Jakub Vrána - LW/RW - Linköping - 2014 NHL Draft

“A very creative and fast forward from the Czech Republic who has taken great strides since arriving in Sweden. He hasn’t had a lot of success when playing with Linköping against men in the SHL, but you can smell the potential in his game for miles. He’s got a great shoot, but can also distribute the puck. Is probably more of a goal-scorer than a passer. Could have a breakout season anytime soon.” - Uffe Bodin

“The NHL Draft has been a dark place for the Czechs in recent years, but players like Jakub Vrana could help to stem the tide of some bleak years. Vrana made the move to Sweden two years ago to continue his development and the move appears to have paid off as he has already made his way up to Sweden’s top professional flight as a 17-year-old. Vrana has speed to burn and can be a dynamic player when he’s not trying to over-do himself off the rush. Capable of playing either wing, Vrana has had some struggles finding icetime with Linkoping since his promotion but the offensive winger should have an excellent chance to showcase himself in an offensive role at the World Juniors this year.“ - The Scouting Report

Him picking for the Pens in this draft in Philly..... I can only imagine what awkward poop comes out of his mouth at the podium.
- hereticpride

It would finally give him a valid reason to announce where a player played in junior hockey instead of just uselessly injecting it in every 38 seconds of a game.

Just to clarify I dont hate Mcguire I just hate his face and when he speaks.

I don't think you would have lost anything on the ice by taking a chance on Tom Gilbert last summer, as some of us were advocating. Streit wasn't the only option, he was just the most obvious one.
- Tomahawk

There's never only one option if you just want A defenseman. Gilbert is no where near as good of a player as Striet is.

It would be like the Lightning hiring Barry Melrose.
- PhillySportsGuy

With the way he was slobbering all over Ghost in the Frozen Four I would think he's waiting for the Flyers GM job to open up.

Definitely a bullet dodged, along with Dan Cleary and the Weber OS.
- Tomahawk

That's a matter of opinion. Acquiring Weber was a no brainer. That would have set the Flyers defense up for a long time. Can't pass up the chance to add a superstar stud defenseman such as Weber, especially when that's your biggest need.

It would finally give him a valid reason to announce where a player played in junior hockey instead of just uselessly injecting it in every 38 seconds of a game.

Just to clarify I dont hate Mcguire I just hate his face and when he speaks.
- JonnyHammerstix

his wife shares your opinion

Him picking for the Pens in this draft in Philly..... I can only imagine what awkward poop comes out of his mouth at the podium.
- hereticpride

Pierre will get all warm and fuzzy inside when he hears the Crosby sucks chant

That's a matter of opinion. Acquiring Weber was a no brainer. That would have set the Flyers defense up for a long time. Can't pass up the chance to add a superstar stud defenseman such as Weber, especially when that's your biggest need.
- MJL

I agree he would have looked really good in O&B. Though that would be a tough pill to swallow for 14 years especially the last few years. But then again who knows what the salary cap will be then. Midling Dmen could be making 8 mil a year for all we know

I agree he would have looked really good in O&B. Though that would be a tough pill to swallow for 14 years especially the last few years. But then again who knows what the salary cap will be then. Midling Dmen could be making 8 mil a year for all we know
- JonnyHammerstix

He could very well have been the difference in the Rangers series!

With the way he was slobbering all over Ghost in the Frozen Four I would think he's waiting for the Flyers GM job to open up.
- JonnyHammerstix

Him and Buccigross. It made me cringe.

I agree he would have looked really good in O&B. Though that would be a tough pill to swallow for 14 years especially the last few years. But then again who knows what the salary cap will be then. Midling Dmen could be making 8 mil a year for all we know
- JonnyHammerstix

I was thinking more about the 4 1st-round picks it would have cost them... the pipeline was still reeling from the Pronger deal... OS compensation would have completely cratered the poor thing.

God forbid if anything happened to Weber then.

That's a matter of opinion. Acquiring Weber was a no brainer. That would have set the Flyers defense until his career was cut short due to a freak injury. Can't pass up the chance to add a superstar stud defenseman such as Weber, especially when that's your biggest need.
- MJL

ftfy.

I was thinking more about the 4 1st-round picks it would have cost them... the pipeline was still reeling from the Pronger deal... OS compensation would have completely cratered the poor thing.

