We do in the top 3 absolutely IMO. There is no guarantee we are back there next year.

I'm for going after a PP specialist, Karlsson type player later in the round like Julius Honka
- sbroads24

I will avatar bet you, anything goes for the entire 15-16 season, that we are a top 5 pick next season.

O'Riley had 28 goals this year, Marchand had 25...

Either guy would immediately become the leading goal scorer of this team.
- SuperCat

Regardless of where they would stand on this team, which is breaking the wrong kind of records, neither is anywhere close to dynamic enough for this team to be taken seriously.

Cut those totals by 1/3. That's how they'd do on our garbage team. Hodgson/Ennis on COL would put up 30 Gs.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

You don't get it. O'Riley is 23 years old.

To be scoring 28g at age 23, all while being a responsible defensive forward?


He's good.

However, I am banking on the fact that the Sabres will draft in this position next year as well. The forwards in next year's group have the potential to be a lot better than any forward you get this year anyway. If this team were set to be like Colorado, draft a MacKinnon, and then vault their way into a playoff spot, my approach would be different. However, no matter who they draft, they are still going to be a very below average team, no matter how big a game Murray and Nolan talk about setting standards. In both drafts, you get as many difference makers as you can. This year, it may be a defenseman. Next year, it will almost definitely be a forward (McDavid or Eichel). As much as they need scoring, this year is a throw away regardless. There's no hurry.
- buffalofan19

I'm not sold we are bottom 3 next year. I can see a Calgary type effort to start next year.

However, I am banking on the fact that the Sabres will draft in this position next year as well. The forwards in next year's group have the potential to be a lot better than any forward you get this year anyway. If this team were set to be like Colorado, draft a MacKinnon, and then vault their way into a playoff spot, my approach would be different. However, no matter who they draft, they are still going to be a very below average team, no matter how big a game Murray and Nolan talk about setting standards. In both drafts, you get as many difference makers as you can. This year, it may be a defenseman. Next year, it will almost definitely be a forward (McDavid or Eichel). As much as they need scoring, this year is a throw away regardless. There's no hurry.
- buffalofan19

My thoughts as well. Like I said, this early into a rebuild I'm not so concerned about the name and the position, just need to add game changing talent.

You don't get it. O'Riley is 23 years old.

To be scoring 28g at age 23, all while being a responsible defensive forward?


He's good.
- SuperCat

So is Hodgson/Ennis


We need great

You don't get it. O'Riley is 23 years old.

To be scoring 28g at age 23, all while being a responsible defensive forward?


He's good.
- SuperCat

So, like a Reinhart-lite?

I'm not sold we are bottom 3 next year. I can see a Calgary type effort to start next year.
- sbroads24

I still am. If you draft Ekblad, you still have nobody to score goals for you this year. The goaltending is suspect as well. Calgary at least had Monahan and Cammalleri to make them look competent on some nights.

I'm not sold we are bottom 3 next year. I can see a Calgary type effort to start next year.
- sbroads24

Even with that effort, they wound up at 4th overall. Even if you're thinking BPA it'll likely be a forward at that point (Strome, Barzal).

I still am. If you draft Ekblad, you still have nobody to score goals for you this year. The goaltending is suspect as well. Calgary at least had Monahan and Cammalleri to make them look competent on some nights.
- buffalofan19

Is Reinhart and Bennett supposed to come in to this team and score goals next year? Laugh.

I will avatar bet you, anything goes for the entire 15-16 season, that we are a top 5 pick next season.
- theblueandgold

I wouldnt bet, I'm just saying.......

Who picked top 3 in 2013?

Colorado - Playoffs in 2014
Florida - picking 1st
Tampa- Playoffs in 2014


How could you not have doubt ?

Looking at the Panthers roster they could go either way, for the record that pick should be ours.

I've found myself swaying towards the Ekblad bandwagon lately..

*hides and sets up surface to air missile defence*
- Sabresfan-365

Your gonna need more than that to save you....

I wouldnt bet, I'm just saying.......

Who picked top 3 in 2013?

