Brian - are there any late 1st round gems that have caught your eye in the sense that they could end up being top liners a few years down the track?
- AlexF

I wanna say Hertl. He's hard to get a read on, but something I like about him.

How has Tinordi been in the playoffs?
- jugkope

Strong, but unspectacular. He's really settled into his role as a shutdown guy, whereas London tried to coax that two-way play out of him earlier and it didn't work as much.

hey brian


what's your take on the lucas sutter kid?

Don't know about the pink?

It's what they say about the Biosteel guys (Cammallerri, Yakupov, Galchenyuk, Seguin, Price, Stamkos, etc.)
- Brian Huddle

If you were GM of the oilers do you regard yakupov and galchenyuk so high that you wouldn't take murray even with the organizational need for defenseman?
or do you say F**K it and take a ridiculously skilled forward and work towards signing some better dmen?

Good point. And Fowler for ANA. Almost every draft seems to have one "independent minded" GM that will stray from the scouting consensus within the top 10 or even top 5 picks.
- AlexF

Back when we started losing, I mean picking 1st overall I started following the draft and reading all types of stuff out there.

What seemed to happen in 2010, is every GM (outside of PC as he was taking whoever we didn't take) sat down and talked with their scouts and talked to the players. They then decided who they think they realisitically could draft and dug up more info on the guy. They fell in love with said player and didn't really pay attention who was left on the draft table.

Seems more and more GM's try to find the best player with the best character before the draft.

What is it you don't like about Reilly's game that puts him so low on your list?

Back when we started losing, I mean picking 1st overall I started following the draft and reading all types of stuff out there.

What seemed to happen in 2010, is every GM (outside of PC as he was taking whoever we didn't take) sat down and talked with their scouts and talked to the players. They then decided who they think they realisitically could draft and dug up more info on the guy. They fell in love with said player and didn't really pay attention who was left on the draft table.

Seems more and more GM's try to find the best player with the best character before the draft.
- Lahey

Isn't that why that crazy tattooed Russian fell so far? Kabanov was it?

If you were GM of the oilers do you regard yakupov and galchenyuk so high that you wouldn't take murray even with the organizational need for defenseman?
or do you say F**K it and take a ridiculously skilled forward and work towards signing some better dmen?
- SPIbanez

I'd explore trade down scenarios and see if you can get some good quality back to trade down. Likely not but it's worth looking into.

At the end of the day, you can take the forward and then move one of the top end forwards (Hall, Eberle, RNH, Yak/Gal) and hopefully get a large package back that might include an NHL ready top pairing defender.

hey brian


what's your take on the lucas sutter kid?
- dmnted

Truculence, and more truculence. Above his age defensively, very good on the draws. Think he's a future shutdown center.

Don't know about the pink?

It's what they say about the Biosteel guys (Cammallerri, Yakupov, Galchenyuk, Seguin, Price, Stamkos, etc.)
- Brian Huddle

I put that sh*t on everything

What is it you don't like about Reilly's game that puts him so low on your list?
- BarDownBobo

It tends to be the norm to see those types fall a bit, like Murphy last year and what not. He's likely the most talented blueliner in this class, but will need some time and molding. I think it's mostly the "question mark" on him. Watching Murray, Trouba, Maatta, you can just see that they'll likely find an NHL role because of their IQ or physical traits or what not, even if they bust. But Reilly could end up that Erik Karlsson or he could be an AHL Dman. Hard to gauge at times.

I will say that he's regularly the best player on the ice when he plays. The injury hurt his stock a lot too.

Isn't that why that crazy tattooed Russian fell so far? Kabanov was it?
- GuyLaDouche

Ya, no one fell in love with him.

Ya, no one fell in love with him.
- Lahey

All world skill but a complete head case I guess.

I put that sh*t on everything
- stinger67

Do you put it on your own balls?

Do you put it on your own balls?
- GuyLaDouche

Only when it's the neighbor's dog.