God forbid if anything happened to Weber then.
- Tomahawk

Yea thats true the prospect pool would be a baren wasteland for years. They would really be gambling that none of their young players in the NHL would get hurt or turn out to be busts. There are definately multiple ways to look at it. Still would have been fun watching him fire Giroux fed rockets from the point on the PP.

Him and Buccigross. It made me cringe.
- PhillySportsGuy

that announcing job by buccigross was probably the worst i've ever heard in any sport, ever.

I was thinking more about the 4 1st-round picks it would have cost them... the pipeline was still reeling from the Pronger deal... OS compensation would have completely cratered the poor thing.

God forbid if anything happened to Weber then.
- Tomahawk

It's definitely an "all your eggs in one basket" type of deal, but if you can get arguably the best defenseman in the game, I believe you go for it because you may not get another crack at one.

Also, it's completely possible Nashville could have done the second "unconnected" trade where they don't match and then trade some of those firsts back for other assets.

I agree he would have looked really good in O&B. Though that would be a tough pill to swallow for 14 years especially the last few years. But then again who knows what the salary cap will be then. Midling Dmen could be making 8 mil a year for all we know
- JonnyHammerstix

For a player of Weber's caliber, the cap hit is cheap right now.

Jakub Vrána - LW/RW - Linköping - 2014 NHL Draft
- ob18

I am in the process of putting together a blog -- which will run about 10 days before the draft -- on Draft-eligible players in the Swedish leagues. It will include Czech players Vrana and Pastrnak as well as Swiss player Fiala, since those three all played in Sweden this year.

If there are no surprise players who drop and the Flyers end up taking a European forward in the first round, Adrian Kempe is the one I think is the best fit for Philly. I saw about 20 of his games this year, in whole or in part, because Modo was my first choice of European team to watch this season (primarily to track Robert Hägg's play) when streams were available.

I was thinking more about the 4 1st-round picks it would have cost them... the pipeline was still reeling from the Pronger deal... OS compensation would have completely cratered the poor thing.

God forbid if anything happened to Weber then.
- Tomahawk

Are you sure about the compensation for the Weber OS as 4 first rounders?

http://www.pensionplanpup...sation-table-offer-sheets

ftfy.
- hammarby31

Any player can suffer a career ending freak injury. In my view, you can't approach building your team worrying about that.

Also, it's completely possible Nashville could have done the second "unconnected" trade where they don't match and then trade some of those firsts back for other assets.
- jmatchett383

Imagine if TB hadn't done that after the Gratton OS... goodbye Simon Gagne and Justin Williams.

Are you sure about the compensation for the Weber OS as 4 first rounders?

http://www.pensionplanpup...sation-table-offer-sheets
- MJL

It was widely reported as it being 4 first rounders. Although that table does seem to suggest otherwise since his cap hit is like 7.8 somthing.

Any player can suffer a career ending freak injury. In my view, you can't approach building your team worrying about that.
- MJL

of course you can't. i was being sarcastic, pointing to the number of terrible things that have happened to key flyers throughout their history.

That's a matter of opinion. Acquiring Weber was a no brainer. That would have set the Flyers defense up for a long time. Can't pass up the chance to add a superstar stud defenseman such as Weber, especially when that's your biggest need.
- MJL

It was widely reported as it being 4 first rounders. Although that table does seem to suggest otherwise since his cap hit is like 7.8 somthing.
- JonnyHammerstix

That's because it took place under the 2011-12 criteria?

$1,034,249 annual cap hit or less: No compensation
$1,034,249 — $1,567,043: Third-round pick
$1,567,043 — $3,134,088: Second-round pick
$3,134,088 — $4,701,131: First and third-round pick
$4,701,131 — $6,268,175: First, second and third-round pick
$6,268,175 — $7,835,219: Two first-round picks, a second and third
$7,835,219 and higher: Four first-round picks


Weber AAV: $7,857,143

It was widely reported as it being 4 first rounders. Although that table does seem to suggest otherwise since his cap hit is like 7.8 somthing.
- JonnyHammerstix

It was 4 first rounders. The number wasn't based on cap hit. It was based on the actual amount paid over the first 6 years or something.