I don't see the Sabres trading there 8th and 16th in facted i see the sabres getting two more picks in the top 15 somewhere between 9th and 15th. so what i'm saying is the sabres could end up having 4 first round pick in this years draft.

How would this play out its simple Vanek and Miller.

Vanek and Miller are easily a top 15.

are they worth a top 10: maybe

are they worth a top 5: no

If Paul Gaustad is worth the 16th pick then Vanek and Miller can get you in to the top 15.
- mike13wilkins

Goose wasn't worth the 16th. That was Calgary's pick. The Nashville pick we got for Gaustad was in the twenties. We traded up with that pick and an early 2nd to get the 16th.

Top 5...

Jones
MacKinnon
Drouin/Nishushkin(Tampa has a hard-on for him)
Barkov

At #6, the Flames are picking either Lindholm or Monahan(Many think it's Monahan) but IF they do pick Lindholm, the Oilers will be doing cart-wheels & pick Monahan faster than Bettman can say who's on the clock next.

Edmonton is one team that no question is trying to move into the 4 slot so they can actually select Barkov but the price may be too steep for their liking.

But they will settle for Monahan & be leaping for joy if he slips to them at 7.

So what i'm saying, Nurse is the player that's going to drop!!
- newmy

NO WAY they get another forward. Let alone another center. They're already stacked with the Nuge, Gagner, Horcoff, Smithson, and Belanger on the roster at C with other prospects like Lander coming up.

Top 5...

Jones
MacKinnon
Drouin/Nishushkin(Tampa has a hard-on for him)
Barkov

At #6, the Flames are picking either Lindholm or Monahan(Many think it's Monahan) but IF they do pick Lindholm, the Oilers will be doing cart-wheels & pick Monahan faster than Bettman can say who's on the clock next.

Edmonton is one team that no question is trying to move into the 4 slot so they can actually select Barkov but the price may be too steep for their liking.

But they will settle for Monahan & be leaping for joy if he slips to them at 7.

So what i'm saying, Nurse is the player that's going to drop!!
- newmy

Also, if TB picks Drouin or Nichuskin at 3 according to your picks, where's the other guy go that they don't pick? Wouldn't that guy go 4th instead of Barkov?

when can trades start, after the cup is won?

I don't see the Sabres trading there 8th and 16th in facted i see the sabres getting two more picks in the top 15 somewhere between 9th and 15th. so what i'm saying is the sabres could end up having 4 first round pick in this years draft.

How would this play out its simple Vanek and Miller.

Vanek and Miller are easily a top 15.

are they worth a top 10: maybe

are they worth a top 5: no

If Paul Gaustad is worth the 16th pick then Vanek and Miller can get you in to the top 15.
- mike13wilkins

I hate to point this out but your rationale and reasoning is very flawed. A team is more apt to give up a 1st at the deadline in the hopes of bolstering their Cup hopes. So your thinking that since Gaustad got a 1st round pick which happend to end up being #16 both Miller and Vanek can garner an even higher 1st. I mean they both might get a 1st but in this draft, I doubt teams in the top 15 give those up for rentals.

Also, if the Sabres do end up with 4 1sts they will be packaging at least two to move up. They won't have 4 1st round picks.

Now I have already made my prediction and that is the Sabres are going to trade into the top 5. They might get into the top three, will try, but due to myself always being disappointed and having to settle, I'm thinking that Darcy will get to the 5th pick. Everything revolves around me, as you see.

I hope the Predators take the BPA instead of trying to fill a positional need with their fourth overall. If they feel that Barkov is the BPA, they should pick him, but I don't think this is the case. They have an opportunity to get a scoring forward and they shouldn't pick someone just because they need to fill a spot. Both Nichushkin and Drouin appear to have more skill than Barkov, who's edge is his vision. Barkov has offensive upside in his own right but he doesn't have the upside of Nichushkin or Drouin. Barkov is a fairly safe pick but he might not be the best pick.

when can trades start, after the cup is won?
- riptheguard

The draft, I'm pretty sure.

when can trades start, after the cup is won?
- riptheguard

From what I understand teams no longer in the playoffs can trade now. I guess it's frowned upon, but it's within the regs of the league and CBA to do so.

I hope the Predators take the BPA instead of trying to fill a positional need with their fourth overall. If they feel that Barkov is the BPA, they should pick him, but I don't think this is the case. They have an opportunity to get a scoring forward and they shouldn't pick someone just because they need to fill a spot. Both Nichushkin and Drouin appear to have more skill than Barkov, who's edge is his vision. Barkov has offensive upside in his own right but he doesn't have the upside of Nichushkin or Drouin. Barkov is a fairly safe pick but he might not be the best pick.
- Bryant44

Barkov is absolutely a scoring forward, while also not being a burden on D like Nichuskin. He's fantastic. Also, unlike Drouin, he's playing amongst men while being the youngest guy in the entire draft. Nichuskin is also playing w/ grown men, but is a bit older.

From what I understand teams no longer in the playoffs can trade now. I guess it's frowned upon, but it's within the regs of the league and CBA to do so.
- GilPerreault11

Really? I didn't know that.

From what I understand teams no longer in the playoffs can trade now. I guess it's frowned upon, but it's within the regs of the league and CBA to do so.
- GilPerreault11

thxs

I can't believe I'm rooting for the Bruins but I just dislike Crosby and the Penguins that much

Barkov: 64 pts. in 85 SM-liiga games, 48 points in 53 games last season. 11 points in 13 WJC games.
Nichuskin: 6 points in 18 career KHL games. 2 points in 6 WJC games.

