I thought Caufield could play center.
- EbonyRaptor

He can, but I see him more as a high scoring wing in the NHL.

Anyone opposed to Spezza on a 1-2 year, low AAV deal?
How’s his defensive responsibility and FO% for a 3C / 4C
- Slofire94

4C no, that's Kampf. 3C, I don't see him as much of an upgrade over Anisimov.

This draft reminds me of 2004 .Byram is Cam Barker ,Cozens is Blake Wheeler .I could be very wrong just the feel I get . I was all caught up in the Barker hype at the time .
- oldduffman

If we're taking 2004 then Caufield would be Ovechkin.

Dzingel plays some center. and AA is career 45% face off guy so he is not really much of a center. I was using them more to show salary. lets use Kevin hayes then.

would CAR or AZ rather give hayes 5.5X6 and have to protect him the EXP draft or AA for 2 X 2.5 knowing they are tight with cash? AA is 45% FO and hayes is 50%
- kmw4631

Maybe it’s just me but I think there’s a bit more to being a decent center than just face offs. Granted FO’s are an important part of the position but I wouldn’t say being 45% at the dot makes him not much of a center!

If we're taking 2004 then Caufield would be Ovechkin.
- DarthKane

Maybe OV leg .I love Caufield ,we could go all in on the smallest team in the league .Have a bunch of water bugs flying around out there .
Maybe since this pick is a huge bonus we should grab Spencer Knight .. Price at 5 was a bit of a shock as I recall ,that worked out well ..

This draft reminds me of 2004 .Byram is Cam Barker ,Cozens is Blake Wheeler .I could be very wrong just the feel I get . I was all caught up in the Barker hype at the time .
- oldduffman

There are a few attributes that are difference makers that take a good player to great or a great player to good - skating is one of those attributes, especially in the modern NHL. Barker was never a great skater. Byram is a great skater.

I am leaning towards taking a center, especially with Wiz's doubts about byram's defensive smarts. Question is Strome went #3 in his draft year, how do the centers eligible this year compare to Strome when he was eligible?
- LAHawk

That is a great question!

Dylan Strome was drafted a slot higher than I though he would be but there as a solid two way game and a solid playmaker in place at the junior level, all in the body of a big man. BUT...even though he has a 200 foot game, his defensive end work was sometimes questioned because he always wanted to make sure he wasn't left out of the attack after transition.
Dach is the comparable to me, b/c he also has really good vision in his set ups and is surprisingly quick to diagnose and find his teammates on the attack.

Not to take anything away from Strome, to me, this class of centres is really good, and just like he was picked (based on upside) many of them can add different elements.

I am not sure if Strome goes any higher than seven or eight if he is in this class but everyone wants the big centres as Barrett Hayton and Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

Another question for Wiz, I didn’t get to see the last USA Worlds game, but it looks like Jack Hughs has yet to make the score sheet through four games. I’m curious if this has any real impact regarding the draft, or have the top three teams already slotted him wherever they’ve slotted him. It’s only one tournament I figure it probably doesn’t matter much, but wonder what your thoughts are on this.
- walleyeb1

he was plying 9-10 m minutes behind Eichel and Larkin...he did get robbed on one beauty...

There are a few attributes that are difference makers that take a good player to great or a great player to good - skating is one of those attributes, especially in the modern NHL. Barker was never a great skater. Byram is a great skater.
- EbonyRaptor

I am going off limited views of Byram and even then I am no expert . Some of the reports I have read say his skating is good in a straight line ,but his agility and ability to pivot needs work . Seems their is some concern about his skating ,and with any player that concerns me

Anyone opposed to Spezza on a 1-2 year, low AAV deal?
How’s his defensive responsibility and FO% for a 3C / 4C
- Slofire94

I am. Hard pass.

Better options out there. Need to stick with the plan to playing faster and better overall team defence.

Tell that to Nashville
- JohnnyHockey19

Nashville doesn't nor never will have forwards like Toews and Kane, hence the 3 cups.

If we're taking 2004 then Caufield would be Ovechkin.
- DarthKane

This whole idea that Caufield is a top 10 pick is an overreaction to ADB not being drafted in the first round. Caufield is no ADB. Caufield had an amazing U-18 tournament but IMO lacks the track record that ADB had when drafted. When drafted, ADB had already played in the OHL on the top line with McDavid. Although I think the US Developmental team is vastly improved over the last decade and is now producing top notch prospects, its still not the OHL. One spectacular tournament should not be the reason to draft Caufield at No. 3.

This whole idea that Caufield is a top 10 pick is an overreaction to ADB not being drafted in the first round. Caufield is no ADB. Caufield had an amazing U-18 tournament but IMO lacks the track record that ADB had when drafted. When drafted, ADB had already played in the OHL on the top line with McDavid. Although I think the US Developmental team is vastly improved over the last decade and is now producing top notch prospects, its still not the OHL. One spectacular tournament should not be the reason to draft Caufield at No. 3.
- hankscorpio

Actually there's reason to believe Caufield is the Ovie. I heard it myself.

I am going off limited views of Byram and even then I am no expert . Some of the reports I have read say his skating is good in a straight line ,but his agility and ability to pivot needs work . Seems their is some concern about his skating ,and with any player that concerns me
- oldduffman

Everything I've read and seen says he's a very good skater, including agility, lateral, edges, etc. The only negative comment I've seen related to skating was wiz commented that he took a tripping penalty in a playoff game because (paraphrasing) "he had trouble pivoting" - but that is a one-off that could happen to anyone - even great skaters. His skating is a major strength - not a question at all.

4C no, that's Kampf. 3C, I don't see him as much of an upgrade over Anisimov.
- DarthKane

Faceoffs be the only upgrade rather a younger player and kampf is ahler or extra forward IMO.

