2013 Draft Thread IV–June 30 3pm–8 16 38 52 69 129 130 143 159 189–Draft Primer in OP

[Woodhouse]

Mod Edit: 2013 Draft Threads – Part-1, Part-2, Part-3 – Welcome to Part-4!

***

GDT: 2013 NHL ENTRY DRAFT – SUN JUN 30 – 3:00PM ET – TV: NBCSN/NHLN-US, TSN – WEB: NHL.COM – CHAT

Rd​

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Pick​

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Pos​

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Player & Thread​

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Team/League​

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Height​

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Weight​

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Stat Line​

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YouTube​

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Interview​

1​

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008​

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1​

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016​

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2​

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038​

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2​

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052​

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3​

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069​

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5​

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129​

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5​

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130​

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5​

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143​

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6​

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159​

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7​

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189​

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BUFFALO-CENTRIC NEWS & NOTES

Articles, Blogs & Previews

6.10 – Sabres to host draft party on June 30 (Press Release – Sabres.com)

6.10 – Draft Preview: Top 10 Forwards (Kris Baker – SabresProspects.com)

6.17 – Buffalo Sabres draft primer: Part I (Mike Repertorio – NYHJ)

6.17 – Draft Preview: Top 10 Defensemen (Kris Baker – SabresProspects.com)

6.20 – Movin' on up? Not likely (Chris Ryndak – Sabres.com)

6.21 – Regier doubtful Sabres will land top pick (Bill Hoppe – Olean Times Herald)

6.21 – Moving up in draft may be mission impossible (John Vogl – Buffalo News)

6.23 – Bucky Gleason cleans house as Sabres’ GM for a day (Bucky Gleason – Buffalo News)

6.23 – Buffalo Sabres 2013 Draft Preview (Kris Baker – SabresProspects.com)

6.24 – Sabres in middle of expected wild week for NHL (Mike Harrington – Buffalo News)

Interviews & Pressers

5.30 – Kevin Snow interviews Kevin Devine at the 2013 NHL Scouting Combine. <4:58>

6.04 – Kevin Snow interviews NHL.com's Mike Morreale at the 2013 NHL Scouting Combine. <4:34>

6.12 – WGR's Howard Simon Show interviews Kevin Devine. <20:18>

6.20 – Complete pre-draft press conference with Darcy Regier and Kevin Devine. <29:11>

6.21 – WGR's Hockey Hotline interviews Darcy Regier. <27:48>

6.25 – WGR's Howard Simon Show interviews TSN scout Craig Button. <14:39>

6.25 – 2013 NHL Draft Ranking Special with TSN's Bob McKenzie. <21:58>

6.25 – 2013 NHL Mock Draft with TSN scout Craig Button. <22:37>

6.25 – Pipeline Show's Draft Preview with ISS head scout Ross MacLean (Part-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) <120:00>​

DRAFT GUIDE ROUNDUP

Final Rankings

CSS, Future Considerations ($), Hockey Prospect ($), ISS, McKeen's ($), Pronman, THW, TSN Button, TSN McKenzie.

Junior Resources

Buzzing the Net, DraftSite, ESPN ($), Future Considerations ($), HF, Hockey News, Hockey Prospect ($), Hockey
Prospectus, Hockey Writers, Last Word on Sports, McKeen's ($), NEHJ, NHL.com, OHL Prospects, OHL Writers,
Pipeline Show, Red Line Report ($), Reel Hockey Scouting ($), Scout.ca ($), Scouting Report, Sportsnet, TSN,
World of Junior Hockey, WHL From Above.

Mock Drafts (Tally)

Kris Baker, Buzzing The Net, Draft Site, Fansided, FC Herasymiuk, FC Nickolet, HF Staff, Hockeybuzz, Hockey Guys,
ISS Mattson, Last Word on Sports, McKeen's, MyNHLDraft, NHL Numbers, NHL EC Scout, NHL Hoffner, NHL Morreale,
NHL Kimelman, NHL WC Scout, SB Nation, THN Kennedy, THW, TSN Button, Webbsporten.​

SCOUTING COMBINE SUMMARY

2013 NHL Scouting Combine (Toronto, ON)

5.26 – NHL.com's 'Combing the 2013 NHL Combine' blog (Adam Kimelman, Mike Morreale – NHL.com)

5.31 – TSN's 2013 NHL Draft Combine Special. <45:30>

6.01 – Combine fitness results (Adam Kimelman – NHL.com)

