Kevin Freiheit: John Scott on the first line

(frank) the Leafs

If Ville Leino is somehow "injured" at the end of the year causing us to not be able to buy him out it will be the newest low of lows that we cant even buy out the biggest FA bust in team history... with 9 games left I wish we could just bench him for the reaming games so he doesn't get hurt but with so many other injuries he'll have to play.. hopefully he stays healthy...

I'm honestly jealous of your tank. Loading up on picks and getting blown out by the Preds who can't even spell offense. Well done.

I'm honestly jealous of your tank. Loading up on picks and getting blown out by the Preds who can't even spell offense. Well done.
- Nucker101

We've all ready tanked... no point to keep getting blown out like this... still sucks.. Hopefully we draft Reinhart so we can improve the scoring on this team...

I'm honestly jealous of your tank. Loading up on picks and getting blown out by the Preds who can't even spell offense. Well done.
- Nucker101

You're on here enough to know its not been very fun for us though...
What's Vancouver gonna do this summer?
Do u think they'll actually trade Kesler?
Could the Twins possibly be moved?

I think u guys need to fire your GM
Burke set u up nicely for years & Gillis hasn't been able to make all the pieces fit together to get u that cup
Prob should've beat Boston, but either way, with all that talent it's surprising u guys haven't win a cup

We've all ready tanked... no point to keep getting blown out like this... still sucks.. Hopefully we draft Reinhart so we can improve the scoring on this team...
- bluengold12

Carried over from the last thread...

What if the guy Murray likes best isn't Reinhart?
Or what if it is, but whoever picks 2nd wants to trade up for Ekblad?
Maybe Murray actually like Nylander the best
I've seen reports where scouts actually feel he has the most talent, just has attitude issues which drops him

I wouldn't mind us trading down if Murray can still get HIS guy and acquire more assets in the process

Carried over from the last thread...

What if the guy Murray likes best isn't Reinhart?
Or what if it is, but whoever picks 2nd wants to trade up for Ekblad?
Maybe Murray actually like Nylander the best
I've seen reports where scouts actually feel he has the most talent, just has attitude issues which drops him

I wouldn't mind us trading down if Murray can still get HIS guy and acquire more assets in the process
- jdfitz77

This team doesn't need any more talented Europeans who have attitude problems.. I'd be surprised if the team who got number 2 wanted to trade up unless there was a bidding war but again as I've pointed out in the past D usually don't go first overall so I'd be surprised if that happened.. Realistically there's four guys who could be at the top of his board

Reinhart, Ekblad, Bennett and Drasttil (sp?) Those four likely go in the top four in the draft anyway so why not just take your guy at 1 unless they like Drasttil best which I'd be surprised if they did and figured they could land him 4th.

Carried over from the last thread...

What if the guy Murray likes best isn't Reinhart?
Or what if it is, but whoever picks 2nd wants to trade up for Ekblad?
Maybe Murray actually like Nylander the best
I've seen reports where scouts actually feel he has the most talent, just has attitude issues which drops him

I wouldn't mind us trading down if Murray can still get HIS guy and acquire more assets in the process
- jdfitz77

This team doesn't need any more talented Europeans who have attitude problems.. I'd be surprised if the team who got number 2 wanted to trade up unless there was a bidding war but again as I've pointed out in the past D usually don't go first overall so I'd be surprised if that happened.. Realistically there's four guys who could be at the top of his board

Reinhart, Ekblad, Bennett and Drasttil (sp?) Those four likely go in the top four in the draft anyway so why not just take your guy at 1 unless they like Drasttil best which I'd be surprised if they did and figured they could land him 4th.
- bluengold12

I agree that we don't need another talented Euro with attitude issues. In fact, I don't think we can afford to have that on this team right now.

If Reinhart isn't the guy that Murray wants, and he feels comfortable trading down; knowing that he will get the guy he wants + whatever for trading down, then I trust his judgment and will not be upset by it. I am no scout but it seems like the top 4-5 in this draft are all pretty much interchangeable. Just depends on what you need

This team doesn't need any more talented Europeans who have attitude problems.. I'd be surprised if the team who got number 2 wanted to trade up unless there was a bidding war but again as I've pointed out in the past D usually don't go first overall so I'd be surprised if that happened.. Realistically there's four guys who could be at the top of his board

Reinhart, Ekblad, Bennett and Drasttil (sp?) Those four likely go in the top four in the draft anyway so why not just take your guy at 1 unless they like Drasttil best which I'd be surprised if they did and figured they could land him 4th.
- bluengold12

As far as Edm, Cal, Nyi & Fla all go...
A top line defenseman is a bigger need than a forward, so I could see a bidding war to come up for Ekblad

Ideal situation would be to move down, still get "our" guy, and acquire extra assets

Could be risky though

I agree that we don't need another talented Euro with attitude issues. In fact, I don't think we can afford to have that on this team right now.

