With a little patience and development Mike Gillis's last couple of drafts may not turn out to be as bad as projected.

Gaunce, Hutton, Cassels, Shinkaruk and perhaps Suban all have a chance to play some NHL minutes...and then of course there's Horvat.
- LeftCoaster

Gillis wasn't horrible at drafting when he kept a pick.

With a little patience and development Mike Gillis's last couple of drafts may not turn out to be as bad as projected.

Gaunce, Hutton, Cassels, Shinkaruk and perhaps Suban all have a chance to play some NHL minutes...and then of course there's Horvat.
- LeftCoaster

You could throw Corrado in as a good bet and Grenier and Jensen still having a chance as well.

Speaking of NHL 16. One thing I never understood is, why don't they add in the college drafted players? I hate that Boeser and Demko aren't in there. Always gives a disadvantage for the future of the team when top prospects aren't in the game.

Gillis wasn't horrible at drafting when he kept a pick.
- VANTEL

Maybe not horrible but not very good either, he missed on his first three drafts which put the organization at a disadvantage when it comes to their prospect pool.

Those three years make up the gap Benning has been trying to close with some of his deals.

Speaking of NHL 16. One thing I never understood is, why don't they add in the college drafted players? I hate that Boeser and Demko aren't in there. Always gives a disadvantage for the future of the team when top prospects aren't in the game.
- Retinalz

I could be wrong as I don't play the games but it could have to do with not being signed a contract and not being allowed to be represented.

Also perhaps the players through the NHLPA are compensated for the use of their names which might break NCAA rules.

Speaking of NHL 16. One thing I never understood is, why don't they add in the college drafted players? I hate that Boeser and Demko aren't in there. Always gives a disadvantage for the future of the team when top prospects aren't in the game.
- Retinalz

It's due to NCAA rules, it's why NCAA video games don't have the real names of players on their rosters. It's a dumb rule where licensing names from NCAA college rosters makes the players pro and takes away their eligability to play in college.

Maybe not horrible but not very good either, he missed on his first three drafts which put the organization at a disadvantage when it comes to their prospect pool.

Those three years make up the gap Benning has been trying to close with some of his deals.
- LeftCoaster

I agree with the not horrible but not very good.

While not trying to come off as a Gillis fanboy because I'm not....

Because he decided to move picks he only had 5 picks in the first 3 rounds over those 3 years.
In my mind he picked 2-3 players that have the talent to be in the NHL (Hodgson, Schroeder and Connauton)
I don't think he can be blamed that Hodgson in particular hasn't yet been able to live up to his talent, it was still a good pick.
I view Schroeder the same as Vey at this point.

I agree with the not horrible but not very good.

While not trying to come off as a Gillis fanboy because I'm not....

Because he decided to move picks he only had 5 picks in the first 3 rounds over those 3 years.
In my mind he picked 2-3 players that have the talent to be in the NHL (Hodgson, Schroeder and Connauton)
I don't think he can be blamed that Hodgson in particular hasn't yet been able to live up to his talent, it was still a good pick.
I view Schroeder the same as Vey at this point.
- belcherbd

Hodgson was a no-brainer at the time, Schroeder was a bit of a reach due to the fact he dropped so much and his size and Connauton was a decent 3rd round pick.

Hodgson was a no-brainer at the time, Schroeder was a bit of a reach due to the fact he dropped so much and his size and Connauton was a decent 3rd round pick.
- DariusKnight

Agree with all of this and my bigger point being that you are putting yourself in a tough spot to draft players when you limit yourself to only 5 picks over 3 years that historically are where the majority of players come from.

First time I've said this in awhile, but I agree with you.
- Nucker101

I still love you too.

Gillis wasn't horrible at drafting when he kept a pick.
- VANTEL

That's why he liked to trade them away.

Maybe not horrible but not very good either, he missed on his first three drafts which put the organization at a disadvantage when it comes to their prospect pool.

Those three years make up the gap Benning has been trying to close with some of his deals.
- LeftCoaster

Like the Sutter acquisition. Still not enough though.

