There's like 3 servicable players on that list. Maybe 5. (frank) Darcy.
- TheSabresTaco

There are 7 guys that actually see regular time in the NHL. I bet that’s actually pretty close to the average number of draft picks that pan out. There’s a chart you’ve all seen before.

Picks are *not* as valuable as most people think.

And 90% of the players in our league were once drafted and were once considered prospects.
- Swedish_Jesus

If you have a chance to get legit NHL top 6 or top 4 players for prospects you do it every time.

Every fan base overrates their prospects.

Normally those prospects turn out to be much less than what fans think they will.

Buffalo is not the exception.

Only 90%?
- Der Kaiser

Amazingly, it's 89.3% of the NHL is drafted, as of the end of last season, and based on 23 players per team. Little harder to do with callups and such.

Boston/Toronto made massive trades/signings.

Seguin
Kessel
Chara
Tavares
Thornton

Just to start.
- ImThatGuy

They only did that once they were ready to take the next step. Good/great teams finish their build by acquiring guys like that. They don't start it.

If you have a chance to get legit NHL top 6 or top 4 players for prospects at reasonable contracts you do it every time.

Every fan base overrates their prospects.

Normally those prospects turn out to be much less than what fans think they will.

Buffalo is not the exception.
- ImThatGuy

Fixed. It wasn't the acquiring of "good players" that got Murray into trouble. It was getting guys at contracts and term that you're able to get out from under if it doesn't pan out. Botterill seems to be doing this so far.

Fixed. It wasn't the acquiring of "good players" that got Murray into trouble. It was getting guys at contracts and term that you're able to get out from under if it doesn't pan out. Botterill seems to be doing this so far.
- buffalofan19

ROR contract is a pretty good one.
Kane’s contract is reasonable for the market.

Murray was an idiot, he was Chia level bad. Can we stop using him as the barometer please?

Fixed. It wasn't the acquiring of "good players" that got Murray into trouble. It was getting guys at contracts and term that you're able to get out from under if it doesn't pan out. Botterill seems to be doing this so far.
- buffalofan19

He definitely has a plan that I cannot figure out if it's still the beginning or heading towards the middle.

He's taking a calculated approach, like Beane with the Bills. Moving contracts, and players, that do not fit the mold. Trying to figure out how to use valuable assets, be it in the line up or if the right return comes across the desk/fax/phone.

We are all impatient because it's been 8 years without the playoffs, and longer since it's really felt like this team had anything worth playing for.

I don't want to waste much more time, especially with Jack going into his 5th season and Dahlin still being cheap. We need to maximize these players.

ROR contract is a pretty good one.
Kane’s contract is reasonable for the market.

Murray was an idiot, he was Chia level bad. Can we stop using him as the barometer please?
- ImThatGuy

- jcragcrumple

Nope, nope, nope.

They only did that once they were ready to take the next step. Good/great teams finish their build by acquiring guys like that. They don't start it.
- buffalofan19

First round picks, sure keep them, they have a reasonable chance to make it.

But 2-7 rd picks, move them if you have the chance. Very rarely do they amount to anything more to bottom line players.

There are 7 guys that actually see regular time in the NHL. I bet that’s actually pretty close to the average number of draft picks that pan out. There’s a chart you’ve all seen before.

Picks are *not* as valuable as most people think.
- Der Kaiser

I have no qualms using a bunch of picks for active players.

However, it's necessary to keep a good pipeline going. Some of these 3rd, 4th, 5th rounds turn into real solid players, down the line.

Key is finding the balance between using picks for now and keeping a few around for development.

ROR contract is a pretty good one.
Kane’s contract is reasonable for the market.

Murray was an idiot, he was Chia level bad. Can we stop using him as the barometer please?
- ImThatGuy

Punch had 3 dmen on the ice to hold the lead. Maybe Ralphie boy is a student of history as well as an innovator. Sabres are gonna roll four offensive pairs and three three-man d units

Skinner-Eichel
Olofsson-Reinhart
Mitts-Erod
Johansson-Vesey

Dahlin-Risto-Miller
McCabe-Joker-Montour
Pilut-Bogo-Nelson

ROR contract is a pretty good one.
Kane’s contract is reasonable for the market.

Murray was an idiot, he was Chia level bad. Can we stop using him as the barometer please?
- ImThatGuy

Kane's deal is going to be one San Jose will want to unload before it's half over, just like the Sabres and Okposo.

Punch had 3 dmen on the ice to hold the lead. Maybe Ralphie boy is a student of history as well as an innovator. Sabres are gonna roll four offensive pairs and three three-man d units

Skinner-Eichel
Olofsson-Reinhart
Mitts-Erod
Johansson-Vesey

Dahlin-Risto-Miller
McCabe-Joker-Montour
Pilut-Bogo-Nelson
- jcragcrumple

Rumor has it he is an admirer of Jim Boeheim and wants to bring the 2-3 Zone into the game of hockey.

