We're less than one week away from the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. This draft has everything: theatre, excitment, (possible) tragedy; Oilers fans finally have something to cheer for and the Katz ownership can sell hope by the pound.We're going to be very busy from here on in, with McKenzie's top 30 (Monday), various other draft lists and countdowns and hopefully a trade or two as the Oildrop roster begins to take shape for 2010-11. So before all that happens, I wanted to post my final top 30 list.
It is not an attempt to predict the top 30, nor is it a mock draft. This is my ranking of the "across the board" talents with math as the deciding factor. A few defensive defensemen and 2 goalies also crash the top 30 (plus #31, consider it a bonus track) based on their being ranked on most or all of the major lists this spring.
- LW-C Taylor Hall: 6.01, 180. Stunning offensive talent, exceptional skater. Blasts by defensemen ala Glenn Anderson and has a similar kamikaze approach. Lightning in a bottle, scored 123 OHL goals before his draft day. Risk is that he has a Pavel Bure career (shortened due to injury). Money.
- C Tyler Seguin: 6.01, 186. Slick, stylish centerman who reminds many of Steve Yzerman in style and substance. Lacks Hall's explosiveness but is a fine skater and an outstanding playmaker. Possesses a wider range of skills than Hall, could be a Joe Sakic family franchise C. Name is pronounced SAY-GANN. Risk is that he emerges as something less than an All-Star calibre #1 C. Wish You Were Here.
- D Brandon Gormley: 6.02, 187 A complete defenseman. Wonderful skater, he can close a gap in a heartbeat. Unlike many of this year's blue, he really is a 2-way defender with enough skill to project as a contributor on offense while having enough acumen without the puck to be considered best in class for 2010. Smart, consistent player even at this age. Welcome to the Machine.
- C Mikael Granlund: 5.10, 170. A smart center with terrific skills. "Hockey sense" is used in every scouting report as is "cerebral." Slick playmaker, slippery around the net. Very quick release, not afraid of high traffic areas. The downside includes size (5.10 might be a stretch) and just average footspeed. Having said that, you know his other skills have to be elite level for Granlund to be ranked so high. The Gnome.
- D Cam Fowler: 6.02, 190. Excellent puck mover. His scouting reports remind me of Paul Coffey every time I read them (sublime skater, effortless--as if he gets caught by a breeze; lacks physical element required to be an elite D) and I think he'll have those defensive question marks deep into his career (as did Coffey). Fowler will be an acquired taste--some coaches won't like him despite his skill set--so he'd be my bet as the first big name player from this draft to be traded by his team. Learning to Fly.
- C Ryan Johansen: 6.02, 190. C with size who spiked late. Outstanding passer, he's a big center who can make plays and as such has been compared to Joe Thornton. I don't think he'll be that good (Joe Thornton is a helluva hockey player) but he's that big skill center everyone is always looking for and that will punch his ticket early in the draft. Makes good decisions, has awkward skating style but he's not slow. A Saucerful of Secrets.
- R Vladimir Tarasenko: 5.11, 200. Terrific offensive talent, best Russian in the draft. Has that Soviet ability to handle the puck in tight quarters and emerge unscathed, but he can also score goals from outside the traditional areas (using an excellent snapshot) because he's so quick. He'd be higher if there was a transfer agreement and he still might get plucked in the top 5. Kirk Luedeke compares him to Marian Hossa. A Great Day for Freedom.
- D Erik Gudbranson: 6.03, 200. Big, tough D plays a smart game. A very smart defenseman with good wheels and a monster shot, he has been compared to Chris Pronger by several scouts. Desjardins NHLE suggests he isn't going to be the offensive player Pronger became, but there's a lot to like. Lots of wingspan, he's a good hitter, very physical player. Another Brick in The Wall.
- R Nino Niederreiter: 6.02, 207. Best PF in this year's draft, he's a big winger with soft hands. Scouts will worry some over his skating, but he's a physical player who will no doubt play in a team's top 6 and those player-types don't come along everyday. Desjardins suggests he may be a little shy offensively (meaning he's more of a complementary player) but he's going to be taken early. Pigs on the Wing (Part 1).
- C Jeff Skinner: 5.10, 197. 50 goals in 64 OHL games tells us Skinner is a pure scorer. His calling card is finding open areas and using a quick release. His footspeed is a real concern and he might go lower than this ranking, but goal-scoring is a very valuable asset and Skinner is one of this draft's best in that area. The first one-dimensional player on this list. The Gunner's Dream.
- R Brett Connolly: 6.02, 185. Tremendous across the board skills. He's an excellent skater with good hands, and also displays a willingness to play in the tough areas of the offensive zone. Smart, quick, good shot, intelligent. The negatives are famous (hip flexor, indifferent play at U-18's a couple of months ago) and despite reports that the hip problem won't be a long term problem my guess is NHL teams in the top 10 will pass over him. Is Anybody Out There?
- L Austin Watson: 6.03, 185. A wonderful prospect. Big man skates pretty well and has a powerforward's skill set, he has a great work ethic at both ends of the ice. Watson is the least creative forward at the top of the draft, but could flourish with a playmaking center. If the Oilers do trade into the middle of round 1, this is a player they might be looking at in that area. Pigs on the Wing (Part 2).
- C-L Quinton Howden: 6.02, 182. A quality 2-way player with enough offensive skill to be considered a top 6F option for an NHL team. He has a wide range of skills and although Howden doesn't possess one outstanding area of expertise his offense is strong enough for him to be a safe pick. Any Color You Like.
- C-L Emerson Etem: 6.00, 190. Speed burner with goal scoring skill. Strong skater who is tough to knock off the puck. Gets a lot of chances that come from turnovers caused by his footspeed and aggressiveness. He's a shooter, will test the goalie from anywhere. He is not a safe pick compared to the others around him on this list. Quicksilver.
- D Dylan McIlrath: 6.04, 212. Big, tough physical defender who can shut down the opposition. Oilers have drafted a big defensemen who can skate well (Matt Greene had this skill set) in the past and my guess is that they like this player a lot. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes higher than 15, all it takes is one Mike Remmerde at a draft table. Mother.
- D Derek Forbort: 6.05, 198. A complete skill set. The USA U-18 club is a blue factory, with Forbort the latest model off the assembly line. Size (tall!), skill and power, the kid has it all. Has a massive wingspan and offensive acumen. The downside (and the thing that will keep him out of the top 10) is that he's a raw player and will need time to develop. He'll be in college this fall and take his time before turning pro. Obscured by Clouds.
