Curt

I’m leaning into it hard! ROSSI ROSSI ROSSI!!!!!!!! I can’t wait for RJs Rossi Wrister, Ross the Boss calls during the Cup Finals. Seriously though, Rossi or forfeit. Seriously seriously though it’s not Rossi, just give up. Seriously serious now, I’d be happy with Rossi, Raymond, Lundell, Drysdale, Sanderson.

Most CHL guys are not eligible to play AHL until their D+3 season, no?

Maybe not even that high.

It’s not that I doubt that Rossi CAN play C. I just wonder if an NHL coach is hesitant to play a 5’8” guy at C, starts him at W, he does really well at W because he is really good at hockey, and he just is a W forever.

Yeah, it’s a hot take. Byfield certainly has the best chance and highest upside, but requires a good amount of projection to get there. Rossi may never even get a chance to play C in the NHL. I feel Ike if no one becomes a superstar, 80-100 point C, Lundell could end up the best as a 50-60 point, 200 ft C.

I really like this. Looks a lot like mine. I would sneak Jarvis up into that purple tier though. Askarov too, but don’t want Buffalo to pick him.

Anton Lundell has a pretty good chance (25%+) to be the best C in this draft class.

This may be what we need to get this thing turned around!

Whatcha talkin bout here?

This is what I feel inside. I don’t think Buffalo needs a certain “type” of player, but they need players who work hard on and off the ice, and play with intensity.

Please no. He kind of scares me.

I think several players MIGHT be the pick at 4. Perfetti seems likely based on rumors. Personally, I think Rossi is the 3rd best prospect in this draft. Most people around the NHL seem to disagree with me though and have Rossi more in the 5-10 range.

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.