2017 Draft Discussion - Sabres Pick 8th

[truthbluth]

If Sabres really wants Finnish LHD who can play with Ristolainen why Sabres scouting staff won't consider Urho Vaakanainen or Juuso Valimaki.
Both of them are lefties and also Robin Salo ( no relation to Sami Salo) is left too.

Are you not a Heiskanen believer?

 

[Vito_81]

Rasmussen ahead of Glass disgusts me...

The idea of another first round pick named Rasmussen scares me.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Are you not a Heiskanen believer?

Heiskanen is really promising d-man but if / when he isn't available for Sabres.
Then Sabres scouting staff needs to consider someone-else LHD defenceman like Vaakanainen or Valimaki.

That McKenzie's newest ranking wasn't his last before draft day.
There's almost two months for 2017 NHL draft and every ranking will change before draft day so no need to lost all hope right now.

 

[Cirris]

Heiskanen is really promising d-man but if / when he isn't available for Sabres.
Then Sabres scouting staff needs to consider someone-else LHD defenceman like Vaakanainen or Valimaki.

That McKenzie's newest ranking wasn't his last before draft day.
There's almost two months for 2017 NHL draft and every ranking will change before draft day so no need to lost all hope right now.

I definitely see Heiskanen being taken in the top five. I'd even be worried about Maker being taken before the 6/7 pick.

 

[1972]

If Sabres really wants Finnish LHD who can play with Ristolainen why Sabres scouting staff won't consider Urho Vaakanainen or Juuso Valimaki if Heiskanen isn't available.
Vaakanainen and Valimaki are both lefties and also Robin Salo ( no relation to Sami Salo) is left too.

I haven't seen Vaakanainen but never once did Valimaki strike me as a top 10 pick. Heiskanen and Makar and leaps and bounds ahead of him and the only two D worth taking where buffalo will be picking, if there gone then either move back or take a forward (unless they like Liljegren who has fallen out of favour).

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

I definitely see Heiskanen being taken in the top five. I'd even be worried about Maker being taken before the 6/7 pick.

What i've read that Heiskanen vs Makar thread in prospect section some hfboarders believes Makar goes TOP3.

 

[EichHart]

Would be shocked if 2 D go in the top 6-7. Especially as I see only the Sabres and Coyotes going defense.

 

[1972]

Would be shocked if 2 D go in the top 6-7. Especially as I see only the Sabres and Coyotes going defense.

This is the one year where I think a trade up will actually happen...

 

[truthbluth]

Would be shocked if 2 D go in the top 6-7. Especially as I see only the Sabres and Coyotes going defense.

Strongly disagree

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

 

[Ace]

I don't think I've ever cared less about the lottery than I do this year. They beat it out of me. I get it. We lose again.

Gotta make sure teams don't get "handed" the top pick for losing. Nevermind the paying fans who support the team and have to watch the lose over and over. The pick is the fans reward. So let's make sure they probably don't get it.

 

[Dingo44]

I don't think I've ever cared less about the lottery than I do this year. They beat it out of me. I get it. We lose again.

Gotta make sure teams don't get "handed" the top pick for losing. Nevermind the paying fans who support the team and have to watch the lose over and over. The pick is the fans reward. So let's make sure they probably don't get it.

At least Toronto and Edmonton can't win again.

 

[1972]

I don't think I've ever cared less about the lottery than I do this year. They beat it out of me. I get it. We lose again.

Gotta make sure teams don't get "handed" the top pick for losing. Nevermind the paying fans who support the team and have to watch the lose over and over. The pick is the fans reward. So let's make sure they probably don't get it.

No superstar players, all small markets at the top. Pretty boring compared to every other year. The value difference between 1 and 4 is probably not much anyways, the biggest difference being you can get "your" guy opposed to hoping someone falls to you.