- C Nick Bjugstad: 6.04, 188. The third PF on this year's list, he's a huge kid with a "projectable" frame. Like Etem, this is a somewhat risky pick surrounded by safer selections so he could fall closer to the bottom of round one. Very good skater, has a very long reach and has been compared to Andrew Brunette. To give you an idea about what scouts are up against, Bjugstad was 5.10, 155 just 18 months ago. The Thin Ice.
- C Alexander Burmistrov: 5.11, 160. Skilled Russian, brilliant with the puck. Great puck handler, excellent vision and he has a motor that won't stop. Plays in the OHL (always an advantage for these Russian kids at the draft) and scored well in a tough league. His size is a major concern and there are whispers that his talent should garner better results (we heard that about Andrew Cogliano, as an example). UPDATE: A rumor out there has him possibly returning to his homeland this fall. Oy. Brain Damage.
- G Jack Campbell: 6.03, 185. Lanky goaltender is as famous in his country as Jordan Eberle is in this one--among hockey fans, anyway. Acrobatic goalie who plays angles well, has been compared to Ryan Miller. Handles the puck responsibly. Comfortably Numb.
- C Evgeny Kuznetsov: 6.00, 174. Another skilled Russian, and another Traktor boy. Redline has him coming to the OHL next season so that moves him up on my final list. A real talent with a real temper, he might take awhile to mature. Shine on you Crazy Diamond.
- C Tyler Pitlick: 6.02, 194. Already developing as a 2-way player and a safe pick at this point in the draft. He's an up and down grinding type with skill and scouts see him as a throwback winger when he reaches the show. Dogs.
- C Jaden Schwarz: 5.10, 193. Another USHL kid (that league is now the 4th major in terms of junior hockey) and another forward with a nice range of skills. A great motor, plus speed and according to a scout in the HN "there's nothing missing from his game other than height." High Hopes.
- R Tyler Toffoli: 6.00, 183. I really like this kid's resume and believe he could be a draft steal for a few reasons. He had a very poor start to his season so the boxcars (79 points in 65 OHL games) are very impressive. Also, he has a strange name (call it the Morris Titanic syndrome) and I've always felt that guys with names like Toffoli (and guys with pedestrian names like Mike Johnson) suffer in these popularity contests. Unreasonable? Hey, I know it seems weird but I've been following this stuff forever and the weird names have to be really good if they're going to be called in the first round. Hell, Christopher From Bjork didn't even get drafted! Grantchester Meadows.
- C Brock Nelson: 6.03, 205. This is already a big forward and he has skill to add to the resume. He's off to North Dakota (NCAA) which has become an Oiler favorite over the last few years (Vande Velde, Chorney). Eclipse.
- L Brad Ross: 5.11, 175. Good skater, a miserable cuss to the opposition and he has some skill. There's not a lot wrong with this player, although I have him much higher than most of these lists and he's a long shot for the first round. However, Oiler fans know from watching last season that a gritty winger with enough skill to play with the good players is an extremely valuable thing. Pigs on the Wing (Part 3....)
- G Calvin Pickard: 6.01, 195: Remmerde sums him up nicely as a prospect and this is a player Oiler fans should pay some attention to as the draft rolls along. Pickard is an outstanding prospect in an area of need for Edmonton. The Scarecrow.
- C Ryan Spooner: 5.10, 175. I should rank him lower because of the injury concerns, but it was a collarbone not a concussion and this kid has talent. Scored 30 goals in 08-09 in the OHL, and potted 54 points in 47 games this season. I think he might be a steal. Signs of Life.
- C Charlie Coyle: 6.02, 202. There's one thing I really like about him (skill set: size/speed/skill) and one thing I don't like (he dominated a poor junior league) and the latter is the reason he fell so far from my original list. He'll play for Boston University in the fall. Green is the Colour.
- L John McFarland: 6.00, 192. Skill winger with excellent speed and NHL shot (according to the scouts). He did not have a great season and he does have issues (the dreaded lack of hockey sense) but there's offensive talent here. Sheep.
- R Beau Bennett: 6.01, 183. Bennett scored 120 points in 56 BCJHL games and even though it's a tier 2 league that kind of offense is impressive in any division. Remmerde has his update on him here. Time.
- D Mark Pysyk: 6.01, 173. I didn't have him on my original top 30, but had a change of heart after going back and seeing what a terrible team the Oil Kings were this season. He's an excellent skater and puck mover, he'll need to add some size, strength and improve defensively. The Final Cut.
If the Oilers get another pick in the mid teens, I'm guessing you think the Oilers will take McIlrath, LT?
ReplyDeleteMy guess will be Kuznetsov.
speeds: Yeah, I think they'll take him. Kuznetsov coming to Canada for next season is a major development, but I can't see EDM taking another Russian for a long, long time.
ReplyDeleteIt will be a tough decision at 31 on Pysyk with Tinordi and Petrovic still on the board. I'm with you LT, I hope the Oilers find a way to get their hands on McIlrath. It will be a very interesting and exciting draft day.
ReplyDeleteGreat read. I don't have much to add other than this:
ReplyDeleteIt's ecstasy, anguish, joy, and despair. Its part of our history, part of our country, and it will be part of our future. It's theater, art, war and love. It should be predictable, but never is. It's a feeling we cant explain but we spend our entire lives explaining it. It's our religion. We do not apologize for it, we do not deny it. They are our team, our family, our life, our OILERS.
This stuff is gold, LT. Awesome work.
ReplyDeleteGreat work again.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping Ross might fall into the second round and is my pick at 31 if he's there. Especially, if we pick Seguin. Those guys with the high compete level/ nasty streak are nice to have on the bench. And if they have a little skill, that's gravy. Our team could use some sandpaper.
If we get McIlrath, cancel that and put me in for Tinordi with 31.
Yay draft week!
LT:
ReplyDeleteQuestion about the McIlrath talk. Is this what you are seeing as the player they are after or is there talk that the oilers are after him?
Hugh: I posted on McIlrath in March-
ReplyDeletehttp://lowetide.blogspot.com/2010/03/talkin-moose-jaw-warrior-blue.html
and since then it has become more and more obvious the organization has a major hole there. So, that's my reasoning.
It is also true (and unrelated) that Bob Stauffer has mentioned him on Oilers lunch a lot. Bob is likely the most connected media person in the city re:Oilers so one assumes he has seen the same things.
But no, I haven't heard the Oilers are after him.
