Flashsabre

Adams said both Johnson and Portillo will be there. This will probably be the most talented group the Sabres have ever assembled.

Larionov is who I thought of too. I think Östlund could be special if he fills out. He has that computer like mind like Igor had. The Sportsnet guys really liked him as someone who makes everyone around him better.

The insiders on TSN said that the Hawks veterans didn’t like Dach’s attitude. That’s a big red flag to go along with his lack of production.

All I know is the WJCs in December are going to be fun to watch as a Sabres fan.

Yep. This is a prime example of what Adams talked about earlier today. He wants upside and projection. It’s not about what Östlund is today but what he is at 22-23 when he has filled out and matured. They are betting that at that point he will be dynamic when you combine an elite brain with a man’s body. Interesting to see him develop.

Noah Warren will be in the mid too

Watching his presser he looks like LaFontaine and Moulson had a kid😁Very well spoken. Seems to be a real character kid.

I only saw the Savoie one and he really liked it. I know he loves Kulich and Östlund seems like the kind of player he would be high on but I only saw the Savoie reaction.

Not that it means a ton but on Sportsnet they really liked all 3 picks. They especially like Östlund who they said just flat out makes everyone around him better. And they didn’t pull punches on a few picks saying that they were major projects or reaches.

Baker was on Sabres Live all night with Duffer and Marty.

Just laughing at the Leafs. Giving up another 1st to take a bad contract that Dubas gave out. They have a 2nd, 3rd, 7th in this draft and no goaltending. Hawks will start Mrazek and go full Bedard.

He was a leader and warrior at the U18s for Czechia.

Love it. That is a hell of a first round for the Sabres. 3 high end centres.

He did have a bad concussion when he was 15 playing in the dub. But it hasn’t hampered him. He had a shoulder injury in the playoffs when he was tripped and fell into the ref who was right there. He was the guy I wanted at #9 but I learned from the Rossi-QUInn draft not to get too excited when Adams announced from the Winnipeg Ice...😀 He gives me Briere vibes if he can get anywhere close to Briere that would be great.

What a mess the Hawks are. Spending all the assets and money for Seth Jones last year and blowing everything up this year. Bobby MAC reporting they will not qualify Strome. Looking to move 21 year old Dach. The story is they want to move Kane and Toews but want them to be the ones to ask to be moved for optics. I think Kane is a Sabre this offseason. Not for crazy assets either.

So when is the Kane tin buffalo deal announced?

In Adams availability yesterday he again talked about looking for upside and projecting where a player will be in 5 years. Even if one player is ranked above another right now who will be the better player in 5 years. So I expect some Quinn like picks rather than whoever is necessarily ranked in that spot on different draft sites.

Sakic met with his agent yesterday and today squires Georgiev. Looks like Kuemper is gone.

Dreger says the Leafs are poking around Murray. PLEASE DO IT LEAFS🤣 This might be why he said no to Buffalo if the Leafs are after him. He played for Dubas at the Soo so I can see it.

So he thinks staying in Ottawa is a better option? The guy is a head case, injury riddled goaltender. The minute Ottawa signed him I thought it would be a disaster.

I’m going to make a prediction for tonight: the draft is shaken up when Arizona takes Cutter Gauthier #3. He grew up in Arizona and they want a hometown kid to build around. They can market him as having “Auston Matthews qualities”. Seattle then has to choose between Cooley and Nemec, who they have scouted a ton.

I like Johnson I hope he signs. Adams mentioned the meeting will be about honesty and clarity so I take it to mean Adams hears what he wants and Johnson stay put or he doesn’t like what he hears and he moves Johnson this weekend as part of a bigger deal or for another prospect.

My bad in an earlier quote where I said I didn’t care for the EP guys. I meant to say “I didn’t care for the EP guys review of Nazar” I don’t mind those guys on the whole. I’m not a fan of what I say from him but again it was only one tournament. The scouts seem to have him in the middle teens to 20s so we will see where he goes. I don’t think he is a bad player on the whole I just don’t agree with those that have him in the top 4-10 of the draft. I think there are better players there.

Not a big fan of those elite prospects guys either. I know we won’t see eye to eye on this and that is fine.

Nazar is not that good. His strength is his skating and some people translate fast skating into being a top pick. I was disappointed watching him at the U18s this year. I thought he just played the perimeter made bad decisions and his body language was bad after taking some stupid penalties. Granted it was one tournament but he didn’t impress me.