Buffalo Sabres and Mock Draft Top Ten
Posted 9:22 AM ET | Comments 0
<p>As the playoffs continue to create memorable moments whether good or bad for your team, there are 26 teams looking at their next step which is the draft. While you can mention Calgary or Columbus being the more talked about teams with 3 first round picks and they start their rebuild and push to the play offs, there is clearly a more intriguing team which is the Buffalo Sabres.</p>
<p>You have two all star talents in Thomas Vanek and Ryan Miller and word is that they both most likely want to go elsewhere and as soon as possible. Thomas Vanek saw his neighbors traded away near the deadline (Leopold to St. Louis and Pominville to Minnesota) which couldn't have made him happy regardless of being a pro athlete or not and Miller might very well be too much of a head case in the Sabres locker room. Add those to the fact they simply were not a good team this year, could you really blame them for wanting to leave? </p>
<p><br />Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier may be hoping for a quick rebuild but, as most Sabres fans know, he should not be the one trying to orchestrate this as he has failed year in and year out. I do believe that Miller will be traded this offseason as they rely on Jhonas Enroth to step up. The Sabres will also hold onto Vanek as they have no clear top forwards and feel like they would take the risk in keeping him in hopes to sign him long term. </p>
<p><br />With these issues looming you begin to wonder if they should blow everything up, trade a star on the team in hopes of a higher draft pick panning out, or start acquiring already proven top talent in the league even if it means giving up both of their first round picks and prospects. Regardless of what you believe the Sabres are a mess right now and we have to hope and pray there is a plan in place to fix this. </p>
<br />
<br /> <b>NHL Mock Draft Top 10</b> <br />
<br /><b>1. Colorado – Seth Jones</b> <br />
<p>Patrick Roy is doing what any team would do in saying they are looking at all options with this pick but unless someone is giving them an offer they can’t refuse it just makes sense to pick a near lock as a cornerstone defensemen that COL has lacked for quite some time. </p>
<br /><b>2. Florida - Nathan Mackinnon</b> <br />
<p>Just a complete forward. Not on the same level as a Crosby as some have said but he should be a very good player for whoever drafts him. I could see him more like a Toews. Florida would like a winger for play with Huberdeau but Florida will love to see the 1-2 punch of him and Mackinnon for years to come. Exit Weiss, enter Mac. </p>
<br /><b>3. Tampa Bay – Valeri Nichushkin</b> <br />
<p>Many people have Jonathan Drouin as a potential pick as he makes his teammates around him better and has unbelievable hands. Yet when Valeri Nichushkin said his KHL contract is being ripped up and he is coming to the NHL it is very hard to pass on that kind of size and talent. </p>
<br /><b>4. Nashville – Aleksandr Barkov</b> <br />
<p>Nashville will be ecstatic to see Barkov is still on the board and the pick will come within seconds. Barkov is possibly NHL ready by next year and a solid two way forward. Barkov and Filip Forsberg is something to really look forward to if you are a Preds fan. </p>
<br /><b>5. Carolina – Jonathan Drouin</b> <br />
<p>I could see Rutherford making a trade out of this spot as many teams will be drooling at the fact Drouin has dropped this far but if he were to keep it Drouin would be the obvious choice. </p>
<br /><b>6. Calgary - Sean Monahan</b> <br />
<p>If Calgary does not pick a center I would be utterly shocked. Monahan is the leader and top line center the Flames have desperately wanted for years. Easy selection. </p>
<br /><b>7. Edmonton - Elias Lindholm</b> <br />
<p>Tough choice on this one. On one hand I could see EDM looking to find more defensemen to build around J. Schultz, yet on the other hand I see Gagner leaving the team soon and they could acquire a dman through a trade with him and complete a very young and competitive top 6 with the pick of the very talented Swede in Lindholm. </p>
<br /><b>8. Buffalo - Hunter Shinkaruk</b> <br />
<p>Buffalo’s top options here are Shinkaruk and Nurse. Given they reloaded at center last year with Grigorenko and Girgensons and already have Hodgson they will need someone to play along side them especially if Vanek is gone. Shinkaruk is highly skilled and should be able to put a lot of pucks into the net in the near future. </p>
<br /><b>9. New Jersey - Frederik Gauthier</b> <br />
<p>A talented center who puts up points and known well for his defensive ability. </p>
