Sabres & NHL 2017-18 - Entry Draft on June 22

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, shrader said:

I didn't mean to suggest that any of that is happening next year.  I'd expect at least 3 years before Mittelstadt could be a true impact player.  It's nice to have both him and Dahlin joining the team at the same time and then hopefully hitting their prime together.  So at that point, that is when you hopefully can get to a plug and play scenario with many of the future young players.

You shouldn't publicly say that it is going to take time to become a more competitive team. It will drive 4merper4mer crazy. He believes instant gratification is a long term solution. ?

[shrader]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

You shouldn't publicly say that it is going to take time to become a more competitive team. It will drive 4merper4mer crazy. He believes instant gratification is a long term solution. ?

 

I'm still waiting to hear his opinion of Tim Murray and Robin Lehner.

Edited May 14, 2018 by shrader

[JohnC]

9 minutes ago, shrader said:

 

I'm still waiting to hear his opinion of Tim Murray and Robin Lehner.

While waiting you can add O'Reilly to the package. He always speaks about the trifecta whenever one of their names is mentioned. ?

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[JohnC]

36 minutes ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

With that shot I see him at the point on power plays. It will be interesting to see if he starts off in Rochester or from the start makes the big club. 

[plenzmd1]

13 minutes ago, JohnC said:

With that shot I see him at the point on power plays. It will be interesting to see if he starts off in Rochester or from the start makes the big club. 

He 100% in Rochester based on what has been said by guests on GR. And it is pronounced PILOT right?

[JohnC]

9 minutes ago, plenzmd1 said:

He 100% in Rochester based on what has been said by guests on GR. And it is pronounced PILOT right?

That's probably the best way to get him acclimated to the North American game. Botterill has the Pittsburgh philosophy where he prefers developing players in the minors until they are ready to play and stay in the NHL

 

I don't know how to pronounce his name. I don't speak Swedish. When it comes to gibberish I am fluent. ?

[26CornerBlitz]

2018 NHL Mock Draft 1.0

In a little over a month, the hockey world will gather for the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas. The Buffalo Sabres hold the top pick in the draft, but after the obvious selection of Rasmus Dahlin, things have the potential to get interesting.

 

This will be the first of a few mock drafts I put together leading up to the draft. I also want to say that this is NOT how I have the players ranked. I based the selections on need and fight of the particular team.

 

1. Buffalo Sabres | Rasmus Dahlin - D - Frolunda (SHL)

 

This one doesn’t require a lot of explanation. Dahlin’s the unquestioned top pick in this draft and exactly what the Sabres need to begin to turn things around.

 

32. Buffalo Sabres | Dominik Bokk - RW - Vaxjo (SHL)

 

I figured I’d add the Sabres first pick of the second round since this is a Sabres site after all. Bokkis a talented German-born winger that is a good skater as well.

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[ChevyVanMiller]

1 hour ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

I know people are talking Rochester for him next season, but man, we haven't had a shot from the point like that since John Van Boxmeer retired.

[26CornerBlitz]

31 minutes ago, ChevyVanMiller said:

I know people are talking Rochester for him next season, but man, we haven't had a shot from the point like that since John Van Boxmeer retired.

 

How Swede it is!

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[ricojes]

On 5/13/2018 at 3:38 PM, JohnC said:

Those two players who were dealt reinforce my point that when you have young talent in the system it is better to develop it rather than expel it for a more immediate return. Bad decisions cause bad outcomes; they add up and crush you. You can't move forward when you repeatedly do things that set you back. 

This is rather obvious, GMTM ruined the farm system.  He just traded assets and picks like they didn't matter.  Botterill comes from the Pittsburgh philosophy of building a strong minor league system and he has already started to do that in a short period of time.  The future is beginning to look a whole lot better for the Sabres...

 

http://buffalonews.com/2018/05/16/lawrence-pilut-five-things-to-know/

 

 

The Sabres signed Lawrence Pilut to a two-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday and the 22-year-old Swede should have an immediate chance to crack the NHL roster.

