I already stated going with the "The best player available" with the first pick and then going specific with the second pick. An obvious "Shea Weber" shouldn't be on the board by the time we get to Tampa's Pick but seeing how Shea Weber was on the board until the second round at #49 overall in 2003, how many people chose the best player available?
- SuperSchennBros

That's because scouting 18 year old kids is an inexact science. If it wasn't, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg & Jamie Benn all get picked in the first round and guys like Hugh Jessiman, John Slaney and Lars Jonsson don't.

Even with the second first rounder, regardless of who they took at 7, I still take the guy who is at the top of my draft board, regardless of position. The Flyers do need skilled forwards, but often times, it's easier to trade for a forward than it is to deal for a defenseman.

That's what your scouting is for. You don't take the 20th rated prospect on the board because he fills a need when you're picking 7th. You take the best player available. It is idiotic to reach to fill needs.
- Flyers1218

Would you expect all defense between 7th and 20th on the board?

That's because scouting 18 year old kids is an inexact science. If it wasn't, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg & Jamie Benn all get picked in the first round and guys like Hugh Jessiman, John Slaney and Lars Jonsson don't.

Even with the second first rounder, regardless of who they took at 7, I still take the guy who is at the top of my draft board, regardless of position. The Flyers do need skilled forwards, but often times, it's easier to trade for a forward than it is to deal for a defenseman.
- Jsaquella

It's also possible to miss the mark in a trade as well, all the while giving away assets.

I think he's a fit but it not uncommon for some players to take some time more than others to find their game and make the NHL roster.

I like the approach they are now taking with let the prospects develop. This team is not that close so there is no need to make sure every single pick we take is forced into the lineup early.
- ob18

I never said anything about forcing a player into the line up early. I don't know if it was due to a nagging concussion but even before the Niskanen hit, I wasn't crazy about what I was seeing from Laughton. Again, I could be speaking too soon.

sup

It's also possible to miss the mark in a trade as well, all the while giving away assets.
- SuperSchennBros

Certainly is.

You can also select a guy for need, like the Rangers did when they chose Jessiman before Ryan Getzlaf, Zach Parise, Brent Seabrook, Brent Burns, Mike Richards and Patrice Bergeron.

You can make a bad pick no matter what the circumstance. But if I need a winger and my scouts have a defenseman who they rate clearly ahead of the best winger, I'm taking the defenseman, every time.

The Flyers have needs everywhere. Even with Morin, Sanheim, Hagg, Gostisbehere and Alt, they can use more skilled young defensemen. They could use another good goalie. They could use wingers and centers. Most of all they need more skill, period.

And if the end up with a surplus at one position or another, then you can use those assets to fill needs. And yes the same potential issues exist in making a trade as in drafting. It's easy to make a bad trade.

Certainly is.

You can also select a guy for need, like the Rangers did when they chose Jessiman before Ryan Getzlaf, Zach Parise, Brent Seabrook, Brent Burns, Mike Richards and Patrice Bergeron.

You can make a bad pick no matter what the circumstance. But if I need a winger and my scouts have a defenseman who they rate clearly ahead of the best winger, I'm taking the defenseman, every time.

The Flyers have needs everywhere. Even with Morin, Sanheim, Hagg, Gostisbehere and Alt, they can use more skilled young defensemen. They could use another good goalie. They could use wingers and centers. Most of all they need more skill, period.

And if the end up with a surplus at one position or another, then you can use those assets to fill needs. And yes the same potential issues exist in making a trade as in drafting. It's easy to make a bad trade.
- Jsaquella

Sure but this isn't the argument for me. We have two picks. If the Flyers walk out of the first round with two defensemen within an organization who have many defensive prospects, I'm not gonna be happy about that, especially in a deep draft.

Nicolas Meloche – The Next Ones: NHL 2015 Draft Prospect Profile

http://thehockeywriters.c...utm_campaign=sumome_share
- ob18

ehh, the foot speed and offensive upside is a little concerning for a two-way guy. If he were to slip to our 2nd round pick I'd definitely go for him.

sup
- Crimsoninja

Way to not give up on the play 1-0 Caps!

ehh, the foot speed and offensive upside is a little concerning for a two-way guy. If he were to slip to our 2nd round pick I'd definitely go for him.
- JAKEw1234

To me he's a 2nd round pick maybe late 1st.

sup
- Crimsoninja

Certainly is.

You can also select a guy for need, like the Rangers did when they chose Jessiman before Ryan Getzlaf, Zach Parise, Brent Seabrook, Brent Burns, Mike Richards and Patrice Bergeron.

