Speculation: The 2019 Draft Thread - Sabres pick 7th

[1972]

I get it. I also think true power forwards take a while to develop. If they've got the right tools, slow progression is the way to go.

That said, Kakko would be great....

I honestly can’t think of the last time a PF first rounder actually became a top line forward.

 

[Tatanka]

Brandon Saad

 

[1972]

Brandon Saad

He wasn’t even a first rounder although he did have some hype that year. There was also the likes of McNeil, Noesen and Biggs before him who were flat out busts.

 

[Tatanka]

True but he was billed as the prototypical power forward. I agree with your philosophy. High in the draft you select elite skill or skating ability. Players whose asset is size and style can be found later.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I honestly can’t think of the last time a PF first rounder actually became a top line forward.

Tkachuk

 

[sabresandcanucks]

It honestly feels like Vancouver will finally have their moment this coming draft and win the lottery. The Draft will be in Vancouver, they have been punished by the past couple draft lottery results and they drafted Jack's brother this past year. One year after the Twins retire a new brother tandem is united to lead the team forward.

 

[1972]

Tkachuk

Matthew? He was like 6-1 and put up over a 100 points. He’s a skilled forward with an edge, not a power forward.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Matthew? He was like 6-0 and put up over a 100 points. He’s a skilled forward with an edge, not a power forward.

He's 6-2, and played with Marner and Dvorak. He wasn't just a skilled forward with an edge. He played a power game in London.

 

[1972]

He's 6-2, and played with Marner and Dvorak. He wasn't just a skilled forward with an edge. He played a power game in London.

I know who he played with, I still had season tickets when he hobbled around the ice in Niagara in the playoffs on one leg. He’s always been supremely talented. He’s got high end vision and skill. I never once had doubts about Tkachuks skill level and hockey sense, if anything with him it was his foot speed.

Regardless, back to the point. There’s not a lot of successful power forwards drafted in the first round, and the ones that are successful has elite skill aspects to their games.

 

[Panthaz89]

Let's just watch Jack Hughes videos for a while...

what is with the music choices on highlight videos man

 

[debaser66]

what is with the music choices on highlight videos man

Title isn't any better.

 

[Sabres]

Just from my limited viewings Kakko is the clear cut #2 right now. I think he's going to be an elite winger. We just need some (more) lottery luck like the Jets got when they won Laine.

 

[Gabrielor]

Loving what I'm seeing of Peyton Krebs.

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

How deep is this draft in relation to the non lotto picks? I am hoping for a 2015 draft either this year or next where we get to use multiple first rounders in one draft.

 

[Gabrielor]

How deep is this draft in relation to the non lotto picks? I am hoping for a 2015 draft either this year or next where we get to use multiple first rounders in one draft.

Too early to say, but I'd predict deeper than 2018.

 

[Jim Bob]

Too early to say, but I'd predict deeper than 2018.

Just from the early lists I've read, I love that 2019 seem to be deep in what the Sabres need: forwards with speed.

This year will be interesting. We will be rooting for the Sharks and Blues to make the playoffs so that the picks head the Sabres way in 2019 and not kick to 2020.

 

[Gabrielor]

Just from the early lists I've read, I love that 2019 seem to be deep in what the Sabres need: forwards with speed.

This year will be interesting. We will be rooting for the Sharks and Blues to make the playoffs so that the picks head the Sabres way in 2019 and not kick to 2020.

In the top 10-15 for sure.

Jack Hughes
Alex Newhook
Alex Turcotte
Peyton Krebs
Dylan Cozens
Nikita Alexandrov
Valentin Nussbaumer
Blake Murray

all have really great speed

even Kaapo Kakko, while not having blazing speed, is a pretty good skater.

 

[Der Jaeger]

In the top 10-15 for sure.

Jack Hughes
Alex Newhook
Alex Turcotte
Peyton Krebs
Dylan Cozens
Nikita Alexandrov
Valentin Nussbaumer
Blake Murray

all have really great speed

even Kaapo Kakko, while not having blazing speed, is a pretty good skater.

Kakko isn't a burner, but he's got elite puck possession skills.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I know who he played with, I still had season tickets when he hobbled around the ice in Niagara in the playoffs on one leg. He’s always been supremely talented. He’s got high end vision and skill. I never once had doubts about Tkachuks skill level and hockey sense, if anything with him it was his foot speed.

Regardless, back to the point. There’s not a lot of successful power forwards drafted in the first round, and the ones that are successful has elite skill aspects to their games.

Idk man. I think the list of power forwards in the first round that haven't worked out isn't that deep. Just looking at the top 15, because that's where Cozens would go, since 2005:

Bobby Ryan
Jordan Staal
Okposo
JVR
Evander Kane
Brayden Schenn
Landeskog
Couturier

Perlini looks to be working out as well. And Tkachuk.

I admit, it's about a 50/50 rate. For everyone above, there's a Kassian, Crouse, or Vatanen. I'd take a swing at a kid like Cozens. Good hockey IQ.

 

[MayDay]

We will be rooting for the Sharks and Blues to make the playoffs so that the picks head the Sabres way in 2019 and not kick to 2020.

We will?

I don't know. Given the choice, I think I'd rather have a potentially higher pick in 2020 (that's in the lottery) over a lower-first-round pick in 2019.

 

[Jim Bob]

We will?

I don't know. Given the choice, I think I'd rather have a potentially higher pick in 2020 (that's in the lottery) over a lower-first-round pick in 2019.

I’d rather have the pick sooner.

The further out the picks are, the longer they will take to get here and the more years we will burn through Dahlin’s ELC and Eichel’s extension before the reserves get here.

 

[1972]

We will?

I don't know. Given the choice, I think I'd rather have a potentially higher pick in 2020 (that's in the lottery) over a lower-first-round pick in 2019.

I’d rather the both just come in 2019 and be done with it.

 

[1972]

We will?

I don't know. Given the choice, I think I'd rather have a potentially higher pick in 2020 (that's in the lottery) over a lower-first-round pick in 2019.

Exactly, and the chances of those picks being higher then top 5 are so slim to begin with...they both have really strong cores with number 1 Dmen in their primes...

 

[Paxon]

I’d rather have the pick sooner.

The further out the picks are, the longer they will take to get here and the more years we will burn through Dahlin’s ELC and Eichel’s extension before the reserves get here.

You're never not going to need 1st round talent coming into your organization

 

[MayDay]

You're never not going to need 1st round talent coming into your organization

That's my view too.

So a player picked in 2020 may not be ready to play until 2022-24. So what? We'll need good young players coming in at that time too.

I'd rather get the best possible pipeline of young talent coming into the organization, and not worry as much about getting prospects to try to fit a certain timeframe.

If given the choice between say the #26 overall pick in 2019, or a potential top 15 pick that's in the lottery in 2020, I'd take the latter.