PavelValerievichDatsyuk

Andre Benoit is indeed Canadian, but he came to the NHL after the playing in the FEL and SEL. The posts says bold was for players come from European Leagues. 38 games was Niemi's full season except for 3 call up games. Hence 1 season. It says 2 half seasons for Zuccarello. that's exactly the same as saying spilt 2 seasons. He played 73 AHL(35+36) vs. 62 NHL(42+10) games. That's significant time in the AHL. Young UFA free agents do play in the AHL. The AHL is mostly a development league after all. Older players that have played many years in top league are more formed so they don't need it as much or not at all. They aren't going to gain much from the AHL. Anyway, I think we're in agree to disagree territory. We'll just have to see. I'll willing eat some crow if we hear anything about guaranteed roster spots.

Show me 1 example of a 21 or 22 year old, undrafted UFA that went from a 2nd tier league who went straight to the NHL. Or anybody that goes 2nd tier to NHL, for that matter. I think it would be quite something for him to demand a roster spot as part of a contract. The vast majority of undrafted UFAs play significant time in the AHL. If they're all demanding an NHL roster spot, there not getting it. For a sample, in wikipedia's list of undrafted players with more than 100 games, The majority have significant time in the AHL (I just looked at current player to limit a huge list). There's more but I got tired. You can add these to your 'exception' list: Eddie Lack (3 years), Niemi (1), Arcobello (3) Glendening (1.5 yrs+ some ECHL) St. Louis (3 years with call ups) Zuccarello (2 half years) Beagle (3.5) Benoit (1 after he was signed from SEL, 3 more before) Bollig (3.5), Rene Borque (1), Dan Boyle (2+), Bozak (.5), J.T. Brown (1+), Ryan Carter (1+) Desharnais (3.5 years), Desjardins (3), Brenden Dillon (1.5 years), Fiddler (2.5) Brian Flynn (1), Ryan Garbutt (2) Garbutt (almost 2), Garrison (1.5) Gionta (6) Giordano (2), Girardi (1.5) Gorges (parts of 3 seasons), ANdy Greene (1) Nick Holden (5) Tyler Johnson (2) Jooris (1+) Melkar Karlsson (part or 2 seasons) Kunitz (almost 2) Letestu (3) Lovejoy (3) McLeod (2.5) Mickalek (3) Kevin Miller (2+) Prosser (1,25) Purcell (1.5), Roussel (2.5) Scrivens (1.5) TVR (1) Talbot (3) Tanev (3 half years) Ward (3) Zucarello (2 half years) Guys from European leagues in Bold On that list, the only ones that didn't play significant time in the are below. None are from 2nd tier leagues. They're mostly older. Niklas Backstrom (age 29, after 10 years pro) Bellemare (age 29, after 12 years pro) Hiller (signed at age 25, 4 year pro) (did play 6 AHL games) Raffl (did play 2 AHL games)(age 25, 8 years pro) Gustavsson (age 25, 6 years pro) DK (Age 23, did play in AHL playoffs, I doubt he was guaranteed a roster spot) Bobrovsky (age 22, 4 years pro) (2 years in KHL) Sekac (age 22, 4 years pro) (3 years in KHL) Nothing looks like Ejdsell's 1 full year in the Allsv

By "these" players I'm guessing you mean Brunner, Brunnstrom, etc. Those guys were 5-6 years older and has multiple years of success (and well paid salaries) in the top leagues in Europe. You guys seem to be missing this difference.

Obviously, but if he sucked after 2 the AHL he just goes back home and keeps playing. But at least he tried the route toward playing in the NHL, becoming rich, etc. Anyway, we don't even know how long he would be in the minors so this is all a guess. It just seems very ridiculous to say that he's going to turn down the opportunity just over some time in the AHL. He's not a Euro star, big buck player. He's a 21 year old, undrafted guy who's only played around 25 odd pro games. I'm sure he's dreamed of playing in the NHL and is probably just thinking that his dream is rekindled after not being drafted. We've had some prospects go back home after a few year when they see a lack of opportunity, but that's different than turn things down at very beginning of the road. And he was in a 2nd tier league, so who's to say that he would even think that more development time was beneath him.

Yeah, that is true. So he will make less if he only plays in the AHL, but that was just an add on to my original point. I just don't get your logic where you think he's valuing a year or 2 of the Swedish Elite League salary the development for an NHL career. Who's to say whether an NHL team would even want him in 2 years. Got to go for the opportunity while it's there. Even if your motivations are only monetary, getting in line for an NHL contract still makes more sense. Maybe he has a horrible agent, though...

