krsmith17

What exactly are we agreeing to disagree on though? Do you think DeKeyser is as bad as Abdelkader? If that's the case, then yeah, we'll have to agree to disagree on that one. I find it hard to believe that anyone would actually think that though... DeKeyser actually had a much better season this past season. If he can continue to put up 20+ points while playing capable defense, he's a valuable asset. An overpaid asset, but an asset nonetheless. I'm not saying he's a top pair defenseman by any stretch, but he's a solid #4/5. Overpaid by about $1M, but still a very useful player. Abdelkader could still maybe be a decent 4th line winger, but shouldn't be making any more than a mil or so. Overpaid by about $3M...

Except Dekeyser is actually a decent NHL player. Abby is not in the same boat as anyone on this team. He is the boat anchor...

F*** the Bruins. I'm going for the Jackets in this one, and possibly to go the whole way...

Flattered for sure... Nah, I wouldn't mind Podkolzin at all. He wouldn't be my first pick, but I wouldn't be mad if we got him at 6.

I'm not opposed to a Nielsen buyout in a year or two. I'd welcome it. I just don't get why you don't think there's any way Abby gets bought out at any point...

I'm not buying that Nielsen would get bought out before Abdelkader, and that Abdelkader is somehow immune to buyout. Nielsen's contract sucks, but is still a somewhat useful player. Abdelkader's contract sucks, and he sucks.

I'm not buying any of that. Remember, Yzerman is the GM now, not Holland... And yes, that does change things.

Who the f*** is this Darren Yourk guy though? Sounds made up... Zero chance Turcotte slips to 12... That's the only thing that makes me "mad" about that mock draft...

I'm confused... Why would I be "mad" about Podkolzin?...

Likely one amnesty buyout, and I would hope that would be used on Nielsen or Abdelkader, not a newly signed Erik Karlsson...

If you had the option to sign one of Erik Karlsson (2019 offseason) or Jacob Trouba (2020 offseason)... Karlsson 28 years old Point per game offensive defenseman (poor defensively) Some injury concerns over the past few seasons 7 years at $10-11M AAV Trouba 26 years old next summer Half a point per game two-way defenseman No notable injury concerns 7 years at $6-7M AAV Who would you sign? For me, it would be a no-brainer... The younger, cheaper, more durable, all-around defenseman, all day every day. I'd also rather wait to make a big splash in free agency after we re-sign Mantha, Athanasiou and Bertuzzi in the summer of 2020...

Not a chance. Tampa aren't trading him, and Yzerman definitely won't offer sheet him.

The Oilers have been a joke for a while now, but things should turn around fairly quickly now that Chiarelli is out of there. McDavid - Caufield could be lethal combo. They also have Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins, and some decent prospects coming. Nurse - Bouchard could be a legit top pair in a few years as well. Still a lot of work to do, but McDavid alone should make them a contender within the next few years. Either way, their biggest need in my opinion is a goal scoring winger. Caufield would fill that role.

To DET - Ryan Callahan, 2019 1st round pick (TBL) To TBL - 2019 2nd round pick (SJS)

If you're including both Zetterberg and Franzen on LTIR, it's about $15M, depending on who's in Detroit / Grand Rapids. That's also assuming we don't sign ANY free agents to NHL contracts. But yeah, I completely agree with the bold. That's exactly how I'm hoping Yzerman uses that cap space. Maybe he can help out his old buddies down in Tampa, by trading for Callahan...

^ THIS ^

Well, if that becomes true, then the other part will as well, because I don't think there's much of a chance that the Wings will win the Cup in the next 4 years. It's possible I suppose, but highly unlikely. How amazing would that be though, to rub in the faces of Leafs Nation...

Unbelievable... I have the same dumb friends that were saying the same dumb things, and no joke, I made that exact same bet with them... Since then (after last year's elimination), I also made a bet that the Wings will win a Cup before the Leafs...

Maybe. You never know, but with a top line of Landeskog - MacKinnon - Rantanen, and a potential second line of Kamenov - Jost - Kaut, they may opt to go D. Makar looks like he could be a stud, but imagine him paired with Byram... Colorado are a really good team now, and are only going to get better...

As long as you keep this mentality (the bold/underlined), you'll be fine. If you're expecting massive changes, I think you'll be very disappointed...

1. NJD - Jack Hughes 2. NYR - Kaapo Kakko 3. CHI - Alex Turcotte 4. COL - Bowen Byram 5. LAK - Vasili Podkolzin 6. DET - Dylan Cozens 7. BUF - Trevor Zegras 8. EDM - Cole Caufield 9. ANA - Kirby Dach 10. VAN - Peyton Krebs 11. PHI - Matthew Boldy 12. MIN - Cam York 13. FLA - Phillip Broberg 14. ARI - Alex Newhook 15. MTL - Raphael Lavoie

So, by that I assume if we were picking 3rd overall (and Hughes and Kakko went 1,2) your pick would be Podkolzin? I'd be happy with that pick, but he's probably 6th or later on my list... I'd take Byram, Cozens and Turcotte ahead of him, and maybe even Caufield at this point...

Yes, let's re-sign Kronwall and Nyquist and sign Karlsson and Panarin... because the salary cap isn't a thing...