Great stuff, LT. I can't say I've ever liked Pysyk and it's for the reasons you mention (...he'll need to add some size, strength and improve defensively.). He just doesn't seem to have enough or big enough arrows pointing the right way to be taking him in the first round.
ReplyDeleteTerrific stuff here LT. Can't wait to compare how it really unfolds. I love using this, ISS and McKenzie's draft lists and seeing where things actually fall.
ReplyDeleteThere's always risk with kids, but that's what makes it worth following because there are plusses and minuses to each pick.
hey, if Pysyk is still there at #31, we should take him if we don't trade the pick! hell, if we trade up, we should take Brad Ross, not McIlrath! i was afraid of this happening. Ross may end up actually being taken in the 1st round, so if the Oilers and other scouts have him ranked in the 2nd, a team or two may not see it that way and snag him in the mid to low 1st.
ReplyDeleteNot to hijack the blog: Ryan Parent to Nashville so Philly can have the rights to Hamhuis.
ReplyDeletePhilly ... in on everything!
Isn't this about the same time of the year they got Timmonen and Hartnell from them?
ReplyDeleteJust to start with a little shot at fpv ;) but my personal opinion would have Connolly a little higher by a few spots, McIlrath just a tad lower (1-2 spots), and Forbert moving into McIlrath's gap.
ReplyDeleteKuznetsov might just be wishful thinking on my part, but I really do hope we trade into the first to get him. He seems like traktor boy in the sense that we don't hear a lot about him, but from MBS and other underground reports ('teh internetz') it seems like he's got off-the-charts skill that isn't being appreciated enough in the rankings.
If you can't take a flyer on a high risk/high reward pick after drafting 1st overall, when can you?
-----
If it were the "cheapest" way to get another first round pick, what would people think of trading the following with Boston:
Boston gives
2nd overall
BOS 1st round pick
Edmonton gives
1st overall
EDM or NSH 2nd round pick
It'd give us another mid-round 1st but obviously would come at the expense of Hall over Seguin and another very good pick in the 2nd.
-----
As a side note with little actual relevance, wasn't Hall listed as 185 at the combine? I just recall because I was shocked that Seguin was so developed physically but only 186 while Hall was still relatively lean at 185.
LT: It is the same time by my recollection as well.
ReplyDeletePhilly: The model for active management.
Somewhere Tambellini was just woken up by someone knocking on his door saying they heard about a trade on TSN.
Also it's sort of a funny deal in that Parent goes back to the team that drafted him.
ReplyDeleteInteresting clip of Lowe on TSN...
ReplyDelete"The one thing I'd do differently is, I probably don't trade Chris Pronger. I say "Unfortunately, you're going to have to sit out.". Or, we completely rebuild the team at that point. But the problem with rebuilding at that point was that we had gone to game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals."
Ah, hindsight....
I just want to say, Wish You Were Here is one of my favourite albums ever. Just love the progression through both segments of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond".
ReplyDeletethe only thing i'd like to see Tambo doing right now is acquiring a few more draft pick in the 1st and 2nd round for next weeks draft. Philly can have Hamhuis, and the other teams can have the other UFA's for all i care, i'd just like to see us get 1 more 1st round pick and 1 more high 2nd rounder.
ReplyDeleteAssuming the most likely thing happens in Oilerland: nothing. Which one of these fellows falls from the late teens and is still there @ #31 for us?
ReplyDeleteBjugstad, please.
Mackenzie's list will tell us more just because of how its prepared (its a popularity contest amongst scouts)
The weird thing is that WAS a rebuild trade. Seriously. Pronger for prospects and picks.
ReplyDeleteIt (along with Spacek and Tarnstrom leaving) was a step into the elevator shaft for the blue.
If they would have 'completely [rebuilt] the team' I think you flip the core players (Pisani, Moreau, Staois and maybe Smith too, but my memory is fuzzy on his contract) at peak value instead of resigning them to premium contracts.
ReplyDeleteLT, the guys you are talking about were just rentals that vaporized back into the ether with no return.
I'm thinking when Lowe says rebuild, he means the scorched earth kind of rebuild. Which could tell us a bit about where the current team is heading.
ReplyDeleteyou'd have to think that one of a number of good players wil fall to the 2nd round, where we will pick first if we keep said pick. it could be anyone from Pysyk to Bennett or Coyle or Etem....we just don't know, there are so many mock draft lists and so many differing opinions. i think we will still get a great prospect at #31 and i'm hoping that Brad Ross or Alex Petrovic will still be there.
ReplyDeleteDeano: A reasonable GM would have signed Spacek (at the least) before trading Pronger for kids and picks.
ReplyDeleteSo who gets dealt from Philly now. Is Carter definitely a goner? They still need to sign Hamhuis which will probably be in the neighbourhood of $4.5 million/year or more.
ReplyDeleteAfter that they would still need two more depth defencemen a couple of forwards and a #1 goalie.
Just replacing or re-signing Carcillo, Powe, Asham, Coburn and Krajicek costs roughly $4 million.
Knowing the Flyers they probably cheap out on a goalie. I doubt they can move Briere given his cap hit despite his solid performance in the SC playoffs.
So to fill all their holes will probably cost at least $10 million. That would put them around $2 million over the cap which won't be a problem in the summer but they will have to make a move before camp opens...
Would anyone here take a swipe at landing Carter?
would Carter even want to come here? and if he did, would he stay?
ReplyDeletepeople get on Tambo for apparently not doing much yet, but there is so much to do, where do you start, and how do you do it in a hurry?
ReplyDeletePS.
ReplyDeleteIf the Flyers were willing to move Coburn I would look into it. Perhaps not as physical as I would like but he's a great skater has some offensive instincts and seems to be ok defensively.
He has the draft pedigree as well...
I remember the Oil having their panties in a twist when being asked by the local media about Spacek when he had just signed.
ReplyDeleteI think they did try to sign him. I think he either rebuffed them outright or demanded a premium to play in Edmonton.
Dug said: "there are so many mock draft lists and so many differing opinions. i think we will still get a great prospect at #31"
ReplyDeleteI think you nailed it here. With so many differing opinions on the players this year, I think patience is the word.
A couple of weeks ago management made their list somewhere in the back woods of BC. If I was a betting man, I'd say someone from their top 15 probably falls to 31.
Their guaranteed a good player at #1, but to me the real success of this draft class will be defined by the player they select at 31.
Great work, LT.