The average salary in Swedish Elite League is 200,000 and he'd make less than that as a rookie. You really think he'd pass up a chance at an NHL contract because he'll make about 100,000 more for a year or 2? If he makes it the NHL, even an entry level deal is about 4 times what he'd make in the the Swedish elite league. Anyway, since he's signing as a free agent (and one in demand), his AHL deal might be something like what Street (275,000) Lorito (250,000), or Lashoff (250,000) make. And that's probably more than he'd make in the SEL

Interesting move. Another Czech goalie. Wonder why he wasn't drafted if he won that award for lowest OHL GAA from a Rookie goalie

Macho, Macho Man, Yeah!!!

I really haven't watched Saarijarvi except some highlight, so I trust you guys. It's just hard to make it as a small defenceman so I'm skeptical. I've seen him listed at 5'9" on some sites like WIIM, but maybe he's not that small http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2016/8/13/12442398/detroit-red-wings-top-25-under-25-vili-saarijarvi But there are the spurgeons of the league, so I hope Saarjarvi and maybe Hicketts find a way. They both have impressive resumes otherwise.

That's a thought. As we're talking about undersized players, Saarjarvi is still a long short for NHL to me because his size (5'9" or 10" depending on where you check it out). In the AHL at least we could see that. I don't really think you need to match nationalities anyway, though. The styles of hockey aren't as different as they use to be and these guys have been in Canada for the last few years to anyway. Maybe if they've played together on international team and found chemistry it would be a good idea. Or so they can yell out secret orders in Finnish to each other, haha.

Welcome to the Forum! As Dickie said, those 2 guys are 6'1" and 6'2" - they're on the skinny side since they're both in the 160-170 range, but I wouldn't consider them undersized. They're only 18 and they'll put on weight before they get to the NHL. If you want to stay away from undersized players, to me that would be Cale Makar, Tolvanen. I think at this point, I'm really hoping Liljegren drops to us or Valimaki. I'm also liking KIlm Kostin the more I'm finding out about him. Saw one mock draft with us taking him.

This is an old narrative that doesn't apply anymore. We have been drafting some size the last few years and it's clear we have been adding size to the draft criteria. Average height in the NHL is 6.01 and the great majority of our picks in the last while are above that: 2016: Givani Smith (6.02, 209 lbs), Malmstrom (6.02), Sambrook (6.02), Larsson (6.02) Elfstrom (6.03) and no one under 6 ft. 2015: Svech (6.03, 205), Van Pottelberghe (6.02), Pearson (6.02), Holway (6.04, 201), only Saarijarvi (5.10) is under 6 ft. 2014: Larkin (6,01), Turgeon (6.02, 203), Ehn (6.02), Perry (6.03), Vahatalo (6.05), Kadeykin (6.05, 227 lbs) Holmstrom (is 6 ft, but 200 lbs) 2013: Mantha (6.05, 221), Nastasiuk (6.02, 202 lbs), Bertuzzi (6.01) Jarnmark (6.01), Pope (6.03), Wheaton (6.05, 223), McNutly (6.06, 210), Melen (6.02) So. in the past 4 years, we've only taken 2 players that were 6 ft. or smaller (aka on the small side). That shows a clear choice for size.

All because of unlucky number 13. Can we blame this on Datsyuk somehow?!!

I agree with you guys that said there's a problem with just limiting it to the specific draft number without the context of each draft and I don't think it really shows what level of player to expect, but - for curiosity's sake - if we do Dickie's perspective thing, the list of 9th picks 2000-14 is: Nikolai Ehlers, Horvat, Trouba, Hamilton, Granlund, Jared Cowen, Josh Bailey, Couture, James Sheppard, Brian Lee, Ladislav Smid, Phaneuf, Petr Taticek, Toumo Ruutu, Brent Krahn Edit: And I thought could be interesting to compare the #9 list to Dickie's #7 list to see just how much of a difference order does make when it's a small difference and not that near the top. The original list: Haydn Fleury, Nurse, Dumba, Mark Schiefele, Skinner, Kadri, Colin Wilson, Voracek, Okposo, Jack Skille, Rostislav Olesz, Suter, Lupul, Komisarek, Lars Jonsson. There are more busts in the #9 list. Plenty of players that would help us immensely in both lists.

