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

[Dr. Who]

1 hour ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

4-4: Phil Housley on WGR (10:59)

 

#Sabres head coach Phil Housley joins Howard and Jeremy next on WGR! Tune in:

 

Housley - I hope we can send the fans home happy tonight with a loss in the home finale. #Sabres

 

Fixed it for you, Phil.

[BillsFan4]

I'm not sure how to feel about this game tonight. 

 

I want the best odds at Dahlin, but I also hate the stigma that comes with finishing in last place. 

 

But even if we finish last last I have about zero faith/hope that they actually win the damn draft lottery. We've been totally screwed by it every year. I don't know if I'll ever get over the McDavid loss (maybe once the Sabres become a good team, if that ever happens...). Dahlin would sure help. 

 

I feel like we are due for a draft lottery lottery win though, and the odds did go up this year from 18% to 18.5% (assuming it passes the vote). Still not as good as the Maple Leafs 20% odds in 2016. But the 18.5% last place odds Are better than the 13.5% odds you get as the 2nd last place team... 

 

If we lose tonight, last place is locked in. Even if we win in regulation we are still 1 point behind Ottawa. Tonight is probably their last chance at a win for this season though. They play Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Boston... 

 

 

Ultimately, I'll take the best odds at Dahlin. Buffalo could probably use him more than any other team in the NHL. But if we don't get him, Boqvist wouldn't be a bad consolation prize... this looks like a great year to need a defenseman. There are as many as 5 ranked in the top 10 of the draft. 

 

[Dr. Who]

7 minutes ago, BillsFan4 said:

Ultimately, I'll take the best odds at Dahlin. Buffalo could probably use him more than any other team in the NHL. But if we don't get him, Boqvist wouldn't be a bad consolation prize... this looks like a great year to need a defenseman. There are as many as 5 ranked in the top 10 of the draft. 

 

If you could add Dahlin, Borgen, and Guhle next year, the future of the D suddenly looks transformed.  If we miss out on Dahlin, however, I would be tempted to take Svechnikov.  But as we know, the hockey gods are cruel to Buffalo.  We'll finish last and end up picking fourth 

[BillsFan4]

6 minutes ago, Dr. Who said:

If you could add Dahlin, Borgen, and Guhle next year, the future of the D suddenly looks transformed.  If we miss out on Dahlin, however, I would be tempted to take Svechnikov.  But as we know, the hockey gods are cruel to Buffalo.  We'll finish last and end up picking fourth 

Svechnikov would definitely be nice. 

 

The top of this draft looks very promising. 

 

If we end up in the #2 spot and miss out on Dahlin, it might be hard to pass on a guy like Svechnikov or Zadina (or even Tkachuk). You can't reach for a defenseman just because of need. You have to go Best player available IMO.

 

There are a lot of very enticing defensive prospects in this draft though. Dahlin, Boqvist, Bouchard, Dobson, Hughes could all go top 10-15, with Smith, Merkley, Wilde possibly in the top 15-20 (or at least the 1st round). This looks like a great year to grab a defenseman. I'm sure a few will fall and maybe you can grab one with our top 2 pick in the 2nd, or even trade back up into the 1st. 

[Dr. Who]

1 minute ago, BillsFan4 said:

Svechnikov would definitely be nice. 

 

The top of this draft looks very promising. 

 

If we end up in the #2 spot and miss out on Dahlin, it might be hard to pass on a guy like Svechnikov or Zadina (or even Tkachuk). You can't reach for a defenseman just because of need. You have to go Best player available IMO.

 

There are a lot of very enticing defensive prospects in this draft though. Dahlin, Boqvist, Bouchard, Dobson, Hughes could all go top 10-15, with Smith, Merkley, Wilde possibly in the top 15-20 (or at least the 1st round). This looks like a great year to grab a defenseman. I'm sure a few will fall and maybe you can grab one with our top 2 pick in the 2nd, or even trade back up into the 1st. 

The fellas on the HockeyFutures Sabres' board seem to like Hughes after Dahlin, though some prefer Boqvist.  I would be fine with Svechnikov or Zadina early and trying to trade back up into the 1st for D if we miss out on Dahlin.

