On draft lottery day, time for a bump of this thread. As it stand right now, we'd be picking 20th and I'd say no way we forfeit this pick. None. Nada. Unless we make it to the conference finals which would move us to picking 27-30th.
Otherwise, we keep it. I was hoping Teravainen would be there but he's climbing up the rankings and likely won't be around but we could hope a guy like Gaunce or Collberg is still there at #20. If we go D, Koekoek, Maata, or Poulliot shoudl be there.
Personally I would forfeit the pick. Sure, you can get a great prospect at 20, but I would rather give up what I know is a bottom 10 pick than assume the pick will fall lower in one of the next two years. Don't get cute with it. Give it up now and don't risk it as there are too many question marks over what this team may or may not look like in 1-2 years.
But seriously what kind of shenanigans is this that Edmonton gets the #1 pick for the 3rd straight year? Trying to build a Pittsburgh-West out there I guess.
I wouldn't mind it if Lou decided to forfeit it this year, but I do like the talent available in this draft. If Parise is re-signed before the draft, I don't think I would forfeit it, because next year we'd be likely to finish higher.
ON NHL.com they have a few mock drafts. One of the drafts have NJ picking Stefan Matteau, C, USA U-18 (USHL), I almost punched the computer screen after I read that!!!!!
It might not be a bad year to consider giving up the pick. This could be as low a pick as we have in the first round. I really like this draft class, but given the spot we are currently slotted at, it might be wise to forefit this 1st rounder.
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2011-12: The start of a new making the playoffs streak!
ON NHL.com they have a few mock drafts. One of the drafts have NJ picking Stefan Matteau, C, USA U-18 (USHL), I almost punched the computer screen after I read that!!!!!
This forfeit thing is still such a ****ing joke. But hey Canucks and hawks no worries about your contracts. So lame.
The Sabres contracts annoy me even more, at least the Hawks and Canucks did theirs before the Bloch ruling. The Sabres did it afterward, and those contracts were even more of a mockery of the CBA, and they got away with it.
I almost forgot about that. Cap hit 3 mil. Makes half of his contract in 2 years. He makes the rest in the last 8 years. Not violating the spirit of the cba though. NHL and it's consistency right there.
I almost forgot about that. Cap hit 3 mil. Makes half of his contract in 2 years. He makes the rest in the last 8 years. Not violating the spirit of the cba though. NHL and it's consistency right there.
Nor Brad Richards earning 20M of his 60M (33%) contract before stepping on the ice for year 2 of 9 (11%)
A lot depends on the status of the team here in the playoffs. If the Devils make it to the ECF, I think it's probably a safe bet we may forfeit the pick. However, there's also a lot of questions going into next year.
If there is an inkling that Parise and Brodeur won't be here after the season concludes and I have to believe Lou will have a decent pulse on both of those situations, there are a lot of things to think about using that pick to either trade for a player needed immediately or possibly forfeiting the pick since there's a chance the team next year could struggle.