Ryan Wilson: Thoughts on Sam Poulin and other first round selections Thoughts on Sam Poulin and other first round selections

Per sources, the Predators are willing to retain upwards of $3M of Subban’s contract, should the right deal fall into place.

To the Devils

Subban to Devils. Pretty cheap price for the Devils. I think he would've looked good in our Top 4, but obviously the cap and Kessel needing to accept a trade there would have made it difficult. Guessing Nashville wants Duchene.

Penguins reportedly looking for a 2nd or 3rd round pick... maybe that's why you shouldnt waste them during the season.

I wouldn't be so quick to label Dmen who spent the year playing against men as having "no offensive pulse". Seider has fewer comparables to find given he played in the DEL, but Broberg and Soderstrom have plenty.

Hampus Lindholm had comparable numbers (4p in 20) to Broberg in his draft year. Klefbom had next to nothing going for offense (2p in 23) in his draft year. Karlsson himself only had 1p in 7 (PPG in the SuperElit, like Broberg). When they step down a level and play against their peers, Broberg, Soderstrom and Seider produce just fine.

History shows us plenty of examples of European D that look unproductive at their drafting because they play in a men's league, but turn out just fine offensively. Not keen on picking Broberg myself, but I don't agree with your assessment.

Man the Devils gave up nothing, sheesh them and the Rags are getting much better

Man the Devils gave up nothing, sheesh them and the Rags are getting much better
- kfinl170

Not even Free Agency yet and our division has added Subban, Hughes, & Kakko

Subban to Devils. Pretty cheap price for the Devils. I think he would've looked good in our Top 4, but obviously the cap and Kessel needing to accept a trade there would have made it difficult. Guessing Nashville wants Duchene.

Penguins reportedly looking for a 2nd or 3rd round pick... maybe that's why you shouldnt waste them during the season.
- SuperHenderson13

They got Mccann and Bjugstad for them. That's a pretty fair deal don't you think?

Subban to Devils. Pretty cheap price for the Devils. I think he would've looked good in our Top 4, but obviously the cap and Kessel needing to accept a trade there would have made it difficult. Guessing Nashville wants Duchene.

Penguins reportedly looking for a 2nd or 3rd round pick... maybe that's why you shouldnt waste them during the season.
- SuperHenderson13

Unreal

The devils are going to be scary soon.

Carolina getting a 1st to eat some salary isnt a bad deal for them either.

Not even Free Agency yet and our division has added Subban, Hughes, & Kakko
- SuperHenderson13

And Trouba

Carolina getting a 1st to eat some salary isnt a bad deal for them either.
- Thorny

JR should take note.

I was on the Devils blog maybe a month ago claiming how they had to add some big names to keep Hall and how Subban made perfect sense and that once they got him they could load up a couple free agents and change everything. I recall being met with a few groans (just a few because nobody comments there) mostly saying the price to acquire would be too high.

Well, look at them now. Can’t believe they got him at such a low cost tbh. Nashville certainly could’ve traded other guys to move space, right? Like Turris to Buffalo?! Or even Granlund to Buffalo! Or Dallas...

I followed up with them picking up some of the other studs out there. Like what if they pick up Gardiner and trade Vatanen (maybe with Zacha) for a guy like Zucker or what if they get Panarin because NYR doesn’t pony up? He can live in NY and play for the Devils. Just so many options, excited for that team and I hope Hall decides to stay

The devils are going to be scary soon.
- Rinosaur

Rangers, Devils, and Carolina are only going to get better.
Islanders still are up in the air, but obviously saw a lot of good things last year
Not sold on Philly or Columbus. A lot of question marks with both teams, but the potential is there.

The Penguins & Capitals have run this division pretty easily since the Metro division was formed and they certainly took advantage of it with Cups between the 2 of them in 16, 17, & 18... but the division is about to get a lot tougher both in the short term & long term.

