHL scouts. Some of them are head scouts. Bob has been around long enough to have access to good ones.

I have vivid memories of Mogilny, Bure and Fedorov at the World Juniors. I think that was the best line I’ve ever seen at that level. I didn’t get Sabres games when Mogilny was at his best so I would only see him on HNIC and sports highlights. Reading the Hockey News was a great source too. I did get to see him more when he went to the Canucks. His 55 goal 100+ point season there was a really good one. Crazy skill.

I knew they had issues but that’s bad. They could sign Bergeron and Krejci and then let them have “surgeries” that will keep them out until April. It’s not like that hasn’t been done before.

Detroit as well.

I’m thinking Quinn with Power a close second. This is Levi’s first full year so we don’t really have a large body of work from him. I think he will be a ROY candidate. Krebs will be interesting. If he is 3C his numbers will improve but if he is with KO and Girgs there will only be a small bump. I loved his game at the World Championship and think he will be a lot better, it just may not show up in points.