This is Mark Pysyk of the Edmonton Oil Kings. For old timey guys like me, Pysyk is an interesting bookend to Phil Russell's selection in the 1972 Entry Draft (Russell was taken 13th in '72) and it'll be interesting to see if he slides into the top 30 overall.Mike Remmerde isn't high on him, but Redline's mock draft has him going #25 overall. I won't spoil the surprise by telling you the name of the player Kyle Woodlief is suggesting the Oilers take #1 overall, but would like to address a continuing issue in the Seguin/Hall debate.
I think we're (as a group) a fairly reasonable bunch. We've looked at the evidence made available and are (mostly) in agreement that this is an extremely close race for #1 overall. There is an element of the online-Oilfan who use internet aggression to establish a position, I guess in hopes of saying "I told you so" down the line. Maybe it makes sense in some wonky way, there's a 50/50 chance of being right and if you're wrong who the hell remembers anyway?
But it is kind of a drag to see one outlandish comment followed by 90 responses. It muddies the water, changes the tone. ALL posters are welcome here, but respect is earned. And I hope that you do your part by not feeding the crazy posts that have the Hall/Seguin race as being anything but a photo finish.
This one is going to be very close.
--
Redline has their look at goalies out today as well and Remmerde is kicking the crap out of the competition here. I'll have my final top 30 up tomorrow and let's have some fun this week.
LT
well said.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's a lock that the oilers pick hall.I read somewhere they were eyeballing some big,tough defenceman named mcllrath.if the oilers want seguin(a natural centre)they could maybe swap bostons 2nd pick in the first round for a pick or cogliano...then they take the top guy next on their draft board.
ReplyDeleteLT,
ReplyDeleteAgreed on all points. But I'd like to make a suggestion. I think that if the more mature posters just ignore the trolling posts probably it won't solve the problem. Aggressive posters will keep posting regardless of the reaction they get. Other posters who are disposed to post aggressive, troll-like post will read the comment sections and will say "Oh these comments are right up my alley. Everyone is shouting angry things, so I can do that too." Indeed, that may be where we're headed.
The only way to prevent this sort of blog degredation is to have the smart, fair posters outnumber the shouters. With JW, BDHS, Tyler, Matt, Vic, Slipper, and a host of others posting less here -maybe because they are doing more on their own site and because it's summer- it's created a vaccuum. There are likely new JW's Vics out there reading, but they're not likely to post if the comments are full of shouts.
I suggest you start banning the worst offenders. Even though people can find a way back in, it sends a message, and gets people to think a bit before they post angrily.
Ignoring the offenders only works if the offenders care about being given the silent treatment. They don't. The idea that they do is based on the wives tale that people act badly to get attention.
You needn't ban often or even permanently.
Anyway, it's just a suggestion. I'll keep reading you as long as you're writing.
the oilers would leave hall for Boston
ReplyDeletekris,
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know there is no way to block posters on blogger.
joe strong - you might have read that here or maybe LT's power of suggestion is working on you
ReplyDeleteWhat are your thoughts on Pouliot? ;)
I think Bergeron is a UFA next summer so while Boston seems set at C right now that could change in a hurry, especially if Savard gets his bell rung again. Remember the Oilers and how they had too many small centres to pick Parise. Comrie and Marchant were gone before the echo of 'Pouliot' had died out in the arena.
I think Boston might prefer Hall as a guy who could probably step right in on LW next year for them. We've seen how wide open the east is. He might give them a crack at it.
But unless Tambellini is a great poker player I'm not sure if anything is going to happen there. If he wants Hall he'll pick him. If he wants Seguin he will pick him.
Taking a look at that list I don't see Calgary's pick.
ReplyDeleteOh right.
That Jokinen trade is the gift that just keeps on giving. What a disaster.
pouliot has improved & I think they should sign him.he needs to earn a spot or he will be a useful 13th forward.he can play both c/w & can move up & down the lineup.cogliano is okay but he's useless in the bottom six so he's got to to with nilson,Moreau,o'sullivan,pisani,comrie,souray.potulny maybe as a spare part/ahl guy but he's expendable.we have many good prospects in Europe & college ready to play pro hockey in north America.oiler fans need to be patient & quit jumping on & off the bandwagon.the fans also got to realize that players like cogliano,nilson,etc may go on to have success elsewhere but these guys are gone for a reason.stone needs to be resigned to 2way because he's useful & same with jacques.hall or seguin is alright by me but I actually favor seguin as the natural centre.
ReplyDeleteMr. Hemingway: I'm impressed.
