I own a Doug Glimour #93 autographed black Sabres goat head sweater. I’ve never worn it. I likely never will. I look at it from time to time to remind myself that “Killer… really did play in Buffalo. That really happened. Full disclosure: I was and always will be a devout Doug Gilmour fanatic. I absolutely loved the guy’s passion, pugnacity and never-say-die attitude. He, to me, was the ultimate warrior. Dougie was not the biggest dog in the fight, however, he had the most amount of fight on most nights in his illustrious NHL career. There are players in today’s game, like Jonathon Toews, Patrice Bergeron, and Ryan O’Reilly, who remind me so much of Gilmour. They are tough, stubborn, strong willed, smart, determined, tenacious, strong on both sides of the puck, and play the entire 200 by 85.
There’s another Doug Gilmour carbon copy who is fast-tracking his way to the NHL.
His name is Sam Bennett. NHL Central Scouting released its final top NHL draft prospects rankings list on Tuesday. Central scouting ranks all draft eligible skaters, defensemen, and goalies in North America and Europe. For the second time in a row, Bennett has earned the #1 prospect status. Its not by accident. Wise hockey minds and scouts in the know have done their homework and they agree that Bennett is the #1 prospect heading into the June entry draft in Philly.
Bennett, the Kingston Frontenacs two-way centerman, is once again the #1 North American forward prospect on the Central Scouting list. Doug Gilmour is his GM and role model in Kingston. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Gilmour Version 2.0 is keeping #93’s legacy alive with the way that he competes and plays. Bennett finished his OHL season with career highs in goals (36), assists (55), points (91), PPGs (10), +/- rating (+34) and PIMs (118).
This kid is the real deal, and if the Buffalo Sabres want to add immediate value in the form of grit, smarts, skill and hockey IQ, they should do everything in their power to select Bennett with the first overall pick in the draft. They now have a 25% chance of selecting first overall by virtue of the inevitability of finishing 30th overall in the NHL by this time next week.
Roll the tape:
Thanks, NHL.com
Here are Central Scouting’s prospects ranked 2 through 5 in North America:
# 2 Aaron Ekblad (Barrie Colts) #3 Sam Reinhart (Kootenay Ice) #4 Leon Draisaitl (Prince Albert Raiders) #5 Michael Dal Colle (Oshawa Generals)
Imagine a world where Buffalo gets the first overall pick in the draft, and also receive the NY Islanders’ conditional first rounder (from Moulson-Vanek trade) now instead of waiting until the Connor McDavid draft class. Isles GM Garth Snow has said many times in the past couple of months that the feels that the first round of the 2015 NHL draft
Sabres GM Tim Murray could conceivably be selecting 1st and 4th in the draft. Or, if Florida grabs the first overall pick and opts to select Reinhart with it, then Buffalo would select 2nd and 4th overall in this June’s draft. Ekblad to Edmonton with the third overall pick makes a ton of sense considering their abysmal blue line acuity and lack thereof this season.
Think about that for a minute. Murray may well be able to get his hands on Bennett AND Draisaitl, or Bennett and Dal Colle in the top four picks in the entry draft. Either way, Murray would immediately upgrade his offense with two tremendously gifted offensive players who will pay immediate dividends in the NHL next season. Dal Colle is the highest rated winger prospect in North America and he is the owner of an NHL caliber .357 Magnum of a shot off the wing.
I'd like to see another #93 patrolling the rink in Buffalo.
Dare to dream Sabres fans.
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