[26CornerBlitz]

2 hours ago, BillsFan4 said:

Svechnikov would definitely be nice. 

 

The top of this draft looks very promising. 

 

If we end up in the #2 spot and miss out on Dahlin, it might be hard to pass on a guy like Svechnikov or Zadina (or even Tkachuk). You can't reach for a defenseman just because of need. You have to go Best player available IMO.

 

There are a lot of very enticing defensive prospects in this draft though. Dahlin, Boqvist, Bouchard, Dobson, Hughes could all go top 10-15, with Smith, Merkley, Wilde possibly in the top 15-20 (or at least the 1st round). This looks like a great year to grab a defenseman. I'm sure a few will fall and maybe you can grab one with our top 2 pick in the 2nd, or even trade back up into the 1st. 

 

Dahlin obviously would be great, but any of the top three would serve as a desperately needed talent infusion. 

[JohnC]

If you add McCabe to the defensive group and consider Antipin better adjusted to the North American game then the cupboard isn't so empty with this unit. So you got Risto, Guhle, McCabe, Nelson making a good skating up and down unit. Maybe Bogo can go against the odds and stay healthy. He needs to adjust his game from a banging style to a more skating and puck moving style. 

 

If Nylander can make the jump with a good offseason and you add him to the mix with Mittlestadt then you are adding some speed and skill to this slow and sluggish team. 

 

What seems obvious is that this staff is not enamored with Lehner. I doubt he will be on next year's roster. This was a boondoggle deal that the former GM made. 

[K-9]

7 minutes ago, JohnC said:

If you add McCabe to the defensive group and consider Antipin better adjusted to the North American game then the cupboard isn't so empty with this unit. So you got Risto, Guhle, McCabe, Nelson making a good skating up and down unit. Maybe Bogo can go against the odds and stay healthy. He needs to adjust his game from a banging style to a more skating and puck moving style. 

 

If Nylander can make the jump with a good offseason and you add him to the mix with Mittlestadt then you are adding some speed and skill to this slow and sluggish team. 

 

What seems obvious is that this staff is not enamored with Lehner. I doubt he will be on next year's roster. This was a boondoggle deal that the former GM made. 

Still not a first pairing among the entire group. 

[JohnC]

3 minutes ago, K-9 said:

Still not a first pairing among the entire group. 

I agree with you that there isn't a first pairing. But if your first three pairings are solid and responsible then the unit  in general is going to be upgraded. I consider Risto a top pairing type of player. He would be a better player with an authentic first pairing partner. But if you don't have it you just don't have. The next best option is to upgrade the secondary pairings and have a general improvement. 

 

It's a shame that the Bogo acquisition so far hasn't worked out. It was a set back. Wouldn't it be nice to have Tyler Myers back on the roster?  

[snafu]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

If you add McCabe to the defensive group and consider Antipin better adjusted to the North American game then the cupboard isn't so empty with this unit. So you got Risto, Guhle, McCabe, Nelson making a good skating up and down unit. Maybe Bogo can go against the odds and stay healthy. He needs to adjust his game from a banging style to a more skating and puck moving style. 

 

If Nylander can make the jump with a good offseason and you add him to the mix with Mittlestadt then you are adding some speed and skill to this slow and sluggish team. 

 

What seems obvious is that this staff is not enamored with Lehner. I doubt he will be on next year's roster. This was a boondoggle deal that the former GM made. 

 

 

Antipin = Not Good.

 

 

 

[JohnC]

1 minute ago, snafu said:

 

 

Antipin = Not Good.

 

 

 

Antipin = Not Bad 

Don't be so ready to give up on him. There is a big adjustment coming from Russia to North America. He can skate and pass. That's what this regime is looking for. Be patient and you might find a bonus that you didn't expect. 

[26CornerBlitz]

4-4: Pierre LeBrun Discusses the State of the Sabres on WGR (14:33)

LeBrun- I did get tremendous vibes from Jack Eichel in terms of young superstar having that light bulb moment and saying I can't let that happen again here. That's more of a body language thing but combine that with some good pieces on that team...

