kessel has skill.. no question.. but no drive.. no determination

and i bet by the end of the contract he'll be so out of shape he will be generally ineffective

trade him now while the value is high.. he is a poor example for the younger guys.. BIG TIME
- Dozzer

I was indifferent one way or the other about Kessel before but now, I would see what you can get, what I see from him is something that will only get worse down the line, IMO.

Oh yeah, the more picks the better chance but it is so slim to hit that home run.
- LeafMan

Everyone claims this is gonna be a very good and deep draft.

so let's say we get #5 spot...you think that pick plus could get the #1?
- bazookajo1

doubt it but depends who the team is

Stefan, Brendl, Lundmark, Connolly, Finley, Beech, Pyatt, Branislav Mezei

so let's say we get #5 spot...you think that pick plus could get the #1?
- bazookajo1

No, but the inevitable winning of the draft lottery after Shanny and Pridham "pay a visit" to their old league buddy, Gary, might.

I said usually only two to three players make a big impact each year from the draft, some drafts none.

People talk about all these pick being great but the fact is, most will be just average NHL'ers. Going by history of the drafts Lucas.
- LeafMan

average nhl career of an impact player is 15years.
each draft max 2 impact players.
so that's 30 players in 15 drafts.. = 30 players in 15years.

so you mean to say that there are only about 30 impact players in the nhl?

personally i would say 60-75 at least (which would mean 4-5 impact players per draft).

its past 10 years but this one is horrible


http://thehockeywriters.c...rst-nhl-draft-class-ever/
- PinkSock

There is one, lol.

I don't think they finish that low. I think the highest we can jope for is 6th, and Strome will be gone by then. Hope to heck im wrong on one or both counts.
- systemtool

If they are able to move a few pieces at the deadline 4/5 is well within reach, but that's likely as low as we can go.

Only shot at McDavid is a slim chance lottery win. Buffalo may very well. It win another game all year. 13 straight losses and counting. (frank)ers saw what we were doing and said "(frank) that noise, watch this"

so let's say we get #5 spot...you think that pick plus could get the #1?
- bazookajo1

I dont, but maybe #2 hole (Eichel) take the consolation prize

No, but the inevitable winning of the draft lottery after Shanny and Pridham "pay a visit" to their old league buddy, Gary, might.
- TheThrill

it just moved

hes the tank driver - they hired him to chauffeur
- Lucas Neilson

There is one, lol.
- LeafMan

look how bad it was

Stefan, Brendl, Lundmark, Connolly, Finley, Beech, Pyatt, Branislav Mezei

average nhl career of an impact player is 15years.
each draft max 2 impact players.
so that's 30 players in 15 drafts.. = 30 players in 15years.

so you mean to say that there are only about 30 impact players in the nhl?

personally i would say 60-75 at least (which would mean 4-5 impact players per draft).
- MaximusAurelius

Or, you take the three part I said and that is about 90 which covers your 75, right?

If the leafs are serious about moving Pa-neuf and Kessel...they have to do it before the deadline. I know, moving them at the draft may yield a better return.
But if moving them is the plan....then no sense waisting away a high pick, trade them now and let the team sink......err sink more.
- Fakepartofme

This team is going to sink with or without them. I remember when Burke traded for Kessel, the thinking was that we couldn't possibly be in the lottery pick range with him in our line up. We finished 2nd last.

Trading Kessel and Phaneuf might open doors to younger and hungrier players with more passion and drive to earn a job that it might have the reverse impact of what you're hoping for. At least these two will likely be mentally checked out with little left to prove or work hard for, especially when they also don't have to play for a contract.

IMO, get the best return you can and don't believe the foolishness that either those two is keeping you from being a bad team, when both have been along for every massive collapse this team goes through. No reason to think, especially lately, that these two are going to help us get points in the standings. That boat has sailed. This team has all but given up. Replace them with young guys and you'll have a harder working bunch.

Getting a better return for both those guys is what our goal should be, as I doubt picking 6th instead of 7th is work taking less of a return. Get the most out of your players at all times, on or off the ice.

Why not try to get another ticket to the lotto? even if its the worst odds or last team to get a ticket

Everyone claims this is gonna be a very good and deep draft.
- Pecafan Fan

Hey Marty, I will gladly say I'm wrong if we get an impact player past 5, I have no trouble admitting I was wrong and I hope I am.

Or, you take the three part I said and that is about 90 which covers your 75, right?
- LeafMan

3 would mean 45 impact players..
6 would mean 90.

If the leafs are serious about moving Pa-neuf and Kessel...they have to do it before the deadline. I know, moving them at the draft may yield a better return.
But if moving them is the plan....then no sense waisting away a high pick, trade them now and let the team sink......err sink more.
- Fakepartofme

agreed.. take on salary of under performing guys on shorter contracts and picks/prospects and call er a day

get this rebuild rolling along right

average nhl career of an impact player is 15years.
each draft max 2 impact players.
so that's 30 players in 15 drafts.. = 30 players in 15years.

so you mean to say that there are only about 30 impact players in the nhl?

personally i would say 60-75 at least (which would mean 4-5 impact players per draft).
- MaximusAurelius

Players come to the NHL through more than just draft, Martin St Louis or Mark Giordano ring a bell?

average nhl career of an impact player is 15years.
each draft max 2 impact players.
so that's 30 players in 15 drafts.. = 30 players in 15years.

so you mean to say that there are only about 30 impact players in the nhl?

personally i would say 60-75 at least (which would mean 4-5 impact players per draft).
- MaximusAurelius

I can only assume Lou means "franchise changing impact player" in which case he's probably right. Talking Tavares, Getzlaf, Kopitar level. Not generational talents, but still elite.

Unbelievable.
- Pecafan Fan

It actually is kinda unbelievable.

3 would mean 45 impact players..
6 would mean 90.
- MaximusAurelius

How many years are you going back? I might have misunderstood.

Edit: 15, then yes 45, I didn't see that part, my bad.

You proved that you can pick individual players, two examples does not a proof make.

If we do that, what about Kunitz? Three of his best four seasons have been age 32-34. Imagine if Phil had a centre to play with....
- lumlums

he picked the players i referred to. thats the point

Yeah but hte more picks you have, the more chances you have to pick a great player.


unless your scouts totally blow. Which is always a possibility.
- Pecafan Fan

Obviously their scouts are not the best. They need to retool the scouting team. The loss of Dudley really hurt. Need to model the scouting team around Chi, Det. Develop your draft picks. They have the money to spend on development. Their is no excuses.

3 would mean 45 impact players..
6 would mean 90.
- MaximusAurelius

bull poop equation - Giordano and St Louis both undrafted....