Marcantuoni -- decent pick later (3rd/4th round), but he's a huge ? mark. A lot of injuries, plays with a reckless abandon at times, too. Reminds me of Matthew Lombardi (before Toronto).



At times. Obviously lineups change, but Jensen played with him at times, and Jenner at others.
- Brian Huddle

Laughton played with Andreoff and the aforementioned Thomas a lot. Two years ago, Thomas could have helped him offensively, but didn't seem interested much this year. Little guys like him need to work harder to be effective and I found he wasn't into it. Too bad, a kid like Laughton should inspire him to work harder. Andreoff was a pretty hard worker in his own right too.

Lots of changing parts on this team though. To me, on most nights, the only guy working and producing positive results on the wing was Lessio. The rest of them seemed content to be mediocre.

Do you think he is available at 21? Or is his stock rising to the early teens?
- ImThatGuy

This mock was drawn up before he went into Beast Mode at the Mem Cup, so I had him as a "late first/early second" type, and didn't include him in my Top 30 for the Mock, despite having him as a first rounder on my final list.

He'll be available there, IMO.

Laughton played with Andreoff and the aforementioned Thomas a lot. Two years ago, Thomas could have helped him offensively, but didn't seem interested much this year. Little guys like him need to work harder to be effective and I found he wasn't into it. Too bad, a kid like Laughton should inspire him to work harder. Andreoff was a pretty hard worker in his own right too.

Lots of changing parts on this team though. To me, on most nights, the only guy working and producing positive results on the wing was Lessio. The rest of them seemed content to be mediocre.
- Lohaus

Which is funny because of the "lack of work ethic" tag on Lessio last year. Such a talented kid.

Like I said, I bet Biggs and Laughton are a pair next year.

Which is funny because of the "lack of work ethic" tag on Lessio last year. Such a talented kid.

Like I said, I bet Biggs and Laughton are a pair next year.
- Brian Huddle

Lessio impressed me a lot this year, i won't lie. He also seemed like he added another gear. Thomas always seemed like he was in a mood. jenner looked like he lost about 20 points off his IQ after returning from the WJC as well. I used to be a fan of his but no team can have a player who is more interested in evening up the score for his own personal vendettas than evening up the score for the team. Jensen always impressed me in Ottawa but he had moments of just being on the ice for the ride... if you know what I mean. You get the right coach fo him, you'll have a player. I like Andreoff, in general (no pun intended).

Lessio impressed me a lot this year, i won't lie. He also seemed like he added another gear. Thomas always seemed like he was in a mood. jenner looked like he lost about 20 points off his IQ after returning from the WJC as well. I used to be a fan of his but no team can have a player who is more interested in evening up the score for his own personal vendettas than evening up the score for the team. Jensen always impressed me in Ottawa but he had moments of just being on the ice for the ride... if you know what I mean. You get the right coach fo him, you'll have a player. I like Andreoff, in general (no pun intended).
- Lohaus

It's funny, I just went and found my Mock last year, and had Biggs at 21 to Ottawa.

The general feel from Sens fans was "awesome -- need net presence and physical ability in Top 6" and such. And now he's just a third liner. Oh hockey fans... don't ever change.

Anyways. I still am a Jenner fan.

It's funny, I just went and found my Mock last year, and had Biggs at 21 to Ottawa.

The general feel from Sens fans was "awesome -- need net presence and physical ability in Top 6" and such. And now he's just a third liner. Oh hockey fans... don't ever change.

Anyways. I still am a Jenner fan.
- Brian Huddle

I have no opinion of Biggs. I've never seen him play.
EDIT: and who is ripping on Biggs anyways?

I have no opinion of Biggs. I've never seen him play.
- Lohaus

Fair enough-- I just had a good laugh at how people are so positive and see the advantages of a player when envisioning them with their team. When he goes to another? "HE SUCKS!"

EDIT: and who is ripping on Biggs anyways?
- Lohaus

Everybody who isn't me, these days.

Fair enough-- I just had a good laugh at how people are so positive and see the advantages of a player when envisioning them with their team. When he goes to another? "HE SUCKS!"


- Brian Huddle

Well, as far as I'm concerned he is still what he was when they picked him. I thought when he signed on to play college, the underlying reason was to concentrate on making his game better while avoiding the nonsense of proving he's a tough guy too. It might have been a good idea. In jnuior, he'll be called upon to prove it now, similar to other guys like him in the past. He needs to pick his spots and ready himself for that because it wasn't something he had to bother with in college.

As far as being a player, no reason he can't click with Laughton. If he offers the same work effort to go along with hs size (and assuming his issue of skating is evolving) then there is no reason to think they can't be a forechecking force in the OHL. We'll see how his numbers go.