First round picks, sure keep them, they have a reasonable chance to make it.

But 2-7 rd picks, move them if you have the chance. Very rarely do they amount to anything more to bottom line players.
- ImThatGuy

Picked a random recent draft, so i went with 2008.

2nd Round NHLers who stuck

Jacob Markstrom
Slava Voynov (was)
Jake Allen
Cody Goloubef
Roman Josi
Justin Schultz
Derek Stepan
Travis Hamonic
Marco Scandella (elite)

30% 2nd rounders stuck, 27% if you want to remove Voynov.
2009 had 14 guys, 47%.

I'd hold onto 1sts or 2nds unless the trade is for top 6/top 4.

Rumor has it he is an admirer of Jim Boeheim and wants to bring the 2-3 Zone into the game of hockey.
- buffalofan19

Bigly if true

Picked a random recent draft, so i went with 2008.

2nd Round NHLers who stuck

Jacob Markstrom
Slava Voynov (was)
Jake Allen
Cody Goloubef
Roman Josi
Justin Schultz
Derek Stepan
Travis Hamonic
Marco Scandella (elite)

30% 2nd rounders stuck, 27% if you want to remove Voynov.
2009 had 14 guys, 47%.

I'd hold onto 1sts or 2nds unless the trade is for top 6/top 4.
- TheSabresTaco

Here's one version of the chart.




The charts are expressed in many different variable terms, but they all have about the same curve.

https://www.google.com/se...907#imgrc=NgUvw0UL882uAM:

Who wants to see how angry everyone was when we drafted Ristolainen instead of Valeri Nichushkin?

Enjoy.

https://www.hockeybuzz.co...?thread_id=107905&page=24
- TheSabresTaco

https://www.hockeybuzz.co...p?thread_id=107916&page=7

that navin guy was all over getting Z after risto

Here's one version of the chart.




The charts are expressed in many different variable terms, but they all have about the same curve.

https://www.google.com/se...907#imgrc=NgUvw0UL882uAM:
- Der Kaiser

Tim Murray is gonna have one hell of a hangover after Olofsson wins ROY

Bigly if true
- jcragcrumple

I actually wouldn't be opposed to trying it from time to time. We have a decent number of puck moving D. Get the on the ice, let them join the rush, and let's see what happens. It's almost like a 3-4 vs 4-3 defense in football. You know at least 4 players are going to rush the QB (usually). In the 3-4, you just don't know which 4 are the ones coming.

As for the D zone, you play zone. Front of the net, both sides of the net, and both points. I could actually see it working with the personnel that Buffalo has.

Here's one version of the chart.




The charts are expressed in many different variable terms, but they all have about the same curve.

https://www.google.com/se...907#imgrc=NgUvw0UL882uAM:
- Der Kaiser

Not a fan of that chart. Scouting science has improved with better technology, and different factors are being held in higher regard. Plus it's only been recently that the NHL is taking less Canadians and more Europeans (respectively).. Scouting is scouting, it's all predictions, but the way we see players and are able to better understand how they will grow physically and mentally, I think that improves the odds.

You look at the more recent drafts, and you're seeing the probability of success increase. Also, going off simply points is probably not the way you want to go about spelling out 'success'

I actually wouldn't be opposed to trying it from time to time. We have a decent number of puck moving D. Get the on the ice, let them join the rush, and let's see what happens. It's almost like a 3-4 vs 4-3 defense in football. You know at least 4 players are going to rush the QB (usually). In the 3-4, you just don't know which 4 are the ones coming.

As for the D zone, you play zone. Front of the net, both sides of the net, and both points. I could actually see it working with the personnel that Buffalo has.
- ajb2493

I should state: I'm just desperate to watch some entertaining hockey coming out of Buffalo. If this strategy provides some interesting hockey, so be it.

I should state: I'm just desperate to watch some entertaining hockey coming out of Buffalo. If this strategy provides some interesting hockey, so be it.
- ajb2493

I'm with you. It's sort of like throwing your superstar on the 4th line for a shift to find a mis-match. Disco used to do it occasionally. It's not an every game thing, but it could be an interesting tactic to throw against an opposing team every now and again. Basically let Dahlin play center from the back end

So now instead of drafting a pair of cement blocks in Justin Kea in the third round, we draft a Brad Marchand skilled pest in Matt Baker. It's changes in philosophy like this that probably says, hey, skill will always get you a look in the NHL, whereas, even if you can fight, you might be too poopty to crack the AHL lineup.