In what range would Galchenyuk likely have been pegged if he wasn't injured? My understanding was that he was a top-5 or top-10 talent. Assuming our pick is in the 22-26 range and Calgary's 2nd rounder is in the 35-40 range, would you guys trade those two picks to jump into the 14-17 range to grab him?
Even though they have him listed as a winger, he's a center, right?
My link is to a different page (from the same site) that shows only future Sabres draft picks. Post #7 is a link to the entire 2012 draft. This being the Sabres board, I thought there might be particular interest in just Sabres picks.
Wow, Grigorenko overtaking Yakupov? I've heard all kind of praise for Yakupov, I know Grigorenko is really good but that's still surprising to me.
They have similar talent levels but a lot of scouts are probably starting to see that Grigorenko has the tools to potentially be more effective in the NHL.
Like I said last week, one controls the game and slows it down and one pushes the pace.
ISS had this to say:
Quote:
"(Grigorenko's) ability to amplify the skill sets of those around him is what sets him apart from the rest of the pack," explains ISS Director of Scouting Dennis MacInnis. "And while the incredible offensive talents of Yakupov are nothing to take lightly, Grigorenko has shown better as of late and this isn't the first time. There is a vast difference in the way the two play the game," added MacInnis. "Yakupov reminds ISS more of a Pavel Bure/Taylor Hall type player, while Grigorenko seems to be a Joe Thornton clone. Yakupov has done nothing to warrant falling out of the top spot, but after many viewings and much debate the time has come for Grigorenko to reap the rewards of his continual and dominant development.
I don't get how both Rielly and Galchenyuk suffer serious injuries and the latter who's imo the superior talent gets ranked 7 spots behind Rielly.
Other than that, wow, that draft looks deep, everyone till about 20-25 is already getting a lot of recognition and looks to have serious upside (don't really know much about the last 7 guys other than Thrower). A guy like Ebert looked like a top 10 pick to me last year (even though a lot of people think he was overrated) and he's ranked in the twenties. Can't even argue that he should be ranked much higher with the talent above him.
I don't know, but they liked Galchenyuk more than Rielly before either was injured (9th and 12th respectively).
They can't really move Galchenyuk up at all because he hasn't played and the only viewings they would have gotten of him between the initial summer rankings and his injury would have been the Ivan Hlinka, where he was inconsistent.
17 isn't accurate for him, but since it's hard to justify moving him up when he hasn't played, they'll just have to wait until others falter to justify it.
Rielly, on the other hand, was very good at that tournament and was also very good in the WHL up until his injury.
Because of Galchenyuk's performance at the Ivan Hlinka, they probably have some concern as to whether or not he feeds off of Yakupov's success.
I don't really share those concerns, but maybe they do.
There are some interesting guys towards the bottom of the rankings.
Sissons and Wilson are classic power forwards, but I don't know if Wilson is a first rounder just yet.
Sissons may not be either, but I've liked him for awhile.
Kim Gellert is still the Sabres WHL scout, so I'm sure they have an eye on him.
Although he's not the pure skill we need to add, he's the kind of player any organization would love to get their hands on.
Slepyshev is interesting too, but I haven't seen much of him since his hot start to the season.
He's cooled down a lot since then, but I'll have to find some of his games via torrent or start waking up earlier.
I doubt that he goes in the first round, but he's still interesting.
Novokuznetsk seems to be okay with letting their kids come to North America (Bobrovsky, Kitsyn, Orlov), so maybe teams will take a look at him sooner rather than later.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zip15
In what range would Galchenyuk likely have been pegged if he wasn't injured? My understanding was that he was a top-5 or top-10 talent. Assuming our pick is in the 22-26 range and Calgary's 2nd rounder is in the 35-40 range, would you guys trade those two picks to jump into the 14-17 range to grab him?
Even though they have him listed as a winger, he's a center, right?
Definitely top 10, pushing the top 5.
I would trade up to select him if he was available, but I don't think he'll fall a whole bunch unless the reports on his knee aren't positive.
14 might be possible, but I think 17 would be pushing it.
Still a long ways to go, though.
I know usually you go with BPA(Best Player Available) in the Draft...
However, the Sabres desperately need a Center with size that has high-end potential and they just so happen to have a surplus of Defensemen. If I was Regier I would dangle BUF 1st Round Pick in 2012 and one of Mark Pysyk/Jerome Gauthier-Leduc along with BUF 3rd Round Pick in 2012 to move up and get Alex Galchenyuk.
