GASabresIUFAN

I agree that D is the more pressing “need,” but I have zero problem with the Sabres taking Honzek (for example) with the 13th pick, as long as they get a D or 2 with the 2nd rd picks.

I’d be very happy with Willander at 13. I found it interesting that Honzek found his way into the top 10 in this mock draft. If Musty falls into the 2nd rd (I doubt it) KA has to get the kid.

I think it matters at forward, especially as the bigger guys mature. You can’t tell me that Cozens, TnT and Tuch don’t benefit from their size advantage. Pronman’s point is that we don’t have a forward in the pipeline who can grow into that type of player. Neuchev is the closest. That doesn’t mean Kulich and Savoie won’t be good NHLers, you just don’t want a whole forward group of those size players. On defense, I’m a firm believer that we need as many redwoods that can skate as possible.

That’s what she said

Food for thought: The Athletic’s Pronman on the Sabres biggest draft need. https://theathletic.com/4626765/2023/06/26/nhl-draft-2023-team-needs/ Actually they are all under 6’0 when drafted (Savoie 5’9, Östlund and Kisakov 5’10, Poltapov, Rosen, Rousek, Kulich, Kozak 5’11). Only Neuchev is tallish and he is 6’2. I don’t think drafting a tall forward is a necessity by any means as the Sabres’ roster is pretty balanced size wise. In fact, our forwards have 5 players (Tuch, TNT, DC Z and Greenway) 6’2+ and two others 6’1 in Mitts and Quinn who are pretty solid on their skates. JJP and Krebs are 6’. Still his point is well taken, although I think D is the more pressing need in our system. Still, Wood and Honzek are big forwards (6’2+). Sale, Barlow and Danielson are 6’1. Most if not all of these guys should be available at 13. Of these 5, Honzek and Danielson are my favorites.

I think Orlov is 6’ even and has a proven track record of flourishing in the NHL.

Size matters .

Bunting’s issue is personality according to the articles I’ve read. I doubt KA would bring in someone who could disrupt his locker room. Here are some of the boxes Orlov checks off for the Sabres 1. Can handle big top 4 minutes. 2. Solid 2 way play 3. can play either side 4. Vast playoff experience including winning a Cup 5. Can play any D style 6. Should be a good mentor for the young D 7. Cultural ambassador for our influx of Russian players. 8. As a UFA we don’t have to use pipeline assets to acquire him. Contract $ and term biggest obstacle assuming he is interested in playing here.

I’m not sure that’s 100% true. With guys pushing from below, I can easily see a scenario where a hockey trade is made swapping Krebs for a D in a similar situation. Same applies to Mitts. It’s funny but I see an easier road to the NHL for guys like Rosen and Rousek replacing KO and Z then I do for some of the “higher” skill guys. For Kulich and Savoie, VO getting trading might open an opportunity for them to earn an NHL job, unless Mitts is moved to the wing and Krebs earns the 3rd line center role. Like I said, to maximize their potential they are going to have to get the right opportunity.

Oh it’s great for the Sabres, but this thread is about the young players reaching their potential. Krebs in another organization might grow into a top 6 forward. Here he may be stuck as a 4th line center.

Which begs the question, who are the most vulnerable current forwards and who in the pipeline looks like their most likely replacement? Obviously VO is probably tops on that list, followed by KO and Z. I’d says Krebs and Mitts are next, given each has one year left on their current deals. When does Skinner get added to this list?

I mentioned opportunity as a limiting factor for some of these guys. For example Krebs might already be stuck as our 4th line center, especially if DG prefers Mitts at center. Now what happens to Krebs if Mitts is extended? Let’s assume for arguments sake that JJP and Quinn hit 50 pts plus this season and KA moves to sign them long term. Now your top six is written in stone for the next 3 years at least. With the top 6 locked up where does Savoie play. Who do Savoie, Kulich, Östlund, Neuchev, and Rosen push out of the organization to even get an opportunity to reach their offensive potential? Obviously this is a great problem to have, but at some point some really hard decisions are going to have to be made to move on from some really good players to open up opportunities for these kids.

This is an almost impossible question. So much will be determined by opportunity. From a pure talent standpoint Quinn, JJP, Savoie are arguably the most talented. Östlund and Krebs maybe next on that list. However, how do you teach Kulich's drive or Neuchev's sniper skills and motor? I honestly can't wait to see how Neuchev measures up in the AHL to get a gauge on his NHL possibilities. The Sabres are the deepest we've ever seen at forward. Imagine if we add a Moore or Danielson or Honzak from this draft to the list. I know many here think the world of Quinn. He is an excellent player with tremendous upside. However, there is something about JJP, Kulich, and Neuchev that really intrigue me. @freester and I were watching the draft together last year and I'm pounding the table for Kulich at 16 and then screaming at the TV for him at 28 when we drafted the 3rd time in the first. I see Kulich as a future ROR type and our long-term 3C. I also think JJP has pt per game potential.

While I would have liked to see a top 4 D acquired, at the deadline, I have long believed the best GMs use the trade deadline not only to bolster the team that season but in the seasons beyond. Greenway did help last season. He got better with each game and his 4 goals were a higher season pace (19-goal pace) than ever before. The move also gave us 2 additional years of Greenways services at a minimum. Frankly, it was the goaltending that failed us and that wasn't fixable at the deadline. Honestly, I don't believe that KA thought the team entering last season was a playoff caliber team. The maturity and improvement of the forwards I think took him by surprise and accelerated his rebuild. I don't think he'll be making that mistake this off-season.

