3 top 10 picks for Dougie. Buffalo would be dumb to do this.

How are you gonna value Dougie over OEL. ???
The top 5 pick this year is probably more than enough because of the possibility of getting dahlin.

I don't factor in "where" a certain pick might actually land. Because it's a lottery pick there's no guarantee BUF gets a top 5.
Talking value of DH over OEL, the only way I can look at it is DH is younger and a right shot RD which always seem to be in high demand.

Not one piece in the OEL trade seems enticing for an elite dman. Dougie hasn't done much recently. You're trying to pry away the sabres future for an extra disappointing defenseman. Sabres are in second to last so atm that guarantees a top 5 pick if you can do the math. 3 lottery picks plus two places equals 5. Hence we can fall between 1 and 5 which has more value than Dougie.

So how then last year did Dallas move from #8 up to #3, and Philly went from #13 to #2?
Nothing in the new lottery system is guaranteed. As long as a team has a ball in the drum, anyone can win #1.
Well, except Buffalo who tanked an entire season to get the #1 overall pick. And how's McDavid doing for you?

It's simple math. There a three lottery picks. If three teams that pick from 3-15 win those spots the second to last team picks at 5 which is literally the worst possible situation. How are you not getting this? Eichel has been good thanks.

Alright, you sold me, i would do the buffalo package. For an extended oel. I mean come on, there is no way the sabres even consider a package like that for hamilton.

Based on how the lottery works now, and using last year as an example....

WHO CAN WIN THE LOTTERY? Fifteen teams have a shot.
Any one of the 14 clubs who failed to qualify for the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, or the clubs that have acquired the first-round drafting positions of those non-playoff teams.
For just the second time in NHL draft lottery history, the top three picks are in play. This rule was implemented by the league in 2016 to dull incentive for any team to finish lower in the standings (i.e., tanking).



As I said before, last year Philly finished 19th in league standings and WON the 2nd overall pick. So there is no guarantee if you finish 30th or 31st you'll automatically get a top 3-5 pick.
How are you not getting that?

I think you misunderstand what the problem is. It's not that the pick can win the lottery it is that at our current position Buffalo at worst can pick 5th overall. (That's with 3 teams jumping into the top 3 above us.)

In the case of 3 lower teams winning like last year, without Vegas since they were inserted at #4 because of being an expansion team:

1 - Lottery
2 - Lottery
3 - Lottery
4 - 31st
5 - 30th

So Buffalo at 30th overall in the standing can go no lower than 5th overall regardless of the lottery's results.