Armia, Girgensons, Flynn, Leino
Ennis back at wing, Larsson 3rd line center

The cupboard isn't BARE
We do need to add forwards, and we will
But we got two defensemen that will anchor our backend for a decade,
And they are both big & nasty

When's the last time we had guys like that in their prime, that actually played in top4?
These guys will provide what Rivet & Regehr were supposed to
- jdfitz77

I don't think he will be picked in the 2nd.
- Jawallstar1

Just a hunch. Pernel Karl even said Jordan will be better.

You must be in heaven Garf
- poohcrumbs

I can imagine the conversation:
Darcy: Hey Grigo, what did you think of Zadorov?
Grigo: I like him!
Darcy: Kevin, this is our pick!

Drafting 2 defensemen is not what I would have done in the 1st round, but unless Regier had a top 4 pick and skipped over one of the "Big 4" (MacKinnon, Drouin, Barkov, and Jones), I refuse to get excited or upset. After the top few picks, the NHL draft is one of the biggest crapshoots in professional sports. The only one that might be bigger is baseball.

Wasted a great Sunday afternoon hoping for a Sabres move or maybe the acquisition of an exciting offensive talent but we got a pair of Robin Regehrs.......Not sexy but functional......

Only guy we had a chance to take that would've made the team this season was Nichuskin
And I'm ok we passed on him

U are gonna love Ristolainen... Promise
- jdfitz77

Very excited about him.

I really liked both picks.

The whole team was. So many holes its hard to hate the picks. I agree though. Trade Vanek, not for picks, but for young forwards who are NHL ready.
- ImThatGuy

I'm ok with that

How is Erne still available?!
I would've been ok w it if we took him at 16
Holy crap Darcy,
Trade up for this kid NOW!

I lost out on the TV to my 5 year old. Any good live streams out there of the draft?

no but we have some kids on there way. Mccabe McNabb Pyssk
- hafgod

We have one NHL starting D-man who is physical, and we just re-signed him. I like Pysyk and Weedy, but they are position-type guys, not ones that forwards are afraid to go into the corner with.

My bet is Sekera gets traded along with one of the others to land (hopefully) a top-six winger, and we will see some of Armia this year, too.

We did allow the MOST shots on goal this year....Defense makes sense.

I lost out on the TV to my 5 year old. Any good live streams out there of the draft?
- burner087

nbc sports should have a stream thats what i did for the finals

I'm ok with that

How is Erne still available?!
I would've been ok w it if we took him at 16
Holy crap Darcy,
Trade up for this kid NOW!
- jdfitz77

Agree.

Darcy is a failure and if people don't agree with me, so be it.

We did allow the MOST shots on goal this year....Defense makes sense.
- LandlordTom

It does. And if you look at teams that made the playoffs they were better defensively. A lower goals against meant more than a high goals for.

what number is our next pick?

Agree.
- LandlordTom

If we can get Erne then I would be pretty happy with the way the draft has went. That's a big if though

I'm ok with that

How is Erne still available?!
I would've been ok w it if we took him at 16
Holy crap Darcy,
Trade up for this kid NOW!
- jdfitz77

Agreed...if they moved back into the first to get Erne I would feel significantly better about how today unfolded.

nbc sports should have a stream thats what i did for the finals
- hubie

Thanks Hubie.

Rasmus Ristolainen
Ht/Wt: 6' 4"/205 lbs
Position: D
Team: TPS (FIN)


Ristolainen had a quality season in Finland, where he often logged tough, heavy minutes for TPS. That is an impressive role for an 18-year-old defenseman in that league. He is not a flashy player, but he does everything well. He best skill is his hockey sense. He thinks the game at a level well beyond his years, and he does not make many mistakes on the ice. He is an aware, effective defenseman who can close gaps with his body or with his stick. With the puck, he shows calmness, but he can process the game quickly when the situation calls for it. He can man the point on the power play. He is a solid to above-average skater (I have heard an NHL scout classify him as high end in that area). His puck handling is at a similar level; he can flash significant offensive ability, but the bulk of value will come from his work in his own zone. To that point, he will lay the body, and he can provide quality hits. He could fast track to the NHL quicker than a typical defense prospect.
Submitted by: Corey Pronman of Hockey Prospectus. Click here for Pronman's draft rankings

Where a team will probably have to be more patient with Nikita Zadorov, many feel that Rasmus Ristolainen could crack an NHL roster as early as next season. A 1994 birthdate, Ristolainen has already logged two full seasons in the SM-Liiga with TPS and has the body frame to play in the NHL as a teenager.

Ristolainen is a mobile defenseman who is effective in the transition game and not out of place offensively. He does a good job of identifying passing lanes and also has the ability to jump into the rush when he sees an opportunity. How much upside Ristolainen ultimately has is a question mark, but at this point he looks like a safe bet to be a long-term Top 4 defenseman at minimum.
Submitted by: The Scouting Report

You could see all the NHL scouts looking mighty heavily at the big, mobile, puck-moving defenseman. He plays very mature for his late ’94 birthdate as he knows how to turn the play up ice quickly by making the outlet pass or carrying the biscuit himself. He plays a very strong defensive game by utilizing his strength, positioning, and long reach to cut opposition’s opportunities down. Ristolainen showed some nice vision as he created scoring chances with some beautiful feeds and also unleashed his bomb from the point a handful of times at the NJEC. He will certainly draw much attention in Ufa, Russia this winter and looks to be a solid first rounder come June.
Submitted by: Russ Bitely from the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp – U20 Team Finland – Lake Placid, NY – August 4th-11th

what number is our next pick?
- sippyd

38, then again at 52.

what number is our next pick?
- sippyd

38

Thanks Hubie.
- burner087

no prob im sure im about to be kicked off as well

I lost out on the TV to my 5 year old. Any good live streams out there of the draft?
- burner087

http://furby-tv.yolasite.com/

38, then again at 52.
- Jawallstar1

Thx

I was going to stay away from here today but I couldn't resist. I haven't read many posts but I'm guessing everyone hates the two picks. It's been about an hour and a half since our 16th pick so I've let it digest a bit

Here is what I think happened:

They wanted Monahan or Lindholm at 8. Both were gone. There really wasn't a forward they wanted to take that high. I know the KHL scared them away from Nuckushkin. If he would have been there at 16 i bet they would have taken him, but he wasnt there. So they went for a D that has played professionally for the last 2 years and if I'm not mistaken can come to North America for this upcoming season. Either here or in Rochester. I wasn't thrilled with the pick but he was the "best player" available I can live with it.

For the 16th pick Nuckushkin was gone and all I was saying was don't even think about taking a goalie. I would have blown a gasket if they would have. If you regulars on here remember I was always pretty high on taking Zadarov at 16. I think he is a Pronger wanna be who can skate better. Basically who we hoped McNabb was going to turn out to be. I think Zadarovs ceiling is higher than McNabbs and he has a better shot. I didnt like any of the forwards here at 16. I thought about Erne but it was took early for him I think. Had Max Domi been here I would have taken him.

Yes we still have holes on the wing and it needs to be addressed ASAP but I really don't hate these picks. They aren't "sexy" by any means but I can understand why they were made.

That being said the return for Miller has gotten better IMO. Yes you don't get a draft pick but you could get 2 good roster players for him now since the market is basically just him now. I'm looking at you Philly
- Stripes77

Hate to dissect this little tidbit out of this good post but Mcnabb has a cannon. Over 100mph