I've seen Schenn play multiple times and never come away impressed. His positioning is horrible, and he's pretty much been demoted to bottom pairing for Toronto. In no way would that entice me to drop three spots in the draft.
1)Letestu is the new number 1? Screams Malhotra part 2. I prefer Letestu to be the number 3 center.
2)I don't want Huselius back and would like to see Prospal on the top line and not on the 3rd.
3)IMO, Yakupov needs to be on the top 2 lines.
Huselius-Letestu-Nash : Huselius and Nash has proved before they can make it happen without a clear cut center. Heck thats the story of Nash's life. If we can get a stud center from else where then great, if not at least we can set up 3 scoring lines.
Umberger-Brassard-Atkinson : #2a line - proved to be very effective line already.
Prospal-R.Johansen-Yakupov : #2b line - build like the other second line ..
Huselius-Letestu-Nash : Huselius and Nash has proved before they can make it happen without a clear cut center. Heck thats the story of Nash's life. If we can get a stud center from else where then great, if not at least we can set up 3 scoring lines.
Umberger-Brassard-Atkinson : #2a line - proved to be very effective line already.
Prospal-R.Johansen-Yakupov : #2b line - build like the other second line ..
I've seen Schenn play multiple times and never come away impressed. His positioning is horrible, and he's pretty much been demoted to bottom pairing for Toronto. In no way would that entice me to drop three spots in the draft.
I agree with he's not alone enough to drop down, but I think Scheen could flourish with a change of scenery(along with Kadri). I thing the Toronto spotlight beats him down
This does have some striking similarities to the 2002 draft. Columbus traded up from 3 to 1 because Florida wanted Bouwmeester over Nash. Back then Columbus only surrendered the option of a 2003 pick flip which never materialized after Florida has the worse record. I suspect a move from 2 to 1 would cost more but if Edmonton wants Murray anyway they can get their guy and another pick and/or player for free.
I've seen Schenn play multiple times and never come away impressed. His positioning is horrible, and he's pretty much been demoted to bottom pairing for Toronto. In no way would that entice me to drop three spots in the draft.
No, he's **** He's regressed since his rookie year.
__________________
Truth should never get in the way of a good persecution complex.
Back then Columbus only surrendered the option of a 2003 pick flip which never materialized after Florida has the worse record. I suspect a move from 2 to 1 would cost more but if Edmonton wants Murray anyway they can get their guy and another pick and/or player for free.
It never materialized because FLA won the draft lottery, not because they had a worse record. Columbus would've been #3, FLA #4.
If EDM wants Murray, then make them take him. Let them know you'd be more than happy to take which ever one they don't out of Yakupov or Murray
I've seen Schenn play multiple times and never come away impressed. His positioning is horrible, and he's pretty much been demoted to bottom pairing for Toronto. In no way would that entice me to drop three spots in the draft.
Fair enough. From my view, I see a very solid skater on a very poor defensive team that was asked to do a lot as a 19 year old (and through 22 yo). My rationale was that if the CBJ brass feel, for them, that players at 2-5 are essentially equal this would be a risk I would be willing to take.
I feel the same way with Kulemin. A horrible year for him last year but the kid has talent and plays a two way game. The risk is minimal if, again, if, picks 2-5 are considered equal to the CBJ and not to Toronto.
If EDM wants Murray, then make them take him. Let them know you'd be more than happy to take which ever one they don't out of Yakupov or Murray
I agree. In fact, the CBJ potentially has some leverage here. If they truly don't care about Yakupov or Murray and it's known they'll take Murray at #2, Edmonton can't trade down to #3 for example in hopes of getting Murray and allowing Montreal pick Yakupov.
Two things matter leading up to the draft for me. What happens with Nash and what does Edmonton do with the pick.
Let's say Edmonton does take Murray with the first pick (they feel they can't trade down beyond #2 to get him and Columbus feels like Murray is #1 on their (CBJ) board).
The CBJ sits at #2 with Yakupov available. Do they trade the pick and is the value similar to what Yakupov might mean at #1?
Obviously this is only a scenario if Edmonton really wants Murray and is unwilling to trade down for fear of losing him. I think it would be an interesting situation to say the least.
This does have some striking similarities to the 2002 draft. Columbus traded up from 3 to 1 because Florida wanted Bouwmeester over Nash. Back then Columbus only surrendered the option of a 2003 pick flip which never materialized after Florida has the worse record. I suspect a move from 2 to 1 would cost more but if Edmonton wants Murray anyway they can get their guy and another pick and/or player for free.
The two aren't really comparable, because the jump was larger (3 to 1 compared to 2 to 1), and the huge variable was the presence of Kari Lehtonen in there. Atlanta was regarded (and admitted as much) as only taking one of Bouwmeester or Nash only if Lehtonen were taken first. But they were ambivalent about staying where they were. If someone had wanted to move up from 4 to 2 or 5 to 2 (or more), then Columbus would have been screwed big-time. The team moving up to 2 was going to get Nash, and Columbus would be stuck with Lehtonen as the BPA with Leclaire having been drafted the year before. The other option would be to take the next-BPA, which Don Boyd said was Scottie Upshall.