<br /><b>10. Dallas - Darnell Nurse</b> <br />
<p>Nurse brings the hard hitting, in your face game that Jim Nill covets and saw success in from players like Kronwall and Ericsson in Detroit. </p>
<p>You have two all star talents in Thomas Vanek and Ryan Miller and word is that they both most likely want to go elsewhere and as soon as possible. Thomas Vanek saw his neighbors traded away near the deadline (Leopold to St. Louis and Pominville to Minnesota) which couldn't have made him happy regardless of being a pro athlete or not and Miller might very well be too much of a head case in the Sabres locker room. Add those to the fact they simply were not a good team this year, could you really blame them for wanting to leave? </p>
<p><br />Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier may be hoping for a quick rebuild but, as most Sabres fans know, he should not be the one trying to orchestrate this as he has failed year in and year out. I do believe that Miller will be traded this offseason as they rely on Jhonas Enroth to step up. The Sabres will also hold onto Vanek as they have no clear top forwards and feel like they would take the risk in keeping him in hopes to sign him long term. </p>
<p><br />With these issues looming you begin to wonder if they should blow everything up, trade a star on the team in hopes of a higher draft pick panning out, or start acquiring already proven top talent in the league even if it means giving up both of their first round picks and prospects. Regardless of what you believe the Sabres are a mess right now and we have to hope and pray there is a plan in place to fix this. </p>
<br />
<br /> <b>NHL Mock Draft Top 10</b> <br />
<br /><b>1. Colorado – Seth Jones</b> <br />
<p>Patrick Roy is doing what any team would do in saying they are looking at all options with this pick but unless someone is giving them an offer they can’t refuse it just makes sense to pick a near lock as a cornerstone defensemen that COL has lacked for quite some time. </p>
<br /><b>2. Florida - Nathan Mackinnon</b> <br />
<p>Just a complete forward. Not on the same level as a Crosby as some have said but he should be a very good player for whoever drafts him. I could see him more like a Toews. Florida would like a winger for play with Huberdeau but Florida will love to see the 1-2 punch of him and Mackinnon for years to come. Exit Weiss, enter Mac. </p>
<br /><b>3. Tampa Bay – Valeri Nichushkin</b> <br />
<p>Many people have Jonathan Drouin as a potential pick as he makes his teammates around him better and has unbelievable hands. Yet when Valeri Nichushkin said his KHL contract is being ripped up and he is coming to the NHL it is very hard to pass on that kind of size and talent. </p>
<br /><b>4. Nashville – Aleksandr Barkov</b> <br />
<p>Nashville will be ecstatic to see Barkov is still on the board and the pick will come within seconds. Barkov is possibly NHL ready by next year and a solid two way forward. Barkov and Filip Forsberg is something to really look forward to if you are a Preds fan. </p>
<br /><b>5. Carolina – Jonathan Drouin</b> <br />
<p>I could see Rutherford making a trade out of this spot as many teams will be drooling at the fact Drouin has dropped this far but if he were to keep it Drouin would be the obvious choice. </p>
<br /><b>6. Calgary - Sean Monahan</b> <br />
<p>If Calgary does not pick a center I would be utterly shocked. Monahan is the leader and top line center the Flames have desperately wanted for years. Easy selection. </p>
<br /><b>7. Edmonton - Elias Lindholm</b> <br />
<p>Tough choice on this one. On one hand I could see EDM looking to find more defensemen to build around J. Schultz, yet on the other hand I see Gagner leaving the team soon and they could acquire a dman through a trade with him and complete a very young and competitive top 6 with the pick of the very talented Swede in Lindholm. </p>
<br /><b>8. Buffalo - Hunter Shinkaruk</b> <br />
<p>Buffalo’s top options here are Shinkaruk and Nurse. Given they reloaded at center last year with Grigorenko and Girgensons and already have Hodgson they will need someone to play along side them especially if Vanek is gone. Shinkaruk is highly skilled and should be able to put a lot of pucks into the net in the near future. </p>
<br /><b>9. New Jersey - Frederik Gauthier</b> <br />
<p>A talented center who puts up points and known well for his defensive ability. </p>
<br /><b>10. Dallas - Darnell Nurse</b> <br />
<p>Nurse brings the hard hitting, in your face game that Jim Nill covets and saw success in from players like Kronwall and Ericsson in Detroit. </p>