I will go ahead and predict the Stanley Cup match up

Florida vs Dallas

I am not totally confidant Dallas upends the Avalanche

I am unsure that Florida can stop the NYR as either team a strong argument for them to advance is meritorious. In fact the Vegas oddsmakers should have a very close betting line

Anyone not concur? What would be your reasons why?
- jhawk59

Nope Rags will be in finals and win the cup. I don't believe in a lot of fate stuff, but if you look at the 1994 NY sports comparison to this year, its amazing. After Krieder scored a hat trick in one period to secure a win and a series win matching what Messier did in that same cup year, I'm no longer doubting fate

Can't take Lindstrom, he's had 3 broken legs, a collapsed lung, and mole removed and that's just in the last 2 weeks.

Stay away from injury prone players (unless they drop to #20)

- vabeachbear

Let me guess, he’s broken his left knee, his right knee and his wee knee?

My post was in response to scott
- LFS

Indeed, but I’m sleep deprived and didn’t bother to read the entire post. 😂

one guy set a record for NCAA d-man. the other didn't. One guy's compete meter is never off and the other is inconsistent. One guy was defending the lead in the championship game and the other wasn't there.


One thinks the game at a really high level and the other has many question about his hockey IQ

So, yes. Give the first one.

He also isn't slower than leshunov.
- Elbows15

Knowing quicker where to go makes a guy much quicker that he might really be. Hockey IQ is huge. I've never seen these guys play, but if what you say is correct then I would agree.

Nope Rags will be in finals and win the cup. I don't believe in a lot of fate stuff, but if you look at the 1994 NY sports comparison to this year, its amazing. After Krieder scored a hat trick in one period to secure a win and a series win matching what Messier did in that same cup year, I'm no longer doubting fate
- vabeachbear

Like a runaway train that cannot be stopped the NYR will win The Holy Grail! You say

And this was my hardest choice and I mentioned I might have the Cup prediction wrong.

Certainly the NYR just have the difference makers and they are very deep. Lagrange is a playoff performer and while 49 regular season goals Panarin and some others haven’t been huge so far in the playoffs, Kreider sure is unstoppable The stoppable goaltender, Shesterkin, won’t let them loose so who is going to refute this combination?

Two more tough series ahead but NYR prevail

Wonder if the they are the Vegas odds favorite?

It would be great if Toronto hires JC as HC.
- boilermaker100

The press conference will be great. Harry potter at the podium talking about going deep into the playoffs. Only to have the Loafs knocked out again in the 1st round.

What you give up totally depends on if you could resign him. As a 1 year rental his value is much lower. In fact it might not even be consistent with KD's rebuild plan.

Knowing quicker where to go makes a guy much quicker that he might really be. Hockey IQ is huge. I've never seen these guys play, but if what you say is correct then I would agree.
- 6628

The only issue for me is I've seen a few highlights where he skates backwards kind of slow, clips of him getting beat wide vs college players.

The only issue for me is I've seen a few highlights where he skates backwards kind of slow, clips of him getting beat wide vs college players.
- BetweenTheDots

KD has no choice but to draft Buium, anyone else will certainly be a bust.

KD has no choice but to draft Buium, anyone else will certainly be a bust.
- paulr

In broad paint strokes, Dman at 2 and W/C at 20..

The press conference will be great. Harry potter at the podium talking about going deep into the playoffs. Only to have the Loafs knocked out again in the 1st round.
- BGKarras

But will Marner or Tavarez (or both) adorn new uniforms next season?

They should trade Marner and his conract to Chicago for puck moving dman Kaiser with Chicago retaining half the salary hit/cap

Then Chicago trades up a few spots in round one by giving Marner to anyone (how about Philly.but their pick is too early). Chicago retains half the salary hit and Toronto the other half. So Marner traded twice and his "old teams" pay hus salary/absorb cap hit. KD can then gamble on drafting Yaremchuk or Eiserman. Lindstrom will be gone which is good because I am afraid to draft him and Demidov.

We would have some top prospects to put with our first in '25 if we want to pursue Bedsrd's cousin or Celebrini.

Could you imagine top two lines next Dr add one with Bedard the other Celebrini? Keep Hayes and whomever else (not likely we have to trade both Nazar and O Moore) to get Celebrini.

So, how would everyone feel if the Hawks go with either 2 D-men, or two forwards with their first rounders this year? I’d guess there would be less issue with the two forwards, but just curious.
- Chunk

I’d rather they draft one of each, however whatever route they take is fine by me. They just need to keep adding darts, high end darts…

Bill's suggestion of Brunckie could be a good one. And by the time he would be ready anyway Jones would be over 30.

If the skating and skill are there and he just isn't producing massive numbers because his team is very bad then that would be worth a flier I think.

They have 3 seconds may as well swing for the fences with at least 2 of them.

Karlsson is a dynamic player that can impact the game in very special ways. I don't think his defensive game is as bad as people make it out to be. I think the bigger issue would be getting caught up playing a 4th forward and being overly aggressive but thats kind of why you have that player.

I'd prefer an overall player like Heiskanen that is excellent all over the ice but an org like Pittsburg that is desperate is going to take what they can get. Also Dubas makes a lot of Stans later decision look genius. If you need a good laugh check out his trade history.

But will Marner or Tavarez (or both) adorn new uniforms next season?

