Post-Game Talk: 2015 NHL Entry Draft: The Boston Ruins Edition

[Devils Dominion]

These posts are just ... I don't know what to say.

Guess what? The highest rated north american goalie in a "deep draft" is pretty good. Most teams do need more than two capable goalies in their system too you know. Sure they could've found a goalie in the later rounds but they took one who could turn in to a pretty good player. If they had their minds set on taking a goalie, why would you not take the best goalie available? And Blackwood was clearly the best available.

People always go on about second and third round picks like they're sure things. THEY'RE NOT. So stop insinuating that taking a forward with that pick would have been any better. You say to judge a draft in 4-5 years time? OK, so come back here in 4-5 years and tell us just what Dunn, Bracco, Wagner, Garland, Spacek, or whoever the hell else you named are up to. 1-2 players becoming a regular NHLer per team per draft year is pretty much a win. People really need to stop overanalyzing these draft picks and thinking that every single player they take is in line to make it to the NHL. They're not. There can only be 690 players in the league at any given time.

Then your very next assessment is about a kid they took that essentially meets every criteria for a player you wanted them to take in the second round instead of Blackwood yet Speers is "soft and undersized"? What about Bracco who you so desperately wanted the Devils to take?

Then you grade a fourth round pick (A FOURTH ROUND PICK!), a D+ because some other unknown player that was still available should have been taken instead of him in your opinion? Yeesh.

Let's see how they turn out, I just may be right when a few years down the road.
Maybe not.
But, I did put a lot of time the past few months in watching video, reading reviews, etc so I can formulate educated opinions.

Lots of folks here moan when someone shreds draft picks after the fact Monday Morning QB style.

Well, I let everyone know who I wanted Lou Conte Shero to pick prior to the draft and these are my initial reactions right after the draft.

I was dead on about Hoeffel the day he was drafted when I posted that it was a horrible pick.

I hope I am wrong on Blackwood and White.

 

[Triumph]

Let's see how they turn out, I just may be right when a few years down the road.
Maybe not.
But, I did put a lot of time the past few months in watching video, reading reviews, etc so I can formulate educated opinions.

Lots of folks here moan when someone shreds draft picks after the fact Monday Morning QB style.

Well, I let everyone know who I wanted Lou Conte Shero to pick prior to the draft and these are my initial reactions right after the draft.

I was dead on about Hoeffel the day he was drafted when I posted that it was a horrible pick.

I hope I am wrong on Blackwood and White.

The best way to look like a genius is to bet against every prospect picked past the first round. You'll almost always win that way, because a large majority of those prospects fail to become good NHL players, even in a deep draft like this one. The question isn't, will these be NHL players - no one taken past about pick #10 is even money to become an NHLer, so if you say 'no' to everyone you come out ahead. The real question to ask is, do these look like good selections based on where they were taken, and if you think Speers is a bad (or even average) pick putting up more than a point a game in his Y-18 season, I'm not sure what to tell you.

 

[Mustangs]

When he mkaes team canada workd junior this year or the next people forget about there stupidity. And cheer for him and want to develop into a sokid prospect.

 

[glenwo2]

Wait. Are you saying this based on him as a prospect? Or in relationship to where he was picked?

I don't think there is any need to be comparing him to Frazee, Damphouse or Ahonen in terms of NHL potential, that is unwarranted. There is a good chance this is going to Canada's #1 netminder at the WJC this year and I think we we'll be able to evaluate him much better seeing him against the best competition in his age group. Right now this is a prospect with a good pedigree and one that has as much potential as any of our prospects.

I wholeheartedly agree that picking a goalie here was a mistake and a wasted pick regardless of the NHL potential but I don't think we want to write off an 18 year old's future and potential based on an overreach by our management.

You wholeheartedly agree? You're the one who brought up the argument/debate in the first place. So you're basically agreeing with yourself.


