Derrico

Great weekend planned starting with my summer hockey teams banquet tonight (we won a $250 gift card for the restaurant and only 8 can make it). Tomorrow we're heading to a town about a half hour away (Cobourg) where Justin Williams is parading around the Stanley Cup and his Conn Smyth trophy. That'll be nice taking our little guy too. Then some darts with the boys tomorrow night and got my brother 5th row tickets to the Jays game Sunday for his bday. 5 o'clock can't come fast enough.... Congrats Weave.

Keep the updates comin!

Well he did get lit up on tues. Hope he's alright.

Lanny - I think you're right, his name slipped my mind last night. He's no Rattie but very encouraged with Carrier's play though. X - Those were the two who stood out to me. I didn't know what to expect from either and thought both were two of the top 5 guys out there last night. I thought Carrier also handled the puck with speed. That play in I think the third where he pulled a toe drag and then rang it off the crossbar at full speed was unreal. SBF - I agree with you. I could see Risto making it. I think Reinhart, Carrier, Pysyk and McCabe will be given a real shot. I could see Grigo being a late season callup if he improves in the AHL.

Hahahaha good points.

I think at the end of the day Samson will be a great player, I just didn't see much from him in this meaningless one game. Not sure if you were at the game or not X but I watched him a bunch without the puck. You can see the smarts and he was almost always going to the right spots, I just didn't see much in the way of a defensive effort when there weren't two guys on him. There were a few plays where a blue player was racing down the wall and Sam looked like he was coasting, just assuming the D would make the play rather than giving him support. Am I nitpicking? Sure. But for a kid that's second overall without flash, I was just hoping to see more. The good thing is once he gets bigger, those issues can easily be corrected. I guess I'm just not ready to hand him a top line spot between Moulson and Gionta just yet.

It was only one July scrimmage but reinhart did nothing last night that screams he's ready to play against men. He was very average during the game and a few camp invitees and late round picks looked better than the second overall pick on this night. I'm not overreacting as it's one event and training camp, exhibition games and likely a nine game tryout is where it will really count. Still, very disappointed in his effort last night. If he keeps it up I want him sent back rather than playing less than ten min a night and running into another grigo situation.

I agree that I'm taking him a lot more serious now. Not sure what his upside is exactly but he has a great shot. I would think if all pans out right now I'd guess he has a shot as a second line winger.

Just got home from development camp and will post my thoughts. I haven't read anything on this thread yet so sorry if it's been repeated. Also, I realize this is one scrimmage in July and probably has little meaning but I'm going to state my opinions anyways. Carrier. Wow I have to start with him. I was really looking forward to seeing him and fasching as I didn't know much about either before the deadline deals. Fasching is pretty decent but needs atleast two years before he even sniffs the show. Carrier on the other hand was excellent. One of the best out there for sure. When we got him I was disappointed we didn't get the blues top pick (can't remember his name) but carrier is going to be a good one. Baker had him ranked outside our top 10 prospects. If that's the case we really are stacked. Reinhart. I drove a round trip of five hours mainly to see him and he was invisible out there..and i was watching for him! It wasn't just that but he showed very little compete. He looked like he was skating at half speed, I really hope that isn't top speed. You could see the smarts when he was in the d zone he was almost always in the right spot but then did nothing when the puck actually got there. I hope he plays much better in training camp or I'll have no problem with them sending him back. Speaking of invisible, that was grigo. In warm ups he was stick handling between pucks and he has sickkkk hands, you can just see the talent. But game time comes and he was invisible. This is his third camp, he should be much better than average at this point. I did see him throw one hit atleast. Lemieux. I know a lot of u wanted that Russian kid with this pick but I think he's the type of guy buffalo has needed for a long time. He was chirping after every whistle and even almost got in a fight with risto after the second ended. If he won't back down from someone mature and 6 4 he won't from anyone. When we finally make the playoffs again he will be a gem. Baptiste is the real deal. That season in Sudbury was no fluke. He looks fast and smart out there. Ulmark was the best goalie out there tonight...by a lot. Let's hope he can build off his monster season last year and he may be a legit prospect. Risto was one of the best players out there. He looked huge, smart, with a great shot. Zadorov looked very lazy at times but he's so big and strong that he could get away with it in this game. I hope he won't pick up bad habits if sent back to London. Really liked mcabe tonight. Bailey had a bit of a down year in Kitchener and did not look great to me tonight. I have to end with wilhelm. The kid was what a fifth rounder? He has some great skill out there. He obviously needs to get bigger as he was pushed around a lot but I was surprised with his play.

I could see Carrier passing Armia but I will be very disappointed if McCabe passes Risto.

I'm sure that report is accurate. In practice his skills can be on full display. It's when game time comes that I want to see some of that magic. I haven't given up on him yet either but this is the year I hope he shows something, even if it's in the AHL.

Bingo.

That's who I was thinking.

Thanks for the info Boyes. Appreciated.

Anyone know what time the doors open? I take it you just sit on a first come first serve in the lower levels? Sorry, never been to one.

I think we're set up now where we can pretty much take BPA next draft. I really hope we pick 1 or 2 next year but if we end up with say third, right now the third and fourth ranked prospects are D. I don't want to have to take the next best forward just because we are short up front. I like our balance right now.

Just got approved for a half day vacation so I will be making the drive down there to watch.

Ya the drive during rush hour is brutal but considering some talent that will be there and the tickets are free I still may go for it. Will probably take a half day vacation from work so as to miss the traffic and grab a bite downtown before it starts. Maybe I'll see ya there. I, like probably hundreds of others, will be rocking my Myers jersey.

I'm seriously considering making the 2.5 hour drive down for the scrimmage but haven't decided yet. If i do I'll ofcourse post updates.

Amen.

This sounds like a longer shot than that guy we picked up from Edmonton that some ppl we're anointing our next star that didn't pan out. Meh good if he signs i suppose.

One more year. Think of what one superstar can do to our deep stable of prospects. We've spent the last two deadlines setting ourselves up for one more down season in a very good and deep draft. Let's take our lumps this year and then we can move forward with our youth movement. Also, I really hope this is the last time I have to read someone advocating for us to trade for the first pick. Very doubtful but I hope so.

Ive always wondered what will happen if say the 13 team won the draft. When they count down and 13 ends up being the team who finished 12 there's no more drama to know who holds the top pick.

These were two guys that played fairly prominent roles during the leaves perennial playoff drought.

I was going to jump in on this but glad you did first. There are unfortunatly a few "journalists" that make the city look bad. Anyone is entitled to raise their kids how they want but I hope you are just pissed about the article and not actually raising your kids with a disrespect for people based on place of origin. Edit and now I see your response, figured as much.