BUF Future Top Nine
Thomas Vanek-Alex Galchenyuk-Jason Pominville
Luke Adam-Derek Roy-Zack Kassian
Tyler Ennis/Ville Leino/Nathan Gerbe-Daniel Cattenacci/Paul Gaustad-Joel Armia/Drew Stafford/Brad Boyes
The Sabres have a lot of decisions to make in the near future in regards to their Forwards Crop.
I know usually you go with BPA(Best Player Available) in the Draft...
However, we desperately need a Center with size that has high-end potential and have a surplus of Defensemen. I would dangle our First Round Pick in 2012 and one of Pysyk/JGL along with our 3rd Round Pick in 2012 to move up and get Galchenyuk.
I'm not normally a fan of trading up, but it is true that we appear to be in a strong position to trade quantity for quality.
Agreed Matty K, this should be the year Buffalo moves up to get that elite talent. We have such incredible depth at defense it seems as though we could easily package one of these guys with all our picks to make a pretty big move up the 1st round.
If the sabres were to only move up slightly in the 1st round maybe a guy like Brendan Gaunce could be a target? Haven't seen much of him, but he's a big kid at 6'2" 205lbs, and he was just named the player of the week in the OHL after scoring 5 goals in 3 games. I've heard some concerns about his skating and lack of speed, but it would be nice to have a center who projects as a power forward. Perhaps, jfb or someone else might have some insight on him?
Let's see if the Darce can go more than one year without drafting a defenseman. If we go D, Griffin Reinhart. Then we can draft his little brother Sam in the 2014 draft. He's a center!
Agreed Matty K, this should be the year Buffalo moves up to get that elite talent. We have such incredible depth at defense it seems as though we could easily package one of these guys with all our picks to make a pretty big move up the 1st round.
If the sabres were to only move up slightly in the 1st round maybe a guy like Brendan Gaunce could be a target? Haven't seen much of him, but he's a big kid at 6'2" 205lbs, and he was just named the player of the week in the OHL after scoring 5 goals in 3 games. I've heard some concerns about his skating and lack of speed, but it would be nice to have a center who projects as a power forward. Perhaps, jfb or someone else might have some insight on him?
Trading some of our defensive depth only works if a team is looking for a player that can make an impact sooner.
If a team wants a defenseman, there's a good chance that they can get a very good one if they just keep their pick, as nearly half the first round will likely be defensemen.
As for Gaunce, I like him a lot.
His skating is fine, he's just one of those players with heavy feet.
He has good hockey sense and is a hard working two-way player, so even though he's not incredible offensively right now, players like him usually have solid NHL careers.
To me though, the biggest thing about him is his character.
He is very mature and hard working and really seems like a future captain.
He's cut from the same cloth as the players everyone wants the Sabres to obtain (Doan, Iginla, Morrow).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Funky Monk
Let's see if the Darce can go more than one year without drafting a defenseman. If we go D, Griffin Reinhart. Then we can draft his little brother Sam in the 2014 draft. He's a center!
All of the Reinhart kids are really good, so no need for sarcasm there.
Good point jfb, the whole trading up scenario really only works if there is a team who would rather obtain a more nhl ready defenseman ie. (Brennan, pysyk, mcnabb) and likes the depth of this draft enough to not mind moving down a bit. Which is hopefully a possibility.
After reading your take on Gaunce I'm very intrigued. Power center with great leadership, sign me up. I'll have to make some time to watch him play. Thanks for your input which as usual is very detailed and insightful.
I'd be happy to get one of Gaunce or Zemgus Girgensons... A trade up into the 8-14 range should be high enough to get us one of them and it isnt far fetched of an idea.
He's a jfb favorite and yes, he was passed over. Seems like a classic late bloomer.
Passed over not once but twice and was a 14th round selection (out of 15) by Barrie in the 2008 Priority Selection, so he's never had things easy.
He even broke his wrist before his midget AAA playoffs, which is when a lot of the OHL scouting is done, so it's very likely that he wasn't even on anyone's radar.
He was really small too (5'9'' 155), so that didn't help either.
He played Junior B for two seasons and was actually told that he wasn't D1 material, so he went to Colts camp last season and was noticed by Dale Hawerchuk (the guy either has an eye for talent or got lucky, finding both Pearson and Scheifele), who told him that he had a future in hockey if he put the work in.
