ChristopherReevesLegs

Islanders drafted him, didn't sign him.

Yeah but his name is cool

Of course, politics happens in all business. I don't know a lot about Lowe and MacTavish to be perfectly honest. Edmonton? I like to think the Red Wings are a bit smarter than some of the backwards teams. Since the 90s we've done a very good job drafting. I would attribute any detriment to our recent scouting to Yzerman, Nill, and Babs taking scouts with them, not Maltby or Draper. Part of that being I have no idea what actual role/power they have in the organization, and I have no reason to think it's bad.

Well we agree again. I just doubt that these systems of evaluation aren't already in place. I find it hard to imagine that ours, or any NHL organizations scouting staff, is a troup of yes-men. Draper, Maltby, and Fischer have the experience of playing on winning teams at the NHL level. I want those guys insights when it comes to scouting. But that doesn't mean organizations don't listen to their scouts who didn't play, in favor of former players.

Agreed, just think some might interpret your argument that way. Lefty over here thinks he and his drinkin pals are NHL caliber scouts for pete's sake. I'm more going back to F. Michael's comment about trusting Central Scouting more because they're "unbiased". I don't buy that. Bias is everywhere, and in every scout. Just because they don't have positional needs to fill, doesn't change that. Malts and Drapes I'm sure have their biases as well. But as you said Hockey is run like a business now. All the elite scouting talent will be concentrated with the big clubs, and they guard those scouting reports very heavily I'm sure. We are fed 2nd tier, secondary caliber scouting information for the most part. I'd trust any NHL organization's scouting staff over Central, amateur scouts, internet board speculation, or Lefty's buds.

I think this notion that Draper and Maltby skew are scouting one way is completely unfounded

Ahhh the only beer named after the sound it makes when you open the can It's hard to even find a Labatt in Seattle... But I can get a triple hop pineapple stout IPA in about 2 seconds flat.

Looks like he can lay some big hits and really has a nose for the net. Perhaps best case scenario he's a top 6 powerforward? Probably a bottom 6 checking line forward though.

He was drinking Labatt. I actually think they priced the beer cheaper than what is normal for the draft. The draft in real time is incredibly boring, especially after the first round, so it kind of becomes a drinking event/social event for fans. At least that was my experience.

5 to 10 dollar range I'm sure

My take is, any central scouting guys with an actual eye for talent/potential would be poached by an NHL front office immediately.

I went to the draft last year in Buffalo. Old timer, probably in his 60's, sits down next to me about 10 minutes before the draft is supposed to start. In that 10 minutes he kills two tall boys of barley pop and explains to me that he drove down from Toronto to see the draft. Leafs brass comes out and selects Matthews. As soon as the selection is made the old timer says "welp, enjoy the draft" and walks out. He literally drove 2 hours from Toronto to see one pick and kill 3 beers. He was in that seat for all of 15 minutes. Now that's how you enjoy a draft (I think there might be a pun there)

I also use humor so I don't have to feel real emotions

Watch Holland get a top 3 pick and trade down. The reaction would be worth it lol

That's fair. I would raise an eyebrow if Holland did not select Patrick with the first overall.

Pretty much how I feel. I'm not saying you can't react, I just think being "pissed off" because we selected Hirscher is a bit ridiculous and over the top. Why?

That's kind of my point. He's going to select who he and his scouts believe will be the best player. If they believe that is Hirscher, I don't see any reason to be pissed about that selection. Much too soon to be upset about players that we have no idea about, and I tend to lean more towards professional opinion than online journalists. Besides the very first pick, the top 5 almost never shakes out the way the media tells us it will. Probably because they only have a general idea on how teams value these guys.

I'm asking hypothetically. If he decided to go outside the group you've been told is the to p5, why do you think he would do it?

Why do you think Holland would go off the board?

Per McKenzie He's a FA coming out of college. Led the entire NCAA in points this season. From what I've read he plays a heavy 200 ft game. Not sure how he eluded the draft for so long. Sorry about the double post mods!

Little late to the party eh? I take it you don't remember St. Louis

Pissed about what? That he didn't pick the guy you decided was better based on your internet scouting? I'll take whomever Holland selects, watch how they play out, and hope for the best quite honestly. I assume there's a lot smarter hockey brains in that room than my own.

32 pts in 25 games so far this year

Agreed. But Jimmy played behind the same defense and didn't allow anything close to the number of goals Petr has let in.

Jarnkrok and Janmark are still raved about... I like that nobody cared about losing Eaves at the time, and now he looks like the biggest piece in that trade