I get it if you don't want to take a chance on Max Domi because you think he's washed from his shoulder injury. But to take a guy you're not going to sign just so you free up a contract seems like nonsense. You could take a 4th liner on a cheap deal instead of taking multiple 3rd liners on cheap deals.

Also, I like Donskoi but if you're going to be taking Eberle why not take Landeskog and offer him a mega deal instead then take Bellows from NYI. They're committing to players who are on bad contracts for ~4 years so why not just spend slightly more for a much better player who can be the face of your team.

Why use so many picks on guys who were going to FA that weren't going to be re-signed by their teams in the first place? Just a puzzling draft all around and I get the feeling that Francis tried to hardball the league and everybody called his bluff.

edit: Why take Oleksiak and re-sign him to big money when you can just take Miller or McCabe from Buffalo instead of taking Borgen just so you can let him go. There are just a ton of minutes eaters available on cheaper contracts. Also, just coming out that Yanni Gourde's shoulder surgery will have him out until November so they won't take injured players from some teams but will from others and give the Lightning free cap relief for no compensation. He could have just taken Cal Foote then held the Lightning at gun-point for cap relief. What a (frank)ing joke.
- Pomegrant

Taking Gourde over Foote was a huge mistake. He will be a big piece of their team going forward, and yes, now if Stammers does the Kuch LTIR move, they are set for another run. Can't blame them for bending the rules, but Seattle had all the power in that negotiation.

Oleksiak is overpaid for sure. I was expecting 3x3 or something like that. Good job on Larsson, as he is as reliable and strong as they come. I think Bailey>Eb's but it was a coin flip. That Brogen pick from Buff made no sense. He is a fringe AHL'er with 25 points in 132 AHL games and 0 points through 14 NHL games. He doesn't look good at all and Miller could have been flipped at the deadline for sure. Some questionable moves for sure.

They may sell quick and put their hat in the ring for Wright and Bedard going forward. Not a bad idea really.

So who we drafting
- dmarsden2988

If Hughes is on the board hes the pick. If hes gone Eklund, Guenther, Edvinsson, or Clarke

Well powers and bernier are going 1-2 unless something crazy happens

I feel the devils need to go defense in either Hughes or Clarke, preferably Hughes unless they are really high on eklund who played well with Holtz. Or if they want a scorer Guenther is a possibility

I heard Clarke may have knee issues so while ok now it could be an issue down the line
- dmarsden2988

Knee problems?? Ugh. If that’s true, as a guy with knee problems.. stay away. You can only fix so much with knees and they don’t tend to fix themselves. Hate my damn knees.