Not an exciting pick (Player comparison, Derek Morris ). Nichushkin would have been more risky but with a high possible reward.

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From NHL.Com


“He's a mobile, strong, offensive-minded defenseman with very good puck-handling and passing skills. He's young, but he knows how to use his size and strength. He's one of the best young defensemen in Europe in his age group. He's a leader on the ice and plays with confidence."

• He competed for Team Finland at the 2012 and 2013 World Junior Championships, totaling nine points (2-7--9) in 13 tournament games. He also represented his country at the 2012 Under-18 World Championship, recording three points (2-1--3).

• Ristolainen has garnered attention on YouTube for his nifty shootout goal (more than 18,000 views) and a hit that sent Jokerit forward Tomi Maki into the bench (more than 17,000 views).

• He began playing hockey as a five-year-old, but did not make the move from forward to defense until he was 12.

• Ristolainen patterns his heavy shot and physical play after Predators captain Shea Weber, his childhood hockey idol.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdet ... dpid=70953

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Sabres Fan since Day One!!!

Here we go...
Fucale is on the board and it's our pick. Come on Darcy!

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This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.
--Emerson

“Nikita is a big player who skates very well. He has very good mobility and his backwards skating is about the best in this year's draft. He will take the body and battles hard along the boards. He uses his long reach well and is an effective poke-checker."

• In his first Ontario Hockey League season, Zadorov led all rookies with a plus-33 rating and ranked second among first-year defensemen in points (6-19--25), helping London finish first in the 2012-13 standings (50 wins, 105 points). It was the seventh time in the last 10 seasons the Knights have posted more than 100 points.

• In the 2013 playoffs, he led all defensemen in penalty minutes (36) and posted six points (2-4--6) as London won the OHL championship. Zadorov added two goals in the 2013 Memorial Cup, including the game-winner in London’s opener against the host Saskatoon Blades.

• Zadorov won gold with Team Russia at the 2012 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge (0-3--3) and also competed at the 2012 Under-18 World Championship, recorded two goals and finished with a plus-4 rating.

• He wears No. 16 in honor of former Russian star Vladimir Petrov.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdet ... dpid=81665

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Sabres Fan since Day One!!!

2 d-men with our first rounders, I don't like it. I was hoping for scorers.

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As a London Knights season ticket holder I love the Zadorov pick. He's big and throws hits and is offensive. Much rather would've seen Horvat picked instead of Ramus whatever

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

Wanted to pick Max Domi instead of Ristolainen, but alright. I'm happy with Zadorov, but I would've liked Shinkaruk since we already had Ristolainen.

I'm sure we can get Fucale/a forward in the 2nd round, though.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

I'm actually pretty thrilled we double dipped at defense. I've been saying for a while that this team needs a legit franchise defenseman to build around. Our prospect pool is loaded with guys whose ceiling is a #3 or #4 defenseman, and that's good and all, but we need "that" guy. I've given up hope Myers is going to be it.

We've let teams do whatever they want in front of the net for a while and these 2 guys seem like exactly what we need (admittedly I only read scouting reports and have never actually watched either play).

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Sekera
For
McBane and a 2nd

Nice return!!!

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

I don't like it, Sekera was one of our better D-men besides Ehrhoff.

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Yeah, if you watched Sabres games while on heroin.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

??? Please enlighten me, who was a better d-men on the Sabres last season?

McBain is lazy and was 6th - 7th d-men on a horrible defense. I hope they know something about Compher that nobody else knows. If Compher doesn't make it to the NHL, we gave Sekera away for nothing.

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Weber did amazing last year. As did Ehrhoff. Sekera did not do better than Myers, Ruhwedel and Pysyk did better than him while here, Sulzer when he wasn't hurt, etc.

Suckera is expandable. McBain just gives us something to replace his spot with as well as the 2nd round pick giving us another prospect.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

McBain was critizesed for being out of shape. Pegula mentioned that they'll look for hard workers in the future. McBain isn't tht guy.
Sekera isn't a key factor, but in my opinion he played better than Myers and Sulzer.

The Sabres will be rough to watch next season and I guess Vanek will be gone. Tough to sell this as a fast rebuild.

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It doesn't matter about McBain. His job is to just show up. We're not playing him since our D is overflowing at this point.
Players we may use:
Zadorov
Ristolainen
McBain
Pardy

Players we probably will use:
Ehrhoff
Weber
Myers
Ruhwedel
Sulzer

I'd rather see Zadorov right away than Sekera, honestly. Nothing wrong with this trade. Not to mention, there's always free agency and others down in the AHL. Myers and Suzler are better than Sekera, and I'd rather have them. No room for Sekera, McBain is just some scrub to keep in the AHL or get rid of. The 2nd and dumping Sekera is all we need.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

I'm glad you aren't the GM.

Hey everybody, We're giving up on a 6'8" 230 pound Defensemen that is only 23, has only 4 years of NHL experience, and plays one of the hardest positions to learn in all of hockey!!!!

You don't learn to play defense in one or two years normally.

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I thought the trade was brilliant at the time, because then Darcy would pick Fucale. But like you said, they better know something about Compher, because I will always compare him to Furcale.

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This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.
--Emerson

IDK, we have what, four or five forwards drafted in rounds 2-4? Makes up for not drafting one in the 1st a bit, eh?

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

Well if you'll get NHl-forwards out of them eventually, it does. But it is a big if. They are all far away of playing in the NHL and what the Sabres really need is top-6 forwards.
Nichushkin would have been a risk, but he might be one of the guys the Sabres regret not taking in a few years.

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No, but it does take a decent hockey IQ to play the position, and I don't think Myers really has that. He has height. That's really all he has going for him. He still struggles to gain weight. I don't want to say I've given up on him, but this franchise's penchant for holding onto their own talent until it's too late has been so frustrating.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550