krsmith17

If Ottawa have two of the top three picks, I think they could take Drysdale, along with their center / winger. Otherwise, I don't see any other team taking Drysdale top 3. I also don't see any team taking Askarov top 10, let alone top 3... I'm still hopeful that we'll land a top two pick, but we should be getting a stud anywhere in the top four. I wouldn't even mind the Oilers (my 2nd favorite team), but the Leafs, Hawks or Pens would be disgusting... Imagine a top line of Lafreniere, McDavid and whoever... That would also be disgusting...

The thing is, if you're one of the bottom tier teams (17-24), would you rather extremely low odds at a Stanley Cup? or low odds in the draft lottery? Chicago for example, according to MoneyPuck, would have a 0.2% chance at winning the Cup. If they're included in the draft lottery, they would have a 16% chance at a top three pick, and a 5% chance at the number one pick. I'm not sure what Bowman is pushing for, but he probably should be pushing for his team to be included in the draft lottery over the playoffs. If it is one or the other that is, which in my opinion, it should be... As Wings fans, we're obviously all hoping for increased odds, in our favor, and I think there's a good chance there will be. Either way, the whole lottery system is a joke, and should be changed. In my opinion, teams shouldn't be able to move up or down more than 3 spots, regardless where they sit in the standings. No more Carolina's / Chicago's jumping up 9 spots to draft Svechnikov / Dach...

It takes big balls to pull off an offer sheet. Yes, I do think Yzerman would do it. Do I think he will do it? Probably not, but it's the type of move that needs to at least be considered to jumpstart this rebuild. Adding a young, highly skilled defenseman like Sergachev would be massive for this rebuild. He would also fill a huge hole on that left side in the top four. I really don't want Krug at the price he's likely going to sign for, especially considering his age. If we're looking at impact acquisitions that can help us through the rebuild, and still be contributors on the other side of the rebuild, I think they need to be 26 and under. All signs point to Krug re-upping in Boston anyway, so I don't see him as a viable option this summer. Zadina > Gagner - but as long as they're both in the lineup with respectable linemates, who cares... Veleno > Rasmussen - but as long as they're both in the lineup with respectable linemates, who cares... Sergachev > Krug - neither are likely though... Cholowski > Nemeth - I'd be okay with trading Cholowski, if the return is there. Talbot < Lehner - I don't see Lehner coming to Detroit.

Speaking of Drouin, and Yzerman trading him for Sergachev... Yzerman should put an offer sheet in on Sergachev this summer. Tampa currently have 10 forwards, 3 defensemen, and 2 goaltenders under contract, eating up $76.2M. We don't know yet where the salary cap is going to be next season, but it's very possible it could stay around the current $81.5M, or even go down. Either way, as it stands right now, the Lightning would have approximately $5M (give or take) to sign 4 forwards and 4 defensemen. Sergachev and Cirelli are their only two big name RFA's, but both will command significant increases from their current ELC's. They also have Cernak, Joseph and Verhaeghe as other notable RFA's and Maroon, Shattenkirk and Bogosian as notable UFA's. Tampa don't have any really bad contracts, but they do have a few high dollar contracts that they could afford to trade. They could possibly trade one or two of Johnson, Gourde, or Palat to free up some cap space (approximately $5M each). Regardless, they're going to be in cap hell going into next season. If we offered Sergachev, somewhere in the neighborhood of $5.25M for 6 years, I don't think there's any way they would be able to match. It would cost us our 2021 1st round pick, and 2022 3rd round pick. I know a lot of people would be wary of trading our 2021 1st, but getting a player like Sergachev would be worth it in my opinion. Adding Sergachev, Seider, and a healthy DeKeyser, in place of Green, Daley, Biega and Ericsson would be a massive upgrade. That, along with potentially landing the 1st overall pick, and having a compliance buyout, I don't think we'd be in the basement again next season... After next seasons trade deadline... Bertuzzi - Larkin - Zadina Lafreniere - Veleno - Mantha Fabbri - Rasmussen - Gagner Smith - Glendening - Svechnikov Erne / Timashov Sergachev - Seider DeKeyser - Hronek Cholowski - Bowey / Lindstrom Bernier Talbot *Filppula, Helm and Nemeth - traded *Abdelkader - compliance buyout *Nielsen - ordinary buyout In my opinion, that looks like a young, highly skilled team, that could potentially compete for a playoff spot as early as 2022...