Actually there's reason to believe Caufield is the Ovie. I heard it myself.
- paulr

Is he the Cris Carter of hockey? All he does is score goals.

Lankinen back in net for Finland.

Lankinen back in net for Finland.
- tvetter

Mathias From is playing for Denmark.

Anisimov isn't as bad as people make him out to be. Plus they don't need his contract gone this season anyway. So just move him because some fans don't like him? Ya. Ok.
- GPHawksfan

He isn't as good as some other make him out to be either. He is a passenger more than he makes a difference 80% of the time. The problem with him, is what we get from him isn't enough for him to stay in the top 6 but when he rolls out there with bottom 6 forwards, there isn't much positive happening on the ice. He needs good players to help him or you might as well keep him on the bench.

I am going off limited views of Byram and even then I am no expert . Some of the reports I have read say his skating is good in a straight line ,but his agility and ability to pivot needs work . Seems their is some concern about his skating ,and with any player that concerns me
- oldduffman

He's 17.

All of the 17 / 18 years old players have some kind of development required.

I’m thinking a lot of people female doging about the missed hand pass call are hypocrites.

So let’s say instead of a hand pass there was a blatant trip (or hook, cross check, slash etc) that allowed the Sharks player the time/space/possession needed to advance the puck to his teammate for the game winning goal. There would be plenty of people saying “the refs didn’t want to affect the outcome”, or “Let the players decide it on the ice”, or my favorite “just let them play”. So why the universal outrage at this no -call? All they did is what a seemingly large portion of league fandom wants. They just let them play.

Now I’ve always thought those kind of people were nuts, and that by not making a call that might change the outcome of the game, refs frequently end up changing the outcome of games...which is exactly what happened last night. But why are so many people who would’ve been ok with not calling a trip in that moment be so upset that they didn’t call the hand pass?

Honest question.

I’m thinking a lot of people female doging about the missed hand pass call are hypocrites.

So let’s say instead of a hand pass there was a blatant trip (or hook, cross check, slash etc) that allowed the Sharks player the time/space/possession needed to advance the puck to his teammate for the game winning goal. There would be plenty of people saying “the refs didn’t want to affect the outcome”, or “Let the players decide it on the ice”, or my favorite “just let them play”. So why the universal outrage at this no -call? All they did is what a seemingly large portion of league fandom wants. They just let them play.

Now I’ve always thought those kind of people were nuts, and that by not making a call that might change the outcome of the game, refs frequently end up changing the outcome of games...which is exactly what happened last night. But why are so many people who would’ve been ok with not calling a trip in that moment be so upset that they didn’t call the hand pass?

Honest question.
- Ogilthorpe2

I'm of the mindset that if it's a penalty in the first period, it's a penalty in OT. In this case, I think the refs just missed the hand pass, not that they were letting them play.

I’m thinking a lot of people female doging about the missed hand pass call are hypocrites.

So let’s say instead of a hand pass there was a blatant trip (or hook, cross check, slash etc) that allowed the Sharks player the time/space/possession needed to advance the puck to his teammate for the game winning goal. There would be plenty of people saying “the refs didn’t want to affect the outcome”, or “Let the players decide it on the ice”, or my favorite “just let them play”. So why the universal outrage at this no -call? All they did is what a seemingly large portion of league fandom wants. They just let them play.

Now I’ve always thought those kind of people were nuts, and that by not making a call that might change the outcome of the game, refs frequently end up changing the outcome of games...which is exactly what happened last night. But why are so many people who would’ve been ok with not calling a trip in that moment be so upset that they didn’t call the hand pass?

Honest question.
- Ogilthorpe2

The only logical thing I can think of is that close to all hand passes are called, where trips/hooks are more judgemental.

But I have to get my .02 in - Since the league hates the Blackhawks, and St. Louis is the closest team to them, Bettman is screwing them instead.

I’m thinking a lot of people female doging about the missed hand pass call are hypocrites.

So let’s say instead of a hand pass there was a blatant trip (or hook, cross check, slash etc) that allowed the Sharks player the time/space/possession needed to advance the puck to his teammate for the game winning goal. There would be plenty of people saying “the refs didn’t want to affect the outcome”, or “Let the players decide it on the ice”, or my favorite “just let them play”. So why the universal outrage at this no -call? All they did is what a seemingly large portion of league fandom wants. They just let them play.

Now I’ve always thought those kind of people were nuts, and that by not making a call that might change the outcome of the game, refs frequently end up changing the outcome of games...which is exactly what happened last night. But why are so many people who would’ve been ok with not calling a trip in that moment be so upset that they didn’t call the hand pass?

Honest question.
- Ogilthorpe2

Refs also missed 2 crucial penalties on blues in the 3rd period dog penalty and slashing penalty both should have been called but were missed oh well. refs are human and make mistakes it happens in all sports. plus I think hand passes should be legal as long as it does not intentionally directed into the goal just like the skate rule.

I'm of the mindset that if it's a penalty in the first period, it's a penalty in OT. In this case, I think the refs just missed the hand pass, not that they were letting them play.
- tvetter

That’s not my point though. Why is THIS non-call causing so much angst? Every year, when the playoffs start, there are dozens non-calls that would be obvious penalties in the regular season that affect the outcome of games.

Usually there is a large contingent of fans that are ok with this because they want the refs to “allow the players to decide the outcome of the game”. Yet this particular non-call seems to have struck a universal nerve, including with many of those same people who are normally ok with minimal “interference” from the on-ice officials. A trip or a slash is just as illegal as a hand pass (more so actually as there is no PP awarded as the result of a hand pass) yet many of the people upset with the missed call last night would be less upset if a more serious infraction went uncalled.

I just find it interesting.