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OK, I've gone back and read through the whole debate. Basically, you fell into a Jonas trap and some side arguments sprang up and now we're debating lots of little stuff that doesn't really matter and we're all basically on the same page except for Jonas who kinda lives on his own island and does his own thing and no one's ever really sure if he's trolling or playing it straight. I agree with you: It's rare that a natural winger converts to center at the NHL level and it's even rarer -- bordering on unheard of, at least in today's league -- that the conversion produces an "elite, elite" centerman. And there's a very good reason for that, as you noted. I do think it's fair to say Lafreniere has qualities that suggest he could have a future at center. That's not an especially controversial idea. But I think it's also fair to doubt there's anything to that notion and to say it's all moot because you're getting a superstar winger and there's no point in trying to fix something that is the exact opposite of broken. At the end of the day, I just want a Lafreniere-caliber player. He could be a winger or a centerman or a defenseman or a goalie -- I don't care. I just want a gamechanger. If we get Lafreniere and Yzerman and Blashill (?) are like, "We feel he belongs in the middle," I'll go along with it. I'd expect them to drop it the second it starts to look like a bad idea, because I agree that there's no reason to run that experiment unless you feel the guy just flat-out screams "stud pivot."

if I understand it correctly, you can use the LTIR money right away, but are only allowed to be 10% over the upper limit, which must be $89.65M then, to start the season. So in Toronto´s case they can´t appy the full LTIR money at seasons start because hey have $13M but can only use $8.15M. That is one reason why they can´t sign Marner before the start of the season, another problem will be the fact that the $2.25M LTIR money for Hyman cannot really be counted because he is supposed to be back in October. edit: assuming Marner would get an $11M contract

Toronto is atm not able to sign Marner. Even with the $13M in LTIR they have only $10M left for him and I doubt that that is enough to sign him. My guess is that he is looking for at least Tavares money. apart from that I agree with you that there is no sense making reason to not get them signed

This has been a heated debate at times here. My only input is, IF we are lucky to get #1 OA (which we won't be) we'd draft Alexis BECAUSE he is the BPA AND he is a winger. Moving forward, we will have Larkin and Veleno as our 1/2 C's. Even in 3 years Detroit will have plenty of bottom 6 C's to fill the roster. Rasmussen is a natural C as well. I think if Alexis was our pick, he'd stayed a LW and play on the top line with Larkin and Mantha. I mean, who would argue with this as a top 6 in 1-2 years? Lafreniere - Larkin - Mantha Zadina - Veleno - Athanasiou Hirose - Rasmussen - Bertuzzi ...we have plenty of players to make even a competitive 4th line. I didn't even include Svech in the top 6. My only issue is, in 4-5 years, that is going to be a Cap breaking lineup, so we'll probably be without a couple of those guys by then.

I dunno that anyone here is saying the team that drafts him should try to force him into the middle. I think the point is that he probably has it in him to become a hybrid winger-centerman at the NHL level. Which is fair enough. Personally, if I'm rosterbating to the idea of Lafreniere in a Wings sweater, I'm picturing him on Larkin's wing. But we're all HYPE!-starved here and so I can't fault anyone for thinking about a center group of Lafreniere, Larkin, Veleno.

WTF is going on in here lol

Could be, but I just find it hard to believe that a player as talented as Lafreniere wouldn't thrive at center... He has the frame, speed, playmaking ability, and most importantly the mind for the game to be an elite center. Maybe he can't win a faceoff to save his life... If we were talking about an ordinary top 5 pick, or an undersized player, or whatever, this wouldn't be a discussion. But Lafreniere is a special, special player, being compared to the likes of Crosby and McDavid. Anyway, we'll see what happens. He'll likely stay on the wing, but it will be interesting to see if he sees any time at center...

I am not a fan of creating a hole to fill another, especially when it comes to acquiring a player already in his prime and nearing 30. I am perfectly fine with letting our "core" grow and learn to lose and win together, much like we did in the early 90's. The ONE exception I would make (which I've mentioned a few times) but I know he is not available, I would trade from our "core" to acquire Werenski, within reason of course. I honestly do not know why he hasn't sign yet. They have over $15M in cap space, he should've been sign weeks ago.

Worst kept secret in hockey.

I would have picks 1 and 2 set automatically so each team would get one of each every 32 years with them separated 16 years. Then have the lottery system in place now for pick #3 on. The real stink of the draft is the Red Wings not having a legit shot at a number 1 overall since 1986. Edmonton gets 4 though. New Jersey gets 3. Why? They each won multiple Stanley Cups. The reality is Bettman is doing what the owners tell him to do. There is a reason the lotto balls are not drawn publicly.