GDT: NHL 2023 Entry Draft - Day 2/First Round complete, Rounds 2-7 June 29, 2023; 11:00 a.m. Eastern

[truthbluth]

Guys, I had a fever dream dream Zach Benson fell to the Sabres pick last night. Wouldn’t that have been great?

 

[stokes84]

Is Zach Benson now the Sabres' best prospect?

For me, he’s second. Kulich would go top 5 in a redraft of 2022. But he’s better than Savoie IMO. Very happy with the pick.

 

[Chainshot]

Guys, I had a fever dream dream Zach Benson fell to the Sabres pick last night. Wouldn’t that have been great?

I too awoke to the "pinch me, I'm dreaming" thought. Followed by wondering if the dog had pee'd in the house.

 

[HaNotsri]

Would you have offered Power for montreal or arizonas pick?
I'm too fond of our 1-2 lhd punch but it feels like we could have gotten Michkov if we truly wanted. Arizona and Montreal are completely insane. Going to read through Canadiens draft thread now...

 

[Der Jaeger]

Not one scouting report had him above 50 besides Button. They could have traded back. Most had him 70+

If he is so great why the large discrepancy with most consensus around 70.

HP had him at 29.


——-

Danny Nelson is my BPA right now. Hoping the Sabres go up and get him.

Also hoping for Brady Cleveland in the 3rd.

 

[Jim Bob]

Would you have offered Power for montreal or arizonas pick?
I'm too fond of our 1-2 lhd punch but it feels like we could have gotten Michkov if we truly wanted. Arizona and Montreal are completely insane. Going to read through Canadiens draft thread now...

There were no trades in the entire first round.

There was no realistic way that the Sabres were moving up into the top 6 to get Michkov.

 

[Chainshot]

HP had him at 29.


——-

Danny Nelson is my BPA right now. Hoping the Sabres go up and get him.

Also hoping for Brady Cleveland in the 3rd.

Cleveland and Lander are throwbacks who I wouldn't mind today at all.

 

[Jim Bob]

Cleveland and Lander are throwbacks who I wouldn't mind today at all.

They still haven't taken an NTDP player under Adams. I wonder if Cleveland ends that streak?

 

[HaNotsri]

There were no trades in the entire first round.

There was no realistic way that the Sabres were moving up into the top 6 to get Michkov.

I just don't get why Arizona and Montreal didn't trade their picks? Maybe 7th overall is representative of Michkovs "front office value" but it's hard for me to comprehend. My understanding of Michkov is that he'll be the guy on your team and at least have Panarin level of impact.

The good thing is that Montreal look like they will never be a threat to us now and Philly is a mess. So it worked out fine for the Sabres.

 

[Jim Bob]

I just don't get why Arizona and Montreal didn't trade their picks? Maybe 7th overall is representative of Michkovs "front office value" but it's hard for me to comprehend. My understanding of Michkov is that he'll be the guy on your team and at least have Panarin level of impact.

The good thing is that Montreal look like they will never be a threat to us now and Philly is a mess. So it worked out fine for the Sabres.

Historically, NHL GMs stick and pick, especially inside the top 10.

It has been 15 years since a team traded back and out of the top 10 for picks.

So, you can be shocked by it, but that is the way the NHL Draft goes.

 

[Chainshot]

They still haven't taken an NTDP player under Adams. I wonder if Cleveland ends that streak?

I'd rather it be Nelson who ends the streak but if that's not to be... Cleveland is a throwback who I enjoy. Again, all about finding the right mix.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Kevyn,

Nice pick with Benson. Please ask him to change his haircut though. We can’t have a generation of kids in WNY with mullets. My son already asked. The answer was no.

There’s lots of talent left. Now would be the time to retain 50% on Victor and get an additional pick. 30 goal scorers at $2.5M is a good deal.

Thanks!

 

[toddkaz]

Guys on watch with the 39th pick Morin, Akey, Strbak, Dragicevic. One of those and its a successful 2nd round.

 

[Gabrielor]

For me, he’s second. Kulich would go top 5 in a redraft of 2022. But he’s better than Savoie IMO. Very happy with the pick.

People I've asked landed on this.

Kulich for now, Benson will overtake him eventually on ceiling.


That's absolutely nuts to get at 13.

 

[truthbluth]

The kid line walked so the Winnipeg line could run!

Benson-Krebs-Savoie

Wenatchee gonna be wild.

Guys on watch with the 39th pick Morin, Akey, Strbak, Dragicevic. One of those and its a successful 2nd round.

Add Matt Mania

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Lots of good defenseman for 39 and 45. Hopefully we snag 2.

And get an extra 4th by moving Vic.

 

[sabresfan129103]

Now they can start drafting for need. Would like to see a string of d-men and maybe a goalie. I'm a big proponent of keeping the goalie cabinet fully stocked.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

Guys on watch with the 39th pick Morin, Akey, Strbak, Dragicevic. One of those and its a successful 2nd round.

I will pump Strbak until he gets drafted. Solid defensively, good in transition, and plays with a physical edge. Has decent size too, he's what they need long term.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Hopefully the NHL shut off the free tabs at the Nashville bars for teams. There were a few gm's and staff members looking worse for wear last night.

 

[The Blunder Years]

I noticed Adams throwing some extra sauce on that Benson call. Like he was letting the rest of the league know he knows they dun f’d up. He hasn’t done that before. He was strutting

Pretty much me in a fantasy football draft when my guy falls to me hahaha

 

[Club]

Lots of good defenseman for 39 and 45. Hopefully we snag 2.

And get an extra 4th by moving Vic.

*An extra 4th ++

 

[Hasekperreault23]

Something else that we all collectively need to keep in mind:

I don't think I'd get much pushback right now saying that our top 5 forward prospects are, in some order: Benson, Savoie, Ostlund, Kulich and Rosen.

While that looks REALLY shiny and sparkly, especially after what Kulich and Rosen did in the AHL.......it's folly to think that they ALL hit and will ALL be top 6 NHL-caliber players. And a couple from this list will eventually be traded one would think.

Am I worried that none of these guys are over 6 foot? Nope....not all of them will be Sabres. Maybe 3 of them will be, max. And given the size currently in our forward core.....we can handle that.

Add in players like Kozak,Cedarquist,Nadeau and Rousek that's a nice blend of skill size toughness etc.

 

[Fezzy126]

 

[toddkaz]

2023 NHL Draft winners and losers: Scott Wheeler's complete first-round analysis

Scott Wheeler analyzes how each NHL team’s scouting department fared against the selections they had on Day 1 of the NHL Draft in Nashville.

theathletic.com

He has the leafs as losers?

 

[Jim Bob]

I wonder if he is a guy the Sabres like...