Then ban the whiners. I get called more crap then anyone and have I ever came to you crying? No. It's a friggin hockey blog site where people have opinions and sometimes they differ.
- honesthockey

what a beaut.

Assigning Grades to team based on Entry Draft Selections

Before you e-mail or PM me angered by my disrespect and misjudgment of your favorite team's choice, let me one make it clear concerning this specific draft: All team GMs and fans could say how they did great. Or how poorly they did. Because of the depth this draft class at the first four tiers (See Draft Tier explanations elsewhere on DraftSite…),this draft class, from pick 1 to pick 211, may bring major contributors and impact players to many NHL teams. Whether they admit it or not, NHL teams hope that the high character youngster they select not only graduate to the pro game, but develop into high impact stars, no matter which slotting there are chosen in. This draft provides MANY chances of unearth those type players.

My grades will be based NOT on the amount of picks, but on the possibility of the drafted prospects making contributions on NHL rosters FIVE years from now.
I will start by saying the upside of this class is by far one of the finest, but I and NHL teams cannot accurate predict NHL success for them at this juncture, just draw on my opinions of the player's canvass at this particular juncture in the journey.


Of, course I will bump up grades for team where they took my favorites, or prospects are clearly ahead of the curve towards NHL long term advancement and domination. Value in the players picked and where they are picked will also be key factors.
At first glance, I like a lot of team boards.
http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/draft-history/2013/

Toronto Maple Leafs
Grade C
Frédérik Gauthier (21)


The Maple Leafs had a pick in each round and picked a Martin Hanzel clone in Frédérik Gauthier who is big and one of the better defensive centres available. Their lack of picks had their next one coming a bit later in the 3rd Carter Verhaege, who has all the things you want in a forward, except his hands haven't gotten there yet. The picks in the last three round were more developmental guys, but Goaler Bibeau may turn out, and smaller Swedish LW Andreas Johnson may be a sleeper.

Then ban the whiners. I get called more crap then anyone and have I ever came to you crying? No. It's a friggin hockey blog site where people have opinions and sometimes they differ.
- honesthockey

And I have banned the people that have insulted, it is funny once, maybe twice but not every single day.

Maybe I just have had my fill of it all here.

Like he said what do you think Kessels ceiling is? Because man I think he's reached it and beyond already.
- honesthockey

So what, he added a second floor...???

You don't have to clean up the mess, it is funny that people don't see any harm but when you have to go through every complaint every reported posts, it pisses us off.
- LeafMan

what a beaut.
- joel878

Never say die.

And I have banned the people that have insulted, it is funny once, maybe twice but not every single day.

Maybe I just have had my fill of it all here.
- LeafMan

I get insulted daily by the same guys. Doesn't bother me at all.

And I have banned the people that have insulted, it is funny once, maybe twice but not every single day.

Maybe I just have had my fill of it all here.
- LeafMan

nope, you haven't.

i'm aware i wasn't asked, but you're definitely calling a spade a spade here.

i was wondering how long it was going to go on.

I disagree, respectfully.

7th best NHL team offensively, 12th best defensively.

Chicago, 1st and 4th
Boston, 4th and 5th

If the team every wants to win a championship, they don't stop trying to make improvements anywhere.
- joel878

I'm not saying the top six can't get better...all I'm saying is that the leafs brass should prioritize their needs based on their largest gaps, and then use the assets they have in deep positions to close the large gaps.

Right now, I'd say the biggest gaps on this team are D, and bottom six grit.

At this point, I think Kessel has proven that he can score 30+ with Bozi...so although it be great to upgrade the 1C, it's not what's going to prevent us from getting to the next level.

Oh isn't that Bozak with the most takeaways on the team? Oops those stats don't count.
- honesthockey

Just for perspective he was 2nd place in 10/11 and 11/12 behind .....Grabo both years.

Like he said what do you think Kessels ceiling is? Because man I think he's reached it and beyond already.
- honesthockey

if he had a guy like jeff carter between him and JVR i would say it would be even better his assist would go way up

Then ban the whiners. I get called more crap then anyone and have I ever came to you crying? No. It's a friggin hockey blog site where people have opinions and sometimes they differ.
- honesthockey

Exactly. If we all agreed this would be a crap forum.

