Do you think Risto will make the lineup ? He looks like he has one hell of a shot from the point
- tpd11

Well the way that Darcy and Kevin Devine were talking yesterday, it seems they are going to give him every opportunity to make the team next year. So I guess it's all up to him.

Juniors...unless you want him to have all kinds of shoulder issues like Hall and RNH because hes too skrawny to play in the NHL
- Jaciems

MacKinnon is 1" taller and weighs less then Drouin. I think you might be mixing the two of them. As Michael said Drouin has thick legs and a low and solid center of gravity. Also, he just went through a growth spurt and may continue to hit 6' ("only 5'11" now)

Decent enough, I think.
- Michael_Stuart

So probably no fit for someone like Jussi Jokinen? I know the pens may need him to fill the 3rd line winger role, along with an emergency fill in in the top six, but
I had heard they were shopping him and his 2.1 mil contract.

Played great for the pens up the middle. Actually, probably our best trade deadline pickup, but he's so much more valuable as a center because of his faceoff prowess. No room there in the Burgh.

5'11" 195 and not even in training with hopefully Roberts.
- tpd11

Not bad, still Im kind of biased though and dont think 17-18 year olds should be playing against men unless you name is McCarron and youre 6'6' 240lbs

So probably no fit for someone like Jussi Jokinen? I know the pens may need him to fill the 3rd line winger role, along with an emergency fill in in the top six, but
I had heard they were shopping him and his 2.1 mil contract.

Played great for the pens up the middle. Actually, probably our best trade deadline pickup, but he's so much more valuable as a center because of his faceoff prowess. No room there in the Burgh.
- cranktheradio

I can't see it happening, no. I've been wrong many times though.

Michael Stuart: The Roundtable on Drouin
- Michael_Stuart

I've seen him a lot this past year, blossoming from a mid-late 1st into a bona fide top selection.

Jonathan Drouin is probably NHL ready, but a strengthening up for the rigours of the pro game wouldn't hurt. The shame is that he has little to prove at the CHL level.

He's as smart as they come and has wonderful hands. But his skating is NHL level as well.

You can see his jaw dropping stickhandling and vision here, but what often goes unnoticed is the skating. Look at how quickly and effortlessly he faces up each new opponent. That's certainly pro-level agility and could easily put him in the "small, but hard to hit" category which can keep his injuries down.

He's an admirable backchecker and I think he'll have more than a little trouble next year - and his whole career - containing big forwards on the boards, but his hockey IQ certainly has two-way applications . He may not be destined to be a calder winner next year, but he can certainly be an effective team member next year.

He's a bust, trade him to Toronto for a couple depth pick in 2016

Purcell with Stamkos and Marty, bugsy if he stays on the third line, PPslot at times and you can mix and match the bottom two lines.
- tpd11

Purcell is a right winger as is Marty. Most likely Purcell will move to the second line and either Drouin or Killorn will be at the top. Drouin is a natural left winger and Killorn is a left handed Center.

I've seen him a lot this past year, blossoming from a mid-late 1st into a bona fide top selection.

Jonathan Drouin is probably NHL ready, but a strengthening up for the rigours of the pro game wouldn't hurt. The shame is that he has little to prove at the CHL level.

He's as smart as they come and has wonderful hands. But his skating is NHL level as well.

You can see his jaw dropping stickhandling and vision here, but what often goes unnoticed is the skating. Look at how quickly and effortlessly he faces up each new opponent. That's certainly pro-level agility and could easily put him in the "small, but hard to hit" category which can keep his injuries down.

He's an admirable backchecker and I think he'll have more than a little trouble next year - and his whole career - containing big forwards on the boards, but his hockey IQ certainly has two-way applications . He may not be destined to be a calder winner next year, but he can certainly be an effective team member next year.
- Morris

Also see #12 bounce off of Drouin right before he walks in to make the assist for the goal. That my friends is clear evidence of a strong core and strong legs. He's skated up, down and around and is tired, yet #12 skates in to knock Drouin off the puck and instead finds himself with a sore ass on the ice and watching as Drouin walks in.

Purcell is a right winger as is Marty. Most likely Purcell will move to the second line and either Drouin or Killorn will be at the top. Drouin is a natural left winger and Killorn is a left handed Center.
- Artyukhin76

Killorn hasn't played center at the NHL level. Willing to go through the growing pains while he adjusts, or would you leave him on the wing (where he's had great success) and bring someone else in? I'm partial to the latter. Don't mess with what worked.

Also see #12 bounce off of Drouin right before he walks in to make the assist for the goal. That my friends is clear evidence of a strong core and strong legs. He's skated up, down and around and is tired, yet #12 skates in to knock Drouin off the puck and instead finds himself with a sore ass on the ice and watching as Drouin walks in.
- uf1910

Absolutely!

Killorn hasn't played center at the NHL level. Willing to go through the growing pains while he adjusts, or would you leave him on the wing (where he's had great success) and bring someone else in? I'm partial to the latter. Don't mess with what worked.
- Michael_Stuart

I wasn't saying he should, I only pointing out his official position and shoting hand. He plays a good left wing and I was saying they'll both play top six left wingers

Remember the name Dan Boyle!

I wasn't saying he should, I only pointing out his official position and shoting hand. He plays a good left wing and I was saying they'll both play top six left wingers
- Artyukhin76

I'd like to see that.

Killorn/Drouin-Stamkos-St. Louis
Killorn/Drouin-X-Purcell

Remember the name Dan Boyle!
- cheeselanders

Who?

I'd like to see that.

Killorn/Drouin-Stamkos-St. Louis
Killorn/Drouin-X-Purcell
- Michael_Stuart

X= Matt Cullen short term until kids are ready or,
X= Valteri Filipula for longer and we use those kids to land a young stud defenseman.

Remember the name Dan Boyle!
- cheeselanders

I try not too.

X= Matt Cullen short term until kids are ready or,
X= Valteri Filipula for longer and we use those kids to land a young stud defenseman.
- Artyukhin76

X = We use a kid to grab us an X.

Three options.

X = We use a kid to grab us an X.

Three options.
- Michael_Stuart

X = We use a kid to grab us an X.

Three options.
- Michael_Stuart

just don't overpay.

just don't overpay.
- Artyukhin76

If you want a young stud defenseman, you WILL have to overpay. Young stud defenseman aren't up for trade.

If you want a young stud defenseman, you WILL have to overpay. Young stud defenseman aren't up for trade.
- TBolts4

The perils of needing D and C. Two of the most important positions, and as a result bloody expensive to acquire.

If you want a young stud defenseman, you WILL have to overpay. Young stud defenseman aren't up for trade.
- TBolts4

There is paying the price for quality, then there is taking yourself to the cleaners.

Absolutely!
- Michael_Stuart

That's the best part of the clip. The dipsy do's and skating are awesome, but when #12 bounced off him I was forever sold on this kid. Thus my arguments for him and against barkov pre-draft.

He's a leader like Toew's with the wiggle of Kane and the bulldog mentality like Giroux. If he is half of any of these guys he's a great player, but he has more than a chance to be considered in the group above with some hard work and good luck health-wise

That's the best part of the clip. The dipsy do's and skating are awesome, but when #12 bounced off him I was forever sold on this kid. Thus my arguments for him and against barkov pre-draft.

He's a leader like Toew's with the wiggle of Kane and the bulldog mentality like Giroux. If he is half of any of these guys he's a great player, but he has more than a chance to be considered in the group above with some hard work and good luck health-wise
- uf1910

Patience is key. The organization has to, and will, develop him the right way.