If Reinhart isn't the guy that Murray wants, and he feels comfortable trading down; knowing that he will get the guy he wants + whatever for trading down, then I trust his judgement and will not be upset by it. I am no scout but it seems like the top 4-5 in this draft are all pretty much interchangeable. Just depends on what you need
- JCSabs06

From all I've read, which has been a lot...
Depending on personal preference,
I've seen 5 guys listed as the best player in the draft
Reinhart, Ekblad, Bennett, Draisaitl & Nylander
My guess is that that's the order they're taken in, with Nylander possibly dropping further bc of his supposed attitude

I really don't think any of them stand apart,
Although Reinhart is doing his best to make a case for himself in the WHL playoffs
He's absolutely killing it
I think he's the consensus of who we'd all like
Interesting to see which way we go
Lots of options for Murray

As far as Edm, Cal, Nyi & Fla all go...
A top line defenseman is a bigger need than a forward, so I could see a bidding war to come up for Ekblad

Ideal situation would be to move down, still get "our" guy, and acquire extra assets

Could be risky though
- jdfitz77

For sure it could be risky... Lets say this draft breaks historic logic and a D goes first overall. Lets say the draft order is the exact same as it is right now... Buff, Edm, FLA, NY I, Calgary... If all four of those teams all want Ekblad realistically eliminating Isles because they don't have much in terms of trade assets anymore... Lets say its down to Florida, Edm and Calgary... I hear the Oilers are really big on Drastill so if we told them you have to trade with us to get Ekblad they'd likely say screw you and just take there chances on getting Drastill.. Fla may work because then it could be like Florida Ekblad, Oilers Drastill us with Reinhart or it could backfire... I think if we move any lower we lose out on Murray's top guy. Be it Reinhart or Bennett. I'd only move down to say 3rd then and only if we had a good hunch the Oilers would draft Drastill not Reinhart.

From all I've read, which has been a lot...
Depending on personal preference,
I've seen 5 guys listed as the best player in the draft
Reinhart, Ekblad, Bennett, Draisaitl & Nylander
My guess is that that's the order they're taken in, with Nylander possibly dropping further bc of his supposed attitude

I really don't think any of them stand apart,
Although Reinhart is doing his best to make a case for himself in the WHL playoffs
He's absolutely killing it
I think he's the consensus of who we'd all like
Interesting to see which way we go
Lots of options for Murray
- jdfitz77

Yea Reinhart is having a sick playoff so far.

Another issue with Nylander on this squad is his size. 5'9", 150-170 lbs....(depending on where you look, I'd guess closer to 170, but still too small)?

This team doesn't need any more talented Europeans who have attitude problems.. I'd be surprised if the team who got number 2 wanted to trade up unless there was a bidding war but again as I've pointed out in the past D usually don't go first overall so I'd be surprised if that happened.. Realistically there's four guys who could be at the top of his board

Reinhart, Ekblad, Bennett and Drasttil (sp?) Those four likely go in the top four in the draft anyway so why not just take your guy at 1 unless they like Drasttil best which I'd be surprised if they did and figured they could land him 4th.
- bluengold12

If Draisaitl is their guy (which I could see), they might not wanna take the risk of waiting till 4th
Barkov was supposed to go 4-6 last year, but Fla took him 2nd bc he was the guy they wanted
So u do make a good point in just taking the gut we want 1st and not risking it

Yea Reinhart is having a sick playoff so far.

Another issue with Nylander on this squad is his size. 5'9", 150-170 lbs....(depending on where you look, I'd guess closer to 170, but still too small)?
- JCSabs06

Wow... that's his size... Next!... That's the same height as me and I don't think I could hang with the big guys in the NHL... I know hockey players are that small sometimes and good ones too but we need guys 6'0 and up.. Only way I'm not looking at Reinhart or Bennett is if we all ready draft one of those and get the Isles pick which as I've said in the past is probably less than 15% chance then I'd add to the first pick and take Da Colle who would be better for the team than Nylander..

If Draisaitl is their guy (which I could see), they might not wanna take the risk of waiting till 4th
Barkov was supposed to go 4-6 last year, but Fla took him 2nd bc he was the guy they wanted
So u do make a good point in just taking the gut we want 1st and not risking it
- jdfitz77

I'm not super crazy about Drasitil... In my own all be it very amateurish rankings I have Da Colle higher... I hope they don't use their pick on him unless its a trade down scenario... He doesn't strike me as game changing..