I'm assuming you meant to quote CRL, not me? I agree in ways about the comparison to those players in style of game, but not at all in overall potential (floor / ceiling). Whatever you say... It's cute that you think that YOU won many fans over with your breakdown of Seider's game, but it wasn't you at all... Seider himself won the fans over with his awesome flow, bashful attitude, and stellar play. Zadina had many doubters after his draft +1 season (not that he should have), but most of that doubt should have gone away after his draft +2 season. He was very impressive for a 19/20 year old, regardless of draft position. Why is it so important for someone to give you a wall of text on Zadina's game? I've already stated several things I like about his game. I didn't go into enough detail for your liking? "Zadina has a great shot". "That's not good enough. Explain why he has a great shot". Nah... Watch the video, you'll see many examples of why he has a great shot. You'll also see many examples of why he's a good stick-handler, puck carrier, underrated passer, and like Neo mentioned, dump and chase, winning puck battles, etc. etc. I watch games on my TV, through the app on my tablet. I disagree. 2nd liner on most teams. 3rd liner on a handful of teams. I'm not assuming anything. It was your response on a couple other posts... I didn't say that 1st line is the ceiling of "every" NHL winger. It's the highest ceiling of *any* NHL winger. There's a difference. You can't play any higher than the 1st line, which would mean that there's no ceiling above the 1st line... If you want to believe Ehn's ceiling is that high, by all means... Again, stylistically, I can see some similarities. It's not a terrible player comp. Overall potential though, I completely disagree. Like Neo mentioned, none of those players were legit top line wingers through their prime. Zadina, in my opinion, will absolutely be a top line winger, *potentially* one of the better top line wingers in the league, through his prime. I see Zadina's floor as a 50-60 point winger, ceiling as a 90-100 point winger, but he'll likely fall somewhere in between, around 70-80 point winger. You very clearly disagree with that, which is fine. But even if you think he'll likely be a 50-60 point winger, that's not at all a bust, even taking into account his draft position. It's not what you're ideally looking to land at 6th overall, but it's far from a bust...

As I already said, only because I can't fathom anyone calling a recent 6th overall pick that has performed very well at the NHL level, at the age of 20, a bust. And again, as I already said, I'm sure you would infer the same if someone said Seider is a "bust". Why would I "try it", when it's not what I believe? My bad. At that point in the season, I had watched 23 (a few were partial) Griffins games. Just went back and checked. As I'm sure you know, you can click on the app and see exactly which games you've watched. Which is a top six winger. Zadina is already a top six winger, and would be on most NHL teams. That was me saying that's what you would respond with. Not what I was asking you... It's too soon to tell what Zadina will eventually become. So yes, in my opinion, it is way too soon to say his ceiling is a 2nd line winger. No it's not too soon to say his ceiling could be a top line winger... since that is the ceiling of any NHL winger... No. You're going to get called out for calling a 20 year old, top prospect, that has performed very well, a bust. You certainly "implied it"... "Every fan" thinks one thing. I think the opposite. I'm right. They're all wrong. Nyquist was also a very underrated playmaker.

Not one, not two, but three exhibits? None of which I said "no one watches the games except me"... I'm sure if someone said that Seider will top out as a middle pair defenseman, you would question how much they've actually watched him play, even if they typed a whole lot of drivel as well... Yeah, go find that quote too dumbass... I've never said I watch more hockey then anyone. In fact, I've been asked recently on here, a question regarding a prospect, and I said I haven't been able to watch near as much hockey the past couple seasons. I used to watch a game, usually two, every single night, whether it was Red Wings, Griffins, CHL or some obscure European league. I still don't miss a Wings game (haven't in years), but I only watched a dozen or so Griffins games this year, and zero of any other league. I'm sure there's many here that watch more hockey than me. You may even be one of them... Bingo. He's playing top six in the NHL at the age of 19/20, when none of the players you mentioned played that sort of role until they were 23/24. To say he tops out as the player he is now, is dumb. "WhY? BeCaUsE yOu SaY sO?" Sure... It was too soon to call him a bust two years ago, and it's too soon today. I'd say that's more accurate as a ceiling, yeah. You are more than welcome to discuss him now. I'm not at all upset. Discuss away. But say dumb things like, "Zadina is a bust", or he "tops out as a 2nd line winger", and you're going to get called out. Every fan is wrong, except for you and mackel I guess. You guys just have an knack for evaluating NHL talent... "Underrated passing" does not equal "passing phenom", or "passing greatness". He's known as a sniper, so most people think he's not a great setup man. That's not true. He can see the seem, and go tape to tape in traffic.

