krsmith17

Hronek has already played two games. Smith may not play at all, unless there are several injuries up front.

First year in many I haven't watched many Griffins games (might have watched 10 all year...). I'll definitely be watching a few of the remaining regular season games and every playoff game though.

Hronek playing in his first pro game tonight, paired with Lashoff. Smith not playing. I hope he gets a look at some point down the stretch, but wouldn't be surprised if he's just there as an extra forward to learn how to practice and train as a pro...

In regards to what? If you're referring to his lack of games played this season, he underwent wrist surgery earlier this season, but is healthy now. If you're referring to why Smith and Hronek have joined the Griffins and Saarijarvi hasn't it's because Mississauga made the playoffs, which starts tonight (tomorrow for the Steelheads), while both Guelph and Saginaw missed. I'm sure Vili will join the Griffins if / when they're eliminated from the playoffs.

Yup, he was. Pretty impressive stats for a "rookie" defenseman, 61 points (14 goal, 47 assists) in 59 games.

Awesome news. Anyone hear anything on De Haas and whether or not he'll be joining the Griffins?

The only player on this list that truly matters is BRENDAN SMITH!!! Good luck brother and Go Rangers!

http://www.tsn.ca/craig-s-list-lots-of-talent-after-patrick-hischier-1.702428

Surprised to see Tippett drop to 20, and Hague all the way down 55. Maybe we can still land Patrick or Vilardi, if we luck out in the lottery, and trade up to get two defensemen in the 2nd round, Hague and Samberg?... Then take another couple in the 3rd round. I just want to stock pile as many defensemen as we can, and hope to strike gold with one of them...

Pittsburgh actually have zero percent chance to get a top 15 pick. It's only the 14 teams that miss the playoffs, plus Vegas, that are involved in the draft lottery and have an opportunity to draft in the top 15. The remaining teams that make the playoffs draft in reverse order as they always have.

If we're trading for a defensemen, we would trade the pick, not draft Vilardi and immediately trade him. In saying that, I'd much rather keep Vilardi and trade one of Larkin or Athanasiou in that scenario. But imagine if we could somehow pull off a trade including one of Tatar / Nyquist to land that top pair defenseman... Imagine a top 6 of... Athanasiou - Vilardi - Mantha Svechnikov - Larkin - Tatar / Nyquist

Holmstrom could be a decent player over here someday, if he could somehow stay healthy... I assume he will play in Grand Rapids next season (possibly this season if Skelleftea AIK's season is done before GR).

Craig Button has us taking defenseman Cale Makar at number 4...

I still think Kronwall can be a serviceable defensemen, with reduced minutes / responsibility, so I'm hoping he finishes his contract. I'm not so sure he will though. Wouldn't be at all shocked to see him on LTIR at some point next season or to start the 2018-19 season...

Some are acting as if it's absolutely going to happen, and it's just a matter of time. I think it's possible that Kronwall plays out his contract, but I don't think it's an absolute like you're making it seem either. Of course Holland can't just put him on LTIR, there has to be a legit reason, but I don't think anyone is suggesting otherwise. It is very possible that his knees continue to wear down over the next two years. If he's not able to play, he will go on LTIR. It won't likely be the sort of situation where they say next year that his career is over, but they could say he's out for a month, which ends up being months, that ends up being the better part of the season...

I'm not sure about tomorrow, but Sheahan WILL score a goal this season. Guaran-f***ing-teed...

Because we're losing, and when a team is losing, everyone gots to go... Haven't you heard? Nyquist and Tatar suck too... So does Mrazek...

I'd draft the best forward available (Patrick / Vilardi / Tippett), try to trade up to get another 1st and draft the best defenseman available (Hague / Foote) there. Or just draft as many defensemen in the 2nd and 3rd rounds and hope to strike gold on one of them. I still say we should be aggressively shopping this summer for that top pairing defenseman though. We need to offload a bad contract or two as well. Holland has his work cut out for him. I think this summer should be a good indicator whether or not Holland is capable of pulling this team through a rebuild...

Similar situation. We drafted Alan Quine in the 3rd round back in 2011, decided not to sign him, and he re-entered the draft in 2013, where he was selected by the Islanders in the 6th round.

We may have missed out on the Anton-Reese sweepstakes (F*** that guy anyway...), but we (the organization - Griffins) did manage to snag college free agent, Dominik Shine today...

I prefer nachos and beer, to actually watch the draft, rather than how people react to the draft on a forum. That's just me though... I didn't imply that at all. I even said a player that "suits the team needs. We don't need another undersized, play-making center." That's the reason I don't want Hischier, nothing to do with me thinking he would be an "experiment pick"... I agree with you, but any reason you didn't mention Vilardi? I don't expect Foote to go in the top half of the first round, but I'd love to trade up to get him around 20, if he's still on the board.

That's fine. But to be fair, when I say "pissed off", it's not like I'd be b****ing about it years from when it happens, or even days for that matter. If we did luck into winning the draft lottery and we picked Hischier, I would be pissed, but all you'll get from me is a "F*** Ken Holland!" post... and maybe a few other comments that day. But the next day Hischier would be my new favorite prospect... I'm just keeping my fingers crossed for Patrick, Vilardi or Tippett...

Where did I ever say Hischier would be "off the board"? When I said off the board, I was referring to what LeftWinger said, not even thinking about Hischier. The reason I don't want Hischier has nothing to with him as a player, it's that he doesn't fit this teams needs. Maybe you feel that we need another undersized, left-handed, play-making center, but I'd disagree. Me personally, I'd much rather one of the big, right-shooting centers, something this team has been lacking for quite some time.

I'm a big fan of the draft, look forward to it every year. I get the impression, you're not, and you'd prefer to just wait and see how each player turns out. Is that a fair assumption? You probably won't care if we take Patrick or Hischier, because you trust in Holland and his staff. You won't have much of a reaction one way or the other, and will see how it turns out 3-5 years from now? Me on the other hand, I will react to each and every pick, in every round, whether just or not. I'm usually pretty level headed, but if I'm pissed off about a selection, or stoked about a selection, I'll say so, after all this is a discussion board, thread on the upcoming draft...

He's obviously going to pick whatever player he believes is the best fit for this team going forward. That doesn't necessarily make it the right pick... I don't think Hischier or Liljegren should be as high on our radar as Patrick, Vilardi or Tippett. That's just my opinion. I was "pissed" last year when he went off the board with the Cholowski pick, with Gauthier and Jones still available, and I still think he made the wrong choice there... However, I'm still rooting for Cholowski, just like I would / will be rooting for whoever we pick this year. That doesn't mean I'm not going to or shouldn't have a reaction to whatever player we pick. I'm also going to have a negative reaction if we pick a whole bunch of <6'0", 160lb. players...