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

[Fjordy]

Barlow's beard requested that this be sent to him on Betamax.

Barlow - Savoie - xxxx beards line

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I'm surprised there isn't more talk about Buffalo taking Benson, considering that he plays with Savoie and folks think he's going to slip because of his size and skating.

I'm over the small skilled guys at the top of the draft but Benson would be too hard to pass up if he's there imo.

 

[truthbluth]

Barlow vs But vs Honzek go!
I like But and I cannot lie.

 

[Jim Bob]

I'm surprised there isn't more talk about Buffalo taking Benson, considering that he plays with Savoie and folks think he's going to slip because of his size and skating.

I think that is more about the need on D and that a lot of people expect Benson to be off the board by 13.

 

[Fjordy]

Barlow vs But vs Honzek go!
I like But and I cannot lie.

I like both Barlow and But and I don't know much about Honzek.

 

[Chainshot]

I'm surprised there isn't more talk about Buffalo taking Benson, considering that he plays with Savoie and folks think he's going to slip because of his size and skating.

I'm over the small skilled guys at the top of the draft but Benson would be too hard to pass up if he's there imo.

I'd be down for it but I don't see him lasting. I have him 5th on my list so it's probably just personal blindness.

Barlow vs But vs Honzek go!
I like But and I cannot lie.

Barlow looks like he was acting in Das Boot. DBut sounds like he is named for Das Boot.

Honzek's got size and shot and reminds me of Cozens in that I watch him and am left wondering if he's going to put the tools together with new skills or how he's going to put what he already has together at the next level. I liked him a lot at the international tournaments, not as much in some WHL games I've seen (though that could be that Vancouver were pretty middle of the road) but the frame and shot and such are all really interesting. Someone in here mentioned him as an Adams type, though I think he's probably more to Botterill's style with the height and projection needed to see where he lands. I don't think I would take him at 13OA and I don't see him making it to 39OA. If I was picking say 20th? Wheelhouse.

Barlow seems like there is going to be some Rossi issue there - he's already matured and is using that body to his benefit on those who haven't yet grown into what he is. And the game he plays I don't know if he plays that up level on things other than his shot. If you want a fire hydrant who can shoot the puck and sports some serious facial hair, he's the guy. He's going to go up and down his wing and do the pro game stuff - take and give hits, bang in the slot, etc.... - but his shooting is top notch. It's hard not to look at him at less than 190 lbs though and at 6'1" and want to know how much more he can stack onto that body. If his testing shows he can get into the 200-210 range, that's some Dustin Brown sort of winger things there. In terms of some of the things missing from the Sabres winger set, pro game, contact-driven guys are not the norm and that has appeal. At 13OA? Sure.

DBut has some Afinogenov to him, maybe some Tage, in that he's handling and trying to create to others and I like how he's trying to put things into space for his linemates to skate into in higher danger areas or if they're there, he gets them the biscuit. I think he moves well for a big man (that old saw) but it's going to be how he stacks strength onto those spindly pins that might give him better separation and burst. He's like a newly foaled horse at times. I don't know about how EP breaks down his skating, that's beyond my amateur level, but I do think there is an interesting playmaking winger with size and reach who might embarrass people with his dangles. I'd be thrilled with him at 39/45 though if say Willander miraculously is at 39, that's a quandry. I don't think I can take DB40 at 13OA though I like him a lot.

Someone else to add into this mix would be Wood since we'd be looking at another big player who goes to scoring areas and has some holes in his game.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I'd be down for it but I don't see him lasting. I have him 5th on my list so it's probably just personal blindness.



Barlow looks like he was acting in Das Boot. DBut sounds like he is named for Das Boot.

Honzek's got size and shot and reminds me of Cozens in that I watch him and am left wondering if he's going to put the tools together with new skills or how he's going to put what he already has together at the next level. I liked him a lot at the international tournaments, not as much in some WHL games I've seen (though that could be that Vancouver were pretty middle of the road) but the frame and shot and such are all really interesting. Someone in here mentioned him as an Adams type, though I think he's probably more to Botterill's style with the height and projection needed to see where he lands. I don't think I would take him at 13OA and I don't see him making it to 39OA. If I was picking say 20th? Wheelhouse.

Barlow seems like there is going to be some Rossi issue there - he's already matured and is using that body to his benefit on those who haven't yet grown into what he is. And the game he plays I don't know if he plays that up level on things other than his shot. If you want a fire hydrant who can shoot the puck and sports some serious facial hair, he's the guy. He's going to go up and down his wing and do the pro game stuff - take and give hits, bang in the slot, etc.... - but his shooting is top notch. It's hard not to look at him at less than 190 lbs though and at 6'1" and want to know how much more he can stack onto that body. If his testing shows he can get into the 200-210 range, that's some Dustin Brown sort of winger things there. In terms of some of the things missing from the Sabres winger set, pro game, contact-driven guys are not the norm and that has appeal. At 13OA? Sure.