 

[EichHart]

Strongly disagree

Really? Any reason why? You have the top 3 picks which based on Mckenzie are basically consensus in Patrick, Hischer , and Vilardi. That means the next 2 picks have to go defense in order for us to not be able to grab a D. If standings stay the same you have Arizona, NJ, and Buffalo. That means Arizona and NJ would have to take D before us. I just don't see that happening if we stay at 6. We will have a better idea tomorrow after the lottery.


http://www.tsn.ca/patrick-hischier-in-tight-race-for-no-1-in-tsn-draft-ranking-1.736258

 

[truthbluth]

Really? Any reason why? You have the top 3 picks which based on Mckenzie are basically consensus in Patrick, Hischer , and Vilardi. That means the next 2 picks have to go defense in order for us to not be able to grab a D. If standings stay the same you have Arizona, NJ, and Buffalo. That means Arizona and NJ would have to take D before us. I just don't see that happening if we stay at 6. We will have a better idea tomorrow after the lottery.


http://www.tsn.ca/patrick-hischier-in-tight-race-for-no-1-in-tsn-draft-ranking-1.736258

If Colorado ends up anywhere but #1, they are probably drafting D. Arizona is probably drafting D.
Vegas and Vancouver are basically locks to draft a forward. With New Jersey a wildcard.
If the Sabres aren't helped by the lottery or trades, Makar and Heiskanen are likely gone.

At that point, if trading down isn't an option, trading the pick for an established NHL blueliner should be on the table.

Barring that, I hope they draft whichever of Vilardi or Mittelstadt is available.

 

[EichHart]

If Colorado ends up anywhere but #1, they are probably drafting D. Arizona is probably drafting D.
Vegas and Vancouver are basically locks to draft a forward. With New Jersey a wildcard.
If the Sabres aren't helped by the lottery or trades, Makar and Heiskanen are likely gone.

At that point, if trading down isn't an option, trading the pick for an established NHL blueliner should be on the table.

Barring that, I hope they draft whichever of Vilardi or Mittelstadt is available.

I would bet quite a bit that this won't happen. I have never seen an NHL team draft for need in the top 10, its BPA and BPA for a dman is not until pick 4-6. The top 3 are consensus and don't see the Avs falling out of the top 3.

 

[Paxon]

I would bet quite a bit that this won't happen. I have never seen an NHL team draft for need in the top 10, its BPA and BPA for a dman is not until pick 4-6. The top 3 are consensus and don't see the Avs falling out of the top 3.

How have you never seen it? It certainly happens. Less likely in the top 3 or so but in the top 10, yes.

 

[N.Y. Orangeman]

How have you never seen it? It certainly happens. Less likely in the top 3 or so but in the top 10, yes.

Exactly. You could even argue it happened in the top-3 in 2015 in that many believed Hanifin was the third best prospect in the draft.

 

[joshjull]

How many of the top draft prospects are viewed to be ready to play next year?

 

[Jim Bob]

How many of the top draft prospects are viewed to be ready to play next year?

More than likely it will be only one or maybe two.

Personally, I don't know if anyone that the Sabres would need would step right in.

 

[Chainshot]

More than likely it will be only one or maybe two.

Personally, I don't know if anyone that the Sabres would need would step right in.

Agreed. If they keep the pick, it seems the more proven course to send the player back if they don't make a strong enough showing in camp. (Unless of course it's Makar, who'd be at Dev Camp, then off to NCAA play.)

Granted, if someone does wow them over the summer and into training camp, well, hey, that'd be great. But I don't expect it.

 

[Paxon]

Agreed. If they keep the pick, it seems the more proven course to send the player back if they don't make a strong enough showing in camp. (Unless of course it's Makar, who'd be at Dev Camp, then off to NCAA play.)

Granted, if someone does wow them over the summer and into training camp, well, hey, that'd be great. But I don't expect it.

Agreed. Heiskanen I think could step in and do alright but he would really benefit from Liiga or AHL, especially in developing his offensive game more, not to mention he needs to add strength. I have a hard time seeing anyone we draft winding up in the NHL next season.

 

[Chainshot]

Agreed. Heiskanen I think could step in and do alright but he would really benefit from Liiga or AHL, especially in developing his offensive game more, not to mention he needs to add strength. I have a hard time seeing anyone we draft winding up in the NHL next season.

I'd be thrilled with Heiskanen or Makar.

 

[Paxon]

I'd be thrilled with Heiskanen or Makar.

Unfortunately I think Heiskanen goes before us unless we win a lottery slot. His floor is pretty high. It seems that even NHL scouts overvalue the U18s which Heiskanen just tore up. I think he's going high. Makar is the wild card who could go anywhere from 2 to, say, 12, imo. I'm hoping he "falls" to us.

Draft slogan: Hurt for a star? Draft Cale Makar.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Are we going to vote on draft ranking after the lottery? Do we do that here, or do we just vote to rank our own prospects? Memory is failing me.