With their fifth loss in a row, the Sabres are pushing for third worst record in the league, currently three points out of the Krakens. That means for the tenth year in a row they will have a top 10 pick. Over that period they’ve had the top overall pick twice and the second overall pick twice as well. Which begs the question, is this run of mediocrity sustainable or at some point will they necessarily have to break it with all that young talent?
2013 pick 8 - Rasmus Ristolainen - solid but flawed defenseman, traded for a 2021 1st (#13) and a 2nd. Basically roll the pick forward
2014 pick 2 - Sam Reinhart - Again, solid but not overwhelming player, traded for a prospect and Florida’s 2022 1st (will be #30 or so). They also got young talent Devon Levi who is showing well.
2015 pick 2 - Jack Eichel - stud potential, but injuries have held him back. Traded a few months ago, nice haul. Krebs (former #17 pick 2019) has a bright future, Tuch is a nice piece to add, and they get Vegas pick this year (likely late teens / early 20s) and a 2nd. So again, reset the clock with future picks and young talent.
2016 pick 8 - Alex Nylander - solid but overall underwhelming player. Has been traded twice since. Buffalo got a former 1st rounder back for him (Jokiharju, a solid defenseman). Overall this worked out pretty well for Buffalo.
2017 pick 8 - Casey Middelstadt - Sabes pushed him up quickly, maybe too quickly. He struggled with the pro team and has been up and down since. Nothing special.
2018 pick 1 - Rasmus Dahlin - great start to his career, finished top 3 for the Calder. Future looks bright.
2019 pick 7 - Dylan Cozens - early but this one looks like a miss
2020 pick 8 - Jack Quinn - high potential, looks like a stud
2021 pick 1 - Owen Power - high potential, looks like a stud
And now 2022 they look like they will have three rd 1 picks, something like 3, 17, 30.
With all the above, how do the Sabres flip the switch from rebuild to Cup Contender? How close is this team to actually making a run, or will they instead keep flipping their prospects for picks indefinitely?
2013 pick 8 - Rasmus Ristolainen - solid but flawed defenseman, traded for a 2021 1st (#13) and a 2nd. Basically roll the pick forward
2014 pick 2 - Sam Reinhart - Again, solid but not overwhelming player, traded for a prospect and Florida’s 2022 1st (will be #30 or so). They also got young talent Devon Levi who is showing well.
2015 pick 2 - Jack Eichel - stud potential, but injuries have held him back. Traded a few months ago, nice haul. Krebs (former #17 pick 2019) has a bright future, Tuch is a nice piece to add, and they get Vegas pick this year (likely late teens / early 20s) and a 2nd. So again, reset the clock with future picks and young talent.
2016 pick 8 - Alex Nylander - solid but overall underwhelming player. Has been traded twice since. Buffalo got a former 1st rounder back for him (Jokiharju, a solid defenseman). Overall this worked out pretty well for Buffalo.
2017 pick 8 - Casey Middelstadt - Sabes pushed him up quickly, maybe too quickly. He struggled with the pro team and has been up and down since. Nothing special.
2018 pick 1 - Rasmus Dahlin - great start to his career, finished top 3 for the Calder. Future looks bright.
2019 pick 7 - Dylan Cozens - early but this one looks like a miss
2020 pick 8 - Jack Quinn - high potential, looks like a stud
2021 pick 1 - Owen Power - high potential, looks like a stud
And now 2022 they look like they will have three rd 1 picks, something like 3, 17, 30.
With all the above, how do the Sabres flip the switch from rebuild to Cup Contender? How close is this team to actually making a run, or will they instead keep flipping their prospects for picks indefinitely?
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