I recently looked up the rosters for the last five Cup winners (Chi, Bos, LAK, Chi, LAK) to see how many of the contributors (13 or more playoff games) were players that the team drafted or signed as undrafted FA’s. On average, there were 9-10 players on each team that fit that description, with the last two years yielding 12 for Chicago and 11 for LAK—this was a quick review, so those numbers may be off by one either way.
Here’s the challenge: pick the 12 players you think have been or will be drafted by the Sabres when they (hopefully) win a Stanley Cup. I understand that the Sabres will have had more early picks than those teams, so there may be a greater probability of drafted players on that roster—stop fighting the hypothetical. You get 12, and that may be excessive given that only one team (’12-’13 Blackhawks) have had that many. And you can include yet-to-be-drafted players (e.g., 2015 BUF 1st).
Also, just a reminder that those drafted players were not simply comprised of players drafted in the first two rounds or high in the 1st round. Cam Barker (3rd overall) and Jack Skille (7th overall) were not contributors to either Blackhawks Cup. Nor were Mark Stuart (21st), Matt Lashoff (22nd), Phil Kessel (5th), Zach Hamill (8th), and Joe Colborne (16th) contributors when Boston won the Cup—and I’m being generous by including Seguin as a contributor to that Cup team, as well. Ditto LA with Lauri Tukonen (11th in 2004), Bernier (11th in 2006), Hickey (4th in 2007), and Teubert (13th in 2008). In other words, it may not be wise to simply list our top draft picks over the last couple years. Some will bust—gasp!—and some will get traded for talent that may help us win a Cup.
So, who are your 12 homegrown guys who’ll be wearing a Buffalo Sabres jersey if/when they win a Cup? Please note that since Carrier and Fasching were not drafted by Buffalo, they should not be on the list.
(Note: Each team won with a goaltender they drafted (Quick, Crawford), or who got his first NHL contract from that team (Niemi, Thomas)—something to consider. I’m guessing that makes Ullmark a shoo-in in most posters’ 12.)
Here’s the challenge: pick the 12 players you think have been or will be drafted by the Sabres when they (hopefully) win a Stanley Cup. I understand that the Sabres will have had more early picks than those teams, so there may be a greater probability of drafted players on that roster—stop fighting the hypothetical. You get 12, and that may be excessive given that only one team (’12-’13 Blackhawks) have had that many. And you can include yet-to-be-drafted players (e.g., 2015 BUF 1st).
Also, just a reminder that those drafted players were not simply comprised of players drafted in the first two rounds or high in the 1st round. Cam Barker (3rd overall) and Jack Skille (7th overall) were not contributors to either Blackhawks Cup. Nor were Mark Stuart (21st), Matt Lashoff (22nd), Phil Kessel (5th), Zach Hamill (8th), and Joe Colborne (16th) contributors when Boston won the Cup—and I’m being generous by including Seguin as a contributor to that Cup team, as well. Ditto LA with Lauri Tukonen (11th in 2004), Bernier (11th in 2006), Hickey (4th in 2007), and Teubert (13th in 2008). In other words, it may not be wise to simply list our top draft picks over the last couple years. Some will bust—gasp!—and some will get traded for talent that may help us win a Cup.
So, who are your 12 homegrown guys who’ll be wearing a Buffalo Sabres jersey if/when they win a Cup? Please note that since Carrier and Fasching were not drafted by Buffalo, they should not be on the list.
(Note: Each team won with a goaltender they drafted (Quick, Crawford), or who got his first NHL contract from that team (Niemi, Thomas)—something to consider. I’m guessing that makes Ullmark a shoo-in in most posters’ 12.)
