Curt

Yeah, for me, I would only be disappointed if Rossi or Raymond was passed up. If they are both gone, I’m cool with Sanderson, Drysdale, Lundell, or Jarvis.

Seems like Perfetti from “rumors” but who knows with Yzerman. I would take Rossi, hands down, not even close.

Curt’s Final 2020 NHL Draft Rankings: Top 21 Tier I Alexis Lafreniere Tier II Quinton Byfield Tier III Marco Rossi Lucas Raymond Tier IV Jake Sanderson Jamie Drysdale Anton Lundell Yaroslav Askarov Tier V Seth Jarvis Tim Stutzle Alexander Holtz Cole Perfetti Rodion Amirov Tier VI Connor Zary Mavrik Bourque Dawson Mercer Jack Quinn Jacob Perrault Hendrix Lapierre Marat Kushnutdinov Dylan Holloway

WTH? What did Jarvis do to you? Seriously though, why?

I guess depends what his value is. Can he actually be traded for a useful NHL player? I have doubts.

You mean that Buffalo needs to trade him before he loses value? And/or that they don’t have time to wait for him because the NHL team needs help now?

I don’t think his problem is that the regime is bound by the performances of the past. I think he just needs to be better. I think he would benefit from extended time (like the entire season) in Rochester working on his game, body, and confidence.

No. RFA.

I wouldn’t be mad. Depends on who else is on the board. Sanderson is right there with Drysdale. Either is a reasonable pick from 5th on back.

Yeah, I think he was Going to be in Buffalo no matter what. He isn’t waiver exempt any longer.

That’s an interesting one. Young 45-50 point wing with significant term and salary commitments VS Casey’s hypothetical upside as a scoring line C with no financial commitment. I wouldn’t be totally against it, but I think you need to be very confident that Schmaltz will provide at least consistent 2nd line play, because the long term financial commitment to him is even more significant than his 5.8 AAV. A Schmaltz who falls off and is a 35 point 3rd liner might be even worse than a Mitts who is nothing.

My initial reaction is that it’s too much and Tage hasn’t proven squat. But.........it is 3 years. It’s a bet on the player. 1 or 2 years from now they could have a 20+ goal scorer for $1.4M. I don’t think it means they have him penciled into the top 6 or anything. Does anyone know if this is a 2 way deal?

If we have Eichel, Staal, and Danault then Cozens is playing RW and the 4th line is playing 8 mins. That would be a formidable C spine. For one year at least.

You think that 8 OA would obtain RNH or Landeskog? I’m not so sure. Then there is the aspect of reduced salary during ELC/RFA years and the years of team control.

Adam Larsson and Jonas Brodin would represent a disappointment at 8 OA? They are top 4 defensemen. I don’t think that would be disappointing.

Lucas Raymond is being undersold. He has both a high floor and high ceiling. Lafrenière is the only wing in this draft who will end up a better NHLer.

I think he is a solid 2C. Especially good defensively. Not much of a goal scorer, but can center talented wingers. I agree that adding Staal has made a Danault trade unlikely.

Well, 1) Danault is only signed for one more year anyway, so it would probably be a one season rental. 2) Danault may already be a 3C, or at least 2C/3C middle-6 C, with Staal already on the team.

Cap floor is only $60M. You think most teams will be below $70M?

I don’t think he’ll be there either, but I don’t think Rossi should either and that apparently has a good chance of happening, so who knows.

Just to add to what I was saying about Raymond’s skating. Here is a complete video of his shifts in a SHL preseason game last month, this is against men, probably at about AHL level of play, and another of just great highlights. Shift-by-Shift He is #18 in Red Highlights I think that just from watching these you can see that his skating is really good. His acceleration is explosive, his feet and direction changes are quick. That combined with his stick handling make it possible for him to really attack defenses, opening up passing/shooting lanes. This, among other things, is why if Raymond is there at #8, I would be ecstatic to get him. He is right there with Rossi for me. I haven’t seen any scouting reports that Raymond’s skating is anything less than very good. If anyone has seen any, please pass them along.

Any idea where? I don’t think I’ve seen that written.

Why do you say that Raymond’s skating isn’t so good? You and @thewookie1 have both said this, but I, and I think most others, ardently disagree.

Says who?

I would think that could theoretically get you to #1 if the Rangers could clear the cap space to do it. I don’t think it would be worth it though.