The Oilers are the team that have the pieces to move up, should they want to. They have an abundance of forwards, Gagner and Hemsky would be a good start when it comes to moving up. Gag's and their 7th over all is worth more than 4th over all. Only one player in the same draft as Gag's has more points than him.

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

The reffing really wasn't that bad. The Matt Cooke penalty had to be a 5 because of the "visible injury" clause in the rule book. The one with Marchand, Neal was never "injured" so it's only a 2. It's a dumb rule, but the right call. On Orpik's interference, he stuck his arm out. If he doesn't do that, it's not called. The only issue I had with was the Marchand interference no-call, but even then, you could have also called Letang for diving on that play. The refereeing still did leave a bit to be desired, but it wasn't as bad as people are making it out to be.

The Oilers are the team that have the pieces to move up, should they want to. They have an abundance of forwards, Gagner and Hemsky would be a good start when it comes to moving up. Gag's and their 7th over all is worth more than 4th over all. Only one player in the same draft as Gag's has more points than him.
- vanlee

The Oilers do have to look at somehow staying under the cap when all these top draft picks sign their 2nd contracts. Good luck with that.

The reffing really wasn't that bad. The Matt Cooke penalty had to be a 5 because of the "visible injury" clause in the rule book. The one with Marchand, Neal was never "injured" so it's only a 2. It's a dumb rule, but the right call. On Orpik's interference, he stuck his arm out. If he doesn't do that, it's not called. The only issue I had with was the Marchand interference no-call, but even then, you could have also called Letang for diving on that play. The refereeing still did leave a bit to be desired, but it wasn't as bad as people are making it out to be.
- buffalofan19

I'm not even referring to this game specifically, although its a great example.

Games seem to be regularly called in the bruins favor. Call me paranoid, but I watch a lot of hockey games and i wish the sabres could get calls like the bruins.

It's not necessarily that they are overwhelmingly favored, they just seem to have a handful of key calls or non calls go their way and its enough to tip the odds in their favor.

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

Wishful thinking for sure

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

Draft Day.

Comp. Buyouts start 12 hours after the cup is won for a 48 hour period before the draft.

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.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

Horcoff and Belanger are irrelevant. Smithson and Lander don't really impact what you want to do with your 2nd line center spot and Ganger is good but both him and Nuge are small forwards and neither are that great at faceoffs.

Oilers are still looking for a long term 2nd line center with some size, faceoff ability and 2 way play. They also have a ton of defensive prospects. If Monahan is there I would say oilers take him.

I'm not even referring to this game specifically, although its a great example.

Games seem to be regularly called in the bruins favor. Call me paranoid, but I watch a lot of hockey games and i wish the sabres could get calls like the bruins.

It's not necessarily that they are overwhelmingly favored, they just seem to have a handful of key calls or non calls go their way and its enough to tip the odds in their favor.
- Putzfrau

Normally, good teams "earn" that though. In 2007, Buffalo got a lot of calls go their way, especially in the regular season.

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

Trades can happen at any time between any teams. However, any players traded after the deadline cannot play for that team until the upcoming season. Right now in all trade legality, Pitt could trade Crosby if they wanted to.

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

No, that is not true. Trade deadline day is the last day any team can trade with one another during the course of the season, whether they are in playoffs still or not.

No, that is not true. Trade deadline day is the last day any team can trade with one another during the course of the season, whether they are in playoffs still or not.
- Meeqsb

That is completely false.

That is completely false.
- Mentalorgasm5

Sorry, I just looked into it further and I was incorrect. So I will have to retract my previous statement.

However typically what does happen is trades occur on Draft day.

The Oilers are the team that have the pieces to move up, should they want to. They have an abundance of forwards, Gagner and Hemsky would be a good start when it comes to moving up. Gag's and their 7th over all is worth more than 4th over all. Only one player in the same draft as Gag's has more points than him.
- vanlee

Gags is also small, bad at faceoffs and just came off one of his best if not his best year to date playing with the wonder kids.

I think it takes more than that to move into top 5 because of the nature of the players that are still available at both 4th and 7th are on different levels.

