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.

I guess, but his attitude scares the crap out of me. He said if he didn't make an NHL roster, he'd be going to the KHL. He was refusing to go to the AHL. I think that's a big red flag.

I can understand his attitude. I'd rather play in the KHL than the AHL. More money, more fans, better hockey etc...It puts pressure on the coach and front office if he really declines to be sent down. Most people seem to think he is ready to play in the NHL and he has the potential to become an elite player. High risk/high reward.

SOOOOO, who still thinks that the Sabres "rebuild" will be short. Many of the players drafted are going to college and only one MAY BE ready for the NHL next season. Hmmmm, that is four years before they're even ready for Rochester.

SOOOOO, who still thinks that the Sabres "rebuild" will be short. Many of the players drafted are going to college and only one MAY BE ready for the NHL next season. Hmmmm, that is four years before they're even ready for Rochester.

Round 1 picks were OK by me, but Sabres dropped the ball in round 2. They could have had Fucale at pick 35 and Nic Petan at 38. Those are two proven major-junior players with great results and Memorial Cup experience (one, Petan, is even the same position as the two picks they made at 35 and 38). But instead they chose to roll the dice on US development program players. They could have made this draft an absolute steal in the second and third rounds. But instead they chose to draft Americans and a kid from Buffalo out of some strange agenda. I am extremely disappointed. Fucale and Petan will be NHL players without a doubt. I'd be surprised to see more than one of their 2nd and 3rd round picks crack the lineup. Fucking idiotic.

Yes, and with what expert opinion of draft prospects are you getting this from? Every team passed on Fucale, considered the "best goalie in the class". The Sabres have done well enough in past 2nd rounds where I'm not worried about the players they "passed up."

Besides, the USNDP has turned out some awesome players.

Fucale: 45-5-1 record on halifax at age 16.

Petan: 120 points to lead the WHL

You don't need to be an expert to know that those numbers prove those guys have more than "potential". Give me an argument for the picks they made that isn't based on potential and you might convince me they didn't pass up better players.

Fucale: 45-5-1 record on halifax at age 16.

Petan: 120 points to lead the WHL

You don't need to be an expert to know that those numbers prove those guys have more than "potential". Give me an argument for the picks they made that isn't based on potential and you might convince me they didn't pass up better players.

Fucale also had a measly .909 Save percentage, as well as having MacKinnon and Drouin on his team.

Fucale also had a measly .909 Save percentage, as well as having MacKinnon and Drouin on his team.

I was just about to mention his team had the absolute best players in juniors this year. His record doesn't impress me as much with that factor.

Just because a player has a lot of points in junior doesn't mean it will transfer to the NHL. Just because a goalie has a lot of wins in junior doesn't mean it will transfer to the NHL. How is this hard?

Well, but that's pretty much how you judge young players, by their results. How is that hard? Do you just say "this guy will soon be 6 foot 6, 250 pounds"? No, you look at what they did in juniors.

Just like the Pens having Malkin and Crosby made it easy for Fleury to play well right?

Well, they won a Cup with Fleury, so yes.

Sure as hell didn't this year, even with additions of Iginla and Morrow and more. Why? In no small part because their goaltending wasn't good enough, even when they were absolutely stacked with great skaters.