Nashville would trade up to get who they want. Why not get something from Nashville if your taking Barkov.....he won't go top 3
- Bo

Pretty sure Poile is fine at 4. Let COL, FLA, TB make their tough decisions and take whoever is left over out of Jones, Drouin, Mac and Barkov.

If Florida wants Barkov they'll trade down to 4th.
- Bo

Exactly. There's too much value left on the table by Florida if they pick Barvov at 2. They could trade down to 4 and ensure Barkov. The absolute worst thing in that scenario is someone else shocks the world and picks Barkov, but then you get Jones or Drouin. Still a great player, and you'd have gotten a good asset as well. So yeah, if Florida wants Barkov, they'll be trading down.

It's going to take another asset to pull this off. Maybe throw in Marancin & the Panthers might blink.
- newmy

Musil instead of marincin and they got a deal!

But seriously if the oilers can get barkov or jones I would be ecstatic. However it's more realistic to move to the 5th spot and hope nischuskin bumps barkov.

Why though?
- AdamFrench

Asset management. You could get, say, the 4th pick, plus a legitimate prospect, for the 2 pick. Again, worst thing ever is that you end up with Jones/Drouin, plus the asset you got. That's the smart play. If the trade is not there, and you'd be moving down too far, obviously you suck it up and make the pick, but the Panthers would try to trade down if Barkov was their guy IMO.

No way jones falls to third.
- Artyukhin76

This could easily happen. I personally think Jones goes second to FL, but it's not that long of a shot for Jones to go #3. Forwards are generally much safer bets at the top of the draft. With a couple high-end guys up there, COL and FL (or a team trading up) could easily decide to go for a forward that high.

No way bro...this is best in Europe, and Ill be in Europe
- Colin Dambrauskas

I'm definitely jealous, its been five years since I was in Europe and I miss it. perhaps when I become Dr lums the wife and I can go on a trip...

You son of a ...

You know nhl GMs read your mock drafts and prospect reports and you go and make barkov 2nd?! Re do this and make him 7th. Oilers need him.

I've actually never considered this but would Florida take gagner and 7th for the 2nd. There we could address either barkov or seth jones. Two huge needs. I'd think jones but I'm good either way. Of course we would have to immediately sign bozak or Weiss. Or trade for a centre some other way. Top end talent of this draft is batpoop crazy tho.
- ystoil

Teams have found recently that this isn't that easy. Centers are pretty scarce now-a-days. This is such a deep draft that if I were EDM, I'd keep Gagner and just stay at 7. You could get Sean Monahan, Elias Lindholm, or Hunter Shinkaruk there. Ristolainen is a really good prospect, too. Nurse is a little raw for me, what with all these other guys still available. But this draft is deep; I wouldn't give up a valuable asset to move from 7 to 2, because I'd be confident with picking 7th this year.

Sorry Adam, it's not going down like this...

Barkov is good but he's not the 2nd best player available on anyone's board!!
- newmy

Which teams' draft boards do you have access to?

Teams have found recently that this isn't that easy. Centers are pretty scarce now-a-days. This is such a deep draft that if I were EDM, I'd keep Gagner and just stay at 7. You could get Sean Monahan, Elias Lindholm, or Hunter Shinkaruk there. Ristolainen is a really good prospect, too. Nurse is a little raw for me, what with all these other guys still available. But this draft is deep; I wouldn't give up a valuable asset to move from 7 to 2, because I'd be confident with picking 7th this year.
- isles10289

Ya I'm basically day dreaming. We likely stay at 7 and pick bpa.

Ya I'm basically day dreaming. We likely stay at 7 and pick bpa.
- ystoil

That's a good move. EDM is not ready to start trading groups of young players for other young players. Gagner is a good scorer; who are they replacing him with if he gets traded? The BPA at #7 will be good this year. As an Islanders fan, I'm confident at 15 this year.

I'm definitely jealous, its been five years since I was in Europe and I miss it. perhaps when I become Dr lums the wife and I can go on a trip...
- lumlums

Youll have a ton of cash, and no free time....well....depending on what type of Dr Lums you become, I guess

Thanks for reading…I should never have gone full retard.

Told you that years ago.

Who do the Flames pick!?!
- Colin Dambrauskas

Best available high school player

Could you imagine if both Hedman and Jones become the Pronger's they've been mentioned about. One will slash you down and the other will stomp your ass.

You son of a ...

You know nhl GMs read your mock drafts and prospect reports and you go and make barkov 2nd?! Re do this and make him 7th. Oilers need him.

I've actually never considered this but would Florida take gagner and 7th for the 2nd. There we could address either barkov or seth jones. Two huge needs. I'd think jones but I'm good either way. Of course we would have to immediately sign bozak or Weiss. Or trade for a centre some other way. Top end talent of this draft is batpoop crazy tho.
- ystoil

No.

Could you imagine if both Hedman and Jones become the Pronger's they've been mentioned about. One will slash you down and the other will stomp your ass.
- Lahey

Could you imagine if both Hedman and Jones become the Pronger's they've been mentioned about. One will slash you down and the other will stomp your ass.
- Lahey

Then both can go on LTIR and handcuff their team financially

I'm pretty sure the Avs not taking Jones bit was just a feeble attempt to pump up interest in their draft pick. If they take another center with that swiss cheese defense they are crazy.

Sorry Adam, it's not going down like this...

Barkov is good but he's not the 2nd best player available on anyone's board!!
- newmy

But he's my favourite

Then both can go on LTIR and handcuff their team financially
- Rally_Shots

Youll have a ton of cash, and no free time....well....depending on what type of Dr Lums you become, I guess
- Colin Dambrauskas

If it's Dr Lums, Industrial chemist I'll be able to swim in piles of dollar dollar bills... (or fives)... If its Prof Lums, then I'll never have any free time... ever.

But he's my favourite
- AdamFrench

Here's my question as I really don't know who goes where, but who of the early teams heavily scouts Europe? That is really the key here.

Fans say poop every year like no way Forsberg falls out of the top 5 or no way Fowler falls out of the top 5. Yet every year there are surprises.

I will tell you right now, they love Monahan!!
- newmy

Dude, you always say this. Where are you getting this from???

I'm not saying they don't but I haven't heard much saying they love like you seem to think.

Here's my question as I really don't know who goes where, but who of the early teams heavily scouts Europe? That is really the key here.

Fans say poop every year like no way Forsberg falls out of the top 5 or no way Fowler falls out of the top 5. Yet every year there are surprises.
- Lahey

Based on history I would say the Lightning seem to be Euro heavy while the rest are for the majority NA heavy. Dale Tallon in particular seems to prefer by far NA skaters in his drafts.

I hope the Leafs get Barkov I wish