I’ll take the sieve for three more years at $5.5M over the traffic cone for seven years at $8.5M (with a NMC too). A bit of crap taco vs turd sandwich - but at least LA woke up and cut their loses from PLD. They gave up a lot of assets to ultimately end up with Kuemper. I have no idea what WSH thinks is going to be a different outcome with this guy?
- Chief4Feathers

The thought of getting a big, mean, skilled centerman is near impossible to pass up. How many warning flags have been around PLD yet another, then another, then another organIzation takes a chance on him.

Big top 6 centerman with skill and RS 1st pairing Dmen that have size, can skate and are skilled have always had a line around the block courting them and always will.

The thought of getting a big, mean, skilled centerman is near impossible to pass up. How many warning flags have been around PLD yet another, then another, then another organIzation takes a chance on him.

Big top 6 centerman with skill and RS 1st pairing Dmen that have size, can skate and are skilled have always had a line around the block courting them and always will.
- Mr Ricochet

Ya, GMs get stupid when power forwards are involved. Usually the first guys in line to get bought out.

Michkov falling to #7 is all the example I need of to substantiate the "Russian Factor". Hockey people who's mortgage is paid by an NHL organIzation pass on a Russian kid much better than they end up drafting is substantiating the "Russian Factor".

Same with Miroshenko going to WSH with the 20ish pick.

Love the Kaprizov example. This is how you draft Russians. Risk 2nd, 3rd rd picks on Russians not top 5 guys, like Kaprizov and Kancerov. And of course, like Kaprizov, you may have to wait 5 yrs for the kid but that's ok if he's not a top half of the 1st rd pick.

"Russian Factor" is BS? Ask MTL, who with the fifth took Reinbacher with Michkov on the board if there is a Russian Factor. ...... As we all have heard since we were little, actions speak loader than words.
- Mr Ricochet

He fell to 7 because he told teams during his interviews that he only wanted to play for Philly. Believe it or not. Name one highly touted Russian prospect that hasn't come to the NHL?

Ya, that looks horrible when you think of what LA gave up for PLD now Kuemper
- wizardofi

This is (frank)ing great, opens up the door to sign Reinhart so they can trade him the following season because he under performs

No, it wasn't a poke at you, it was at VB
- wizardofi

I didn't deny they were true, just said i never heard of the goalie not being allowed to come over, or never heard of a Russian that couldn't play in a playoff series cause of passport or greencard or whatever paperwork. I did say i do remember this being an issue after trade deadline (like when Stan made that awful Danault trade). Sometimes work and life take precedent over this board and i miss things.

I did here about Michov's dad, just never heard he was killed by Putin's clan cause his kid wanted to play in the NHL instead of the KHL.

Ya, that looks horrible when you think of what LA gave up for PLD now Kuemper
- wizardofi

Ya but they course corrected, admitted their mistake, made the situation better. Very important moves required to keep a rebuild going and not crashing it. Fixed a mistake. The bad GMs are the ones that keep that player for 4 more years rather than admit a mistake

I'm saying there is, or can be, funk in drafting a Russian and some organIzations and GMs, for varying reasons, have more or less tolerance for funk/risk.

Michkov was talked about in the same breath as Bedard, you tell me why he fell to SEVEN. We can't know for sure and that is a variable of the Russian Factor.
- Mr Ricochet

Outside of Celebrini, it seems like this entire draft is filled with doubt/risk. Are you really able to minimize it by concentrating on the handedness or size of a player?

Ya but they course corrected, admitted their mistake, made the situation better. Very important moves required to keep a rebuild going and not crashing it. Fixed a mistake. The bad GMs are the ones that keep that player for 4 more years rather than admit a mistake
- vabeachbear

True but it doesn't look good when he traded Iafallo, Vilardi, Kupari and the 37th overall for one year of PLD and then basically gave him away.

True but it doesn't look good when he traded Iafallo, Vilardi, Kupari and the 37th overall for one year of PLD and then basically gave him away.
- BetweenTheDots

Sure, but you either let it fester and get worse, or move on. Yeah, doesn’t look good. Can’t let it continue to drag the club down.

True but it doesn't look good when he traded Iafallo, Vilardi, Kupari and the 37th overall for one year of PLD and then basically gave him away.
- BetweenTheDots

I get it. But fixing it will be a big positive down the road, and the best executives admit mistakes and fix them.

How stupid is Washington. PLD have total no movement kick in if finals goes to 7th game cause of timing.

They should have been able to get a kings ransom for taking that contract at this point.

Unbelievable. Like someone said, there's always a fool of a GM to take advantage of.

Ya but they course corrected, admitted their mistake, made the situation better. Very important moves required to keep a rebuild going and not crashing it. Fixed a mistake. The bad GMs are the ones that keep that player for 4 more years rather than admit a mistake
- vabeachbear

Absolutely. Every organIzation makes mistakes but not every one will admit to them, fix them, cut their losses and move on. ..........  That said 25 yr old PLD has a lotta hockey left in him and when he decides to win he will go beast mode like only a few can.

Outside of Celebrini, it seems like this entire draft is filled with doubt/risk. Are you really able to minimize it by concentrating on the handedness or size of a player?
- Chunk

Very few players ever drafted didn't have doubt or risk. That's inherent when projecting 17/18 yr olds. ... That said you can still minimize risk, Not sure your point about size and handedness when it comes to doing that.

