He looked so unhappy about being drafted by Florida. After he was drafted James Duffey asked him about being drafted so high. He said some like it's nice to be drafted high but Florida I don't know. He wasn't smiling at all. Reminds me of when the Flames drafted Erixon and we all know what happened with him.
- flamminghead

He speaks worse English than the Russian in Rocky. Obviously he met Tallon and the scouts at the combine and they had other meetings I'm sure. Tallon wouldn't have picked him if there would be an issue like this. Horton didn't want to be here so Tallon traded him.

florida panthers are in a perpetual rebuild.

Tallon passed on Kopitar and drafted Skille.

Tallon passed on Meyers and drafted Beach, a career AHLer.

Towes and Kane fell into Tallon's lap, so I don't give him much credit on those two.

I think that passing on Jones will haunt you guys.
- Dieselhead

Didn't quite work out that way. In 2006 Blackhawk brass was split. Tallon wanted Toews bad. But there were plenty there who wanted another player there. And in 2007... it wasn't a slam dunk. Actually... if he did like this year he would have taken JVR or Turris.

I actually think he should have taken Drouin. Which would have been the Kane like pick for him of 2007. And I think will end up being the best player out of this draft. Plus.. he would certainly sell tickets.

Beach and Skille agreed. Whiff...

He speaks worse English than the Russian in Rocky. Obviously he met Tallon and the scouts at the combine and they had other meetings I'm sure. Tallon wouldn't have picked him if there would be an issue like this. Horton didn't want to be here so Tallon traded him.
- Panthers88

i remember thinking the same thing about Tim Erixon. I hope he works out for you guys anyways.

I actually think he should have taken Drouin. Which would have been the Kane like pick for him of 2007. Plus.. he would certainly sell tickets.


- ilinkhawk

Funny, the broadcast said the same thing about Drouin and Kane.

Winning sells tickets

I died when you guys chose McCoshen right in front of us in the 2nd. I wanted him bad.

I died when you guys chose McCoshen right in front of us in the 2nd. I wanted him bad.
- Meeqsb

Well... suck it.

Why did you guys passed up on Jones or Drouin? I couldn't believe when I saw it. I hope Barkov do well in Florida though.

Why did you guys passed up on Jones or Drouin? I couldn't believe when I saw it. I hope Barkov do well in Florida though.
- Orpik44

Comes down to need. We need a #1 center. All of the first four picks are NHL ready. We needed an NHL ready center. MacKinnon wasn't there, Barkov was. Pretty straight forward.

I think this was a pick based on need. Drouin is a better player but Barkov is big and plays center. I don't know if he SHOULD be the number one center next year or the year after but I think Florida will give him a shot at it this year. I think the pick was a gamble that hopefully pays off.

Why did you guys passed up on Jones or Drouin? I couldn't believe when I saw it. I hope Barkov do well in Florida though.
- Orpik44

I would've picked Barkov over those two anyway.

judging how pathetic florida is, yes

I didnt bother to read through all the posts. But wouldnt keeping Weiss be a good thing. Your depth at C is far to young. If Barkov came to Flor next year he shouldnt eat those minutes at the young a age.

For those asking about his military duty. There are exceptions to allow him to break it up into sections while not playing in the NHL. So he wont have to surve a year straight. If he stayed in Finland he would do the service while playing hockey at the same time.

I didnt bother to read through all the posts. But wouldnt keeping Weiss be a good thing. Your depth at C is far to young. If Barkov came to Flor next year he shouldnt eat those minutes at the young a age.

For those asking about his military duty. There are exceptions to allow him to break it up into sections while not playing in the NHL. So he wont have to surve a year straight. If he stayed in Finland he would do the service while playing hockey at the same time.
- poisondhearts37

No fan would object to Weiss coming back. But is he worth $5.5 million a season? No way. It has to make sense. Unfortunately, hockey has become a business.

judging how pathetic florida is, yes
- 2Real

Oh I'm sorry.. and what exactly have the Flyers done the last 20 years? Any Cup wins? No? Alrighty then, go away. Oh, and don't give me and crap about making the playoffs a few times or winning the East.. we've even done that. Albeit one Eastern conference title and four playoff appearances. The fact remains, no one remembers that, it's about winning the cup. And besides, I'm surprised you haven't bought out Morin yet.

judging how pathetic florida is, yes
- 2Real

And newsflash, both teams suck right now. But at least we can use injuries as an excuse for last season.

