Thanks and when you say best in the devils system do you mean goalie or prospect
- blizzzard

Goalie.

Battalion game?
- Brian Huddle

Done! There's always tickets! Just give me a heads up when (and what game) once hockey resumes.

Tanev was a great find on the blueline, and I think Lack is going to turn some heads when he gets his shot. Schroeder I liked a lot in his draft year, put on quite the show at the combine too for his strength and endurance. I wonder if somewhere a long the way he was hurt, since there was a big drop off for a while there in his play. Hopefully things go better for him going forward.
- mykokes

I think Schroeder was putting in extra effort on the defensive side of the puck. I'm pretty sure he was told that he wasn't gonna make it on just talent alone because of his size. He needed to be better defensively to be a center in the NHL. They tried him on the wing and it didn't work out. He ended up being on the number on pk last year for the Wolves so I think he's made a lot of strides. He actually looked better than Hodgson in training camp last year but he was a casualty because Hodgson had to make the team.

I think Schroeder was putting in extra effort on the defensive side of the puck. I'm pretty sure he was told that he wasn't gonna make it on just talent alone because of his size. He needed to be better defensively to be a center in the NHL. They tried him on the wing and it didn't work out. He ended up being on the number on pk last year for the Wolves so I think he's made a lot of strides. He actually looked better than Hodgson in training camp last year but he was a casualty because Hodgson had to make the team.
- Boinker

I heard that too. Loved that deal you guys made for kassian. I was hoping leafs would get him after I saw him in the world juniors.

Goalie.
- Brian Huddle

If he has that kind of potential then how are the Devils so low? I understand a lot of their guys aren't considered prospects anymore(Larsson, Henrique, Josefson, etc), but they still have several solid blue line prospects in Gelinas, Merrill, Urbom,and Severson

I was reading the comments on page 1, My guess of Biggs would be a 3rd line winger. Just because of what Huddle said, Hockey sense and a very good center who creates offense would put him in the top 6, well the Leafs don't really have one of those... Unless you're looking at Grabovski, he does create offense but he's not a top center just a good #2.

I was reading the comments on page 1, My guess of Biggs would be a 3rd line winger. Just because of what Huddle said, Hockey sense and a very good center who creates offense would put him in the top 6, well the Leafs don't really have one of those... Unless you're looking at Grabovski, he does create offense but he's not a top center just a good #2.
- wolfos412

Ya I liked his comparison to Knuble. Obviously you hope for a little more but every team could use a guy like that.

If he has that kind of potential then how are the Devils so low? I understand a lot of their guys aren't considered prospects anymore(Larsson, Henrique, Josefson, etc), but they still have several solid blue line prospects in Gelinas, Merrill, Urbom,and Severson
- bobert836

Goalies I tend to value a bit lower, for one. (Mostly because they're crazy and impossible to predict)

But after Wedge, Merill, and Matteau I'm not extremely high on anyone in the system. It's a lot of depth players on the backend, and role players up front.

I heard that too. Loved that deal you guys made for kassian. I was hoping leafs would get him after I saw him in the world juniors.
- MLeafs81

Appreciate it. I'm one of the few that liked the trade. Theres a lot of people arguing in Vancouver as to why they didnt make the trade in the offseason but you could tell our coach hated playing Hodgson. You could tell it came from up a above. I dont think he would have seen much ice time in the playoffs and his value would have dropped. Kassian will be either an extremely rare player in the league and a dominating one or a bust. Kind of the same situation with Hodgson so we'll see!

Wow, Philly is last? We may want to keep some of those picks away from Nashville. Not much love for Cousins or Laughton?
- fnmjoe13

I don't know. We have a habit of trading for prospects if we want them. Not only that we do pretty well finding late round talent and signing young free agent players that slip through the cracks like Bobrovsky, Erik Gustafsson and Matt Read. The next guy I'm interested in seeing step up (over the next few years) is Goalie Cal Heeter. Impressive numbers in Ohio State, big frame, good attitude.

Appreciate it. I'm one of the few that liked the trade. Theres a lot of people arguing in Vancouver as to why they didnt make the trade in the offseason but you could tell our coach hated playing Hodgson. You could tell it came from up a above. I dont think he would have seen much ice time in the playoffs and his value would have dropped. Kassian will be either an extremely rare player in the league and a dominating one or a bust. Kind of the same situation with Hodgson so we'll see!
- Boinker

Ya it's not like hodgson tore it up after the trade and he got top six minutes. Time will tell who actually won the deal but you guys did get what you needed as long as kassian pans out.

This is not true...


- Pairo11

We're talking about our prospect pool, not our team.

Surprised by the St. Louis ranking. Would have thought with to top 10 prospects in Tarasenko and Schwartz it would hav lifted them higher.

