2017 Draft Discussion - Sabres Pick 8th

[Chainshot]

It's not the sexy thing to do but this is the perfect draft to trade down. It's so wide open that if you think you can trade down into the late teens to pick up another 2nd and still get the guy you want then you go for it. Say you feel that Foote is this year's McAvoy, if you can trade down and grab him and get another McCabe level prospect with the extra 2nd then you do it in a heartbeat. Buffalo is still in a position where the more assets the better.

Also an option. They're in a relatively low-pressure position here.

 

[sincerity0]

Think he'd be available after a trade down to 12 or so?

What is the criticism on Liljegren? He got mono and missed most of the year? He was dynamic last season.

If the Sabres got him at 8 I'd be enthralled. The dude has decent sizzle, is a fantastic skater, offensively gifted, and really the only knock on his game is he needs to work on being a bit more defensively responsible. Who would have thought an 18/19 year old would need to mature defensively before reaching the NHL?

 

[1972]

What is the criticism on Liljegren? He got mono and missed most of the year? He was dynamic last season.

If the Sabres got him at 8 I'd be enthralled. The dude has decent sizzle, is a fantastic skater, offensively gifted, and really the only knock on his game is he needs to work on being a bit more defensively responsible. Who would have thought an 18/19 year old would need to mature defensively before reaching the NHL?

Obviously different positions, but he reminds me of William Nylander in his draft year. His skill level and skating is just ridiculous.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

What is the criticism on Liljegren? He got mono and missed most of the year? He was dynamic last season.

If the Sabres got him at 8 I'd be enthralled. The dude has decent sizzle, is a fantastic skater, offensively gifted, and really the only knock on his game is he needs to work on being a bit more defensively responsible. Who would have thought an 18/19 year old would need to mature defensively before reaching the NHL?

The biggest knock is his lack of hockey sense

 

[sincerity0]

Obviously different positions, but he reminds me of William Nylander in his draft year. His skill level and skating is just ridiculous.

That's what I'm saying. Players often have many faults -- size, athleticism and/or general hockey IQ. Liljegren has good size 6ft, 180lbs, to which he can get up to 200lbs as he matures. He has incredible offensive and hockey IQ, and his athleticism/skating is top of the draft.

So some scout him and say he needs to be more defensively responsible. As I said in my previous post, what 18/19 enters the NHL and does not need to work on their defensive game? I'd rather pick a player that needs coaching on tangible things like positioning than try to change something they cannot.

Look at Sam Reinhart. In his draft year and draft, his weakness was skating/athleticism. Be realistic, his skating as improved but it's never going to be a strength of his. Reinhart is always going to have to beat teams mentally rather than physically.

When I watch Liljegren I see a guy who has the athleticism and anticipation to play at the NHL level. He's raw in defensive positions but as I said earlier, that's coachable.

The only worry with Liljegren is that he will likely never be a defenseman who is a "shutdown defenseman." But, having someone like Liljegren on the ice will alleviate some offensive push because teams will be cautious of him, similar to Karlsson.

 

[UnleashRasmus]

This is a perfectly reasonable place to draft. This draft is a little light on talent to be honest. Even the top pick isn't a guarantee on pure high end talent.

 

[sincerity0]

The biggest knock is his lack of hockey sense

That's complete BS. Hockey sense is one of his strong points. That is literally the exact reason he is often compared to Karlsson and Doughty.

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

 

[ZZamboni]

Is it time to combine the draft discussion thread with the other draft thread for a huge ominous mega thread?

 

[Old Navy Goat]

That's complete BS. Hockey sense is one of his strong points. That is literally the exact reason he is often compared to Karlsson and Doughty.

Here's a take by Grant McCragg commenting on his 'elite' hockey sense:

https://recrutes.ca/grants-slant/

 

[EichHart]

I would take Heiskanen/Makar/Liljegren. If all 3 are gone trade the pick for a top 3 Dman.

 

[EichHart]

Mock draft top 10:

NJ- Nolan Patrick
Philly- Nico Hischier
Dallas- Miro Heiskanen
Colorado- Gabriel Vilardi
Vancouver- Owen Tippett
Las Vegas- Casey Mittelstadt
Arizona- Cale Makar
Buffalo- Timothy Liljegren/Juuso Valimaki
Detroit- Michael Rasmussen
Florida- Cody Glass

 

[BananaSquad]

I see Dallas taking Liljegren or Makar.

 

[EichHart]

Remember the last time a high ranked prospect started on Bob McKenzies list a No.2 overall and fell to No.2 on his final list and also had mono?

Mikhail Grigorenko!

But Grigorenko couldn't skate. If Grigorenko could skate he would be a top 6 player. Liljegren has incredible skating ability.

 

[EichHart]

It would be nice if a GM or two go "rogue" and pick an unconventional pick before Sabres pick. Didn't a few teams do that last year? Which is how Nylander dropped to us?

I could have sworn Nylander was projected to go by most "experts" before Sabres picked 8th.

Nylander was rated as the 6th best player in last years draft and almost all mocks had him going to Calgary. He most likely would be on the Flames if it wasn't for Thachuk falling to them at 6.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Sabres need to pick the BDA available at #8. They can swing for the fences if Liljegren is still there or go for a safer D-man. We're all still stung by similarities with Grigorstinko. I know I am. I say play it safe.

 

[Beerz]

If Cal Foote is anything like his father...i want him

 

[Paxon]

If Cal Foote is anything like his father...i want him

I don't want to draft a defenseman with questionable foot speed in the top 10. It almost always results in a bust. Foote is not a top 10 pick. Best case scenario is that Makar is still there for us and our new GM has some sense. I won't hold my breath though.

Also, take Liljegren way before Foote, no question.

 

[Beerz]

I don't want to draft a defenseman with questionable foot speed in the top 10. It almost always results in a bust. Foote is not a top 10 pick. Best case scenario is that Makar is still there for us and our new GM has some sense. I won't hold my breath though.

A?so, take Liljegren way before Foote, no question.

i know he's not top 10 pick worthy....i was thinking if we trade back

 

[Sabre the Win]

right now im leaning Liljegren.

but that could change in the coming months.

boom or bust type.

 

[Kublakhan]

yeah I'm still in the trade it camp, I see nothing that can help us in the next couple seasons from this draft, we need the help now..

 

[wunderpanda]

Valimaki please.

... then Henri Jokiharju later somehow.

 

[Duddy]

Trade with LV for a trade up + defenseman that shakes loose.

 

[Rasmus CacOlainen]

Trade with LV for a trade up + defenseman that shakes loose.

This.

What would it take to snap Brodin for example? If we get a player that Vegas likes what would be the+ needed? Maybe the drafted player+2nd for Brodin? Not sure what he is rated at versus a BPA top 8 pick.

 

[Yatzhee]

Mock draft top 10:

NJ- Nolan Patrick
Philly- Nico Hischier
Dallas- Miro Heiskanen
Colorado- Gabriel Vilardi
Vancouver- Owen Tippett
Las Vegas- Casey Mittelstadt
Arizona- Cale Makar
Buffalo- Timothy Liljegren/Juuso Valimaki
Detroit- Michael Rasmussen
Florida- Cody Glass

Valimaki is my target at 8. Big, good speed, has all the tools to step in a couple years from now.