I think Benning is getting one or two guys to compete for 4 th line LW energy guy.
- VANTEL

Matt Martin?

I think Benning is getting one or two guys to compete for 4 th line LW energy guy.
- VANTEL

Don't they already have Granlund, Burrows, Dorsett, Etem, Gaunce, Vey, Virtanen and possibly Zalewski trying out for that spot?

Sounds like Damphousse for Glen Anderson & Grant Fuhr
- LeftCoaster

Follow it up with luongo and jokinen for Parrish and kvasha to draft dipietro instead of heatley or gaborik and then the bertuzzi deal, the yashin deal...

So many wasted picks, Baertschi was a win, other than that nothing has really worked.
- LeftCoaster

I dont see the sven trade as a win. Andersson would be our best D prospect.

Says the Edmonton Oilers, until your prospects actually prove they're NHL players, youve got nothing but hope, which doesn't win you games.
- LeftCoaster

playing the odds. 8 picks in the top 100 this year. hopefully a few pan out.

going into a draft with 2 picks in the top 100 doesn't give you much optimism.
.

Matt Martin?
- Nighthawk

I think snow will try and sign him but if he wants too much he'll be available.

He sucks too
- LeftCoaster

He is something I think will happen this year and you will hate it. I see Benning trading for Torey Krug . If fills the 2 nd pair LHD that scores and puts up points.

Krug will be out at the start of next season with hand surgery and Benning is familiar . Don't be surprised to see it happen.

I think it would be JV going back too .

Forwards: Marner, Nylander, Matthews (likely). Maybe JvR, Kadri.
Defense: Rielly, TBD. Gardiner as a decent 2nd line guy.
Goalie: ?

It's a good start, especially given that those three forwards have been nothing short of excellent.
- lumlums

Yes maybe so but lets wait til they hit the show.
As for Gardiner i'm not sold on him as core.

playing the odds. 8 picks in the top 100 this year. hopefully a few pan out.

going into a draft with 2 picks in the top 100 doesn't give you much optimism.
.
- Tumbleweed

Very true. After mathews you guys can add a good D prospect at 31 and a few more d and goalie prospects there after. Zaitsev was also a huge signing.

playing the odds. 8 picks in the top 100 this year. hopefully a few pan out.

going into a draft with 2 picks in the top 100 doesn't give you much optimism.
.
- Tumbleweed

Its about drafting talent not tossing darts or lotto combos 😂😂

Oh come on man, join us.
- LeftCoaster

I have other things on my mind.

Forwards: Marner, Nylander, Matthews (likely). Maybe JvR, Kadri.
Defense: Rielly, TBD. Gardiner as a decent 2nd line guy.
Goalie: ?

It's a good start, especially given that those three forwards have been nothing short of excellent.
- lumlums

So pretty much like Vancouver.

Very true. After mathews you guys can add a good D prospect at 31 and a few more d and goalie prospects there after. Zaitsev was also a huge signing.
- mauryballstein

Yes i liked the Zaitsev signing👍🏻👍🏻

Its about drafting talent not tossing darts or lotto combos 😂😂
- Nighthawk

forecasting player development at 18 is not an easy business. outside the top 10, bound to miss more than you hit.

that said, no excuses. new scouting department and plenty of picks. if they fail to find a few nhler's, then edmonton, here we come.

Yes maybe so but lets wait til they hit the show.
As for Gardiner i'm not sold on him as core.
- Nighthawk

I think that JG will be a serviceable player at a decent price. We also have some very interesting prospects (especially at wing) such as Johnsson, Brown, Soshnikov, Leipsic, Bracco, and on D in Nielson, Carrick, Valiev, Dermott and Zeitsev (who I believe was named Dman of the tournament at the worlds and is a KHL allstar). The key is that there are a large number of players for not many spots; that's a good problem to have.

He is something I think will happen this year and you will hate it. I see Benning trading for Torey Krug . If fills the 2 nd pair LHD that scores and puts up points.

Krug will be out at the start of next season with hand surgery and Benning is familiar . Don't be surprised to see it happen.

I think it would be JV going back too .
- VANTEL

Can't see that but I do suspect Benning to be active this summer. Trading Horvat, Virtanen, Demko, Boeser or Tryamkin is off limits IMO though.

So pretty much like Vancouver.
- VANTEL

With all due respect though, If I have to choose Marner/Nylander/Matthews or Bo/JV/Boeser I take the former group 11 times out of 10.

I think that JG will be a serviceable player at a decent price. We also have some very interesting prospects (especially at wing) such as Johnsson, Brown, Soshnikov, Leipsic, Bracco, and on D in Nielson, Carrick, Valiev, Dermott and Zeitsev (who I believe was named Dman of the tournament at the worlds and is a KHL allstar). The key is that there are a large number of players for not many spots; that's a good problem to have.
- lumlums

Ya if you have 8 picks in the top 100 I would use your other picks to move your 8 picks up higher(minus 1st obv) or even trade them to teams for picks next season. Just to space out some of the ages of guys. Like you said a good problem to have.

Can't see that but I do suspect Benning to be active this summer. Trading Horvat, Virtanen, Demko, Boeser or Tryamkin is off limits IMO though.
- LeftCoaster

I hope so but Virtanens name was mentioned last year as one of the players that felt entitlement.

forecasting player development at 18 is not an easy business. outside the top 10, bound to miss more than you hit.

that said, no excuses. new scouting department and plenty of picks. if they fail to find a few nhler's, then edmonton, here we come.
- Tumbleweed

Yes this is true but also also picking up NHL ready talent using picks makes sense.

I hope so but Virtanens name was mentioned last year as one of the players that felt entitlement.
- VANTEL

He's young, needs to mature, he'll not be traded under any circumstances IMO. I love his game.

With all due respect though, If I have to choose Marner/Nylander/Matthews or Bo/JV/Boeser I take the former group 11 times out of 10.
- lumlums

Really wished we just unloaded guys at the deadline if so we might have stole mathews with a last place finish and you guys might be picking 4th and oil 5th

So pretty much like Vancouver.
- VANTEL

Except for the better prospects thing yes

Really wished we just unloaded guys at the deadline if so we might have stole mathews with a last place finish and you guys might be picking 4th and oil 5th
- mauryballstein

Or you could have finished a couple of places higher, then get bumped to 2nd

I hope so but Virtanens name was mentioned last year as one of the players that felt entitlement.
- VANTEL

I say let him spend the season in Utica to shake that entitlement feeling he has