2023 NHL Draft June 28 and 29, Nashville, TN (Selections - 13, 39, 45, 86, 109, 141, 173, 205)

[ValJamesDuex]

Wasn’t his pick, was the pick he thinks Buffalo will make. IQ + compete + fit he said ASP has all of those things so he’s a Sabres type pick.

I was working out when i was listening but i think he also said ASP showed up to the combine a lot bigger than most realized? @ValJamesDuex can confirm maybe?

I missed that part in the noise of the Awarehouse, I will have the audio posted here in a little bit...

 

[Ace]

Hopefully his growth in size will push him ahead of 13. Especially when he has Benson breaking hearts at 12.

 

[Fjordy]

Was expected to be 5’9”, 170, showed up 5’11”, 180.

How much is it in cm and kg?

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Yahoo mock has Buffalo take Perrault, with Simashev still on the board. Do not like.

I think you'll like it more in 4 years.

 

[truthbluth]

How much is it in cm and kg?

I know man, a bunch!

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Fjordy]

I know man, a bunch!

180 cm 82 kg

 

[ValJamesDuex]

On this mornings Sabres Live mock Bakes has 11 Van - Willander, 12 Az - Benson,

Spoiler: 13 Buf -

Pellika, Bakes loves Simachev but has the Sabres following their "pattern" and taking Pellika for the talent and fit. He said Pellika could be 85% of Makar. He also mentioned he thinks the Sabres like Moore (speed, says he is this years Boldy) and getting a bigger Dman (ie Bonk, Strbek) later in the draft

I will post the audio when it's up later.

Bakes Sabres Pick Audio

https://www.audacy.com/podcast/sabres-live-340e9/episodes/who-does-kris-baker-have-the-sabres-picking-0f392

Bakes Picks 1-12 Audio

https://www.audacy.com/podcast/sabres-live-340e9/episodes/bakers-dozen-for-the-nhl-draft-9d9ff

 

[Ace]

I’m not going to let this ASP thing bother me. Adams talked about literally the opposite kind of D at the draft press conference with Forton. We have no idea what kind of pattern Adams would have drafting D because he has barely done it.

Damn Baker for speaking into existence anyway. Taking my #4 D at 13 in a draft known for its high end forwards…man will I ever be drunk that night

 

[TheMistyStranger]

I think you'll like it more in 4 years.

It's not a knock on the player, but there's just so many forwards right now in the prospect system. I'd rather move the pick either way.

 

[debaser66]

I can't help but feel Yager is the prototypical Adams draftpick when I look at who is likely available at 13, but still would not be too big of a reach (McKenzie has him at 15).

I am hoping there is not a specific type of player they target and that the homogeneous trend has just been a coincidence, but the evidence is starting to make coincidence seem unlikely.

From the lists I consumned he should be there.
Not sure its a good sign if you fall out of the top5 (I remember him being discussed in the same breathe as Fantilli, but he kinda faded out, anybody know why?)

 

[debaser66]

Agreed! If benson fell, he’s likely the pick because other similarly talented players already got picked. Simashev is still the dream, but benson would be awesome

My dream would be Reinbacher.
Then I am split between Willander/Shima.

 

[Ehran]

Baker's logic on taking ASP at 13 makes sense, I guess.

I just hope if it comes down to that, that the Sabres are able to trade back a few slots.

2 more days and we'll find out.

 

[debaser66]

Wasn’t his pick, was the pick he thinks Buffalo will make. IQ + compete + fit he said ASP has all of those things so he’s a Sabres type pick.

I was working out when i was listening but i think he also said ASP showed up to the combine a lot bigger than most realized? @ValJamesDuex can confirm maybe?

Isnt it more about the style he plays that makes him the least fitting of the D?
If he really is more of a PP specialist, we got 2 guys better than he will ever be already.

 

[Fjordy]

Isnt it more about the style he plays that makes him the least fitting of the D?
If he really is more of a PP specialist, we got 2 guys better than he will ever be already.

He is not only a PP specialist. Although players like Simashev or Willander seem to suit us better, ASP also has talent. We also don't have anyone other than Dahlin and Power with good passing and good PP.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Ace]

Baker's logic on taking ASP at 13 makes sense, I guess.