ReplyDeleteThe Oilers should look quite a bit different 2 weeks from now, and it's pretty exciting--that thrill of the unknown path. Who knows what treasure may be found at the end.
How can we possibly get McIlrath unless we draft Seguin?
ReplyDeleteIs LT's support of Hall actually a psy-op?
"people get on Tambo for apparently not doing much yet, but there is so much to do, where do you start, and how do you do it in a hurry?"
ReplyDeleteHe could start by taking a look in the bargain bin.
Flyers picked up Ville Leino for free and he looks like a top line talent.
Burke has been plucking free assets from Europe and NCAA the past two seasons.
Patrick Thoresen had 24 goals and 57 points in the KHL last year to go along with 71 PIMS. He's a guy that could easily fill the Glencross role and Philly put him on waivers a week ago to bring him back next year. Tambellini could have snagged him for nothing. Worst case is we have too many bottom 6 guys and Jones or Stone have to go down to the AHL and help out Oklahoma.
bang on DbM!! forward Stanislav Galiev may still be at #31. i haven't seen his name lately on a number of updated mock lists.
ReplyDeletehe was listed in the 1st round, but doesn't appear to be there anymore. extremely talented!
ReplyDeleteAwesome work again LT.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jon, and would have Connolly higher.
Here is Remmerde's notes:
Summary: It's all about the injury risk with Connolly. If you're not concerned about the hips, then he's easily the 3rd best player in the entire draft and should go right after Hall and Seguin. Otherwise, I think his upside still justifies rolling the dice around picks 8-14.
Draft Day: Jared Cowen didn't slip far last year (8th overall) after major reconstructive knee surgery, so I don't think Connolly drops very far either. But teams might lean heavily on their orthopedic doctor's opinion on the long term risk.
I have a lot of gamble in me, so I take him as high as 5.
Really surprised you had Skinner ahead of him, but then again your illegitimate child MAP has never regained his draft form after injury and I think you shy away (with good reason) from kids with injuries.
I really think Connolly's injury can be 100% healed unlike a surgeoned body part which often is never quite as good as new.
I get him a top end fitness coach and get him in yoga asap.
My guess is the he's the MVP of everyone's favorite small sample tourney next Christmas.
Dug (and others), I'm not going to pretend to know who the right player is but I've been following the draft closely for about 4-5 years now and I don't ever recall such a lack of consensus in terms of draft postition. I think the scouts can, and have, identified the various upsides, risks of each player, but for some reason this year, not where said players should be picked.
ReplyDeleteSomeone will drop, and then drop some more. The various mock draft lists I think tell us as much. Just be patient and odds are good you'll still get your guy.
I think LT wants to trade Cogliano and Nash for a mid 1st if you don't get their via laying off Hall for the B's.
ReplyDeleteNot a bad idea.
Oilers tried like hell to sign Spacek, but he picked Buffalo, and Lowe was pissed about it.
He mumbled something about Spacek picking Buffalo due to being an easier flight home to Czech. I think Spacek just saw the writing on the wall and wanted to play for a better team.
Also,
Every time I try to load up www.hockeydb.com I get a warning from ESET security that there is a trojan loader on the page.
Is anyone else getting that warning from other security software?
You may want to be careful.
Damn, I'm on that page almost as much as this one.
"I think LT wants to trade Cogliano and Nash for a mid 1st if you don't get their via laying off Hall for the B's."
ReplyDeleteLT likes Nash as much as Horcoff or Pouliot.
woodguy:
ReplyDeleteUse eliteprospects.com
Just like hockeydb but better.
I don't think we have to spend assets to chase uncertainty (trade up).
ReplyDeleteHang back and let uncertainty come to us @ #31 and take the guy left over. He will be an okay pick for us (unless its one of the Russians).
Worked with a Swedish kid recently.
Traktor,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link.
LT likes Nash, but that doesn't mean he thinks Tambellini has a hope of signing him.
LT wants to trade Cogliano and Nash for a mid 1st
ReplyDeleteThat's too much for a mid (12th-18th) first rounder, no? I'm not that high on Cogs anymore, but I think he has more value than having to package him with a first round pick who still has potential just to get another first round pick. Both of Cogs and Nash are still lottery tickets that might pay off. It seems like a waste to trade them for one lottery ticket. IMO.
But I do like the idea of buying another mid rounder or even early second rounder. The MB and his staff have made some nice picks and I'd like to give them a few more bullets.
I bet Calgary and Toronto might be driving up the price for a first rounder though, because they could both use one and they might both be willing to overpay. So don't get too excited.
There's a difference between what LT wants and what he thinks will happen.
ReplyDeleteI can guarantee you he doesn't WANT to trade Nash. He's a "wide range of skills" RH center.
I agree with your thinking on Connolly, Woodguy. And I think Traktor has a point too. Tambo could've had a couple free rolls of the dice. That type of Torrey-like gathering of players is exactly what we need to do. Management seems to focus on one major issue at a time, to the detriment of others. Hall, Heatley, Hossa, Khabitual.
ReplyDeleteTraktor is correct, I'd love to see Nash remain in the organization. Cogliano too but think he could be gone too.
ReplyDeleteWe wait.
What would Cogliano's numbers look like if he received the same QUALTEAM as thefaceofthefranchisesamgagner?
ReplyDeleteCogliano's days look numbered in Edmonton but the fact that he's another player that will be sold low has to go against Tambellini.
If an idiot like me could see that O'Sullvian wasn't a fit after 20 games why couldn't Tambellini? Instead we hold onto in to the point that he has negative value and can't be moved.
If you listened to Souray's exit interview he said that he approached management to be traded after the 2008/2009 season.
Souray was coming off a huge season and his value was never going to be higher. I remember reading a number of posters here that had the foresight to move this guy last summer and they never even knew about Souray's trade request.
Instead of moving Souray at full value Tambellini holds on to him until he value is close to negative.
Tambellini is the type of GM that hits trips on the flop, checks the turn and river and then goes all in when buddy hits his flush of the riv.
We get no value when we have the best hand and then move in when we're beat.
I don't blame the Oilers for the Spaceck thing. It seemed like he wanted to go to the eastern conference baring a huge overpay. But I look at the roster and have to think "we could really use Jan Hedja" and we let him for for nothing when he signed for very little and simply said "the Oilers didn't offer me a contract". That one was an inexcussable botch by the Oilers.
ReplyDeleteNashville trades Jason Arnott to New Jersey for Matt Halischuk and a 2011 second-round pick.
ReplyDelete--
There's a former Oiler dealt again. I wonder if Bonsignore moves this summer...