Good to see, at least, that you've calmed down a bit and are now looking at this from a RATIONAL perspective.

I believe he will be the Heir Apparent to Cory when all is said and done and not be just another "Trading Chip".

 

[Devils1029]

Had a chance to digest things while on vacation this past week and now reading through pages of comments, I have a few thoughts.

While for weeks leading up to the draft, the big debate was Zacha versus Barzal. I was in camp Barzal but didn't mind the Zacha pick, especially when the top 5 went as expected. I see the value there although the state aren't - he has a ton of potential.

The big debate now seems to be the Blackwood pick, I admit I was shocked they used their 2nd on a goalie but he was the BEST NA rated goalie. During the 1st rd, I commented how many of the guys I wanted with pick #36 were already taken (Roslovic, Beauvlliier, Fischer, Boeser, Senyshyn) over guys like Sprong and Bittner. Obviously they dropped out of the 1st for reasons the Conte also agreed with. I found myself at 36 hoping for a dropping guy like Harkins, Chaplik, or a dman like Vince Dunn. I was leery about Sprong and Bittner. So, I compare Blackwood against Harkins, Chaplik and although I'd prefer the forward, he very well could be more talented at his position than the Fwds mentioned. I'm Ok with this pick.

I also think we were approaching 36/41 as a forward and a goalie. When most of our Fwds we were looking at were picked earlier, they moved pick 41 to add Palmieri which addresses both the immediate need for RW on the NHL team but also the future at that position as he's only 24. I'd argue this is better use of pick 41 and a 2016 3rd - we essentially traded a 42 year old slow Jagr with no future for a young speedy RW who should be able to give us the pts Jagr did and for longer.

I also look at all of the roster moves and the draft is just one piece. The fact we added young guys in Mozic and Kalinin and recently Blandisi (2 forwards under the age of 21) and that gives the flexibility to go with a top ranked NA goalie - especially knowing that Philly was likely to add a goalie. Imagine Philly adding Provorov, Konecny, and Blackwood? Blackwood would not have made it to pick #67 for sure.

Look at the Devils page on Hockeysfuture and what we were lacking - we addressed 2 of the 3 by adding an elite level prospect in Zacha and a high level goalie in Blackwood.

Sure, I would have loved the sexy move of trading back into the first but all things considered, I do think that Conte/Shero did some good things with what they had to work with. Sure some teams worked some wonders but just because we weren't the best doesn't mean it wasn't a good draft for NJ. I think a B+ is a fair rating - including consideration for the Palmieri move.

 

[Captain Lou]

Had a chance to digest things while on vacation this past week and now reading through pages of comments, I have a few thoughts.

While for weeks leading up to the draft, the big debate was Zacha versus Barzal. I was in camp Barzal but didn't mind the Zacha pick, especially when the top 5 went as expected. I see the value there although the state aren't - he has a ton of potential.

The big debate now seems to be the Blackwood pick, I admit I was shocked they used their 2nd on a goalie but he was the BEST NA rated goalie. During the 1st rd, I commented how many of the guys I wanted with pick #36 were already taken (Roslovic, Beauvlliier, Fischer, Boeser, Senyshyn) over guys like Sprong and Bittner. Obviously they dropped out of the 1st for reasons the Conte also agreed with. I found myself at 36 hoping for a dropping guy like Harkins, Chaplik, or a dman like Vince Dunn. I was leery about Sprong and Bittner. So, I compare Blackwood against Harkins, Chaplik and although I'd prefer the forward, he very well could be more talented at his position than the Fwds mentioned. I'm Ok with this pick.

I also think we were approaching 36/41 as a forward and a goalie. When most of our Fwds we were looking at were picked earlier, they moved pick 41 to add Palmieri which addresses both the immediate need for RW on the NHL team but also the future at that position as he's only 24. I'd argue this is better use of pick 41 and a 2016 3rd - we essentially traded a 42 year old slow Jagr with no future for a young speedy RW who should be able to give us the pts Jagr did and for longer.

