Could happen ,i think there will be a lot of movement in this years draft as opposed to other years .I could see BB making a play for 1st overall with CLB
- top shelf 15

I could support that decision. Although I think a move up to second or third would be just as good because of the need to take a center.

I could support that decision. Although I think a move up to second or third would be just as good because of the need to take a center.
- spatso

If the Season ended today (and the lottery stayed the same), here's where the teams would be, with what I believe to be their most pressing need in brackets:

Columbus (talent i.e. Yakupov)
Montreal (Forward -probably specifically Centre)
Edmonton (Defense)
Minnesota (Forward)
NY Islanders (Defense)
Toronto (Forward - Definitely Centre)

Here's (approximately) the top ranked skaters:
Yakupov
Grigorenko
Murray
Galchenyuk
Forsberg
Dumba

Conclusion: If the leafs and Oilers were to swap picks, Toronto might get Grigorenko (purportedly the best C in the draft, who Montreal also purportedly doesn't like), but Edmonton won't get Murray (he won't get past New York). This means that Edmonton could be inclined to ask for more to swap with Toronto (either to make up for not getting Murray, or to provide assets to flip to New York in exchange for their pick/not taking Murray). However, If Toronto passes New York and ends up #5 overall, you might see fans of both teams pulling for a mutually beneficial trade.

the reshaping of Filatov. LOL. He still can't hack it in the NHL.
- prock

For once you're right on this one. Never thought his acquisition would work out.

For once you're right on this one. Never thought his acquisition would work out.
- Doppleganger

Not that it was a bad trade. For the price of a third, it’s a chance even I would have taken as a GM. Low risk, high potential reward. But it was a hail mary type chance of working out.

I would've been happy if the Leafs took a chance with Filatov at that price. Tons of talent but he does not have a winning attitude which probably cost him an NHL career.

Not that it was a bad trade. For the price of a third, it’s a chance even I would have taken as a GM. Low risk, high potential reward. But it was a hail mary type chance of working out.
- prock

But anyone with 20 20 vision, who watched him play, knew he would never ever really apply himself fully to an NHL career. He's made for the KHL, and so be it.

Schenn is going to be fantastic next season. A step down from last season but he;s still only 22.

I hope he drops some weight over the summer.
- RogerRoeper

Perhaps now that Schenn has been traded for Van Riemsdyk, and away from the media spotlight in toronto, he may well become the player he was projected to be.

But, did the leafs get equal value in return? Are the leafs going to convert Van Riemsdyk to center? Will that fill the need there?

But anyone with 20 20 vision, who watched him play, knew he would never ever really apply himself fully to an NHL career. He's made for the KHL, and so be it.
- Doppleganger

I’m not arguing the kid has no motivation. Sometimes a good kick in the butt can wake them up. You would think getting traded for a third round pick would kind of clue someone in, that they may have to smarten up.

Apparently that’s not enough of a wakeup call for Filatov.

Perhaps now that Schenn has been traded for Van Riemsdyk, and away from the media spotlight in toronto, he may well become the player he was projected to be.

But, did the leafs get equal value in return? Are the leafs going to convert Van Riemsdyk to center? Will that fill the need there?
- Doppleganger

I don’t think it was a lopsided trade in either direction.

Perhaps now that Schenn has been traded for Van Riemsdyk, and away from the media spotlight in toronto, he may well become the player he was projected to be.

But, did the leafs get equal value in return? Are the leafs going to convert Van Riemsdyk to center? Will that fill the need there?
- Doppleganger

Schenn just needs time. I don't really think it matters where he plays, he's just still learning the game. He'll become more consistent over time. I'm not sure many shutdown dmen come into form before they're 25. Schenn was only 21 entering last season.

I think JVR is fair value too. Both are young, both were drafted high, and both have a lot of potential.

Schenn just needs time. I don't really think it matters where he plays, he's just still learning the game. He'll become more consistent over time. I'm not sure many shutdown dmen come into form before they're 25. Schenn was only 21 entering last season.

