Also, Kadri can't fit the criteria. Brian Burke would not draft a kid from Ontario, he hates Canada. Must be some sort of mistake. The only organization in the NHL that cheers for Canada to lose at the Olympics!
Why? Because he has higher upside? Do you really want to waste time on Euros, Americans, and Western Canadians still? Draft a role-player from Toronto who plays with heart and blocks shots. High-end skill is meaningless if it isn't from Ontario.
Just the size and skill factor is why I would pick him ahead. No doubt Guance is going to be a solid NHLer, but he seems more like a checking center.
I'd love that, I can't stand Kessel's apathy out there on the ice, so I'd much prefer to pay Nash his salary while getting the one guy who's very likely to step right in (Yakupov), especially since I doubt Kessel sticks around once he's a UFA on this loser team with the ridiculous media pressure.
Would you trade a 1st overall pick for Lupul, Schenn and Grabovski? Especially if you are Columbus?
At this point of the season, or come draft time? Columbus is hot right now and could pass Edmonton, not to mention you could lose the lottery. I wouldn't trade Yakupov, but I would trade the 1st round pick.
This team better stop playing with my emotions soon and decide whither it is playoffs or not. We are in the race for a playoff spot and in a race for a top 6 pick at the same time, how often can we say that? I think we are better off not making the playoffs because this team couldn't even give a nosebleed to the opposing team.
I feel this draft will have a lot of NHL-ready talent throughout the draft, and we need some of that. Burke seems to be tired of developing and developing and developing and wants results. A NHL-ready talent from this draft might be want we need to push our prospects, that are on the verge of cracking the roster, over the top.
Alex Galchenyuk reminds me of Mikhail Grabovski with a good mix of Phil Kessel. It looks like he is a complete two-way player, always knowing where to be to be in position in both zones. Definitely the Mats Sundin type we are missing on this team.
And in another video, Mckenzie says that Patrick Roy has been challenging Grigorenko to become a more complete player and is back checking more and has greater work ethic without the puck now.
Seems compeltely different than what that one article said about him "falling" because of his one dimensional play and inconsistent effort.
Kadri and Grigorenko as top two centers.
Kessel and Lupul as top two right wingers (I guess Lupes will have to adjust)
Nash and Kulemin as top two left wingers.
I am fine with all that.
Grabovski and Connolly as bottom 2 centers equating to 9.5 million 3rd and 4th line.
Galchenyuk-Grabovski down the middle - AKA "The Belarussian Pipeline"
Kulemin, Ashton and MacArthur go in a deal for Nash.
Get rid of Lombardi, Armstrong, Connolly and Komisarek for anything.
Trade Bozak by the deadline if Colborne is ready for the show
Sign Vokoun in the summer for 3 years, sign Moen for 2.
After one more year..when Gally is ready to step in..
CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR
FORWARDS
Rick Nash ($7.800m) / Alex Galchenyuk ($3.110m)* / Phil Kessel ($5.400m)
Nazem Kadri ($1.720m) / Mikhail Grabovski ($5.500m) / Joffrey Lupul ($5.000m)**
Travis Moen ($2.500m)** / Joe Colborne ($1.100m) / Matt Frattin ($1.350m)**
Mike Brown ($0.736m) / David Steckel ($1.100m) / Jay Rosehill ($0.600m)
*assuming Top 5 pick base ELC + bonuses
**contract raise/new contract signing
DEFENSEMEN
Dion Phaneuf ($6.500m) / Carl Gunnarsson ($1.325m)
Luke Schenn ($3.600m) / Jake Gardiner ($1.116m)
John-Michael Liles ($3.875m) / Cody Franson ($0.800m)
Korbinian Holzer ($0.700m)
GOALTENDERS
Tomas Vokoun ($3.500m) / James Reimer ($1.800m)
BUYOUTS: Darcy Tucker ($1.000m)
Leaves you with well over 5 million in cap space (assuming the cap stays where it is). High end production counterbalanced with low-cost ELC/second contract players. Plenty of flexibility and competition.
Last edited by The Don Draper: 03-09-2012 at 11:12 AM.
