The fact Ottawa would make that trade is the exact reason Detroit wouldn’t.
- Feds91Stammer

I’m not saying it’s likely, just that it’s not impossible. Some teams might value 2 picks in the top 5-6 range, over the single pick at 1.......especially in this draft, which is just LOADED with elite talent in the 1st rd.

leafs should never have signed marner and should have traded him for a legit 1-2 Dman, they are so front loaded that a Goaltender on a hot streak and they are done if they make the playoffs. Mathews and Marner are overpaid by 2m each and tavares by 1-2m, they have not won any cups, Kane a Toews at least won 3 cups before they got 10.5m and now Chicago is a lottery team because of bad contracts.

Regular season stats are meaningless, its the cup that matters, Mathews can sore 100 goals a year for the next 5 years its all meaningless if the leafs get booted out in the first round if they even make the playoffs.

The leafs are a great teaching tool for the sens on how NOT to build a team...EDM has the same problem but they have a legit generational player in MCDavid but they are a bubble team themselves.
- Athrin

IMO, the player the leafs shouldn’t have signed was Tavares. Not because he isn’t a great player, cuz he is, but because:

1. They already had Matthews and Kadri who are both top 6 centres

2. That deal set the precedent and is what basically forced the leafs to hand out the deals they did to Matthews and Marner. I dont think you’re getting them for 4 mil less in Tavares isn’t there at 11+ mil, but it’s not unreasonable to think that if the leafs didn’t have Tavares at his deal, maybe they get Matthews at 10 and Marner at 9.......plus the cap you’re saving by not having Tavares, which can be re-invested in D

Tavares is a great player, and deserved the deal he got..........but I don’t think the leafs needed him

IMO, the player the leafs shouldn’t have signed was Tavares. Not because he isn’t a great player, cuz he is, but because:

1. They already had Matthews and Kadri who are both top 6 centres

2. That deal set the precedent and is what basically forced the leafs to hand out the deals they did to Matthews and Marner. I dont think you’re getting them for 4 mil less in Tavares isn’t there at 11+ mil, but it’s not unreasonable to think that if the leafs didn’t have Tavares at his deal, maybe they get Matthews at 10 and Marner at 9.......plus the cap you’re saving by not having Tavares, which can be re-invested in D

Tavares is a great player, and deserved the deal he got..........but I don’t think the leafs needed him
- sensarmy_11

I think you are right. If the Leafs win a Stanley Cup behind the leadership of Tavares then we are obviously wrong. But, by signing Tavares the Leafs have fully accellerated their competitive window and raised expectations.

In terms of rebuild the Leafs have done really well. I think they are where they should be. An argument could be made that they are a young team and, perhaps, even ahead of schedule for their rebuild.

But the closing window is further complicated by the lack of CAP space and the inability to make roster changes, to fill holes and compensate for injuries.

I disagree. if a team like Detroit wins the 1st overall, and Ottawa offers them say the 3rd and 6th picks....they HAVE to consider it.

the wings don't have a great prospect pool right now, so adding 2 GREAT prospects, instead of 1 REALLY GREAT one might help them.

Imagine the wings adding something like Drysdale and Rossi, might be worth moving the 1st overall
- sensarmy_11

I see your point. I also can say that it makes sense - "for a team to HAVE to consider it"

I'm just saying that nowadays EVERYONE believes THEIR prospects are much better than what others' think, and vise versa. If Ottawa DID get Drysdale and Rossi, you think Sens fans would want them to trade TWO top prospects for A.L?

It's too much risk and again we don't see it from teams anymore. I can't remember the last time a top 5 pick has been traded within weeks or even months of them being drafted.

I’m not saying it’s likely, just that it’s not impossible. Some teams might value 2 picks in the top 5-6 range, over the single pick at 1.......especially in this draft, which is just LOADED with elite talent in the 1st rd.
- sensarmy_11

Nothing’s impossible, but highly unlikely.

Lafreniere is unreal

Nothing’s impossible, but highly unlikely.

Lafreniere is unreal
- Trilla

There is a significant gap in talent from Lafreniere to the rest of the draft class. I agree that I don't think a team would rather have a 3rd and 5th overall picks (or whatever combo) rather than the 1st overall pick. Would be similar to trading Kane or Stamkos in his draft year for more risky prospects. Def have to think every team wants Lafreniere over quantity.

Nothing’s impossible, but highly unlikely.

Lafreniere is unreal
- Trilla

i can think of a scenario that might be compelling.

let’s pretend Ottawa wins the lottery and the San Jose pick comes in at #5.

Montreal gets the second pick and offers Ottawa that 2nd overall pick plus Romanov (or Caufield) and another quality prospect for the right to draft Lafreniere in Montreal.

So Ottawa finishes the 1st round of the draft with Byfield, Rossi, Romanov and another blue chip prospect like Caulfield. ottawa fans have a huge win. Montreal fans are joyous.

