Montreal, QC (WGR 550) -- One knock against the Sabres following the 2008-09 season is that they were simply not tough enough. On Friday, Buffalo's brass took a hopeful step toward fixing that, with the selection of right winger Zack Kassian at the NHL Entry Draft. Kassian, coming out of Peterborough of the OHL, stands 6' 3 and 210 pounds and has drawn comparisons to Todd Bertuzzi and Milan Lucic in terms of playing style. Darcy Regier wouldn't discuss that saying, "I stay away from those comparisons, I think it puts tremendous pressure on the kid and it isn't fair to him." Regier added, "He's a player we felt strongly about. You always talk about taking the best player, but it's tough to ignore when the needs match up with what you feel is the best player." This is probably the first time I had the Sabres picked nailed. There was no doubt in my mind they'd take Kassian. It's exactly what the organization doesn't have.
As far as Kassian stepping in the October Regier said, "That's too much to ask. He'll come to the conditioning camp, he'll come to training camp and with his size, he'll get a lot of attention, but as far as him playing, it's a reach."
Kassian is physical -- he left number one overall pick John Tavares with a shoulder injury following a powerful hit during a prospects game -- and also has a bit of a scoring touch. The 18-year-old forward scored 24 goals and added 39 assists, last season for the Petes. As far as Kassian he said, "I had no idea Buffalo would take me. It's great to be picked here,
it's a great organization and I've heard nothing but good things." Kassian knows Mike Weber and Pat Kaleta.
According to NHL Central Scouting's Chris Edwards: "Kassian is one of the toughest guys in the OHL and probably the entire draft. Last season as an under-ager there were overage guys in the league who would not take him on. He has not fought much this season (because) he has not had to. He is at his best when he is playing physical and tough along the boards. He protects the puck very well and fights through checks. He has very good play-making and puck-handling abilities."
Buffalo's next pick is in the third round, 66th overall. Darcy Regier had expressed interest on Friday about pulling off a trade to move into the second round, however a deal never materialized.
Regier said they had four offers for the 13th overall pick. They would've moved down in the first round to get a late second to third round pick. Regier said, "We really had identified Kassian as the player we felt would be a real good fit for us."
Regier said he's been asked about some players already in the Sabres organization since being in Montreal, but he wasn't interested. I asked him if he'd be interested in moving a couple of guys off the roster and Regier said, "We would. we have a lot of good pieces." My speculation is he's looking to move Jochen Hecht and Henrik Tallinder.
1.) NY Islanders -- John Tavares, C, OHL
2.) Tampa Bay -- Victor Hedman, D, Elitserien
3.) Colorado -- Matt Duchene, C, OHL
4.) Atlanta -- Evander Kane, C, WHL
5.) Los Angeles -- Brayden Schenn, C, WHL
6.) Phoenix -- Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D, Allsvenskan
7.) Toronto -- Nazem Kadri, C, OHL
8.) Dallas -- Scott Glennie, RW, WHL
9.) Ottawa -- Jared Cowen, D, WHL
10.) Edmonton -- Magnus Svensson Pääjärvi, LW, Elitserien
11.) Nashville -- Ryan Ellis, D, OHL
12.) NY Islanders (from Minnesota) -- Calvin de Haan, D, OHL 13.) Buffalo -- Zack Kassian, RW, OHL
14.) Florida -- Dmitri Kulikov, D, QMJHL
15.) Anaheim -- Peter Holland, C, OHL
16.) Minnesota (from NY Islanders) -- Nick Leddy, D, Eden Prairie High School
17.) St. Louis -- David Rundblad, D, Elitserien
18.) Montreal -- Louis Leblanc, C, USHL
19.) NY Rangers -- Chris Kreider, C, Andover
20.) New Jersey (from Calgary) -- Jacob Josefson, C, Djurgarden
21.) Columbus (from Anaheim) -- John Moore, D, Chicago
22.) Vancouver -- Jordan Schroeder, C, Univ of Minn.
23.) Calgary (from New Jersey) -- Tim Erixxon, D, Skelleftea
24.) Washington -- Marcus Johansson, C, Farjestad
25.) Boston -- Jordan Caron, RW, Rimouski
26.) Anaheim (from Columbus, from NY Islanders) -- Kyle Palmieri, F, US under 18
27.) Carolina -- Philippe Paradis, C, Shawinigan
28.) Chicago -- Dylan Olsen, D, Camrose
29.) Tampa Bay (from Detroit) -- Carter Ashton, RW, Lethbridge
30.) Pittsburgh -- Simon Despres, D, Saint John
This video is better, although it is w/o music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzWyBKPq9O0&feature=related
06/26/2009 11:20PM
Looks Like the Right Pick
Kulikov was sitting there, but Kassian is the kind of player that will be a fan favorite
06/26/2009 11:53PM
kid is doomed...
im just waiting for moron casual fans to run this kid out of town for not making the opening night roster...you cant win in this town...not with all the idiot fans we've got.
06/27/2009 1:26AM
good size
The kid has good size which is what the Sabres need. I just wish they could get someone who can jump right in and play.
06/27/2009 1:27AM
Dead On !!!
This is the guy that Buffalo is what they thought they had with Bernier and who may become a player who gets cheered like Ray.
06/27/2009 4:40AM
Good, but irrelevant for this season.
Not a bad pick, that's for sure.
It's a crap shoot in the entry draft (unless you're Detroit), but at least the tangibles make sense. Good size/aggressiveness and from all accounts, seems to be a good player mentally. Hopefully he's more self-motivating than most of the players on the Sabres roster.
Unfortunately, for anybody concerned with the upcoming season, this player most likely will not be a factor (he'll remain in juniors).
06/27/2009 7:59AM
regier
regier sucks
06/27/2009 8:11AM
hmm..
Just read on a Czech website that the contract offered to Spacek was only a one year deal. He wants at least a two year. Looks like we will be losing Spacek. Too bad.. he's the best defenseman we have. Maybe if they move Tallinder, they can up the offer.
06/27/2009 9:54AM
show
when i heard nick mendola describing this guy i knew the sabres wouldnt take him. my bad.
06/27/2009 12:15PM
dear darcy
Nice pick but we had players like these before eg,(Pyatt,Bernier and Grier) but you only like guys you draft.Perhaps in the future you will learn not to fall in love with the players you draft and worry more about the teams chemistry.This teams lack of grit leads to their inconsistency.Opposing teams know that if they play them tough they fold.Glad your cathing on.
06/27/2009 5:33PM
great pick!
I like all the picks this year.
06/27/2009 5:34PM
regier
he'll probably make the team his third year and score 20 goals then we wont pay him. or let him walk to russia. with regier in place we arent going anywhere
06/28/2009 12:03PM
wrong guy
That link that was posted above under the title "Matt Kassian" is the wrong guy. Sabres drafted ZACH Kassian.
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