Buffalo Sabres Daily: NHL Draft Day Minus 1
By Tim Redinger
Offense, defense, scoring, playmaking, power – the Buffalo Sabres really can’t miss in the first round of the draft regardless of who they pick. [News Observer].
GM Tim Murray doesn’t want to play the media frenzy game. Ever really. He knows how to handle them – and he can often predict where they are going to go with questions before they are asked. Some of his answers have been pretty classic. Leading up to the draft I have long doubted the Buffalo Sabres needs were everywhere.
Sure they need a long term solution at goaltender, but they have depth. It seems the pool at defense is exactly where it needs to be for a team on the verge on coming out of a rebuild.
There is a huge glaring need for power guys, and for guys that can put the puck in the net.
I don’t know if I want to sit here this long, we have needs everywhere. –GM Tim Murray on the draft.
Read into that how you will, but that means don’t worry about who I draft. I am going to draft for the Buffalo Sabres the best player available at the time I step up to the podium. If the best happens to be a defensemen or goaltender – it doesn’t mean that Tim Murray has failed in his duties as a first time GM. The Buffalo Sabres have a lot of needs.
The Buffalo Sabres, however, finally have a general manager that might get it now. Draft the best players you can, and build around them through trades and free agency. Pass, shoot, score.
I no longer worry about who the Buffalo Sabres pick at number 2 overall, because honestly, whether its Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Aaron Ekblad, or Leon Draisaitl – they really can’t miss at this stage.
You really can’t miss at this stage in the game – and good for the Buffalo Sabres is if recent history holds true, they will be alright at the number 2 spot. [WGR550].
The last thirteen selections at the number two spot reads like a list of free agents that many fans could only dream of their team signing when it comes to July 1. Dany Heatly, Jason Spezza, Evgeni Malkin, Tyler Seguin, Drew Doughty – all guys that I would pay on July 1 – and trade for if the cost was right, so picking number 2 can’t be as bad as it seemed the day the Buffalo Sabres lost the draft lottery right?
Is Tim Murray’s best player philosphy going to be tested next year if the Buffalo Sabres don’t get the number one overall pick? [Two In The Box].
Who could the biggest threat to unhinging the plans of the Buffalo Sabres to get Connor McDavid? With both their own pick and the New York Islanders pick in 2015 – the odds are real good for the Buffalo Sabres to pick first overall next year.
But even if they are bad, scroll back up and read Paul Hamilton’s article again. The number two spot gets you a solid player as well, so really, is there anything to worry about?
Tim Murray outlines a perfect draft for the Buffalo Sabres. [TWC News].
Best player at number two, get back into the first round – and hit on a couple of later round picks. Finally we have an aggressive GM that wants to succeed and not live in the past.
We are just a day away from the first round of the draft – it should get real intesting in Sabres Nation this weekend!