GASabresIUFAN

Look at Okposo, it can happen to anyone at anytime. It can be a career killer or just an injury. I don’t think that should be a determining factor unless the doctors say there are residual problems and don’t take him.

The more I research this draft, I keep coming back to certain players. I really want Nemec or Jiricek. If one somehow falls to six, I would trade 9 and 41 in an instant to grab that player. I like Savoie's talent and Nazar seems like the USA version of Savoie. Small fast talented forwards. I just don't see either as centers in the NHL. At this point if Savoie falls to us at 9, I think KA has to take him. Too talented to pass on. Otherwise, I am coming around on Gauthier. The more I read, the more I believe he'd be a good player in our system. My 3rd choice is taking Kasper. Some will say this is to high, maybe, but he was one of best players on his SHL team in the playoffs at 18. He is described as big center with good wheels who is 100% effort, a great work ethic and solid skills. What's not to like? At 16, Kasper would be ideal, but I doubt he slips that far. If not Jiri Kulich really intrigues me. He is a reasonably skilled forward, but someone who plays a two way game with gusto. Reminds me of a smaller ROR. Miroshniichenko's skill level is elite. If we are going to roll the dice, why not on him here. Also I really like Korchinski over the other 2 LHDs, although I suspect, none of the 3 will be there when we draft at 16. I think there will be a run on them, as teams are desperate for the next Cale Makar. What about at 28. The forwards that stand out at this point are Snuggerud and Gaucher. Snuggerud is a bigger, better and more skilled version of his Dad. Like Kasper, he seems to be 100% work ethic and effort. He's also already 6'2". Gaucher is fast, big, plays 200 feet and can score. He is said to be one of the defensive forwards in the Q. Again, what's not to like. On defense two RHD stand out to me here. One is Ryan Chesley. He seems like a smaller, but better O version of Samuelsson. He is a strong physical defender, who was a leader of the USNTDP and added O when called upon. Biggest issue is mediocre skating, which is what they said about Samuelsson as well. The other D is fast high O skill RHD Tristian Luneau, but he is also solid defensively according to the scouting reports I've read. Ultimately if we come away with 3 from Savoie, Gauthier, Kasper, Kulich, Miro, Snuggerud, Gaucher, Chesley or Luneau, I'll be thrilled.

I think the title of this thread needs to be updated. It doesn’t reflect accurately what LL said in his mailbag.

Now the real question is does he just get the C or does he get the C and an extension?

I’d like to thank Kyle for his efforts here in Buffalo, congrats on being the next Sabres Captain and I’m sincerely sorry this will be your last season here.

Maybe

Don't worry, KA is going to trade for him this off-season.

So basically nothing like "Spector" quoted him as saying! These are reasonable comments and truthfully makes sense. In the goaltending thread we have discussed acquiring Ullmark, giving Comrie and or DeSmith a chance and going after Husso or Campbell. All would be upgrades over Anderson and a scrub 2.0. Nothing here limits what KA might do as Spector implied.

Are you saying that no GM, player, coach or agent has as ever used the media to manipulate public opinion?

I don't think it was an opinion piece as to the goaltending, not if I'm reading the quote below accurately.

I wonder if KA or a member of his team leaked the story to LL so that the fanbase gets used to the idea that KA is going to fail the team again with bad goaltending

And sometimes that works (Quinn) and sometimes it doesn’t (Rosen). The key is build a quality scouting department and trust them. This year that is truer then ever. After the clear top 5 anything can happen this year. Opinions vary so widely this season it’s startling. For example, I have Snuggerud in the mid 20’s on my consensus board, but he has rankings as high as 8th and as low as in the second round.

Translation: Anderson plus a scrub 2.0. I can’t begin to say how angry this makes me. It’s time for KA to step and get some real friggin goaltending to support this rebuild.

link?

But what are you paying him beyond next season?

I have 13 14 ballots so far in my consensus rankings. All but 2 are final. I'm waiting on the Hockey News and FC/Sportings News. I also am waiting on TSN MacKenzie's final list. Anyway. Here is where we stand. Tier 1 - Wright, Cooley Slafkovsky Tier 2a - Nemec and Jiricek; 2b Kemell and Savoie Tier 3 - Lekkermaki, Gauthier, Nazar, and Yurov (8-11) Tier 4 - Korchinski, Mateychuk, Lambert, and Mintyukov Tier 5 - Geekie, Kasper and McGroarty (16-18) - no way Kasper actually lasts this long IMHO. Tier 6 - Ohgren, Kulich, Howard, Miroschniichenko, and Ostlund Tier 7 - Firkus, Mesar, Snuggerud, Pickering Tier 8 - Bichsel, Gaucher, Del Bel Belluz, Chesley (28-31) Tier 9 - Odelius, Hutson, Luneau, Beck and Casey Tier 10 - Goyette, Nelson, Hughes; Tier 11 - Trikozov, Perevalov, Havelid (40-42) Tier 12 - Bystedt, Zhilkin, Rinzel, Salomonsson With this update It looks to me like the pick at 9 comes down to Savoie, Gauthier, Nazar. I'd even consider Kasper here. 16 looks like Kasper or Kulich, or one the talented LHDs 28 - If we grab a D at 16, I'd like Snuggerud at 28, Chesley also is a solid RHD 41 - Expect someone to slide. Casey, Luneau, Havelid are all good RHDs.

and if Kane walks in a year, but you could have locked up VO for 3-5 years instead? How much are you paying Kane to stay? What about his poor off the ice reputation?

Food for thought. Only one team has won a Cup with 2 1st overall picks on the roster since 2000 and that was Pitts (Crosby and MAF). No team with a 1st overall D has won the Cup since 2000. If Colorado wins, they'll have 2 1st overalls (Mackinnon and E Johnson), and E Johnson will be the 1st 1st overall D to win the Cup with century. Granted only Power, Dahlin, Ekblad and E Johnson have gone 1st overall since 2000.

Right! Why trade important assets for a guy you can get in a year, especially when management is still evaluating what they have.

The Sabres need to build their D pipeline. We have 3 legit prospects and none may ever play for us; Johnson can become a UFA after this next season, Oskari’s defense isn’t close to NHL ready and Novikov is in Russia and may never come to NA. While I wouldn’t take a LHD a 9, but I’d consider it at 16, and I have zero issues with grabbing D at 28 and 41 if we take forwards at 9 and 16. As I posted earlier, I’d take Kasper at 9 (or Savoie if Kasper is gone), Nazar or Kulich at 16 and then take D at 28 and 41.

If we want him, wait a year and sign him as a UFA.

are you willing to trade Quinn and the 9th over all pick for him and take on his salary?

I've updated my board as more final rankings come in. My picks as of right now would be: 9. Nazar (unless Nemec or Jiricek fall to us) 16. Kasper or Kulich 28. Bichsel, Odelius, Chesley or Luneau.

https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-nhl-draft-preview-options-at-16th-overall/c-334638620 Sabres.com thoughts on who will be available at 16

Is it just me, or are the LV Knights and Mon the two worst managed teams in the NHL right now? That’s really saying something given our recent history. I’m curious how $ LV is really on the hook for for the next 4 years. Is there insurance payments like we get for Bishop? If there isn’t I’m not sure this deal makes much sense. Dadanov has only one year left on his deal. Why pay someone 30 mill not to play to just get potential cap relief.