The Buffalo Sabres have won the Rasmus Dahlin sweepstakes. Buffalo has one of the most hockey-rabid fan bases in the entire league and their faith has been rewarded with the chance to plant a franchise player on the blue line. After years of suffering with bottom of the standings finishes and placing second in the Connor McDavid race, the Sabres finally have the top choice.
Buffalo’s draw was revealed during the second period intermission of Game Two of the Vegas Golden Knights-San Jose Sharks series, after picks #4-#15 had been revealed earlier in the night. Vaulting their way into the top three was Carolina, who had a 70% chance of picking 12th overall. Instead, the Hurricanes now sit with the second overall pick to add to their collection of young talent, which has implications in terms of getting a chance at selecting a lethal goal scorer in Andrei Svechnikov, Filip Zadina, or Brady Tkachuk.
Montreal’s suffering through the 2017-18 season was eased a bit by getting the third overall pick and a shot at a talent who should be on NHL ice come fall, giving them the goal scorer they so desperately need. They could also go back to addressing the blue line with several high-end options available at the top of the draft, but scoring is a need and Zadina, Svechnikov, or Tkachuk would help with that need.
Dahlin has been pegged as the #1 overall choice for a while now and is projected to dramatically change the fortunes of whichever team won the rights to draft him. Buffalo won that right, tonight.
The top fifteen picks in the 2018 NHL Draft are as follows:
#1- Buffalo Sabres
#2- Carolina Hurricanes
#3- Montreal Canadiens
#4- Ottawa Senators
#5- Arizona Coyotes
#6- Detroit Red Wings
#7- Vancouver Canucks
#8- Chicago Blackhawks
#9- N.Y. Rangers
#10-Edmonton Oilers
#11- N.Y. Islanders
#12- N.Y. Islanders (from Calgary)
#13- Dallas Stars
#14- Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis)
#15- Florida Panthers
As a hawks fan, I’m hoping for Bouchard at 8 but I think he’ll end up off he board a couple picks before then
I wouldn’t be shocked to see Ottawa and a team like the Rangers make a trade. NYR has three first round picks this year and Ottawa loses theirs to Colorado next year. Maybe something like 4th overall for the 9th and either Boston or Tampa’s first.
Hard to see Ottawa doing it unless they get more than that. The top 4 of this draft is very good and right now they are guaranteed 1 of thw really high upside guys
Oh yeah I was just like saying some parameters to a deal. New York would probably have to take on Bobby Ryan’s deal to get a trade done and Ottawa would want another pick or young player.
Ottawa would gladly give up their pick for a different first this year and someone taking Bobby Ryan.
I’ve already seen negativity about Dahlin going to buffalo. People are already saying his nhl career is over by going to buffalo. Give the man a few years and see if he pans out, if not than your right. I think dahlin will pan out and eventually leave buffalo, unless he accepts a discount.
*you’re
Obviously disappointed the Habs didn’t get 1st but I’m hoping Carolina passes on Svechnikov and he falls to Montreal at 3. Otherwise I’m thinking Zadina is the guy.
You don’t like Tkachuk?
the sens I think would gladly take Tkachuk or Zadina at 4.
Not overly. I think his offensive potential is limited to around 50 points as an NHLer and his skating worries me(reminds me of McCarron). Zadina on the other hand looks like he could be a 70+ point guy. For me, you always take the best talent and Zadina trumps Tkachuk in that regard.