I've heard good things about him as well. This will be Hodgson's 2nd year working with him if I'm not mistaken. The guy I want the Sabres to draft also works with Roberts in the offseasons. I just hope he can get Hodgson's skating a bit faster. He's not terrible, but a little more quickness would help him.
- HonkFortheGoose

His stride reminds me of James Patrick's.

I've heard good things about him as well. This will be Hodgson's 2nd year working with him if I'm not mistaken. The guy I want the Sabres to draft also works with Roberts in the offseasons. I just hope he can get Hodgson's skating a bit faster. He's not terrible, but a little more quickness would help him.
- HonkFortheGoose

Ya skating is hit n miss... sedins are still slow as poop (as far as nhl goes).. but they managed to work around it. Cody is smart enough that speed won't hinder his ability to grow.

Gary can only do good. What player you want drafted?

His stride reminds me of James Patrick's.
- dadeadhead

He looks like he's skating backwards all the time??









I kid, I kid. I don't remember Patrick's at all. I didn't pay attention to those things back then. I'm much more knowledgeable now than I was then.

Ya skating is hit n miss... sedins are still slow as poop (as far as nhl goes).. but they managed to work around it. Cody is smart enough that speed won't hinder his ability to grow.

Gary can only do good. What player you want drafted?
- kneughter

I'd like them to take Gaunce, and he's projected right in the area we'll be drafting, so it's not outside the realm of possibility.

I'd like them to take Gaunce, and he's projected right in the area we'll be drafting, so it's not outside the realm of possibility.
- HonkFortheGoose

Henrik Samuelsson with the second 1st rounder is who I'd like to see them take.

Henrik Samuelsson with the second 1st rounder is who I'd like to see them take.
- dadeadhead

I haven't seen much about him. I saw some stuff about Gaunce a few months ago and have to say, I've been trying to find as much info on him as possible. Haven't looked at the lower end much because I don't know where it's gonna end up yet.

I haven't seen much about him. I saw some stuff about Gaunce a few months ago and have to say, I've been trying to find as much info on him as possible. Haven't looked at the lower end much because I don't know where it's gonna end up yet.
- HonkFortheGoose

Big and nasty like his father but is a center/winger hybrid.

Big and nasty like his father but is a center/winger hybrid.
- dadeadhead

So is he a center or a winger? I'd rather stock the cupboards with centers because it's easier to convert a center to a winger than the other way around.

I'd like them to take Gaunce, and he's projected right in the area we'll be drafting, so it's not outside the realm of possibility.
- HonkFortheGoose

He's similar in size to Grigerenko. Do you know what the difference in their game is that he is projected middle 1st round as opposed to the top like Grigerenko?

He's similar in size to Grigerenko. Do you know what the difference in their game is that he is projected middle 1st round as opposed to the top like Grigerenko?
- Pierceme69

I don't think Gaunce is as much of an offensive powerhouse right now. But his numbers have been going up. I like that he's got crazy leadership skills, he's not afraid to fight or play physical, and he prides himself on his defensive zone play.

So is he a center or a winger? I'd rather stock the cupboards with centers because it's easier to convert a center to a winger than the other way around.
- HonkFortheGoose

More of a winger but think Foligno only on the right side.


He has the bloodlines Dad Ulf and brother Philip(plays for Pitts AHL team).

I don't think Gaunce is as much of an offensive powerhouse right now. But his numbers have been going up. I like that he's got crazy leadership skills, he's not afraid to fight or play physical, and he prides himself on his defensive zone play.
- HonkFortheGoose

All of the Center prospects are 6'2" or taller so I like that we will add some size regardless if we trade up for Grigerenko or Galchenyuk or stand pat and get a Gaunce or maybe a Faksa if he drops a few spots from projections. Grigerenko and Gaunce appear to already have NHL ready size compared to the other 2 who are a good deal lighter.

More of a winger but think Foligno only on the right side.


He has the bloodlines Dad Ulf and brother Philip(plays for Pitts AHL team).
- dadeadhead

Do you have a preference for our earlier pick?

Do you have a preference for our earlier pick?
- HonkFortheGoose

Yes use it to move up and take Galchenyuk.

Kassian will never live up to the hype.
- Buffalo3131

especially on the canucks, AV will just rot him on the 4th line. He's a rookie wrecker

Do you have a preference for our earlier pick?
- HonkFortheGoose

Do you feel like we need to use both picks? I think I'd rather use both as leverage to trade up. I guess you need to ask yourself if you'd rather have a Gaunce or a Grigerenko/Galchenyuk?

what would they expect in return for Roy? He might still be better then any centres they have in calgary

what would they expect in return for Roy? He might still be better then any centres they have in calgary
- numbear

I don't think they would ask for much at this point. They supposedly tried moving him last off season with no takers. Now whether that is because Darcy was asking too much or there was no interest is anyone's guess.

Do you feel like we need to use both picks? I think I'd rather use both as leverage to trade up. I guess you need to ask yourself if you'd rather have a Gaunce or a Grigerenko/Galchenyuk?
- Pierceme69

Galchenyuk scares me because of the knee thing, but I wouldn't have a problem with him. I just don't see any of those teams looking to move down. Maybe Toronto since Burke seems to be trying to rebuild with youth these days, but it's hard to say. I originally thought Edmonton would be good to target because they need help on D and if they were to trade back a bit in the draft, they could still get a really good D man at 12. I figured our 1st pick plus one of the prospects we have ready to make the jump (except McNabb) or one of our current D men like Leopold. But with them getting #1 overall, that takes them out of the running. I don't want Yakupov because he's a winger.

