Domi for 8

Team: 2020-21 Buffalo Sabres

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 3, 2020

Published: Jul. 3, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

These are all the players from the 2013-2015 draft (23-25yrs old) that I believe are worth the 8th overall pick and are not considered "superstars", but elite. I have their ppg over the past 2 seasons and average GAR%/xGAR% percentile among forwards over the past two seasons. As a Sabres fan, I think Reinhart is a good reference point. From this list, the only ones that may be available are Domi, Ehlers, Cirelli. This list in my opinion proves that Domi belongs in this elite group of top 6 forwards and is worth 8th overall.

Monahan .88 2013 79.3%
Lindholm .87 2013 89.7%
Larkin .86 2014 89.3%
Boeser .80 2015 84.4%
Meier .78 2015 89.2%
Mantha .78 2013 85.8%
Reinhart .76 2014 87.9%
Domi .76 2013 88.5%
Horvat .75 2013 75%
Konecny .74 2015 89.1%
Ehlers .71 2014 90.1%
Strome .70 2015 78.3%
Nylander .70 2014 83.6%
Cirelli .55 2015 96.4%

-For anyone thinking they would rather have the 8th overall, look at that forward group and specifically top 6 and tell me that isn't mouth watering.
-Domi starts at C, Cozens takes off-hand faceoffs and is eventually groomed into the position. I think he is capable of starting on the second line, but he will get some pressure taken off of him at wing, especially playing with 2 really good, fast skating transition forwards like Skins and Domi
-Putting Mitts at 3C with two talented wingers will be a good test for him, if he can't succeed with these two, he likely never will. If he still isn't part of our long term plans, the worst this could do is increase his trade value for a future RD or something
-Brodie might be an overpay, but his analytics are great and he is the perfect 2nd pairing bridge for Samuelsson/Johnson and wont let the Sabres rush their development
-1 year deal for Montour, he either proves he can be a part of this core or we move on, simple as that. But I think he deserves one more chance
-I have no clue what to do with backup goalie, we gotta either buy out Hutton and find a cheap guy or roll with him. Maybe toss him in with retained salary in the Dallas trade bc they are losing Khudobin and try to find someone else

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