Draft and UDFA Thread: Part IV

[Amazing Kreiderman]

BPA? Don't you want a stud goalie?

The likelihood of finding a starting goalie in the later rounds is much higher than the likelihood of finding a top-pair D or top-line forward in the later rounds.

That alone is reason enough for me to never spend a 1st rounder on a goalie.

 

[Matt4776]

Who would you rather have, Spencer Knight or Byram?

I'd sooner take Byram at 3 than I would Knight at 37.

 

[CTRanger]

Hughes
Kakko
Byram

For me Byram is the clear number 3 and who I would want at that spot.

a whole bunch of guys make up the next group that could fill out the top 10

Cozens
Turcott
Dach
Zegras

Boldy
Podkolzin

Krebs
Broberg
Soderstrom
York
Seider

 

[Ola]

The likelihood of finding a starting goalie in the later rounds is much higher than the likelihood of finding a top-pair D or top-line forward in the later rounds.

That alone is reason enough for me to never spend a 1st rounder on a goalie.

There are 31 teams in the NHL. Does any of those teams need a left defender? Nobody has a big hole at left D. Maybe 1-2 teams if you look hard. Why pick a left defender with a top 3-5 pick?

Everyone has a hole at LW, C, RW and RD. Many team need goalies. No teams are desperate for LDs...

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

There are 31 teams in the NHL. Does any of those teams need a left defender? Nobody has a big hole at left D. Maybe 1-2 teams if you look hard. Why pick a left defender with a top 3-5 pick?

Everyone has a hole at LW, C, RW and RD. Many team need goalies. No teams are desperate for LDs...

Teams do not draft for need. Buffalo did not draft him because they needed a LD.

 

[GAGLine]

There are 31 teams in the NHL. Does any of those teams need a left defender? Nobody has a big hole at left D. Maybe 1-2 teams if you look hard. Why pick a left defender with a top 3-5 pick?

Everyone has a hole at LW, C, RW and RD. Many team need goalies. No teams are desperate for LDs...

Are you suggesting that Knight would have more value in a trade? Because that's not even remotely true. Or are you suggesting that we might trade back because some team will be stupid enough to value Knight over Byram?

 

[Lays]

Teams do not draft for need. Buffalo did not need a LD, yet they picked Dahlin.

Buffalo definitely needed a LHD
They had what McCabe, Scandella, Guhle, Beaulieu down the left side? None of these guys are more/will be more than a 4D
I agree with what you said though

 

[Ola]

I am more:

Hughes

Turcotte
Kakko
vPod
Cozens

Zegras

Dach
Boldy

Caufield
Byram
Soderberg
Knight
Broberg

 

[CTRanger]

Teams do not draft for need in the NHL! This gets you in trouble, needs change year to year and most of these picks are 3-4 yrs away from singnificant contribution. Draft BPA all the way. If 2 players are rated exactly the same and one happens to fill a need then great.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Buffalo definitely needed a LHD
They had what McCabe, Scandella, Guhle, Beaulieu down the left side? None of these guys are more/will be more than a 4D

But they did not draft Dahlin because they needed him. They drafted Dahlin because he was the best player.

 

[Ola]

Are you suggesting that Knight would have more value in a trade? Because that's not even remotely true. Or are you suggesting that we might trade back because some team will be stupid enough to value Knight over Byram?

I think its inconsequential to have no problem with getting another LD in Byram while having zero interest in a goalie.

I think its just dumb to pick either a goalie or a LD with a top 5 pick. I am all for BPA from a bunch of perspectives. But I think you are putting on blinders if we get a top 5 pick and you pick a LD or a goalie. JMHO.

I would take a LD at that spot, if that LD was really unique. You were getting a Hedman/Pronger type. Sure, you are never getting that player type outside a top pick. A smaller puck-moving LD? I would stay away with a top 5 pick. That top forward will be so hard to get for us. I would be -- very -- surprised if we in 5-10 years had a big headache because we had a big hole at LD....

 

[Matt4776]

There are 31 teams in the NHL. Does any of those teams need a left defender? Nobody has a big hole at left D. Maybe 1-2 teams if you look hard. Why pick a left defender with a top 3-5 pick?

Everyone has a hole at LW, C, RW and RD. Many team need goalies. No teams are desperate for LDs...

No team is looking to trade for a John Moore type LD. I may grant you that point- though the TDL often says otherwise.

Teams are looking for elite bonafide #1 LHDs.

