Top 5 Draft Poll - 2. Buffalo

[Scoreface]

I just can't decide between Bennett and the German, partly because of the above post - other Germans on the team. I also think he could be as impactful or more than Bennett, or even less. Two very different players. I don't know!! Grrr!

[Scoreface]

Does anyone recollect what Murray had to say in that draft strategy interview? I know it garnered a lot of attention on here and I think it could really help this poll.

[Vinny01]

They go with the eastern based Sam

[Yrebmi]

One of the Sams.
Buffalo has a dirth of right wingers, and while both Sams secondary position is left wing, Bennett shoots left also. So Bennett it is.

[djsFlames]

The person who voted Barbashev obviously knows something we don't. Outsmarted us all..

[nik-]

wrong thread

[Scoreface]

Okee dokee. Going with Bennett. Reinhart falls as he probably doesn't fit with them. They can wait a year of development as they will probably be even worse next year. Leon could step in but contract-wise, they'll be just fine with losing and keep Bennett down. Not that he would be a big difference maker next year anyway. So, Bennett it is for me.

[Scoreface]

Wow. Both Sam's are tied at 90 votes. Interesting! Is there a margin in this poll? Say if 51% prefer one over the other..

I'd say no and we continue on, but results like that will always bear 'what could have been' kind of talk. Oh well. It's just a poll.

[dammage79]

I went with Reinhart here. Between Girgensons, Hodgson and Grigorenko, I see Reinaharts elite playmaking ability to be their deciding factor. If the Sabres did not have Girgensons I would've went with Bennett for sure.

[The Fonz]

Bennett.

He just seems like a Sabre type player to me... Could be that he's had comparisons to Mike Peca, who was a big part of a few great years in Buffalo.

[Scoreface]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I went with Reinhart here. Between Girgensons, Hodgson and Grigorenko, I see Reinaharts elite playmaking ability to be their deciding factor. If the Sabres did not have Girgensons I would've went with Bennett for sure.

An argument could be made though that Bennett possesses a strong motor which produces drive and some feistiness. Not to mention he is probably the fastest skater in this class and would likely walk onto the team in 2015 with that regard.

I don't think either Girgensons nor Hodgson are lacking in playmaking ability. There's just even less than we have to deal the puck to. Maybe it's closer with Cammy gone, but Bennett has that drive to compete and that can carry them a long way. Reinhart would be ok for them as maybe like you said, he uses his teammates a bit better, but to me Bennett is MacKinnon lite at this stage and has been referred to as maybe being better than his coach, Gilmour when he fully develops. That's mostly hearsay tho, but that's mostly what we rely on when evaluating prospects..and YouTube of course.

I can't think of a comparable for Reinhart. I've heard of a bit bigger RNH around here with better defensive acumen. I don't think Bennett is any slouch in that regard either. So, I would say no to Reinhart and even take Leon ahead of him.

[Bingo]

And this is why the draft will be so much fun ...

Ekblad goes first, then its a huge guessing game for the Sams, followed by another for the Oilers and the Draisaitl thing.

So much fun to have four players and be pick #4, a first for Calgarians.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Bingo

And this is why the draft will be so much fun ...

Ekblad goes first, then its a huge guessing game for the Sams, followed by another for the Oilers and the Draisaitl thing.

So much fun to have four players and be pick #4, a first for Calgarians.

I hope it goes just like last year where we took the top six player left to us. Now it's the top four. No going off the, off the, off the ................, well everyone knows what I mean.

[Scoreface]

Yeah as much as we can be assured we will get a good player at #4, there is always an element of surprise here:

A) Ekblad falls to us (unlikely)
B) Oilers be stupid and do something stupid (maybe leaving Ekblad or Bennett for us - Im a big Bennett fan). The Oil being stupid is no surprise I guess, but they are a huge wildcard!
C) The Flames trade up to get their guy if he is still there
D) They trade down (not likely, but we all wait with baited breath)
E) Does a guy like Ehlers or even Ritchie figure somewhere in here.

This draft is going to be awesome! I am so stoked for this. Also, because of what Florida may do (with us?) and the Oilers. I digress, but it is easy to be lead away from the Buff pick because things can really get crazy based on team's situations (Flo, Edm). That, along with so much parity in the top picks, will keep me glued to the tv. Not that last years didn't.

Fun times ahead.

[Bunk]

The question is, if Ekblad and Draisatl go 1-2, what does Edmonton do? Bennett? Or do they trade down for to someone like Ritchie, Virtanen or Fleury?

[Ashasx]

I hope the Sabres take Bennett because I think there's a better chance of the Oilers passing on Reinhart (more of the same) than Bennett (everything the Oilers are not).

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Scoreface

Wow. Both Sam's are tied at 90 votes. Interesting! Is there a margin in this poll? Say if 51% prefer one over the other..

I'd say no and we continue on, but results like that will always bear 'what could have been' kind of talk. Oh well. It's just a poll.

I suggest that we combine them in the next poll and consider them equally there yet equally gone. Since most people just want either one of them, I don't think it really affects the next poll. We are just wondering who will trickle down. The numbers in this poll already support this. Unless someone really has fears about coin tosses.

So for instance, at next poll Draisaitl vs Bennet/Reinhart leftover. Let's say Edmonton takes the other Sam, we get Draisaitl. Let's say Edmonton takes Draisaitl, we get a Sam. I mean the poll is really about guessing anyways, right?

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Wow, close race. I picked Reinhart.

[Caged Great]

I went with Bennett, but I could see Reinhart or Draisaitl. It's really a coin flip.

[Scoreface]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

I suggest that we combine them in the next poll and consider them equally there yet equally gone. Since most people just want either one of them, I don't think it really affects the next poll. We are just wondering who will trickle down. The numbers in this poll already support this. Unless someone really has fears about coin tosses.

So for instance, at next poll Draisaitl vs Bennet/Reinhart leftover. Let's say Edmonton takes the other Sam, we get Draisaitl. Let's say Edmonton takes Draisaitl, we get a Sam. I mean the poll is really about guessing anyways, right?

There's the rub though. It's Edmonton!! That one is gonna be a doozy. Yeehaw!