With the 23rd Pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the Buffalo Sabres Select...

by David Oleksy on Jun 23, 2010 2:01 PM EDT

We won't know who the Sabres will really select until sometime Friday night but for today we get to pretend. All of the blogs here on SB Nation have been doing a mock draft behind the scenes with the picks posted over at SB Nation.com.

It was a tough process trying to figure out who to draft because I wanted to take into account what the team would do, while taking my own ideas into consideration. In making the decision I ruled out any Europeans because that has been the trend for the Sabres in recent years. The Sabres have also been very public about their desire to get bigger, which of course meant I was looking for a player with size.

The first option would be to draft a power forward because the team lacks offensive depth at the AHL level and beyond, while the defensive corps is stacked with talented, potential NHL-caliber players. While power-forward as the top of my list, the best player available has to be the strategy at number 23. It is crap shoot to draft 18 year-old players and project what type of player they will be when they are 22 or 23.

I had a few power forwards in mind but with players like Austin Watson and Riley Sheahan off the board, I was forced to look in another direction. I narrowed down the choices to USNTDP U-18 defenseman Jared Tinordi and Moose Jaw Warriors defenseman Dylan McIlrath. The final decision was to select the toughest player in the draft, Dylan McIlrath.

McIlrath is a big, tough kid that plays with a chip on his shoulder. He makes his presence felt every time he steps on the ice and opposing forwards always take note of where he is. He had 169 penalty minutes playing for Moose Jaw in the WHL and many of those minutes were accumulated by protecting his goalie. That has been an issue in recent years with players taking liberties with Ryan Miller with little or no repercussions.

The Sabres would probably prefer to draft a forward at this position but it would be difficult to pass on McIlrath if he is available at number 23.

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Kabanov?

I find these mock drafts very, VERY unrealistic this year. When going through last year’s draft there was a general consensus of each players position usually within 8-12 picks. For instance in a random scroll of about 16 mock drafts last year Kassian was everywhere from 8-20, with 2 saying he goes to Buffalo, but most putting him in the top 10 (a comparison of Milan Lucic by most scouts last year will that do that to you).

This year they’re all over the place. I’ve seen Campbell and Pickard in the top 10. I’ve seen Kabanov everywhere from middle 2nd to St. Louis at 14. And the Russian factor continues to turn ‘off’ mock drafters, although they will tend to be the best on the board come the 10-20 range. Say what you want about Tarnasenko…the guy is 200+ and an absolute force in the KHL right now…besides Hall or Seguin who else has that kind of skill?

We are loaded in the backend with prospects. Just wait until the 2011-12 season in Portland. And our needs in the back end can be addressed through free agency…but a future top 6 forward when our team is lacking is desperately looking for compliment to the roy-vanek line and a future pivot to replace connolly is needed. Forwards are deep in this draft and the Sabres want someone in particular…pull the trigger Darcy, pull the Trigger.

That all being said. Kevin Devine and his staff have done an AMAZING job since the lockout in their drafts. I have full confidence in whatever they do

by SPACE K on Jun 23, 2010 2:28 PM EDT reply actions

I can’t get too excited about the draft. The Sabres need help now; the draft is the future. Hopefully, they will draft someone who can help the team in a year or two, but I think Regier should be concentrating on the free-agent market to get the help this team needs on defense and offense.

by Geolover on Jun 23, 2010 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

Low Round Big Defenseman??

We have one bro, and he’s going to be good. Picked 66th last year in the 3rd round….

Brayden McNabb,
The 19 year old @ 6’3" 200 lbs played for Kootenay of the WHL this year:

64 GP 17 G 40 A 57 Pts 121 PIM ~~5 +/~~

Give him another year in the WHL, possibly signing at year’s end and getting a few games under his belt in portland. Likely another full year in the AHL and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him up here in 2012-2013. He’s got the frame at 6’3" to fill out a bit more too. From what I hear he has a mean streak and is criticized for trying to check too hard!?!? Anyway, I like the looks of this pick as our future under the radar low round defenseman.

I’m really hoping for a dynamic power forward in the first this year and would be ecstatic if kabanov fell to us. Top 5 talent with some contract/KHL concerns but really has future star with a great work ethic written all over him.

Bradyden McNabb – Talent Analysis (hockeysfuture)

NHL-sized already, the two-way blueliner got better and better for Kootenay as the year went on. The Ice used McNabb in all situations and at all times of the game because of his ability at both ends of the rink. Penalty minutes are potentially misleading as although he will fight, critics would like to see him play tougher in his all-around game. With maturity and increased confidence, that should come naturally in the near future.

McNabb is not the fastest or most agile skater and that part of his game will need to improve.

Here’s the original Die by the blade pick analysis too:
http://www.diebytheblade.com/2009/6/27/927406/buffalo-sabres-select-brayden

by killabstingz on Jun 24, 2010 9:52 AM EDT reply actions