Minnesota is becoming a force that is going to make a lot of noise over the next few years. Florida and Ottawa look real solid.

Glad to see somebody poke a hole in the Detroit myth.

Colorado dropped 20 places! wow, but would that be largly in part because of Landeskog?

Surprised by the St. Louis ranking. Would have thought with to top 10 prospects in Tarasenko and Schwartz it would hav lifted them higher.

Minnesota is becoming a force that is going to make a lot of noise over the next few years. Florida and Ottawa look real solid.

Glad to see somebody poke a hole in the Detroit myth.
- spatso

I'm in love with Ty Rattie

Nice rankings, Huddle. Probably the first list I've seen where the Canucks aren't ranked 25th or later.

I just really hope that MG's moneyball drafting strategy works out because I've been scratching my head at a few of his overage picks recently. I do really like some of his late round picks though: Connauton, Corrado, Cannatta, Labate and the signing of Tanev was great.

Surprised by the St. Louis ranking. Would have thought with to top 10 prospects in Tarasenko and Schwartz it would hav lifted them higher.

Minnesota is becoming a force that is going to make a lot of noise over the next few years. Florida and Ottawa look real solid.

Glad to see somebody poke a hole in the Detroit myth.
- spatso

Agreed with all of this.

Colorado dropped 20 places! wow, but would that be largly in part because of Landeskog?
- wolfos412

Landeskog and Elliot.

Hishon's injury really hurts them, as it's unsure of how he'll be effected long term.

Surprised by the St. Louis ranking. Would have thought with to top 10 prospects in Tarasenko and Schwartz it would hav lifted them higher.

Minnesota is becoming a force that is going to make a lot of noise over the next few years. Florida and Ottawa look real solid.

Glad to see somebody poke a hole in the Detroit myth.
- spatso

I'm not very high on Jaden.

As for Detroit, unless you think every prospect should be able to stick handle in a phone booth..... they're a swing for the fences team. However, they've also publically stated a change in draft strategy going forward, to put more emphasis on size and "grit."

Interesting Blog.

Who would you say the top 10 Leaf Prospects are

These are mine in no particular order

Kadri
Colborne
Rielly
Finn
Biggs
Ross
McKegg
D'amigo
Percy
Ashton

With Blacker and Holzer on the outside looking in

I agree that Philly has an awful prospect pool. Outside of Cousins what else is coming that might be an exciting player in the future.

They need to be careful with this Weber deal. Sure, the four 1st rounders that they are giving up might all be busts, but Philly has a terrible record in the draft after the 1st round. Go look up their draft by year on HockeyDB. It's horrifying. Holmgren and his team are crap at the draft

So, given that they've got one of the worst prospect pools in the league, and possibly giving up their next four 1st rounders, It's really Cup or bust or they may face a tough go of things in a few years

I agree that Philly has an awful prospect pool. Outside of Cousins what else is coming that might be an exciting player in the future.

They need to be careful with this Weber deal. Sure, the four 1st rounders that they are giving up might all be busts, but Philly has a terrible record in the draft after the 1st round. Go look up their draft by year on HockeyDB. It's horrifying. Holmgren and his team are crap at the draft

So, given that they've got one of the worst prospect pools in the league, and possibly giving up their next four 1st rounders, It's really Cup or bust or they may face a tough go of things in a few years
- skelly96

They're strong where it matters, up the middle, both in what they have, and that age is on their side. The draft picks will be in the 20-30 range for the next 4 years anyways. Giroux/Couturier/Schenn are a hell of a three pack going forward. If they ever got a goalie, I'd switch allegiances.

Interesting Blog.

Who would you say the top 10 Leaf Prospects are

These are mine in no particular order

Kadri
Colborne
Rielly
Finn
Biggs
Ross
McKegg
D'amigo
Percy
Ashton

With Blacker and Holzer on the outside looking in
- maverickJ

I would EASILY put Blacker up in the top 10, potentially Holzer too, as he's likely the most NHL ready (although not the highest ceiling by any stretch).

If I had to kick a couple out, probably D'Amigo and Biggs.

They're strong where it matters, up the middle, both in what they have, and that age is on their side. The draft picks will be in the 20-30 range for the next 4 years anyways. Giroux/Couturier/Schenn are a hell of a three pack going forward. If they ever got a goalie, I'd switch allegiances.
- mykokes

Sure, but you cant just ignore the prospect pool and not have it burn you one day. Yes, the Flyers are set up for the next 5 years really well, but if they dont improve their drafting they'll feel it down the road. That's all I'm getting at

I heard that too. Loved that deal you guys made for kassian. I was hoping leafs would get him after I saw him in the world juniors.
- MLeafs81

You guys will get him as soon as he becomes a UFA...or his dad makes enough of a stink that Buffalo trades him.

All that aside, he's gonna be a great player.