Hockey Wilderness Community 2011 NHL Mock Draft: Buffalo Sabres

by BReynolds on Jun 7, 2011 9:00 AM CDT in Features

With each pick, we reach out to the SBNation community that knows the team the best. Each time, they have responded well, and helped us with our task. The folks at Blueshirt Banter stepped up big time, and took us off the board, choosing someone we didn't even have in our sights at 15. "Other" is a perfectly viable option at this point, and Rangers fans availed themselves of that option.

Good on them for doing so, and for selecting Mark Scheifele, a 6'2" center out of Barrie in the OHL. The Hockey News ranks him at 41, so it came as a bit of shock to me, but these guys know their team better than I do, so i have to trust they know what they are doing.

With the pick, here is how the mock draft looks:

1. Edmonton Oilers: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
2. Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog
3. Florida Panthers: Adam Larsson
4. New Jersey Devils: Sean Couturier
5. New York Islanders: Jonathan Huberdeau
6. Ottawa Senators: Ryan Strome
7. Atlanta Thrashers: Mika Zibanejad
8. Columbus Blue Jackets: Dougie Hamilton
9. Boston Bruins: Ryan Murphy
10. Minnesota Wild: Sven Bartschi
11. Colorado Avalanche: Duncan Siemens
12. Carolina Hurricanes: Mark McNeill
13. Calgary Flames: Joel Armia
14. Dallas Stars: Zack Phillips
15. New York Rangers: Mark Scheifele

Next up, as the title suggests, the Buffalo Sabres. Make the jump, and cast your vote.

The Sabres are a team that, on paper, look very, very good. Derek Roy, Tim Connolly, Drew Stafford, Thomas Vanek, Tyler Ennis and Ryan Miller all populate the NHL roster and yet the success has not been forthcoming. There are a handful of players in the system, but unless you know better than they do what the issue is, who do you remove? Good luck.

Using what the community chose for the Rangers, and looking at the available talent on the board, I wouldn't overly surprised to the the Sabres go off the board, either. Still with Nathan Beaulieu, Niklas Jensen, and Jamie Oleksiak still available, I am betting one fo those three go with the 16th pick.

As has been the case for the past 15 posts, that is up to you. Cast your vote.

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Comments

How are you guys deciding who to add to the board?

Seems early to see Lucia’s name

"Don't give up, don't ever give up" - Jim Valvano

by nodakroxfan on Jun 7, 2011 9:12 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Just going down the list in THN’s draft issue, sometimes using other avenues. Lucia is 26th on their list.

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by BReynolds on Jun 7, 2011 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks id been curious

"Don't give up, don't ever give up" - Jim Valvano

by nodakroxfan on Jun 7, 2011 11:28 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Sabres fan here

I went with Tyler Biggs because, the Sabres depth at Center is pretty bare through out the farm. Which is kind of drafting for need.

My favorite prospect on this list though is Nathan Beaulieu, he kind of reminds me of Brian Campbell.

The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun

by mob16151 on Jun 7, 2011 9:29 AM CDT reply actions