I think JVR is fair value too. Both are young, both were drafted high, and both have a lot of potential.
- daeth

There is a bit of inherent disappointment in it, for Leaf fans, however. When you look at it, they’re both high picks that had been underperforming, JVR even higher a pick than Schenn. I’m not a fan of JVR though, I don’t think he was worthy of his draft position, and never did. After Schenn’s rookie season, the hopes were that the Leafs had themselves a stud dman that they could build around for many many years. So, while it’s not a lopsided traded, that it even came to that makes it a disappointing outcome.

There is a bit of inherent disappointment in it, for Leaf fans, however. When you look at it, they’re both high picks that had been underperforming, JVR even higher a pick than Schenn. I’m not a fan of JVR though, I don’t think he was worthy of his draft position, and never did. After Schenn’s rookie season, the hopes were that the Leafs had themselves a stud dman that they could build around for many many years. So, while it’s not a lopsided traded, that it even came to that makes it a disappointing outcome.
- prock

That more or less sums it up.

I Think the LS/JVR was pretty even. Schenn's value was at an all-time low, JVR was behind some good players in Philly. At this point I would trust the Philly draft pick over a Toronto one.

I like the trade

Perhaps now that Schenn has been traded for Van Riemsdyk, and away from the media spotlight in toronto, he may well become the player he was projected to be.

But, did the leafs get equal value in return? Are the leafs going to convert Van Riemsdyk to center? Will that fill the need there?
- Doppleganger

Schenn lived up to my expectations. What defensive D-Men hit their prime at 21, 22?

Guys are hailed as "Busts" way too fast in Toronto.

I’m not arguing the kid has no motivation. Sometimes a good kick in the butt can wake them up. You would think getting traded for a third round pick would kind of clue someone in, that they may have to smarten up.

Apparently that’s not enough of a wakeup call for Filatov.
- prock

i still don't think he got a fair shake in ottawa as with columbus. but at the end of the day he needed to work harder to play in the nhl and its just not in his nature.

Schenn lived up to my expectations. What defensive D-Men hit their prime at 21, 22?

Guys are hailed as "Busts" way too fast in Toronto.
- RogerRoeper

knowing that and the state of the team when he came to the nhl you would think that leaf management would send him back and develop more.

knowing that and the state of the team when he came to the nhl you would think that leaf management would send him back and develop more.
- sens rock

I agree. Burke has said if he was GM at the start of Schenn's first season, he would have sent him down. He doesn't rush guys. Look at Bobby Ryan.

knowing that and the state of the team when he came to the nhl you would think that leaf management would send him back and develop more.
- sens rock

I'm not a fan of playing ANY players at the age of 18, unless you're a top team and that player can play a solid role.

I'm not a fan of playing ANY players at the age of 18, unless you're a top team and that player can play a solid role.
- prock

I don't care what calibre of team they play for. I just care if management puts the player before their job or ticket sales. In toronto JFJ used schenn as a safeguard for his job which is wrong. it may not hurt schenn in the long run but it wasn't the best for his development at the time.

I don't care what calibre of team they play for. I just care if management puts the player before their job or ticket sales. In toronto JFJ used schenn as a safeguard for his job which is wrong. it may not hurt schenn in the long run but it wasn't the best for his development at the time.
- sens rock

Point being, if you've got a shot at the cup, and Seguin is the kind of kid that can put you over the top, you do it.

I don't care what calibre of team they play for. I just care if management puts the player before their job or ticket sales. In toronto JFJ used schenn as a safeguard for his job which is wrong. it may not hurt schenn in the long run but it wasn't the best for his development at the time.
- sens rock

JFJ was gone before Schenn arrived.

Point being, if you've got a shot at the cup, and Seguin is the kind of kid that can put you over the top, you do it.
- prock

ya but there is nothing wrong with guys like hall, rnh, skinner, etc playing either. good GM's do what is best for the franchise longterm, not what is best for their job at the time.

JFJ was gone before Schenn arrived.
- burn

Yeah that was Fletcher. And maybe Paul Maurice?

JFJ was gone before Schenn arrived.
- burn

sorry, so it was fletcher i guess?

ya but there is nothing wrong with guys like hall, rnh, skinner, etc playing either. good GM's do what is best for the franchise longterm, not what is best for their job at the time.
- sens rock

In most cases, I don't feel playing these kids at 18 is a good idea.