Good news though is if the Oilers draft 3rd and Leafs 4th, I'm almost certain they take Noah Hanifin. If they don't, they will be officially crowned dumbest team in the NHL.
- KesselRules

What about Strome?

that coronation took place a few years back
- DoubleDown

Anyone know if Bailey can skate? To me that's the clincher and what sank Irwin and Hanson immediately and the league's even faster now.

Anyone know if Bailey can skate? To me that's the clincher and what sank Irwin and Hanson immediately and the league's even faster now.
- gravyface

When Bowen was announcing it on the radio broadcast prior to the game, he gave a run-down that one of the guys from Penn State had provided and one of the notes was "He's a much better skater than people think"

So take that for what it is worth.

I just hope he can be a serviceable player. That's all we need right now. 91 PIMS though, he might be the kind of guy we need to support our #GoonTank

When Bowen was announcing it on the radio broadcast prior to the game, he gave a run-down that one of the guys from Penn State had provided and one of the notes was "He's a much better skater than people think"

So take that for what it is worth.

I just hope he can be a serviceable player. That's all we need right now. 91 PIMS though, he might be the kind of guy we need to support our #GoonTank
- TheThrill

Maybe he can turn into a big power forward, that can play the game. Fight and score.. That would be awesome.

Maybe he can turn into a big power forward, that can play the game. Fight and score.. That would be awesome.
- bixll

Not like we lose anything if he doesn't.

EDIT: Could end up being an affordable version of Clarkson, at the very least

Not like we lose anything if he doesn't.

EDIT: Could end up being an affordable version of Clarkson, at the very least
- TheThrill

Kid does not have achieve much then, now does he.

What about Strome?
- bixll

OHL's Rob Brown

Not like we lose anything if he doesn't.

EDIT: Could end up being an affordable version of Clarkson, at the very least
- TheThrill

Well, he'll have a handful of games this year to start showing what he can do.

Hopefully Horachek gives him the opportunity to do it; for all intents and purposes, the first line isn't going anywhere with Kadri being out, but the 2nd and 3rd are wide open and there's no reason why they can't roll 4 lines and give Carrick et al 10 minutes a night.

What about Strome?
- bixll

Was trying to find the Stephen A Smith clip on the Raptors drafting Charlie Villanueva and saying he's going to be a good player but you have Bosh playing the same position.

Not like we lose anything if he doesn't.

EDIT: Could end up being an affordable version of Clarkson, at the very least
- TheThrill

Well, already he has a better shot and can skate... hell, staying on his feet for an entire shift is a leg up over Clarkson.

Well, he'll have a handful of games this year to start showing what he can do.

Hopefully Horachek gives him the opportunity to do it; for all intents and purposes, the first line isn't going anywhere with Kadri being out, but the 2nd and 3rd are wide open and there's no reason why they can't roll 4 lines and give Carrick et al 10 minutes a night.
- gravyface

Yeah he should theoretically get a chance out there. If Leo is still playing C, I'd put Bailey on that wing. Toss Kozun on the other side. Good mix of speed, size and jam.

It's not a great evaluation to toss him out there with Sill and Lindstrom, no offense to those chaps.

That is false. Being drafted by an ohl team (he was drafted by an ohl team - Mississauga) doesn't mean he has to play for them.
- burn

i meant if he played in the OHL, and got drafted from the OHL into the NHL, he would have 2 more years of juniors

OHL's Rob Brown
- drexel

how so?

wasnt brown like 4 inches shorter?

What about Strome?
- bixll

would they go strome after taking draisaitl last year?

Edmonton has picked a d-man rd 1 what once in the last decade
I think they take the safest d-man in the draft after passing up on murray a couple years back

would they go strome after taking draisaitl last year?

Edmonton has picked a d-man rd 1 what once in the last decade
I think they take the safest d-man in the draft after passing up on murray a couple years back
- GardinerExpress

They should but I think they pick the best forward available.

Yeah he should theoretically get a chance out there. If Leo is still playing C, I'd put Bailey on that wing. Toss Kozun on the other side. Good mix of speed, size and jam.

It's not a great evaluation to toss him out there with Sill and Lindstrom, no offense to those chaps.
- TheThrill

Yeah, Sill and Lindstrom are playing to stay in the league... I'd hang onto Sill. If he's cool with a cheap deal and can bounce up and down between the Marlies/Leafs, he's a more useful version of Orr and McLaren.

would they go strome after taking draisaitl last year?

Edmonton has picked a d-man rd 1 what once in the last decade
I think they take the safest d-man in the draft after passing up on murray a couple years back
- GardinerExpress

only 3 teams have scored less than Edmonton this year and 2 of those teams are blatant tank jobs. they need offence as much as they need defence at this point. i think they go with BPA.

Yeah, Sill and Lindstrom are playing to stay in the league... I'd hang onto Sill. If he's cool with a cheap deal and can bounce up and down between the Marlies/Leafs, he's a more useful version of Orr and McLaren.
- gravyface

I like Sill. he plays with heart, unlike pretty much anyone else.

If they can get him less than a mil for a 1 year, I'd keep him around. Seems to have that positive dressing room vibe and professional approach to the game that could be helpful to some of the young guys we are going to have playing next year.

We need character guys like that. Not sad sacks who mail it in when the going gets tough

would they go strome after taking draisaitl last year?

Edmonton has picked a d-man rd 1 what once in the last decade
I think they take the safest d-man in the draft after passing up on murray a couple years back
- GardinerExpress

For accuracy's sake, they've done so 3 times the past decade; Plante in 2007, Klefbom in 2011, and Nurse in 2013. A fair deal of 2nd round Dmen, as well. So it's not like they're ignoring them at the draft, just bad at developing them/picking the wrong types (until recently hopefully).

only 3 teams have scored less than Edmonton this year and 2 of those teams are blatant tank jobs. they need offence as much as they need defence at this point. i think they go with BPA.
- DoubleDown

Part of that likely had to do with Eakins, though. Since taking over Nelson has the offense looking much stronger (still being crippled by garbage goaltending and a weak D corps, though).

They should but I think they pick the best forward available.
- bixll

would he be the BPA though? central scouting has hanifin at 3, crouse 4, strome 5
not like hanifin is a reach at 3. most experts have him pegged there. leafs fans so desperate for a center with size, we have strome ranked 3rd

only 3 teams have scored less than Edmonton this year and 2 of those teams are blatant tank jobs. they need offence as much as they need defence at this point. i think they go with BPA.
- DoubleDown

They have no shortage of power up front for scoring.
They don't have D that can provide a break out for their players, or provide d to clear the zone and get them back on attack.

For accuracy's sake, they've done so 3 times the past decade; Plante in 2007, Klefbom in 2011, and Nurse in 2013. A fair deal of 2nd round Dmen, as well. So it's not like they're ignoring them at the draft, just bad at developing them/picking the wrong types (until recently hopefully).
- MaximumBone

plante and klefbom were their 2nd 1st rder in those drafts though...they went with a forward first. 1999-2014 they have picked a d-man first just twice. Petry (2nd rd pick in 2006, and Nurse in 2013) There is no way any other team is skewed as much towards forwards.

They have no shortage of power up front for scoring.
They don't have D that can provide a break out for their players, or provide d to clear the zone and get them back on attack.
- ILoveLamp

And, like the Leafs, no forwards willing to backcheck.