I also look at all of the roster moves and the draft is just one piece. The fact we added young guys in Mozic and Kalinin and recently Blandisi (2 forwards under the age of 21) and that gives the flexibility to go with a top ranked NA goalie - especially knowing that Philly was likely to add a goalie. Imagine Philly adding Provorov, Konecny, and Blackwood? Blackwood would not have made it to pick #67 for sure.

Look at the Devils page on Hockeysfuture and what we were lacking - we addressed 2 of the 3 by adding an elite level prospect in Zacha and a high level goalie in Blackwood.

I agree with everything I quoted out of this post, but I especially agree with the bolded. The fact we picked up further-along prospects who can help out Albany (maybe the big club, too) infused talent into the system that just wasn't there last year.

Zacha, Blackwood, Blandisi, Kalinin, Mozic all should be in our top-10 prospect list and while that may be akin to be the tallest midget, it represents a huge leap forward for this organization, as none of them were even our property a year ago. Heck, you could probably add in Thompson too, although he is not a top-10 prospect.

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

Had a chance to digest things while on vacation this past week and now reading through pages of comments, I have a few thoughts.

While for weeks leading up to the draft, the big debate was Zacha versus Barzal. I was in camp Barzal but didn't mind the Zacha pick, especially when the top 5 went as expected. I see the value there although the state aren't - he has a ton of potential.

The big debate now seems to be the Blackwood pick, I admit I was shocked they used their 2nd on a goalie but he was the BEST NA rated goalie. During the 1st rd, I commented how many of the guys I wanted with pick #36 were already taken (Roslovic, Beauvlliier, Fischer, Boeser, Senyshyn) over guys like Sprong and Bittner. Obviously they dropped out of the 1st for reasons the Conte also agreed with. I found myself at 36 hoping for a dropping guy like Harkins, Chaplik, or a dman like Vince Dunn. I was leery about Sprong and Bittner. So, I compare Blackwood against Harkins, Chaplik and although I'd prefer the forward, he very well could be more talented at his position than the Fwds mentioned. I'm Ok with this pick.

I also think we were approaching 36/41 as a forward and a goalie. When most of our Fwds we were looking at were picked earlier, they moved pick 41 to add Palmieri which addresses both the immediate need for RW on the NHL team but also the future at that position as he's only 24. I'd argue this is better use of pick 41 and a 2016 3rd - we essentially traded a 42 year old slow Jagr with no future for a young speedy RW who should be able to give us the pts Jagr did and for longer.

I also look at all of the roster moves and the draft is just one piece. The fact we added young guys in Mozic and Kalinin and recently Blandisi (2 forwards under the age of 21) and that gives the flexibility to go with a top ranked NA goalie - especially knowing that Philly was likely to add a goalie. Imagine Philly adding Provorov, Konecny, and Blackwood? Blackwood would not have made it to pick #67 for sure.

Look at the Devils page on Hockeysfuture and what we were lacking - we addressed 2 of the 3 by adding an elite level prospect in Zacha and a high level goalie in Blackwood.

Sure, I would have loved the sexy move of trading back into the first but all things considered, I do think that Conte/Shero did some good things with what they had to work with. Sure some teams worked some wonders but just because we weren't the best doesn't mean it wasn't a good draft for NJ. I think a B+ is a fair rating - including consideration for the Palmieri move.

Nice post. It's good to have the perspective of someone who had a few days to let the draft sink in before making an evaluation. Your comments about the Blackwood pick are particularly insightful in my opinion.

 

[JimEIV]

Anybody remember the great Chet Pickard? 18th overall in 2008. CHL goaltender of the year, helped Canada win gold in the 2009 WJC. I believe he is out of hockey as of 2014.

Look at that 2008 draft. Brandon Holtby is the best goalie to come out of that draft (Although there is still time for Jake Allen) Holtby was drafted in the 4th round 93rd overall. 9 goalies were drafted ahead of him. Nine. Including the great Chet Pickard to lead the way.