I agree with the not horrible but not very good.

While not trying to come off as a Gillis fanboy because I'm not....

Because he decided to move picks he only had 5 picks in the first 3 rounds over those 3 years.
In my mind he picked 2-3 players that have the talent to be in the NHL (Hodgson, Schroeder and Connauton)
I don't think he can be blamed that Hodgson in particular hasn't yet been able to live up to his talent, it was still a good pick.
I view Schroeder the same as Vey at this point.
- belcherbd

Herein lies the problem

I agree with the not horrible but not very good.

While not trying to come off as a Gillis fanboy because I'm not....

Because he decided to move picks he only had 5 picks in the first 3 rounds over those 3 years.
In my mind he picked 2-3 players that have the talent to be in the NHL (Hodgson, Schroeder and Connauton)
I don't think he can be blamed that Hodgson in particular hasn't yet been able to live up to his talent, it was still a good pick.
I view Schroeder the same as Vey at this point.
- belcherbd

I expect Hodgson will have a better career than the last season would indicate. At least no one will have ridiculous expectations of him now and he is away from the ahole Nolan. With the right handling and line mates, Hodgson will be a boost to someone's PP and secondary scoring. Remember he finished 2nd in scoring as a 2nd liner and 1st in scoring as a 1st liner for the Sabres iirc.

For some reason I think of him as Kyle Wellwood. That suggestion would have gotten laughed at by everyone here but Prock a few years back. Prock in the end had the closest projection now that I think about it.

Like the Sutter acquisition. Still not enough though.
- VanHockeyGuy

Baertschi, Vey, Bonino and Sbisa were all targeted, IMO, because Benning wanted players in that age group but NHL ready to fill that gap.

Baertschi, Vey, Bonino and Sbisa were all targeted, IMO, because Benning wanted players in that age group but NHL ready to fill that gap.
- LeftCoaster

I think you could probably add Clendening and Pedan to that group as well.

You could probably also make the argument of choosing Markstrom over Lack for the same reason.

While I can understand and do participate in the criticism of some of his moves, the idea that "he doesn't have a plan" just doesn't fly. He clearly has been targeting players like you said who are either ready or close to being ready in that age group.

Now he just needs some of those players to work out.

I expect Hodgson will have a better career than the last season would indicate. At least no one will have ridiculous expectations of him now and he is away from the ahole Nolan. With the right handling and line mates, Hodgson will be a boost to someone's PP and secondary scoring. Remember he finished 2nd in scoring as a 2nd liner and 1st in scoring as a 1st liner for the Sabres iirc.

For some reason I think of him as Kyle Wellwood. That suggestion would have gotten laughed at by everyone here but Prock a few years back. Prock in the end had the closest projection now that I think about it.

- boonerbuck

I agree, it will be interesting how he does in a structured system again. Laviolette should be able to protect him a lot more than Buf did.

Training camp opens tomorrow?

Subban just donated $10 million to children's Hospital in Montreal over 7 years.....

That is incredible and very impressive. Hopefully it help convince other superstars to give generously.
- belcherbd

Very generous and very selfless.

Training camp opens tomorrow?
- VANTEL

No it doesn't. When people here start agreeing on Hodgson I'm going to have to start disagreeing with everything.

Very generous and very selfless.
- vancity787

Perhaps I'm unaware. But ever time I hear about pro athletes donating large amounts of money it always seems like it comes from hockey. Although I'm sure athletes from many other sports do the same.

Perhaps I'm unaware. But ever time I hear about pro athletes donating large amounts of money it always seems like it comes from hockey. Although I'm sure athletes from many other sports do the same.
- vancity787

Michael Jordan , Charles Barkley , and Tiger Woods donated millions






To hookers

Michael Jordan , Charles Barkley , and Tiger Woods donated millions






To hookers
- VANTEL

Hey now

Michael Jordan donated millions...to keep an NBA franchise in North Carolina

Michael Jordan , Charles Barkley , and Tiger Woods donated millions






To hookers
- VANTEL

don't forget gambling (with or without hookers)