The only question I have with Kassian is his offensive upside.

The draft day comparisons were to Lucic. And even with Lucic pulling 4th line duty in Beantown this year, I'd love it if Kassian turned out to be like Looch.

Kassian is a physical monster in the OHL this year. Worst case, he adds a physical element to the club moving forward. Best case is that he turns into a Bertuzzi-esque guy that is huge, hits, fights, and can score 20 to 25 goals per year.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

How badly do we need a guy like this on the team? Im willing to bet if he came in right now and played he'd make an impact, seeing that most of the guys on this team literally will not hit ANYONE, and play a form of hockey typically reserved for pre- checking, Squirt Minor hockey.....

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"I can't really hear what Jeremy says, because I got my two Stanley Cup Rings plugging my ears...." -Patrick Roy in reference to Jeremy Roenick's trash talking

Ok, so lets clarify Norenen's skill level.
If he had these mad skills as everyone proclaims, then why was he the first of 3 goalies to moved out of Buffalo?
Was this another Darcy blunder, keeping Biron and dumping Norenen?
And lets reflect on Norenen's career:
71 NHL games played
23 victories
32 losses

I am aware a majority of his time was during the bankruptcy and into the lockout, but I see nothing to denote he was anything special. A good goalie, but thats about it in my opinion. We ended up with a 2nd round pick from Vancouver which in turn was used on Jhonas Enroth.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

My whole point of this is since this entire organization is mainly built thru the draft this team needs to be doing a better job on getting people that are going to be players in the NHL rather than drafting by needs. Last year this team drafted by size and by grit. I don't know if I would have gone that entire route for almost the whole draft. This team is lacking a solid scorer up front that is so desperately needed and this team could use some depth on forwards because it seems like most of the forwards that have skill in the system are under 6' like Ennis and Gerbe.

What are the odds of getting an impact scoring forward where the Sabres drafted last year?

10% or less would be my guess.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

noronen had more top flight potential then enroth. no doubt about it. mika was the the first one to go, because biron had oodles of experience, and miller was a rookie. biron, for all his work, had lower trade value, and what happens if miller went down? noronen wasnt ready to step in. its too bad, because noronen could have been one of the top 10 goalies in the NHL, and sometimes i still wonder if the sabres let the right goalie go.. the sabres, during that time period, if im not mistaken, dangled biron on out there too, and couldnt get anything worth biting. but the sabres had 3 goalies tying up a 23 man roster, so it had to be done.

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Darcy needs to parlay some more picks or even players to move up in the draft that's what I think he should do. Most of the players on Buffalo are mediocre except for Miller and Myers.

i don't know if all the rest of them are mediocre. i think the attitude of them are. I mean i think pominville is over paid, same with hecht. Kaleta definitely gives it his all. I'd say kennedy tries. Stafford seems to not be living up to everything. Butler seems to have fallen off track. Montador was never anything special. Rivet needs to relinquish the captain's C, as it really isn't working. Perrson a probable bust. Brennan is slowly moving along. Matty Ellis looks like he is trying. Goose, i'd say he gives it his all. Roy is streaky, connolly is okay but i'd consider trading him if the offer came across the table. We don't want to throw away the whole team but if we can get players who better fit the system; ie. mike fisher, i'm all for it. As well if we continue our current trend we may find ourselves down in the basement. or at least another mid round pick. and all i've read about Nick bjugstad http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=5214 ... nhl-search
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=5188 ... nhl-search
and nino Niederreiter is nothing but good stuff. they could bust out they could not.
as well behind enroth do we really have any goalies that jump off the stat sheet. that is another option if that route where chosen. Domingue is currently playing under Patrick Roy, and is coachable, well i'll let yall read for yourselves; http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=521036

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"Tis The Season, Fa la la la la LaFontaine" - Rick Jeanneret

of course if you want that instant impact guy your looking at a guy like taylor hall LW, or Tyler Seguin C.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdis ... pid=106818 Hall
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdis ... pid=116079 Seguin

respectively.

though i think niederreiter has a chance at making the roster. he seems to be climbing fast.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdis ... pid=123014

Nino Niederreiter – The complete package – size, speed, grit, hands and more. Has adjusted to the North American game without missing a beat and is really starting to dominate games as a 17 year old rookie. He plays the entire ice surface and back checks very well. An above average wrist shot and creates his own time and space with stick-handling. A sure-fire first rounder in my opinion.
Hockey Indepedent 12/11/09

He's a good all around player. I think he's being "unleashed" right now. He's got everything you could want in an NHLer, good size, good skating, great awareness, good strength, he's got a mean streak, soft hands, great hockey sense and a shot that goes in. I think Johnston wanted him to focus on defense at the beginning of the year but is now showing what an offensive force he is at this level.
Winterhawks fan on HF Boards 12/09/09

this is from lighthouse hockey which is a islanders sight but they quoted those two sights

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"Tis The Season, Fa la la la la LaFontaine" - Rick Jeanneret

I like him physce. If he is available when we draft we should pick him up.