 

[Lays]

But they did not draft Dahlin because they needed him. They drafted Dahlin because he was the best player.

They needed defense though, I’m pretty sure the Sabres wouldve selected a defenseman last year. They only had Risto on defense with no notable defense prospects. That was one of their main issues along with scoring depth

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

They needed defense though, I’m pretty sure the Sabres wouldve selected a defenseman last year. They only had Risto on defense with no notable defense prospects. That was one of their main issues along with scoring depth

There's no way Buffalo would have selected a defenseman if they had the 2nd overall pick.

 

[Ola]

Are we comparing Dahlin and Byram?? Is Byram heads and shoulders above Turcotte, Cozens, vPod, Zegras and co?

 

[CTRanger]

Byram has legit top pair 24 min all situation potential IMO. Can’t worry about handedness at that point. Would we prefer a RHS... sure, but I take the BPA and IMO that’s Byram

I’m not comparing Dahlin and Byram
Dahlin has generational potential multiple Norris potential

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Are we comparing Dahlin and Byram??

No. Nobody is comparing them. That was not my point.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Who would you rather have, Spencer Knight or Byram?

Is this gonna lead into you talking about how left defenseman are literally worthless and shouldn’t be taken because “trade value”?

Oh yeah. Guess so.

 

[Lays]

There's no way Buffalo would have selected a defenseman if they had the 2nd overall pick.

And why’s that? They selected a forward the 4 drafts prior, their best defensive prospect was Brendan Guhle who projected to be a 4D. Laaksonen didn’t truly have his breakout yet either, the defense was consisted of Risto, Bogosian, Scandella, McCabe, Beaulieu, and Nelson. Buffalo didn’t have a set goalie either, they badly needed defense. They also had the third most goals allowed last season.
Sam Reinhart also broke through the second half of the season and they had recent top 10 picks in Nylander and Mittelstadt developing. Victor Olofsson had a big year in the SHL too

 

[Ola]

No. Nobody is comparing them. That was not my point.

Buffalo took Dahlin because he was unique. Maybe Byram is unique and a clear notch above everyone else around 3-5. Sure go with him.

I don't have big concerns about our ability to man up a left side on defense. But we will have to look long and hard to find that homegrown top forward.

 

[Leetch3]

Buffalo definitely needed a LHD
They had what McCabe, Scandella, Guhle, Beaulieu down the left side? None of these guys are more/will be more than a 4D
I agree with what you said though

to be fair i bet sabres fans would say the same thing about our list of guys and that none of them are #1s

 

[Barnaby]

Franchise defenseman are unique. I don't care whether they are right or left handed. How many bonafide #1 defensemen are out there and how often are they traded? How many mid range defensemen get stupid contracts?

A #1 defensemen or a #1 center is a very real debate that you could have.

 

[Lays]

to be fair i bet sabres fans would say the same thing about our list of guys and that none of them are #1s

Yeah but our prospects are clearly better than the Sabres prospects

 

[Barnaby]

As for Spencer Knight, he should have been a consideration for NYR if he was available late 1st or early 2nd. Maybe he still should be. I'm not big on first round goalies but for every Al Montoya you get a Vasilevsky. For every Rock Dipietro, you get a Carey Price. If Vasilevsky made it to the Rangers pick and they took him over Skjei then I doubt anyone's complaining right now. Right now Carter Hart is the greatest thing in Zphilly dince the Cheesesteak.

IMO the Rangers shot themselves in the foot by the Lindbom pick last year. The pick was questionable at best when it was made, and has only looked worse as time has progressed. There was a lot of quality talent left when they made that pick.

Perhaps another draft shouldn't affect this one, but it feels like throwing good money after bad.

 

[Lays]

As for Spencer Knight, he should have been a consideration for NYR if he was available late 1st or early 2nd. Maybe he still should be. I'm not big on first round goalies but for every Al Montoya you get a Vasilevsky. For every Rock Dipietro, you get a Carey Price. If Vasilevsky made it to the Rangers pick and they took him over Skjei then I doubt anyone's complaining right now. Right now Carter Hart is the greatest thing in Zphilly dince the Cheesesteak.

IMO the Rangers shot themselves in the foot by the Lindbom pick last year. The pick was questionable at best when it was made, and has only looked worse as time has progressed. There was a lot of quality talent left when they made that pick.

Perhaps another draft shouldn't affect this one, but it feels like throwing good money after bad.

We don’t need a goalie though itd be interesting to see what Allaire can do with Knight. I don’t know how I’d feel selecting him honestly