ReplyDeletescot nichol is a guy the oilers should target.great faceoff/penalty killer.you have him & a healthy horcoff taking draws & killing penalties,you have a good chance of having success killing penalties if you have the puck.he'd play with stortini & IMO jacques.
ReplyDeletesomething I read about pouliot was he is the last guy in his 1st round draft class to stick in the NHL...not sure if that's accurate but I don't mind him
ReplyDeleteI asked for a beer. He brought me a cold beer. It was a very cold beer. I drank the cold beer in the hot sun. The sun was very hot. The beer was very good. I asked for another beer from Pedro. He was a good man. When he brought me cold beer I considered him a great man. I often told him this after many cold beers in the hot sun.
ReplyDeleteShe came into the cafe. She sat with me. Her hair was long. Her hair was brown. She had a cold beer. It was good to have cold beer in the hot sun with a beautiful woman with long brown hair. Her hair was brown. The quick red fox jumped over the lazy brown dog.
She liked Pedro too. Except Pedro was a Seguin man.
The jerk.
i still think hall is the better player and the oilers should pick him, unless they can get something out of boston in return or taking seguin.
ReplyDeletebut if the oilers take seguin straight up, i'll be fine with it. the magnificent bastard has won my trust.
the draft should be exciting. less exciting that it would be if the oilers had a pick later in the first round, but exciting nonetheless.
there will be plenty of time to debate and discuss the aftermath in the aftermath.
'The mist hung in the morning air. The Spaniards crossed the river. And we shot them.'
ReplyDelete...or something like that. A bar in California used to have an imitation Hemingway competition and there are a couple of 'Best of Bad Hemingway' books out from it.
if the Oilers ever got another 1st round pick, in the mid to late part of the round, and McIlrath is already gone, and Pysyk is still there, i'd take him. couldn't hurt.
ReplyDeleteI think Boston might prefer Hall as a guy who could probably step right in on LW next year for them. We've seen how wide open the east is. He might give them a crack at it.
ReplyDeleteBD,
I think you are correct.
When we all sit here (in our Mom's basement), and play armchair GM, we always assume the long term health of the team is the overriding objective.
I think that is incorrect as often as its true.
Mr. Chiarelli manages a sports team in the same town as the Red Sox, Celtics, and Patriots.
There is no tougher sports town in the US, including New York.
With his line up and payroll, he may need to make it to the CF to save his job.
If you are faced with a choice of succeeding or not pulling an NHL paycheck, the long term can seem very far away.
I dig on old Hemingway for sure. Many many years ago before we were married we were in Key West and checked out his place there. Very very cool. He led an extraordinary life.
ReplyDeleteMore than a bit of a dick though.
The Sun Also Rises remains one of my favourite books. I read it nearly every year and now that I think about it, its just about that time.
WG- If Boston decides that the future is not important, I'd suggest that the best move is to trade the pick for roster player(s) that are ready now.
ReplyDeleteWoodguy - and is it next summer that Chara and Bergeron are UFA?
ReplyDeleteI think the question for me about the whole Boston trading up thing is it doesn't make sense to me. I don't know how these guys think but if I'm Boston I figure Tambo either wants Hall or he doesn't. If he wants him then what am I going to offer to pry him away? It would have to be really really good, probably more than I want to offer.
And if he doesn't want Hall then I don't have to do a damn thing.
So unless Tambo is a great bluffer I don't see anything coming of it. And even then I doubt it unless Tambo can convince him that Edmonton isn't really sure yet. Plant that seed and then maybe I bite.
The impression most Boston fans give is they're ecstatic to be picking second, no matter who they get.
ReplyDeleteIt's Leafs fans I'd worry about, what with their doublethink re Kessel being spoon fed them by Doctor Evil himself.
Deano,
ReplyDeleteAgreed, hence all the 27+, and 83+ posts about that pick.
BD,
Yes, they are both in their last year.
A guy with 4 picks in the first 45 (or close to 45) will automatically under value them a bit and might be willing to swap 15 for 31 to "make sure"
Or Chiarelli might have something lined up with another club who would give up a 1st liner or very good 2nd liner with 2 years left on the contract for the pick (plus the team aquiring 2OV gives up other stuff)
More team than the Oilers want 2OV, and many have lots to give too.
Horton to Boston if Tallon wants to make a splash.
ReplyDeleteDeano,
ReplyDeleteThat's a reasonable guess.
One of the things I'm looking forward to next year is not just Hall vs Seguin but also Kessel vs whichever player Boston gets.