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It's been a rarity that teams trade out of those prime top 3 slots, though.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/c ... ects_N.htm

I don't think there is much of a chance that the Sabres will get a shot at the top 3 guys (Hall, Seguin, and Fowler) and Nino Niederreiter could end up being a top 5 pick, as well.

Right now the Sabres are slated to draft in the 20s.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

Hello new Dennis Persson!!!!

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"I can't really hear what Jeremy says, because I got my two Stanley Cup Rings plugging my ears...." -Patrick Roy in reference to Jeremy Roenick's trash talking

Or Tyler Ennis......

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

Touche friend....touche

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"I can't really hear what Jeremy says, because I got my two Stanley Cup Rings plugging my ears...." -Patrick Roy in reference to Jeremy Roenick's trash talking

And given the Sabres recent history of staying away from Europeans on draft day, the Perssons and Kyukovs aren't the names to point out.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

Nick Bjugstad's Player Profile

Bjugstad is proving this season that he is the top high school prospect in Minnesota. At 6’4, 200 lbs, Bjugstad has all the physical tools to be a top pick in the 2010 NHL Draft. What's amazing is he has the skill set to be a playmaker, but in the body of a power forward. Bjugstad maneuvers well in traffic and posses a heavy shot. He uses his big frame to create space and has demonstrated the ability to make tape-to-tape passing in traffic.

Bjugstad was a member of the U.S. National team that participated in the Ivan Hlinka tournament this past July. Bjugstad decided against playing for the U.S. developmental program this season so he could continue to play for his high school team. Bjugstad will play at the University of Minnesota next season, Look for him to continue to improve as he grows into his big frame.

Projection: The sky is the limit for Bjugstad. He should break the top 20 in the draft but with a dominant state tournament, he could slide up the draft rankings, much like Nick Leddy did last year. Nick is the Nephew of former NHL player Scott Bjugstad.
Submitted by: Michael Sonday of MNHockeyProspects.com

Would you like to write a player profile for any prospect that may be entering the 2010 NHL Draft? Email profiles of any player (even players not on our list) to our Webmaster. Credit will be given to the author of the profile.

currently projected to go around 20. he might climb, but their is a chance people wont take a chance on a high school grad.

http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/roster_player/show/153550

Ryan Johansen
http://www.oregonlive.com/hawks/index.s ... ing_e.html
http://www.mynhldraft.com/2010/NHL-Draf ... n-Johansen

projected around 21st.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdis ... pid=120970
Emerson Etem projected to us at 20 if we take mynhldraft as a mock.

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"Tis The Season, Fa la la la la LaFontaine" - Rick Jeanneret

another option is trading back maybe early second or a second or a third (have three thirds and trade to get back late second), and try to bring in an impact player as well (maybe package with stafford, and mancari, also tradable with attempt to get picks); example (I know the odds are greatly against it but i like the players style) - Dustin Brown from the Kings (I know the kings will never trade Brown, but a true power forward right winger is something this team needs, along with a PP QB). Had to emphasis the knowledge of the unlikelihood as I will most likely be chastised for mentioning a trade for Brown.

Or try to trade up would be another option. but then you are talking getting into the top 5 preferably top two.

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"Tis The Season, Fa la la la la LaFontaine" - Rick Jeanneret

I don't see the Sabres being willing to part with what it will take to move up into the top 2 spots.

My guess is that whomever is picking that high would demand that Myers be included in a package for a top 2 pick and Regier won't trade Myers.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

If we pick 20 and after we should pick Beau Bennett. Plays Jr.A in Penticton and is rated as a late first/early secound but his stock is rising. 25/30 teams had a scout in the building in Penticton's last game. He absolutely tore up the BCHL this year.

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Driver of the Tyler Ennis Bandwagon, Ridin' shotgun on the Tyler Myers Bandwagon, chillin' on the Luke Adam Bandwagon


Eh