Reprinted from hockeybuzz.com with permission
In the years following the 2004 lockout, the Buffalo Sabres enjoyed a modicum of success on the ice, but organizational depth took a hit in the process. They either traded away some of the future for playoff runs or ended up with middling picks. As a result (and in conjunction with a depleted scouting staff) few players drafted between 2005 and 2011 ended up with the team and even fewer look to be a part of the future.
It left a big hole in the organization. Instead of having a strong core with a number of young players entering their prime or transitioning to the NHL, the Sabres are in full-fledged re-build mode left to pick through the remnants of those draft classes.
A quick synopsis of their picks in the first two rounds those years would have the Sabres with no first-rounder in 2007 and two first round busts in Markek Zagrapan (2005) and Dennis Persson (2006.) They also traded away 2009 first rounder Zack Kassian.
Only two second rounders are NHL'ers for Buffalo--Jhonas Enroth and Mike Weber (both, 2006)--with Luke Adam (2008) looking like a tweener.
During that time period three consecutive second round picks were traded away (2009-2011) as well.
In addition, not one player from the entire 2007 draft class is with the club.
On the bright side, 2008 first-rounders Tyler Myers and Tyler Ennis are solid in Buffalo, Mark Pysyk (2010) is in line to play his first full season in the NHL and 2011 pick Joel Armia just finished playing his first full season in North America after coming over from Finland.
With that as a backdrop, and a rebuild on the horizon, the Sabres started shoring up a depleted prospects pool to the tune of 19 total draft picks in 2012 and 2013.
The rebuild will continue this year as Buffalo Sabres will be walking into Philadelphia with four of the first 49 overall picks. It's the third year in a row that they will have multiple picks in the first two rounds.
Such was the bounty that was received from former GM Darcy Regier's core.
Having acquired and used all those picks the last two drafts, this may be a year where they'll consolidate some picks and go for quality over quantity.
Although many would like a package to land the No. 1 overall pick while keeping the No. 2, it's unlikely that the team would/could do that.
A more likely scenario would have them moving back into the first round to land a prospect they like.
Having chatted with Kris Baker of sabresprospects.com, the possibility is there and he thinks that Sabres GM Tim Murray could be looking to land in the 12-16 range.
Baker reiterated that to Matthew Coller on WGR's summer podcast yesterday, saying that Sabres GM Tim Murray may "work his way back into the first round."
He also said that "it's in [Tim] Murray's personality as well to aggressively pursue a player he likes in a middling class. That's what this is, a middling draft class."
Murray was brought on board back in January because of his scouting background and his ability to evaluate prospects and players. A rebuild of this magnitude, with the sheer number of picks, is right up his alley.
It's to the point now where the Sabres just won't have enough room contract-wise to house many more prospects. While last year they drafted three players who are headed to college (Connor Hurley, Cal Peterson and Sean Malone) plus another one in Gustav Possler who will remain overseas for at least another year or two, there are still a lot of bodies in the system.
Add it all up and the time is right for Murray to put together a package to jump back into the first round and work his way up.
It's doubtful that he would move all three second rounders, either at once or in any sequence, to jump back in. But after months of evaluation from himself and head coach Ted Nolan, one or two of those picks may be used in conjunction with a player or two to make it work.
One of those players might be a small goalie like Enroth, as Murray has an affinity for bigger goalies. A player like Adam who was a draft pick of the previous regime and has had numerous opportunities to stick in the NHL, could also be on the table. Free agent signee Chad Ruwhedel could be a possibility as well.
Murray has no ties to any of them and one would think that any player without a direct connection to him and his vision could be part of a deal.
Although none of them packaged with a second rounder will get you to the middle of the first round in one fell swoop, a series of moves may allow Murray to work his way up.
If Murray can get his foot in the first-round door, he may have just enough to get to the middle portion of the first round.
Possibilities exist.
For instance, Anaheim has two first rounders this year. They are strong in goal with John Gibson and Fredrik Anderson but have nothing in the pipeline after Igor Bobkov.
Either Enroth as a backup to Gibson or Matt Hackett anchoring the Norfolk Admirals instead of Brad Thiessen might help them reset their goalie ranks.
The Chicago Blackhawks have an elite core locked in for years (save for Patrick Kane.) As they tweak their lineup for another Cup run, an inexpensive backup like Enroth ($1.25M) might pique their interest or Hackett might help them strengthen their depth in goal.
The San Jose' Sharks could use goaltending depth while the Pittsburgh Penguins can use some size in the system up front.
There are a myriad of possibilities for Murray and he's shown thus far that he'll be aggressive in making moves.
The Sabres organization has probably gotten to the point where it's over saturated with prospects and players.
A "middling" draft like this might be a good time to reach for quality over quantity.
No comments:
Post a Comment