2013 Buffalo Sabres Combine Participants (at First Niagara Center w/49 or so unknowns)

CSS​

|

Pos​

|

Skaters​

|

Team/League​

|

Height​

|

Weight​

|

GP​

|

G​

|

A​

|

P​

|

PIM​

|

Confirmed w/Link​

EU 003​

|

RC​

|

Elias Lindholm​

|

Brynas/SWE​

|

6.00​

|

181​

|

48​

|

11​

|

19​

|

030​

|

002​

|

Twitter​

EU 005​

|

LC​

|

Alexander Wennberg​

|

Djurgarden/SWE-2​

|

6.01​

|

174​

|

46​

|

14​

|

18​

|

032​

|

014​

|

Twitter​

EU 008​

|

LD​

|

Robert Hagg​

|

MODO/SWE​

|

6.02​

|

193​

|

27​

|

00​

|

01​

|

001​

|

002​

|

Twitter​

EU 013​

|

LD​

|

Linus Arnesson​

|

Djurgarden/SWE-2​

|

6.01​

|

179​

|

31​

|

00​

|

01​

|

001​

|

008​

|

Twitter​

NA 005​

|

LC​

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Sean Monahan​

|

Ottawa/OHL​

|

6.02​

|

187​

|

58​

|

31​

|

47​

|

078​

|

024​

|

Twitter​

NA 006​

|

LW/C​

|

Hunter Shinkaruk​

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Medicine Hat/WHL​

|

5.10​

|

181​

|

64​

|

37​

|

49​

|

086​

|

044​

|

Twitter​

NA 009​

|

LD​

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Mirco Mueller​

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Everett/WHL​

|

6.03​

|

176​

|

63​

|

06​

|

25​

|

031​

|

057​

|

Twitter​

NA 013​

|

RW​

|

Zach Nastasiuk​

|

Owen Sound/OHL​

|

6.01​

|

190​

|

62​

|

20​

|

20​

|

040​

|

032​

|

Twitter​

NA 017​

|

LW​

|

Kerby Rychel​

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Windsor/OHL​

|

6.01​

|

205​

|

68​

|

40​

|

47​

|

087​

|

094​

|

Twitter​

NA 020​

|

RW/C​

|

Curtis Lazar​

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Edmonton/WHL​

|

6.00​

|

190​

|

72​

|

38​

|

23​

|

061​

|

047​

|

Twitter​

NA 025​

|

LW​

|

Morgan Klimchuk​

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Regina/WHL​

|

5.11​

|

180​

|

72​

|

36​

|

40​

|

076​

|

020​

|

Twitter​

NA 026​

|

LW​

|

Adam Erne​

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Quebec/QMJHL​

|

6.00​

|

210​

|

68​

|

28​

|

44​

|

072​

|

067​

|

Twitter​

NA 027​

|

LD​

|

Josh Morrissey​

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Prince Albert/WHL​

|

6.00​

|

186​

|

70​

|

15​

|

32​

|

047​

|

091​

|

Twitter​

NA 033​

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RW​

|

Nicolas Petan​

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Portland/WHL​

|

5.08​

|

165​

|

71​

|

46​

|

74​

|

120​

|

043​

|

Twitter​

NA 036​

|

LW​

|

Oliver Bjorkstrand​

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Portland/WHL​

|

5.11​

|

157​

|

65​

|

31​

|

32​

|

063​

|

010​

|

Twitter​

NA 038​

|

RW​

|

Justin Bailey​

|

Kitchener/OHL​

|

6.03​

|

186​

|

57​

|

17​

|

19​

|

036​

|

034​

|

Twitter​

NA 039​

|

LW​

|

Emile Poirier​

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Gatineau/QMJHL​

|

6.01​

|

183​

|

65​

|

32​

|

38​

|

070​

|

101​

|

Twitter​

NA 049​

|

RD​

|

Steve Santini​

|

USNTDP/USHL​

|

6.02​

|

207​

|

56​

|

00​

|

13​

|

013​

|

042​

|

Twitter​

NA 063​

|

LC​

|

Ryan Kujawinski​

|

