2025 NHL Entry Draft Thread, Sabres Draft 9th

[LGR4GM]

2 hours ago, DarthEbriate said:

I don't want him as the pick, but at least Eklund does have a high motor. The fear I have as a Sabres fan is that a high motor is sufficient to get you onto the NHL roster in your draft year.

There's literally no room. None. Where would Eklund even play? Who's spot is he going to take? He's also signed for another year in the SHL.

Edited yesterday at 05:14 AM by LGR4GM

[LGR4GM]

3 hours ago, dudacek said:

Not disagreeing with your conclusion, but Mtrka has more range than any of these guys.

The size/skating combo he offers is not something that's typically available in the 2nd road.

Adam Kleber is 6'6" 

I suppose we could debate if he skates better. 

3 hours ago, French Collection said:

Yeah, I don’t think he takes Eklund but he might, as much as that kid is what I see as more of the same.

I am ready to shake it up from BPA to BFA ( biggest friggin’ attitude).

Eklund has an attitude. Biggest attitude is going to be Martin followed by Bear. 

[SabreFinn]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Adam Kleber is 6'6" 

I suppose we could debate if he skates better. 

Eklund has an attitude. Biggest attitude is going to be Martin followed by Bear. 

I think Bear will be available as 9th, Martin probably not. Sabres drafting Bear though, is something I have a hard time believing in. I think they have drafted well the last two years, but I can't figure out if they have any visions when drafting, or do they just pick most skilled player available? 

[LGR4GM]

 

 

[LGR4GM]

Never let Corey Pronman draft for you. 

"Victor Eklund is the BPA here, but in the background is the plethora of smaller, skilled forwards Buffalo has drafted over the past five years. It would be hard to justify Eklund into the mix the Sabres have already picked, even if he's a great and highly competitive player. We opt for Aitcheson here. He's our second ranked-defenseman in this class. He brings a combination of tenacity, skill and athleticism to the blue line and will help us at both ends of the ice on top of making our team harder to play against. — Pronman"

Aitcheson, who I like, is a LHD. So we can't draft Eklund cuz small winger but we can draft yet another lhd top 10 to add to Dahlin, Byram, Power. My issue isn't the pick, it's the complete lack of internal logic from Pronman. If we can't draft Eklund cuz small wingers (Benson is the only small winger, Östlund, Helenius, Kulich, are centers) than how does it make sense to take a lhd? Btw, Brady Martin is available. 

[LGR4GM]

3 hours ago, SabreFinn said:

I think Bear will be available as 9th, Martin probably not. Sabres drafting Bear though, is something I have a hard time believing in. I think they have drafted well the last two years, but I can't figure out if they have any visions when drafting, or do they just pick most skilled player available? 

They seemed to shift after 2022. Zach Benson, followed by Wahlberg and Strbak. Then Helenius followed by Kleber and Ziemer. They prioritized rhd in the 2nd round and either added size or grit with the forward picks. 

I think they're very aware of the profile they think they have. However, analytics is about market inefficiency and taking Benson and even Helenius is exactly that. Teams letting talented and tenacious players slide because of height. 

[DarthEbriate]

8 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

There's literally no room. None. Where would Eklund even play? Who's spot is he going to take? He's also signed for another year in the SHL.

The bold is the saving grace.

But don't tempt GMKA by saying there's no room. There's always room for 1st-round draft picks. There wasn't room for Benson in July (post-draft), but by season's start: Quinn was on IR, Savoie was injured and soon to head to AHL for conditioning before returning to juniors, Olofsson slotted into Quinn's spot in the lineup for opening night, and Jost sat in the press box.

Cynic me says: Eklund would when Greenway and Norris are hurt in preseason, leading Kulich and Eklund into the lineup. Lafferty watches. Bonus: either JJP or Quinn signs an offer sheet and becomes 2026 draft picks rather than pay someone who doesn't want to be here.

[LGR4GM]

21 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

The bold is the saving grace.

But don't tempt GMKA by saying there's no room. There's always room for 1st-round draft picks. There wasn't room for Benson in July (post-draft), but by season's start: Quinn was on IR, Savoie was injured and soon to head to AHL for conditioning before returning to juniors, Olofsson slotted into Quinn's spot in the lineup for opening night, and Jost sat in the press box.

