Sabres Draft Preview: Chapter 3 The Importance

So continuing the series in the draft preview, CycleLikeSedins asked me a few more questions, they’ll be in the works today (depending on the whole day job thing) and up as soon as I can, before I join JapersRink and Puck Daddy at the bar tonight for the awards show.

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2. The Sabres have had to let some borderline stars leave (Briere, Drury) but have been able to retain a lot of homegrown talent (Ryan Miller, Jason Pominville). Is that the key for Buffalo to keep players: by developing them and bringing them up through their system? How important, overall, is the draft to this franchise?

Let’s be honest, Darcy Regier simply does not throw money at free agents. The low ball offers cost them Drury and Briere, while we all know that the tertiary UFA’s are the usual targets. Recent free agents include Craig Rivet, Jaro Spacek, Patrick Lalime and Teppo Numminen, all decent, stand up guys, but not who you build a team around.  The Sabres have made a committment to guys that have paid their dues, came up through the system, and have progressed with the team.  The Sabres core is all made up of home grown talent; Pominville, Miller, Derek Roy, Thomas Vanek, and Drew Stafford. In the 2008 season, 4 of the top 5 Sabres scorers were drafted by the Sabres, and have moved their way up t, that should give you a sense of how important smart drafting is to this organization.

Note: However to say that isn’t necessarily true, due to a cost cutting measure, the Sabres eschew eyes and ears throughout the small arenas across the globe, and exclusively utilize video for their scouting needs.  But that topic is not here nor there, and will be argued on another day.

The Sabres have always liked their prospects to sizzle in the minors to catch up to the speed and strength of the professional ranks.  Outside of Thomas Vanek, and Chris Butler’s surprising ascent, in his tenure Ruff and co. simply don’t rush the young guns into service before they’re ready.  Tyler Myers may prove to be an exception to this rule, but we shall find out come rookie camp. (Ed. Note: Look for a rookie prospectus on Myers with help from the FaceOffHockeyShow’s own ScottyWazz in the future).  Although the Sabres never truly have had to rebuild via the draft in Regier’s tenure, so far, youth has certainly served the team well, and will have to continue doing so into the future.

Tags: 2009 Draft Preview, Buffalo Sabres