Both playing amongst men, while Barkov is months younger.

when can trades start, after the cup is won?
- riptheguard

trade talks can happen at any time but can't be made offical in till the cup is won.

let me put it to you like this the sabres and islanders could have been talking about a deal 48 hrs after the islanders were eliminated in round 1 and finally agreed to it on may 30th 2013. the league office will not be in formed in till the cup is won.

I can't believe I'm rooting for the Bruins but I just dislike Crosby and the Penguins that much
- GilPerreault11

A team as stacked as Pittsburgh shouldn't ever be rooted for, unless it's your own. Especially when they're playing like they are. No passion, no desire. If PIT played like the Isles did, they would've had the cup won already.

trade talks can happen at any time but can't be made offical in till the cup is won.

let me put it to you like this the sabres and islanders could have been talking about a deal 48 hrs after the islanders were eliminated in round 1 and finally agreed to it on may 30th 2013. the league office will not be in formed in till the cup is won.
- mike13wilkins

Thank you for clarifying that. So that trade of Vanek to the Caps is agreed to in principle and will be announced after the Hawks win the Cup, good to know.

Really? I didn't know that.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

you learn something new every day here at Hockey Buzz

University at Hockey Buzz (UHB)

Barkov is absolutely a scoring forward, while also not being a burden on D like Nichuskin. He's fantastic. Also, unlike Drouin, he's playing amongst men while being the youngest guy in the entire draft. Nichuskin is also playing w/ grown men, but is a bit older.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

A lot of Barkov's scoring game is being in the right place in the right time. You have to wonder if that type of game will fully translate to the NHL, especially with the considerably smaller ice and the faster game. I've watched a lot of tape on him and there is nothing he brings that Forsberg doesn't; besides size. He isn't as impressive as Nichushkin or Drouin.

Drouin might be short in stature but he has really strong legs and projects to be 6'0 in height, making him a decent sized forward and he doesn't need to be huge to deke out players like he does. He's got great hands, great speed, great vision and a great shot. He almost undoubtably will play well in the NHL.

Nichushkin's game is based on power. He is a strong player, he's got great hands, he can put a player through the boards, and he has proven he can play his game against men. His game might have the greatest possibility of translating to the NHL. There are plenty of players that have the same skill sets and turn out to be dominant; Jordan and Eric Staal, Evgeni Malkin, Rick Nash, etc.

Barkov is definitely a solid player and he could put up fairly good numbers but I don't see him putting up higher numbers than Drouin or Nichushkin and in Nashville, we need to start scoring.

A lot of Barkov's scoring game is being in the right place in the right time. You have to wonder if that type of game will fully translate to the NHL, especially with the considerably smaller ice and the faster game. I've watched a lot of tape on him and there is nothing he brings that Forsberg doesn't; besides size. He isn't as impressive as Nichushkin or Drouin.

Drouin might be short in stature but he has really strong legs and projects to be 6'0 in height, making him a decent sized forward and he doesn't need to be huge to deke out players like he does. He's got great hands, great speed, great vision and a great shot. He almost undoubtably will play well in the NHL.

Nichushkin's game is based on power. He is a strong player, he's got great hands, he can put a player through the boards, and he has proven he can play his game against men. His game might have the greatest possibility of translating to the NHL. There are plenty of players that have the same skill sets and turn out to be dominant; Jordan and Eric Staal, Evgeni Malkin, Rick Nash, etc.

Barkov is definitely a solid player and he could put up fairly good numbers but I don't see him putting up higher numbers than Drouin or Nichushkin and in Nashville, we need to start scoring.
- Bryant44

The guy's a playmaker... And he's shown a HELL of a lot more offensively than Nichuskin. Just check the stats I posted above a few spots. Barkov's not some net-front guy that picks up rebounds. He also has a stronger D game than Nichuskin. I compare Barkov to Spezza or even more like a Thornton, and Nichuskin a less defensive Jordan Staal.

Realistically what gets us in the top 5? Miller and the #8+? Vanek and the #16+? The #8 AND #16?

Realistically what gets us in the top 5? Miller and the #8+? Vanek and the #16+? The #8 AND #16?
- Pierceme69

Unless it's top 3, absolutely not that much.

For the 4th or 5th pick I'd give up Vanek or Miller, the 16th, and a decent prospect (like Catenacci).

A team as stacked as Pittsburgh shouldn't ever be rooted for, unless it's your own. Especially when they're playing like they are. No passion, no desire. If PIT played like the Isles did, they would've had the cup won already.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

A team as favored by the refs as the bruins shouldnt be rooted for period.

A team as favored by the refs as the bruins shouldnt be rooted for period.
- Putzfrau

The reason the Pens lost was their lack of effort after the 2nd goal, and Tuukka Rask. Not the refs.

Unless it's top 3, absolutely not that much.

For the 4th or 5th pick I'd give up Vanek or Miller, the 16th, and a decent prospect (like Catenacci).
- LetsGoBuffalo75

Ok, so what I put you think would be valid for the top-3?

The reason the Pens lost was their lack of effort after the 2nd goal, and Tuukka Rask. Not the refs.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

i never claimed that. but they are unbelievably favored by the refs. i dont care if its the reason they won or not, its (frank)ing ridiculous.