Colorado - Plaoffs in 2014
Florida - picking 1st
Tampa- Playoffs in 2014


How could you not have doubt ?
- sbroads24

Because Colorado has Duchene, Stastny, Landeskog, Varlamov, MacKinnon, Johnson, O'Reilly.... that team is stacked. They needed a coach.

Tampa's rookies arent far removed from winning the AHL as a group. Plus they have Stamkos guiding them along.

Last year was a lockout year anyways. Not convinced Tampa or Colorado wouldve been a bottom 3 team in a full season.

Is Reinhart and Bennett supposed to come in to this team and score goals next year? Laugh.
- theblueandgold

I'm willing to bet that if we draft Reinhart and he doesn't have a ppg pace next year he'll be labeled a bust by most fans.

Is Reinhart and Bennett supposed to come in to this team and score goals next year? Laugh.
- theblueandgold

Stafford in a contract year
Stewart contract year
Ennis improving
Hodgson improving
Girgensons improving

Regardless of where they would stand on this team, which is breaking the wrong kind of records, neither is anywhere close to dynamic enough for this team to be taken seriously.
- buffalofan19

How dynamic do you need to be when you have dominant defense?

If the Sabres defense has Ekblad, Myers, Ehrhoff, Pysyk, Ristolienen, Zadorov, & Jake McCabe as their 7 man rotation... They'll only need a goal or two per game!


Now add a hard working group of forwards who show up every night, and you've got something.

Is Reinhart and Bennett supposed to come in to this team and score goals next year? Laugh.
- theblueandgold

No, they aren't, but the point is this team needs goal scoring badly. They were the worst team at it by a mile. Drafting Ekblad does nothing to help that, which I am willing to live with. The offensive ability of a Reinhart or Bennett would have a chance to propel them to the anything but heroic finish of 4th overall in the 2015 draft that sbroads is alluding to.

Stafford in a contract year
Stewart contract year
Ennis improving
Hodgson improving
Girgensons improving
- sbroads24

I still fail to see any of those guys making a material difference, not to get them into the danger zone you are referring to anyway.

Because Colorado has Duchene, Stastny, Landeskog, Varlamov, MacKinnon, Johnson, O'Reilly.... that team is stacked. They needed a coach.
Tampa's rookies arent far removed from winning the AHL as a group. Plus they have Stamkos guiding them along.

Last year was a lockout year anyways. Not convinced Tampa or Colorado wouldve been a bottom 3 team in a full season.
- theblueandgold

So what you are saying is one change to a coach made them how many points better? Yet the Sabres despite having the ability to make many changes with many assets and young players are a guarantee to finish bottom 5? I don't see how they can risk going through 3 vital years of a rebuild (2013 included) and not get an impact forward

I still am. If you draft Ekblad, you still have nobody to score goals for you this year. The goaltending is suspect as well. Calgary at least had Monahan and Cammalleri to make them look competent on some nights.
- buffalofan19

But maybe that's a good thing if your looking to finish last next yr to draft McDavid?

How dynamic do you need to be when you have dominant defense?

If the Sabres defense has Ekblad, Myers, Ehrhoff, Pysyk, Ristolienen, Zadorov, & Jake McCabe as their 7 man rotation... They'll only need a goal or two per game!


Now add a hard working group of forwards who show up every night, and you've got something.
- SuperCat

To be a championship type team (which is what I am aiming for a couple years down the road)? Much more than that.

But maybe that's a good thing if your looking to finish last next yr to draft McDavid?
- SuperCat

Bingo.

But maybe that's a good thing if your looking to finish last next yr to draft McDavid?
- SuperCat

We couldn't get first this year, can we afford to be that bad again and not come away with the ultimate prize?

So what you are saying is one change to a coach made them how many points better? Yet the Sabres despite having the ability to make many changes with many assets and young players are a guarantee to finish bottom 5? I don't see how they can risk going through 3 vital years of a rebuild (2013 included) and not get an impact forward
- sbroads24

Difference is that Colorado already had some of those impact forwards on their roster already. The Sabres don't have anyone close, even Hodgson or Ennis.