EDIT: Part of why I like Gaunce is because of what's being said about him in terms of leadership. That's something that we can't get enough of around here.

Galchenyuk scares me because of the knee thing, but I wouldn't have a problem with him. I just don't see any of those teams looking to move down. Maybe Toronto since Burke seems to be trying to rebuild with youth these days, but it's hard to say. I originally thought Edmonton would be good to target because they need help on D and if they were to trade back a bit in the draft, they could still get a really good D man at 12. I figured our 1st pick plus one of the prospects we have ready to make the jump (except McNabb) or one of our current D men like Leopold. But with them getting #1 overall, that takes them out of the running. I don't want Yakupov because he's a winger.

EDIT: Part of why I like Gaunce is because of what's being said about him in terms of leadership. That's something that we can't get enough of around here.
- HonkFortheGoose

The thing about leadership is that rookies aren't really asked to be team leaders. You're assuming he will be with the team long enough for his leadership skills to be needed. I definitely wouldn't discount the quality all together but I'd worry less about that in an 18 year old draft pick as opposed to a 26 year old free agent.

Galchenyuk scares me because of the knee thing, but I wouldn't have a problem with him. I just don't see any of those teams looking to move down. Maybe Toronto since Burke seems to be trying to rebuild with youth these days, but it's hard to say. I originally thought Edmonton would be good to target because they need help on D and if they were to trade back a bit in the draft, they could still get a really good D man at 12. I figured our 1st pick plus one of the prospects we have ready to make the jump (except McNabb) or one of our current D men like Leopold. But with them getting #1 overall, that takes them out of the running. I don't want Yakupov because he's a winger.

EDIT: Part of why I like Gaunce is because of what's being said about him in terms of leadership. That's something that we can't get enough of around here.
- HonkFortheGoose

He's young and things like that aren't what they once were. He'll be fine.

The thing about leadership is that rookies aren't really asked to be team leaders. You're assuming he will be with the team long enough for his leadership skills to be needed. I definitely wouldn't discount the quality all together but I'd worry less about that in an 18 year old draft pick as opposed to a 26 year old free agent.
- Pierceme69

You need to have things like that in your pipeline, and from what you've seen right now, we haven't had much of that in the pipe recently.

There's not 1 aspect to his game that anyone has any criticism about. He was questioned after last season about his play away from the puck defensively. He turned around and has followed up a year that he was -31 and is a plus player this year now. He was a PPG player this year. I feel like he's the type of guy that can turn into a Kesler type center. I just don't know that you're going to find many guys like that either. He has all the intangibles.

Galchenyuk scares me because of the knee thing, but I wouldn't have a problem with him. I just don't see any of those teams looking to move down. Maybe Toronto since Burke seems to be trying to rebuild with youth these days, but it's hard to say. I originally thought Edmonton would be good to target because they need help on D and if they were to trade back a bit in the draft, they could still get a really good D man at 12. I figured our 1st pick plus one of the prospects we have ready to make the jump (except McNabb) or one of our current D men like Leopold. But with them getting #1 overall, that takes them out of the running. I don't want Yakupov because he's a winger.

EDIT: Part of why I like Gaunce is because of what's being said about him in terms of leadership. That's something that we can't get enough of around here.
- HonkFortheGoose

At the risk of sounding like Rico Martin here is what I would like to see them do.

Trade Vanek our 1st and 2nd to Edmonton for the #1 and draft Nail. He replaces Vanek's loss on the wing and Edmonton gets a proven goal scorer to insert into their top 6.

Trade Roy and Nashville's 1st to Calgary for their 1st and if you still feel froggy about Gaunce it's still probably in the area where he will go.

We get two studs and unload two of the most rotten pieces of the current core. This would also free up a poop ton of cap room for free agents.

At the risk of sounding like Rico Martin here is what I would like to see them do.

Trade Vanek our 1st and 2nd to Edmonton for the #1 and draft Nail. He replaces Vanek's loss on the wing and Edmonton gets a proven goal scorer to insert into their top 6.

Trade Roy and Nashville's 1st to Calgary for their 1st and if you still feel froggy about Gaunce it's still probably in the area where he will go.

We get two studs and unload two of the most rotten pieces of the current core.
- Pierceme69

I suppose that works, but the problem is you're asking for quite a bit of movement, and I just don't see that happening. I don't think we're going to see as many moves as most people around here would like. I said earlier that I'm about 98% sure that the D will be exactly the same next year with the exception of the 7th guy. Either they'll resign Sulzer or you'll see Brennan put into the 7th slot. McNabb starts the season in Rochester.

I suppose that works, but the problem is you're asking for quite a bit of movement, and I just don't see that happening. I don't think we're going to see as many moves as most people around here would like. I said earlier that I'm about 98% sure that the D will be exactly the same next year with the exception of the 7th guy. Either they'll resign Sulzer or you'll see Brennan put into the 7th slot. McNabb starts the season in Rochester.
- HonkFortheGoose

That is really only 1 move more than what almost everyone thinks we will do (Roy). I agree that the D will remain virtually untouched, and I think it should. It would be nice to have one more vet on a 2-way though. We're likely talking playoffs and not draft right now if we have a veteran to come in in the last 4 games instead of Brennan and McNabb.