I'd say it would have been a toss-up but Eichel does have great passing and puck possession abilities. We will have to wait and see how Matthews is going to be.
- TML4Life85

As long as we have an elite Center to go with our insane depth up front we'll be alright.

Sundin was never the leagues best center but he was elite. Hall of Fame elite.

Bob's always been anti-Leafs with his smug demeanor.

Anyways 3rd is good for me. As Shanny said, a team wins a cup not an individual. This is just another piece of the puzzle
- walshyleafsfan

Shanny is smart and is side stepping the Matthews is the saviour kind of talk.

stamkos didn't go to ufa to go to butt(frank) nowhere, all of a sudden TO is the poop
- Zezel

I want him here and I hope that they can workout the contract that it ends up not being too much money.

So still a really good player and we should be excited about the opportunity for him to be joining the Leafs?
- BetterCallSaul

Totes. Pumped, just not ready to call him better than Eichel when he hasn't played a game in the NHL yet.

When you win the Draft Lottery

Just saying I was high on Pulju. No need for you guys to get all (frank)ing bent outta shape about it for (frank) sakes.

I'm not stooping to take cheap shots at the Leafs like a childish (frank) so why are you?
- RonPielep

My bad, I thought you were one of those fcukers that kept complaining and wanting the Oilers to win the pick again.
I hope it all works out for you guys. You can package Yak and your pick to move up to 3rd.

Fakepartofme will come in tomorrow and be like:

YES!! I knew we would win the lottery, but I didn't wanna jinx it!!

Flagged for truth and accuracy.

Speaking of trolls, the Garf blog is already locked
- BlueBallz

Test...

Well, the consensus is that if he was drafted last year, he would've gone 3rd behind Eichel.

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 8h8 hours ago
Most scouts I talk to say Eichel and Matthews are quite comparable. Had Matthews been 2015 eligible, he'd likely have been consensus No. 3.
- gravyface

No way..

Thats the first im hearing of this... everyone else says Matthews>Eichel.. i mean, we dont know til he plays.. but im almost certain he'll be a better player.

Edit: its also NOT the consensus.. McKenzie has gone full Button these days.

Shanny is smart and is side stepping the Matthews is the saviour kind of talk.
- TML4Life85

and Bettman probably told it that way so there would still be some suspense leading up to the draft

Just saying I was high on Pulju. No need for you guys to get all (frank)ing bent outta shape about it for (frank) sakes.

I'm not stooping to take cheap shots at the Leafs like a childish (frank) so why are you?
- RonPielep

The one bright side is that with the first several picks its almost written in stone who to take based on all experts opinions of BPA.
4th pick it seems many believe it should be Tkachuk, but i've also heard people suggest Dubois, Chychrun, or Juolevi. This means while you can still sort of follow the rule of BPA, you may also be able to pick based on need.

Who do you think you guys should go for now and what position do you think is the biggest need for the oil?

As long as we have an elite Center to go with our insane depth up front we'll be alright.

Sundin was never the leagues best center but he was elite. Hall of Fame elite.
- Njuice

We do have a great depth but we want to be more than all right. We want to win and contend every year. So, we need 2 elite centremen and add to our d-core, as well as find a starter when Bernier fcuks off.

Mathews probably can't wAit for that outdoor game
- burn

Mattews looked really pissed that the Leafs won the lottery. He will probably refuse to report to the Leafs and demand a trade.

No way..

Thats the first im hearing of this... everyone else says Matthews>Eichel.. i mean, we dont know til he plays.. but im almost certain he'll be a better player.

Edit: its also NOT the consensus.. McKenzie has gone full Button these days.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Yeah, I've heard a few articles and scouts suggest Mathews will be better. Hard to say at this point, but I sure hope its true lol.

and Bettman probably told it that way so there would still be some suspense leading up to the draft
- DeflatedPucks

Are you saying that they somehow knew before the draw that Leafs were going to get the 1st overall pick? That's some great inside knowledge

My bad, I thought you were one of those fcukers that kept complaining and wanting the Oilers to win the pick again.
I hope it all works out for you guys. You can package Yak and your pick to move up to 3rd.
- TML4Life85

Haha it's all good. I figured people would misinterpret that. I was mostly just relieved the Oil didn't get #1. Ideally for me though it woulda been #3 because I'd prob prefer Pulju to Laine. But now I kinda just want them to trade the pick altogether for a solid RHD that can provide immediate help.

