Bennett #1

[DetDannyWilliams]

Final Central Scouting list

Rounding out the top five in North America are: No. 2 Aaron Ekblad (http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=84555) of the Barrie Colts; No. 3 Sam Reinhart (http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=84619) of the Kootenay Ice; No. 4 Leon Draisaitl (http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=68141) of the Prince Albert Raiders; and No. 5 Michael Dal Colle (http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=85790) of the Oshawa Generals.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=712864

[Ginger Vitis]

Nikolaj Ehlers @13 is way too low.. Draisatl @ 4 is too high Id have him around 6

[coastal]

The most interesting question to me is... do the Isles give us the 4th or 5th overall pick this year or defer?

lets assume they pick 5th and give it to us.

lets also for fantasy sake... assume we acquire the Oilers pick in some way or shape in exchange for Tyler Myers.

id be pretty jazzed about a draft of Reinhart, Ehlers and Dal Colle.

[Ginger Vitis]

lets assume they pick 5th and give it to us.





Lately I find myself wanting the Isles to give the Sabres the pick this year. Partly because Ehlers and Dal Colle so far have had very productive playoffs offensively.. Even if 2014 is a average or below average Top 5 class the 5th pick in any draft year is a good opportunity to get a good to very good player

[chernobylwraiths]

I want Bennett.

[coastal]

I want Bennett.
I think he's complimentary to Girgensons... the makings of very good second line.

[JATMtheJATM]

The most interesting question to me is... do the Isles give us the 4th or 5th overall pick this year or defer?

lets assume they pick 5th and give it to us.

lets also for fantasy sake... assume we acquire the Oilers pick in some way or shape in exchange for Tyler Myers.

id be pretty jazzed about a draft of Reinhart, Ehlers and Dal Colle.

it sounds like the isles are going to toll the pick to next year. the isles are in major damage control.

[Crisis]

Yeah, what kind of message does that send to season ticket holders if you give away a top 5 pick and keep next year's pick... you're pretty much telling them you're going to be even worse next year. I think there's zero chance we get the Isles pick if its top 5, or even at all this year. I'd prefer they deferred anyways.

[Skooby]

Yeah, what kind of message does that send to season ticket holders if you give away a top 5 pick and keep next year's pick... you're pretty much telling them you're going to be even worse next year. I think there's zero chance we get the Isles pick if its top 5, or even at all this year. I'd prefer they deferred anyways.

Then we get 2 shots at McDavid !!!

[JATMtheJATM]

Then we get 2 shots at McDavid !!!

well, technically 3. but lets assume st louis isnt in the lottery.

still, a boy can dream.

[don137]

Yeah, what kind of message does that send to season ticket holders if you give away a top 5 pick and keep next year's pick... you're pretty much telling them you're going to be even worse next year. I think there's zero chance we get the Isles pick if its top 5, or even at all this year. I'd prefer they deferred anyways.

I agree if you give the Sabres the pick this you are basically saying we may get a worse pick next year so we want next year's pick. Considering they say next year their are 8-9 can't miss prospects I love the Sabres chances getting two of them. The Blues first round pick is just icing on top.

[THATHURMANATOR]

I think he's complimentary to Girgensons... the makings of very good second line.

Wouldn't you think a 1st overall would have 1st line potential?

[Ginger Vitis]

Dan Marr from Central Scouting on WGR this morning.. " There is a very fine line between the Top 4 players In 2014.. Anyone one of them could be considered No.1"

Sam Bennett

"We think he will have a Jonathan Toews type of career"..He has a high end skill game and he combines that with a competitive game.. Very dynamic skater and he has deceptive quickness and a good finishing touch"

Aaron Ekblad

" He is a very smart player who plays with authority with his passing and shooting and defensive play" He really handles the puck and distribute it well in all 3 zones. He is very good at settling his team and play down at key moments in the game . With his durability and size and being able to play lots of minutes we compare Ekblad favourably to Shea Weber"

Sam Reinhart

"Hockey IQ is off the charts.. Excellent playmaker... his vision and awareness stands out.. Responsible player and wlll always be a offensive threat"

Michael Dal Colle

" His room for growth is the best with the 4 forwards.. Right now he plays at 180 pounds.. He is already a offensive power forward who plays with energy and hits and makes contact.. Once he gets stronger and puts on weight it is scary how good his potential could be once he gets stronger"

Comparing the 2014 and 2015 draft

" Going into this years draft(2014) everyone was saying it was not a deep draft and it is not when you go through 210 players.. But it has turned out t the Top 10 this year is a very strong group and the rest of the 1st round teams are going to get a chance to get a good player"

" Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel are the Top 2 frontrunners in 2015.. Very good crop of forwards and defensemen in 2015.. If your going to get 1st round pick in 2014 and 2015 you're going to win"

[JATMtheJATM]

Wouldn't you think a 1st overall would have 1st line potential?

i think so too. reinhart and bennett can be first liners. who knows if they will be, but coastal is shooting a little low here.