Arnott for Reddox and pick in the 55-60 range.
ReplyDeleteWow.
Not much return for a pricey, old, but still productive guy with only one year left.
ReplyDeleteI agree Traktor. If we had of traded a couple of assets after the SCF run at peak value, we would have not needed a rebuild at all, but could have slowly brought up prospects ala the Red Wings model. But all of that would have taken foresight. Something that our management team has not demonstrated since the lockout.
ReplyDeleteCSS' bad moves from 2007:
ReplyDelete1. Kyle Turris, center, Burnaby (BCHL) (way too high)
Was presumed to be able to pack on some needed weight, but three years later, it's not clear that he'll ever be a top-six forward.
4. Keaton Ellerby, defense, Kamloops (WHL) (too high)
Made it into the Panthers' lineup for a handful of games this year, but hard to see him ahead of Gagner, Voracek and Sutter, among others.
Clearly, emphatically, Central Scouting got the first overall pick all wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
That's not to say that it was absolutely alone on this. Others had Turris ranked No. 1. He had a couple of great Junior A all-star games that winter, and that was the big push. In the two under-18 tournaments, the summer Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and the worlds in the spring, he didn't jump out.
What we have here is a terminal case of projection -- and it resembles the Hall versus Seguin debate in some ways. Kane had done much more at a much higher level in London and with the U.S. at world juniors, but Turris was a center and in theory a more important piece of the puzzle than a winger. Turris had taken off in his draft year; like Seguin, he was known, but he wasn't in conversation for the top pick the previous fall.
It seems like we're seeing indications that there may be more trades this year, but simply due to the fact that GMs are starting to have different perceptions of player value under the salary cap.
ReplyDeleteThen again, both Nashville and Montreal had cap issues (with Nashville's being self-imposed).
Either that or teams are placing a huge premium on picks in this year's draft. Which would make the Kessel trade even more humorous to me.
Just for the Brule part:
ReplyDeleteCSS' bad moves from 2005:
Matt Lashoff over Marc Staal
A bad call that's even more remarkable because it involved players in the OHL. Staal might actually have been a case of CSS looking at what is rather than what might be -- Staal's skating was suspect in his draft year, but he took off thereafter.
The biggest call wasn't Crosby at No. 1. That was easy (even though there were WHL boosters who'd tell you with a straight face that Gilbert Brule was as good as Crosby). No, the biggest call was the No. 2 slot, and again, it came down to two players in the OHL. And again, teams saw it differently than CSS. Pouliot's skating impressed, but not many NHL team scouts I talked to at the time had him as the second-best player in the draft. Ryan's skating was suspect -- but not his hands, his hockey sense or his desire to play.
Central Scouting's final list has no value. None.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that Boston will want to trade their 2nd first rounder for more immediate help bears merit. They do have some pretty good guys in the pipeline, weakest at LW and D. I'm not sure we can help them in those areas.
ReplyDeleteFrom espn's E.J. Hradek:
ReplyDeleteAs we wait and wonder where top free agent Ilya Kovalchuk might end up, I thought I might take a stab at re-drawing the first round of his draft class in 2001.
The Class of 2001 was a middle-of-the-road group, which probably made it even tougher for scouts at the time. In my re-draft, I found there were many close decisions, but the top pick wasn't one of them.
1. Atlanta Thrashers: Ilya Kovalchuk, LW, New Jersey Devils (2001: No. 1 pick)
The Thrashers made the right pick. The ace sniper stays at the top of the draft class. Kovalchuk has 642 career points, which is 167 more points than anyone else in the class. Can he be part of a winning team? He's yet to prove that. As an unrestricted free agent, he'll get to choose his next destination. Stay tuned.
2. Ottawa Senators: Jason Spezza, C, Senators (2001: No. 2)
I'll keep the lanky pivot in the No. 2 hole. He has averaged more than a point per game across 464 career games. That's impressive. The Senators might be looking to move him in the coming weeks.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning: Mikko Koivu, C, Minnesota Wild (2001: No. 6)
He's a strong two-way pivot with good size to go with nice finishing and playmaking skills. Koivu has gotten better with each passing season.
4. Florida Panthers: Derek Roy, C, Buffalo Sabres (2001: No. 32)
Although his goal and point totals have taken a slight dip in each of the past two seasons after a 32-goal, 81-point 2007-08 campaign, Roy has developed into a consistent performer.
5. Anaheim Ducks: Patrick Sharp, C, Chicago Blackhawks (2001: No. 95, Philadelphia Flyers)
Selected at the bottom of the third round by the Flyers, Sharp has become a versatile No. 2 pivot for the Blackhawks. He has won a championship at both the NHL and AHL levels.
6. Minnesota Wild: Mike Cammalleri, LW, Montreal Canadiens (2001: No. 49, Los Angeles Kings)
After stops in Los Angeles and with the Calgary Flames, Cammalleri seems to have found a home in Montreal. He has 158 career goals. Of his classmates, only Kovalchuk and Spezza have more.
7. Montreal Canadiens: Dan Hamhuis, D, Nashville Predators (2001: No. 12)
In his draft class, he's played more regular season games (483) than any other defenseman. You'll be hearing his name quite a bit in the coming weeks as he'll be among the more coveted free agent defensemen on the market. Hamhuis has been a nice second-pair defender in Nashville. His next employer might be paying him to do more.
8. Columbus Blue Jackets: Craig Anderson, G, Colorado Avalanche (1999: No. 77, Flames; 2001: No. 73, Blackhawks)
The Jackets drafted a goalie in this spot nine years ago (Pascal Leclaire); they just drafted the wrong one. Anderson was a late bloomer who comes off a breakout season in Denver.
9. Chicago Blackhawks: Ales Hemsky, RW, Edmonton Oilers (2001: No. 13)
The super-skilled Czech frustrates fans by passing up shot opportunities in search of the pretty play. Hemsky missed most of last season due to injury. His 353 career points ranks him third among his classmates (behind Kovalchuk and Spezza).
From a "Biggest Draft Busts" article:
ReplyDelete1994
Jason Bonsignore, C, fourth overall by Edmonton from Niagara Falls (Ontario Hockey League)
79 career NHL games, 3 G, 13 A
Weaknesses: attitude, hockey sense
I wrote about Bonsignore in my book on scouting, "Future Greats and Heartbreaks." In a nutshell, he was a talented player who was more interested in go-kart racing than hockey. I kid you not.
