Rasmus Ristgoalainen

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

I've heard it that the people involved in the draft plans think otherwise. And I quote "better than last year". While I don't agree, take it for what it's worth.

I've heard it that the people involved in the draft plans think otherwise. And I quote "better than last year". While I don't agree, take it for what it's worth.
- dadeadhead

Time will tell.

Nashville had 2 Norris caliber defensemen on their team and couldn't make it out of the 1st round. Listen I think Ekblad will be excellent, but we have about 6-7 holes to fill in that lineup and most are on the 1st line. McDavis would be great but we'd still have a shot by drafting a forward.
I guess it will be more clear where all these guys project closer to the draft anyways, things always change a little
- sbroads24

I disagree with u on how close they are
I think there's a big drop off
I'd much rather draft Ekblad and then trade say Pysyk+ for the same type of talent we'd get drafting DalColle
Everyone says we need a "superstar" forward
Ekblad is a superstar defenseman...
We don't have one of those either
One of only 3 players to get "exceptional status" to play in OHL as a 15yr old, so his talent is pretty exceptional
I'd still take Reinhart 1st... He's no slouch. There's a reason he's been rated #1 the whole time. I see him as a better scoring Drury or Bergeron type player
Not Crosby, but still very good

I disagree with u on how close they are
I think there's a big drop off
I'd much rather draft Ekblad and then trade say Pysyk+ for the same type of talent we'd get drafting DalColle
Everyone says we need a "superstar" forward
Ekblad is a superstar defenseman...
We don't have one of those either
One of only 3 players to get "exceptional status" to play in OHL as a 15yr old, so his talent is pretty exceptional
I'd still take Reinhart 1st... He's no slouch. There's a reason he's been rated #1 the whole time. I see him as a better scoring Drury or Bergeron type player
Not Crosby, but still very good
- jdfitz77

DalColle has a shot to be a number 1 center. Leon Drasaitl might push Reinhart. Most experts do not think this class is as weak as fans do.

Also Pysyk won't get you a top line player IMO

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

That's my point
What "superstar" defenseman do we have?
if Reinhart's gone,
You take Ekblad & figure out a trade

Pysyk + Ennis.... Would get us....
Eberle?
E.Kane?
O'Reilly?
Strome?
Wouldn't that be better than Draistl or DalColle or Nystrom?

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

Completely agree
And if it's Ekblad we get, I think we keep him and look to set up a package to get a young top line scorer

I've heard it that the people involved in the draft plans think otherwise. And I quote "better than last year". While I don't agree, take it for what it's worth.
- dadeadhead

this is long been considered the weakest draft class of the last ten years, as the draft gets closer they will try and talk it up.

this is long been considered the weakest draft class of the last ten years, as the draft gets closer they will try and talk it up.
- Mentalorgasm5

I was told this by someone over the summer. Some that is close to Devine.

Like I said, take it with a grain if salt.

I was told this by someone over the summer. Some that is close to Devine.

Like I said, take it with a grain if salt.
- dadeadhead

2013 was over hyped and 2014 is under appreciated. I can acknowledge that last year is definitely better than this year but to say this years draft is the worst in the last decade is a stretch.

There's plenty of talent up at the top and some decent players spread throughout the rest of the 1st round. It's a standard, average draft. The "what you see is what you get kind".

2013 was over hyped and 2014 is under appreciated. I can acknowledge that last year is definitely better than this year but to say this years draft is the worst in the last decade is a stretch.

There's plenty of talent up at the top and some decent players spread throughout the rest of the 1st round. It's a standard, average draft. The "what you see is what you get kind".
- Sabresfan-365

What was said to me was the Sabres brass feel 2014 is better than 2013 and the best in years.

Again take it with a grain of salt and I don't agree with it in the slightest.

What was said to me was the Sabres brass feel 2014 is better than 2013 and the best in years.

Again take it with a grain of salt and I don't agree with it in the slightest.
- dadeadhead

This is a pretty video game-ish...
But in my dreams...

