We're a pretty knowledgable group around here. I think we can think past the third round.
Sergei Shirokov. The kid definately has some attitude, but there is no denying he has the ability to make an impact. I don't know if he'd be worth taking in the 2nd round though, and I don't know if he'll make it to the third.
Steve Downie. He's a heart and soul kind of guy. He's fearless, and I believe a center. if not for missing some games last year he would of led Windsor in scoring as a 17 year old. I really don't see this kid making it past the third round. I think he's only ranked around the 70th or so North American skater in the mid term rankings. He just seems like the type of kid that you want on your team though.
Matt Kassian. He's the enforcer we want. he was a dominant force in the WHL last year. Had a dominating win over Shea Weber in a fight as well. Not that Weber is really a heavy in the dub. He's already got size too. I've seen him listed at 6'6 225. He'll only get more solid too.
We're a pretty knowledgable group around here. I think we can think past the third round.
Sergei Shirokov. The kid definately has some attitude, but there is no denying he has the ability to make an impact. I don't know if he'd be worth taking in the 2nd round though, and I don't know if he'll make it to the third.
Steve Downie. He's a heart and soul kind of guy. He's fearless, and I believe a center. if not for missing some games last year he would of led Windsor in scoring as a 17 year old. I really don't see this kid making it past the third round. I think he's only ranked around the 70th or so North American skater in the mid term rankings. He just seems like the type of kid that you want on your team though.
Matt Kassian. He's the enforcer we want. he was a dominant force in the WHL last year. Had a dominating win over Shea Weber in a fight as well. Not that Weber is really a heavy in the dub. He's already got size too. I've seen him listed at 6'6 225. He'll only get more solid too.
In the first round, obviously I'd like to see us snare one of the high-end centers...aside from the obvious Crosby, I'd also be happy with one of:
Brule
Kopitar
Pouliot
Skille
Zagrapan
O'Marra
If available in the third(I'd say second, but we don't have that pick), I'd be THRILLED if we could pick up Jordan LaVallee. He's huge, physical, and has a great shot. I really took notice of him in following Radulov and the Remparts this year. Their goalie, Maxime Joyal is someone I wouldn't mind getting in the sixth or seventh round, as well.
Yes that's completely true. We NEED centers! I only worry about this:
“We don’t draft for needs specifically. In the first round we take the best player that is available..." - by Paul Fenton
We MUST draft a center! If we don't do it in first round, in the third there won't be any best-class center! We must do exception for this time!
And then - I think we should draft:
3 - LW
4 - C
5 - C
6 - RW
7 - RW/C
8 - LW/D
9 - D/RW/G
*Sorry, I am not sure if we have draft picks I have written
Well, generally, BPA is the way to go...but I think that generally only applies in the first 6 or so picks. After that...the difference between one guy and the next isn't going to be all that great. If we came up at number 9 and we had the choice of a defenseman(for example, Luc Bourdon) who might be rated a little higher than a center(Ryan O'Marra, perhaps), I'd be surprised if we didn't go with the guy who was maybe rated a little lower, but not significantly enough that it would hurt us to take the guy we need. There's always the option of trading down if you don't "need" the BPA.
Well, generally, BPA is the way to go...but I think that generally only applies in the first 6 or so picks. After that...the difference between one guy and the next isn't going to be all that great. If we came up at number 9 and we had the choice of a defenseman(for example, Luc Bourdon) who might be rated a little higher than a center(Ryan O'Marra, perhaps), I'd be surprised if we didn't go with the guy who was maybe rated a little lower, but not significantly enough that it would hurt us to take the guy we need. There's always the option of trading down if you don't "need" the BPA.
BPA is the best way to go throughout the first 2 rounds IMO, but fortunately for us, there are a lot of good centers available this draft. And there never has been a rule for us NOT to trade picks/etc. Nomore, you just posted an article saying Fenton/Poile may end up trading picks for players.....
Who knows if we will even draft in the first round, and lets not forget, we do not HAVE a second round pick to work with at this point.