It's like getting a free draft pick. I think that's worth getting excited about. He's only 1 year above draft age. If he were 1 year younger and put up those numbers, we'd probably be talking about picking him in the middle to late rounds. Now we might get a late-bloomer without giving up any assets. I don't see any reason to throw a wet blanket on this thing. The tier II league is a consideration, but he lead that league by 5 points in what was his first full pro year. That is something. http://stats.swehockey.se/Players/Statistics/ScoringLeaders/7157 And FWIW, Elias Patterson is from the same league and he's listed #2 in central scouting for European skaters, is in many top 10 draft rankings and I've seen as high as #5 overall. Ejdsell is obviously 3 years older, but he did outproduced Patterson and they were both in their first full pro year. Ejdsell's story seems to be that he was in the system of Farjestad (tier I SHL) and he did play in the SHL, but after they only gave him 22 games over a year and a half, he went to the lower league for more opportunity and broke out. Maybe just a late bloomer? Younger tall player sometimes do have to get used to their size. Maybe Farjestad overlooked him or buried him? Or maybe maybe he's nothing but an AHL player. Hope he signs so we can find out.

You left out Matt Dumba in 2012. With Suter that's 2 top pairing defencemen in the bunch. 2 high end #7 picks: Shane Doan in 1994, Jason Arnott in 1993

I still think we won the lottery with Dekeyser. Not a #1, but a great pickup. If Victor can be a comparable piece that would be huge. Not expecting that, but it'd be great to pickup a big guy with potential.

The Malik Report and eliteprospect links actually say he's 6'5". I don't see what's not to like here. Brunner was in his in his late 20s (maybe 26?). Leino too (26). Ejdsell is 21 we could get him in the AHL for some important development years.

Nevermind. please delete.

I think they're fortunes are tied that of J.T. because I don't think they could get value in a trade due to the contract. The only trade idea that popped into my head could be something with the Avs since there's been rumors of them moving McKinnon, Duchene, or Landeskog. Something there might make sense for both sides. But I don't know how they'd deal with the salary difference. I don't foresee a big thing like that happening, though (but also I never would have guessed Subban for Weber) More doable, I'd try to shed the Hossa contract to add a new spark. Hossa's 38 and will be a 5.275 caphit for the next 4 years. He's still doing well and could still have demand, but his last 2 years are definitely his worst statistically and I think it will only continue at this point. And he's just outside the core, so he could be a way to shake things up, but not tear them down. He, like Toews, has a NMC, though, so I don't know if either could happen. Maybe they'll just hope to lose someone like Kruger (make's 3.08 mill) in the expansion draft to gain the room to bring someone in.

I just see George as just representing the stupidity of CBC and Sportsnet. He's a music guy. Probably like Kliq, I grew up with him as the host of the metal and punk shows on Muchmusic. He still does a radio show and hosts concerts in his house that you can find on youtube. He's knowledgeable about music - I don't know why they put him for sports or that other political show he had. But then again Ron Maclean - who I like - was a weatherman so maybe they thought it was a similar career path.

I get that's a joke is on Holland's comments on Blash, but the current GR coach (Todd Nelson) already had a chance as an NHL head coach with the Oilers a couple of years ago and did not win at that level so it doesn't really make sense with his situation. Anyway, I don't know why people mock the idea of choosing Blashill based on lower success and specifically AHL success. That is kind of how it works - it's an established path for new coaches. Just look at some recent Calder Cup winning coaches: Last year: Jared Bednar won and then he got to coach the Avs this year 3 years ago: Willie Desjardins won - gets the Canucks job the next year 4 years ago: Blash 5 years ago: Jon Cooper wins - coaches the Pens the next year Anyway, LetsgoGriffins! Looking forward see what Svech can do. Haven't been able to see him this year except the short bit he was called up.

You can't cite the future to say something is untrue. Anyway, Mackel only said "may have ruined." I think all signs do point toward that. You say he's hitting his stride, but this was his worst year yet. 9 pts in 40 games and was a scratch for at least one long stretch after having 2 pts. in 26 games! As for watching him in the playoffs, he's injured and has been sitting out so far.

So our GM should be fired for missing the playoffs once, but we also should have missed the playoffs 6 years in a row so that we'd have the young studs that the KIngs have? You must see how that doesn't work out.

You're stating this like there's the possibility of a one for one trade. There isn't because everyone realizes a "1B/2A defenseman is more valueable than a 2nd line center with potential." So you'd have compare value beyond just trading one.