Didn't quite work out that way. In 2006 Blackhawk brass was split. Tallon wanted Toews bad. But there were plenty there who wanted another player there. And in 2007... it wasn't a slam dunk. Actually... if he did like this year he would have taken JVR or Turris.

I actually think he should have taken Drouin. Which would have been the Kane like pick for him of 2007. And I think will end up being the best player out of this draft. Plus.. he would certainly sell tickets.

Beach and Skille agreed. Whiff...
- ilinkhawk

I think getting Butler was a move to replace Skille. Makes sense. Butler is a much better 3rd/4th line player who can score more goals. We can get a respectable 10-15 goals out of Butler.

Comes down to need. We need a #1 center. All of the first four picks are NHL ready. We needed an NHL ready center. MacKinnon wasn't there, Barkov was. Pretty straight forward.
- Panthers88

I thought you could have worked on a deal with Nashville (swap #2 for #4 and a 2nd rounder for instance). Barkov would be on the board no matter what. I'm pretty sure Nashville never thought about the possibility of drafting Jones.

And newsflash, both teams suck right now. But at least we can use injuries as an excuse for last season.
- Panthers88

If you guys picked Drouin ahead of Tampa, they probably would go for Jones IMO. Barkov was all set to become a Predator...funny how things work.

This move will be added to Tallons other 1st round blunders. Beach, skille, Gudbranson, Howden, Bjugstad and now Barkov. Just terrible rebuild right there.

This move will be added to Tallons other 1st round blunders. Beach, skille, Gudbranson, Howden, Bjugstad and now Barkov. Just terrible rebuild right there.
- floridapanthers4ev

Look if you hate the team this much go cheer for someone else no one is going to miss you!

Also you can play dumb all you want but everyone knows your Ballardhitshard. But you seem to think just because of you use a different name it will get your point across yet it does the opposite.

And also if your not Ballard I would love to hear your reasons for everyone being a bust even thou one has played 11 NHL games and the other played 18, another is a 21 year old defense-men. and one just got drafted is some how a bum before you ever see him play?

This move will be added to Tallons other 1st round blunders. Beach, skille, Gudbranson, Howden, Bjugstad and now Barkov. Just terrible rebuild right there.
- floridapanthers4ev

Is this little b*tch back again??? Seriously? LOL.. He must get wood when he thinks about the Panthers, I mean to hate a team so much yet continue to talk about them. He even has three different screen names on one website just so he can bash the Panthers all the time. Only thing terrible around here is you, little guy.

The more I think about our draft, the more I like Barkov. It was a surprise to the entire league, yet it was a smart move. All four top picks are projected to be Elite talent in the NHL. Mackinnon is top Canadian prospect. Jones is top American. Barkov is top European. Drouin is a close 2nd in Canada. Mackinnon was off the table,so Tallon went with Barkov. I am sure most Panther fans would've cried had Tallon chosen Jones,because it would've been yet another D selected at the top of the draft, but Tallon filled a void that needed to be filled. A lot of reports that I've read had Barkov almost neck and neck with Mackinnon, with great vision and hockey IQ, as well as leads the Finnish league in scoring as a 17 year old,playing against men.
I also hope Tallon can get either Weiss or Lecavlier to sign here because it will further help our teams' development. Having either of those two as our #1 center to help ease Barkov and Bjugstad into their rightful places, instead of throwing them to the wolves, will be beneificial and not stunt their growth.

The more I think about our draft, the more I like Barkov. It was a surprise to the entire league, yet it was a smart move. All four top picks are projected to be Elite talent in the NHL. Mackinnon is top Canadian prospect. Jones is top American. Barkov is top European. Drouin is a close 2nd in Canada. Mackinnon was off the table,so Tallon went with Barkov. I am sure most Panther fans would've cried had Tallon chosen Jones,because it would've been yet another D selected at the top of the draft, but Tallon filled a void that needed to be filled. A lot of reports that I've read had Barkov almost neck and neck with Mackinnon, with great vision and hockey IQ, as well as leads the Finnish league in scoring as a 17 year old,playing against men.
I also hope Tallon can get either Weiss or Lecavlier to sign here because it will further help our teams' development. Having either of those two as our #1 center to help ease Barkov and Bjugstad into their rightful places, instead of throwing them to the wolves, will be beneificial and not stunt their growth.
- pantherfan12

- Panthers88

I got to agree I honestly didn't really know much about the kid. One thing I can say I like is we didn't pick him because of hype. This kid put up great numbers in a top league which is way better skill wise then the CHL. Plus he has size. The more and more I think about it I really like this pick still would've preferred Mackinnon. But I think this could really be the steal out of the top 5.