You can twist facts as much as you want, but you're still wrong. It's a stupid argument and not worth anymore responses.
- Scooby_Doo

What" facts" are you referring to?

Edit: Don't get me wrong, I would love us to get a high pick and a shot at Patrick I just don't get to worried about where we pick nor do I want the team to stop Playing hard.

Prefer Vilardi over Mittlestadt if he is available.
- Retinalz

I'm interested why? Lot's of scouts see it that way, just as many don't.

They are similar sized players. One gives up an inch, the other 5 pounds...that's a wash basically... Mittelstadt has insane offensive skills and skating abilities. His ceiling is much higher.

I'd be happy with both... but I think people will regret not taking Mittelstadt once they see him in College.

His 8 team list was:

Golden Seals
KC Scouts
Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Flames
Quebec Nordiques
Cleveland Barons
Minnesota North Stars
Hartford Whalers
- Nighthawk

How the (frank) does the NHL let them get away with that? Disgusting... if it were not rigged, it would be justified to void his NTC over that.

How the (frank) does the NHL let them get away with that? Disgusting... if it were not rigged, it would be justified to void his NTC over that.
- boonerbuck

likely something they didnt count on happening when they made the CBA. They were already up to their ears in details.

Teams with top 5 picks since 2007

Edmonton 6
NY I 5
Toronto 4
Florida 4
WPG/Atlanta 3
Columbus 3
Colorado 3
Tampa 3
LA 3
Buffalo 2
Arizona 2
Carolina 2
Vancouver 1
Calgary 1
Nashville 1
Montreal 1
New Jersey 1
Boston 1
St Louis 1
Chicago 1
Washington 1
Philadelphia 1

Not sure if all those top 5 picks are as important as some on here believe.
- Reubenkincade

All about the quality & how the pieces fit together.
Can also say teams can draft well beyond the top 5 picks.

Teams with top 5 picks since 2007

Edmonton 6
NY I 5
Toronto 4
Florida 4
WPG/Atlanta 3
Columbus 3
Colorado 3
Tampa 3
LA 3
Buffalo 2
Arizona 2
Carolina 2
Vancouver 1
Calgary 1
Nashville 1
Montreal 1
New Jersey 1
Boston 1
St Louis 1
Chicago 1
Washington 1
Philadelphia 1

Not sure if all those top 5 picks are as important as some on here believe.
- Reubenkincade

Well there are those who would say look worked for the Kings and Bolts. As for the others at the top there they'd praise the young talent and say they are on their way lol.

So now that Canucks got one of Florida's, Guddy, to go with OJ that makes two. One more we got the Kings magic number. Cup here we come lol.

There is a lot of emphasis on top 5 picks with desires for having the team fail. Quality picks is the key thoughout the draft. Make your first rounder count. It doesn't have to be a top 5. Yes, a 1OA generational player makes all the diffennce but how many of those come along. With the lotto it's even more unpredictable who moves up or down. Nice if Nucks move up for better options. Just not necessary.

Anyway all tools should be used to rebuild this club. Trades now at TDL could help. College Free agents next. Then after that placement of the ping Pomg balls. Get them Pom Poms out

Top 6C & 6LW r glaring needs.
1 in the 1st rd prolly a C.
Is their trade out there to be had for a LW?
Sabres have Kane & Nylander so any of our D fetch 1?
After the expansion draft maybe Tanev or EG idk.
Drouin also on my wish list 😂😂

Seriously though i'd say JB hunting for a LW sounds bang on.

2018 LW UFA's

Nash
Sedin
Kane
Neal
JVR

Nice group all in all when Tavares is up for a UFA.
Nothing to speak of for 2017 except RFA LW's.
2017 is a crappy UFA pool. 2018 though could be interesting.
So we tread water & play it smart & save cap room & with a lil luck from our prospects we could be a player in the UFA frenzy providing it makes sense.
If the timing is not right we continue status quo building up from within.
If our D corps can continue improving & in goal we r solid then we may afford ourselves a legit UFA signing. Expectations of the prospects development is high but within reason if the team works hard collectively.

