If the Flyers somehow ended up with the top pick who would you want them to take?
- PLindbergh31

I change my opinion on that every other day. Right now I like Drouin, but I'd be absolutely ecstatic with any of the three.

Really? I admit i havent seen both play but from the highlights(yes i know :lol Risto seems better....
- Philly1980

Nurse has a level of physicality that Ristolainen doesn't. But I wouldn't be upset with Risto at all. He's a damned good prospect.

I change my opinion on that every other day. Right now I like Drouin, but I'd be absolutely ecstatic with any of the three.
- Jsaquella

Is Jones considered a can't miss franchise defenseman from the projections? Is he more of a defensive guy, or is he more in the mold of a guy who can bring a lot of offense as well?

Is Jones NHL ready? Or does he need at least a year in juniors?

Nurse has a level of physicality that Ristolainen doesn't. But I wouldn't be upset with Risto at all. He's a damned good prospect.
- Jsaquella

Nurse has the cockiness of subban lol...Thats what i gathered...He also doesnt shy away from a fight either.

Is Jones considered a can't miss franchise defenseman from the projections? Is he more of a defensive guy, or is he more in the mold of a guy who can bring a lot of offense as well?

Is Jones NHL ready? Or does he need at least a year in juniors?
- PLindbergh31

i would give him at least 1 year juniors and 1 year minors....if you watched the WJC you would know he is a special player...good defensively and offensive.

I wouldnt say he isnt cant miss, but he is very close to that...

If the Flyers somehow ended up with the top pick who would you want them to take?
- PLindbergh31

As much as I hate taking defensemen in the first round, they'd have to take Jones. His potential is too great to pass up (and it just so happens to fill the top organizational need).

i would give him at least 1 year juniors and 1 year minors....if you watched the WJC you would know he is a special player...good defensively and offensive.
- Philly1980

You know the Flyers won't wait two years if they were to draft him. If he's the top pick, it's hard to not get returns on your investment until year 3. Flyers wouldn't have that kind of patience with him.

As much as I hate taking defensemen in the first round, they'd have to take Jones. His potential is too great to pass up (and it just so happens to fill the top organizational need).
- bradleyc4

That would probably be the consensus among fans. I admit I don't know enough about these kids to have an opinion. I would continue with draft the best available player strategy that they use now, instead of filling a need. If that player is both than it's a bonus.

You know the Flyers won't wait two years if they were to draft him. If he's the top pick, it's hard to not get returns on your investment until year 3. Flyers wouldn't have that kind of patience with him.
- PLindbergh31

They should...Thats what scares me. He is exactly what they need but they might cock it up...personally if they had the #1 pick i wouldnt be surprised if they didnt choose him, because they themselves know they will screw it up.

Is Jones considered a can't miss franchise defenseman from the projections? Is he more of a defensive guy, or is he more in the mold of a guy who can bring a lot of offense as well?

Is Jones NHL ready? Or does he need at least a year in juniors?
- PLindbergh31

He's probably NHL ready, but extra time in juniors wouldn't hurt. Neither would a year in the AHL, for that matter.

Jones is seen as a probable franchise defenseman. There's not a tool that he lacks. I hate to say he's "can't miss", but he's a safe bet to at least be a very solid first pair defenseman. The two knocks that I have seen the most in scouting reports on him is that he could be meaner and could be more willing to jump in offensively.

Nurse has the cockiness of subban lol...Thats what i gathered...He also doesnt shy away from a fight either.
- Philly1980

Nurse has a bigger nasty streak than Jones or Ristolainen. He does have a bit of cockiness in him, and would definitely be a candidate for a slower progression track to the NHL.

They should...Thats what scares me. He is exactly what they need but they might cock it up...personally if they had the #1 pick i wouldnt be surprised if they didnt choose him, because they themselves know they will screw it up.
- Philly1980

Jones is one kid I don't think they could screw up. He's a pretty safe bet to be a very good NHLer.

He's probably NHL ready, but extra time in juniors wouldn't hurt. Neither would a year in the AHL, for that matter.

Jones is seen as a probable franchise defenseman. There's not a tool that he lacks. I hate to say he's "can't miss", but he's a safe bet to at least be a very solid first pair defenseman. The two knocks that I have seen the most in scouting reports on him is that he could be meaner and could be more willing to jump in offensively.
- Jsaquella

if this is the case, I don't know how the Flyers could pass him up if he was available when they were selecting.

He's probably NHL ready, but extra time in juniors wouldn't hurt. Neither would a year in the AHL, for that matter.