BPA is the best way to go throughout the first 2 rounds IMO, but fortunately for us, there are a lot of good centers available this draft. And there never has been a rule for us NOT to trade picks/etc. Nomore, you just posted an article saying Fenton/Poile may end up trading picks for players.....
Who knows if we will even draft in the first round, and lets not forget, we do not HAVE a second round pick to work with at this point.
If we end up with a pick in the top 12 or so, I'd be surprised if we traded it.
Besides, I think a lot of that was talk. It doesn't seem prudent to be trading assets for roster players when there will be SO MUCH available on the free agent market, unless it was really a "wow" type of deal.
If we end up with a pick in the top 12 or so, I'd be surprised if we traded it.
Besides, I think a lot of that was talk. It doesn't seem prudent to be trading assets for roster players when there will be SO MUCH available on the free agent market, unless it was really a "wow" type of deal.
I agree, but you never know what teams might have to do, or are willing to do......to get something for a player rather than releasing them. This should be an offseason that sees considerable player movement, and not just because of a lot of Free Agents. It will be interesting to say the least.
Let us HOPE we are in the top 12 (top 3 would be even sweeter )
i have some draft order questions since I haven't seen what is being talked about in terms of the lottery.
is it they would lotto the first pick with every team having a chance, then the order falls into the order from the results of the past 3-5 seasons? Or is it a pure 30 team lottery where the Preds could pick 1st or the preds could pick 30th? Obviously, they have not announced what it will be but does anyone have a feel for what they think it will be? it would suck for the preds to pick 30th. However, i did see one plan floated of the snake draft where #30 picks #1 in the 2nd (31st). that would ease the pain somewhat.
I'd like to see a 30 team lotto for #1, a second lotto for 2-14/15 with the teams that are 1-14 (the normal "non-playoff" lotto) and 15/16-30 filled out based on overall record during the selected time span. Then, have the natural order of the teams take place for the rest of the rounds. If the the Avalanche won the #1 pick lotto, but should be 29th overall, they'd move to 29th in round 2-? and everyone would bump up one spot.
Based on only reading the scouting reports and not having seen anyone play, Pouliot seems like Legwand II. I like the sounds of O'Marra.
I'd like us to draft T.J. Hensick from Michigan at some point. He's 5'10, 187 lbs and "The biggest knock on Hensick may be that he tends to avoid the physical side of the game." I just want us to draft him so i can watch the "we need an enforcer at all costs" crowd get their panties in a wad over it.
Last edited by vopatsrash: 06-21-2005 at 08:17 AM.
i have some draft order questions since I haven't seen what is being talked about in terms of the lottery.
is it they would lotto the first pick with every team having a chance, then the order falls into the order from the results of the past 3-5 seasons? Or is it a pure 30 team lottery where the Preds could pick 1st or the preds could pick 30th? Obviously, they have not announced what it will be but does anyone have a feel for what they think it will be? it would suck for the preds to pick 30th. However, i did see one plan floated of the snake draft where #30 picks #1 in the 2nd (31st). that would ease the pain somewhat.
I'd like to see a 30 team lotto for #1, a second lotto for 2-14/15 with the teams that are 1-14 (the normal "non-playoff" lotto) and 15/16-30 filled out based on overall record during the selected time span. Then, have the natural order of the teams take place for the rest of the rounds. If the the Avalanche won the #1 pick lotto, but should be 29th overall, they'd move to 29th in round 2-? and everyone would bump up one spot.
Based on only reading the scouting reports and not having seen anyone play, Pouliot seems like Legwand II. I like the sounds of O'Marra.
I'd like us to draft T.J. Hensick from Michigan at some point. He's 5'10, 187 lbs and "The biggest knock on Hensick may be that he tends to avoid the physical side of the game." I just want us to draft him so i can watch the "we need an enforcer at all costs" crowd get their panties in a wad over it.
re: draft order
No one knows yet, but I tend to lean toward the weighted lottery. The 1:30 thing was a rumor that spread like the plague, and somehow everyone put whatever stock in it. There's never been a legit source to it.
