Jacksoni

Too many picks for me to keep up. I am confident a few of these will pan out. Thing is, as Ken Holland said, we need stars, or really really good players. The first round pick still gives me a sour mouth. Should have picked Tippett, he was there. He will be a star, just not sure how bright.

So we discarded Tippett with our pick. And I thought he would not be available at #9. This big bird we got better start pumping in goals quick. My gut feeling tell me he's gonna be a chump, ending up on our 3rd line once he settles in. If we start bad I am all for tanking next season as the second coming of Lidström is coming up in the draft. He would have gone #1 easily this year despite being underage.

What he said. Well written.

I don't like losing Nosek but I prefer him over Mrazek. Yes, he has been a bum this season. But if he gets his s*** together he can win us playoff series. For me if he stays it's a make or break season next. Draft coming up soon enough. Wish us luck.

To me the only surprise is the Mrazek outing and that has been discussed to hell and back in this thread. My take on that is two-fold: - Holland knows Las Vegas most likely will Not pick Mrazek (for us unknown reasons), thereby exposing him. AND - At the same time, exposing him sends a signal to Mrazek as much as to anyone else. He is not the heir to the goalie throne, the job has to be earned and he has not shown any earning this past season. If hand comes to shove, he will get canned in some form not mentionable here, since that most likely would involve a complicated trade. Earn your keep or crawl back to whatever hole you got up from, basically.

I foresee us drafting a defenseman with our 9th pick. We ain't getting 'Red' Tippett, no use in crying over spilt milk. Looking at our roster and our farm teams, we are lacking a defensively solid, offensively flat out dangerous defenseman. Brighten up though, we have plenty of picks in the early rounds in this years draft. Someone should statistically pan out to be a fine player. Maybe even a small star, albeit unlikely. Remember, Zetterberg was certainly an unlikely star. He's a good captain as he's proven this past season, despite us not making the playoffs.

Drouin is top 3 skilled, plays with and edge and wants to prove himself. I'm sure the Captain didn't want to lose him but risked exposing him as mentioned above. The trade makes sense for both parties given the background information. Unfortunately their gain is our loss by effect since we play in the same division. I guess extra eyes on Sergachev is in order.

Unless most of you did not know I strongly oppose the cap and the aim with it, being parity. I hope it brings the game down enough to warrant a change. With that said, I congratulate Pittsburgh to another cup. If anything I like that Hörnqvist contributed heavily, reminding me of Holmström. I like them Swedish grunts in front of the goalie.

Thanks for the status report. Haven't watched any playoffs except for the Rangers first round against Montreal. Only because the matchup 'tickled' me. Was a good one in retrospect. Truth be told I don't give a s*** who wins but obviously I prefer Nashville so Penguins don't get no streak going. My primary concerns however is having a decent NHL team, especially on our back end. I doubt we'll have it next season. Thanks to the parity I still endorse alternative approaches such as bribes, threats and voodoo (see earlier posts) to get us an edge. I'd like to see us in the playoffs again soon enough.

What he said. Don't go mixing in no eighties with that heavy metal and stuff.

Lidström. Not debatable, hence this thread is blasphemous and instigates heresy. The Captain comes close so worthy of a honorable mention. That about sums it up.

I agree that all contending teams need one defender that has the tools and the ability to make serious hits. Preferably two. Slows the other team down by default. Changes the play. Less risky two zone passes, heads are kept a little higher etc. If that would be McIlrath I would leave unsaid, time will tell. It certainly isn't Kronwall and unless Ericsson plays all season like he did the first 15 games last season he's overpaid by about 3.5 million dollars.

For me this years draft was about Tippett. I don't believe we'll get him. He'll go top 7. Right about where we 'should have picked', +-2. I'm willing to bet some money he'll go 5 or 6 if someone wanna play. I am hoping for surprises, given that we have quite a few picks, some should pan out. But odds for a game changer is... miniscule. I predict more pain and misery. Maybe next year.

Lower tier in Griffins or Finland seems about right. Point is this is basically an opportunity for him to show if he can play, for real. Someone saw something about him, somewhere. But it's unlikely he'll pan out. I'd love to be surprised though. I'm on board for the tryout. The heavens know we need a surprise.

McDavid is McJesus. I haven't seen anything move like he does and that includes Lemieux with his frame, speed and royal hands. Playmaking ability as well. Can't think of any veteran not taking a discount to play on the Oilers if Jesus is there and healthy, which should show on the signings coming up soon enough.

Good player. Could explode, has a high ceiling. Not worth the risk for the probable price.

I did say Edmonton would loose their wallets in El Segundo - Anaheim do have a good composition well suited for the playoffs. I doubt they'll go all the way but if they keep the matchups even, going 6-7 games while pounding away at the opposition with intense physicality they stand a punchers chance. With that said McJesus will come back stronger, faster and more skilled soon enough. I'm looking forward watching him early next season, should be fireworks if he has spirit which I presume most of us believe he has.

I have no emotions about this "non-signing". I will however follow him for sure, mostly because of his nonconvential rise to the top. He can clearly play. What's his limit? Curious. Since he choose not to come here I can't attach his possible success to our flailing team, but I guess I am not alone in thinking that if he were to pan out, what could we have done to convince him to join in retrospect? Let's just observe a while.

We ain't getting the redhead dude at pick 9. Might have at pick 7. I could be wrong and I would appreciate that. But it is highly unlikely.

Just chiming in to say that the 9th pick is clear dissapointment. With some luck we'll get that redhead kid. Doubt it though. With 7th or below we had good chances. More pain and misery ahead.

My stance on our pick this year is quite simple. Unless we trade to move up in the draft to try to pick someone specific, I believe that with our highest pick we should choose the best player available. Should probably add what management believes is the best player available, it's a qualified conjecture after all. Regardless of position. Yes, that includes goalies but not linesmen or coaches, despite having a 3rd round pick from trading a coach. By the way, the draft lottery is April 29th, this saturday for the casual reader.

I think Edmonton will loose their wallets in El Segundo - Anaheim gets this. No idea in how many. McDavid might get hurt in this one.

I said I wouldn't watch any series in the first round but this one. Well I did watch some games here and there but my hunch was right, this series is the most intense matchup in my opinion. Series is tied 2-2 and the last games of this series are Jacksoni certified if you are looking for good hockey.

Great goal by Sidney Crosby though. Made this sort of a series.

None will be resigned in regards to the Red Wings. Some might be signed el cheapo for the Griffins. Of those named Street and McIlrath to the Griffs. Callahan as well but he has a shot to move up as a 4th line grinder given the right circumstances. Possibly even as a starter if he does well up to the season start.