is the pick worth keeping if we are in a playoff spot ?
Yes. Why not draft another Tyler Biggs? You can get good players even in the second round. A team like the Leafs needs to horde top draft picks, even if that draft pick is 10th-20th overall.
If we finish in the 10-15 range, I really hope that Nichushkin falls to us because of the Russian factor.
I know its early days, but can see the Sabres picking anywhere from 5-12 this season. Wouldnt be surprised to see them pick Nikushkin, if available. Pairing him with Grigorenko.
I can see the Bruins drafting Ryan Hartman. He's a perfect fit there and within their draft range, such that he can be coined as a "typical Boston pick."
10-20 is where there's great value. Good kids, and excellent upside from the Q, with Erne, Mantha, And Fucale. Nurse will be in that range (most likely), as well.
We could really add a nice compliment of power and offensive ability to the wings with either of Erne and Mantha, and those are my preferred picks, by far.
The "suspension" that never was, and the response to the issue itself show what kind of kid A.E. is, not to mention the word of his coaches. Way overblown. Mantha is a dandy too. Either, with a PF game and solid scoring ability are great compliments on the wing for a line with Kadri and/or Kessel. Work ethic and upside should be huge factors in our picks.
I know its early days, but can see the Sabres picking anywhere from 5-12 this season. Wouldnt be surprised to see them pick Nikushkin, if available. Pairing him with Grigorenko.
I was under the assumption that the LA pick they got was for last years draft, someone can correct me on that though.
CLB badly needs those picks anyway, an extremely barebones team minus two high-end d-men(JJ and Ryan Murray.) Basically the maple leafs from 07-09.
Looking more and more like Washington ends up bottom 5, nothing going well there. But no way does Philly stay low, they're back on track now, NYR as well will be much higher.
IMO bottom 5 will be:
1) CLB(no brainer)
2) Calgary(they look terrible)
3)Washington(wildcard but they look terrible right now)
4) Florida(system not working very well)
5) NYI(Just lost 4 in a row)
Edmonton will be close afterwards in the 5-10 range. Starting to not really see the leafs being around here.
Calgary without Kipper is bottom 5. With him they didn't actually look all that bad. In fact they actually looked quite competitive at points. Flat out dominated Chicago in the game they lost in OT to them.
Its clear the leafs have extra assets to gather more picks
McCarthur is surplus and should garner a late 1st or high 2nd
The team has 9 D thats 2 too many so who goes and for what in return? Another 1st is likely for one if not both extra D
Come draft if were 15th Nonis could put a good package of picks to move up top 10 and maybe even add a player like Gunnarson 15th pick plus a 2nd for 6th overall?
We could still get Monahan with a package given the team has numerous non core assets to trade now
Its clear the leafs have extra assets to gather more picks
McCarthur is surplus and should garner a late 1st or high 2nd
The team has 9 D thats 2 too many so who goes and for what in return? Another 1st is likely for one if not both extra D
Come draft if were 15th Nonis could put a good package of picks to move up top 10 and maybe even add a player like Gunnarson 15th pick plus a 2nd for 6th overall?
We could still get Monahan with a package given the team has numerous non core assets to trade now
The whole "MacArthur for a 1st" was last year, and it was conditional at that, in a draft that was weaker in the 1st round than this one is. He hasn't played well enough to garner a 1st to this point. He'd have to really start producing for a contender to look at him with that kind of value. I would expect a mid-round 2nd for him.
The extra defensemen you speak of are likely Komi and.... Liles? Neither gets us a first rounder. Liles hasn't been that good this season to date, and Komi hasn't been that good at all....Ever. Liles can probably return us another 2nd, or if he finds his game, a late 1st AT BEST. We would be lucky to have someone take Komi off of our hands at all, let alone give up a 1st or 2nd for him. He's likely a buy-out candidate in the summer, and other teams know it.
The thing is, draft picks hold different value, based on the year they are. This year's draft is deep on talent in the 1st and 2nd, and then it's a toss-up after that, as usual. High picks won't be moved unless teams get core players in return. You probably aren't going to see a ton of picks moved at all this year, as teams know this is a good draft to pick a solid player for their organizations in.
Either way, I would like to add a 2nd rounder or two, and package at least one of them to jump up some, and maybe add a prospect with higher skill/upside package.
Its clear the leafs have extra assets to gather more picks
McCarthur is surplus and should garner a late 1st or high 2nd
The team has 9 D thats 2 too many so who goes and for what in return? Another 1st is likely for one if not both extra D
Come draft if were 15th Nonis could put a good package of picks to move up top 10 and maybe even add a player like Gunnarson 15th pick plus a 2nd for 6th overall?
We could still get Monahan with a package given the team has numerous non core assets to trade now
That's what I was thinking of packaging MacArthur and one of our surplus D like Blacker for a earlier 1st. The only thing is I would think that teams would be tighter around their 1sts for this year's draft.
I don't think Domi, Lazar, OR Horvat should go before 20, but all should be gone before 30.
Just my opinion.
Eh I can see where you're coming.
Personally I think all three could go before 20, and actually have the means too. That said there are other players that look quite nice that could easily go before them too.
Funny enough, Lazar has more goals than Erne (not picking on a prospect you like, just a stat). To be fair to others in that range, I'm a big fan of both Lazar and Horvat.
And I still don't get the dislike for Domi. Guy is a stud, even if he is playing on a top team.
Nichuskin's breakout speed from his skating is world class. I remember people were ragging on Seth Jones and Ryan Murphy for not being able to stop from him going around them, but I think that it is easier said than done. He is almost unstoppable (without taking a penalty), when he reaches top flight.
I think the scouts, namely, Button, were extremely accurate with their assessment.
He looks absolutely fearless going to the net, and out of the many Russian wingers, he looks like he can finish extremely well.
Most of his goals are scored exactly that way. What do you guys think about this, and the ability for that style of scoring/play to translate at the NHL-level?
Video taken from the Main Boards:
To add: I think that he can seriously fall in this draft. It's worth considering because he is top-10 caliber, and much better than some of the Junior players being discussed.
Personally I think all three could go before 20, and actually have the means too. That said there are other players that look quite nice that could easily go before them too.
Funny enough, Lazar has more goals than Erne (not picking on a prospect you like, just a stat). To be fair to others in that range, I'm a big fan of both Lazar and Horvat.
And I still don't get the dislike for Domi. Guy is a stud, even if he is playing on a top team.
I like Lazar, as he would be a perfect 3C, with solid 2C potential, but I don't think the offensive upside is as high as Erne's at all.