Really, my biggest choices are: Crosby, Kopitar, Brule
Crosby should be obvious.
Kopitar is huge(6'4) with great hands, a great shot and excellent skating, already playing in the Swedish men's league as a teenager.
Brule does everything...hits like a tank, scores goals, good passer, fights. Nothing not to like about the kid.
by the way, vopats, love the pedro avatar. i'm, painfully, a huge mets fan
damn nmk...maybe we're the same person...i'm beginning to think maybe we're both Tyler Durden and we're just a random airplane flight meeting away from starting fight clubs and blowing stuff up. do you sell soap?
i've painfully been a mets fan since about 1983. as frustrating as this season is, at least they gave us pedro to watch every 5.5 days. Not since David Cone (the first time around...) have we seen such brilliance. And David Wright is going to be just fine, too. At least they're (hopefully) getting Wright, Reyes, Diaz, and Willie R's learning experiences all out of the way in the same year. Might as well throw in the painful aging of glavine/piazza and the wtf of matsui to make a nice big mediocrity pie.
But it's entertaining mediocrity rather than last year's depressing mediocrity.
damn nmk...maybe we're the same person...i'm beginning to think maybe we're both Tyler Durden and we're just a random airplane flight meeting away from starting fight clubs and blowing stuff up. do you sell soap?
i've painfully been a mets fan since about 1983. as frustrating as this season is, at least they gave us pedro to watch every 5.5 days. Not since David Cone (the first time around...) have we seen such brilliance. And David Wright is going to be just fine, too. At least they're (hopefully) getting Wright, Reyes, Diaz, and Willie R's learning experiences all out of the way in the same year. Might as well throw in the painful aging of glavine/piazza and the wtf of matsui to make a nice big mediocrity pie.
But it's entertaining mediocrity rather than last year's depressing mediocrity.
well, call me crazy(or masochistic) but i'm not ready to write this season off, just yet. they're taking small steps in the right direction(releasing dejean and aybar, signing danny graves, rumored to be possibly trading mike cameron to the yankees for robinson cano(an everyday second baseman!)...so...who knows, maybe they'll go on a run around the all-star break. I don't have playoff aspirations, but I'd like a reason to start watching the games again...aside from the ones Pedro pitches, which are, as you said, incredible.
well, call me crazy(or masochistic) but i'm not ready to write this season off, just yet. they're taking small steps in the right direction(releasing dejean and aybar, signing danny graves, rumored to be possibly trading mike cameron to the yankees for robinson cano(an everyday second baseman!)...so...who knows, maybe they'll go on a run around the all-star break. I don't have playoff aspirations, but I'd like a reason to start watching the games again...aside from the ones Pedro pitches, which are, as you said, incredible.
i could see the mets still making a run. at least i think omar could pull it off with the right deals and better health would help. i've resigned myself to that not happening as probably a sort of defense mechanism. I just don't want them to trade any of the prospects away, unless there is a substantial pre-deadline run or a star in his prime in return. they might be in the odd situation where they could be sellers and make a run if they just get some workable parts in return, get healthy, and not fall too far out of the race.
i confess that i have the least amount of knowledge about this draft of any since nashville has been in existence.
for anyone....Let's talk some goalies. is it a deep year for goalies? Does anyone think Poile makes a move on one in, say, the 2nd or 3rd round? Or is he fine enough with Finley, Lassila, Sidikov, etc. that he waits another year before pulling the trigger on a higher G pick? Usually, by now he's in the press ripping or praising someone and offering those not-so-subtle hints after their individual post-season evaluations. But, the last I remember the company line was more in support of Finley as a major prospect for at least one more season.
Somewhat tied to the draft, what does everyone think happens with the goalie depth chart this season? The options are more abundant than normal with the new economic system, plus the extra year of development of each draftee. The Preds could sit on Mason as a cheap backup, go for more experience with a moderately priced UFA, or go with Finley as a cheap back-up. Pre-lockout, i expected them to go with the status quo (mase), but who knows?
