I'm not saying at all that he necessarily needs to be throwing his weight around
But he does have to be strong enough to win puck battles & not be easily knocked off the puck

He definitely needs to hit the gym hard
I'd be surprised to see him playing for us next year
Rochester, maybe
- jdfitz77

i have zero knowledge of how strong he actually is on his skates, but i have played with and seen many guys who are extremely good at using their edges and shifty enough to create angles on defenders where they become very hard to knock off the puck even though they were smaller/weaker than those around them. its technique and skill as much as it is strength for some guys. again, who knows how he will pan out but i think its all being blown out of proportion because of a controlled combine setting rather than something more related to playing the game.

edit: i will also be surprised to see him in the blue and gold this year but it would be cool to see.

I think we have a shot at the playoffs. Albeit a small one.
- sbroads24

If our defense is improved...
the only team in our division who I'd say will definitely finish ahead of us is Tampa

Now I'd be naive if I still didn't currently rank us behind Montreal, Ottawa, Boston & Toronto...
but I don't think any of them are a sure thing
And could see them taking a step back for various reasons

Florida, I just don't know what to think about
They've got some nice young talent, but it seems like they're just a mess

define significant. I think they'll be much better, much more entertaining. still think they're a move away from any real shot at the playoffs.
- Sabresfan-365

I think we have a shot at the playoffs. Albeit a small one.
- sbroads24

maybe, there are still a lot of wild cards on the blueline. If they pan out perhaps. could just as easily blow up.

They'll definitely score more and a healthy eichel adds wins but still see it at 85 points or around that.

i have zero knowledge of how strong he actually is on his skates, but i have played with and seen many guys who are extremely good at using their edges and shifty enough to create angles on defenders where they become very hard to knock off the puck even though they were smaller/weaker than those around them. its technique and skill as much as it is strength for some guys. again, who knows how he will pan out but i think its all being blown out of proportion because of a controlled combine setting rather than something more related to playing the game.

edit: i will also be surprised to see him in the blue and gold this year but it would be cool to see.
- TheHank

Ok... but at what level?
We're talking NHL here
The guy needs to get MUCH stronger before he's ready

Just like Reinhart did
Just like Nylander is attempting

I think we have a shot at the playoffs. Albeit a small one.
- sbroads24

I'm not saying at all that he necessarily needs to be throwing his weight around
But he does have to be strong enough to win puck battles & not be easily knocked off the puck

He definitely needs to hit the gym hard
I'd be surprised to see him playing for us next year
Rochester, maybe
- jdfitz77

He won't leave UM to play in Rochester. Major D1 programs have strong strength and conditioning programs. He is going to be mandated to hit the gym and will add a level of strength. In the offseason he will be mandated to hit the gym. College will be good for him for a year or two.

maybe, there are still a lot of wild cards on the blueline. If they pan out perhaps. could just as easily blow up.

They'll definitely score more and a healthy eichel adds wins but still see it at 85 points or around that.
- Sabresfan-365

- Der Kaiser

"I think they'll be much better, much more entertaining"


yeah that screams wet blanket

He won't leave UM to play in Rochester. Major D1 programs have strong strength and conditioning programs. He is going to be mandated to hit the gym and will add a level of strength. In the offseason he will be mandated to hit the gym. College will be good for him for a year or two.
- GilPerreault11

Once he signs, he can no longer go back to Minnesota
It's not like with Juniors where he can sign, & if he doesn't make the Sabres he can go back

He won't be guaranteed a spot in Buffalo
There's a very real chance they could decide he needs time in Rochester

"I think they'll be much better, much more entertaining"


yeah that screams wet blanket
- Sabresfan-365

To be fair, I am in a good mood today because of a promotion.

My employer is incredibly impressed with how much I hate Evander Kane

Ok... but at what level?
We're talking NHL here
The guy needs to get MUCH stronger before he's ready

Just like Reinhart did
Just like Nylander is attempting
- jdfitz77

the best competition between michigan and quebec from mites all the way through college... i said compared to the guys around them at any level. it CAN translate to any level. nothing is hard and fast or an absolute truth. i didnt say i believed anything would happen or that i even knew he was or is strong on his skates. i just dont like combine testing as a way of knowing how good someone is on skates. also comparing his stride to reinharts in any way isnt even a topic of discussion in my book.