Of course they knew. That's why he only cost a 2nd. They had a qtr of the season to work him into the culture by a coach Greenway respects. This season he knows what the brass expect and he's been given a new lease of his hockey life in an excellent situation. The Greenway trade was always about this season.

Considering he's a RW, he's not expected to be a center. His skating is universally stated as an issue, but according to his coaches, it's improving. “His skating just kept getting better,” said Didmon. “So I don’t worry about his skating because it has just been on a steady incline and progression over the last three years.” https://theathletic.com/4457512/2023/04/29/nhl-draft-matthew-wood/ I doubt KA drafts Wood, even if he is available, but I think the "skating issue" is way overblown. This kid was the youngest player in the NCAA last season and was still basically a pt a game player. I watched some UConn games and he was able to physically beat older players and his speed never looked like a major problem.

Your right. He’s a more highly thought of prospect in his draft year. Thompson was taken 26th in 2016. He had 14 goals and 32 pts in 36 games with Uconn his draft year. Wood is a consensus top 15 player, many have him as a top 10 player. He had a similar pt total at UConn this year as TNT, but was dominate at U18s with 13 pts (7 goals) in 7 games.

…. And now back to our regularly scheduled thread. I’m ok with trading the pick in the right deal, but Adams has a clear emphasis so far on building the pipeline and I don’t see that changing given the talent down to the 19th pick. I can see him trading up if Michkov falls or him trading down a few slots for the right extra assets.

That's what we all said about TNT.

https://www.nhl.com/nhl-draft I did a mock draft on FC and this is what happened. No way this comes true where I was getting 2nd rd talent so late. However, It's time to predict what KA and his team do with our top 4 picks. DRAFT RESULTS 13 FC RANK 22 LEONARD RYAN C U.S. NATIONAL U18 TEAM 39 FC RANK 43 BONK OLIVER D LONDON KNIGHTS 45 FC RANK 57 LINDSTEIN THEO D BRYNäS IF SHL 86 FC RANK 96 WAHLBERG ANTON C MALMö REDHAWKS SHL (I have Wahlberg 52 on my board) 109 FC RANK 99 NELSON DANNY LW U.S. NATIONAL U18 TEAM ( I have Nelson 55th on my board) 141 FC RANK 152 PEKARCIK JURAJ LW HK NITRA SLOVAKIA (I have him 87th on my board) 173 FC RANK 179 WIKMAN ALBERT D FäRJESTAD BK SHL (I have Wikman 92nd on my board) 205 FC RANK 291 CLARA DAMIAN G BIK KARLSKOGA My Mock Draft 1. 13th Moore - KA likes speed and Moore has it. 2. 39th Bonk - R shot defensive D 3. 45th Lardis - Young talented LW 4. 86th McCarthy - KA gets his neighbor who is a talented D that maybe underrated in this draft.

Heading to the Cure on Wednesday and BareNaked Ladies on Friday. Should be a great week.

It might even happen here soon.

I think that's too late. They wasted last year's 2nd on a mediocre goalie. The top 6 this year are all better players. We need to develop a good goalie behind Levi, with 4 picks in the top 86, this is an opportunity to get a talented goalie our system needs. That's an interesting development, but he is still under contract in Russia for two more years.

It really depends on how the draft falls. At worst Ratzlaff at 86 (if we are lucky). There are things to like about all the guys I listed and really even Fowler and Gajan would not be a huge reach at 45, especially as they'll be gone by 86. If the Sabres draft Willander or Reinbacher in the 1st, I'd maybe grab Augustine at 39, Lardis at 45 and KA's pal McCarthy at 86. If they go Moore/Wood/Danielson/Honzek in the 1st, then maybe 2 D at 39 & 45 and take Ratzlaff at 86. The depth at good Goalie ends with those top 6, although McKenzie also likes Damien Clara (83rd on McKenzie's board), no one else listed him in their top 100.

When it comes to 2nd rd picks, the rankings vary wildly. Take for example Max Strbak. He is 51st on my board and his rankings range from 25 to outside the top 100. Ten rankings have him from 41 to 60. This is a very solid defensive D and if he is available at 45 and the Sabres take him, don't be upset. A forward I also really like in the 2nd is Nick Lardis. He is young for this draft (He's still 17) and IMHO will be a steal for anyone who drafts him. He's 54 on my board, but if the Sabres take a D in the first, I'd be pleased with Lardis at 45. I also really like D Bonk (35th) and Lindstein (44) on my board. FYI: All the players listed 44th to 51st are D and have similar rankings. How they go in the 2nd rd (and some could slip into the 3rd) will be based on each team's criteria. For example, Morin (46) has compete questions and could easily slip because of it. I'm also interested in how the goalies play out. Hrabel (33) has a near 1st rd grade. Augustine (41) and Bjarnason (58) have solid 2nd rd grades. Fowler, Gajan, and Ratzlaff have solid 3rd rd grades. I like Augustine and Ratzlaff from my reading and Augustine's U18 and U20 play. Augustine is heading to Ryan Miller's alma mater next year, MSU. Ratzlaff has excellent for Canada at the Hlinka.