You can make a bad pick no matter what the circumstance. But if I need a winger and my scouts have a defenseman who they rate clearly ahead of the best winger, I'm taking the defenseman, every time.

The Flyers have needs everywhere. Even with Morin, Sanheim, Hagg, Gostisbehere and Alt, they can use more skilled young defensemen. They could use another good goalie. They could use wingers and centers. Most of all they need more skill, period.

And if the end up with a surplus at one position or another, then you can use those assets to fill needs. And yes the same potential issues exist in making a trade as in drafting. It's easy to make a bad trade.
- Jsaquella

I don't think its one or the other. There needs to be flexibility or else you can end up like the oilers drafting absolute BPA instead of being flexible with trading the pick. This philosophy may get put to the test this summer when the oilers go to trade one of their top young forwards this summer. Will their compensation be as good as it could've been draft day? I doubt it cause they've painted themselves into a corner. We'll see

Sure but this isn't the argument for me. We have two picks. If the Flyers walk out of the first round with two defensemen within an organization who have many defensive prospects, I'm not gonna be happy about that, especially in a deep draft.
- SuperSchennBros

If they get two really good defense prospects, I'll be happy. I'd also be happy with two good forwards, or one of each. I just want good players, regardless of position. If they end up with too many D-men, it's a good problem to have.

- ob18

- ob18

nice

I think it's extremely lazy. Your club might need certain needs, fill them. There isn't always a know who will turn out to best player in the draft by order. Is Owen Nolan, Petr Nedved, Keith Primeau, Mike Ricci, Trevor Kidd better then Jagr? How do you determine that a defenseman is better then a forward long term?
- SuperSchennBros

Lets say a team's need is a forward, and a defenseman who the team feels is going to be a top 2 way defenseman and a better player then any of the forwards available to them at the time of the pick, they should pass that defenseman up, and take a lesser player because of need?

I don't think its one or the other. There needs to be flexibility or else you can end up like the oilers drafting absolute BPA instead of being flexible with trading the pick. This philosophy may get put to the test this summer when the oilers go to trade one of their top young forwards this summer. Will their compensation be as good as it could've been draft day? I doubt it cause they've painted themselves into a corner. We'll see
- Just5

I think you just made a great point. If you'd like to talk about choosing the best player available, try getting the best player in the draft in consecutive years, all polished to step right into the NHL and getting nowhere.

can't believe obie just Grohl'd me


so pissed

Lets say a team's need is a forward, and a defenseman who the team feels is going to be a top 2 way defenseman and a better player then any of the forwards available to them at the time of the pick, they should pass that defenseman up, and take a lesser player because of need?
- MJL

I think within this conversation, it's been overlooked now 4 times that we have two draft choices, all the while being deep at defense. I also don't believe all 30 teams approach the draft the same way the Flyers do.

If they get two really good defense prospects, I'll be happy. I'd also be happy with two good forwards, or one of each. I just want good players, regardless of position. If they end up with too many D-men, it's a good problem to have.
- Jsaquella

You just dont understand. In five years we will have Ghost, Sanheim, Morin, Hagg, Provorov, Chabot, MDZ and Alt.

Catastrophe

I don't think its one or the other. There needs to be flexibility or else you can end up like the oilers drafting absolute BPA instead of being flexible with trading the pick. This philosophy may get put to the test this summer when the oilers go to trade one of their top young forwards this summer. Will their compensation be as good as it could've been draft day? We'll see
- Just5

The argument in the case of the Oilers isn't one of BPA, it's one of an organizational failure to develop anyone outside of their lottery picks. The Oilers don't fail because of guys like Hall and RNH. They have failed because they have no depth behind those guys, and no structure in place.

Since 2008, the Oilers picks outside of the first round have played 390 NHL games. 217 of those are split between Anton Lander and Martin Marincin.

All in all, in the past 7 years, the Oilers drafted 47 guys outside of round one, and those players have averaged 8 games played in the NHL

can't believe obie just Grohl'd me


so pissed
- Crimsoninja

I nearly chose that one too

I think you just made a great point. If you'd like to talk about choosing the best player available, try getting the best player in the draft in consecutive years, all polished to step right into the NHL and getting nowhere.
- SuperSchennBros

Not that I'd do this but as an example

I'm not saying pass on Provorov. I'm saying pass on provorov by trading the pick and drafting Crouse, player x in the 2nd round, and player y in the 5th round.

So when it comes down to it, your drafting for need in this example

Not that I'd do this but as an example

I'm not saying pass on Provorov. I'm saying pass on provorov by trading the pick and drafting Crouse, player x in the 2nd round, and player y in the 5th round.

So when it comes down to it, your drafting for need in this example
- Just5

Depends on your giving up to move into that position.