IMO, the player the leafs shouldn’t have signed was Tavares. Not because he isn’t a great player, cuz he is, but because:

1. They already had Matthews and Kadri who are both top 6 centres

2. That deal set the precedent and is what basically forced the leafs to hand out the deals they did to Matthews and Marner. I dont think you’re getting them for 4 mil less in Tavares isn’t there at 11+ mil, but it’s not unreasonable to think that if the leafs didn’t have Tavares at his deal, maybe they get Matthews at 10 and Marner at 9.......plus the cap you’re saving by not having Tavares, which can be re-invested in D

Tavares is a great player, and deserved the deal he got..........but I don’t think the leafs needed him
- sensarmy_11

no, getting tavares was good, because Kadri is a fringe 2C at best more suited to 3C and with tavares they could have traded Marner for a premium 1-2D in their prime, now they have 5 players making close to 50m combined and they have no D to speak of.

no, getting tavares was good, because Kadri is a fringe 2C at best more suited to 3C and with tavares they could have traded Marner for a premium 1-2D in their prime, now they have 5 players making close to 50m combined and they have no D to speak of.
- Athrin

i think your both right in the sense that either option is better than the current situation.

i can think of a scenario that might be compelling.

let’s pretend Ottawa wins the lottery and the San Jose pick comes in at #5.

Montreal gets the second pick and offers Ottawa that 2nd overall pick plus Romanov (or Caufield) and another quality prospect for the right to draft Lafreniere in Montreal.

So Ottawa finishes the 1st round of the draft with Byfield, Rossi, Romanov and another blue chip prospect like Caulfield. ottawa fans have a huge win. Montreal fans are joyous.
- spatso

I still wouldn’t make that deal.

1) like Gord above you just mentioned, Lafreniere is above all in this draft, it’s not close, was never close and those who said it was were just giving a narrative to make the race interesting.
2) no way they make a deal of this magnitude with a divisional rival
3) screw mtl
4) Ottawa’s history of developing Russians hasn’t been so good. This deal wouldn’t work.
5)screw mtl

I still wouldn’t make that deal.

1) like Gord above you just mentioned, Lafreniere is above all in this draft, it’s not close, was never close and those who said it was were just giving a narrative to make the race interesting.
2) no way they make a deal of this magnitude with a divisional rival
3) screw mtl
4) Ottawa’s history of developing Russians hasn’t been so good. This deal wouldn’t work.
5)screw mtl
- Trilla

Everyone loves to think all picks pan out. Simply not the case. Lafreniere may not even pan out, but I'd bank on him being a star the most out of all the draft eligible players. I get this year is a "strong" draft, whatever that means, but if you get the 1st overall pick you hold on to it.

Lots of hockey to be played though for some prospects to close the gap in the draft rankings.

Everyone loves to think all picks pan out. Simply not the case. Lafreniere may not even pan out, but I'd bank on him being a star the most out of all the draft eligible players. I get this year is a "strong" draft, whatever that means, but if you get the 1st overall pick you hold on to it.

Lots of hockey to be played though for some prospects to close the gap in the draft rankings.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I am a huge fan of the draft and love the draft debates.

I am an especially huge fan of Marco Rossi. He has great numbers and has been consistently climbing in the draft charts (Cosentino of Sportsnet has him at #5).

I would do Byfield, Rossi, Romanov and Caulfield as a first round draft profile over Lefreniere plus Rossi.

My thinking is significantly influenced by my belief that Rossi is going to be a star player. His numbers in the OHL (pts/game) are better than Lafreniere in the Q. I am not a huge Byfield fan but many scouts and commentators believe he will be a dominant NHL centre. Romanov is already playing at an elite level in the KHL and Caulfield is a pure sniper but you have to wonder about his size.

So four top picks/prospects coming out of first round drafts/transactions for the Sens and three more picks in the second round. In addition, Sens still have some deadline trades to make.

I am a huge fan of the draft and love the draft debates.

I am an especially huge fan of Marco Rossi. He has great numbers and has been consistently climbing in the draft charts (Cosentino of Sportsnet has him at #5).

I would do Byfield, Rossi, Romanov and Caulfield as a first round draft profile over Lefreniere plus Rossi.

My thinking is significantly influenced by my belief that Rossi is going to be a star player. His numbers in the OHL (pts/game) are better than Lafreniere in the Q. I am not a huge Byfield fan but many scouts and commentators believe he will be a dominant NHL centre. Romanov is already playing at an elite level in the KHL and Caulfield is a pure sniper but you have to wonder about his size.

So four top picks/prospects coming out of first round drafts/transactions for the Sens and three more picks in the second round. In addition, Sens still have some deadline trades to make.
- spatso

It's an intriguing debate for sure and I do think Rossi could be very solid. I also think Byfield has the potential to be a legit #1 centre. I don't know much about Romanov or Caulfield but they could be solid.

In my opinion, you shouldn't pass up on a Lafrienre. I think there might be some differing opinion on how good he actually will be. I think the consensus is a star forward, but how good he will be in that realm is another debate.