I don't think i've ever spun him to be a bad player at all. I have no reason to. I don't think Laughton will ever be a top 6 forward on a team that is even mediocre. I just don't see his offensive ceiling allowing for it but I do think he'll be a quality player and useful in a lot of situations.

Well, as far as I'm concerned he is still what he was when they picked him. I thought when he signed on to play college, the underlying reason was to concentrate on making his game better while avoiding the nonsense of proving he's a tough guy too. It might have been a good idea. In jnuior, he'll be called upon to prove it now, similar to other guys like him in the past. He needs to pick his spots and ready himself for that because it wasn't somethign he had to bother with in college.

As far as being a player, no reason he can't click with Laughton. If he offers the same work effort to go along with hs size (and assuming his issue of skatign is evolving) then there is no reason to think they can't be a forechecking force in the OHL. We'll see how his numbers go.

I don't think i've ever spun him toe a bad player at all. I have no reason to. I don't think Laughton will ever be a top 6 forward on a team that is even mediocre. I just don't see his offensive ceiling allowing for it but I do think he'll be a quality player and useful in a lot of situations.
- Lohaus

On Biggs: skating isn't the ? mark. He's a good skater, who just lacks explosiveness. The question with him has been his hockey sense and ability to create his own scoring opportunities. I've said it before, but he's a guy you pair with two high end skilled players to create the opps and he'll create space and put a couple in by going to the net and having a big shot.

On Laughton: I think he settles in as a shutdown center who can offer some secondary scoring, like a Brandon Sutter.

Fair enough-- I just had a good laugh at how people are so positive and see the advantages of a player when envisioning them with their team. When he goes to another? "HE SUCKS!"


- Brian Huddle

There are some players though that prior to drafts, I can't stand. Regardless of whether he was a Leaf or not, I had zero use for Kadri then and still don't now. I'm similar with Puempel, although he never irked me as much as Kadri did but for different reasons. A kid like Percy, however, i do like. Doesn't matter if he is a Leaf pick or not, I like him. I don't change my opinion of players when they get drafted. I like who I like for reasons that I like them for. Derek Roy could be the Sens top center right now pushing 80 points and I'd still want to fight him.

There are some players though that prior to drafts, I can't stand. Regardless of whether he was a Leaf or not, I had zero use for Kadri then and still don't now. I'm similar with Puempel, although he never irked me as much as Kadri did but for different reasons. A kid like Percy, however, i do like. Doesn't matter if he is a Leaf pick or not, I like him. I don't change my opinion of players when they get drafted. I like who I like for reasons that I like them for. Derek Roy could be the Sens top center right now pushing 80 points and I'd still want to fight him.
- Lohaus

You and me both... even as a Rangers fan.

Huddle from what I read Maata and Murray have similar games in that they are steady all around guys with some offensive upside. What separates Murray from other defenseman such as Maata. I understand this doesn't pertain to the Canucks pick but this question is burning me brain now!

Huddle from what I read Maata and Murray have similar games in that they are steady all around guys with some offensive upside. What separates Murray from other defenseman such as Maata. I understand this doesn't pertain to the Canucks pick but this question is burning me brain now!
- ystoil

Murray, to me, projects as a Ryan Suter type complimentary top pairing guy, who's more of a shutdown guy with some puck moving abilities and PP time. He's also very much NHL ready already at (going on) 19 years old.

Maatta is the type who projects as a Carl Gunnarson type. Size, shutdown abilities, and he can move the puck with some offensive abilities. But he's the type you throw in a 3-4 role, rather than playing 25 minutes a night. AND Maatta needs polishing and time to round out his game. His game is based mostly on his IQ, but he needs to work on his athletic abilities. Murray is already there.

Murray, to me, projects as a Ryan Suter type complimentary top pairing guy, who's more of a shutdown guy with some puck moving abilities and PP time. He's also very much NHL ready already at (going on) 19 years old.

Maatta is the type who projects as a Carl Gunnarson type. Size, shutdown abilities, and he can move the puck with some offensive abilities. But he's the type you throw in a 3-4 role, rather than playing 25 minutes a night. AND Maatta needs polishing and time to round out his game. His game is based mostly on his IQ, but he needs to work on his athletic abilities. Murray is already there.
- Brian Huddle

To be honest if we were to trade down to grab Murray id hope the oilers don't rush him into the NHL. I'd rather see him go back to the whl and put up a point per game season and show improvements in his offensive game. Maybe work a bit at quarterbacking the pp.

I believe tambo did say he won't pick a player and rush him in. You could argue rnh was rushed just due to his physical stature. I'd rather not see Murray go through what schenn did in Toronto as well. Confidence has a huge impact on a player.