 

Potentially the first pick in this draft and I think a GM that now he's absorbed everything around him for 12 months and I think is gonna be ready to make some here.

 

LeBrun- I was wondering which team around the NHL was going to pick Jason Botterill out of Pittsburgh because he was a big part of that team winning 3 Stanley Cups. Really bright guy who isn't cut from the cloth of well I'm a former player so it's just the eye test...

 

He does the eye test. He believes in analytics, he believes in scouting, he believes in all the different aspects that make a team successful. It's just that he's got a lot on his plate.

[thebug]

14 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Antipin = Not Bad 

Don't be so ready to give up on him. There is a big adjustment coming from Russia to North America. He can skate and pass. That's what this regime is looking for. Be patient and you might find a bonus that you didn't expect. 

At least Antipin still has a chance to be coached and grow. Bogo is who he is.

[26CornerBlitz]

4-4: Sabres GM Jason Botterill on WGR (22:37)

 

Continuing #Sabres talk now with GM Jason Botterill

 

Botterill- We tried to be as supportive as possible with Casey. Sitting down at the start of the season with not only the player, and setting goals... following up with the coaching staff to make sure you're on the same page as him

 

Botterill- It's a unique thing with Casey, we were able to get confirmation that he was gonna get the opportunity to play at the World Championships too with Team USA. So he could come into Buffalo right away, get a real feel for, how the games are...

 

What the speed and the level is at the NHL, but then also get the opportunity to still play games over at Denmark at the World Championships.

 

Botterill- In the 2nd half, what we've been really happy about is even without the production, there's been a lot of engagement with Chris Taylor and his staff down there. A willingness on Alex's part to try to understand the game.

 

Botterill- There's no value in losing. There's a lottery system here now.

 

Botterill- That's what the next couple of months is. Have our meetings with our pro staff to really evaluate things with our core to see what changes we have to make with our group.

 

Botterill- Casey Nelson and his agents have been improessed with our organization because there has been improvement in his own game this year and we've given him opportunity here.

[JohnC]

10 minutes ago, thebug said:

At least Antipin still has a chance to be coached and grow. Bogo is who he is.

Bogo is built like a guerrilla but fragile like a piece of glass. When you look at his physical traits you are impressed. When you see him sidelined every year and sitting in the owner's box you want to just move on and not see the same scenario play out again. It's a shame. 

2 minutes ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

4-4: Sabres GM Jason Botterill on WGR (22:37)

 

Continuing #Sabres talk now with GM Jason Botterill

 

Botterill- We tried to be as supportive as possible with Casey. Sitting down at the start of the season with not only the player, and setting goals... following up with the coaching staff to make sure you're on the same page as him

 

Botterill- It's a unique thing with Casey, we were able to get confirmation that he was gonna get the opportunity to play at the World Championships too with Team USA. So he could come into Buffalo right away, get a real feel for, how the games are...

 

What the speed and the level is at the NHL, but then also get the opportunity to still play games over at Denmark at the World Championships.

 

Botterill- In the 2nd half, what we've been really happy about is even without the production, there's been a lot of engagement with Chris Taylor and his staff down there. A willingness on Alex's part to try to understand the game.

 

Botterill- There's no value in losing. There's a lottery system here now.

 

Botterill- That's what the next couple of months is. Have our meetings with our pro staff to really evaluate things with our core to see what changes we have to make with our group.

 

Botterill- Casey Nelson and his agents have been improessed with our organization because there has been improvement in his own game this year and we've given him opportunity here.

It took Pegula a while to learn the pro businesses he bought into. I like the staffs he has assembled on the hockey and football side of his empire. 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[thebug]

1 hour ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

They hit the simulator and....

1)NYI 

2)Van

3)CHI

4)BUF

 

Obviously this is just a simulator but Interesting thing is NYI comes up first with Calgary's pick which had a 2.5% chance.  

[Pete]

4-2 now Ottawa.  Now let's win the draft lottery!  No more tanking

[gobilz]

It is finished