krsmith17

I'm not sure how serious you can take this mock draft when they have Foote going 3rd overall... I'd be thrilled though if this is how it went down and we had the choice between Liljegren and Tippett. I'd pick Tippett, but I definitely wouldn't complain if we went with Liljegren.

If Holland uses an asset or two to get Vegas to take a player like Ericsson, great move. However, if he wastes an asset to keep a player like Kronwall, he's an idiot.

I pretty much agree with everything you're saying, I'm just not sure I'd be comfortable giving up that much in that trade. 2nd round pick, fine, 9th overall, nope. The other thing that you have to consider is that our overpayment would have to be that much more than any other teams' overpayment, if it's true that Sakic doesn't want to make a trade with the Detroit Red Wings... I'm with you though, I love Duchene and he'd be a great addition for us. We need to at least make a reasonable offer for him.

C'mon Holland, get in on this...

I agree. If Vegas do end up taking Howard in the expansion draft, I'd be okay with it, but there's no way we should be giving up valuable assets to get rid of him. If we're paying off Vegas to take a contract, it should be for Ericsson, not Howard, who is still a very good goaltender.

I'd be okay with that sort of package if it's our 2nd round pick. I wouldn't want to trade our 9th overall pick plus those pieces for Duchene though. I'd trade our 2nd, Tatar and Saarijarvi in a heartbeat. I just don't think that would be enough to get it done...

There is a zero percent chance that Athanasiou is left unprotected so it's pointless to even discuss. As for Sheahan, I don't really want to lose him either, but it's not like he'd be a huge loss. I think his production would easily be replaced by Nosek. Ideal situation would be losing a bigger contract (Ericsson), but unless Holland can pull off some of his old magic, we will likely lose a young player on a cheap contract (Sheahan, Ouellet, Sproul or Jensen)...

I highly doubt Columbus gives up that much for Clarks. Regardless, there's a huge difference in trading a player that will never play again, and trading a player that can still play and contribute, but is a little overpaid. The value of all three of the guys you mention isn't even remotely close to that of Clarkson. That would be a terrible trade for us, great trade for Vegas.

Any guesses on how many draft picks Vegas will end up with in this years' draft? I'm going to say 20+...

That's why I suggested some form of package a few posts back. I don't think it would be enough though. We don't have the pieces they'd be looking for, and I doubt they'd trade him for anything less than a first plus top 4 defenseman.

I agree, but what would you be willing to offer for Duchene? I think it would take our 1st, plus a few other big pieces, and I'm just not sure I'd be willing to trade away what I think it would take to get him here. Also, the main thing the Avs are looking for is defense, something we don't really have to offer...

No, what I'm saying is we don't have an elite goaltender as of right now, and although I still believe Mrazek has the potential to become elite, I don't think he needs to be for us to have success. We don't have an elite center, winger or defenseman either, and I'd say it's more likely that Mrazek reaches elite status at his position than any other player we have at their respective position. I think with a better team around him, Mrazek could win this team a Cup even if he doesn't reach his ceiling. It's the team around him that needs the most work in my opinion. Aside from Mrazek, we have 5-6 other goaltenders in the pipeline with varying levels of potential. Considering a team only needs 2 goaltenders and 4-5 players at every other position, I do think goaltending is an area of strength. My original point was that we shouldn't be taking a goaltender early in this draft, and I stand by that. The only position that I feel we're stronger at right now and in the future is left wing. Literally every other position there are huge question marks. The first three rounds I would take as many centers, right wingers (right-handed) and defensemen as possible. Those are our three biggest positions of weakness in my opinion, goaltending is a distant 4th... Yeah, he's been bad. I'm not sure about an injury but I haven't noticed anything out of the norm with him. For a guy that's 6'6", 220 lbs. he doesn't cover near enough of the net. He has a tendency of going down too early and gets beat up high far too often. His lateral movement is subpar as well. I still think he could become an NHL backup, but he's going to have to do some major work on his game, and at this point, I think that may be his ceiling. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him passed by Paterson and / or one of the many others in the system in the next couple years. I don't know a ton about any of the other guys, but I've heard some good things on both Perry and Van Pottelberghe.

I didn't say Mrazek will ever win a Vezina, nor do we need him to (although I think he can). Lundqvist and Price may never win a Stanley Cup. You don't need elite goaltending to win it all. Teams seem to be moving away from "building from the net out". The way players defend and block shots, you don't need a Brodeur or Hasek back there anymore. "This tandem" is going to last at most two more seasons (likely sooner), so yes I agree, we will never win a Cup with this tandem.

Mrazek has also played like a Vezina candidate. I'm not writing him off yet. We also have Paterson, Perry, Van Pottelberghe, Larsson and Machovsky. I'm not saying we're loaded with goaltender prospects, but it's far from our weakest position. I would still say it's our strongest, outside of left wing.

Completely disagree with this. I think most would.

No, 5 goals on 12 shots... Griffins had the 18 at that point... Coreau has been awful in too many games in these playoffs. I'd like to see them go with Pasquale on Tuesday, but I'm sure they'll go right back with Coreau...

I don't think a single person would disagree that superstars get away with things, but Crosby doesn't get away with more than any other superstars, like people like to suggest. Like SoaW mentioned, he also puts up with way more s*** than most players. I also agree that a lot of it is sour grapes and jealousy. We're starting to see and hear the same bulls*** with McDavid now. It's annoying as f***...

So you don't think there's a league wide conspiracy to do right by Sidney Crosby?... Interesting take... ... I agree.

The only way Van Riemsdyk or any other forward from the Leafs gets traded is if it's for help on the back end. We don't have anything that would be of any benefit to them right now. If JVR does get moved, I can see it being to a team like Carolina, that are stacked on defense and could use some help up front. Too bad we couldn't make a similar trade using a Nyquist or Tatar in a package for Fleury or Bean...

5-1 final. Street with the only Griffins goal. Coreau was awful, 5 goals on 12 shots. Pasquale was great, stopping all 19 shots he faced (made some huge saves he had no business making). I think Pasquale has earned the start next game, but guarantee they come right back with Coreau. Bertuzzi never returned after the 2nd period. Hopefully it's nothing too serious. The Griffins still haven't lost a game at home. I expect them to win it Tuesday.

Duchene is a very good 2nd line center, and could play top line for short periods without looking too out of place. I think in the right situation on the right team he could be a 50-60 point player again. I think he would be a great fit on a number of teams, and a lot of teams will be inquiring this summer. I think it will take at least a 1st round pick. In saying that, I wouldn't give up our 9th overall for him, but I would inquire. Sakic probably wouldn't trade with us unless it's an offer he can't refuse, and that I wouldn't be willing to do. The most I'd offer up would be a Sheahan or Ouellet, and / or a prospect like Saarijarvi or Hronek, and or a pick or two (not a 1st).

Check that 18-12. 5-0... And I would say puck possession has been 75% in Griffins favor... Coreau s***ting the bed once again... Finally a goalie change.

Shots are 15-10 Griffins, 4-0 Crunch...

Coreau having himself another game... 2-0 Crunch a little over 4 minutes in...

No way we should use a 2nd round pick on a goaltender in this draft. I don't think we should take any unless one we really like falls to the 6th or 7th round. We need to take as many defensemen and centers (preferably right-handed) as we can, especially in the first three rounds.