For a while this year it was looking like the ROR trade to St. Louis could put Buffalo in Denver's enviable position next year. The first is top-10 protected, and it was looking like the Blues were heading for somewhere near 30th place. That would push the pick to an unprotected 2020. With the hot mess they're in it seemed like they may go into blow-it-up mode and give the Sabres a chance for a very high pick in the strong '20 draft. Now it looks like the Blues may make a push to respectable levels and I'm expecting the Sabres will be using their pick in the teens in June. I kind of like the idea of spreading the firsts over a couple of drafts since Buffalo will soon-enough be in a position where they'll need to percolate cost-contained talent into the roster. Better to have the high-end talent spread out a bit over the years. On the other hand, having three firsts in the draft is a lot of fun.
with their 8 wins in a row, the Flyers are pushing themselves out of the bottom of the standings and out of the Hughes race.
I remember that pick, although it is probably something that "I remembered" after a good dose of suggestion. It's one of the reasons for why the Buffalo Sabres should be everyone's favorite team. I mean, who doesn't love the fact that Punch Imlach was fu€#ing with the Bettman of his day? What I do recall distinctly was that the Sabres had a press release every April 1st for several years. The announcements were silly things like: the Sabres have bought some barges and will turn them into floating practice rinks on Lake Erie. That one was talked about (seriously) for several days. It took a few years before everyone realized that Punch was punking everyone with the annual April Fools joke.
never heard of this story before and i love it. freaking classic. i would love if a team did this today. have the commish stand up there and some fake kid walks up on stage. hahahha. thanks skinny for posting.
They had to stay for 16 rounds back then, that's gruelling. They gradually reduced the rounds through the years, eventually getting down to 7 which we have today. There's players today that make the nhl as undrafted, so all is not lost. As of note, Dave Taylor was a 15th round pick for the Kings in '75. He was part of the famous crown line with Dionne and Simmer.
1) NJ Devils 2) NY Rangers 3) Chicago Blackhawks 4) Colorado via Ottawa 5) Los Angeles 6) Detroit 7) Buffalo Then the rest, but notably 10) Vancouver and 11) Philadelphia.
Detroit, Buffalo, Vancouver, Philly and Fla fans you may be in the market for a kid that lives down the street from me with your 1st pick. His dad is a cop and I’ve heard he’s a great kid. Also, smart enough to attend BC next year. https://lastwordonhockey.com/2019/04/09/matthew-boldy-scouting-report/
gotta love the draft Gods bailing out NY, NJ and Chicago again ! Seeing Chicago go to the top 3 was almost laughable. And before you say Philly did the same thing - yeah they got Nolan Patrick ! Yippee !
I'm sure the kid is great and all, but... The Panthers could be well served not spending another first round pick on a winger... Here's to him having success in Vancouver!