DBut has some Afinogenov to him, maybe some Tage, in that he's handling and trying to create to others and I like how he's trying to put things into space for his linemates to skate into in higher danger areas or if they're there, he gets them the biscuit. I think he moves well for a big man (that old saw) but it's going to be how he stacks strength onto those spindly pins that might give him better separation and burst. He's like a newly foaled horse at times. I don't know about how EP breaks down his skating, that's beyond my amateur level, but I do think there is an interesting playmaking winger with size and reach who might embarrass people with his dangles. I'd be thrilled with him at 39/45 though if say Willander miraculously is at 39, that's a quandry. I don't think I can take DB40 at 13OA though I like him a lot.

Someone else to add into this mix would be Wood since we'd be looking at another big player who goes to scoring areas and has some holes in his game.

Agree on Barlow. I'd be good on Adams taking him at 13 because his game is missing from the Sabres NHL roster and prospect pool. At some point, the Sabres need a forward who can crash and smash playoff style, and score.

I also like Rehkopf for this reason.

 

[Chainshot]

Agree on Barlow. I'd be good on Adams taking him at 13 because his game is missing from the Sabres NHL roster and prospect pool. At some point, the Sabres need a forward who can crash and smash playoff style, and score.

I also like Rehkopf for this reason.

Rehkopf is another contact-driven guy we've talked about, could be a good pick on day 2, don't think he makes it to 86 and still defense obsessed at 39 and 45. It's why I've been so high on Leonard and now he's lifted himself into the top 10.

 

[Fjordy]

Agree on Barlow. I'd be good on Adams taking him at 13 because his game is missing from the Sabres NHL roster and prospect pool. At some point, the Sabres need a forward who can crash and smash playoff style, and score.

I also like Rehkopf for this reason.

Poltapov might be a bit of that kind of player, something like Kevin Fiala with grit.

 

[Duddy]

As a German speaker, I am in full support of drafting a guy named Rehkopf.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Rehkopf is another contact-driven guy we've talked about, could be a good pick on day 2, don't think he makes it to 86 and still defense obsessed at 39 and 45. It's why I've been so high on Leonard and now he's lifted himself into the top 10.

I'd take Rehkopf at 39. It's BPA time.

 

[Ehran]

As a German speaker, I am in full support of drafting a guy named Rehkopf.

Not sure Mr Ray agrees with you.

 

[Chainshot]

Poltapov might be a bit of that kind of player, something like Kevin Fiala with grit.

Very much a more contact driven guy. When looking at future roles, I can see him being a jam guy in their middle 6 who is a pain to play against because A) he's going to make plays in tight spaces that lead to great chances and B) he's got that dog in him to step into people and seek them out. Rekhopf has that in his game.

Coulson Pitre is another - he's the sort of guy I think Buffalo fans would fall all over themselves for even if his game plateaus or in say the case of Pekar, flames out entirely. That kid? I would love him at 86 or 109 because yeah, I like those too. Who wouldn't like to have a Sam Bennett-esque grinder who knocks people out of tough matchups by being just that much harder.

As an aside - I would also say Kisakov is actually one of the meanest guys in their stable but he's so far from being a finished product. He keeps it in check in the AHL, but MHL guys who hit him? He would lay about people with his stick like he was at kali or escrima demo.

 

[Gabrielor]

I tinkered to force Michkov to 13, but the rest was auto to me.

 

[HOOats]

I'm surprised there isn't more talk about Buffalo taking Benson, considering that he plays with Savoie and folks think he's going to slip because of his size and skating.

I'm over the small skilled guys at the top of the draft but Benson would be too hard to pass up if he's there imo.

I've seen Benson slipping in mocks too. I still expect him to go before us, but if he's available it's a tough call.

There's a parallel between the NHL draft and fantasy football drafts in my mind. Youth hockey programs are churning out an abundance of small, skilled, skating forwards. Modern football development and schemes are pumping out tons of awesome WRs who put up crazy stats. In a vacuum, it's always going to feel like "wow, how did this uber-talent fall into our lap at x pick." But if you keep drafting "BPA", you end up with your first five picks being WRs and holes in your roster that are difficult to fill from the remaining pool.