Shero fleeces again...yes, I know he's made some blunders with trades ie Crankshaft , be he's done quite a bit of fleecing in his time. More than any other current GM I can think of.

Rangers, Devils, and Carolina are only going to get better.
Islanders still are up in the air, but obviously saw a lot of good things last year
Not sold on Philly or Columbus. A lot of question marks with both teams, but the potential is there.

The Penguins & Capitals have run this division pretty easily since the Metro division was formed and they certainly took advantage of it with Cups between the 2 of them in 16, 17, & 18... but the division is about to get a lot tougher both in the short term & long term.
- SuperHenderson13

This season coming up is the first season in over 10 years I won't just be assuming the Pens will make playoffs.

Btw, tons of respect to Shero and Nashville for waiting to get this done. I’m sure they could’ve settled this up last night and stolen Benning and Vancouver’s thunder, and maybe they couldn’t but if they did then good on them - very classy if that’s the case

Btw, tons of respect to Shero and Nashville for waiting to get this done. I’m sure they could’ve settled this up last night and stolen Benning and Vancouver’s thunder, and maybe they couldn’t but if they did then good on them - very classy if that’s the case
- WSCTeton17

What thunder were they stealing?

Rangers, Devils, and Carolina are only going to get better.
Islanders still are up in the air, but obviously saw a lot of good things last year
Not sold on Philly or Columbus. A lot of question marks with both teams, but the potential is there.

The Penguins & Capitals have run this division pretty easily since the Metro division was formed and they certainly took advantage of it with Cups between the 2 of them in 16, 17, & 18... but the division is about to get a lot tougher both in the short term & long term.
- SuperHenderson13

I think Niskanen is going to bounce back. Their D are great, Hart looks good, and they have 7 top 6 forwards. I think Philly looks good and it seems like they’re not done

I was looking last night at the missed Penguins 1st round picks from the past few years

2015 - Our pick was Matt Barzal. Taken right after him was Kyle Connor & Thomas Chabot. Any of those 3 guys would look good here right now.

2016 - Sam Steel for Anaheim. No real guys taken after our pick until Alex DeBrincat with Chicago at 39.

2017 - Klin Kostin

2018 - K'Andre Miller

So our big miss was 2015. Any of those 3 guys would have been nice. 2016-2018 is still up in the air, but none look like absolute hits right now.

What thunder were they stealing?
- kfinl170

The host team is always expected to make noise at the draft which is why there was a ton of speculation on Vancouver trading their pick. Is this really news to you?

I think Niskanen is going to bounce back. Their D are great, Hart looks good, and they have 7 top 6 forwards. I think Philly looks good and it seems like they’re not done
- WSCTeton17

I agree. If Hart can give them the goaltending they havent had in 10+ years then they will be in good shape.

Man, the more we talk about this, the more I think the Penguins are in trouble this year I could easily see a Chicago/LA situation happening for us. All the more reason to hold our picks and not do anything crazy stupid just to compete next year.

Btw, tons of respect to Shero and Nashville for waiting to get this done. I’m sure they could’ve settled this up last night and stolen Benning and Vancouver’s thunder, and maybe they couldn’t but if they did then good on them - very classy if that’s the case
- WSCTeton17

wut.

The host team is always expected to make noise at the draft which is why there was a ton of speculation on Vancouver trading their pick. Is this really news to you?
- WSCTeton17

Never heard of this in my life.

I was looking last night at the missed Penguins 1st round picks from the past few years

2015 - Our pick was Matt Barzal. Taken right after him was Kyle Connor & Thomas Chabot. Any of those 3 guys would look good here right now.

2016 - Sam Steel for Anaheim. No real guys taken after our pick until Alex DeBrincat with Chicago at 39.

2017 - Klin Kostin

2018 - K'Andre Miller

So our big miss was 2015. Any of those 3 guys would have been nice. 2016-2018 is still up in the air, but none look like absolute hits right now.
- SuperHenderson13

2 stanley cups trump all of those picks.