Because you have little to back up your story. There is a reason why so many top 3 forwards play in the NHL right away. The only ones that don't are guys that just aren't physically ready.
- Lahey

Exactly!

I'd be down with that. I wonder what his rights would cost
- Ihatebrianburke

I honestly don't know what WPG is doing. It's like Tambo showed them how to dither.

They have a lot of talent on that roster and in the system. They should be making adjustments to get better, but instead it's just talk of guys leaving all the time.

I'd be down with that. I wonder what his rights would cost
- Ihatebrianburke

I think similar to Filatov, who played in NA then left to Russia and wanted to come back. He cost a 3rd round pick I believe.

The one difference could be that Claude Noel is gone and he may want to play for Winnipeg or he could hate all of upper management and not come back to the NHL with the Jets.

I'd do a 2nd + B prospect and feel okay about that

Forget the injuries. The reason I believe in keeping a kid in Juniors an extra year is beneficial is because of defense. Most of the top picks are good enough offensively to step into the NHL and do well enough. Where they struggle is defensively and that's the main thing they learn when they're sent down. Down there, they play in every situation. PK, matched up against the opponent's top line, out there protecting a 1 goal lead in the final minute, etc. That's the benefit of playing there along with obviously filling out your frame and gaining strength. In the NHL, a coach isn't going to put a rookie out on the PK to learn. The coach is trying to win every game and if that means benching the offensively gifted rookie to protect a lead late in the game or never using him on the PK then that player will develop his defensive game slower.
- rangerdanger94

Well what about a player like Draisaitl, he is head and shoulders above playing in junior for another season but cannot play in the AHL? My opinion has always been that if you want to get better at something, you compete against people better than you are. Wiping the floor with lesser competition will not improve your abilities, it makes you complacent and arrogant.

I think similar to Filatov, who played in NA then left to Russia and wanted to come back. He cost a 3rd round pick I believe.

The one difference could be that Claude Noel is gone and he may want to play for Winnipeg or he could hate all of upper management and not come back to the NHL with the Jets.

I'd do a 2nd + B prospect and feel okay about that
- ystoil

Just take Chris Kelly and like it

Just take Chris Kelly and like it
- MrBeanTown

I'm not too sure we'll have the cap space after Schultz gets signed.

Well what about a player like Draisaitl, he is head and shoulders above playing in junior for another season but cannot play in the AHL? My opinion has always been that if you want to get better at something, you compete against people better than you are. Wiping the floor with lesser competition will not improve your abilities, it makes you complacent and arrogant.
- Horseguts

I think in Draisaitl's case he has a couple of areas that could use work that may be better suited for the WHL vs. NHL.

1) Skating - increasing his acceleration and improving his stride. He does have a powerful stride so his speed does actually get up there through the neutral zone.

2) Defensive awareness - not that this is a weakness but I've read it could improve. They do say he is a smart smart player, so I figure he could be a 2 way guy no problem.

RNH in comparison is a damn good skater/elusive and has very good 2 way abilities.

Well what about a player like Draisaitl, he is head and shoulders above playing in junior for another season but cannot play in the AHL? My opinion has always been that if you want to get better at something, you compete against people better than you are. Wiping the floor with lesser competition will not improve your abilities, it makes you complacent and arrogant.
- Horseguts

Hence why I don't mind him going to Europe.

I doubt Drouin learned much this year other than how to make kids like a fool

Well what about a player like Draisaitl, he is head and shoulders above playing in junior for another season but cannot play in the AHL? My opinion has always been that if you want to get better at something, you compete against people better than you are. Wiping the floor with lesser competition will not improve your abilities, it makes you complacent and arrogant.
- Horseguts

It's stupid that he can't play in the AHL, I agree. And your argument makes sense. Still, I might rather have the kid dominate the Junior level in every situation instead of play in the NHL and struggle for stretches at a time, potentially get his confidence rocked, not learn the defensive side of the game, play in a losing culture, etc. Drouin probably could've played last year but he didn't and now they're even more hyped for him this year.

