Buffalo Sabres 2007 Draft

First pick(2nd round)

T.J. Brennan, 6-1 200 4-3-1989,
St.Johns Fog Devils QMJHL, 68 gp – 16 g – 25 a – 41 points - -8 – 79 pims.
++ Upside, Shot, hand skill
+ Creativity, mobility, physical play
- Defensive awareness, raw.

Was invited to St. John’s camp for a walk on try out in which not only did he make the team but he finished the season as their top defenseman playing 30 minutes a night. He’s an enticing package of size and offensive skill. Brennan possesses nimble feet for a big kid with a strong stride and good mobility. He’s blessed with soft hands and he’s capable of going coast to coast. He sees the ice adequately well and displays some creativity while playing the point. His most stand out quality is his ferocious point shot that is NHL caliber already. Defensively he needs some work as he can get over aggressive and take himself out of position. At times he’ll get caught up the ice and will make risky offensive plays. That said his gap control is already good and he can skate with anybody. He also is a big and strong kid that can land a stiff body check.
from here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8u56bnW6hg highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVRdK...elated&search=(fights)


2nd pick (3rd round)


DREW SCHIESTEL D 6'1 180lbs

Scouting Report: This unknown skating and puckhandling standout was buried on Mississauga’s last defense pairing .. long legs generate powerful and graceful strides .. hovers and then has an explosive burst of speed .. reaches top speed in seconds .. has good puckhandling ability and can lug the puck up ice effectively .. owns a good lead pass .. has a nice shot which he could use more often .. is capable of making the safe play but needs to show his steady side more .. likes to pinch sometimes overenthusiastically .. as a result gets caught deep but can catch his assigned forward because of skating ability .. solid in reverse .. susceptible to drifting and leaves his man alone .. collapses easily at his own net and is not willing to engage mischievous forwards .. prone to miscommunicating with his partner .. has the potential to get better as he is very coachable .. looks to be underdeveloped with the mechanics of being a defenseman rather than having poor hockey sense or being a dumb player .. Schiestel has interesting raw offensive upside as evidenced by his 6 assists in 5 playoff games, but he needs to discover an acceptable defensive game with time.

from here


3rd pick

Corey Tropp RW 5-11 185, 7-25-1989, Sioux Falls USHL 54 gp – 26 g – 36 a – 62 points.
++ Offensive instincts and ability to finish
+ Hands and balance
- Me first attitude, defensive play.

An offensive game breaker who steps up in the big games. He Lead the Clarkson Cup Champion Sioux Falls in regular season and playoff scoring and w as also named the USHL All Star Game MVP. Tropp is blessed with outrageously soft hands that can undress the opposition and he uses a long stick. Seemingly handles the puck as if it is on a string and he’s very dangerous one on one off of the rush and in heavy traffic. Tropp is imaginative and patient with the puck. He’s resilient in possession as he is sturdy on his feet .as he has a knack for slipping off checks. Possesses strong arms and has covers the puck well. He likes to change direction on a dime behind the net to shed the defenseman before taking the puck to the net. Trop can be guilty of over handling the puck at times. He’s strong along the boards and in front of the net and he will be able to handle the trenches in the NHL some day. Especially dangerous from within 15 feet of the goal although he can also be an end-to-end threat despite lacking explosive speed. Has a goal scorers release and instincts as he releases the puck in a heart beat. His hot is accurate and hard and he anticipates well as he finds the quiet areas near the net. Has a knack for disappearing back door before remerging wide open. Trop also sees the ice well and has the vision, creativity, and touch to be an above average playmaker. He spots the open man instantly and can execute passes through tight lanes in heavy traffic from his backhand and forehand. Tropp displays impressive imagination while distributing the puck and can execute with the opposition all over him. He possesses a good first step and a decent top gear when he keeps his feet moving with the puck. He does lack an explosive separation gear but he is agile with good lateral cuts. His defensive play is lackluster and he is always the first to leave the zone and is the last one to get back to his own zone. He competes and wins battles for loose pucks in the offensive zone but not in his own. Puck pursuit is non-existent unless an offensive chance is probable as he does not finish check. He displays poor body language and he gets frustrated too easily and sulks noticeably at his teammates time to time.

http://www.sharkspage.com/2007_nhl_draftpreview.html


5th round

Bradley Eidsness G
posted a 2.87 goals against average and a .907 save percentage in 48 games for Okotoks of the AJHL.

Jean-Simon Allard C (6'2'', 195 lbs.) with the 147th overall selection.


6th Round

Nick Eno G (6'3'', 190), of the Eastern Junior Hockey League with the team's seventh selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. A larger goaltender Eno posted a 3.60 goals against average and a .902 save percentage.


7th Round

Drew MacKenzie D high schooler out of the Taft School in Connecticut. In 24 games, MacKenzie recorded three goals and 10 assists for 13 points. He also posted 10 penalty minutes.