shrader

I don't know. I think he might surprise us all when he falls in love with hamburgers.

Was that one really viewed as a typical draft for prospect quality? I know it was one of those absurdly deep in D drafts, but next to nothing was said about the forwards. Looking back at that one even right now, it's tough to really focus on the forward talent. Picks 4-10 were all defensemen (and #2 as well), what a crazy draft. 13 defensemen and 2 goalies in the first round, crazy. I'm right on board with your assessment of Grigorenko though, I just couldn't help but comment on that draft. That one already seems to be a mostly forgotten draft, especially given the others in recent years.

Any time you have a prospect who has trained with Mike Boyle, you are going to get one of the strongest guys out there. I doubt the name is very well known, but it definitely is around the Boston college hockey circles. I know I saw his name pop up in some recent Eichel stories, so with seeing that, it is a very safe bet that strength will always be one of the main assets that Eichel will bring to the game for the next 15 years.

Thanks, now I'm trying to picture what he would add to weave's "what are you eating (drinking)" thread.

The wording throws me off. For some reason, when I see the word compensation it doesn't immediately lead me to thinking about trades. It sounds like something determined by a third party. But anyway, if they can go that route, I really wonder why another team would do it. If Detroit starts making that offer, you know Babcock isn't staying there. Just wait the few days until he is free. Babcock's personal preferences about where he'll be next year are probably far more developed than the typical player approaching UFA status.

Would the league allow it?

I think they're at the point now where they would want to do the opposite of that trade. They should be wanting to accelerate the development process a bit and bring in guys who are closer to the NHL level instead of waiting a couple extra years on someone from this year's draft.

You're typing all of this out on a computer or phone right now, aren't you? A quick google search taught me most of what I needed to know when I started playing in Boston around 10 years ago. ;)

I know what he's going for, but I found that article very hard to read. When recapping the incidents he tends to jump back and forth between names a little too much. I'm curious if others had the same reaction or if I'm just slightly distracted right now.

Something has to give sooner or later with that team. They're quickly becoming the 1980s Winnipeg Jets.

Our house closing date is scheduled. I will be saving my "goodbye bank account" comment for thursday.

Yeah, it's definitely a loaded word. The media trying their hardest to make Collins look like he is poison right now, that much is for sure. Maybe he is, but we need to let the whole thing play out first.

I don't know about that lost draft picks part. The league really F'ed that one up. All they lost was a 3rd round pick. As for Parise, I don't think they ever had much of a chance there anyway. He was in that same boat as Vanek where everyone knew that eventually he'd wind up exactly where he is now. Your last point is the big one to me. Their star player got old and they were never able to find new stars (longterm anyway, ie. Kovalchuk). People will argue with this one, but star power is what drives this league right now. Without a few, a team isn't going anywhere.

I'm assuming that is Rodak's wording. What does he mean by unsanctioned?

This right here is the part that should really be the toughest part of this tournament for him. They typically do grab a college kid or two each year, but that is usually the junior or senior who has just signed their first contract and has gone through a few rookie camps already. Eichel has never had that experience. Even spending an entire year with David Quinn who has pro coaching experience, Eichel really has no feel whatsoever for how things work at the professional level. To be a productive player in this type of setting, it's going to come mostly from skill and instinct.

Is Tyrod Taylor eligible for the practice squad?

Thanks to this, I'm not picturing Manny in the Exorcist. What did that tweet that inky posted say? It has been pulled.

Looking back at that Kiper comment on the Maybin draft class, it actually doesn't sound all that bad to me if you can get beyond Maybin. I realize that's a big condition, throwing away your first overall pick, but in any given year if we could get three players out of a draft at the level of Wood, Levitre, and Byrd, I think we'd be happy with that.

You went to the wrong one. It's actually the National Association of Marlon Brando Look Alikes

Oops, for some reason I keep thinking the lockout was 2013-2014.

I'll add to this portion of your post by saying that the quote from Ted Black that PA keeps falling back on pre-dates the current CBA. Edit: if I'm reading the timeline in his post correctly.

One big bodied scorer. One seasoned leader. Ok, it fits more now with that perspective. I'm not sure how I missed that one.

So what's this about the team looking for a head coach?

That's a weird grouping to make. I wouldn't put those two guys in the same list.

I have never won a state championship, but if I had, it would have been much longer than two years ago.