Here are five things to know about the team's newest option on the blueline:

1). Award-winning: Pilut was defenseman of the year in the Swedish League and was also the recipient of the Borje Salming Trophy, given to the top Swedish-born defenseman. It's named after the Hall of Fame Toronto Maple Leafs standout who became one of the first Europeans to come to North America when he signed in 1973. Previous winners of the award, first given out in 2008, include Nashville star Mattias Ekholm (2012) and San Jose's Tim Heed (2015). Pilut led his team, HV71 Jonkopingm, in scoring with 38 points in 52 games, a figure that also topped all defensemen in the league.

2). Playoff pedigree: Pilut has played 24 postseason games in Sweden over the last three years and helped HV71 to the Swedish League championship in 2016-17. HV71 went 33-14-5 during the regular season and 12-4 in the playoffs, winning the championship series over Brynas on an overtime goal in Game Seven. The team's hope for a repeat was quickly dashed this season with a two-game sweep in the first round.

3). Lineage: Pilut's father, Larry, is a Detroit native who played collegiately at Michigan-Dearborn and Illinois-Chicago before a nine-year career as a center in the Swedish League. Larry Pilut's career high in goals was 31 with Svegs IK in 1991-92 and his career highs in both assists (42) and points (67) came in 1999-00, his final season for Tingsryds AIF.

4). Antipin is likely free: The signing of Pilut probably means the Sabres aren't going to have Victor Antipin on their roster next season. Antipin said on locker cleanout day he had not made a decision on staying in the NHL or returning to the KHL in 2018-19. Chatter on TSN earlier this month said that Antipin was leaning toward the KHL.

Pilut is getting the rookie maximum of $925,000 for his two-year deal, the same salary Antipin earned for his one year with Buffalo.

5). The lineup on ? Before they add Rasmus Dahlin with the No. 1 pick at the draft, the Sabres' defense candidates with 2018-19 cap hits currently looks like this: Rasmus Ristolainen ($5.4 million), Zach Bogosian ($5.142 million), Marco Scandella ($4 million), Nathan Beaulieu ($2.4 million), Jake McCabe ($1.6 million), Will Borgen ($864,166), Pilut ($925,000), Casey Nelson ($812,500), Brendan Guhle ($697,500), Taylor Fedun ($650,000) and Matt Tennyson ($650,000). Justin Falk is an unrestricted free agent.

 

Edited May 16, 2018 by ricojes

[JohnC]

5 minutes ago, ricojes said:

This is rather obvious, GMTM ruined the farm system.  He just traded assets and picks like they didn't matter.  Botterill comes from the Pittsburgh philosophy of building a strong minor league system and he has already started to do that in a short period of time.  The future is beginning to look a whole lot better for the Sabres...

I don't see Botterill involved in blockbuster deals that will dramatically alter the roster. He will emphasize, as you are aware, cultivating his own players and add them to the big club when they are ready. I don't see him as a GM who is going to allow a touted young player to leapfrog over players because they were highly drafted. If Nylander is going to make the big club he will have to have earned it. As it stands he has a way to go with the good chance that lower ranked players will pass him by. 

 

Very often new GMs have a tendency to get rid of players associated with the previous regime. I think that Botterill is more analytical and will judge players on their own merits without any bias attached to who acquired them. It's my opinion that he won't trade O'Reilly unless he gets a good return on him. He needs O'Reilly to be reinvigorated and play at a higher level and help this team be competitive. 

[ricojes]

4 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I don't see Botterill involved in blockbuster deals that will dramatically alter the roster. He will emphasize, as you are aware, cultivating his own players and add them to the big club when they are ready. I don't see him as a GM who is going to allow a touted young player to leapfrog over players because they were highly drafted. If Nylander is going to make the big club he will have to have earned it. As it stands he has a way to go with the good chance that lower ranked players will pass him by. 

 

Very often new GMs have a tendency to get rid of players associated with the previous regime. I think that Botterill is more analytical and will judge players on their own merits without any bias attached to who acquired them. It's my opinion that he won't trade O'Reilly unless he gets a good return on him. He needs O'Reilly to be reinvigorated and play at a higher level and help this team be competitive. 

