JoeSchmoe

I disagree with the experts about this draft. It might not have a generational player like McKenna, but it's just as deep as any other draft. Keep in mind Misa played up his whole minor hockey career and was taken number 1 in the OHL draft as an Exceptional Status player. He had beaten McDavid's record for most points in an OHL cup. Schaefer was head and shoulders the #1 D man on Team Canada at the WJC (until he got hurt) which included last year's #11 overall Sam Dickinson who was touted as one of... if not the best defenseman in the CHL. Are the players 3 through 15 any different than any other year? I think there's a similar fall off from the top 2 as you'd see any other year. Remember, everyone thought 2015 was the big draft compared to 2014, but as time goes on the players from 2014 are looking better and better (ignoring that McDavid guy anyways). 😀 I think the "experts" just look at the top 1 or 2 guys, and extrapolate from there. These are all the same "experts" who had Brady Martin as a late first rounder, but overnight put him up to mid single digits after one U18 tournament. The same "experts" that completely ignore a guy like Carter Bear and his 40 goals in 56 games and despite @LGR4GM's insistence that he's one of the best motors in the draft. Meanwhile they consistantly place Jake O'Brien above him even though he has less goals in more games, about the same PPG, much lower motor, and has played on a really stacked team that would completely inflate his point totals.

I haven't kept tabs on this whole thread so maybe this was said over the 9 pages... Most people don't realize Byram's hometown of Cranbrook is geographically and demographically closer to Calgary than it is Vancouver. I would almost bet he grew up a Flames fan. For similar reasons as we do, the Flames have trouble attracting and retaining talent. They may lose Rasmus Anderson. If you're Calgary, wouldn't you consider overpaying for Byram, given you know there's a good chance he's a Flame for life?

Did anyone else notice that last night Skinner seemed to be the hardest working Oiler. Maybe it's that he's better rested both physically and mentally, but had the rest of the team had his jump, it could have been a closer game last night.

I can't say for sure what the guys would think, but in my mind some effort and losing should be better than no effort at all. It also saves one of our stars' like Tuch from doing the job.

It's about Samuelsson letting his teammates down in the moment and being mad at that. It was his battle to fight, and he chose not to. Going out there and doing it for him is just what a softee like him is hoping for.

I feel like if we had just one guy ready and willing to carry out a little locker room justice on a guy like Samuelsson, that would be the kick in the A this team needs. Sure, Samuelsson might cry his way outta town, but I'd hope the younger impressionable players would take note and get on board.

I've been saying since the beginning he deserves to go high. If he goes at 6 it's not an overdraft. I think the pro scouts are seeing the same things that anyone who's watched the kid since he was young has seen. He's got mental toughness and leadership that others don't have. You don't see this watching highlights and reading scouting reports, but the teams that will have interviewed him will for sure know.

GB still has a chance to qualify for the Olympics?

He was good. I could never understand why he didn't get more chances.

For everyone complaining about the lopsided officiating, did you not see the high stick before the 3rd Florida goal? McDavid or not, a cup for Edmonton is not in Bettman's best interest. It won't grow the game much more in Canada, and it certainly won't grow the game in the US compared to what a repeat for FLA would. It's just the same thing we see every year... Don't expect anything but the most blatent penalties to be called late in a Cup Final game... And if you're not coaching your team to play with this in mind, you're doing it wrong.

It's exciting for sure, but before you dig into your PTO, remember we don't get to see them play until training camp. I'm excited too since this would have been my son's draft year and he's played with or against a lot of the Ontario and US kids (he wasn't quite big/good enough to play major junior). But with all the lead up, I'm expecting to feel a bit of the "now what?" feeling once it's all over.

Given how much better old man Reimer was vs UPL, I could see a goalie transaction doing more for this team vs a coaching change.

I'm excited for us to trade at least one in a package for a top 6.

If the big timers like Friedman and Dreger are rarely right on this stuff, I'm guessing Chad doesn't know 💩.

Chara, while never bulky was the strongest player in the league while he played.

I wonder if he could pull off another deal like the Savoie - McLeod deal with a team in cap trouble.

I thought the same thing as you when I first saw a link from this site... But they actually list Friedman's 32 thoughts podcast as a reference. If you go to the podcast Friedman actually does muse about this stuff.

Yeah, that's true... It's not all on the insiders, but I do find they'll say what they need to say to provide a steady stream of content.

No idea. I actually don't like Friedman... or any of these BS artists... but Friedman is the worst of a bad bunch. I just saw the tweet and thought I'd share.

Friedman says he has sources telling him the Sabres are looking to deal prospects for players. Hopefully this is right. We're playoff bound if we can get a starting goalie that can give us 50-60 games at the level Reimer played at last year, and a partner for Power. Hopefully that will put some butts in seats and Pegula makes us a cap team again. From there we'll have a good window to continue to build the core.

Interesting. Anyone I know that fishes the bar goes to target Lake Trout.

I'm from Ontario, and no one in the Golden Horseshoe would on this side of the border would ever target walleye in Lake O to the point it would be a talking point in an interview. In the eastern part of the lake in some of the bays... maybe, but thats not really a popular spot for lake houses for people from around here. For sure he's on Erie somewhere in the Port Maitland area. Doesn't matter anyways. Lindy's under contract for another year... I just posted it because I like Muddy the Mudcat!

Now that I think about it, the Bay of Quinte on Lake Ontario is known for walleye, and I'm guessing they still get salmon in there. That said, I'd be very surprised if he'd be talking about anywhere else other than the Lake Erie / Dunnville area.

Here's a quote from DeBoer... I can't think of a lake in Ontario that has Walleye and Salmon. I know there's the odd Salmon in Erie, but I've never heard of a salmon "run" there. That said, Lake Erie / the Grand River (in Dunnville) would probably be the best choice out of any lake in Ontario that I can think of that is known for Walleye, but still has "some" salmon.

He's a Dunnville boy. He'd sign here for sure.