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Czech Interview with Fischer (Rough google translation) Basically explains it's Fischer's job to explore the players who were never drafted but are still young enough to possibly make the NHL. AKA Kaski, Sulak, Rybar, Machovsky, Hirose, Kuffner, Dekeyser, etc etc. Fischer explains that part of what he's doing is creating internal competition. It's necessary to sign these types of players to also create competition within the organization, even if they never make the big club. Fischer says his long-term goal is to become an NHL GM, but for now he is focused on scouting. He and Yzerman have discussed what types of player Yzerman is interested in. Says Yzerman still commands a ton of respect in the room. People stop to listen when he enters. Some very rough translation when talking about Zadina and Hronek. Sounds like he legitimately believes Zadina should have been a #3 pick and praises Hronek's off ice character. Says the AHL tested Zadina mentally, but now he knows exactly where he needs to improve his game. Says Zadina must now learn to defend and win. Not worried about his development. The end of the article he talks about how Czech hockey is falling out of favor. Losing ground as a major hockey country.

The one who's not a crybaby, diving, d-bag. So his right hand grip is stronger than his left hand grip. Hmmmm. Do they test for blindness?

Holland was great at RFA contracts.

I agree. I don't think Holland ever made Blashill play anyone because of their contracts. Like it or not, the guys who are overpaid (Abby, Helm, Daley, etc) are still better than guys like Ehn, Frk, Witkowski, Hicketts, Sulak...thats why they got to play, not because Ken was micro managing the lineup.

Seems to be in line with what a lot of other people are saying. His size and speed made him elite at that level, and might make him NHL ready soon, but his skill level just isn't as high as the other top end guys. Which is another reason why I like Zegras so much. He helps you at center a lot, but his skill level also is a huge asset on the powerplay. And we desperately need to improve on the PP. We basically had three 30 goal scorers (I'm including Mantha because he was on pace to hit 30 until...durrrr...old time hockey!) and had one of the league's worst powerplays. Improve that and you're talking about a BUNCH more offense for those top guys. Zegras has that ability. Maybe Turcotte, Krebs, Dach, and Newhook too. I just don't see it from Cozens though. He's not really that set up guy we need.

Are you high? Try firing or even repremanding your boss' guy at work today. Tell me how it goes.

I watched Cozens a lot this year. Lethbridge was a weird team because the team was decent but their goalies sucked. There were a lot of games where they allowed like 3 goals and the entire morale of the team seemed shattered. Like they were just waiting to get to the lockerroom. Cozens impressed me with his size and physical maturity for a young kid. But he never really left me saying "holy s*** this kid is gonna be good". Part of me thinks he's simply an early bloomer and that's why he's impressed so much, another part of me thinks he has an amazing tool box that he hasn't fully utilized yet.

I'm open to a trade back if Zegras, Turcotte, and Byram are all off the board by 6. If any one of them remains an option then you take it. But I don't think there's a big enough difference between the rest for me to care about too much. Provided we take a center. I'm not nuts about Podkolzin or Caufield, not because of their talent necessarily but because I think we're already stacked on the wing between Mantha, Bert, AA, Zadina, Berggren, Rasmussen, and Svech. Our center depth remains our biggest weakness. Even if Veleno becomes a solid 2C (which still remains to be seen) who plays 3C for us? Nielsen? Woof. I'd feel WAY better going forward with Larkin, Veleno, and any of Zegras, Turcotte, Dach, Cozens, Krebs, or Newhook.

Gets dropped off at practice by his MILF suburban stay-at-home mom in a fully loaded 2019 Cadillac Escalade vs. Gets dropped off by his uncle Gregor, who will die if his BAC drops below 1%, in a soviet era Lada they had to push start

”Everybody has been great to me and I’m just trying to play responsible in all three zones and find my teammates out there.” vs ”Take puck. Make score”

Maybe they were never really that good and that's why they spent years in the minors

The Pretty Boy: Trevor Zegras Can only buy his shampoo/conditioner brand in a salon Avoids hits with ease, never gets injured All the newest/best hockey equipment Great passer, loves to work together and see his teammates score If he doesn't have anything nice to say, he doesn't say anything at all Unironically calls his GF "bae" Genuinely listens when you talk to him Says a short prayer before each game Eats healthy and maintains a balanced diet Cries when he thinks about how much he loves his "bae" Generally a nice guy Doesn't sweat, his hockey bag smells like febreeze air accents The Chad Fugly Guy: Vasili Podkolzin Cuts his own hair Spits into, or rubs dirt into, open wounds to heal them Still plays with a wood stick Trys to go coast-to-coast on every play Chirps at you constantly, refers to everyone as cyka blyat Views women as objects, still gets laid Does not register the feelings or emotions of others Takes a huge dump in the locker room toilet before each game Eats nothing but pizza, junk food, and beer Openly admits he only gives a f*** about himself Generally moody and s***ty to other people Hygiene minimal, hockey bag smells like an open sewer in bombay

Could've fooled me!

I think I'm pretty solidly down with Zegras. There's so little separating these players that I'm cool with drafting for perceived need, and I believe Zegras has the potential to fill a role that's virtually impossible to fill (absent any dumb luck): Datsyukian Madman Playmaker Guy. These post-Datsyuk seasons have really made me appreciate just how much The Magic Man's ability to pull gamebreaking magic out of his ass on a nightly basis meant to all those great Euro Twins Era teams. If you can get yourself a forward who can see and think and execute like an Elias Pettersson, life becomes so much easier for your team. And if that guy is legit centerman? Hosanna! Two players in this draft class truly remind me of Datsyuk at times: Zegras and Podkolzin. Podkolzin has all of Datsyuk's assets except for maybe that galaxy brain hockey IQ. With Zegras, I strongly believe he does have that kind of hockey sense and I feel that the other areas of his game are generally solid. Above-average two-way game. Fantastic skater. Low-key scrappy. Good at faceoffs. I don't like his shot (any and all of them), but I think that'll improve as he bulks up. ...On the other hand, Podkolzin is so frking projectable. hnnnng

Maybe we draft this guy