They should trade Marner and his conract to Chicago for puck moving dman Kaiser with Chicago retaining half the salary hit/cap

Then Chicago trades up a few spots in round one by giving Marner to anyone (how about Philly.but their pick is too early). Chicago retains half the salary hit and Toronto the other half. So Marner traded twice and his "old teams" pay hus salary/absorb cap hit. KD can then gamble on drafting Yaremchuk or Eiserman. Lindstrom will be gone which is good because I am afraid to draft him and Demidov.

We would have some top prospects to put with our first in '25 if we want to pursue Bedsrd's cousin or Celebrini.

Could you imagine top two lines next Dr add one with Bedard the other Celebrini? Keep Hayes and whomever else (not likely we have to trade both Nazar and O Moore) to get Celebrini.
- jhawk59

Lot of gymnastics going on here jhawk. We got the prize in Bedard franchise player, we have a very pleasant surprise in a shut down defenseman, who you need in the playoffs. Let it happen organically j, as I've said before its the accumulation of depth that is going to be our weapon in the future. Because of this accumulation of talent drafted in the top 3 rounds i don't doubt we see 4 to 8 studs emerge when all said and done. Throw in a ton of know how to play on the right side of the puck, good skaters with an itch they can't scratch players good things in the near future will begin to happen.

Let me guess, he’s broken his left knee, his right knee and his wee knee?
- paulr

I stay away from back problems at 17. All the other stuff, no problem.

Knowing quicker where to go makes a guy much quicker that he might really be. Hockey IQ is huge. I've never seen these guys play, but if what you say is correct then I would agree.
- 6628

So buium is the bpa after celebrini?! Wow.

In broad paint strokes, Dman at 2 and W/C at 20..
- Beaver-Warrior

Makes sense more than other scenarios

So, how would everyone feel if the Hawks go with either 2 D-men, or two forwards with their first rounders this year? I’d guess there would be less issue with the two forwards, but just curious.
- Chunk

If they believe they were the best available players I'm good with whatever they do.

Makes sense more than other scenarios
- jhawk59

Best player on their board at #2. Best player on their board at #20.

He will get his chance chance with Hatfield and others butr tehy have to want to miss the playoffs and come.

Taking a defenseman long shot, conseravtive or hoe run swing means they really have to get more forwards at the mercy of the draft.


A fine tactic in a defense-heavy draft...BUT...the last defense heavy draft, in 2008 (Kyle beach) STILL have defenseman playing, Vancouver's Tyler myers, Doughty, karlsson, Pietrangelo, Luke schenn, Erik Karlsson STILL PLAYING...tells me, can they select the guy who stays around?
Can they pull a different sort than their current supply?

Who says the defense part of this drfat starts this early?
Only the persons NOT making the selections!
- wiz1901

Thats kind of the crux of it. This could be one of those years it makes these experts look real dumb. The top 12 after Celebrini could get drafted in whatever the opposite of the consensus order is.

It could go (from 2). Eiserman, Iginla, Lindstrom, Demidov, Buium

Just as easily as it could go. Demidov, Leschnov, Buium, D1ckinson

Or Lindstom, Demidov, Eiserman, Other Russian Winger, Helenius

It's kinda goofy how little stands out between picks 2-14. Most of them aren't going to suck so I guess thats the biggest upside.

Only one defender may go in the top 9. And then if there's a rush to grab these big toolsy guys - probably going to be another not sucking forward at 20.

Hmm. If his medicals are fine, maybe but I don't think his ceiling is as high as some think. His sample size is real small. I would like it better if he had a whole season of productions.
- Elbows15

I think it's the toolset thing and hope you can develop him in 2 years. (certainly going back to juniors for another full season)

A guy that size, that can move that well, with what appears to be a NHL quality shot and even though he's bigger than everyone else - unlike some of the other bigger prospects we've seen he at least has the gumption to beat up on the lil kids.

Problem is all of these guys have some kinda glaring thing experts are complaining about.

Lindstrom - back, sample size, size in general vs lil guys
Eiserman - attitude (which I like but hockey purists hate), only shoots, doesn't pass good or have vision (kinda sounds like some bullpoop we heard about Bedard)
Demidov - never coming over SKA is gonna F whoever drafts him
Levshunov - good at most things not great at anything other than the size + mobility combo

It's going to be a weird draft.

It would be great if Toronto hires JC as HC.
- boilermaker100

I will go ahead and predict the Stanley Cup match up

Florida vs Dallas

I am not totally confidant Dallas upends the Avalanche

I am unsure that Florida can stop the NYR as either team a strong argument for them to advance is meritorious. In fact the Vegas oddsmakers should have a very close betting line

Anyone not concur? What would be your reasons why?
- jhawk59

Depends on if Dallas can contain Makar. If they shut him down like they did those middle three games then Colorado is in trouble. If he's running rampant then Dallas is gonna have a bad time.

Really tough to win those 3 in a row to close out a series.

The Florida NYR series will come down to which goaler goalers harder. Flip a coin.

After Celebini, there is a reason why the media is focusing on two guys at #2. Demidov is very talented and Levshunov essentially the consensus top dman and which is why you see those two bounce around the #2 and #3 spots. Things get more variable around #4 and #5, but there isn't a clear cut #2 pick.

Things can always change on draft day and people ignore what can be a massive part of the process, which is the combine and the interview process that essentially every team does in some capacity. Who the Hawks have their eyes on today might not be who they choose when the day comes.

I stay away from back problems at 17. All the other stuff, no problem.
- LFS

We have no idea the extent of back problems he has. I’m sure Chicago will do its due diligence and act accordingly.