To be honest if we were to trade down to grab Murray id hope the oilers don't rush him into the NHL. I'd rather see him go back to the whl and put up a point per game season and show improvements in his offensive game. Maybe work a bit at quarterbacking the pp.

I believe tambo did say he won't pick a player and rush him in. You could argue rnh was rushed just due to his physical stature. I'd rather not see Murray go through what schenn did in Toronto as well. Confidence has a huge impact on a player.
- ystoil

I'm not a total Wilson hater in Toronto, but I put a lot of the blame of Schenn's development on Wilson. I remember watching Schenn, a 19 year old at the time playing on his wrong side with Francois Beauchemin and thought what a complete dis-service to this young man. Hard enough to enter the league as a teenage defenseman, but putting him on the wrong side as well almost seems cruel.

To be honest if we were to trade down to grab Murray id hope the oilers don't rush him into the NHL. I'd rather see him go back to the whl and put up a point per game season and show improvements in his offensive game. Maybe work a bit at quarterbacking the pp.

I believe tambo did say he won't pick a player and rush him in. You could argue rnh was rushed just due to his physical stature. I'd rather not see Murray go through what schenn did in Toronto as well. Confidence has a huge impact on a player.
- ystoil

FWIW, Murray has three WHL seasons. He missed last year's draft by a couple weeks.

As for Schenn, I'm sticking to the fact that he's gonna be fine. Wilson had the Leafs D play a lot wider to the boards, so they could take the puck off of it and transition it up the ice quicker and make the team look even "faster" than they were. Schenn didn't have the feet to come back into the middle and keep his gaps, whereas Gardiner, Liles, even Phaneuf did.

I'm not a total Wilson hater in Toronto, but I put a lot of the blame of Schenn's development on Wilson. I remember watching Schenn, a 19 year old at the time playing on his wrong side with Francois Beauchemin and thought what a complete dis-service to this young man. Hard enough to enter the league as a teenage defenseman, but putting him on the wrong side as well almost seems cruel.
- Lohaus

Wilson's idea. Wanted all the Leafs D to be able to play both sides. They did it with Phaneuf at times this year and when he played the left, you could tell his pivot didn't work, and guys would blow by him on the left. On the right, he looked fine.

Wilson's idea. Wanted all the Leafs D to be able to play both sides. They did it with Phaneuf at times this year and when he played the left, you could tell his pivot didn't work, and guys would blow by him on the left. On the right, he looked fine.
- Brian Huddle

Phaneuf wasn't a teenager at the time. If you're going to fast track a kid like Schenn, you better make damn well sure he is ready for the NHL on his comfortable side before messing with his confidence and development by throwing him on the other side. No position is harder right off the get go than playing D in hockey. It wasn't a fair situation to place him in so early in his career, in my opinion.

Phaneuf wasn't a teenager at the time. If you're going to fast track a kid like Schenn, you better make damn well sure he is ready for the NHL on his comfortable side before messing with his confidence and development by throwing him on the other side. No position is harder right off the get go than playing D in hockey. It wasn't a fair situation to place him in so early in his career, in my opinion.
- Lohaus

Oh I agree-- but I don't agree with changing guys sides, period. As a Dman, the simple tasks become a routine. Pivots, for example, have to become second nature to you.

As soon as you have to think about something, you move a half second slower and they blow by you.

Oh I agree-- but I don't agree with changing guys sides, period. As a Dman, the simple tasks become a routine. Pivots, for example, have to become second nature to you.

As soon as you have to think about something, you move a half second slower and they blow by you.
- Brian Huddle

Quite true. not all guys can play their off side. Some can, without much effort. Just depends on the person I suppose.

This mock was drawn up before he went into Beast Mode at the Mem Cup, so I had him as a "late first/early second" type, and didn't include him in my Top 30 for the Mock, despite having him as a first rounder on my final list.

He'll be available there, IMO.
- Brian Huddle

Well poop, there goes that. I gues the Sabres will have to use their picks+ to trade up with NYI for Galchenyuk(SP?) if he is there.

I'm worried he will go at 3 to MTL though.

Well poop, there goes that. I gues the Sabres will have to use their picks+ to trade up with NYI for Galchenyuk(SP?) if he is there.

I'm worried he will go at 3 to MTL though.
- ImThatGuy

DAMN YOU! TORONTO IS GETTING HIM, OKAY?!



Guaranteed Montreal snags him.

DAMN YOU! TORONTO IS GETTING HIM, OKAY?!



Guaranteed Montreal snags him.
- Brian Huddle

Oilers at #1, book it

Oilers at #1, book it
- Lahey

Nah, I think they trade down to two and take Murray.

Honestly do.