Kingston/OHL​

|

6.02​

|

204​

|

66​

|

17​

|

31​

|

048​

|

040​

|

Whig-Standard​

NA 072​

|

LC​

|

Kurt Etchegary​

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Quebec/QMJHL​

|

5.11​

|

185​

|

31​

|

09​

|

16​

|

025​

|

056​

|

Twitter​

NA 074​

|

LD​

|

Dylan Labbe​

|

Shawinigan/QMJHL​

|

6.01​

|

180​

|

61​

|

07​

|

21​

|

028​

|

057​

|

Twitter​

NA 168​

|

LD​

|

Mickael Beauregard​

|

Gatineau/QMJHL​

|

6.03​

|

181​

|

68​

|

01​

|

07​

|

008​

|

086​

|

Twitter​

CSS​

|

C​

|

Goalies​

|

Team/League​

|

Height​

|

Weight​

|

GP​

|

GAA​

|

MIN​

|

SO​

|

SV%​

|

Confirmed w/Link​

NA 001​

|

L​

|

Zachary Fucale​

|

Halifax/QMJHL​

|

6.01​

|

181​

|

55​

|

2.35​

|

3162​

|

2​

|

.909​

|

HockeyBuzz​

NA 005​

|

L​

|

Spencer Martin​

|

Mississauga/OHL​

|

6.02​

|

198​

|

46​

|

3.02​

|

2504​

|

0​

|

.906​

|

Twitter​

NA 007​

|

L​

|

Philippe Desrosiers​

|

Rimouski/QMJHL​

|

6.01​

|

182​

|

43​

|

3.07​

|

2305​

|

1​

|

.900​

|

Twitter​

NA 009​

|

L​

|

Antoine Bibeau​

|

PEI/QMJHL​

|

6.02​

|

198​

|

46​

|

2.81​

|

2521​

|

5​

|

.911​

|

Twitter​

LOCAL DRAFT-ELIGIBLE PROSPECTS (WNY & Southern Ontario)

Ranked Prospects

CSS​

|

Pos​

|

Prospect​

|

Team/League​

|

Height​

|

Weight​

|

GP​

|

G​

|

A​

|

P​

|

PIM​

|

Birthplace​

038​

|

RW​

|

Justin Bailey​

|

Kitchener/OHL​

|

6.03​

|

186​

|

57​

|

17​

|

19​

|

36​

|

34​

|

Williamsville, NY​

062​

|

LC​

|

Sean Malone​

|

USNTDP/USHL​

|

5.11​

|

183​

|

44​

|

13​

|

14​

|

27​

|

19​

|

West Seneca, NY​

101​

|

LD​

|

Ben Harpur​

|

Guelph/OHL​

|

6.06​

|

210​

|

67​

|

03​

|

12​

|

15​

|

59​

|

Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON​

138​

|

LW​

|

Miles Wood​

|

Nobles/USHS-MA​

|

6.01​

|

160​

|

15​

|

08​

|

10​

|

18​

|

18​

|

Buffalo, NY​

143​

|

LC​

|

Alex Iafallo​

|

Fargo/USHL​

|

5.11​

|

165​

|

50​

|

20​

|

23​

|

43​

|

15​

|

Eden, NY​

156​

|

RC​

|

Hunter Garlent​

|

Guelph/OHL​

|

5.08​

|

164​

|

50​

|

12​

|

19​

|

31​

|

25​

|

St. Catharines, ON​

197​

|

LW​

|

Anthony DiFruscia​

|

Niagara/OHL​

|

5.10​

|

190​

|

68​

|

14​

|

16​

|

30​

|

58​

|

Welland, ON​

206​

|

RD​

|

Tyler Wood​

|

Nobles/USHS-MA​

|

6.02​

|

189​

|

27​

|

12​

|

15​

|

27​

|

42​

|

Buffalo, NY​

Recent Interviews

6.06 – Kevin Snow interviews Justin Bailey ahead of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. <7:34>

6.13 – Kevin Snow interviews Sean Malone at the 2013 NHL Scouting Combine. <4:30>

6.25 – WGR's Howard Simon Show interviews Justin Bailey ahead of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. <8:53>​

Click to read more...

 

[Woodhouse]

Anyone Think Justin Bailey will be on the Sabres radar? What round he expected to go in, 2nd/3rd? Wouldn't mind grabbing him in the draft somehow.

Justin Bailey ‏@JustinBailey95 28m
Had a good time at the @BuffaloSabres combine today pic.twitter.com/F9S7INHFCw

***

Three CalgaryFlames.com mock draft results from May 30: (A) Monahan, Fucale; (B) Nurse, Morrissey; and (C) Lindholm, Shinkaruk.