For those asking my rankings would be something like...

Reinhart, Bennett, Da Colle. Drastill... Didn't include Ekblad because I don't want anything to do with him.

Another thing that didn't see any action because it was towards the tail end of the last thread... did anyone see Bob McKenzie's tweet about the Isles owner?

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie · 3h
NYI owner Charles Wang in talks to sell majority stake in NHL franchise. Nothing done yet, no telling if it gets done, but talks underway.

Wonder what this would mean if it happens before June 1st.... Could be major organizational overhaul if Wang leaves and new owner gives Garth the boot..

Yea Reinhart is having a sick playoff so far.

Another issue with Nylander on this squad is his size. 5'9", 150-170 lbs....(depending on where you look, I'd guess closer to 170, but still too small)?
- JCSabs06

That's another reason he'll likely drop
But I've seen multiple ppl say he has the best skills out of anyone
And I saw one report say Nylander has the best skills "by far"

Doesn't mean Murray feels the same way

There were multiple reports earlier this year that Draisaitl was outplaying Reinhart out west
Ekblad talents as a franchise defenseman are well documented
And Bennett overtook all of them on the midterm rankings

My guess is we take Reinhart,
But who knows what Murray is thinking?

Another thing that didn't see any action because it was towards the tail end of the last thread... did anyone see Bob McKenzie's tweet about the Isles owner?

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie · 3h
NYI owner Charles Wang in talks to sell majority stake in NHL franchise. Nothing done yet, no telling if it gets done, but talks underway.

Wonder what this would mean if it happens before June 1st.... Could be major organizational overhaul if Wang leaves and new owner gives Garth the boot..
- bluengold12

I saw that, it would be very interesting. It would be tough to get it done before that date though, I would think. Whatever decision the Isles make, in regards to the draft pick to be given up, it will be tough. I like the sabres situation in this one.

Anyways, I'm off to bed.

I'm not super crazy about Drasitil... In my own all be it very amateurish rankings I have Da Colle higher... I hope they don't use their pick on him unless its a trade down scenario... He doesn't strike me as game changing..

For those asking my rankings would be something like...

Reinhart, Bennett, Da Colle. Drastill... Didn't include Ekblad because I don't want anything to do with him.
- bluengold12

That's interesting
I actually REALLY like Draisaitl
For a "power forward" type, he can really skate too
There's reports that say different,
But I've seen highlites of him going end to end a couple times & it's pretty
I think he could be a stud

Another thing that didn't see any action because it was towards the tail end of the last thread... did anyone see Bob McKenzie's tweet about the Isles owner?

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie · 3h
NYI owner Charles Wang in talks to sell majority stake in NHL franchise. Nothing done yet, no telling if it gets done, but talks underway.

Wonder what this would mean if it happens before June 1st.... Could be major organizational overhaul if Wang leaves and new owner gives Garth the boot..
- bluengold12

Snow has been absolutely horrible
He's fired as soon as a new owner takes over
Either way,
I'm pretty sure NYI keeps this years pick

That's interesting
I actually REALLY like Draisaitl
For a "power forward" type, he can really skate too
There's reports that say different,
But I've seen highlites of him going end to end a couple times & it's pretty
I think he could be a stud
- jdfitz77

Yeah I mean.. I'll have to look more into him but I think he needs a lot more growth and especially consistency. Similar to Bennett but I think Bennett is a bit more traditional. Will see.. Hey if the shocking happens and Isles do give us their pick maybe we draft him and Reinhart... I would certainly not be angry with that..

http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...cid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs
Sounds like we really need a good run from the Blues in the playoffs to snag the extra 1st.

That's interesting
I actually REALLY like Draisaitl
For a "power forward" type, he can really skate too
There's reports that say different,
But I've seen highlites of him going end to end a couple times & it's pretty
I think he could be a stud
- jdfitz77

Draisaitl is also the biggest bodied forward at the top of the draft. He's 6'1" and already 209 lbs. at 18. You can expect him to maybe top out around 225-230. That's a big power forward who can play both center and left wing. 105 points in 64 games this season. There's a lot to like there.

Draisaitl is a playmaking center who isn't overly physical but uses his size effectively to shield himself and the puck. He has excellent vision and knows where his options are. He has soft hands and a steady stride, but his smarts are his most important asset. - eliteprospects.com

Also sounds like a Murray type guy. The Deutschland dangler.

If we get the Isles pick and we could get Reinhart and this guy?