Are you saying that they somehow knew before the draw that Leafs were going to get the 1st overall pick? That's some great inside knowledge
- TML4Life85

Nah, im referring to the fact that Shanny refused to mention Mathews specifically when interviewed as if there was any chance they weren't going to take him 1st overall...

The one bright side is that with the first several picks its almost written in stone who to take based on all experts opinions of BPA.
4th pick it seems many believe it should be Tkachuk, but i've also heard people suggest Dubois, Chychrun, or Juolevi. This means while you can still sort of follow the rule of BPA, you may also be able to pick based on need.

Who do you think you guys should go for now and what position do you think is the biggest need for the oil?
- Thecakeisalie

I honestly think Oilers should stay put or move down and get either Juolevi, Sergachev or Chychrun unless they really want to get Puljujarvi but packaging their pick and Yak.

Haha it's all good. I figured people would misinterpret that. I was mostly just relieved the Oil didn't get #1. Ideally for me though it woulda been #3 because I'd prob prefer Pulju to Laine. But now I kinda just want them to trade the pick altogether for a solid RHD that can provide immediate help.
- RonPielep

I think getting #4 is good for the Oilers as far as being able to trade the pick. I didn't think they could if it was 1-3 as easily

Nah, im referring to the fact that Shanny refused to mention Mathews specifically when interviewed as if there was any chance they weren't going to take him 1st overall...
- DeflatedPucks

I see what you mean. It's good to let them assume instead of feeding them what they want. I like his composure. Leafs are in good hands and we haven't been able to say that in a long time

The one bright side is that with the first several picks its almost written in stone who to take based on all experts opinions of BPA.
4th pick it seems many believe it should be Tkachuk, but i've also heard people suggest Dubois, Chychrun, or Juolevi. This means while you can still sort of follow the rule of BPA, you may also be able to pick based on need.

Who do you think you guys should go for now and what position do you think is the biggest need for the oil?
- Thecakeisalie

Honestly the Oil have a lot of young D and a lot of young F. The last thing they need is another 18 year old to jump on with the big club or to wait 3 years for a young D to develop. I'd probably prefer if they tried to trade the pick for immediate help (23-28 yrs of age) on the right side of the blue line.

Otherwise I say take the BPA which to me is Tkachuk but some others I've talked to think Dubois is a better fit.

Fakepartofme will come in tomorrow and be like:

YES!! I knew we would win the lottery, but I didn't wanna jinx it!!
- MCharisma91

He'll also say something like Tkachuk or Puljujarvi is the better player

Haha it's all good. I figured people would misinterpret that. I was mostly just relieved the Oil didn't get #1. Ideally for me though it woulda been #3 because I'd prob prefer Pulju to Laine. But now I kinda just want them to trade the pick altogether for a solid RHD that can provide immediate help.
- RonPielep

But Laine scores more goals and has a deadly shot. I hope you guys somehow land a good RHD, you need one badly. What's out there?

Mattews looked really pissed that the Leafs won the lottery. He will probably refuse to report to the Leafs and demand a trade.
- mooseknuckle

He already has done. We flipped him to Vegas for David Clarkson

We do have a great depth but we want to be more than all right. We want to win and contend every year. So, we need 2 elite centremen and add to our d-core, as well as find a starter when Bernier fcuks off.
- TML4Life85

yeah I agree. THis year will be inconsistent with so many rookies and probably another high pick. By the season after we'll need to package a bunch of our forward depth for a proven 24-26 year old 1st pairing D and find a quality goalie somewhere. Even a Halak, Crawford type would be sufficient. Not ideal, but good enough.