The game was easy for him up to the junior level -- so easy that he never had to work at. If he were simply lazy, that wouldn't have been so bad; maybe someone could have lit a fire under him. But the fact was that Bonsignore was in love with himself, even styling himself as the next Mario Lemieux (who could have sued for defamation).
A warning sign: When Newmarket traded Bonsignore to Niagara Falls for nothing much during the draft year, the play of his former team picked up and the mood in the dressing room brightened. Then-Edmonton Oilers GM Glen Sather told his staff it had to get a player and make a safe choice with the No. 4 pick. Oops. At least at No. 6 the Oilers snagged Ryan Smyth.
Bonsignore was last seen with Fresno and Trenton in the East Coast league in 2007-08. When I left messages for him a couple of years back, he owned a go-kart track -- but he did not return calls.
History says more than a few of these picks will end up as:
ReplyDeleteMomentary Lapse of Reason, Sorrow, Run Like Hell, Crying Song, Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun, or One Slip
Oilers first pick is "Have a Cigar!"
Central Scouting's final list has no value. None.
ReplyDeleteAren't they the only ones who have Seguin first?
Deano: I have no idea, but in Gare Joyce's book he talk about the universal truth in NHL procurement: the first CSB list is a guide, the second one tells teams who has improved and fills in some things and by the time the final one comes out each team has their own list.
ReplyDeleteSteve Tambellini just ordered red snapper with rice. MAN the NHL is busy today.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that Boston will want to trade their 2nd first rounder for more immediate help bears merit. They do have some pretty good guys in the pipeline, weakest at LW and D. I'm not sure we can help them in those areas.
ReplyDeleteI think that really depends on Chiarelli's wants.
If he wants a bonafide first liner, he's not getting it with the 15th, but will with the 2nd.
I lean towards him wanting 1st line help now, but that's a pure guess.
I liked Ross as guy who might be around for the Nashville pick but he just keeps climbing the rankings and mock drafts every week.
ReplyDeleteThoresen coming back, eh Traktor?
ReplyDeleteI missed that. Guy is a great role player. Good for him.
Philly put him on waivers a week ago to bring him back next year. Tambellini could have snagged him for nothing.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you talking about Traktor? Link please...
The Oilers could have grabbed Thoresen last week? If so, can they still when Philadelphia brings him up?
Is Tambellini brain dead???
LT: For all the banter about liking odd names better than the Mike Johnsons of the world, you still managed to misspell the Other Tyler's last name.
ReplyDeleteIt's Tyler Toffoli.
;)
WG, I can't see them trading that 2nd overall. And if it's to us for one of our first liners, there's gonna be another bad contract coming our way and we haven't gotten rid of any of the ones we already own yet.
ReplyDeletePhilly trades for rights to Dan Hamhuis for exclusive ability to sign him in this 11 day window before free agency. Good thing Philly's GM has had lots and lots of time to plan what he wanted to do in the offseason.
ReplyDeleteToo bad the Oilers were not in the same boat
Tambi just finishing his review of the 2008/09 Oiler penalty killers. Will move to the complete his review of the 08/09 powerplay.Seriously Steve we get that you are slow but dear God man get off your ass and do SOMETHING with your NHL roster
Have often thought that Jeff "shoot first last and always" Carter would be the consummate complementary player for Ales Hemsky. Would Philly move him? Do we have anything that would interest them? Cogs, Smid?
ReplyDelete# Flyers have put Patrick Thoresen on waivers.
ReplyDelete# "I can still end up in Philadelphia, but now I'm open to all the rest of the 29 teams." - Patrick Thoresen. 3:24 AM Jun 4th via web
http://twitter.com/euroflyers
I assume Tambellini would've had 1st crack at him.
Sorry guys, my mistake.
ReplyDeleteCarter is only signed for one more year.
There is insufficient time left for Tambi to consider trading for him before his contract expires. Course someone should tell Tambi that there are very few 8 year contracts in the NHL so his due diligence has to be just a wee bit quicker.
We could always trade for Dipietro at least our review of him would be over before his contract expires
Thank you for the link Tractor...
ReplyDeleteNext step - can anyone explain off season waivers?
Could the Oilers have had first crack at Thoresen on waivers since we were in 30th place? Do we still? (i.e. at this very moment)
And can the Flyers lose the first three games of the season on purpose then bring him up untouched if they are in 30th place?
Is there some way we can grab Thoresen before the season starts?
This is exactly the type of player the Oilers need for their 3rd line...
Traktor, if that's true it leaves a very bad taste. The Electric Norseman could fill in for any of Moreau, Pisani, Stone in the bottom 6.
ReplyDeleteWhy the hell wouldn't you take a flyer on the guy, unless your feelings were hurt when he took a few shots as he left or he intimated he would never play for your organization again.
The other John:
ReplyDeleteSo you think that Tambellini should be giving up picks and prospects for a year of Arnott or the right to sign Hamhuis to an expensive contract?
Isn't it more important for a rebuilding team to make the right moves than to make some trades so you look busy?
Carter is only signed for one more year.
ReplyDeleteOne year left at 5M, but then is an RFA, not UFA.
Maybe Lowe is still pissed at the Norseman for scoring the winning goal against Calgary that led them to pick 6th instead of a lottery pick (with Chicago winning the lottery from the 5 spot and getting Kane)
Woodguy & uni,
ReplyDeleteUnless Lowe's "let bygones be bygones" with Comrie was a business decision with one of Katz's rich buddies, it appears Lowe has matured.
The best thing for our rebuilding team is to grab Thoresen for our 3rd line.
He is only 26 years old; he won the KHL Most Valuable Player award; he had the highest +/- in the league; he finished the season with four game winning goals.
Kiss & make up... Get him on a 3 year contract at less than $1.5 million per season...
At that price, we can't go wrong...
I would pluck Thoreson off waivers in about 2 seconds
ReplyDeleteMarc
ReplyDeleteWhopping fallacy with your statement is that NOBODY in the NHL is ever going to mistake Tambi with being too busy.
I think it is really important for a GM to sit down and spend an inordinate amount of time coming up with a PLAN. Not as much time as Tambi spends on ordering his morning coffee, but an awful lot of time nonetheless. I would then execute all necessary steps to fulfill the plan.
Problem here is there is no evidence of any kind of what the plan is or execution on the same.
The time to come up with the plan was the last 25 games of the season when the Oilers were going nowhere in a colossal hurry. Not, surprisingly, in the off season when Tambi should already be executing on whatever plan he came up with.