You sure can. And nowhere in that quote did I say, "no one watches the games except me"... Yeah, okay... No one can explain the nitty gritty details of Zadina's game like you can... Sure, except none of what you say would leave anyone to believe he tops out as any of those players. If you're going for style of play, sure, I'd agree. But overall potential, not even close. AGAIN, the part that you have not, and will not address, he's much further ahead, at the same age as any of those players. He's still only 20 years old. To say he tops out as a 2nd line winger at this point is dumb. I say he's an underrated passer, and you call it a trope. You want me to explain in detail why I believe he's a really good passer? Not worth the time and energy. Watch the highlight video I posted, and you'll see plenty quality passing. Anyway, we're very clearly watching a different player. I'm seeing the same things the majority of the hockey world are seeing. You're seeing the opposite. Agree to disagree...

No, I literally didn't. I've done it. Others have done it. I'm not doing it again, and it's probably why others aren't getting involved again. It's a tired argument that I'm dumb for getting wrapped into again. I refute something you say, and you choose not to address that part of my post. You do it all the time. You cherry pick everyone's posts. Again, nothing of substance that would indicate to anyone (other than you), that his ceiling is a 2nd line winger (Hudler / Nyquist / Tatar)...

Yup, you're right. Based on those stats alone, at the age of 19, anyone would assume future superstar. The difference is, we have more than stats to go on here. There's nothing in Zadina's game that would indicate he's anything close to a bust. Yakupov was the exception, not the rule. He had a bad attitude and didn't want to put in the work. Zadina is a work horse and is very clearly willing to put in the work. Big difference. I didn't say or imply that you don't watch the games, but it's worth questioning with your terrible analysis. Good for you... lol You've yet to come up with anything of substance to back up your claim that "he's the next Hudler / Nyquist / Tatar". Probably because there's nothing there. Again, he's way ahead of all of them at the same age. You have nothing, except for the fact that they're all European, smallish (Zadina is bigger than all three) skilled wingers. I always know you're down and out when you bring up Brendan Smith... "Durrr, remember that time you thought Smith was good?"... "You were wrong back then, so you're obviously wrong now"...

You've used a word to inaccurately describe a player. I'm calling you out on it. I've watched Zadina plenty. I'm betting much more than you. I just posted a 28 minute highlight video and you responded in less than 20 minutes, so I'm going to assume you didn't bother to watch. Why bother right? And your entire argument is based on 'wall of text' that inaccurately describes his game. "Trust me". Your bias is showing... Yes, keep saying that his ceiling is Hudler / Nyquist / Tatar, and that equals bust. It doesn't. Just because all were 2nd round (or later) picks, doesn't mean s***. In a re-draft, all would be top 10-20 draft picks. Also, Zadina is waaaaay ahead of all of them in his development at the same age. Your comparison doesn't make any sense, aside from style of play. Overall potential, I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone that would agree. LOL cry more.

Disappointment ≠ Bust Why are you wasting everyone else's time by using the word, when it clearly doesn't describe the player, or his game. Not now, and likely not ever. Your entire argument has been based on what an 18, 19 and now 20 year old is now, and not what he is likely to develop into. The problem with that is, he obviously still has a ton of room to grow, and I fully expect him to. His numbers early on have been impressive, and he has been and will continue to improve in all areas of the game. I'm done with this argument now. You don't think he will be a bust, you just think his ceiling is what most believe to his floor. That's fine. I posted this video in the prospects thread, but I'll throw it in here as well... Kid is going to be real gud. Edit: regarding his passing... I believe it is underrated. It is on full display in quite a few of the clips above. Worth the watch.

#bust...