Two 1sts and the Freakerenko for the 2nd pick, which the Sabres use to select Bo Horvat

Two 1sts and the Baertschirenko for the 2nd pick, which the Flames use to select JT Compher
- PinkSock

Fixed for accuracy.

Draft Day.

Comp. Buyouts start 12 hours after the cup is won for a 48 hour period before the draft.
- Meeqsb

No, any team eliminated from the playoffs can make a trade. Devine even said in his interview the other day that Darcy has talked to all of the teams, except for those still playing. There are often times minor deals struck during the playoffs for minor league players... but out of respect for the playoffs (and league), teams do not trade to direct any attention away from the games being played.

Foist
Vanek for 4th & Whom???
- jbickle

The Oilers do have to look at somehow staying under the cap when all these top draft picks sign their 2nd contracts. Good luck with that.
- GilPerreault11

4 guys at 6M? CGY did it just fine with Kipper at 5.8, Iggy at 7, Cammy at 6, and Jaybo at 6.8

I personally see the top 7 going:

COL - Jones
FLA - MacKinnon
TB - Drouin
NSH - Barkov/Nichuskin
CAR - Nichuskin/Barkov
CGY - Lindholm/Nurse
EDM - Nurse/Lindholm

So I think we could potentially get Monohan or Lindholm, because I don't see Nurse going past CGY/EDM.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

don't think monahan gets past 6. Lindholm could slip to BUF. He's had Backstrom numbers in sweden

don't think monahan gets past 6. Lindholm could slip to BUF. He's had Backstrom numbers in sweden
- TheNugeIsHuge

That was my point. One of either Monahan or Lindholm will be available for Buffalo at 8 since I don't see Nurse dropping past both the Flames and Oilers.

sidny crysby complaining about refs

hed be my favorite player ever if he wasnt such a whiner and could grow a real beard

4 guys at 6M? CGY did it just fine with Kipper at 5.8, Iggy at 7, Cammy at 6, and Jaybo at 6.8
- TheNugeIsHuge

calgary did just fine?


what?

4 guys at 6M? CGY did it just fine with Kipper at 5.8, Iggy at 7, Cammy at 6, and Jaybo at 6.8
- TheNugeIsHuge

It's not just those guys, though. There are a lot of other prospects that will ask for quite decent money for their pro contract. Cap space should be a serious concern in the coming years.

Not that anyone cares what I think, but assuming there aren't any trades regarding the picks leading up to the Sabres' selections...

1 - COL - MacKinnon
2 - FL - Jones
3 - TB - Nichushkin
4 - NASH - Barkov
5 - CAR - Drouin
6 - CAL - Monahan
7 - EDM - Nurse
8 - BUF - Lindholm
9 - NJ - Shinkaruk
10 - DAL - Ristolainen
11 - PHI - Zadorov
12 - PHX - Horvat
13 - WPG - Domi
14 - CBS - Mantha
15 - NYI - Zykov
16 - BUF - Erne

Deals I'd love to see...

Buffalo trades Tyler Ennis and a Draft Pick (NOT a 1st rd pick) to Anaheim for Bobby Ryan.

Buffalo trades Drew Stafford and #16 pick to Columbus for Nick Foligno and #14 pick... OR... Buffalo trades Stafford and first of two 2nd round picks to Columbus for Nick Foligno and LA Kings 1st round pick (prev acquired via Jeff Carter trade).

Big Dream deal... Buffalo trades Miller, Grigorenko and #8 pick to Colorado for #1 pick and Stastny. Roy could use Grigorenko on either 2nd or 3rd line, obtains his top-notch goalie and then can draft his young D-man (Nurse or Ristolainen) with #8 pick. Stastny has not played up to expectations the past 2 years and is in his contract year ($6.6 million) and Sabres get their franchise cornerstone with either MacKinnon (my preference) or Seth Jones.

If Big Dream Deal were to actually happen... then Sabres could package Vanek with a draft pick (reluctantly #16 most likely) to either trade up for Drouin (to pair with MacKinnon) or Nichushkin or Barkov (pair him with Armia).

If we get Lindholm, I will be VERY happy. If we get Nurse, I will be quite upset.