We currently have 1 first. I assume you mean over the next 2 years?
- stashu

Yes,
Our two 1sts, plus the NYI, and prob at least 2 more if we trade Miller, Ott & Moulson...
Plus at least 6 picks in the 2nd over the next two years as well

Gives us a lot of room to maneuver

If Reinhart is gone you do not draft Ekbald if you are planning to trade him. You trade the pick for the actual pick. The pick itself is more valuable before you make the selection. I would rather move the pick for a good roster player a decent prospect and a later first round pick.

As much as I like his game I don't see drafting another D as a smart play. We need scoring and need it badly. Our prospect cupboard has 3 D that are projected to be top 4 within the next 2-3 years. Is Ekbald going to be ready right away? Who knows I'd rather see the pick used on forwards one way or another

Hmm, we got a little relief tonight with Edmonton's win, which should put them up on us by 5 points (though we have 2 games in hand).
- stashu

When Myers gets suspended a few, that should help keep us in last place.

If Reinhart is gone you do not draft Ekbald if you are planning to trade him. You trade the pick for the actual pick. The pick itself is more valuable before you make the selection. I would rather move the pick for a good roster player a decent prospect and a later first round pick.

As much as I like his game I don't see drafting another D as a smart play. We need scoring and need it badly. Our prospect cupboard has 3 D that are projected to be top 4 within the next 2-3 years. Is Ekbald going to be ready right away? Who knows I'd rather see the pick used on forwards one way or another
- Stripes77

We have 4 1st round defensemen in our system. We have no goal scoring prospects outside of Armia and Grigorenko. It's really a no brainer IMO, there are really talented kids in the top 5. I would rather gamble on one of them and take another defensemen with one of the 145 2nd rounders we have. We need to hit on some forwards

If Reinhart is gone you do not draft Ekbald if you are planning to trade him. You trade the pick for the actual pick. The pick itself is more valuable before you make the selection. I would rather move the pick for a good roster player a decent prospect and a later first round pick.

As much as I like his game I don't see drafting another D as a smart play. We need scoring and need it badly. Our prospect cupboard has 3 D that are projected to be top 4 within the next 2-3 years. Is Ekbald going to be ready right away? Who knows I'd rather see the pick used on forwards one way or another
- Stripes77

This is all I have been saying . He loses value after we actually draft him . We trade the draft position that he can be taken at . It has more value . Lots of top picks have "projected great and then been a bust" . I really think we need to address our needs if we are to proceed with this rebuild . We are set for defense . And I think all of them are going to be good to great . It is not Ekblad I am against . I am against not picking for our current need. I do not believe in best player available this draft . We do not have that luxury. We are not that good.

We have 4 1st round defensemen in our system. We have no goal scoring prospects outside of Armia and Grigorenko. It's really a no brainer IMO, there are really talented kids in the top 5. I would rather gamble on one of them and take another defensemen with one of the 145 2nd rounders we have. We need to hit on some forwards
- sbroads24

Would Ekblad be considered the "next Lidstrom" (or something comparable to how media loves to throw out the "next crosby" tag)?

I don't think anyone is crazy enough to say we don't need forwards/goal scorers, but this kid sounds pretty damn good. "Crowded" d-man prospect pool or not, he's instantly the top of the lot in that aspect I'd say.

If Reinhart is gone you do not draft Ekbald if you are planning to trade him. You trade the pick for the actual pick. The pick itself is more valuable before you make the selection. I would rather move the pick for a good roster player a decent prospect and a later first round pick.

As much as I like his game I don't see drafting another D as a smart play. We need scoring and need it badly. Our prospect cupboard has 3 D that are projected to be top 4 within the next 2-3 years. Is Ekbald going to be ready right away? Who knows I'd rather see the pick used on forwards one way or another
- Stripes77

I don't know. Having a great stable of defensemen is not a bad problem to have. Let things plan out and then move them for a king's ransom.

When Myers gets suspended a few, that should help keep us in last place.
- sippyd

See Myers gets it . He is being a team player getting suspended.

I don't know. Having a great stable of defensemen is not a bad problem to have. Let things plan out and then move them for a king's ransom.
- rmiethaner

The idea of drafting one is a lot easier trade for a big return than actually trading one for a big return unless he is a multi season all star.

Would Ekblad be considered the "next Lidstrom" (or something comparable to how media loves to throw out the "next crosby" tag)?

I don't think anyone is crazy enough to say we don't need forwards/goal scorers, but this kid sounds pretty damn good. "Crowded" d-man prospect pool or not, he's instantly the top of the lot in that aspect I'd say.
- stashu

It all depends. He could be the next Lidstrom but without a competent group of forwards he won't win a cup here.
My issue with it is that it's nearly impossible to trade or sign your number 1 center, or your entire 1st line in the Sabres case. The Tyler Seguins aren't available every year. The teams that win cups draft them.
Who knows, we could draft Ekblad, end up last again and get McDavid, but it would be a disaster if we don't address the top 6 pretty soon IMO

It all depends. He could be the next Lidstrom but without a competent group of forwards he won't win a cup here.
My issue with it is that it's nearly impossible to trade or sign your number 1 center, or your entire 1st line in the Sabres case. The Tyler Seguins aren't available every year. The teams that win cups draft them.
Who knows, we could draft Ekblad, end up last again and get McDavid, but it would be a disaster if we don't address the top 6 pretty soon IMO
- sbroads24

I get both sides of the debate, so I don't care too much about what happens, unless they go off the board with something crazy... If Reinhart is gone and they take Ekblad, I'll still be very happy is my point, not up in arms that they didn't go for offense.