Scarcity matters - in a sense, it's the essence of drafting. VORP, value over replacement player, might be a better way to look at things over "BPA." There's impressive, undersized skill in every round of the draft today like there are great WRs throughout fantasy. Big, rangy defenders are much more difficult to find. (Let's not debate Zero RB here lol)

I'm very curious if Adams and Co. will continue to draft pure "value" in the BPA sense. We can keep drafting small skill if we plan on developing and trading "value" to fill needs, but people balk at that idea because sexy prospects are hard to part with and once they're ours they become "special." I could get behind drafting Benson if we traded Rosen to add a physical, experienced player to the NHL roster. Swapping in a guy two years younger helps diversify our system, as we may have more need for his style when his ETA of 2025-26 comes.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

I'm surprised there isn't more talk about Buffalo taking Benson, considering that he plays with Savoie and folks think he's going to slip because of his size and skating.

I'm over the small skilled guys at the top of the draft but Benson would be too hard to pass up if he's there imo.

Completely, completely different prospects of course, but the "he plays with our last first rounder and they have such good chemistry!" rationale was all the rage back in 2011. After all, we had Zack Kassian, so we clearly needed to take Alexander Khokhlachev! Dodged a bullet on that one.

Benson is very much a different prospect of course, but I'm glad the "they played together!" angle didn't get traction this time around,. only because it made the run up to that draft a little ridiculous.

 

[Ace]

If Benson is there at 13 I wouldn’t think twice about it and the card would already be submitted.

 

[Ace]

Chris Peters has Michkov at 7 to Philly in his latest mock. His logic is pretty strong. They have an extra first now, they’re going to rebuild for a few years anyway, go for another top pick next year and add him to Michkov in 3 years.

Makes sense.

He has us taking Moore and says he will go to school for at least three years. Yay.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Chris Peters has Michkov at 7 to Philly in his latest mock. His logic is pretty strong. They have an extra first now, they’re going to rebuild for a few years anyway, go for another top pick next year and add him to Michkov in 3 years.

Makes sense.

He has us taking Moore and says he will go to school for at least three years. Yay.

I truly believe I don't think the Sabres are willing to sweat it out with 1st round picks anymore. And they shouldn't unless they're a clear stud and cut above as the BPA (IE. Power).

 

[Perry Tegula]

Musty ranked 12 on EP

 

[Ace]

I truly believe I don't think the Sabres are willing to sweat it out with 1st round picks anymore. And they shouldn't unless they're a clear stud and cut above as the BPA (IE. Power).

I agree. I think they believe in their internal development plan so much that if it’s close a tie breaker could be who we can get in the organization quicker. If they’re looking at a guy who wants to head to school for three years or a guy they could have in Roch in a year or two…I think they might believe they‘ll develop the latter better than the former.

Hell…Ostlund said he’s returning to Sweden for one more season and all the local podcasts and some fans kind of gravitated towards…I don’t think this helps him competing for position in the organization. I’m not sure i totally agree with that…but I can’t deny Rosen and Kulich have an easy path to pass him on their depth chart when trade conversations happen. They see them every day and are a part of their progress already.

 

[HOOats]

He has us taking Moore and says he will go to school for at least three years. Yay.

Considering the easily protectable monster state of our forward corps three years from now, I can't see that being a fun sweat for us.

Musty ranked 12 on EP

Didn't have the guts to say it, but I've been wondering why he isn't in that Barlow/But/Honzek conversation. He seems like the actual dawg amongst them.

 

[Ace]

Considering the easily protectable monster state of our forward corps three years from now, I can't see that being a fun sweat for us.

That’s another thing, yeah. On one hand I thought…hey…slide that ELC in around the time Skinner is leaving. Sounds awesome. The other hand slapped me and said in three years our third line might have like…Peterka, Ostlund and Kulich on it. Tuch, Tage, Cozens, Skinner, Quinn and Savoie will still be here. Who knows with Rosen, Mittelstadt, Krebs…and that’s if no one else of our billion forward picks pan out at all.

….

Maybe draft someone you can sign at dev camp again. I enjoyed receiving that tweet last year. Preferably someone who can’t count.

 

[Chainshot]

I agree. I think they believe in their internal development plan so much that if it’s close a tie breaker could be who we can get in the organization quicker. If they’re looking at a guy who wants to head to school for three years or a guy they could have in Roch in a year or two…I think they might believe they‘ll develop the latter better than the former.

Hell…Ostlund said he’s returning to Sweden for one more season and all the local podcasts and some fans kind of gravitated towards…I don’t think this helps him competing for position in the organization. I’m not sure i totally agree with that…but I can’t deny Rosen and Kulich have an easy path to pass him on their depth chart when trade conversations happen. They see them every day and are a part of their progress already.

Based on volume, they have to spread out the injection of new talent over time. If someone is going to school for a while or say having their rights held for longer than 4 years if they're in the KHL, that could be beneficial to helping them build their "long-term success" Adams keeps talking about.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

For me, Musty isn't in the Barlow tier because his motor is inconsistent and he's more of a perimeter player. Honzek is the damn if he puts it all together he'll be awesome, Barlow is the meat and taters guy that's missing from the Sabres prospect pool