Agreed.  O'Reilly is a very good player that they should keep and be part of the turn around.  He is getting bashed for his post season comments, but he just said what at least half the players in the locker room felt at some point during the year.  The psyche of this team is going to be the hardest thing to change.

Edited May 16, 2018 by ricojes

[JohnC]

1 minute ago, ricojes said:

Agreed.  O'Reilly is a good player that they should keep.  He is getting bashed for his post season comments, but he just said what at least half the players in the locker room felt at some point during the year.  The psyche of this team is going to be the hardest thing to change.

Without a doubt consistent losing over an extended period of time is soul-crushing. You can see it when they play and they face adversity. There isn't a collective belief that they can't overcome setbacks. Paul Hamilton of WGR talks about it all the time on how weak-minded the players are. But let's not get carried away in ascribing the essence of what their problem is: It's a general lack of talent. 

 

When compared to better teams with fuller rosters you can see the difference. The Sabres simply don't have enough talent to compete with the serious teams. Scrappiness can only help you in the short term. But over the course of a marathon season the amount of talent jumping over the side-board is going to determine the level of success or failure. Needless to say this team needs more talent. 

[ricojes]

27 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Without a doubt consistent losing over an extended period of time is soul-crushing. You can see it when they play and they face adversity. There isn't a collective belief that they can't overcome setbacks. Paul Hamilton of WGR talks about it all the time on how weak-minded the players are. But let's not get carried away in ascribing the essence of what their problem is: It's a general lack of talent. 

 

When compared to better teams with fuller rosters you can see the difference. The Sabres simply don't have enough talent to compete with the serious teams. Scrappiness can only help you in the short term. But over the course of a marathon season the amount of talent jumping over the side-board is going to determine the level of success or failure. Needless to say this team needs more talent. 

Oh I am not getting carried away, I know they lack talent.  But the locker room atmosphere is a challenge when losing is expected. 

[ricojes]

Sabres may be in the Running for John Tavares

 

https://www.diebytheblade.com/2018/5/17/17363840/buffalo-sabres-may-be-in-the-running-for-john-tavares-nhl-free-agency

 

[JohnC]

56 minutes ago, ricojes said:

Sabres may be in the Running for John Tavares

 

https://www.diebytheblade.com/2018/5/17/17363840/buffalo-sabres-may-be-in-the-running-for-john-tavares-nhl-free-agency

 

I just don't see Buffalo being a landing spot for him. Wherever he goes he will garner a bonanza contract. That's not what is going to entice him. This is probably not only going to be his last contract but also his last opportunity to be in a winning situation. He knows what it is like to be stuck in the muck of mediocrity. If he leaves NY it is going for a team that will give him a chance to vie for a cup. Right now that is not in Buffalo. From his perspective what would be the point of going to another team that won't allow him to break out of that suffocating atmosphere of mediocrity. 

 

As I have said on other posts I don't see Botterill going for the quick fix at the expense of creating a top to bottom system that is more enduring. Pittsburgh is the model he will be following. 

[shrader]

5 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I just don't see Buffalo being a landing spot for him. Wherever he goes he will garner a bonanza contract. That's not what is going to entice him. This is probably not only going to be his last contract but also his last opportunity to be in a winning situation. He knows what it is like to be stuck in the muck of mediocrity. If he leaves NY it is going for a team that will give him a chance to vie for a cup. Right now that is not in Buffalo. From his perspective what would be the point of going to another team that won't allow him to break out of that suffocating atmosphere of mediocrity. 

 

As I have said on other posts I don't see Botterill going for the quick fix at the expense of creating a top to bottom system that is more enduring. Pittsburgh is the model he will be following. 

 

I know you've questioned the possible return for O'Reilly, but if you could move him for some prospects and/or depth guys and replace him with Tavares, I feel like that actually fits with that top to bottom approach.  It's a completely different story when you have to trade for that top level guy, but this situation is very unique.  It won't be easy, but there's a chance here to help the team on both fronts.  We can talk the Pittsburgh model all we want, but we're already missing the most important part of that system, the two hall of fame centers.