ReplyDeleteIf Boston's guy outscores Kessel and Leafs hand Chiarelli another lottery pick Leafs fans might just tear down the ACC.
Now that the tone has been set for this weeks' discussions I just want to say that if Tambo doesn't take the player I want him to next Friday it's obvious he's was lobotomized on his way out of Vancouver and anyone who disagrees with me must have never seen five minutes of hockey in their life and has no idea had to properly interpret an advanced statistic spreadsheet at behindthenet.ca
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty simple for me. I select the more mature, and smarter kid. When all things are equal, you look for the intangible things like how likely a kid is to get a reporter pregnant and ask for a trade out of town.
ReplyDeleteI'm not privy to that kind of information, but I really hope the scouts are weighing those options.
14. St. Louis — Nick Bjugstad.
ReplyDelete...They could use a young
goalie in the system, but won’t reach for one here.
Ha! This guy is good!
Interesting that he has McIlrath slotted at 17. For some reason I think he may go even a earlier than that. I suggested Tinordi a while ago as a second choice if you can't get McIlrath and it looks like the list is in agreeance. I'm not usually for taking defencemen in the first round but seeing as we have top choice I think we can afford to draft for need a bit after that so either of those guys may be worth trading up to.
LT, any chance you can do a top 31 instead of a top 30... for rather obvious reasons?
ReplyDeletePDO: Done.
ReplyDeleteThe old man and the sea? Anyone?
ReplyDeleteIf we pick Hall and he gets injured it would make a perfect comparison.
The old man fought for days with the swordfish, he finally caught him after countless efforts, and then on his way to the bay, the sharks ate his prize.
(Isn't a direct quote, we never know someone might call out)
Excellent.
ReplyDeleteNow can you ban anyone who disagrees with me in regards to Seguin & Hall? :).
I'm amazed that so many people have taken such a hard line stance on it... there's probably a pretty interesting study in there for some psychology professor. Either way the Oilers are getting a stud.
Next Friday can't come soon enough...
LT, keep up the great work in here. Always an enjoyable read, and 90% of the comments are gold. This is still the best Oilers blog out there.
ReplyDeleteThat really is the most fucked up mockdraft I've seen yet. Campbell's got stupid amounts of talent, that's sure, but Tampa has probably the deepest stable of goaltending prospects in the league at this point. Also, for Gudbranson to fall that far is absolute sin, especially to the benefit of a smaller version of Jordan Eberle.
ReplyDeleteI'll take it every day of the week and twice next Friday though, because it means Quinton Howden slides to the 2nd round.
As I said on my blog, I'd expect to see the Magnificent Bastard sprinting to the podium on Saturday, giddy with anticipation.
I'm amazed that so many people have taken such a hard line stance on it..
ReplyDeleteI think the posters who have taken an extreme position on 1OV are the posters who tend to extreme positions on many issues.
The best descriptor for then is "shrill"
Vince: I thought Tambo was lobotomized on his way IN to Vancouver.
ReplyDeleteLT: I remember Phil Russell pretty well. I arrived in Edmonton in '71 and the WHA didn't get here 'til '72 so that first winter I watched quite a bit of Oil Kings hockey. They had a helluva club with Doug Soetaert and Larry Hendrick between the pipes; up front Don Kozak, Darcy Rota, Johnny Rogers and before the deadline they picked up this older kid named Brian Ogilvie who was a mighty fine junior.
On the blue there was Russell and Tom Bladon, as good a junior defence pair as you could hope to see. Russell was the edgier of the two, took something north of 300 minutes that 19-year-old season, while Bladon was more your Tom Gilbert type with a little more edge. Third guy on the blue was Keith Mackey, a gigantic but younger kid who was tracking real well until he suffered an eye injury that tragically ended his career.
God damn, that was a good team. Beat John Davidson and the Calgary Centennials in the western final, then took out the Regina Pats in the WCHL final, and ultimately went out east to play for the Memorial Cup (which they didn't win).
In those days it was a 20-year-old draft, guys weren't picked until after their junior career was done. Russell and Bladon went #13 and #23 overall that summer and both walked right into the NHL and became productive players on good teams right off the bat. Bladon knocked Bobby Orr out of (one line of) the NHL record book by being the first defenceman to score 8 points in a game, a record he still shares with Paul Coffey. Four of those Oil Kings went top 30 in 1972 and two more in the top 30 the following year.
I have Quentin Howden at 31 out of that mock draft. But it seems out of most of the mock drafts I've seen (which seems to be a ton), its pretty much assured that the Oilers will get a pretty nice player at 31 if they choose not to move up.