He had a good season last year on a bad Barrie team, but he's really broken out this season and obviously listened to Dale.
The thing I like most about him is his hockey sense.
At this point, I think he might be a 2nd rounder.
Passed over not once but twice and was a 14th round selection (out of 15) by Barrie in the 2008 Priority Selection, so he's never had things easy.
He even broke his wrist before his midget AAA playoffs, which is when a lot of the OHL scouting is done, so it's very likely that he wasn't even on anyone's radar.
He was really small too (5'9'' 155), so that didn't help either.
What's his current size?
Also, JFB, I've gotta ask. How do you know so much about the prospects? Just extensive research? Do you actually get a chance to see games often, therefore enhancing your knowledge of certain leagues?
I'm curious. I admire your knowledge of the prospects.
Also, JFB, I've gotta ask. How do you know so much about the prospects? Just extensive research? Do you actually get a chance to see games often, therefore enhancing your knowledge of certain leagues?
I'm curious. I admire your knowledge of the prospects.
6' 192 according to the OHL site, 6' 198 according to Hockey Canada, so he's probably more like 195.
I just took a liking too it for some reason and I think I have an eye for it, so it's a hobby of mine.
I do lots of research and watching of games online, but none live so far (I don't drive so it's difficult, but I'm finally moving like I've planned on doing for what feels like forever so I'll see more games, including lots of "the next one" Nathan MacKinnon).
Like I said in the beginning of the thread, it's really easy when you follow these kids from the time they hit the major junior scene.
Destry Straight, C, Boston College (Hockey East)
With just two points in his first 14 games for the Eagles, the former BCHL standout from West Vancouver hasn't done himself many favors during his brief college career. But while the stats might drop Straight significantly in June -- he was initially projected as a first or second rounder -- smart NHL teams understand that he's a long-term project. A true freshman after spending just one scholarship-earning season with the Coquitlam Eagles, Straight needs time to fill out his six-foot, 165-pound frame. By the time he does, the skillful pivot should be filling up scoresheets, too.
It will be interesting to see how far his stock falls if he continues to struggle offensively for BC.
How many picks do you think we could move up if we traded our first and our 2 second rounders. I like the idea of Galchenyuk, seems like he could be a major steal, perhaps if they dealt Roy for a package of picks and prospects and then used it all to move up, or used Roy in there to move up and get a player like that. Also, for JFB, who seems to know the most on this board about prospects on the Sabres board... How would you rank the centers at the top of this years draft, and what range do you see them being picked? Ex...
1. Grigorenko- 1-3 overall
2. Galchenyuk 5-7 overall maybe higher if the injury heals well, or lower if there are still questions
etc. etc.
How many picks do you think we could move up if we traded our first and our 2 second rounders. I like the idea of Galchenyuk, seems like he could be a major steal, perhaps if they dealt Roy for a package of picks and prospects and then used it all to move up, or used Roy in there to move up and get a player like that. Also, for JFB, who seems to know the most on this board about prospects on the Sabres board... How would you rank the centers at the top of this years draft, and what range do you see them being picked? Ex...
1. Grigorenko- 1-3 overall
2. Galchenyuk 5-7 overall maybe higher if the injury heals well, or lower if there are still questions
etc. etc.
High picks aren't traded often, so the cost is relatively unknown.
As for the top centers, right now I'd say:
Athanasiou - top 90, an enigma
Campagna - top 90, disappointing so far
Faksa - top 60, need to see more to determine if he's just one of those relatively unknown Europeans that excels when they have space
Galchenyuk - top 15, pushing top 10 but it really depends on the medical reports
Gaunce - top 15, maybe top 10
Girgensons - top 15, pushing top 10
Grigorenko - top 3, best player available in my opinion
Laughton - top 45, still looking for more
Maidens - top 30, has finally been coming on
Marcantuoni - top 90, always injured and living off of midget AAA hype
Samuelsson - top 90, have never been a huge fan
Sissons - top 45, has had a rough go of late but I like what he brings
I'm probably forgetting some.
There's also Devin Shore, a kid I liked after watching the WJAC.
I have only seen ranked by Craig Button though, so he must be bad.
I'd say he's a top 90 based on his skill set, but I only saw him play in a tournament that was four games long (aka as many games as Button saw).