The real question is, if Columbus goes from 2 to 1 this year, will we hear a lot of complaining about how Howson only trades with the Oilers?
The CBJ sits at #2 with Yakupov available. Do they trade the pick and is the value similar to what Yakupov might mean at #1?
I'd say no, and yes. I strongly doubt that anyone looking to move up to #1 is looking at getting Murray or anyone else whose name doesn't begin with "Yak-" and end with something other than "-ushin" or "-ovlev".
__________________
"Every game, every point is a necessity." -- Ty Conklin, January 2007
"I'll have a chance to compete for the post of first issue. This is the most important thing." -- Sergei Bobrovsky, June 2012
I think the biggest issue moving into the offseason with July 1 will be offense. I have no faith that we will be able to move Nash, let alone for two guys that can be 20+ g scorers (which you pretty much need to replace him). I'm also assuming we draft Murray (for another thread).
Current roster:
POS Name GP G A PTS PPG GPG
L Rick Nash 82 30 29 59 0.72 0.37
L Vinny Prospal 82 16 39 55 0.67 0.20
C Derick Brassard 74 14 27 41 0.55 0.19
C RJ Umberger 77 20 20 40 0.52 0.26
C Mark Letestu 62 11 14 25 0.40 0.18
C Ryan Johansen 67 9 12 21 0.31 0.13
R Derek Dorsett 77 12 8 20 0.26 0.16
C Derek MacKenzie 66 7 7 14 0.21 0.11
R Cam Atkinson 27 7 7 14 0.52 0.26
So you have 2 guys over 50 pts, 2 over 40 pts (and one that projects there), and then some 20 pts forwards. If we assume that a good first liner is around 60 pts a year, second 40-55, etc. Then we have 1st liner. One marginal 1st liner (Prospal) and a bunch of 2nd and 3rd liners.
We really need some guys who can put up points. We've got the money why not try to throw it at some guys (PA and Hudler specifically). We need points, lets buy some goals. Then at some point we can go back to trying to address Center (via trade, I'd try this with trading Nash).
I'd still love to find a way to get guys like Burish and Campbell onto our roster to add some size and mean-ness. Or how about Maroon from Ana...
Edit:
PA's numbers - 80 GP 18 G 49 A 67 PTS .84 PPG .23 GPG
Hudler's numbers - 81 GP 25 G 25 A 50 PTS .62 PPG .31 GPG
Maroon (AHL) - 75 GP 32 G 42 A 74 PTS .99 PPG .43 GPG (oh and he's 6'4")
I think the biggest issue moving into the offseason with July 1 will be offense. I have no faith that we will be able to move Nash, let alone for two guys that can be 20+ g scorers (which you pretty much need to replace him). I'm also assuming we draft Murray (for another thread).
Current roster:
POS Name GP G A PTS PPG GPG
L Rick Nash 82 30 29 59 0.72 0.37
L Vinny Prospal 82 16 39 55 0.67 0.20
C Derick Brassard 74 14 27 41 0.55 0.19
C RJ Umberger 77 20 20 40 0.52 0.26
C Mark Letestu 62 11 14 25 0.40 0.18
C Ryan Johansen 67 9 12 21 0.31 0.13
R Derek Dorsett 77 12 8 20 0.26 0.16
C Derek MacKenzie 66 7 7 14 0.21 0.11
R Cam Atkinson 27 7 7 14 0.52 0.26
So you have 2 guys over 50 pts, 2 over 40 pts (and one that projects there), and then some 20 pts forwards. If we assume that a good first liner is around 60 pts a year, second 40-55, etc. Then we have 1st liner. One marginal 1st liner (Prospal) and a bunch of 2nd and 3rd liners.
We really need some guys who can put up points. We've got the money why not try to throw it at some guys (PA and Hudler specifically). We need points, lets buy some goals. Then at some point we can go back to trying to address Center (via trade, I'd try this with trading Nash).
I'd still love to find a way to get guys like Burish and Campbell onto our roster to add some size and mean-ness. Or how about Maroon from Ana...
Edit:
PA's numbers - 80 GP 18 G 49 A 67 PTS .84 PPG .23 GPG
Hudler's numbers - 81 GP 25 G 25 A 50 PTS .62 PPG .31 GPG
Maroon (AHL) - 75 GP 32 G 42 A 74 PTS .99 PPG .43 GPG (oh and he's 6'4")
I think you hit it right on the head.
Offense is hard to come by. Moving Nash, the only guy capable of putting up 40 goals on this roster, will be suicide if we can't replace his offense either through FA or as part of the trade.
Solid defenses can be built, we've done it before in 2009 and I'm convinced we are on the cusp of achieving it again with the core we have now (JJ, Wiz, Tyutin, Nikitin, Methot and the 2 kids).
Goaltending and Offense, those are the challenges faced by this organization. Moving Rick Nash without receiving just as much back in these areas would be foolish imo.
Hudler-Prospal-Atkinson is a combination I hadn't considered, I would be excited to see that 2nd line on the ice.
Screams Malhotra part 2. I prefer Letestu to be the number 3 center.