I just hope if it comes down to that, that the Sabres are able to trade back a few slots.

2 more days and we'll find out.

Yeah but you can twist logic into making sense the complete opposite way too.

Adams has never drafted a Sub 6 foot D in the first three rounds (13 picks!). One 7th round flyer and Lindgren who was free falling to round 4. His only D pick in those 13 picks was Power. The only other 2 D he drafted were 6’3 and Russian. I can easily make the case his type is big Russian D over smaller puck movers.

Lindgren didn’t take as good a step as either Komarov or Novikov either btw. Which you can say means they’d like to take a better shot at a skilled D. Or that they see a A prospect version of what they’ve taken shots at and look how they developed.

It really comes down to whether they think Simashev has more offense. I don’t think there’s a question who is the better long term fit.

On a side note it’s crazy that we’ve had 13 picks in the first three rounds in three years. And that 11 of them are forwards. One of them is already gone (Bloom) but still. Man (see what I did there)…if you really want the pattern to decipher what kind of D Adams likes early…it’s another forward

 

[Aladyyn]

On a side note it’s crazy that we’ve had 13 picks in the first three rounds in three years. And that 11 of them are forwards. One of them is already gone (Bloom) but still. Man (see what I did there)…if you really want the pattern to decipher what kind of D Adams likes early…it’s another forward

Dragicevic it is then!

 

[debaser66]

He is not only a PP specialist. Although players like Simashev or Willander seem to suit us better, ASP also has talent. We also don't have anyone other than Dahlin and Power with good passing and good PP.

Yeah my thought was since he isnt BPA of the 4D , why take him if his speciality is not really needed. He will never get a chance on the PP unless injuries occur.

 

[Ace]

Yeah my thought was since he isnt BPA of the 4D , why take him if his speciality is not really needed. He will never get a chance on the PP unless injuries occur.

They might think he’s the best D in the draft for all we know. I don’t. The final rankings and mocks from people more plugged in havent either. But it just takes one team…which is why mocks are impossible.

They could think he’s Quinn Hughes lite and that’s worth the 13th pick to them. He slid right into pro games so I think his floor is pretty safe. I just covet what Simashev does so much more than ASP. Not only because of our team makeup going forward…but as players one to one also. But that doesn’t mean they do.

I think rhd offensive puck mover is a valuable thing to any team. I’m just not convinced its more valuable than what Simashev does to this one.

 

[Aladyyn]

Watched some Simashev today. Love the skating and the stick work. Playing against men means he doesn't use his size as a physical crutch when defending so between that and his skating that's 2 common red flags on big guys that don't apply to him. The production... a lot of it seems scheme/team related to me? He seems to spend a lot of his time in the offensive zone just hanging out at the point while his teammates ignore him but every time he's able to activate and participate in the play he makes things happen. I really wish he could come over sooner (think it'd be better for his development) but even with the 2 years in Russia I think he'd be a great pick for us.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

interesting tidbit about organizational position, 99% you don't discuss, and you remind yourselves not to do that

 

[Chainshot]

Moore isn't my favorite player but he did look much better when they moved Eiserman and Hagens to his line. Once he was given more talent he utilized his wings more.

Of course that's giving him a top 5 talent next year and a contender for 1OV in '25

He also looked good with Leonard this year when they put those two together too. I still think I like Moore's overall game more than Smith on most days, TBH.

 

[Fjordy]

Watched some Simashev today. Love the skating and the stick work. Playing against men means he doesn't use his size as a physical crutch when defending so between that and his skating that's 2 common red flags on big guys that don't apply to him. The production... a lot of it seems scheme/team related to me? He seems to spend a lot of his time in the offensive zone just hanging out at the point while his teammates ignore him but every time he's able to activate and participate in the play he makes things happen. I really wish he could come over sooner (think it'd be better for his development) but even with the 2 years in Russia I think he'd be a great pick for us.

I think he will develop well in the KHL for several years, because there is a really good coach who knows how to work with young players. Then Simashev will come to the NHL/AHL.