Jones is seen as a probable franchise defenseman. There's not a tool that he lacks. I hate to say he's "can't miss", but he's a safe bet to at least be a very solid first pair defenseman. The two knocks that I have seen the most in scouting reports on him is that he could be meaner and could be more willing to jump in offensively.
- Jsaquella

Gervais can mentor him on this

Jones is one kid I don't think they could screw up. He's a pretty safe bet to be a very good NHLer.
- Jsaquella

Flyers and defensive prospect dont mix lol....they will annoint him the next pronger before he even puts on a jersey...and when he doesnt play like pronger at 19 or 20 they will boo him...

1 year in the minors,
1 year in the ahl and he should be good to go.

Gervais can mentor him on this
- eayost

Gervais new nickname, the pincher.

This pick is for TM. Hope he sees it.

if this is the case, I don't know how the Flyers could pass him up if he was available when they were selecting.
- PLindbergh31

Well, Drouin could be tempting, as he's capable of being another Giroux-type player. He could deke a guy in a phone booth, and he's a firey little bastard, too. MacKinnon has a full tool box, too. Excellent two way center, who will score a boatload of points and can play finesse or a more physical game.

If they end up in the top three they're getting a potential franchise player.

That's a possibility. But again, the payoff had better be high.

The difference between a guy like Nichushkin, Monahan or Barkov and a guy like Nurse, Shinkaruk or Zadorov is that the former three are safer bets.

Look at Monahan-the kid's a very safe bet. You take him, he's going to be a first or second line NHL center. Even a guy like Lindholm, who is the one guy projected in the top 7 that could drop, IMO, is a very safe bet to have a very good, solid NHL career in somebody's top 6 or top 9 at worst.

Take a guy like Nurse-he's a great skater and has off the charts athleticism. But he's also pretty raw. Even a guy like Zadorov. He's got all the physical tools to be a monster, but he's more of a question mark and been passed in some eyes by Nurse and Ristolainen because he hasn't shown the offense you'd like to see out of a guy with his physical tools.

It may well be worth dropping for a guy like Hamonic_although I doubt the Isles trade him to move up.
- Jsaquella

Honestly, I haven't been watching/keeping track of anyone (for the most part) outside of the top 3. But, from what it looks like, probably 7 or 8 of the top 10 will be forwards, and then there's more of a mix of forwards/defensemen throughout the rest of the first round. That's the only reason I suggested a trade. If they have a 4th pick but the guy they want isn't projected in the top 12, you can take a little risk and move into 9th or 10th and hope he's still there.

Well, Drouin could be tempting, as he's capable of being another Giroux-type player. He could deke a guy in a phone booth, and he's a firey little bastard, too. MacKinnon has a full tool box, too. Excellent two way center, who will score a boatload of points and can play finesse or a more physical game.

If they end up in the top three they're getting a potential franchise player.
- Jsaquella

You are getting me excited for a top 3 pick, when it probably isn't very likely.

Flyers and defensive prospect dont mix lol....they will annoint him the next pronger before he even puts on a jersey...and when he doesnt play like pronger at 19 or 20 they will boo him...

1 year in the minors,
1 year in the ahl and he should be good to go.
- Philly1980

He'll be 19 by the start of next season, he'll likely make the jump to the NHL right away.

Flyers will finish 3rd worst. Edmonton 4th worst. Edmonton will win the draft lottery, knocking the Flyers to 4th

Well, Drouin could be tempting, as he's capable of being another Giroux-type player. He could deke a guy in a phone booth, and he's a firey little bastard, too. MacKinnon has a full tool box, too. Excellent two way center, who will score a boatload of points and can play finesse or a more physical game.

If they end up in the top three they're getting a potential franchise player.
- Jsaquella

Agreed. Only way I'd trade a top-3 pick this year would be to move up to #1 (Jones) or for an established top-pair defensman such as Pietrangelo, Letang, etc. (more would have to be included).

Flyers and defensive prospect dont mix lol....they will annoint him the next pronger before he even puts on a jersey...and when he doesnt play like pronger at 19 or 20 they will boo him...

1 year in the minors,
1 year in the ahl and he should be good to go.
- Philly1980

I'd prefer doing that, or at the very least one more year with Portland, but I think Jones would be OK with an immediate jump, so long as they didn't immediately put him in the top defense slot and expect a 30 minute a night guy out of the box. Pronger had growing pains, too. At one point he was a 19 year old kid who was supposed to be great and had issues.

Jones will be helped by two things. One his dad was a fairly well known NBA player, so he's got a guy who can be a help to him in dealing with the life. Also, if he's a Flyer, he will certainly have Pronger to help mentor him.

You are getting me excited for a top 3 pick, when it probably isn't very likely.
- PLindbergh31

Yeah, I'm in the same boat

Gervais new nickname, the pincher.

This pick is for TM. Hope he sees it.


- PLindbergh31