ReplyDeleteThese guys realise the Wild has taken like 1 guy since 2003 who was under 6'00? And Tarasenko in the 20's?
ReplyDeleteWtf? Seriously? If he falls to the Rangers he's gone.
Like I said, I'd be dancing a merry jig if the Oilers somehow pry 2nd overall from the Bruins with a Penner package, but I don't see it happening.
ReplyDeleteIf Giggy is okay next season the Leafs have little danger of being a lottery team, but you never know. Hall/Seguin, Pysyk, and a 15th overall next season though is a steep price for a Kessel.
I'll be happy with either Hall or Seguin. I'd also be very happy if the Oilers got Pysyk or Galiev at 31 and Kabanov with Nashville's 2nd. Kabanov is a top 10 offensive talent with no options at this point; the risks are there and he's definitely a swing for the fences pick.
WG: I've been on the Hall bandwagon the whole time, and the reason is mostly selfish as its the type of hockey I want to see the Oilers play going into the next many years. I think the Hall/Seguin debate has more to do with style than anything. Like I said before, if the Oilers pick Seguin, I will applaud him as well, and we'll see where it leads us.
ReplyDeleteI could see Boston doing something like moving #2 to Florida.
ReplyDeleteThis makes some sens:
To FLA: #2 overall pick and #15 pick
To Boston: Horton and #3 overall pic
*sigh*. I want Horton in an Oilers uniform, but I digress. I feel this is finally the year that Horton gets traded.
ReplyDeleteFPB, the Old Man lost the fish, but in the end he won. It wasn't just about getting the 'prize'. He fought with the fish, he survived, and when he made it back he had regained his reputation and position within the village, and his young apprentice was allowed to return to his side.
ReplyDeleteIf Hall got a career ending injury fairly early, but helped the team reach respectability again and start attracting good players then it'd be a perfect metaphor =).
I think you're closer to The Pearl, where in the end he just tosses the titular pearl into the ocean, after it brings him nothing but sorrow and costs him what was really important to begin with. Hemmingway is just crazily depressing.
http://www.rds.ca/hockey/chroniques/301019.html
ReplyDeleteNESN.com says that Horton is being negotiated by Boston right now.
Picks and players involved. (No one revealed)
Btw, Mrs. Bruce just asked me tonight who I'd take between Hall and Seguin, and I said I'm glad it's not up to me to make that decision and I'm happy to just leave it up to the professionals. I'm prepared to get behind whichever kid they take and won't begrudge the other a fine career.
ReplyDeleteAnd then I said that dumbo Tambellini just fuckin' better get it right, that's all.
Uni: Yeah okay, =), they win the cup and then he gets a career ending injury gettind rammed by a headhunter.
ReplyDeleteI kind of like what the guy said IRT Connelly being taken by Anaheim. He is a gamble that is for sure and in this day and age of looking for value contracts, he will make a GM look like a genius or a Jack Gordon.
ReplyDeleteCrazyCoach: Well, I think Red line's call was righteous. I mean Anah does have 2 first rounders, if Connolly fails, they can still save theyr asses with the other pick.
ReplyDeleteKeith Mackey, a gigantic but younger kid who was tracking real well until he suffered an eye injury that tragically ended his career.
ReplyDeleteI golfed with Keith MacKey in a charity golf tourney a couple weeks back.
He related some interesting hockey stories and is a fine gentleman.
Giant of a man (6'6") with a really smooth golf swing and temperament.
If that puck didn't hit his eye, the day he skated in the NHL he would have been the tallest player in the league.
Always put your visor on =).
ReplyDeleteCC,
ReplyDeleteI don't think Connelly is a risk.
I had his injury when I was younger and playing 2 sports and the fix is simply stronger core muscles so your flexors don't do all the work, especially bent over skating.
I think Connelly has a reasonable chance to outscore 1OV and 2OV over the whole career in the NHL.
At least a better chance than anyone else in the draft.
WG: More chances than Tarasenko or Granlund?
ReplyDeleteFirst is a guy with more points than Ovechkin and the other a record breaker in Finland.
I'd bet on these wildcards =). Tough i agree if Connolly falls to 15 or so he'd be a good pickup.
If that puck didn't hit his eye, the day he skated in the NHL he would have been the tallest player in the league.
ReplyDeleteI'm convinced Mackie would have skated in the NHL as a 20-year-old the way Russell and Bladon did. He was awkward at that age but smart as a whip, great positionally, and had the wingspan of an albatross.
