Matt Karash: Thoughts on the blue line

In my opinion, if Murphy can't make the top 4 he's likely not a good fit in the NHL. His success in the NHL, if he has any, will be as a PP quarterback or by playing with a defense- first top 4 kind of talent who can cover for his defensive liabilities. Certainly you need skating ability in today's game, but I think you need size in the bottom pairing to clear today's big forwards from out of the crease and work the PK. I would much rather have a Nic Wallin / Mike Commodore / Glen Wesley kind of guy on your third pairing than a Murphy type. Gleason can fill this role if he wants to come back again, I would be fine with that.

If Liles is in our top 4 next year with Hainsey, we might as well get ready for the 2016 draft lottery now. Unfortunately I think this is exactly what will happen as I don't see any of the big contracts coming off the books and I think we see a repeat of last summer where management/ownership stood on the sidelines and made no effort to make the team better. I hope I am wrong.

With the Canes probably drafting at #4 or 5 who do you see the Canes taking? With the LA pick do you think we are able to draft and fill another immediate need in this deep draft at around the 15 or 16 spot?

That LA pick is looking more iffy everyday. Might be looking at 2016. If they do get in this year, at least it should be a 15-16 pick.

With the Canes probably drafting at #4 or 5 who do you see the Canes taking? With the LA pick do you think we are able to draft and fill another immediate need in this deep draft at around the 15 or 16 spot?
- Barbecued Hockey

Everything I've looked at has is taking Mitch Marner or Dylan Strome. I would be ecstatic with Strome. If RF sticks to what he says I don't see him taking Marner for size reasons. If the de facto top 3 of McDavid, Eichel, and Hanifin are gone by the time we draft(praying we win the lottery) then my guess is Strome gets picked 4th. If we're at five I could see us drafting Kylington, Raatanen(sp?), or Crouse(the most likely of the three). However I believe at least one of those guys could be available later so I would not be at all surprised to see RF trade down a little bit if the right team wants to move up to grab Marner. I honestly don't think we could go wrong in the top 10 of this draft though.

jUST WIN TONIGHT HAYSEEDS.