I think in Draisaitl's case he has a couple of areas that could use work that may be better suited for the WHL vs. NHL.

1) Skating - increasing his acceleration and improving his stride. He does have a powerful stride so his speed does actually get up there through the neutral zone.

2) Defensive awareness - not that this is a weakness but I've read it could improve. They do say he is a smart smart player, so I figure he could be a 2 way guy no problem.

RNH in comparison is a damn good skater/elusive and has very good 2 way abilities.
- ystoil

How much is he going to improve skating in Junior? Isn't that something these guys work on in the off-season? I doubt he'll have much time to be working on his skating on the side. That and actually playing against guys that challenge him might be what he needs to realize he needs to work on it, although I thought he was spending the summer on it.

It's stupid that he can't play in the AHL, I agree. And your argument makes sense. Still, I might rather have the kid dominate the Junior level in every situation instead of play in the NHL and struggle for stretches at a time, potentially get his confidence rocked, not learn the defensive side of the game, play in a losing culture, etc. Drouin probably could've played last year but he didn't and now they're even more hyped for him this year.
- rangerdanger94

Rule needs to change. It's all about money and that's bullpoop IMO. The player's best interest isn't taken into consideration.

I think in Draisaitl's case he has a couple of areas that could use work that may be better suited for the WHL vs. NHL.

1) Skating - increasing his acceleration and improving his stride. He does have a powerful stride so his speed does actually get up there through the neutral zone.

2) Defensive awareness - not that this is a weakness but I've read it could improve. They do say he is a smart smart player, so I figure he could be a 2 way guy no problem.

RNH in comparison is a damn good skater/elusive and has very good 2 way abilities.
- ystoil

1. He's a bigger guy so his skating will never be on the level of Hall. Ebs is a mediocre skater and he does fine with it. Draisaitl has also made that one of his areas he's been focusing on during this offseason so we may see quite the improvement on it.

2. Experience in the NHL and having NHL coaches will certainly help this area improve as well. He's a centreman and I bet he knows and will continue to know who "his man" is in the dzone. This isn't a concern to me at all.

I'm not too sure we'll have the cap space after Schultz gets signed.
- Horseguts

No arguements, please. He's 3M of beautiful beauty.

DOOO ITTTTTTT

1. He's a bigger guy so his skating will never be on the level of Hall. Ebs is a mediocre skater and he does fine with it. Draisaitl has also made that one of his areas he's been focusing on during this offseason so we may see quite the improvement on it.

2. Experience in the NHL and having NHL coaches will certainly help this area improve as well. He's a centreman and I bet he knows and will continue to know who "his man" is in the dzone. This isn't a concern to me at all.
- Horseguts

Well the difference between coaches in the CHL/AHL level are that they specialize in TEACHING young players the game. Yes they coach their team to win, but their main task is to teach these kids how to develop into NHL player. NHL coaches aren't supposed to teach primarily. They're supposed to take NHL veterans that already know how to play and create a winning team while mixing in some youth. The youth learns a bit from the coaches but a lot from their veteran teammates. Dallas Eakins paid his dues in the AHL though and he's a good teacher so he's the right type of NHL coach for Draisaitl if he ends up staying up with the Oilers.

How much is he going to improve skating in Junior? Isn't that something these guys work on in the off-season? I doubt he'll have much time to be working on his skating on the side. That and actually playing against guys that challenge him might be what he needs to realize he needs to work on it, although I thought he was spending the summer on it.
- Lahey

I just think it's tough to improve your d game if you're potentially a step behind the play. One of the reasons I feel Gagner could never be that 2 way guy is due to his skating. I should mention, i've seen Draisaitl get up and down the ice and he is much faster and more powerful in his stride that Gagner so I don't think that'll be a problem.

I only have limited viewings vs. scouts who say he could work on those. I will say though, at the WHC against the USA, he did not look behind at all, he actually played very well.

He is working on his skating, him and Yak. Good to see them bonding off the ice.