 

[CerebralGenesis]

preachin to the choir jimmy, that goalie pick was dumb. I just hope he can be decent instead of just busting to boot.

Good thing we are tanking this season so Shero can stab another top pick on a goalie though.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

No way to justify taking the goalie there. It's fine to have high hopes for him, but given history taking a goalie there was plain stupidity.

 

[glenwo2]

Well, UnseenHand, I'll trust our scouts who, unlike us, have done their homework on whom they decide to draft.


Whether you, I, or anyone else here believes it was a stupid pick(I don't think it was, myself), the bottom line is that he's now a Devil and the only thing left for all of us to do is root for him to become an NHL Goaltender in the future and not "go bust" like the "Great Captain Chet Pickard". Make it so.

 

[Marshal Rochambeau]

Let's see how they turn out, I just may be right when a few years down the road.
Maybe not.
But, I did put a lot of time the past few months in watching video, reading reviews, etc so I can formulate educated opinions.

Lots of folks here moan when someone shreds draft picks after the fact Monday Morning QB style.

Well, I let everyone know who I wanted Lou Conte Shero to pick prior to the draft and these are my initial reactions right after the draft.

I was dead on about Hoeffel the day he was drafted when I posted that it was a horrible pick.

I hope I am wrong on Blackwood and White.

If you randomly guess that a player will not make the NHL without knowing anything about the player, there's a large chance you will be right.

 

[Brodeur]

Hey gang, just got back from my vacation which included the Draft. Just thought I'd share some photos:

This is Shero and Jarmo Kekalainen discussing a possible trade at #6. They talked for about a minute before Shero decided to keep it.

Zacha meeting the draft table. I'd have to guess that it's our Czech scout who he's hugging.

After the Sharks picked at #9, Larry Robinson made his way over. Whatever he said had Lou in stitches.

Took this photo of Dean Lombardi and Brad Treliving (not 100% sure). Later we'd find out that the Kings learned about Mike Richards at the draft and that they cut off trade discussions with Calgary about absorbing the contract. So this might have been that conversation.

Late in round one, Shero was talking with somebody I didn't recognize.

As we were on the clock at #36, that guy appeared in this photo again. Not sure if he was an Ottawa staffer, or perhaps worked for NHL Central Registry who keeps track of all the trades.

Blackwood being selected at #42.

On the clock at #67.

Blake Speers putting on the jersey.

Just realizing it now, but I remembered that somebody at the Carolina table exchanged a quick word with Speers. It appears to be Ron Francis who is from Sault Ste. Marie and had played there as a junior like Speers.

Selecting Colton White in the 4th round.

Shero on the phone, possibly with Ottawa to tell them that we weren't taking their 4th round pick. Meanwhile Ivan Provorov is walking down the aisle.

Brett Seney meeting the draft table in the sixth round.

Got a picture with Blackwood who seemed friendly. I think I went through the 12 steps of recovery with the pick. While I would have preferred Bracco or Chlapik, it's not like either of those guys is a slam dunk either.

I brought two jersey with me on this trip: A Brodeur and a 2002 era Bill Guerin. I had gone to Vegas for the NHL Award show and Guerin was presenting. I accidentally wandered into the backstage area after the show and security didn't stop me. But I didn't see Guerin there and only saw him from afar at the Draft.

After Florida, the next leg of my vacation was going to Pittsburgh to visit a buddy and to watch a Pirates game. I stepped onto my plane and Guerin is sitting there in the front row. Eventually I worked up enough nerve to talk with him and he couldn't have been more accommodating. Chatted with him a little more at baggage claim and he was awesome. The other Penguins staffers who were on the flight were giving me some grief. Ie, "Of all the jerseys, why did you have that one on you?"