***

Spencer Martin ‏@S_Marty95 6h
All done at the Leafs fitness testing and off to Buffalo Sabres Combine tonight! #LivingTheDream

Link: https://twitter.com/S_Marty95/status/341210573788311552


Remember that Martin's family have been Buffalo STH since the lockout .. he also is the first goalie confirmed for our combine.

***

Confirmed for Buffalo combine: Bailey + Erne + Etchegary + Hagg + Labbe + Lindholm + Martin + Monahan + Poirier + Rychel + Santini + Wennberg + 63 or so others

 

[Woodhouse]

Also, if current heights / body types interest you, check THIS link, as their images from the NHL combine provide numbers for some of the prospects. For instance, here's Artturi Lehkonen looking at least 5'11.25" and Rasmus Ristolainen breaching 6'4":

 

[EichHart]

Also, if current heights / body types interest you, check THIS link, as their images from the NHL combine provide numbers for some of the prospects. For instance, here's Artturi Lehkonen looking at least 5'11.25" and Rasmus Ristolainen breaching 6'4":

Rasmus looks pretty chubby. He will fit right in with Myers as under conditioned defenseman.

 

[Myllz]

Rasmus looks pretty chubby. He will fit right in with Myers as under conditioned defenseman.

Glad you're not jumping to conclusions based on nothing.

 

[Paxon]

Rasmus looks pretty chubby. He will fit right in with Myers as under conditioned defenseman.

Dude's 18 years old. Looking at him you can tell he has a very good frame, quite dissimilar to Myers'.

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

Rasmus looks pretty chubby. He will fit right in with Myers as under conditioned defenseman.

Drew Doughty was much larger and doughier during the draft and the season or two after that. He still is a true franchise #1 dman and a top 10 dman In the league.

A lot of the top players are hardly top notch physical specimens. I'd actually say that hockey is the sport where average looking players physically can be the best players in the league.

 

[Sean McG]

I can't seem to find a list of the invitees, but does anyone know how many of the players Buffalo actually drafted last year attended their combine? Were both Grigorenko and Girgensons there?

 

[Jacob582]

I can't seem to find a list of the invitees, but does anyone know how many of the players Buffalo actually drafted last year attended their combine? Were both Grigorenko and Girgensons there?

Grigorenko was not there.

Kea and Austin were there. I'm not sure about the others.

 

[jBuds]

Grigorenko was not there.

Kea and Austin were there. I'm not sure about the others.

Logan Nelson was there, as was Ullmark.

Lepkowski and Navin two years ago.

Looking for my lists now...

 

[jBuds]

Can't find it...could only find the list of players we brought in after the combine for interviews last year....not sure if accurate...

Morgan Rielly
Brady Vail
Cody Ceci
Matt Finn
Adam Pelech
Justin Kea
Tom Wilson
Scott Kosmachuk
Derrick Pouliot
Malcom Subban

 

[jBuds]

Draft-Defensemen Dissection: Volume 1 - Nikita Zadorov

From now until the draft, I will be analyzing a handful of the top draft-eligible defensemen for this upcoming draft. I've collected tons of full games (where I can), highlights, scouting reports, articles, and everything relevant, and picking them apart and going over them with a fine-toothed comb. Feel free to pass right over the writeups, or read and comment on my observations.

___________________________________

Volume 1

Nikita Zadorov, London

ISS: 8th | CS: 22nd (NA) | THN: 14th

As I watched more film on him, and regurgitated a handful of the Knights' early season games, particularly two in November, my view of his NHL potential became murkier and murkier. He would look the part of a defensive stalwart and a top-4, stay-at-home fixture on some nights, and he'd look like a bottom pairing guy on other nights. Also failed to bring the same game on a shift-by-shift basis, which is maddening for a blueliner...