Truculence, and more truculence. Above his age defensively, very good on the draws. Think he's a future shutdown center.

- Brian Huddle

sound like a brian burke type of player.


hope he's available when the leafs pick in the second round.

Do you put it on your own balls?
- GuyLaDouche

apperently his dog just loves it when he does ......

apperently his dog just loves it when he does ......
- dmnted

Meh. Peanut butter works better.

Back when we started losing, I mean picking 1st overall I started following the draft and reading all types of stuff out there.

What seemed to happen in 2010, is every GM (outside of PC as he was taking whoever we didn't take) sat down and talked with their scouts and talked to the players. They then decided who they think they realisitically could draft and dug up more info on the guy. They fell in love with said player and didn't really pay attention who was left on the draft table.

Seems more and more GM's try to find the best player with the best character before the draft.
- Lahey

I suppose it's the same with how everything is going these days - greater specialization. Once upon a time talent alone may have been good enough to succeed in professional sports. Then came a greater emphasis on fitness, diet, etc fast forwarding to the point where someone like a Lance Armstrong weighs his food to ensure optimal calorie/protein intake.

I suppose GMs are looking for that more granular level of understanding a prospect. With the salary cap placing such a high importance on the draft, it's no longer enough to know a kid is a good scorer, skates well, etc. As you say they now seem to want to understand his character, personality (ie a good locker room fit), intelligence (can he pick up new concepts and adapt quickly), even background and family support model to an extent.

Brian, I have heard that Faksa will end up being a good third line centre. If true why is he rated so high, unless I heard wrong and you see him being a top 6.

Since the Leafs need a pivot so badly, can you see them trading up to get galenchuck, and is he worth the price it would take to trade up?

Brian, I have heard that Faksa will end up being a good third line centre. If true why is he rated so high, unless I heard wrong and you see him being a top 6.

Since the Leafs need a pivot so badly, can you see them trading up to get galenchuck, and is he worth the price it would take to trade up?
- sparky

Some think he's a third line center, upside, yes. I disagree with the assessment, and that's what makes scouting interesting. I probably have some bias, as I've seen Kitchener over a dozen times live this season, but it helps that I live 15 min from the Kitchener Aud

Personally, I enjoy following a players development curve. Faksa came into the year on nobody's radar. He was a rookie in the OHL, having come from Europe in the Import Draft, and yet he puts up over a PPG with the Rangers, playing in a secondary role. Had he been given legit wingers, he's likely got even better stats. All the while he improved ten fold, become a physical force, is ahead of his age group defensively, and has an NHL build.

He reminds me a lot of Jordan Staal. And I think the world of Staal, and think once he's put in a position to succeed, he's going to be a force.

Any chance Collberg can drop to late teens for the Sens
perfect fit for them

Any chance Collberg can drop to late teens for the Sens
perfect fit for them
- Arvind94

I have to believe the organizational need is on D, not on the wing.

I have to believe the organizational need is on D, not on the wing.
- Lohaus

Getting sick of the Faksa love yet?

Some think he's a third line center, upside, yes. I disagree with the assessment, and that's what makes scouting interesting. I probably have some bias, as I've seen Kitchener over a dozen times live this season, but it helps that I live 15 min from the Kitchener Aud

Personally, I enjoy following a players development curve. Faksa came into the year on nobody's radar. He was a rookie in the OHL, having come from Europe in the Import Draft, and yet he puts up over a PPG with the Rangers, playing in a secondary role. Had he been given legit wingers, he's likely got even better stats. All the while he improved ten fold, become a physical force, is ahead of his age group defensively, and has an NHL build.

He reminds me a lot of Jordan Staal. And I think the world of Staal, and think once he's put in a position to succeed, he's going to be a force.
- Brian Huddle

How are his obliques?

How are his obliques?
- tennisball

I don't see anything wrong with making love to a woman's feet.