With the Buffalo Sabres unable to score goals once again in the still relatively young season, the reality has likely settled in for most who follow the team: They'll be picking very, very high in next year's NHL Entry Draft.
How high? Jeremy White of Buffalo's local WGR 550 radio station tweeted that SportsClubStats.com gives the Sabres a 97-percent chance of picking in the top three.
So to start, the Sabres will have an all but guaranteed top-three pick. Then comes the saga that will surround the first rounder obtained from the New York Islanders for Thomas Vanek that can be deferred to next season if the Isles finish poorly enough to pick in the top 10.
The story will involve the Islanders' internal debate of whether or not to defer the pick given what is on the horizon in terms of prospects next year.
As of Friday, the Islanders would pick second in the upcoming draft—assuming the Sabres win the lottery. Aside from John Tavares, the Islanders don't seem to be getting much better anytime soon either, especially with their current situation between the pipes. With that in mind, it is not a stretch to think th ...
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Article written by Matt Clouden
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