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Unless we're picking 2nd overall (Svechnikov), I think it's almost a given that we'll be taking a defenseman with our first pick. The consensus top defensemen not named Dahlin are pretty much set: Hughes, Boqvist, Bouchard, Dobson. Maybe also Ty Smith, depending on who you ask. For what it's worth (not much), Draper didn't mention Hughes when he rattled off names in his recent interview with HSJ: HSJ: Is the defense position a priority? KD: “A major priority. You have Dahlin. You have Boqvist, you have Evan Bouchard playing in London, you have Noah Dobson in Acadie-Bathurst. You have Ty Smith playing out west. There’s a pretty good crew of defensemen that are going to be available in the top 20. Our second 1st, I don't know, because Vegas's postseason fate is totally up in the air at this time and, as far as I'm concerned, there really isn't a whole lot of separation in the rough consensus 16-31 range anyway. I assume the Wings would like a defenseman or centerman as opposed to a winger, but there should be some pretty sexy wingers available in that range, e.g. Joel Farabee (not sure he slides that far, but we'll see), Serron Noel, Dominik Bokk. I agree with @LeftWinger that having those two early 2nds is a really big deal. People are focused on our first 1st, and rightfully so, but that cluster of picks -- Vegas's 1st and the two early 2nds -- could be where we really make bank.

Final game of this long year it has been.

How do we feel about AA? I've gotta be honest: even if he wants to stay and is willing to sign a reasonable extension, I might look to move him at the draft if I'm Holland. I reached a point during last night's game, seeing him try to "I'm hot s***" deke past a defenseman for the 48,000th time this season and fail for the 47,997th time this season, where I just kind of threw my hands up in the air and really started to wonder if he isn't in fact a "problem kid." I'm sure Blashill and other players have told him he needs to grow his game. ("Maybe don't go for the low-percentage deke every. single. time.") I'm sure Blashill and other players have told him he needs to get much stronger, as the lightest breeze can easily separate him from the puck. That he apparently hasn't taken this advice to heart is not encouraging. He plays like a bottom-six winger. He plays bad possession hockey. He plays dumb hockey. For me, it's getting kind of old. Problem is, everyone else in the league can see this, so I doubt his trade value is especially high. I don't think he gets us a Justin Faulk. I'm not sure he could even get us a late 1st.

100% of the reason for the decline is the decades success and lack of any high draft picks. It's like you're blaming the pilot for eventually having to land to refuel. We simply can't trade for or get in FA the impact players we need anymore in today's NHL. No GM or front office could have kept us contending or going deep into the playoffs. People need to cool off.

Yes, that's right. We officially have an 8.5% chance at the number one pick, 8.7% chance at the number two pick, and an 8.9% chance at the number three pick, which gives us a 26.1% chance of moving up into the top three. We have an 8.4% chance staying at five, 34.5% chance to drop back one spot to six, 26.7% chance to drop back two spots to seven, and a 4.3% chance to drop back three spots to eight, which is the worst we can pick... Odds are we drop back, but I have a feeling we defy the odds and move up this year. We might not get the number one pick, but we're going to get a top three pick!

Didn't mean anything. Since we we only got 1 point we stay worse then Vancouver, and even if we lost in regulation we still wouldn't have passed Montreal. Today was a success from our end. Now had Arizona or Montreal won, different story.

Mercifully, it's over. Sucks that Kenny and Blashill are returning. Let's hope they get lucky in the draft because there's not much else to look forward to.

They really need to strip the "hockeytown" logo off the ice this is embarrassing.

I'd completely forgotten that Draper won the Selke. (2003-04.) Isles look totally flat. Think they know Tavares is leaving? Pretty cool that Tavares gets to play his last game as an Isle against his new team -- and in their shiny new arena.

How can you hate so many teams and so many players? I don't get it... For me, the team I hate the most (the Hawks) are out, which is great, as long as they don't win the draft lottery. The only other teams I do not want to see win it this year, are the Pens and Leafs. F*** No! to the Pens because the thought of a team (besides the Wings) making a three-peat makes me sick, and F*** No! to the Leafs because I would never hear the end of it... I want Vegas bounced first round, because like others mentioned, we need that pick to be as high as possible. I'd like to see Philly go deep, in hopes that they can somehow make the ECF and Mrazek win 6 games, to turn that 3rd (assuming they make the playoffs) into a 2nd. Highly unlikely, but I'll be rooting for them for sure. The only team I really like in the East is Tampa, in the West, I love Winnipeg and like Nashville as well. I'm hoping for a Lightning vs Jets final. Would be an epic series in my opinion. We really need to get lucky on draft lottery day, which is April 28th. I'll be in Alberta visiting my sister and brother-in-law at the end of the month. He's a huge Habs fan, so I'm hoping Detroit move up to 1 and Montreal drop back 2 or 3 spots...

Good matchup for us in the first round with Vegas. The Kings have beaten them twice this season and have the best record against them of any playoff team.

I really don't want to see LA win either. Nothing against them, but I like seeing new guys raise the cup for the first time. When its not your team, I feel there is nothing more unsatisfying then seeing a repeat of something you have already seen. But Ill take LA over Pittsburgh all day.

Unless the best team is Pittsburgh...

JETS! JETS! JETS! Honestly, I have no pony in this race. I will watch nevertheless. May the best team win.

So the worst we can pick is 8th (Bouchard! ) I ran the simulator 6 times on capfriendly.com, to get this: 4 out the other 5 times, we were either 2nd or 3rd.

Pfffft. Draper, Maltby and Dmac each have 4. To the rafters they go!

That actually is pretty amazing, thinking about it. Folks in the Atlantic division need to get their s*** together.

Lowest we can finish now is 5th-worst, with a Canucks OT/SO loss or win of any kind. What amazes me is that three teams in our division are going to finish lower than us.

Doesn’t matter though.. habs and yotes are both going to lose.

Habs score. 1-1 late in the 2nd.

If we are looking to lose, too bad we dont still have Mrazek

Let's lose Red Wings!!

Dahlin.img

Plus, there's always next year's draft, which is shaping up to be just as deep as this year's draft, possibly even deeper. Jack Hughes (brother of Quinn) is phenomenal.

I say let Vegas win the SC and break the internet