-I wonder what it would take to get the 2nd overall pick from Edmonton?
Ehrhoff + Grigorenko?
Then we can get Reinhart AND Ekblad
-Pysyk + Ennis enough to get O'Reilly? We have three 2nds in this years draft we can add if need be
-When trading Miller, Moulson & Ott...
Get 1sts for 2015 draft
-Hopefully we pick 1st, bc I doubt anyone will trade McDavid no matter what is offered
-If the NYI pick in 2015 isn't 2nd (I think they'll still stink & it'll be a top5 pick), use those other 3 #1picks to move up to get Eichel

Girgensons-MCDAVID-REINHART
Foligno-Hodgson-Armia
Eichel-O'Reilly-Flynn
Catenacci-Larsson-Kaleta
-other forwards soon ready would incl Possler, Baptiste, Compher & Bailey
Zadorov-EKBLAD
McCabe-Ristolainen
McNabb-Myers
Ruhwedel

Goalie is where it gets tricky:
Enroth, Hackett, Ullmark, Makarov, Petersen
Hopefully one of them works out

Completely agree
And if it's Ekblad we get, I think we keep him and look to set up a package to get a young, PROVEN top line scorer
- jdfitz77

Fixed

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 sums up what should happen

This is a pretty video game-ish...
But in my dreams...

-I wonder what it would take to get the 2nd overall pick from Edmonton?
Ehrhoff + Grigorenko?
Then we can get Reinhart AND Ekblad
-Pysyk + Ennis enough to get O'Reilly? We have three 2nds in this years draft we can add if need be
-When trading Miller, Moulson & Ott...
Get 1sts for 2015 draft
-Hopefully we pick 1st, bc I doubt anyone will trade McDavid no matter what is offered
-If the NYI pick in 2015 isn't 2nd (I think they'll still stink & it'll be a top5 pick), use those other 3 #1picks to move up to get Eichel

Girgensons-MCDAVID-REINHART
Foligno-Hodgson-Armia
Eichel-O'Reilly-Flynn
Catenacci-Larsson-Kaleta
-other forwards soon ready would incl Possler, Baptiste, Compher & Bailey
Zadorov-EKBLAD
McCabe-Ristolainen
McNabb-Myers
Ruhwedel

Goalie is where it gets tricky:
Enroth, Hackett, Ullmark, Makarov, Petersen
Hopefully one of them works out
- jdfitz77

You have ROR on the 3rd line. He will be making at least 6 on his next deal seeing as his qualifying offer is 6.5 mil.

Correct.

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

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

Watch Edmonton finish last, win lottery, take Reinhart, wonder why their D is so terrible.

Watch Edmonton finish last, win lottery, take Reinhart, wonder why their D is so terrible.
- TheSabresTaco

It wouldn't surprise me in the least.


Move Gagner for defensive help.

So Jim Benning as the GM(Being reported he is the leader), I am ok with this.

What was said to me was the Sabres brass feel 2014 is better than 2013 and the best in years.

Again take it with a grain of salt and I don't agree with it in the slightest.
- dadeadhead

It's sounds to me like it's a deeper draft, just not as top-heavy.

It's sounds to me like it's a deeper draft, just not as top-heavy.
- buffalofan19

We hear this every year though. Some think this draft class is weak others think its strong.

One thing remains the same, the top picks in the draft are the elite talent of the NHL.

It wouldn't surprise me in the least.


Move Gagner for defensive help.
- dadeadhead

Helping their D requires a return much...much better than gags

We hear this every year though. Some think this draft class is weak others think its strong.

One thing remains the same, the top picks in the draft are the elite talent of the NHL.
- ImThatGuy

Forwards= strong
defensemen= weak (really 1 great 2 very good)
goalie=bad

but a pretty solid top 10 group

Helping their D requires a return much...much better than gags
- TheSabresTaco

+1
What they do with defensemen is like we do with forwards
they jam a 2-3 pairing guy and try to make them a top 2

Pretty good article about the Hockey Academy they're trying to get running with Harbor Center.

http://www.bostonglobe.co...ory.html?s_campaign=sm_tw

What bugs me though is I think I've heard people here say that the max capacity of any rink in the place is 2k?

Pretty good article about the Hockey Academy they're trying to get running with Harbor Center.

http://www.bostonglobe.co...ory.html?s_campaign=sm_tw

What bugs me though is I think I've heard people here say that the max capacity of any rink in the place is 2k?
- stashu

Good read (reed) Stash. Thanks