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

Great pictures! Thanks so much for sharing them with us--made me feel like I was there myself

Sounds like you had an awesome vacation!

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Awesome pictures! Looks like you had a great time! Definitely a bit jelly....

 

[Brodeur]

Great pictures! Thanks so much for sharing them with us--made me feel like I was there myself

Sounds like you had an awesome vacation!

Awesome pictures! Looks like you had a great time! Definitely a bit jelly....

It was nerdy fun, although I wish it wasn't 95 and humid in South Florida. The setup was a little different than the other drafts I had gone to. There appeared to be an underground/private entrance for the players and teams. In past years, everybody used the same entrance so it was easier to run into players (in particular, I remember in 2011 that they wouldn't let in Leafs coach Ron Wilson who had misplaced his credential).

Didn't see Zacha/Speers at all around the arena. Actually ran into Blackwood a couple times.

The NHL was stationed in Fort Lauderdale which is ~25 minutes east of the arena. I had made my way over there on the Friday morning and had breakfast at a beachfront resort. A table of Nashville scouts was seated next to me and some other assorted scouts were at the restaurant later. But that meal was sabotaged for me as I had accidentally parked in a hotel parking garage and security didn't let me leave since I didn't have a room key.

The Guerin interaction was great, but I do have mild regrets about not approaching Marty when I had the chance on Day 1. He was probably 15-20 feet away, but kinda had a "don't talk to me right now" look on his face. I figured I could try again on Day 2, but no dice.

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

It was nerdy fun, although I wish it wasn't 95 and humid in South Florida. The setup was a little different than the other drafts I had gone to. There appeared to be an underground/private entrance for the players and teams. In past years, everybody used the same entrance so it was easier to run into players (in particular, I remember in 2011 that they wouldn't let in Leafs coach Ron Wilson who had misplaced his credential).

Didn't see Zacha/Speers at all around the arena. Actually ran into Blackwood a couple times.

The NHL was stationed in Fort Lauderdale which is ~25 minutes east of the arena. I had made my way over there on the Friday morning and had breakfast at a beachfront resort. A table of Nashville scouts was seated next to me and some other assorted scouts were at the restaurant later. But that meal was sabotaged for me as I had accidentally parked in a hotel parking garage and security didn't let me leave since I didn't have a room key.

The Guerin interaction was great, but I do have mild regrets about not approaching Marty when I had the chance on Day 1. He was probably 15-20 feet away, but kinda had a "don't talk to me right now" look on his face. I figured I could try again on Day 2, but no dice.

Shame that it was humid in Florida and that you didn't see Zacha or Speers, but neat that you ran into Blackwood a few times. Very cool that meeting Guerin was so nice, and hopefully you'll get another chance to approach Marty sometime.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Would have really liked to have drafted Bracco or Hintz

 

[New Jack City]

great pics, thanks for sharing

 

[njdevils1982]

awesome draft photos….

love the one where the bruins table looks absolutely miserable

the guy on the right staring at the camera ….gold

 

[JimEIV]

Great pictures...cool stuff.

 

[SeidoN]

awesome draft photos….

love the one where the bruins table looks absolutely misserable

the Montreal table just off-shot

 

[Brodeur]

love the one where the bruins table looks absolutely miserable

I thought I took one of the Blues table during the first round. It might have been more funny in person, but I swear every guy at the their table was just staring blankly into space. I suppose I'd be bored for 3+ hours without a pick too.

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

I thought I took one of the Blues table during the first round. It might have been more funny in person, but I swear every guy at the their table was just staring blankly into space. I suppose I'd be bored for 3+ hours without a pick too.

Everyone at the Bruins table must've been thinking that this will be the draft that gets them sacked in a few years time. Yikes what a train wreck this draft was for them.

 

[glenwo2]

Ie, "Of all the jerseys, why did you have that one on you?"

Maybe because you'd rather become a Rags fan than carry a Penguins Jersey perhaps?


(did you tell them this? lol )