You just named 18 players dating back to the 2002 draft, Duncan Keith, at 210 kids drafted a year you just named the 1% of 2000+ (2940) kids taken since then he was referring to. Truthfully it's probably more around 10%, but who's counting

Seven of the players you named are from the 2003 draft, arguably the strongest draft in NHL history.

There's good players, impactful players, taken throughout the draft, however, it's a proven fact the majority of the best players come from the top of the draft.
- LeftCoaster

I love it when the JB apologists come out and try to defend mediocrity.

I love it when the JB apologists come out and try to defend mediocrity.
- bloatedmosquito

I am sure he doesn't care one bit when he polishes his Stanley Cup ring every morning

I am sure he doesn't care one bit when he polishes his Stanley Cup ring every morning
- VANTEL

Morning Vantel....workin today?

Thanks for the post, one thing though regarding Hansen, "From a pure hockey point of view, Hansen would be a nice add for a playoff team—he has good speed, good hands" Hansen has no-hands he will be known to me as No hands forever.

Thanks for the post, one thing though regarding Hansen, "From a pure hockey point of view, Hansen would be a nice add for a playoff team—he has good speed, good hands" Hansen has no-hands he will be known to me as No hands forever.
- Leo_Union

He's gotten better, the hands and feet work together better now than they ever have. A good depth player with value on a good contract with one year left. I hope they move him and he gave them an opportunity to make it happen.

I am sure he doesn't care one bit when he polishes his Stanley Cup ring every morning
- VANTEL

Reubenkincade's got a Stanley Cup ring?

Thanks for the post, one thing though regarding Hansen, "From a pure hockey point of view, Hansen would be a nice add for a playoff team—he has good speed, good hands" Hansen has no-hands he will be known to me as No hands forever.
- Leo_Union

You don't need Hansen. You've got my buddy Bracken playing for you tonight.

You just named 18 players dating back to the 2002 draft, Duncan Keith, at 210 kids drafted a year you just named the 1% of 2000+ (2940) kids taken since then he was referring to. Truthfully it's probably more around 10%, but who's counting

Seven of the players you named are from the 2003 draft, arguably the strongest draft in NHL history.

There's good players, impactful players, taken throughout the draft, however, it's a proven fact the majority of the best players come from the top of the draft.
- LeftCoaster

Everybody always looks at the 10 players each draft that become decent players. Not the 200 that don't.

Hockey dB. Com at the bottom of every draft has a bunch of stats like average games, points average of the draft class. You can also sort of goals assists and points columns. Crazy to look back and see that Hutton at 40 points is like 50th in scoring from the 2012 draft. Most thinks he's garbage but at this rate he would have been a 2nd rounder.

Reubenkincade's got a Stanley Cup ring?
- bloatedmosquito

Mediocre post😜

Morning Vantel....workin today?
- LeftCoaster

Yup leaving in 15

Yup leaving in 15
- VANTEL

Have a good day, we can debate tonight

Have a good day, we can debate tonight
- LeftCoaster

Pens acquire Hainsey for a second. So much for Sbisa to Pens

Everybody always looks at the 10 players each draft that become decent players. Not the 200 that don't.

Hockey dB. Com at the bottom of every draft has a bunch of stats like average games, points average of the draft class. You can also sort of goals assists and points columns. Crazy to look back and see that Hutton at 40 points is like 50th in scoring from the 2012 draft. Most thinks he's garbage but at this rate he would have been a 2nd rounder.
- manvanfan

As I said in my post, there's good players taken through the draft, Hutton is an example of that. From my perspective you need star players to win, thus my wanting them to draft as high as they can, because the majority of them come from there...not all, but the majority.

Boston won a Cup by picking impactful players like Lucic and Marchand in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, you can throw Krejci in there two. Those guys were major contributors to their success, not the only ones but a part.

In the salary cap era building thru the draft is more important than ever, I think Benning realizes that and you're going to see him go that way...hopefully.

pittsburg trades for haisey for kristo and a 2nd...dominoes

i lag behind

pittsburg trades for haisey for kristo and a 2nd...dominoes

i lag behind
- onesmallleap

S...L...O...W

S...L...O...W
- LeftCoaster

but but but i added the Kristo part

on another note the value of a 35 yr old on his way out and the value of a 27 yr old in his prime yrs should give us hope for what might possible to get for him if JB decided to move him