DBTB –
I’m back from the Draft in scenic BFLO. A few thoughts that popped into my head during the weekend:
– If any of you ever get the chance to go to the Draft, you should go. It is a life-affirming experience. You’re sitting among the aspiring draftees, their families, friends and coaches, watching people have their dreams fulfilled right in front of you. Really amazing to be a part of. And really supportive. Fans, some of whom have probably never heard of these kids, giving them high-fives and encouraging them. Really cool.
– Daxon Rudolph is a guy who I had on my Board at #9. I think if he can get a little quicker and play with more consistent physicality (probably get stronger), he can be a really good #3. I’ve watched some more of his shifts since they chose him and there’s one guy he reminds me of..,this will be weird…but I think Sergei Zubov when I watch him. Everything seems so easy that he doesn’t always feel like he’s trying, he has this crazy knack of just getting pucks through crowds to the net, always moving but never chasing, really clever with manipulating defenders and sees the ice a step ahead.
– Morozov I had at #21 on my Board, so he went right about where I expected. I think what’s being missed about this kid are two things: 1) his work ethic is absolutely through the roof, and 2) when you’re the youngest kid in NCAA hockey, on a not-great team, you’re going to have to play conservatively if you want to stay on the ice. He’s going to have better players next season, they will be a decent team. I think he’s going to put up bigger numbers and show a lot more offensively in Year 2. The discussion will change from “probably a 3C, maybe a really good 4C” to “maybe a 2C, a 3C on a really good team”. He could be a bigger, more physical Anton Lundell.
– Zellweger is really interesting. I went back and looked at my 2021 Board, and he was way down at #73. Probably because he was 5’9. I don’t know if Ruff can get him to defend the way the coach wants, but he has tremendous wheels, a really good release, and loves to exploit seams in the D (the same way Byram did). I think he starts as a 3rd pair, and they see how he does in the system. Everyone went a little coo-coo with Byram’s 11 goals – Zelly had 7 goals and probably played about 5-6 minutes less/game. Offensively, he won’t be a problem. Can he get the puck out on time and with possession? That will be the big question.
– Murnieks I had at #90. So great value in my mind for the pick. The really intriguing thing is early in the year, he was a late 1st rounder. He started off well, got banged up (I didn’t realize he had multiple concussions this season) and tailed off, and then had a good finish in the U-18s. He’s a do-everything type of centerman who works his tail off and as a late birthday, will probably get bigger before all is said and done. He’s probably 4 years away (next year in the Q, 2 years at Boston College, and then maybe a year in the AHL) but could wind up being a really good 4C. There’s a lot of value in that.
– Szongoth is an interesting player I had at #158, so kind of freaky that he went at #156. He’s going to need a lot of time. There’s some rawness to his game that he gets away with in his age group due to his size and strength. But he flashes some nice touch offensively, and defensively he’s very methodical and reliable. I imagine he stays in Finland until he gets a regular shift in Liiga. But anyone with two first names (Domon Krystzof) who plays for a team named KooKoo is someone you have to take seriously.
– I was a little disappointed that the Sabres did not add to the current roster at the Draft. It was all the buzz on the Draft floor, that something big was coming, and it seems they got very close with Winnipeg. But they didn’t panic and overpay. Unlike Florida, or Vegas, or LA, the Sabres don’t have a choice but to be a primarily ‘draft and develop’ team. The city is not a draw, the weather is not a draw, and for most players in their early 20s, the Sabres have been a bottom feeder for their entire life (until last season). A high pick fell into their laps for Byram, and they used it. It’s not the perfect outcome, but it’s a pretty smart one nonetheless.