Marty Frk, who missed 29 games with a concussion, has decided not to join the Czech Republic team at the upcoming world junior championship. Instead, he will head home for the holidays and not return to the Mooseheads until January.
Meh. If you're looking strictly from a points POV how about Ty Rattie not getting picked in the 1st round. Not regretting the Pysyk pick one bit until Etem actually does something in the NHL. It's not as if they have a dearth of skilled wingers. Would much rather have Kuznetsov or Coyle or even Nelson over Etem, if we're talking about guys drafted after Pysyk. Etem can GTFO after his comments about Buffalo.
MOCK it Like its Hot... (and probably wishful thinking)
1st : Brendan Gaunce C OHL or Radek Faksa C OHL
2nd : Andreas Athanasiou LW/C OHL or Tanner Pearson LW OHL
2nd : Jarrod Maidens LW OHL or Brendan Troock RW WHL
3rd : Collin Olson G USHL or Daniel Altschuller G OHL
5th : Logan Nelson C WHL
6th : Kevin Duane RW CT Representin'
7th : Zach Hall C/W OHL
7th : Cliff Watson D USHL
7th : Valdislav Shalimov C/W QMJHL
At this pace it looks like the Sabres will end up in the Lottery.
If the Sabres are going to miss the Playoffs I want a Stud Center someone like Galchenyuk.
I'm honetly hoping for this. Last season it was nice watching them come back and make the playoffs, but I'd rather they bottom out, move Roy for picks and move up if they have to take Galchenyuk. I think he's going to be very good... Like Seguin/RNH good. Have only seen a couple of his games on the net (from last season) but he's got skills and I like that he has a father who was a pro and is Russian but has played in the States and Canada.
This is my attempt at sparking a topic that doesn't really need any sparking.
Last year was the first year that I have ever followed the draft, even in the slightest. I knew a lot about all of the players picked in the top 20 or so and I loved researching them. But now this year is a whole other story! I sit here, mindlessly looking through the proespects board looking for information, but I always wish there was more Sabres related stuff.
So I ask you guys, people I consider experts; Where should I could to learn more about the draft this year? I want to read more detailed bios on players in the top 100 So I can put together in my mind who I want the Sabres to pick.
So I'm watching the Russia vs. Czech game because I want to see Yakupov and Grigorenko, and this center from the Czech team keeps catching my eye. I go to the prospects page expecting him to be at least a top 15 prospect, only to find out he's ranked 55. The guy I'm talking about is Tomas Hertl. This kid is going to be good. You can tell he just sees the ice better than most of these kids out there. Every time I looked up he was setting someone up point blank or creating something. He's not an elite skater like Yakupov, but how many are? Anyways, this is the first time I've seen the kid, but I'm impressed. Sabres need to get this kid.
So I'm watching the Russia vs. Czech game because I want to see Yakupov and Grigorenko, and this center from the Czech team keeps catching my eye. I go to the prospects page expecting him to be at least a top 15 prospect, only to find out he's ranked 55. The guy I'm talking about is Tomas Hertl. This kid is going to be good. You can tell he just sees the ice better than most of these kids out there. Every time I looked up he was setting someone up point blank or creating something. He's not an elite skater like Yakupov, but how many are? Anyways, this is the first time I've seen the kid, but I'm impressed. Sabres need to get this kid.
Hertl had a pretty good tourney for a draft-year player with 3G, 1A, 4 pts, which was tied for the lead among Czech players. Depending on which site you read, he could be 6'0'', 187, or 6'2'', 194, or 6'3'', 197--they can hash that out at the combine. Regardless, he isn't small. Most of the rankings I've seen for him have been between 48-60, so it sounds like he's viewed as a player that will go in the second half of Round 2. Given how much stock has been put in International Tournaments of late--the U18's were a big reason for Scheifele flying up boards while McNeill tumbled before the draft--one has to wonder, though, if he's thrust himself into the early-2nd round portion of the draft with his WJC performance.
The Eastern Conference leading Edmonton Oil Kings just got better without really doing a thing. 2012 NHL draft eligible Henrik Samuelsson has decided to leave Modo in Sweden and will reportedly join the Oil Kings prior to the January 10th deadline.
The news was broken on Twitter by Uffe Bodin, the Editor in Chief for hockeysverige.se who simply tweeted "Draft eligible fw Henrik Samuelsson is heading to the #WHL. He's leaving Modo, where his dad Ulf is coaching, for the Edmonton Oil Kings."
Samuelsson has gone from the USNTDP to Modo to the Oil Kings since the end of last season.
I want Galchenyuk. If the Sabres finish with like the 7th-8th pick I think they'll have a good shot because he's been out all year so far. And if you can get a guy with top-5 talent at that spot, I say do it. He'd be the start of really fixing the problems we have down the middle.