It's stupid that he can't play in the AHL, I agree. And your argument makes sense. Still, I might rather have the kid dominate the Junior level in every situation instead of play in the NHL and struggle for stretches at a time, potentially get his confidence rocked, not learn the defensive side of the game, play in a losing culture, etc. Drouin probably could've played last year but he didn't and now they're even more hyped for him this year.
- rangerdanger94

If he could play in the AHL next season, I'd be all for it but I dread the thought of LD going back to junior, he's driven as hell to make the NHL this season and throwing him back to junior will hurt his confidence more than struggling during stretches in the best league on the planet. He's also said that junior isn't an option anymore for him, it's the NHL or a Euro league.

Drouin should of played in Tampa last year, I'd be worried about him going stale from getting used to dominating kids in juniors. He was ready long before now.

Rule needs to change. It's all about money and that's bullpoop IMO. The player's best interest isn't taken into consideration.
- Lahey

Why isn't Ryan Murray injury prone?
- ystoil

Because he's proven so much more than Yak so far. Fart

Well the difference between coaches in the CHL/AHL level are that they specialize in TEACHING young players the game. Yes they coach their team to win, but their main task is to teach these kids how to develop into NHL player. NHL coaches aren't supposed to teach primarily. They're supposed to take NHL veterans that already know how to play and create a winning team while mixing in some youth. The youth learns a bit from the coaches but a lot from their veteran teammates. Dallas Eakins paid his dues in the AHL though and he's a good teacher so he's the right type of NHL coach for Draisaitl if he ends up staying up with the Oilers.
- rangerdanger94

I agree with a lot of this but there will also be a lot of assistant coaches available to teach as well. On top of that, Draisaitl will be stepping into a room with a bunch of guys that have gone through exactly what he is going through and will be able to help and offer tips/ideas to work through it.

I just think it's tough to improve your d game if you're potentially a step behind the play. One of the reasons I feel Gagner could never be that 2 way guy is due to his skating. I should mention, i've seen Draisaitl get up and down the ice and he is much faster and more powerful in his stride that Gagner so I don't think that'll be a problem.

I only have limited viewings vs. scouts who say he could work on those. I will say though, at the WHC against the USA, he did not look behind at all, he actually played very well.

He is working on his skating, him and Yak. Good to see them bonding off the ice.
- ystoil

I see Yak playing lights out this year... If he indeed gets paired with LD - they could both have solid years...

I honestly don't know what WPG is doing. It's like Tambo showed them how to dither.

They have a lot of talent on that roster and in the system. They should be making adjustments to get better, but instead it's just talk of guys leaving all the time.
- Lahey

They're GM is terrible! Get a (frank)in goalie already! They're D will be phenomenal when Morrisey and Trouba mature. And from the looks of last year Trouba isn't far off from being there

They're GM is terrible! Get a (frank)in goalie already! They're D will be phenomenal when Morrisey and Trouba mature. And from the looks of last year Trouba isn't far off from being there
- Ihatebrianburke

Chevy is the most passive GM I've ever seen!

I see Yak playing lights out this year... If he indeed gets paired with LD - they could both have solid years...
- saskoil21

I agree, I think Yaks will be one motivated mother(frank)er this season and will be a force for the Oilers.

I am hoping for lines of Hall/Nuge/Ebs, Perron/Arco or a replacement/Purcell, Pouliot/Draisaitl/Yak

Maybe swap Pouliot and Perron.

They're GM is terrible! Get a (frank)in goalie already! They're D will be phenomenal when Morrisey and Trouba mature. And from the looks of last year Trouba isn't far off from being there
- Ihatebrianburke

Probably not a great help this year but they have Connor Hellebyuck from UMASS Lowell who was really good. I could see him making the team over Pavlec, but then again that's not saying to much.

Probably not a great help this year but they have Connor Hellebyuck from UMASS Lowell who was really good. I could see him making the team over Pavlec, but then again that's not saying to much.
- glove_was_stuck

They should really trade for James Reimer. Pavelec + pick for Reimer.

I hope we sign that Ouellete goalie that CBJ let loose. In his last two years in college he has about a 920 save %