Pros: he has size you can't teach...6'5, 230lbs... he's a positive presence in the crease in the defensive zone, and seems to be good with his stick in an annoying way. Not easy to play against in the tight areas. Good shot with some zip behind it when he has time. When play is sustained in his zone for longer stretches, he's not running around too much, which indicates positional discipline...full games I watched were early in the year, and all indications are that he grew immensely as the year went on, telling me he's coachable and willing to improve. Uses his size to separate opposition from puck

Cons: not as imposing in open ice as he should be with his size...takes himself out of the play when trying to connect on the big pop...takes a long time to get his shot off...despite being relatively willing to fight, he's not a good fighter, swinging his paws like a cat. First pass needs work. Invisible in a bad way too often in the highlights I've seen

FAVORITE: awesome, awesome, AWESOME gap control for a guy with his size... when you're a bigger defenseman, more often than not you lose a bit of foot speed, thus increasing the cushion you allow between yourself and the opposing rusher to compensate... almost all of the standout rushes against him were kept tight to his lanes, stick length away, head always up focusing on the chest as he should be

HATE IT: he takes shifts off...often... you can coach that out of a player, but give me a smaller, less imposing guy who plays hard every shift and I'm happy

Standout Draft Moment: absolutely obliterated Anthony Mantha in the Top Prospects game with a clean check

If we took him at 8, I'd... be mad at passing up on about 4 other guys likely still available that I prefer for a variety of reasons

If we took him at 16, I'd... accept it & not love it, though the size and potential would be a decent addition to the pipeline

Ridiculously-specific Comparable, Best Case: He'd end up playing like Andrej Meszaros did in his first two seasons in Ottawa, but do so in a Larry Robinson body

 

[SuperNintendoChalmrs]

https://twitter.com/petan19/status/341342404156198912



Nic Petan
‏@petan19
In buffalo ... I guess #dead #exhausted



https://twitter.com/25mueller/status/340943992508260352

Mirco Mueller
‏@25mueller
Couple days in buffalo should be fun as well

 

[BuiltTagonTough]

https://twitter.com/petan19/status/341342404156198912



Nic Petan
‏@petan19
In buffalo ... I guess #dead #exhausted



https://twitter.com/25mueller/status/340943992508260352

Mirco Mueller
‏@25mueller
Couple days in buffalo should be fun as well

Nic sounds thrilled.

Bets on how long before people overreact and say they wouldn't draft him because he hates Buffalo?

 

[SuperNintendoChalmrs]

In Buffalo... I guess.


He also didn't capitalize "Buffalo". No chance he's getting drafted by the Sabres.

 

[AirBriere48]

Really, really want this guy:


Looks like Nick Backstrom just way more tenacious on the puck. If he's still around at 5-7, I hope they make a move to jump up a few spots to get him.

Edit: Not sure why the link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4x9D3uRqEU) isn't working...

 

[Jame]

If we took him at 8, I'd... be mad at passing up on about 4 other guys likely still available that I prefer for a variety of reasons

If we took him at 16, I'd... accept it & not love it, though the size and potential would be a decent addition to the pipeline

Great write up....
But the part quoted above doesnt make sense....
You'd hate him at 8, because there are 4 guys you'd prefer (that puts Zadarov at 12)... but you wouldn't love getting your #12 at #16?

 

[gallagt01]

Scenario one:

You're Regier. The draft board takes a strange turn when Yzerman decides to take Nichuskin over Drouin. Regier ponies up a huge package, inculding one of Hodgson or Grigorenko, to move from No. 8 to No. 4. Who are you taking at four, Drouin or Barkov?

COL: Jones
FLA: MacKinnon
TB: Nichuskin
BUF (NSH): ???

Scenario two:

You're Regier. The draft board has fallen in your favor after Nichuskin and a couple of defensemen are taken in the first seven picks. What are you doing if the draft board falls this way?

COL: Jones
FLA: MacKinnon
TB: Nichuskin
NSH: Drouin
CAR: Ristolainen
CGY: Barkov
EDM: Nurse
BUF: ???

Do you go Lindholm or do you go Monahan and why?

Disclaimer: I know the above scenarios aren't even remotely likely, just trying to generate some discussion (and you never know - nobody expected Forsberg or Grigorenko to fall so far last year).

 

[Jame]

Scenario one:

You're Regier. The draft board takes a strange turn when Yzerman decides to take Nichuskin over Drouin. Regier ponies up a huge package, inculding one of Hodgson or Grigorenko, to move from No. 8 to No. 4. Who are you taking at four, Drouin or Barkov?

COL: Jones
FLA: MacKinnon
TB: Nichuskin
BUF (NSH): ???

If we gave up one of our 2 young offensive centers, i'd say we had to take Barkov.

Scenario two:

You're Regier. The draft board has fallen in your favor after Nichuskin and a couple of defensemen are taken in the first seven picks. What are you doing if the draft board falls this way?

COL: Jones
FLA: MacKinnon
TB: Nichuskin
NSH: Drouin
CAR: Ristolainen
CGY: Barkov
EDM: Nurse
BUF: ???