Myers-Ekblad for a decade?? Yes please.

Would Ekblad be considered the "next Lidstrom" (or something comparable to how media loves to throw out the "next crosby" tag)?

I don't think anyone is crazy enough to say we don't need forwards/goal scorers, but this kid sounds pretty damn good. "Crowded" d-man prospect pool or not, he's instantly the top of the lot in that aspect I'd say.
- stashu

Lidstrom was not even the next Lidstrom . He was not that well known when Detroit took a flyer on him. He was 53rd overall in his draft year. Really tough call on how defense men will turn out.

I don't know. Having a great stable of defensemen is not a bad problem to have. Let things plan out and then move them for a king's ransom.
- rmiethaner

If Rhinehart is taken first and we have the second pick, i could se them doing exactly this. Meyers or psysk could be a nice offer for a legit forward, replacable by mcnabb
or risto.

If Rhinehart is taken first and we have the second pick, i could se them doing exactly this. Meyers or psysk could be a nice offer for a legit forward, replacable by mcnabb
or risto.
- seedy

But then you have to wait on Ekblad to develop . Defense men take longer . Do you want to prolong the pain here . Myers and Pysyk have already spent a couple years doing that . Who knows The draft is a long ways away and draft order will change lots before the anyways . Lots of times. Much too early to fall in love with a defense man , especially with what we really need.

But then you have to wait on Ekblad to develop . Defense men take longer . Do you want to prolong the pain here . Myers and Pysyk have already spent a couple years doing that . Who knows The draft is a long ways away and draft order will change lots before the anyways . Lots of times. Much too early to fall in love with a defense man , especially with what we really need.
- Maximum Signal

I agree.
I think we might start winning more games now, and that would change things.
This team needs scoring in the worst way.

While this convo is much more entertaining than what's been going on here lately, it really is a no brainer.

Buffalo picks 1st they take Reinhart.
Buffalo picks 2nd and he is gone they take Ekblad.
Buffalo picks anytime after top 2 they take best available forward.

While this convo is much more entertaining than what's been going on here lately, it really is a no brainer.

Buffalo picks 1st they take Reinhart.
Buffalo picks 2nd and he is gone they take Ekblad.
Buffalo picks anytime after top 2 they take best available forward.
- dadeadhead

Yeah, that does make sense.

But then you have to wait on Ekblad to develop . Defense men take longer . Do you want to prolong the pain here . Myers and Pysyk have already spent a couple years doing that . Who knows The draft is a long ways away and draft order will change lots before the anyways . Lots of times. Much too early to fall in love with a defense man , especially with what we really need.
- Maximum Signal

The good thing is they have defencemen in different stages of develepment. Mcnabb is ahead of risto and zadorov, they would be ahead of ekblad.
However, my gut agrees with you in the first place, just get a forward.
From the little i know about the guys in the 3rd or 4th slot, i might consider bypassing ekblad and just grabbing one of them. Because as many have all ready stated, all of them are just projected talent at this point.

See Myers gets it . He is being a team player getting suspended.
- Maximum Signal

He took one for the team.

While this convo is much more entertaining than what's been going on here lately, it really is a no brainer.

Buffalo picks 1st they take Reinhart.
Buffalo picks 2nd and he is gone they take Ekblad.
Buffalo picks anytime after top 2 they take best available forward.
- dadeadhead

If the sabres finish dead last AND dont win the lottery, they definitely pick second, correct? Asking, not being facetious.

If the sabres finish dead last AND dont win the lottery, they definitely pick second, correct? Asking, not being facetious.
- seedy

Correct.

Buffalo finishes dead last they can pick no worse than 2nd.

My gut tells me they don't finish dead last though.

If the sabres finish dead last AND dont win the lottery, they definitely pick second, correct? Asking, not being facetious.
- seedy

Yes that's correct

Correct.

Buffalo finishes dead last they can pick no worse than 2nd.

My guy tells me they don't finish dead last though.
- dadeadhead

We can only Hope !!!

The good thing is they have defencemen in different stages of develepment. Mcnabb is ahead of risto and zadorov, they would be ahead of ekblad.
However, my gut agrees with you in the first place, just get a forward.
From the little i know about the guys in the 3rd or 4th slot, i might consider bypassing ekblad and just grabbing one of them. Because as many have all ready stated, all of them are just projected talent at this point.
- seedy

See that's the problem though. McNabb barely cracks the lineup it took Myers 3 years to get back to what we liked about him. A great shutdown D is great. But IMO you don't need a blue line full of them to win a cup. You need at least one true legit number one center and balanced scoring. A guy that can eat a ton of minutes is great but without a forward group that can put the puck in the net and responsible in their own end you won't win squat. Case in point Nashville. How many cups does Suter and Weber have? They also had a top 5 goalie when healthy. Their forwards are bad that's why they weren't a contender

The big problem is this is just a crappy draft year. Just some bad luck for us.