As long as someone is not cursing, swearing or attacking anyone they should be able to vioce their opinions.

I'm not saying the top six can't get better...all I'm saying is that the leafs brass should prioritize their needs based on their largest gaps, and then use the assets they have in deep positions to close the large gaps.

Right now, I'd say the biggest gaps on this team are D, and bottom six grit.

At this point, I think Kessel has proven that he can score 30+ with Bozi...so although it be great to upgrade the 1C, it's not what's going to prevent us from getting to the next level.
- Pen15

Pretty much. Would it be nice to upgrade Bozak? Sure. But you'd get a way better bang for your buck at D and a top six winger.

I am assuming, of course, that Bozak would be the cheapest of all available options at center.

Save the money to grab Clarkson, so that we could push Kulemin to the third line where he could excel. You'd see a better return on investment going that route, I believe.

I'm not saying the top six can't get better...all I'm saying is that the leafs brass should prioritize their needs based on their largest gaps, and then use the assets they have in deep positions to close the large gaps.

Right now, I'd say the biggest gaps on this team are D, and bottom six grit.

At this point, I think Kessel has proven that he can score 30+ with Bozi...so although it be great to upgrade the 1C, it's not what's going to prevent us from getting to the next level.
- Pen15

agreed

getting a top line C would be amazing but we need help on D

if he had a guy like jeff carter between him and JVR i would say it would be even better his assist would go way up
- The_Vark

So Crosby Malkin range?

Just for perspective he was 2nd place in 10/11 and 11/12 behind .....Grabo both years.
- The Law

So Crosby Malkin range?
- honesthockey

This is a legitimate question.

If we upgraded Bozak, do people really see Kessel and Lupul jumping into Art Ross territory?

I've loved having Kessel here for years, but even I don't think he's got that upside.

But at what point do we concede that Kessel (or Lupul) just aren't going to do any better?

Kessel was on 90 point pace with Bozak... does he really become a 100 point/50 goal player with a better center?

Does Lupul crack triple digits with Stastny over Bozak? I think these projections become a little bizarre unless you assume that they're pretty near their ceilings already.
- Leeman4Gilmour

It's not just about points. That line has been a minus year after year. It can be better and the easiest way to improve it is at centre.

agreed

getting a top line C would be amazing but we need help on D
- The_Vark

I wouldn't mind going after Ference.

Good skater, and has a chip on his shoulder. I think he'd fit it very nicely.

So Crosby Malkin range?
- honesthockey

maybe just below ..... offence wise ..... i know that kind of a bold statement

- UsernameUnknown

And at $4 mil less

I wouldn't mind going after Ference.

Good skater, and has a chip on his shoulder. I think he'd fit it very nicely.
- Pen15

ya i like that idea aswell

or scuderi

maybe just below ..... offence wise ..... i know that kind of a bold statement
- The_Vark

Say hallo to Bozak...

I'm not saying the top six can't get better...all I'm saying is that the leafs brass should prioritize their needs based on their largest gaps, and then use the assets they have in deep positions to close the large gaps.

Right now, I'd say the biggest gaps on this team are D, and bottom six grit.

At this point, I think Kessel has proven that he can score 30+ with Bozi...so although it be great to upgrade the 1C, it's not what's going to prevent us from getting to the next level.
- Pen15

yeah, that's fair.

i personally think a top line center and defense are much more needed than any further bottom six adjustments, but i personally don't care what order they come in, as long as the pieces line up.

i'm not the type crying for a playoff spot, i'm the type happy with progression as long as it's part of building a championship team. signing bozak is a mistake in my opinion. he's certainly not the front line center of any championship squad, and with bolland in place.. i don't think he fits into any part of it.

that's before i consider the brutal cap implications its bound to have.

maybe just below ..... offence wise ..... i know that kind of a bold statement
- The_Vark

Really bold. I like Kessel. He does what he's paid to do. But IMO he has exceeded any expectation in finishing where he does in NHL scoring.