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

[thebug]

We're going to do something else on defense but at this point it's anyone's guess how it shakes down. I'm actually looking forward to seeing if Bogo can find his game under Housely's system, which seems to match more with the things Bogo does well.

teams have been looking for Bogo to find his game for 7 years!

[Alaska Darin]

teams have been looking for Bogo to find his game for 7 years!

While that statement has some truth to it, there is plenty of blame to go around. NHL defensemen generally take much longer to develop. Bogo was rushed to the league and despite how long he's played, he's still only 26 years old. A decade ago, he might be entering his second or third season. Next season will be his tenth. I don't think he's ever played in the right system and has regularly played with non-complimentary partners, but I have seen flashes of his potential, especially the first dozen or so games he played with the Sabres after the trade.

[shrader]

I'm at the point with Bogosian where I think he just is what he is at this point. You're never going to have that stud d-man but he can still be serviceable.

[thebug]

While that statement has some truth to it, there is plenty of blame to go around. NHL defensemen generally take much longer to develop. Bogo was rushed to the league and despite how long he's played, he's still only 26 years old. A decade ago, he might be entering his second or third season. Next season will be his tenth. I don't think he's ever played in the right system, but he I have seen flashes of his potential, especially the first dozen or so games he played with the Sabres after the trade.

I agree with you, but at some point the player has to adapt. At this point, I wouldn't want the attempt to happen on my dime!

[Alaska Darin]

I agree with you, but at some point the player has to adapt. At this point, I wouldn't want the attempt to happen on my dime!

There's little chance he's going to be traded, so at this point the Sabres need to do their best to help him get better.

[26CornerBlitz]

I find immediate draft grades to be rather meaningless, but here's one:

 

@theScore

Atlantic Division Draft Grades: Maple Leafs, Sabres win big. http://thesco.re/2sDu2z4

[4merper4mer]

I find immediate draft grades to be rather meaningless, but here's one:

 

@theScore

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atlantic Division Draft Grades: Maple Leafs, Sabres win big. http://thesco.re/2sDu2z4

 

Altuve in the 3rd

[thebug]

A 133 lb D?

[Johnny Hammersticks]

A 133 lb D?

He's a high motor guy with a lightning quick first step.

[26CornerBlitz]

A 133 lb D?

 

Old information. He's grown to be 6'1" and 165 lbs: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=372926

[26CornerBlitz]

@SabresPR

The Sabres have announced the team’s schedule for its annual summer development camp from July 8 to 11.

https://sabresdigitalpressbox.com/2017/06/24/sabres-announce-2017-development-camp-schedule/

 

Sat., July 8
2 to 3:30 p.m.
4 to 5:30 p.m.

Sun., July 9
10 to 11:15 a.m.
2 to 3:15 p.m.

Mon., July 10
10:30 to 11:45 a.m.
1:45 to 3:00 p.m.

Tue., July 11
French Connection Tournament: 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

[JohnC]

There's little chance he's going to be traded, so at this point the Sabres need to do their best to help him get better.

It's not an issue of getting better as it is more of an issue of modifying his game so that he can stay on the ice and emphasize his skills more. He is a good skater and has a hard shot, not necessarily accurate. Although he is built like a guerrilla he needs to tone down the muscle game and be more of a finesse player and puck mover. His desire to make crunching hits more often than not leaves him battered and bruised rather than being useful. He needs to tame his physical game down for his own sake and for his own utility as a player.

 

Without question he is not worth his contract and because of that he can't be moved. That doesn't mean that he can't be a good third pairing defenseman and serve a useful role on a unit that needs players.

[eball]

 

Old information. He's grown to be 6'1" and 165 lbs: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=372926

 

He actually tweeted to someone that he's 6'1/2" and 154 lbs.

[Alaska Darin]

It's not an issue of getting better as it is more of an issue of modifying his game so that he can stay on the ice and emphasize his skills more. He is a good skater and has a hard shot, not necessarily accurate. Although he is built like a guerrilla he needs to tone down the muscle game and be more of a finesse player and puck mover. His desire to make crunching hits more often than not leaves him battered and bruised rather than being useful. He needs to tame his physical game down for his own sake and for his own utility as a player.

 

Without question he is not worth his contract and because of that he can't be moved. That doesn't mean that he can't be a good third pairing defenseman and serve a useful role on a unit that needs players.

You're making a semantics argument but we agree on what his game currently lacks. The time you have to make a decision (especially for defensemen) in the NHL is exponentially shorter than it is at any other level of the game. The great ones (think Niklas Lidstrom) make very few mental mistakes and rarely ever throw a big hit.

[thebug]

 

Old information. He's grown to be 6'1" and 165 lbs: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=372926

That's a little more reasonable.

[Alaska Darin]

I love when people get up in arms about day 2 picks in the NHL. The hit rate is ridiculously low because you're picking teenagers and trying to make an educated guess on whether or not they're willing to put in the work to be one of the 600 or so best players in the world.

 

Day 2 picks in the NHL rarely take less than 3 or 4 season to even break into the league. It's generally an even longer period before they make an impact.

[thebug]

I love when people get up in arms about day 2 picks in the NHL. The hit rate is ridiculously low because you're picking teenagers and trying to make an educated guess on whether or not they're willing to put in the work to be one of the 600 or so best players in the world.

ty

Day 2 picks in the NHL rarely take less than 3 or 4 season to even break into the league. It's generally an even longer period before they make an impact.

I get what you are saying, but the majority of the NHL rosters are made up of day 2 picks. I think it's pretty important.

Edited June 25, 2017 by thebug

[JohnC]

You're making a semantics argument but we agree on what his game currently lacks. The time you have to make a decision (especially for defensemen) in the NHL is exponentially shorter than it is at any other level of the game. The great ones (think Niklas Lidstrom) make very few mental mistakes and rarely ever throw a big hit.

The best we can hope for is to get some useful play out of him as a probable third pairing player. He doesn't have the instincts to read the play (as you noted) that good defensemen have. Another player that lacked the ability to read plays is Kulikov who won't be with the team. He was notorious for making the wrong read and creating a wide gap in his zone for the opposition.

 

It's unreasonable to think that the Sabres are going to have a sterling blue line unit, even if Kane is traded for a defenseman. The best we can hope for is that with the incoming additions this unit can become competent to the point that it isn't a major liability as it was last year. The unit merely being average is a major step forward for this team.

 

Many people disagreed with me but I still believe that the Kulikov for Pysk trade was very damaging. I don't want to overstate how good Pysyk was because he certainly wasn't an upper-echelon player. But he was a smart and efficient player who moved the puck out of his zone. He would be a good player to have added to the mix.

[GG]

I get what you are saying, but the majority of the NHL rosters are made up of day 2 picks. I think it's pretty important.

 

What % of them are on teams that initially drafted them?

[thebug]

 

What % of them are on teams that initially drafted them?

Doesn't matter, someone drafted them. If you hit on some 2 day picks, you don't have to spend more picks or assets later to acquire them. That's pretty important.