Speculation: The 2019 Draft Thread - Sabres pick 7th
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Sort of.
Actually, I guess the current CBA doesn't expire until after the 21-22 season. I thought it was after 19-20.
Three more valuable pieces to the scouting puzzle have been completed with the World Junior A Challenge, the World Junior Championship and the USHL Top Prospects Game in the rearview mirror.
All three events had their own storylines. At the WJAC a second tier of US-born players took gold in Bonneyville, AB. We saw draft eligibles Jack Hughes, Vasili Podkolzin and gold medal winner Kaapo Kakko take centre stage in Vancouver/Victoria at the WJC. And in the USHL Top Prospects Game, Robert Mastrosimone earned the East’s top player award as he continues to battle for first round attention.
In a time span stretching from the world juniors through the Sherwin Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Red Deer on Jan. 23, NHL teams will meet with their scouts to come up with their mid-term lists and set a plan for whom to key-in on in the second half of the season.
While there are a few players who have shifted inside the top 15 this month, there have also been some who have broken into the first round. Here’s a look at our January rankings.
nickdawg95
scoutdawg
- Jan 7, 2016
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Seider and Caufield. We need guys who can score goals. And RHD are always a welcome addition
truthbluth
Registered User
- Feb 2, 2011
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The more I track this draft class, the more I get on board with trading the Sabres and Sharks 1st rounders this year. After the top 15 or 16 everybody looks like a 2nd round prospect.
Team Cozens
Registered User
Sadly, we are trending to a top 10 pick. Sabres pick isn’t going anywhere short of a long term 2C. Lottery protection still a must.
Nothing like potentially having three firsts in a draft that seems like it isn't going to be all that deep. Keep them. Clearly the wisest thing.
truthbluth
Registered User
- Feb 2, 2011
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I actually really doubt that Botts sits pat. This is just a hunch, based a few data points, but I think Matt Duchene is an extended Sabre by the trade deadline.
I have been a big proponent of getting Duchene but we can't wait till trading deadline will be too late
UnleashRasmus
Rasmus has gone Super Saiyan VI!
At this point, keeping the picks is where we should be. In addition trading secondary assets to accrue more picks for the draft. A 2nd would have been definitely helpful, though I cannot fault Botterill on Skinner 
truthbluth
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- Feb 2, 2011
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Ordinarily I’d agree with you, but this is a brutal draft. I cannot remember a draft this bad in the back half of round 1 ever. It’s actually very reminiscent of 2012, except the talent up front in the top 15 or so is far superior.At this point, keeping the picks is where we should be. In addition trading secondary assets to accrue more picks for the draft. A 2nd would have been definitely helpful, though I cannot fault Botterill on Skinner
The only draftees I see live are OHL and I can tell you this year's crop is thin. Just a cyclical thing that happens in junior hockey.
Der Jaeger
Generational EBUG
Watching Connor McMichael and London lately. I think he's gone 11-15 in the draft. If the Sabres fall out of the playoffs, or St. Louis' pick is in that range, he should be in strong consideration for the pick.
He's fast, superb instincts in all zones. Great passer. Decent shooter but gets goals close in a lot. Not super physical but won't shy from contact. Wins a lot of face-offs for London. Good defensively, but I think Dale Hunter is green lighting McMichael. McMichael looks like he's playing wing in the defensive zone, with Dunkley playing low. McMichael is capable of playing well in the defensive zone and back checks hard. He's not huge and needs to add weight and strength.
My projection is a good 2-way center with who scores.
He's fast, superb instincts in all zones. Great passer. Decent shooter but gets goals close in a lot. Not super physical but won't shy from contact. Wins a lot of face-offs for London. Good defensively, but I think Dale Hunter is green lighting McMichael. McMichael looks like he's playing wing in the defensive zone, with Dunkley playing low. McMichael is capable of playing well in the defensive zone and back checks hard. He's not huge and needs to add weight and strength.
My projection is a good 2-way center with who scores.
Der Jaeger
Generational EBUG
My Tiers so far.
Tier 1: Hughes
Tier 2: Kakko
Tier 3:
Dach
Turcotte
Podkolzin
Cozens
Tier 4:
Boldy
Zegras
Krebs
Byram
Newhook
Tier 1: Hughes
Tier 2: Kakko
Tier 3:
Dach
Turcotte
Podkolzin
Cozens
Tier 4:
Boldy
Zegras
Krebs
Byram
Newhook
EichHart
Registered User
Haven't really followed this draft at all. How does it compare to other drafts? I was told in summer that this draft is extremely deep.
Was at the game in Kitchener yesterday, he’s a quality prospect. I don’t necessarily think he’s great but I see a lot of Logan Couture tendencies in his game. He’s easily a first rounder and a typical 10-20 type guy.
Slangston
Buffalo Sabres
Why? I have yet to be convinced there is the real top talent available--Eichel, Dahlin, Matthews, Laine Tkachuk etc.. Hughes and Kakko -nice players-do not seem to me to be in that sphere. The next level crop just does not stand out--oh there will be surprises and some gems-but who can say who they will be or how many? I hope I am wrong because the Sabres need to hit on a couple players who are not third pairing D wannabes or bottom 6 F tweeners. They will probably be there but harder to locate in this draft than in some others we have seen.
I stopped worryingly about what scouts say long ago, good players can be found anywhere. In a weak draft Bruins got Pasternak at 26 in a strong draft they completely missed twice in the teens.
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
InGoal Radio Episode 1 - InGoal Magazine
At the end of the episode they talked about how Pyotr Kochetkov, who went undrafted last year and was way under the radar until the WJCs, is now on the radar of a lot of teams.
Pyotr Kochetkov at eliteprospects.com
It will be interesting to see where he goes in the draft this year.
At the end of the episode they talked about how Pyotr Kochetkov, who went undrafted last year and was way under the radar until the WJCs, is now on the radar of a lot of teams.
Pyotr Kochetkov at eliteprospects.com
It will be interesting to see where he goes in the draft this year.
TheMistyStranger
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- May 21, 2005
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So right now, the Blues are 10th from the bottom, and the Sabres 18. SJ is going to be a late 1st. If things continue the way they've been going the past few weeks, we could be looking at drafting something like
SJ - 28th overall
STL - 13th overall
BUF - 6th overall
SJ - 28th overall
STL - 13th overall
BUF - 6th overall
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