Now that's a reward for actually putting on a run in the second half and not to a team that was content to lose. Well-earned draft reward for the Devils.
He's just the right guy for the Isles - they're solid on forwards,they need to be able to clear the crease, and they can't sighn top free agents. Strome, Huberdeau and Murphy are all high risk; the Isles are in a position where they can take more of a sure solid RD pick.
Florida is in desperate need of a star forward. Problem with Couturier is I think he will make a great #2C(which is perfect if you have a good #1 guy or star wingers), but I am not sure he is #1C star centerman material which the Panthers desperately need. If I had to think of a perfect match of a player for a team who needs them I think it would be RNH, but he most likely will be gone at 3
Basing it on his performance in 60+ games I think Hamonic is already a good second pairing defenseman with the potential to be a great #2 guy. One thing that makes drafting defensemen so hard early in the first is it's much easier to find good defefensemen then good forwards in the second round(same can't be said for finding forwards int he second round)
5th/6th
2010
Niederreiter/Connolly
2009
Brayden Schenn/OEL
2008
Luke Schenn/Nikita Filatov
2007
Karl Alzner/Sam Gagner
2006
Phil Kessel/Derick Brassard
Couturier is the perfect player for the devils, and can become a 3rd line center right off the bat, too. They probably should draft a d-man, but I think they can sign one of the big FA defenseman, and be confident with merrill going forward. Zajac-Couturier-Josefson is amazing two-way center depth and all are under 26. I'm jealous of the devils; currently and long-term.
...
I gotta wonder how awkward Taylor Hall felt at that draft party living it up, celebrating another last place season.
I'm not really surprised about Landeskog's accent. Scandinavians overall have the best English accent of any non-native English speakers, just look at Lidstrom, his English is superb.
NJ deserves this luck IMO
way to go for TRYING to win and making the playoffs!
The Devils got to trade up with Florida and draft Larsson !
I think all 4 teams could end up with excellent fits if the draft goes down as (semi) expected.
Oilers - RNH (get a much needed future #1 C)
Avs - Larsson (they still really need dmen who can play d, even after the EJ trade)
Panthers - Landeskog (they're super short on talented wingers outside of Booth)
Devils - Couturier (potential #1 C)
Re: the Devils in general, if they draft Couturier, and if their young guns like Couturier, Tedenby and Josefson pan out, their potential future forwards could look something like:
Kovalchuk - Couturier - Tedenby
Parise - Zajac - ???
??? - Josefson - Clarkson
That's a potentially awesome young core. Still need to do something about the defense and goaltending though, not much young talent there.
... by playing the most boring hockey ever known to man.
I've got plenty of butthurt over this. The Islanders got jobbed.
Now that's a reward for actually putting on a run in the second half and not to a team that was content to lose. Well-earned draft reward for the Devils.
What about Ottawa? Fla, Col, Edm....those teams all rolled over to die.
The only difference between Jersey and Ottawa is Jersey had a stacked roster that massively underperformed, including a a player that was signed to an illegal contract. Boy, they sure deserved it more! God know that Ottawa was the team with the 1st ballot HHOF goaltender, the biggest UFA signing in year, etc etc etc etc.
We should still get a fantastic player at 6th, but the options wining would have provided were more desireable. I am still happy Ottawa didnt tank like the Avs did (losing 30 if their last 36), but winning the lottery would have been a nice reward for a team that didnt roll over, and didnt under perform to the point of insanity like the Devils did.
Its insane to me that a team like Ottawa, that made the playoffs 11 years straight, fell on hard times, had a season from hell, made moves to improve, did improve, finished 5th last....has a higher chance of moving down in the draft than moving up. That makes no sense.