Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Jack Eichel puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Joseph DiBiase, Staff Writer – SabreNoise
Friday was maybe the most impactful day in Buffalo Sabres history. A nearly two year long buildup to the 2015 NHL Draft finally came and went, while the Sabres came away with the generational talent they so desired. Fans put in so much effort and turmoil to endure a losing culture so that we could acquire such a player. Friday was a celebration of that effort becoming the reward we wanted. Tim Murray stepped to the mic and unleashed “Buffalo selects Jack Eichel” as the First Niagara Center, 716 restaurant, and Buffalo sports bars erupted. This day was about Jack Eichel.
But Tim Murray managed to get the fans even more excited. He traded away Nikita Zadorov, Mikhail Grigorenko, J.T. Compher, and the 31st pick for Ryan O’Reilly and Jamie McGinn. It was a heavy price to pay, but he got the best player in the league available for trade. That’s something Darcy Regier would have never managed to do. O’Reilly makes this team an immediate contender for the playoffs. McGinn will also be a solid 3rd liner and should not be overlooked in this trade.
One move I didn’t like was the Robin Lehner trade. Buffalo traded it’s 21st overall pick for Robin Lehner and David Legwand. Spending a 21st pick for a goalie is overpaying, and Legwand is nothing more than a 4th line center at this point in his career. Lehner has had concussion issues and has yet to find success at the NHL level. That being said he still has very high potential.
In rounds 2-7 of the draft Tim Murray used all his picks on defenseman except for one. Their 2nd round pick Brendan Guhle will become the best defensive prospect in the system that has not played in the NHL yet. He set the combine on fire, and is a very athletic all around defenseman. The Sabres tried hard to add to their defensive prospect depth in this draft after trading Zadorov.
I would give Buffalo an A- for draft weekend.
Next: Tim Redinger, Senior Editor - SabreNoise