Montreal has made moves, St Louis, NJ, Philly.......us, we dither.
I am not for whale hunting but if Tambi identified a need for a top pairing defensive stopper (which along with a RH center that can take draws and play tough opponents is a total no brainer) like Hamhuis and could be gotten for absolutely nothing (read Ryan Parent) for an 11 day exclusive window to negotiate with a Smithers BC native I would.
I did not mention Arnott because unlike Hamhuis, Arnie's best days are 5+ years ago.
The 08/09 season ending presser featured Tambi saying we have to get bigger, grittier, and harder to play against. No D stopper then. No RH center to play tough minutes.
We are still waitiing on bigger, grittier, harder to pplay against and still lack D stopper and RH center.
We did though fire the equipment man and signed the Bulin wall.
Or we can wait for the NHL draft
TOJ - Smithers, Schmithers.
ReplyDeleteUntil Edmonton is a more fun place to be young and rich in, or the team is a contender, forget about wasting assets on 11-day windows.
Both of these deals count on the the new team re-signing the player.
We don't have that assurance.
Carter would look good with Nash in CBJ.
ReplyDeleteHowson supposedly has the 4OV in play.
TOJ:
ReplyDeleteWell I think we can assume that the plan involves turning guys that aren't part of the future (Souray, Nilsson, O'Sullivan, maybe JDD, Cogliano, Penner and Hemsky) into draft picks or guys that can be part of the future.
Most trades like that take place either at the draft, or right after the first batch of free agents has signed so I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that he hasn't moved yet is because he thinks he'll get better offers at those times.
The outcome of those trades will determine how much cap space is left and what holes in the roster need to be filled. If we get two veteran D back, then we probably can't afford and possibly don't need Hamhuis.
LT: Love the Floyd references & glad you didn't forget the underrated "Final Cut".
ReplyDeleteGreat post, as usual.
Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Hamhuis on the team. He's a great dman.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have family in Smithers. My cousin used to babysit him when he was a kid.
I just don't think that failure to move for him means there's no plan. I could just as easily mean that there is a plan and he isn't part of it.
I could care less about a play for Carter and even less for Hamhuis; ostensibly not what this team needs right now.
ReplyDeleteThe Magni I'd trip over myself to grab off the waiver wire. As far as waiver players go he's a doozy. Exactly the type of player you love to have off waivers. If Tambo didn't grab him and could then I'd find it appalling, but then again I'm just a no nothing fan.
@ The Other John
ReplyDeleteSo Tambellini trades (Peckham? Pouliot?) for the rights to Hamhuis.
Do you think he says something like this: "I think Philly has an unbelievable defensive core," Hamhuis said in a statement. "To join a core like that makes the Flyers one of the tougher ones in the league."(from TSN)
A Katz dinner, the fancy filmstrip, the tour of the dressing room won't matter. He won't be super excited to sign with the last place team in the league.
The Oilers need to find the next Hamhuis.
Picks and prospects only please.
Why go after Thorensen when you can just re-sign Comrie?
ReplyDeleteOops, added an n in there.
ReplyDeleteRibs - I think Thoresen brings a lot of what this club needs that Comrie doesn't bring. It would be wonderful if some of that offence he brought in Sweden and Russia translated but never mind that, buddy is a solid bottom sixer, hard on the puck, can play C or W, can PK, he can skate, he's hard on the puck and his motor never stops running. A little small but he doesn't play that way. And he's a tough bugger.
ReplyDeleteI think Thoreson getting waived allows someone to claim him to have an exclusive negotiating window with him before he becomes a FA.
ReplyDeleteA courtesy by the Flyers to him and any team that may claim him.
I doubt we have a chance as he's another guy that this team has been dissmissive of.
@ Ribs
ReplyDeleteComrie was minus 9 in half a season last year; minus 15 in 3/4 of a season the year prior... Minus 21 in 76 games the year before that...
Thoresen was -1 in 68 games the year they traded Smyth; that year Lupul was -29, Horcoff -22, Sykora -20, Petersen -18, Reasoner -15... The list goes on & on...
Yet Thoresen was only -1 over 68 games in his first NHL season.
His numbers in the KHL show it was not a fluke - the best +/- in the whole league...
why do fans always seem to want to go back to the future? let's sign Laraque, let's sign Thoreson, let's go after UFA Tom Poti....please NO!!
ReplyDeleteDug people here aren't advocating Laraque or Poti.
ReplyDeleteThoresen is a useful, affordable, and effective bottom 6 player, exactly what this team needs.
Dug - what Uni said.
ReplyDeleteThis team needs guys who can play. I don't care if they played for the Oilers or not. They just need to get guys who can play. And Thoresen can play.
In 05/06 they had a ton of guys who could play. Then they started getting rid of them without replacing them.
Time to start bringing more of them in. Who cares if they played for the Edmonton Oilers, the Houston Oilers or the Siberian Oilers?
I don't.
Thor isn't what we need on the 4th line in my opinion, and he's no more than a 4th liner. we have plenty of those guys already on this roster, Ryan Jones, Zack Stortini' JFJ and Ryan Stone. we just don't need him, and the 4th line isn't what needs to be fixed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Dug, The 4th line isn't the problem, its the first 2 lines, and that will get a facelift over the offseason. I guess we'll have to see if its for better or for worse.
ReplyDeleteI assume "Astronomy Domine" is the guy who comes out of the sixth round and puts up 20 goals out of nowhere somewhere around 2013? That song (and, indeed, entire album) is really underrated and takes some getting used to after Floyd's later stuff, but it's really rewarding.
ReplyDeleteDug, I think you're seriously underestimating Thoresen. He's better than all the options you listed by a country mile. He's a 3rd line tough minutes forward, with a slight chance of having more offense then people think.
ReplyDeleteBesides, Magni clearly gives a shit, plays hard all the time, and skates his bag off; actually he almost had his bag blasted off when he blocked a slapshot with it in the playoffs for Philly a little while back. He's a heart and soul type of player.
We'll see soon enough when he's back in the NHL. I agree with Black Dog completely here, the Oilers need real NHL players, I could care less about what team or league they get them from, and the Norseman is one of them.
The thing about Thoresen is that he's kind of exactly what this team needs. A smart player on a team rife with inexperience and hammerheads.
ReplyDeleteI keed. Slightly.
You might not want Thoresen although he's a better hockey player than probably about half of the Oilers under contract right now but LT is right. He is the type of player that this club needs. When he was in Philly he played against the toughs with Richards in the playoffs before he got his nut nearly torn off.
