Impressing at #NHLCombine: Jakob Chychrun. The D-man from @StingHockey ranks Top 5 in multiple categories. pic.twitter.com/4nwS3WQong
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) June 4, 2016
Sabres GM Tim Murray is looking to make a trade to climb into the top four echelon of the NHL draft. He is targeting Edmonton's fourth overall pick. Murray and the Sabres are very much intrigued by London Knights scoring star Matt Tkachuk whose OT GWG clinched the Memorial Cup for his team last weekend.
It's uncanny that Tim Murray and Edmonton Oilers GM Pete Chiarelli covet the same players. Both GMs absolutely rave on about Tkachuk. They also covet the same dominant defensemen in Olli Juolevi, Jakob Chychrun and Mikhail Sergachev.
Both GMs are looking to avail themselves of these difference makers at the top of the draft.
In the event that Edmonton makes a trade with another team, and they are aggressively trying to drum up a market place in Buffalo at the NHL Scouting Combine, that would shut out Murray from his chance at Tkachuk.
Worst case scenario, Murray will hold on to #8 and select one of the Big 3 defenseman. This year's crop is tremendous in terms of value at the top of the D strata in the first round of the draft.
Murray also covets a left shot D who can QB his PP and play in his top four.
The candidates are London Knight Olli Juolevi, Sarnia Sting Jakob Chychrun and Windsor Spitfire Mikhail Sergachev.
All three D monsters pumped their guns and flexed their pecs in Buffalo.
Central Scouting has Chychrun slotted at the number one D man on the board.
Sergachev was named OHL defenseman of the year over the other two.
Juolevi was a beast in the OHL Playoffs and won a Memorial Cup with Tkachuk on the London Knights.
Juolevi also won WJC gold with with Patrik Laine, Sebastian Aho, Jesse Puljujarvi.
Juolevi pumped his own tires after his fitness testing in Buffalo on Saturday.
“Yeah, I’m the first defenseman,… he said.
Sergachev said that once he adjusted to the smaller North American rink his confidence soared.
“My season had some ups and downs,… Sergachev said. “But the OHL is the best junior league in the world, so it was great.…
Sergachev is a tower of power in all three zones. He's big, strong, fast, strong and intimidates opposing forwards with his positioning and physicality.
Mikhail Sergachev of @spitshockey has also impressed at #NHLCombine. One of top-ranked D-man per @NHLCentralScout. pic.twitter.com/XbQ6VeEADe
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) June 4, 2016
My ideal wish list would be for Edmonton and Buffalo to exchange first round picks.
Buffalo would select Matt Tkachuk fourth overall. Edmonton would select Chychrun or Sergachev eighth overall. Remember that Sergachev played for Oilers assistant coach Rocky Thompson while at Windsor, so there is a relationship there.
In the event that Chiarelli keeps #4 and selects Tkachuk, Murray would then select in this order:
1. Chychrun 2. Juolevi 3. Sergachev
That's how I see it.
How about you?
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On Saturday, Patrik Laine teed up his trademark clapper and leveled at Auston Matthews.
There is a serious competition brewing between Laine and Matthews.
Laine turned 18 in April and is seven months younger than Auston Matthews.
Laine said that it's possible that he becomes the best player in the NHL in the next few seasnos.
"I think I have the ability to someday become the best player in the NHL," Laine said.
"Maybe other guys are good at many different things, but not really good at one thing. I think I am. I think me and Matthews are quite even [at this stage in development]."
In a matter of fact fashion, Laine told reporters in Buffalo that he has a better shot and is a better scorer than Matthews
"I think I have a better shot (than Matthews) and an ability to score goals, and Matthews has an ability to create chances for his linemates and he can score," Laine said.
"He has good hands and is good at protecting the puck, good in every zone on the ice."
Laine also reiterated what he told me Friday afternoon and that is that he thinks that he is every bit the number one overall pick as Matthews is. He's passionate about saying so.
Laine does not mince words nor does he sugar coat his responses. Watch his post fitness test presser here. It's 6:18 of pure gold.
For the record, I happen to agree with Laine. I think that he is worthy of consideration for the first overall pick. Only 8 NHL teams interviewed him in Buffalo. Toronto, Winnipeg, and Columbus are among them.
How sick would it be if Toronto were to pick Laine before Matthews?
**
Here are the final results for the NHL Combine fitness testing:
V02 Max:
1. Carter Hart 65.0 2. Brendan Gignac 62.0 3. Evan Fitzpatrick 62.0 4. Wade Allison 61.0 5. Mike McLeod 61.0
* Auston Matthews finished 14th overall with 58.0
Agility and Balance: Pro Agility Left:
1. Matthew Cairns 4.3 2. Luke Green 4.31 3. Jordan Kyrou 4.35 4. Cam Morrisson 4.4 5. Joe Raaymakers 4.45
* Auston Matthews finished 7th overall with 4.48
Agility and Balance: Pro Agility Right:
1. Luke Green 4.19 2. Matthew Cairns 4.33 3. Jordan Kyrou 4.33 4. Pierre Luc Dubious 4.33 5. Luke Kunin 4.37
* Auston Matthews finished 13th overall with 4.52
NHL Combine Fitness Testing Top 25 Results By Categoryhttps://t.co/hrqt8KKlp0
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) June 4, 2016