[chernobylwraiths]

Reinhart sounds so much like Buffalo players of the past, smart but soft. I see nothing that states he is willing to go into the dirty areas to do what is necessary to score or win. Not saying he isn't, but that is what I have read about Bennett. THAT is the type of player Buffalo needs, high energy guy with skill and leadership qualities. Hell, he might even be a 2nd line guy, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing, as long as we know he is a second line guy. Chris Drury wasn't a bad guy at all and he was a second line guy. Same with Giergensens. I just don't want to risk one of the top picks in the draft on a guy that might be the next Jason Pomminville.

Story I heard was Rob Ray was on GR the other day and Schoop was giving him Murray's analysis of each of the top four players mentioned here (and mentioned in another thread) and when he heard what Murray said about Bennett, Ray immediately said, "they need THAT guy". Schoop tried to say something about how he wasn't finished giving him descriptions, Ray said he had heard enough, that the Sabres need a guy like that.

[don137]

I have to think Bennett is the pick if he is available at #2 if Sabres don't get number one pick. I would not be surprised to see Buffalo pick Ekblad if Bennett is gone and Murray trade some depth at defense for some offensive firepower. Cannot pass up a player like Ekblad if Bennett gone.

Also looking like Islanders will finish with forth worst record in league.

[Ginger Vitis]

Kevin Devine Sabres Assistant GM on WGR this morning


http://audio.wgr550.com/a/90058737/4-11-kevin-devine-on-wgr.htm?


" I have seen all the Top 4 guys play at least 10X this year"

Aaron Ekblad

" 6'3 and a half 220 pounds most sure guy to step into the NHL.. His entire game is strong.. Big Big time shot..Sees the ice very well moves the puck. No holes in Aarons game just a matter of how dynamic he will be down the road"

Sam Bennett

" The type of game Sam plays is tough to maintain 82 games.. He will put a team on his back he hates to lose will do anything to win..Good offensive tools 200 foot game.. What stands out about Sam compared to the other top players is his emotional play. Sometimes he crosses the line. He was suspended the last 4 games of the regular season for cross checking a player"

Nikolaj Ehlers

"One detriment is he Is only 160 pounds.. Dynamic player.. He is a guy who can kill you if you give him some space"

Mikhail Grigorenko in Rochester

"He looks like a different player.. He looks stronger ..battling one and ones he looks more comforatable out there..Playing with more confidence.. Lots of encouraging signs from Grigo"


"Tim Murray is adamant we will take the BPA. For Tim to pass up the top player in the draft doesn't make sense to him"

[The Jokeman]

Final Central Scouting list

Rounding out the top five in North America are: No. 2 Aaron Ekblad (http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=84555) of the Barrie Colts; No. 3 Sam Reinhart (http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=84619) of the Kootenay Ice; No. 4 Leon Draisaitl (http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=68141) of the Prince Albert Raiders; and No. 5 Michael Dal Colle (http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=85790) of the Oshawa Generals.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=712864

If the Sabres do end up with the top pick the question to me is do we dangle it to the team picking 3rd so they can get Ekbland and then we take who's left of Bennett/Reinhart?

[Ginger Vitis]

If the Sabres do end up with the top pick the question to me is do we dangle it to the team picking 3rd so they can get Ekbland and then we take who's left of Bennett/Reinhart?

Sure as long as the Oilers or Panthers offer up a good prospect to move to No.1

[ckg927]

Besides, I think Edmonton takes Ekblad at #2 anyway-if that's where they stay in the draft order.

[Ginger Vitis]

Sam Reinhart is going to play for Canada at the upcoming world championships in the exhibition games.. Now that Nathan MacKinnon has joined Team Canada Reinhart may not be needed during regular tourney games