ReplyDeleteJF Jacques can't even hold his jock.
In any case as LT noted the point is he is the type of player the Oilers need - a guy who can play hockey. A smart professional player who helps you win. Like Pisani before the colitis got him.
This team has too many bad hockey players. Too many dumb players. Too many slow players. Too many lazy players. Thoresen is none of these things.
If not him that's fine but they had better have some answers in the same ballpark.
OT-doogie: Barrett, Syd
ReplyDeletea slight chance of having more offense then people think
ReplyDelete@uni
Not more than I think... ;-)
Thoresen was 6th in the league in points during the regular season; tied for 4th in the playoffs yet played less games than everyone ahead of him.
During the season he had a 50% faceoff percentage (124 faceoffs); in the playoffs he was at 57.6% (198 faceoffs).
They claim he is a RW; he always seems to play LW; and they moved him to centre for the playoffs.
He is so versatile it is amazing... Two years NHL experience so he is used to the larger ice surface; followed by two impressive years overseas putting up the points.
He is exactly what the Oilers need during the rebuild.
Hopefully both Hemsky and Penner want to hang around for the next Oilers finals appearance.
ReplyDeletelarger ice surface
ReplyDeleteMeant to type "smaller ice surface"...
And considering most players we draft after #31 overall will be 3rd line players at best...
Why not sign a proven 3rd line player with offensive capabilities?
I want Thoresen, although if the Oilers sign him I fear that we would be in for a season of watching him be poorly used by Quinn. I don't know why, but I just don't think Quinn would 'get' Thoresen and he would be wasted here.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletei disagree about Thoresen! he has no offensive upside, 106 games, 6 goals, 18 assists. big deal. and if he works so hard, why was he not in the NHL since the '07/'08 season? he's also listed at 5'11, 188 on hockeyDB.com, meaning he's another smurf, the very kind of smaller posters have been complaining about for years! sorry, but i think people are overrating him and i don't buy it! he's just not that good.
ReplyDeleteHe seems to be out of most first rounds, so Greg McKegg is really who I want for the Oilers at 31. He has enough size at 6'0" and was very productive. His scoring picked up a lot as the season progressed and in the new year had 45 points in 29 games. Seguin, in comparison, put up 48 in 29 games.
ReplyDeleteThe scouts don't seem to think he's that dynamic and find his skating mediocre. I personally think he has good puck skills and has very good offensive hockey sense. He was also a +18 on a team that finished -2 for the year. The risk, other than what the scouts think, is that he had 2 very good linemates and scored a lot of his goals on the PP.
But I think if available at 31, he would be an excellent pick. He reminds me of the under the radar types the Flyers always pick up late in the first round like Claude Giroux, Mike Richards, Steve Downie, or Justin Williams.
You are the master LT. Great post.
ReplyDeleteIf Howson really does have the 4th ov available then he is thinking a bit like me:
-- Fowler, Gormley, Gudbranson - shades of 2008, 2002 and 1998; who is who?
and
Here's a wierd thing I guess: don't like any of Fowler, Gormley or Gudbranson well enough to expend major assets to get them
and
If I'm Florida I'm trying to stepladder my way down this draft.
I like Howson.
YK: Thanks. And right back at you:
ReplyDeletehttp://ykoil.blogspot.com/
OT-doogie: Barrett, Syd
ReplyDeleteAye, a sad story that one was.
Hey LT: Farhan Lalji on TSN mentioned your boy McIlrath when talking about the Canucks and their 25th overall pick. The main point of the story, however, was that the Canucks are looking to trade that pick for two later picks.
ReplyDeleteLalji does note that McIlrath may not be available by #25 anyways. I just thought I'd pass that along.
Video is up at www.tsn.ca/nhl/
Another thought: when is the Oilers next pick after #31? If McIlrath is still available, who would trade that pick and #31 to the Canucks for #25, assuming McIlrath is still available?
ReplyDeleteIf McIlrath is available anywhere in the early 20s, I would look into trading the 31st and Cogliano to get into a spot to pick McIlrath. JMO
ReplyDeleteAtlanta with the 24 pick might look into that. Buffalo at 23 might. Even Nashville with the 18 pick might check that out.
Very positive attitude today LT. Katz has a mess to clean up. Fans have to be patient. This is going to take awhile.
ReplyDeleteWould we be able to get Boston's # 15 pick for us taking Sequin and our # 31 pick?
ReplyDeleteEffectively Sequin and McIlrath for us and Boston gets Hall and the the 31st pick?
PJO......I fully anticipate that you know it is a HORRIBLE deal. But I was wondering if that is the type of extra value that we would like to get for passing on Hall
If McIlrath is still available, who would trade that pick and #31 to the Canucks for #25, assuming McIlrath is still available?
ReplyDeleteWow, that is some pretty terrific writing. That's why I usually stick to reading everyone else's comments.
ReplyDeleteWould we be able to get Boston's # 15 pick for us taking Sequin and our # 31 pick?
Effectively Sequin and McIlrath for us and Boston gets Hall and the the 31st pick?
There is a 50% chance the 15th overall pick is going to be a bust.
If you badly want another pick near the 15th overall range, package a guy like Cogliano, Nash, and a 3rd.
It goes without saying elite talent (lets face it - there is greater risk taking Seguin) is more difficult to replace.
If....and that's a big IF, I'm to even trade down to number 2, I'm starting at Joe Colborne and 32nd overall. Which, in my opinion, still may be enough.
The other John said...
ReplyDeleteWould we be able to get Boston's # 15 pick for us taking Sequin and our # 31 pick?
That's the trade that seems to get mentioned the most.
It's Seguin, by the way.
Why do I feel like every other team has a Porsche for a GM and we have Steve "Love Bug" Tambellini barrelling down on next season in his 1970 VW Beetle?
ReplyDeleteGo Herbie.
And then one day you find
Ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run
You missed the starting gun
Tambellini hasn't set any records for decisiveness, but at least so far he hasn't totally screwed up, other than gifting the team it's best draft pick since a certain backgammon game.
ReplyDeleteLook at leafs nation or the flames fanbase, the more astute are coming fast to the realisation that their respective team GM's are basically fools.
spoiler - I think hunter is right. Not many Porsches. Jalopies all around.
ReplyDeleteIt would not take a very high caliber individual to be the 'smartest guy in the room' at meeting of the GM's.
Deano, we can criticize Sutter and Burke for their decisions, but at least they get off the starting line.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete