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

[Chainshot]

Wow, I thought Smith was dubbed Zegras 2.0, what don't you like about him?

It's not that I don't like Smith.

 

[Fjordy]

It's not that I don't like Smith.

But you think he's not second Zegras?

 

[Chainshot]

But you think he's the second Zegras?

I think Smith is a different player than Zegras. Zegras is pointy, Smith is faster. I think Smith is a cut above Zegras honestly and his ranking is justified in the middle of an excellent top 10.

 

[Ralonzo]

Trade up for Michkov or Benson or take Gabe Perreault and start a new french connection.
We can pick size and defense with the other picks, give me skill, skill, skill.

Don't want Perreault at 13. His play notably dropped off at U18's against better opposition while Smith and Leonard continued to excel.

 

[The Blunder Years]

I think Benson goes at 6 to AZ. Pair him with teammate Geekie.

I think Detroit and Vancouver are good fits for Reinbacher and ASP. Both could use another RHD in their top 4 long term. Not getting my hopes up as both could easily be gone by 13. We would almost be guaranteed one of Wood, Leonard, or Sale being there at 13 if this happened.

 

[HOOats]

The Buffalo Sabres Draft Board: Final Top 105 Rankings for the 2023 NHL Draft

The 2023 NHL Draft is about a month and a half away. We ranked 105 players based on the Buffalo Sabres needs.

www.expectedbuffalo.com

Solid content. Though I did get a kick out of the fact that his first "cardinal rule" of drafting is "never trade up," which implies a corollary of "always trade down if possible," which as you've demonstrated hasn't been shared by clubs.

 

[Chainshot]

I think Benson goes at 6 to AZ. Pair him with teammate Geekie.

I think Detroit and Vancouver are good fits for Reinbacher and ASP. Both could use another RHD in their top 4 long term. Not getting my hopes up as both could easily be gone by 13. We would almost be guaranteed one of Wood, Leonard, or Sale being there at 13 if this happened.

Arizona really has the spot to be the spoiler. They potentially get someone who comes out of the "Next Four" or nearly the top of the 6-10 gaggle while still having the ability to step up to take Reinbacher at 12 right before Buffalo drafts. Prepare for the discomfort now.

 

[Ace]

Reinbacher won’t make it to 12. Teams don’t wait on RHD. They always go earlier than expected…and 12 is already pretty much the lowest he’d go.

 

[Professor Chaos]

Reinbacher won’t make it to 12. Teams don’t wait on RHD. They always go earlier than expected…and 12 is already pretty much the lowest he’d go.

Agreed... If Arizona wants Reinbacher they will need to grab him at 6

 

[BG82]

Some names I'm liking at 13

LW Andrew Cristall
LW Colby Barlow
LW/RW Matthew Woòd

 

[Fjordy]

What about Dvorsky, Sale, Yager and Honzek?

 

[BG82]

What about Dvorsky, Sale, Yager and Honzek?

Sure, I'm leaning to the Canadian boys

 

[Fjordy]

 

[Chainshot]

If you have a sub, I'm curious how much of that video came from this- Daniil But is one of the mystery boxes in the 2023 NHL Draft Class - EP Rinkside

 

[Fjordy]

If you have a sub, I'm curious how much of that video came from this- Daniil But is one of the mystery boxes in the 2023 NHL Draft Class - EP Rinkside

Idk. Do you like But?

 

[Chainshot]

Idk. Do you like But?

Yeah, made that pretty clear earlier in the thread.

 

[toddkaz]

There are so many good players that if someone goes off the board in the top 12 one hell of a player will fall into our laps.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

Yeah, made that pretty clear earlier in the thread.

Probably be a reach on But at 13, maybe a trade down to grab him and Strbak?

Wonder if St Louis might consider something around Buffalo's 1st and 2nd (or the Philly 2nd) for the Dallas and Toronto 1sts.

 

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

Probably be a reach on But at 13, maybe a trade down to grab him and Strbak?

Wonder if St Louis might consider something around Buffalo's 1st and 2nd (or the Philly 2nd) for the Dallas and Toronto 1sts.

For what it's worth, Pronman has But going 23rd in his mock draft and says most of the evaluators he talks to have him rated a lot higher. If Buffalo doesn't use that pick to in some way get a dman, he's the guy I would target. Big upside.

 

[The Blunder Years]

Between Arizona, Vancouver, Detroit, and St. Louis, I would be willing to bet ASP and Reinbacher are gone.

Assuming Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson, Michkov, Smith, Benson, Moore, Dvorsky, Reinbacher, ASP that leaves two of Leonard/Wood/Sale/Cristall available at our pick.

Would love if we could go BPA at 13 then use 39 and 45 to get back into the 1st for Simashev. I don’t think Simashev is good value at 13, but trading up somewhere between 15-20 for him would be nice.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Idk. Do you like But?

Who doesn’t

There are so many good players that if someone goes off the board in the top 12 one hell of a player will fall into our laps.

A consensus top 10 pick will fall to us 100%. One or two always fall into the early teens.

The question is if the Sabres take them (they won’t!)

 

[Matt Ress]

I think Benson goes at 6 to AZ. Pair him with teammate Geekie.

I think Detroit and Vancouver are good fits for Reinbacher and ASP. Both could use another RHD in their top 4 long term. Not getting my hopes up as both could easily be gone by 13. We would almost be guaranteed one of Wood, Leonard, or Sale being there at 13 if this happened.

IDK I feel like Detroit has their Dahlin and Power and could use more skill in the forward ranks. Don't get me wrong, their team D sucks but I bet Y would rather use a high pick on forward. Van needs everything.

I think one of those 3 forwards could drop to us. I think Wood could improve his skating amongst other things. I think he's still a bit raw. I wouldn't expect Leonard to improve much besides growing into a man but I like him a lot. The development program seems to polish guys well. Sale I'm just not completely sold on. I wouldn't be mad about it but I don't think he's had the consistent upward trajectory that Adam's team looks for.

 

[Matt Ress]

Cristall has slider written all over him. He's a gamble. Maybe I'm wrong but people don't like to take those chances with high picks. You're a perennial playoff team? Hell yeah take a swing for the fences.

 

[The Blunder Years]

IDK I feel like Detroit has their Dahlin and Power and could use more skill in the forward ranks. Don't get me wrong, their team D sucks but I bet Y would rather use a high pick on forward. Van needs everything.

I think one of those 3 forwards could drop to us. I think Wood could improve his skating amongst other things. I think he's still a bit raw. I wouldn't expect Leonard to improve much besides growing into a man but I like him a lot. The development program seems to polish guys well. Sale I'm just not completely sold on. I wouldn't be mad about it but I don't think he's had the consistent upward trajectory that Adam's team looks for.

I’m glad you mentioned that last part. The other day I was thinking about how Adams has almost exclusively drafted risers in the 1st round.

I think Detroit adding ASP/Reinbacher to Seider, Edvinsson, and Wallinder would give them a killer top 4 going forward, but definitely do need some firepower forward prospects.

 

[Ehran]

The more I read, and the more mock drafts that come out, I'm starting to join the "trade back or trade for a reliable defenseman" contingent.