Do you go Lindholm or do you go Monahan and why?

Disclaimer: I know the above scenarios aren't even remotely likely, just trying to generate some discussion (and you never know - nobody expected Forsberg or Grigorenko to fall so far last year).

Lindholm, higher offensive ceiling

 

[Der Jaeger]

Really, really want this guy:


Looks like Nick Backstrom just way more tenacious on the puck. If he's still around at 5-7, I hope they make a move to jump up a few spots to get him.

Edit: Not sure why the link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4x9D3uRqEU) isn't working...

If Regier can't swing a deal to get MacKinnon, I want Lindholm. Love the tempo he plays the game at, and plays physical.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Scenario one:

You're Regier. The draft board takes a strange turn when Yzerman decides to take Nichuskin over Drouin. Regier ponies up a huge package, inculding one of Hodgson or Grigorenko, to move from No. 8 to No. 4. Who are you taking at four, Drouin or Barkov?

COL: Jones
FLA: MacKinnon
TB: Nichuskin
BUF (NSH): ???

Scenario two:

You're Regier. The draft board has fallen in your favor after Nichuskin and a couple of defensemen are taken in the first seven picks. What are you doing if the draft board falls this way?

COL: Jones
FLA: MacKinnon
TB: Nichuskin
NSH: Drouin
CAR: Ristolainen
CGY: Barkov
EDM: Nurse
BUF: ???

Do you go Lindholm or do you go Monahan and why?

Disclaimer: I know the above scenarios aren't even remotely likely, just trying to generate some discussion (and you never know - nobody expected Forsberg or Grigorenko to fall so far last year).

Scenario 1: my choice is between Barkov and Lindholm.

Scenario 2: Lindholm

 

[kirby11]

Scenario one:

You're Regier. The draft board takes a strange turn when Yzerman decides to take Nichuskin over Drouin. Regier ponies up a huge package, inculding one of Hodgson or Grigorenko, to move from No. 8 to No. 4. Who are you taking at four, Drouin or Barkov?

COL: Jones
FLA: MacKinnon
TB: Nichuskin
BUF (NSH): ???

Scenario two:

You're Regier. The draft board has fallen in your favor after Nichuskin and a couple of defensemen are taken in the first seven picks. What are you doing if the draft board falls this way?

COL: Jones
FLA: MacKinnon
TB: Nichuskin
NSH: Drouin
CAR: Ristolainen
CGY: Barkov
EDM: Nurse
BUF: ???

Do you go Lindholm or do you go Monahan and why?

Disclaimer: I know the above scenarios aren't even remotely likely, just trying to generate some discussion (and you never know - nobody expected Forsberg or Grigorenko to fall so far last year).

1st scenario: Barkov
2nd: Lindholm

 

[Jacob582]

Scenario one:

You're Regier. The draft board takes a strange turn when Yzerman decides to take Nichuskin over Drouin. Regier ponies up a huge package, inculding one of Hodgson or Grigorenko, to move from No. 8 to No. 4. Who are you taking at four, Drouin or Barkov?

COL: Jones
FLA: MacKinnon
TB: Nichuskin
BUF (NSH): ???

Scenario two:

You're Regier. The draft board has fallen in your favor after Nichuskin and a couple of defensemen are taken in the first seven picks. What are you doing if the draft board falls this way?

COL: Jones
FLA: MacKinnon
TB: Nichuskin
NSH: Drouin
CAR: Ristolainen
CGY: Barkov
EDM: Nurse
BUF: ???

Do you go Lindholm or do you go Monahan and why?

Disclaimer: I know the above scenarios aren't even remotely likely, just trying to generate some discussion (and you never know - nobody expected Forsberg or Grigorenko to fall so far last year).

I haven't seen any of these players play but I threw darts at the board and here is my order.
Drouin
Barkov
Lindholm
Monahan

 

[cybresabre]

Really, really want this guy:



Looks like Nick Backstrom just way more tenacious on the puck. If he's still around at 5-7, I hope they make a move to jump up a few spots to get him.

everything after the = goes between square bracketed yt tags.
{yt}m4x9D3uRqEU{/yt}

 

[Ralonzo]

Rasmus looks pretty chubby. He will fit right in with Myers as under conditioned defenseman.

Rasmus finished 4th in VO2 max behind Mueller, Bigras and Erne and 7th in pull strength. Don't think conditioning is an issue here.