Buffalo Sabres Daily: Stanley Cup Finals, Goaltending

Good morning, Buffalo Sabres fans. With the NHL Combine finished, the focus now shifts fully to the upcoming 2015 NHL Draft, as well as the continuing Stanley Cup Finals.

With Tampa Bay’s 4-3 win on Saturday, the series is now tied at one apiece. That ensures the Final won’t end this Wednesday (game 4) and will last until at least Saturday, June 13.

After two games, has your prediction for the Cup winner changed based on what you’ve seen so far? Who are you going for?

One interesting point so far in the series is the lack of points by the teams’ big “stars.” Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Steven Stamkos have COMBINED just one point so far.

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On one side of things, this obviously isn’t great. You want your stars, your big-name guys who are getting big-time money to be producing. But at the same time, it’s good that other players are stepping up. Depth in a team has always proven to be key in a Cup victory.

Anyways, I digress. On to some talk about the Buffalo Sabres.

First up: Buffalo has largely received rave reviews for its hosting of the 2015 NHL Combine.

Check out the results here, but the summary seems to be that Jack Eichel bested Connor McDavid, as a general consensus.

In the end, the Combine isn’t the end-all, be-all for players, but it does give teams a good look at their strength in various off-ice exercises, and lets teams see where players might have stronger or weaker points. Will it change the fact that McDavid will go first overall, and Eichel second? Doubtful.

With additional talk about NHL prospects this morning, here’s a few more good reads on the topic:

First up, from The Hockey Writers, a piece on the top four goaltending prospects that could make their way to play for the Buffalo Sabres. [THW]

Next up, from Bleacher Report, the folks there rank the deepest positions in the 2015 NHL Draft. Spoiler alert: but the top position is scoring wingers. [BR]

Finally this morning, a prospect who is still a few years out from the NHL, but who is already making a splash on the junior scene: Joey Veleno.

Late last week, it was announced that 15-year-old Veleno has been granted exceptional status from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. That’s the first time in history that the QMJHL has granted exceptional status, which allows a 15-year-old to play in the league. Typically, players aren’t eligible until the age of 16. [NHL.com]

Veleno was then selected first overall in the QMJHL draft on Saturday by the Saint John Sea Dogs.

It’s never happened in the WHL, and only happened a handful of times in the Ontario Hockey League, with John Tavares and McDavid two such players.

Next: Eichel to NHL?

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