Once he signs, he can no longer go back to Minnesota
It's not like with Juniors where he can sign, & if he doesn't make the Sabres he can go back

He won't be guaranteed a spot in Buffalo
There's a very real chance they could decide he needs time in Rochester
- jdfitz77

I know, but he is not going to leave his scholarship, cozy D1 program and play in Rochester for a year, maybe 20-30 games or none at all. He is signing when the Sabres say they think he is ready for the NHL. I think many people are selling him short because of his pullups or lack thereof. I'll bet he doesn't play more than 20 games in Rochester.

the best competition between michigan and quebec from mites all the way through college... i said compared to the guys around them at any level. it CAN translate to any level. nothing is hard and fast or an absolute truth. i didnt say i believed anything would happen or that i even knew he was or is strong on his skates. i just dont like combine testing as a way of knowing how good someone is on skates. also comparing his stride to reinharts in any way isnt even a topic of discussion in my book.
- TheHank

I was comparing their stride in any way
I have no idea where u got that from?

And I'm not necessarily saying he isn't good on his skates
I'm saying,
That to be "ready for the NHL" and be effective once he gets here,
He will need to add upper body strength
Just like Reinhart & Nylander had to

Great story sir


I've been a bartender for years
Miller was almost always like that
He was just uncomfortable with the attention
There was a night at Encore when he was out with Enroth, Steve Ott & a few other guys & they got pretty banged up
By the end of the night,
Miller had pulled me behind the bar & we were doing shots
He lived around the corner from me in the Elmwood village area
Whenever his dad was in town they'd always come eat at Coles
Even sitting with his dad at the bar for lunch he'd be kinda quiet
That's just how he is
- jdfitz77

Yeah I realized that he was like that after a while. Once he got a good buzz going he would open up q little, but you could tell he was never completely comfortable around a large group of people. Hell, it even took him a while to open up to teammates. That's why I always found it so strange Soupy and Miller were such good friends. Brian was so polite and fairly outgoing for a professional athlete, and Miller was the complete opposite.

Funny, I used to bartend as well at TGI Friday's by the McKinley mall and would often see Buffalo abills players but rarely Sabres. The Sabres prefer the downtown or Allentown scene. Probably because the arena is so close to there and they often would go out after weekend home games.

I know, but he is not going to leave his scholarship, cozy D1 program and play in Rochester for a year, maybe 20-30 games or none at all. He is signing when the Sabres say they think he is ready for the NHL. I think many people are selling him short because of his pullups or lack thereof. I'll bet he doesn't play more than 20 games in Rochester.
- GilPerreault11

He might play zero games in Rochester

But if the Sabres feel it's better for him to play there,
instead of jumping straight to the NHL,
then they'll send him there
That's a likely scenario to me,
as it seems to be the way J Botts likes to develop players

One thing I feel VERY confident in...
is that even if they think he's ready for the NHL,
He won't be guaranteed a spot

I was comparing their stride in any way
I have no idea where u got that from?

And I'm not necessarily saying he isn't good on his skates
I'm saying,
That to be "ready for the NHL" and be effective once he gets here,
He will need to add upper body strength
Just like Reinhart & Nylander had to
- jdfitz77

you highlighted where i was talking about players being strong on their edges and being shifty and creating angles on defenders and you said he needed to get stronger like reinhart and nylander whichh led me to believe you were comparing them.

you highlighted where i was talking about players being strong on their edges and being shifty and creating angles on defenders and you said he needed to get stronger like reinhart and nylander whichh led me to believe you were comparing them.
- TheHank

Well we got our signals crossed there, no biggie

For me, the bottom line is that he definitely needs more upper body strength before he's ready to be effective in the NHL
Can he do that in one year like Reinhart?
Will it take him longer?