Thanks for the update. Keith was a good kid, and I'm not surprised to hear he's a good adult. :)
Btw, I misspelled his name, it's Mackie.
Woodguy is dead on. Everything I've read on Connelly said he was top 5 with a bullet till the injury. The scouts all speculated that he might be up there with Hall and Seguin in terms of talent and potential, and it could have been a 3 way race.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely worth a flyer if you have the two picks, and I don't see him being there any later than 15.
I have a little fantasy where the Oilers after grabbing Hall/Seguin, trade up to get 15th and nab Connelly, then use the Nashville pick on Kabanov, and all 3 pan out =).
Uni,
ReplyDeleteYour fantasy come true would be awesome.
You can always trade for defence and goaltending, and when you have a lot of forward talent you trade from a position of strength.
I wouldn't be surprised if Boston moves 2nd overall—so long as they get a pick in the top 5 plus a top-line NHL forward. Boston has to win soon with their current core, and GM's rarely get credit for their team's successes after they are booted out the door—no matter how responsible they are for the team's eventual success.
ReplyDeleteI'd be willing to move a package of Hemsky / Penner to get the second pick though. I just don't see them being part of the team once the Oilers' window opens.
LT - Can I suggest that you put up a 'crazy post' that encourages everyone to take their slightest tendancy towards Hall or Seguin and then go radical on it with the most extreme rant they can think of... It might relieve some stress for everyone.
ReplyDeleteThe Pearl is Steinbeck.
ReplyDeleteHemingway was a brute and wrote because then he could win.
I couldn't put him in top 10 20th Century writers...
I'm going for a smoke.
book¡e,
ReplyDeleteI think you are referring to some of the brilliant sarcasm up above. I agree. But it sounds like a blog for you¡
More than anything, if we end up with another 1st rounder I'd like to see us come away with Connolly. After taking a lock with #1, it would be the perfect time to roll the dice.
ReplyDeleteIf it doesn't work out we still walk away with either Hall or Seguin, but if it does we potentially have 2 of the top 3 talents coming out of the draft.
With the lack of goaltending prospects in net, I'm surprised I haven't really heard Campbell's name thrown around. If we get the 15th and he's available, not a bad idea?
Clearly Taylor Segall is the consensus #1 pick.. anyone that thinks otherwise is WRONG!!!
ReplyDeleteI jest, of course (albeit I'm the only one laughing at my lame joke). Well said... some people need a bit of a tongue lashing. There definitely is a common trend on the hockey blog/forum to back up your argument with insulting tone rather than facts.
It's a close race for sure. For the record, I lean towards Hall, but only because I have barely seen Seguin at all, and I loved what I've seen of Hall so far. Either way, I think it's a win/win situation. I'm not too concerned about the pick Stu makes on draft day.
I'm more concerned about how much fat Tambellini can trim off this roster and if he can manage to scoop up some more picks in the top end of the draft (I don't mean top end of the first round, which would be nice, but any extra picks in the 1st 3 rounds would be great)
Bruce
ReplyDelete"Mrs. Bruce just asked me tonight who I'd take between Hall and Seguin, and I said I'm glad it's not up to me to make that decision and I'm happy to just leave it up to the professionals. "
Could not agree with you more!!!! Have no clue who will be better 5 years from now but hope and trust MBS gets it right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BD
ReplyDeleteIf you've not read it, Papa Hemingway by A.E Hotchner is, not only the best biography of Hemingway I've ever read, but it might be the best biography I've ever read period.
It was written by a young journalist who was sent Cuba to write an article about Hemingway and ended up being swept up in his group of drinking buddies and becoming one of his closest friends in the last dozen or so years of his life. You get a great picture of Hemingway's lifestyle, and his descent into insanity. Absolutely riveting stuff. I highly recommend it.
http://www.amazon.com/Papa-Hemingway-E-Hotchner/dp/0786705922
Thanks Marc I will check it out.
ReplyDeleteIn the mid-80s Hemingway's sons marketed a line of sporting goods with their father's name on them.
ReplyDeleteOne of the initial items was a replica of his favorite rook rifle.
Yup, the one he used to blow his head off.
Millard and Flaming both thinking Hall falls to the Bruins in their latest posting...Link
ReplyDeleteAh, the deep thinkers are out again
ReplyDeleteI really hope the Oilers pick either Hall or Seguin
Spoiler you are correct, I read a lot of Hemmingway and Steinbeck for a Summer and still often get myself confused.
ReplyDeleteAs a side note I wrote a synopsis of The Pearl that helped get my brother into college =).