Assuming Sabres stay at 8

[coastal]

Who are your top 3 targets in order of rank (realistically there).

here's mine...

1.) Olli Juolevi - a leftie, puck mover, fellow country-men and perfect pairing partner of Rasmus, an eventual PPL QB type. Just a no-brainer. If the D in this draft start to drop, which I think they will, GMTM will walk up, utter this guys name, and walk away. BTW... if Edmonton took him at 4, that would be 3 Finns in the 4 overall. For a country the size of Finland, they must know what their doing in terms of developing hockey players. USA Hockey should pay attention.

2.) Tyson Jost - might be a bit of a "reach" depending on who has been taken, but not in my estimation. Sure he played out in a lesser junior division, but he completely dominated... as he should have. He's headed to ND for at least a year, ala Toews. Some risk he stays four years, but I don't think that's likely given his skill set. His leadership qualities are through the roof and can play left wing. Two years from now... would love to see him on RORs left wing.

3.) Alexander Nylander - his skating has improved and would setup a nice Nylander rivalry just up the road to double down with the Matthews/Eihel rivalry. If this is who they end up with, it's to be Jack's eventual winger.

[Ginger Vitis]

1) Jakob Chychrun... I think Jakobs off season shoulder surgery played a factor in his disappointing season and I'm going to gamble that is the case and he will be the best defensemen from this draft and top pairing defensemen

2) Olli Juolevi... See Coastals analysis of him.. Offensively Olli was tremendous at the WJC

3) Alexander Nylander... Nylander is the 4th best winger in this draft and the dropoff from Nylander to the next best winger Julien Gauthier is a bit steep and I don't think I can take another centremen so Nylander is the guy... And Nylander at 8 is about where he should go

[JATMtheJATM]

1) Jakob Chychrun... I think Jakobs off season shoulder surgery played a factor in his disappointing season and I'm going to gamble that is the case and he will be the best defensemen from this draft and top pairing defensemen

2) Olli Juolevi... See Coastals analysis of him.. Offensively Olli was tremendous at the WJC

3) Alexander Nylander... Nylander is the 4th best winger in this draft and the dropoff from Nylander to the next best winger Julien Gauthier is a bit steep and I don't think I can take another centremen so Nylander is the guy... And Nylander at 8 is about where he should go

I want to take nylander just cause it's likely he will be a stud in his own right, and to pair him with eichel.... yikes bikes. Plus he can play in rochester next year.

But a dman would help strengthen that pipeline again too. Guhle seemed to really raise his stock last season . Many feel in a redraw he would go in the first round and that he's a top 4 in the coming years.

[Crisis]

I'd be ecstatic with either Chychrun or Nylander. I'd be happy with Juolevi.

[YardRat]

I don't follow hockey prospects anywhere near the level I do football, so I'll take your guys' words for it.

[Mr. Pink]

If Chychrun is still available, he absolutely should be the pick.

If not, a trade down to acquire more assets and picking either Jake Bean, Kyle Clague or Julien Gauthier would be a wise move as well.

Notice 3 of the 4 are defenseman which is where I think the Sabres need the most help but I think Gauthier has the potential to be an absolute stud in the league in around 3 years. None of Chychrun, Bean or Clague are NHL ready yet either.

[The Jokeman]

Nylander or one of the top 3 Dman (Chychrun, Juolevi or Sergachev) would all be nice.

[chernobylwraiths]

I kind of hope a top defenseman. Don't want to become the Edmonton Oilers of the East picking highly touted offensemen and neglecting the defense. Especially if they trade a promising young d-man and 8 for 4. Though, I wouldn't hate it either. I just think they need a couple more decent defensemen. Especially one to pair up with Risto.

[mightysimi]

You guys will like this mock then. Although I would take it with a grain of salt as he has the other fin dropping to 5 when I have yet to see him be anywhere but 3.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/s...hl-mock-draft/

[swiper]

1) Jakob Chychrun... I think Jakobs off season shoulder surgery played a factor in his disappointing season and I'm going to gamble that is the case and he will be the best defensemen from this draft and top pairing defensemen

2) Olli Juolevi... See Coastals analysis of him.. Offensively Olli was tremendous at the WJC

3) Alexander Nylander... Nylander is the 4th best winger in this draft and the dropoff from Nylander to the next best winger Julien Gauthier is a bit steep and I don't think I can take another centremen so Nylander is the guy... And Nylander at 8 is about where he should go

3.) Alexander Nylander - his skating has improved and would setup a nice Nylander rivalry just up the road to double down with the Matthews/Eihel rivalry. If this is who they end up with, it's to be Jack's eventual winger.

Nylander fell right into GMTM's lap. Sabres badly need a RW. In 2 years this pick will look brilliant hopefully. Chychrun fell all the way to #16, so more than one GM was nervous about him.

[JATMtheJATM]

Nylander fell right into GMTM's lap. Sabres badly need a RW. In 2 years this pick will look brilliant hopefully. Chychrun fell all the way to #16, so more than one GM was nervous about him.

So he and his brother were both taken 8th, but Willie was taken in a weaker draft class. Gotta love that.

[swiper]

It's just nice to see a Buffalo GM not screw up an obvious pick.

[JATMtheJATM]

It's just nice to see a Buffalo GM not screw up an obvious pick.

Murray hasn't yet. It's been refreshing (regier)

Course, his lowest 1st has been 8, so.

[SpikedLemonade]

Murray hasn't yet. It's been refreshing (regier)

Course, his lowest 1st has been 8, so.

He earned that through a strategic novel plan.

[coastal]

Looks like Murray's draft board was similar to mine except I put more stock into leadership qualities, and by all reports Jost is overflowing with leadership, but all in all... happy with the Swede!

[swiper]

Happy with a RW not named Stafford.

[Skooby]

We have a great winger, he will play in the AHL this season.