Cynic me says: Eklund would when Greenway and Norris are hurt in preseason, leading Kulich and Eklund into the lineup. Lafferty watches. Bonus: either JJP or Quinn signs an offer sheet and becomes 2026 draft picks rather than pay someone who doesn't want to be here.

Zach Benson should have gone top 5 in a very good draft. He's a compete abnormality. Also, Eklund would be behind many others on the depth chart. 

[DarthEbriate]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Zach Benson should have gone top 5 in a very good draft. He's a compete abnormality. Also, Eklund would be behind many others on the depth chart. 

But top-5 picks go back to juniors most of the time (excepting 1st overalls).

And we know in the Sabres' situation that year, the obvious play was a veteran winger to come in and guide top-6 JJP/Cozens through New Year's (I always note Tarasenko because that'd be a solid career for Quinn to become and he was available). Then, ease Quinn back into the lineup. Trade VO with retention for more defense/tenacity in the bottom 6. All this with $10M in cap space and 2 points from being a playoff team the year prior. And don't go into the season with 3 goalies, but whatever. Adams gonna Adams with goalies.

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, DarthEbriate said:

But top-5 picks go back to juniors most of the time (excepting 1st overalls).

And we know in the Sabres' situation that year, the obvious play was a veteran winger to come in and guide top-6 JJP/Cozens through New Year's (I always note Tarasenko because that'd be a solid career for Quinn to become and he was available). Then, ease Quinn back into the lineup. Trade VO with retention for more defense/tenacity in the bottom 6. All this with $10M in cap space and 2 points from being a playoff team the year prior. And don't go into the season with 3 goalies, but whatever. Adams gonna Adams with goalies.

Yea but the point is there's more depth now than when Benson joined. Eklund would need to beat out, Tage, Tuch, Peterka, Benson, and Zucker and probably Greenway and Quinn, and either Rosen or Östlund or even Kulich who could be considered a wing. Benson just had to beat Savoie.

[DarthEbriate]

51 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Yea but the point is there's more depth now than when Benson joined. Eklund would need to beat out, Tage, Tuch, Peterka, Benson, and Zucker and probably Greenway and Quinn, and either Rosen or Östlund or even Kulich who could be considered a wing. Benson just had to beat Savoie.

Eklund doesn't need to beat out TNT/Tuch/JJP/Benson/Zucker/Greenway to make the roster. Just Lafferty, Rosén, or Östlund, or (Quinn unless if he's moved). Kulich I'm already assuming is a lock. Edit: And Helenius.

Benson beat Jost, Savoie (injured in preseason), Rousek (Amerks leading scorer the previous year), Kulich, and Rosén. You could also argue Biro or Murray if you're generous to their then-contracts. And also Olofsson, who was the first guy dropped out of the lineup while Benson stayed in it.

Edited 17 hours ago by DarthEbriate

[ponokasabre]

7 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Never let Corey Pronman draft for you. 

"Victor Eklund is the BPA here, but in the background is the plethora of smaller, skilled forwards Buffalo has drafted over the past five years. It would be hard to justify Eklund into the mix the Sabres have already picked, even if he's a great and highly competitive player. We opt for Aitcheson here. He's our second ranked-defenseman in this class. He brings a combination of tenacity, skill and athleticism to the blue line and will help us at both ends of the ice on top of making our team harder to play against. — Pronman"

Aitcheson, who I like, is a LHD. So we can't draft Eklund cuz small winger but we can draft yet another lhd top 10 to add to Dahlin, Byram, Power. My issue isn't the pick, it's the complete lack of internal logic from Pronman. If we can't draft Eklund cuz small wingers (Benson is the only small winger, Östlund, Helenius, Kulich, are centers) than how does it make sense to take a lhd? Btw, Brady Martin is available. 

I think its more about that Aitcheson is just something we don't have in the hard to play against role

Its also extremely possible that after the summer we wont have Byram or Samuelsson here, so suddenly left side of the D looks weak

I am more on the Martin or Bear train of we keep 9

[LGR4GM]

9 hours ago, ponokasabre said:

I think its more about that Aitcheson is just something we don't have in the hard to play against role

Its also extremely possible that after the summer we wont have Byram or Samuelsson here, so suddenly left side of the D looks weak

I am more on the Martin or Bear train of we keep 9

I like Aitcheson, don't get me wrong and agree with you he's something we've not done well getting. If I have to pick between him and Mrtka, I probably lean Aitcheson. We've needed more jam for years. 

[LGR4GM]