Buffalo doesn't make that trade. We can give you the SJS 1st, a 1 year cap dump player and a prospect like O'Regan

Our first is off the table

Why not? I think Skinner likely walks this offseason and Buffalo will need a "replacement". Zucker has scored 21 goals (so far) in a down year without a quality center, he's a good top 6 winger. There will definitely be some quality players available at 12 OA in the draft as well. Seems like a win for Buffalo to me.

As for your proposal, I'd decline if I were Fenton. I'd be very surprised if we took on a cap dump for Zucker.

But you're getting another 1st in return... the trade is 6 OA for 12 OA and Jason Zucker. I'm assuming Buffalo doesn't win the lottery here.

There's a difference between 6th and 12th that is significant enough of a value drop off that doesn't make it worth it for the sabres.

Yeah the difference in value from 6th to 12 is historically a massive difference. Thompson, a 1st and Sobotka.

Fair enough

I’d give Nylander and a SJS first but not our first and probably more ...

Right now we are sitting 5th overall and we could even climb higher to 4th. We are in striking distance

But Zucker is a better all around player than Skinner and has term and is cheaper

With Botterill’s history as a cap guy and with Zucker’s affordability and with this team’s dire need of high hockey IQ players with two way ability, I think buffalo will be interested in him as a replacement option for Dkinner

Depends on the actual position and the player. 6 to 12 in this draft? It probably means i go from Kirby Dach to Alex Turcotte ...I’m ok with that, especially if I’m getting a great player like Zucker.

3-4 to 12, probably not so much mainly because the target I want outside of Hughes and Kappo is Dylan Cozens. A center who is a 200 ft player who has a mean streak and power forward tendencies....Buffalo needs a player like Cozens, he’s this years Brady Tkachuk and probably plays in the nhl next year. You may get him as low as 6, but I think he’s getting top 4 or 5 easy

Oh and Minnesota should not do this for 6 spots....he's too valuable to move in such a deal

I'd do that trade. You definitely are within striking distance but trades can't be made until the draft and at that time we'd already know the pecking order. I think Buffalo is such a perfect trade partner for Zucker because there's potential if you don't win the lottery for the Wild to offer a deal like the one I have (although seems like we'd have to add more, maybe we could interest you in Louis Belpedio?) OR a deal like the one you proposed and the Wild come out with two first round picks.



Exactly, that was the logic. I think Turcotte is a lot closer to Dach than many realize. Cozens is the clear-cut 2nd best center in the draft in my opinion, and I agree that he'll most likely be drafted in the top 5.

The problem is that we desperately need a 1C. Staal took a huge step back this year and Koivu showed his age as well (although Koivu is still amazing defensively). Buffalo already has their 1C in Eichel and honestly I'd trade any guy on our roster other than Dumba to get a 1C. I think a guy like Cozens can be a 1C so if he's available by the 5th or 6th pick, I'd trade Zucker and our 1st along with another prospect like Belpedio to get him in a heartbeat.

Turcotte > Cozens.

Some recent 6oa monihan, lindholm, oel. Some recent 12oa max domi, cam fowler, grigorenko, guiranov. Ceiling is lower at 12 and bust factor is higher. Im not risking letting the sabres gm and talent developers take a lesser talent and show what they can do with them. Pass.

You're getting a sure-thing in Zucker, though. You can't just discount that. There have been busts at 6 OA as well (Zacha and Virtanen to name a couple). I see what you're getting at and I see why Buffalo wouldn't do this, but if Skinner walks you're going to have a huge hole in your lineup. I think Olofsson could be a pretty good player someday but he'll need time.

Edit: Lindholm was a 5 OA pick, not 6th.
Edit 2: nevermind, thought you were talking about Elias!

Thats not to say that i dont feel for you, trying to move up to get a center, we spent years wandering through the desert looking for a #1 center.

Trust me, so have we. Our franchise is now 19 years old and we've never had a true 1C. Staal is probably the closest we've gotten, and it was only for 2 years.

It's going to be a top 5 pick at the rate the Sabres are going and there is no way the Sabres are trading that pick especially for a guy going on 28 halfway through next season. With the luck of the draw it could be 1st or 2nd so the Sabres say no

I'm assuming it's 6 OA here. I'm not saying that's what the Sabres pick actually will be, I'm just saying that for this particular post the Sabres have the 6th overall pick and the Wild have the 12th. Trades can't be made until the draft and the pecking order is already determined by that time.

Also, Zucker isn't a dinosaur... Sabres fans are rearing to ink Skinner to an 8 year deal yet he's only a few months older than Zucker.

With your assumptions (picks 6 and 12), I only do this (from Wild's perspective) if I completely covet a player available at 6...otherwise, Zucker is too much to give up for 6 spots in the draft.

If a deal cannot be made to move up to grab Buffalo's 1st, I would trade Zucker for Nylander and the San Jose 1st.

Ideally, I'd love to see the Wild end up with 2 picks in the top 12 and walk away from the draft with 2 of: Cozens, Turcotte, and Caufield.

I'd be so happy if we could get two of those three. I've been watching film on Turcotte and holy cow this kid is talented. Some of the plays he makes are eye popping. I'm worried he won't be available by the time we pick and I think the same goes for Cozens.

I doubt it.

I recently heard a quote from the U.S. Development coach saying (paraphrasing) something to the effect of..., "Hughes gets the headlines, but Turcotte might be our MVP..."

I think that's why Skinner isn't signed yet as Botterill doesn't want to go 8 yrs...he probably prefers 5 yrs. and to be honest if that's the case I agree with Botterill, By seasons end I can see the Sabres being in the 3rd position in the draft lottery. BTW...I'm not saying I wouldn't take Zucker just not trading our first this year as taking a center is imperative.

Really? The difference between 6th and 12th PLUS Zucker is too great?!? Cam Fowler was taken 12th. You wouldn't rather have Cam Fowler and Jason Tucker than the 6th pick overall? Should I mention Puljujarvi, Virtanen, etc.?