I think they should have Finley start one more year in Mil, bring over whichever Euro-goalie they're highest on to back finley up, then have finley back up here in 06-07 until he's ready or a journeyman. In regards to Koun's backup, i have no idea. Not knowing the opinion of Poile/Trotz on Mase, I'd say go with mase and use the money on a center.
We're a pretty knowledgable group around here. I think we can think past the third round.
Sergei Shirokov. The kid definately has some attitude, but there is no denying he has the ability to make an impact. I don't know if he'd be worth taking in the 2nd round though, and I don't know if he'll make it to the third.
Steve Downie. He's a heart and soul kind of guy. He's fearless, and I believe a center. if not for missing some games last year he would of led Windsor in scoring as a 17 year old. I really don't see this kid making it past the third round. I think he's only ranked around the 70th or so North American skater in the mid term rankings. He just seems like the type of kid that you want on your team though.
Matt Kassian. He's the enforcer we want. he was a dominant force in the WHL last year. Had a dominating win over Shea Weber in a fight as well. Not that Weber is really a heavy in the dub. He's already got size too. I've seen him listed at 6'6 225. He'll only get more solid too.
benoit pouillot i believe would complement legwand
i confess that i have the least amount of knowledge about this draft of any since nashville has been in existence.
for anyone....Let's talk some goalies. is it a deep year for goalies? Does anyone think Poile makes a move on one in, say, the 2nd or 3rd round? Or is he fine enough with Finley, Lassila, Sidikov, etc. that he waits another year before pulling the trigger on a higher G pick? Usually, by now he's in the press ripping or praising someone and offering those not-so-subtle hints after their individual post-season evaluations. But, the last I remember the company line was more in support of Finley as a major prospect for at least one more season.
Somewhat tied to the draft, what does everyone think happens with the goalie depth chart this season? The options are more abundant than normal with the new economic system, plus the extra year of development of each draftee. The Preds could sit on Mason as a cheap backup, go for more experience with a moderately priced UFA, or go with Finley as a cheap back-up. Pre-lockout, i expected them to go with the status quo (mase), but who knows?
I think they should have Finley start one more year in Mil, bring over whichever Euro-goalie they're highest on to back finley up, then have finley back up here in 06-07 until he's ready or a journeyman. In regards to Koun's backup, i have no idea. Not knowing the opinion of Poile/Trotz on Mase, I'd say go with mase and use the money on a center.
I think Mase backs up Vokoun another year. Lassila comes over a fights Finley for the number one position in Milwaukee. If there is a clear winner and he performs up to expectation....that winner becomes Koun's backup in 2006/7. If the loser doesn't flop...he takes the number one job in Milwaukee to either prove himself or be discarded. Hopefully, Rinne gets a starting job in the SM- Liiga next year as he had an excellent year as a backup for Backstrom. Maybe he comes to fight for the Milwaukee job in 1-2 years.
Meanwhile we avoid a high goalie selection this year to see who pans out, taking a mid-level round pick for a Maxime Joyal type. Use the higher draft spots and cash in the UFA for some center depth and quick bolus of talent respectively. If both Finley and Lassila leave doubts next year, go high in the draft for goalie in 2006/7.
I think Mase backs up Vokoun another year. Lassila comes over a fights Finley for the number one position in Milwaukee. If there is a clear winner and he performs up to expectation....that winner becomes Koun's backup in 2006/7. If the loser doesn't flop...he takes the number one job in Milwaukee to either prove himself or be discarded. Hopefully, Rinne gets a starting job in the SM- Liiga next year as he had an excellent year as a backup for Backstrom. Maybe he comes to fight for the Milwaukee job in 1-2 years.
Meanwhile we avoid a high goalie selection this year to see who pans out, taking a mid-level round pick for a Maxime Joyal type. Use the higher draft spots and cash in the UFA for some center depth and quick bolus of talent respectively. If both Finley and Lassila leave doubts next year, go high in the draft for goalie in 2006/7.
Just my 2 cents.
it's like an interview with Mitch Korn....sounds just about right
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