Buffalo Sabres Shopping Draft Picks For Future
Is moving down in the cards for the Buffalo Sabres? Really its a quality over quantity type argument for General Manager Tim Murray.
If your comparing this years draft class with what will be available for next year – and not having the number one overall pick in the draft – Tim Murray might be interested in moving down from the number two spot in the draft – if he thinks that a couple of middle class players will suit his team just fine.
Middle class players isn’t exactly what the Buffalo Sabres fans want to hear as the team rebuilds from the Darcy Regier era. While time might not be on the side of general managers who have been in place for at least a season, Tim Murray will have the benefit of this season, next season, and possibly a third year after that. Owner Terry Pegula knows what the plan is, and without using the term suffering (which we all got real sick of real quick) – he knows the team he loves will be bad for a couple of years while chips fall into play.
Why go all in this year with the number two overall pick when you have two chances to win the Connor McDavid sweepstakes?
Moving down does several things for the Buffalo Sabres – it lands you lower in the draft to target a player that you might have your eye on that might not be available the next time the podium has your name on it.
Moving down in the draft could also net the Buffalo Sabres with more second and third round picks in this draft, which could set the Buffalo Sabres up for more activity, moving some of those second round picks to get back into the first round.
We didn’t get the number two selection, but we got two first round guys. I would be happy with that sole explanation if that is what Tim Murray wants to tell the media following the draft. Where do I sign up for the party?
Tim Murray hinted at the fact that he doesn’t think that Aaron Ekblad is the franchise player the Buffalo Sabres need this season. Smoke and mirrors to hope the kids stock falls? Possibly. He might not be sold on Sam and Sam at number two.
Instead of overdrafting the guy you want if you think he will be there at say the eighth to twelfth overall pick could get the Buffalo Sabres in prime position to stock the prospect pool with better talent that gets the train back on the tracks – the right tracks.
Offers are there for the Buffalo Sabres to move.
The jury remains out on Tim Murray though. Will he cautiously take the second overall pick because the price wasn’t right, and lets face it – its a number two pick; or will he roll the dice and take a chance on a later pick.
It might not even be about this year’s draft picks. Could the Toronto Maple Leafs or any other team that wants in the top three be silly enough to want to swap next years first round pick for the chance at Ekblad, Reinhart, or Bennett?
There are so many options for the Buffalo Sabres at this point, it would be insane for Tim Murray to not listen to offers.
I would never root harder in my life for a team to fail giving me three chances at winning the lottery next year.
“Murray is listening to offers — if somehow he were able to convert his available assets (including his chip from the Blues) into two picks in the first 20 or better next month, he’d move on it. It will have to be a first-liner to get his attention if a prospective trade partner puts an established veteran in play.” –Gare Joyce Sports Net Canada
It’s not Darcy Regier, so the price has to be right, but we won’t get the “well the price wasn’t there or the value wasn’t right.” Tim Murray will pull the trigger and not shy away from a gamble that could make his hockey team better.
What says you Buffalo Sabres fans and faithful – are you sold on the fact that Sam (insert last name) or Aaron Ekblad are the way to go – or do you go with quantity over quality in this years draft and hold out hope for next year?
The Buffalo Sabres are actively voicing their depth of draft picks over the next several years. And don’t just think that is a case of neener-neener, in your face we have a ton of draft picks. It is a marketing scheme of what would you give us for a piece of the action.
Bold and smart don’t you think?