To be determined

He might play zero games in Rochester

But if the Sabres feel it's better for him to play there,
instead of jumping straight to the NHL,
then they'll send him there
That's a likely scenario to me,
as it seems to be the way J Botts likes to develop players

One thing I feel VERY confident in...
is that even if they think he's ready for the NHL,
He won't be guaranteed a spot
- jdfitz77

Maybe but he'll also have a one way contract so he won't be making 8th overall money , bonuses etc in Rochester for long and won't leave college to play there for long either.

Why are so many people, um, what's the word, hostile, skeptical towards him already? Is it because he's not a D? Comparing him to a huge bust Hurley? I don't know, I was happy the Sabres got him at 8 and love his skills, speed, overall ability and that he has dynamic talent and that he has some size. He is like the anti-Reinhart to me

Maybe but he'll also have a one way contract so he won't be making 8th overall money , bonuses etc in Rochester for long and won't leave college to play there for long either.

Why are so many people, um, what's the word, hostile, skeptical towards him already? Is it because he's not a D? Comparing him to a huge bust Hurley? I don't know, I was happy the Sabres got him at 8 and love his skills, speed, overall ability and that he has dynamic talent and that he has some size. He is like the anti-Reinhart to me
- GilPerreault11

I'm not down on him
I just don't assume he'll jump straight from college to the Sabres
That's a very reasonable stance to have


Should we have drafted a defenseman?
Yeah

If we were gonna take a forward, should it have been a "finisher" and not another playmaker?
Yes again

But do I like him as a talent?
Yes I do

But he's gotta get stronger

And has to be ready fit in the top9 somewhere
Otherwise more time developing is needed
Could that be done strictly in Minnesota?
Sure, I guess
Will the Sabres think that he should spend time in the AHL instead of jumping right to the NHL?
Who knows? But it's not an unreasonable scenario by any means

Maybe but he'll also have a one way contract so he won't be making 8th overall money , bonuses etc in Rochester for long and won't leave college to play there for long either.

Why are so many people, um, what's the word, hostile, skeptical towards him already? Is it because he's not a D? Comparing him to a huge bust Hurley? I don't know, I was happy the Sabres got him at 8 and love his skills, speed, overall ability and that he has dynamic talent and that he has some size. He is like the anti-Reinhart to me
- GilPerreault11

Reinhart > Afghanistan

the talent/hands are obviously there. i just question whether it all comes together...at the level that most are expecting.
- Sabresfan-365

I don't understand why people are all of a sudden expecting a lot. Pre-Draft I was the only one who said select Mittelstadt and call it a day. The archive doesn't lie. Speaking of Archive, who's the Recorder of Deeds around here? Someone needs to start tracking my prognostications. Looks like plenty of you have nothing but time on your hands. Bills playoffs/KC top 5 pick this year will be my greatest work to date and that's saying something. Like a lot, big time. I'm not always right, but I aint ever been wrong.

I'm not down on him
I just don't assume he'll jump straight from college to the Sabres
That's a very reasonable stance to have


Should we have drafted a defenseman?
Yeah

If we were gonna take a forward, should it have been a "finisher" and not another playmaker?
Yes again

But do I like him as a talent?
Yes I do

But he's gotta get stronger

And has to be ready fit in the top9 somewhere
Otherwise more time developing is needed
Could that be done strictly in Minnesota?
Sure, I guess
Will the Sabres think that he should spend time in the AHL instead of jumping right to the NHL?
Who knows? But it's not an unreasonable scenario by any means
- jdfitz77

We'll wait and see how the D after 8 play out and how he does. Skilled, top 2 line centers are a valuable commodity, even more so than D I will argue, depending on needs and all that especially when your draft board says he was the highest rated player to take. Skilled centers drive the offense which the Sabres have been putrid at too.

Not sure where this claim that he just a playmaker comes from, he seems to be able to score and has a wicked shot so not sure if he is just a playmaker.

Reinhart > Afghanistan
- washedup20

I don't know you and you are a neophyte so go away

Obviously GMJB and Housley do to because usually 2nd overall picks get offered a contract like Eichel is so he is not playing to the level he was scouted to play. Not bust but still in show me state.
- GilPerreault11

Disagree. Stamkos was 2 days from UFA. Kucherov was well into RFA.