Because it's real gud. He's real gud. He has the potential to be great. He's smart, has a lethal shot, underrated passing, plays both sides of the puck. He just put up over *half* a point per game in his rookie season, as a 20 year old. If he tops out as a 40 point winger, it will be a huge disappointment, but still wouldn't be labeled a bust by anyone in the hockey world. Good news though... He's still very young, and will only improve on each and every area of his game.

Huge difference. I left out a word. I didn't mean to say what I said. You meant to say what you said, but apparently you didn't mean it in that context... Sure... No. He's not a bust because no sane person would think he is, based on his play thus far. Not just because I don't think he is... So is that only the year they go to the All-Star game? Or once you've played in one, you're always considered an All-Star? Is John Scott an "all-star"? You may be an adult by definition, but you certainly act like a child...

Left out one word there bud. We both know you know I meant *half* a point per game. But whatever helps you win the argument... There's nothing to grasp. There is nothing in Zadina's game that would indicate that he will be a bust, by anyone's definition, other than morons... At least it makes a little bit of sense now. You consider a player that was drafted 13 years ago, 27th overall, still playing in the league, with over 500 games played to be a "bust". You also consider a top six winger, drafted 6th overall to be a bust. I think Zadina will be an "all-star". My definition may be drastically different than yours though...

Stop taking what I meant to say out of context... Unfortunately, you'll never grasp the real definition of a bust... Brendan Smith was not a bust, relative to draft position. How many late 1st round picks do you expect to play 500+ (and counting) games in the NHL? Filip Zadina has not been / will not be a bust, relative to draft position. You = moron

Over *half* a point per game. My bad. So you're saying Zadina is not a bust? Got it.

LOL the only moron is anyone that sees a 20 year old, 6th overall pick, put up over a point per game in the NHL in his rookie season, and doesn't backpedal on his original "Zadina is a bust" comments... I guess that word "bust" I'm "taking out of context" as well, am I? I don't need to say anything about Zadina's game. His play and production is speaking for itself. "He real gud".

LOL. You seem upset... No one is strawmanning what you said. It's literally what you said. Word for word... The only people making any real concrete projections on Zadina are those that are saying he's a "bust". Myself and others have said that he will be a top six winger, likely better than a Tatar, potentially in the mold of a Hossa, and unlikely but possible, if everything goes right, a Kucherov lite. Yeah, no one understands Zadina's game, except CRL and mackel... LOL

CRL: "Zadina's potential to be a very complete Hossa type winger is definitely there"... CRL: "He's not going to literally turn into Marian Hossa... idiot. I was only talking about his defensive play"... ... sure... Keep backpedaling bud...

We're pretty well set on the right side, with Hronek and Seider, along with Lindstrom and / or Bowey. I'm hoping we stay far away from any "big name" free agents. Sign a veteran goaltender to a short-term contract, and that's it.

Is there anyone that truly believes that Zadina is a bust though? aside from mackel, and maybe CRL...

"You're like talking to a toddler"...

That was more so in response to kip's dumb Rossi > Lafreniere narrative, not your dumb Kotkaniemi > Zadina narrative... Not that I think Lafreniere is the same type of player as Ovechkin, but I do think he could have a similar impact on his future team, from the wing. I'm also not convinced that Rossi will be much, if at all better than Larkin. You take the slam dunk, elite, future top 5 winger in the league, over the future good, not great, maybe top 30 center in the league. Don't overthink it. Don't draft based on position. Take the best player available. And at number one, that is without question, Alexis Lafreniere. An Ovechkin / Crosby comparison would be more apt to compare Zadina / Kotkaniemi? Okay, you do that... I didn't do the math. That was Neo. You're right, I should have checked it though before reposting... So you give me s*** for "omitting" Kotkaniemi's draft +1 season, when I very clearly acknowledged it, but yet you want to conveniently omit Kotkaniemi's draft +2 season, because of an injury? He was struggling long before the concussion. That's just an excuse... Again, my toddler would be able to tell you that 0.486 > 0.365. LOL at bringing up +/-... Montreal has been a combined +4 over the past two seasons. Detroit on the other hand has been a combined -172... The fact that Kotkaniemi is -10, and Zadina is -18 in that time is kind of telling... that Kotkaniemi is probably not far superior defensively...