I didn't deny they were true, just said i never heard of the goalie not being allowed to come over, or never heard of a Russian that couldn't play in a playoff series cause of passport or greencard or whatever paperwork. I did say i do remember this being an issue after trade deadline (like when Stan made that awful Danault trade). Sometimes work and life take precedent over this board and i miss things.

I did here about Michov's dad, just never heard he was killed by Putin's clan cause his kid wanted to play in the NHL instead of the KHL.
- vabeachbear

The Flyer goalie, Fedotov, was not allowed to come over due to him not serving in the military for one year. This site explains things better as there are contract issues as well

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...oins-philadelphia-flyers/

Michkov's dad's death is still being investigated

True but it doesn't look good when he traded Iafallo, Vilardi, Kupari and the 37th overall for one year of PLD and then basically gave him away.
- BetweenTheDots

The only thing that matters that looks good, or bad, is a squad's record. LA took a swing while an aging Doughty and Kopitar are still viable, made the playoffs and lost to the WC champs.

Decided PLD wasn't the guy they hoped he'd be, fixed their mistake and moved him. IMO a tidy piece of work on all counts.

Very few players ever drafted didn't have doubt or risk. That's inherent when projecting 17/18 yr olds. ... That said you can still minimize risk, Not sure your point about size and handedness when it comes to doing that.
- Mr Ricochet

Like someone said about the draft, it's like hiring high schools students in hopes they will be able to be viable workers for you after they finish college.

The only thing that matters that looks good, or bad, is a squad's record. LA took a swing while an aging Doughty and Kopitar are still viable, made the playoffs and lost to the WC champs.

Decided PLD wasn't the guy they hoped he'd be, fixed their mistake and moved him. IMO a tidy piece of work on all counts.
- Mr Ricochet

Well they got rid of their mistake, wonder how they are going to fix it. It'll be interesting but I'm thinking they are going to over spend on some free agent.

It'll be funny if PLD performs well this season for the Caps.

Well they got rid of their mistake, wonder how they are going to fix it. It'll be interesting but I'm thinking they are going to over spend on some free agent.

It'll be funny if PLD performs well this season for the Caps.
- BetweenTheDots

Well they now can sign Matt Roy, they probably will just move Byfield back to center.

The Flyer goalie, Fedotov, was not allowed to come over due to him not serving in the military for one year. This site explains things better as there are contract issues as well

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...oins-philadelphia-flyers/

Michkov's dad's death is still being investigated
- wizardofi

Thanks for sharing that link, wizard........ Love this all the way around. Fedotov is a swing in the 7th rd and if he never made it over no biggie. 7 yrs later here he is, playing good hockey and Philly didn't risk a 1st rd pick.

Philly wants Fedotov and "does what's needed" to bring him over. Nothing at all wrong with this template and it was done with minimal risk.

The only thing that matters that looks good, or bad, is a squad's record. LA took a swing while an aging Doughty and Kopitar are still viable, made the playoffs and lost to the WC champs.

Decided PLD wasn't the guy they hoped he'd be, fixed their mistake and moved him. IMO a tidy piece of work on all counts.
- Mr Ricochet

Yeah… I wouldn’t use the word “tidy” to describe how LA handled their PLD adventure. They disregarded his history, committed considerable resources to acquire him, he didn’t perform anywhere near expectations (again), decided one year was all they needed to see to move on from him, and by the grace of God found another organization stupid enough to yet again roll the dice on him.

I get what you’re saying about kudos to them for admitting the mistake and acting accordingly - but really - it’s a mistake they should have never made in the first place. The problems with PLD was/is no mystery. Blake crapped the bed on this one.

Well they now can sign Matt Roy, they probably will just move Byfield back to center.
- LAHawk

Don't they still need to sign/ trade for a goalie?

Yeah… I wouldn’t use the word “tidy” to describe how LA handled their PLD adventure. They disregarded his history, committed considerable resources to acquire him, he didn’t perform anywhere near expectations (again), decided one year was all they needed to see to move on from him, and by the grace of God found another organization stupid enough to yet again roll the dice on him.

I get what you’re saying about kudos to them for admitting the mistake and acting accordingly - but really - it’s a mistake they should have never made in the first place. The problems with PLD was/is no mystery. Blake crapped the bed on this one.
- Chief4Feathers

Yes. And one of the developments I look forward to this summer is to find out who craps the bed for Laine.

Thanks for sharing that link, wizard........ Love this all the way around. Fedotov is a swing in the 7th rd and if he never made it over no biggie. 7 yrs later here he is, playing good hockey and Philly didn't risk a 1st rd pick.

Philly wants Fedotov and "does what's needed" to bring him over. Nothing at all wrong with this template and it was done with minimal risk.
- Mr Ricochet

In the old days in Russia, the players would have to play for Moscow Red Army for a year as their military requirement with some basic training when the season was over.

I know Twitter is loving the Devils trade for Markstrom, is it really a good idea to trade for a goalie who's going to be 35 next season and your defense is a bunch of young pups?

Don't they still need to sign/ trade for a goalie?
- BetweenTheDots

They now have Kemper and Rittich as the top 2, and Eric Portillo learning his craft in Ontario. It was just a few years back that Kuemper was a top 10 goalie in the league. But he won’t be worse than Talbot.

Yes. And one of the developments I look forward to this summer is to find out who craps the bed for Laine.
- MartiniMan

Yep, buyer beware.