I went down a mock draft wormhole this evening and Werenski goes #10 in 70% of them. Provorov will be gone before San Jose picks though, and how can they pass on him? Isn't Zacha more likely for us? I've heard it said this draft is an elite 9 deep but the more I read about him it seems he should be included.

Did any of you catch that Jets / Ducks game last night?

Seeing this city explode for the Jets coming back was one thing but last night was sure the icing on the cake. What a show.

Would have been nice with the opposite result last night for the city but you gotta appreciate a great hockey game played in that environment.

Breaking News: The Blues are looking lame in the first round of the playoffs

Did any of you catch that Jets / Ducks game last night?

Seeing this city explode for the Jets coming back was one thing but last night was sure the icing on the cake. What a show.

Would have been nice with the opposite result last night for the city but you gotta appreciate a great hockey game played in that environment.

Breaking News: The Blues are looking lame in the first round of the playoffs
- Fols19

yeah I watched it. The Jets are so close to being a real threat...they just dont have that killer playoff instinct to me. Looked like they were trying not to lose vs the Ducks who were trying to win.

Buff and Ladd have been very disappointing for them this series, for cup winning vets, they really have been sleep walking for the most part and costing their team momentum.

yeah I watched it. The Jets are so close to being a real threat...they just dont have that killer playoff instinct to me. Looked like they were trying not to lose vs the Ducks who were trying to win.

Buff and Ladd have been very disappointing for them this series, for cup winning vets, they really have been sleep walking for the most part and costing their team momentum.
- DDM-Coga

No doubt, you need your best to play their best during the playoffs and they sure aren't getting that!

Will be interesting to see if they strengthen that club or take a step back next season. Both Buff and Ladd will be entering the final year of their contracts. They also have Stafford, Frolik and Tlusty all hitting UFA this summer. You have to think they'll try to keep this club together but if i'm Stafford and i've just played in Buffalo and Winnipeg......i'm looking for a nice sized contract in my late 20's.

The way the West is built right now, 2-3 teams that make it are just as easily on the outside looking in the next year. Amazing what a slow start to a season can do.

No doubt, you need your best to play their best during the playoffs and they sure aren't getting that!

Will be interesting to see if they strengthen that club or take a step back next season. Both Buff and Ladd will be entering the final year of their contracts. They also have Stafford, Frolik and Tlusty all hitting UFA this summer. You have to think they'll try to keep this club together but if i'm Stafford and i've just played in Buffalo and Winnipeg......i'm looking for a nice sized contract in my late 20's.

The way the West is built right now, 2-3 teams that make it are just as easily on the outside looking in the next year. Amazing what a slow start to a season can do.
- Fols19

I think they let Ladd walk, they can replace him easier than you can replace Buff.

I have been on the Werenski train for a while. The thing I like about his game (other than his size) is his crisp and safe outlet passes. The quick forwards of the Avs would love his quick passes utilizing their speed into the offensive zone.

I have been on the Werenski train for a while. The thing I like about his game (other than his size) is his crisp and safe outlet passes. The quick forwards of the Avs would love his quick passes utilizing their speed into the offensive zone.
- KOGGS

I have said it a few times but if we end up selecting 1 of the 4 of Provorov, Werenski, Crouse, Rantanen I would be very happy.

I get this feeling that Barzal and or Zacha are going to higher than they are ranked making 1 of those 4 be available at 10

And what if the top 9 plays out predictably DDM. Who do you like between Zacha, Barzal, Meier? Go BPA or pick someone specifically to wingman for Dutchy? Reach for Kylington/Roy?

And what if the top 9 plays out predictably DDM. Who do you like between Zacha, Barzal, Meier? Go BPA or pick someone specifically to wingman for Dutchy? Reach for Kylington/Roy?
- Footer52

Its a toss up bw Zacha and Meier for me. Big Body winger who has shown he can handle playing with very elite level players in Ehlers. I wouldnt reach on Dmen if the Top 3 Ds are already gone. There will be a boat load of good ones kicking around at 40

Both Zacha and Meier are listed as C Winger combos. Roy loves those winger C combos so I can see him going Zacha, but going for Meier as a RW already makes a lot of sense.

And what if the top 9 plays out predictably DDM. Who do you like between Zacha, Barzal, Meier? Go BPA or pick someone specifically to wingman for Dutchy? Reach for Kylington/Roy?
- Footer52

I'm not sold on Kylington.

I'm not sold on Kylington.
- KOGGS

Im not either, I think he could slide to end of 1st round or even drop to early 2nd round

If San Jose nips Werenski in front of us I'm tempted to take Barzal just for trade value. He is an undersized center, exactly the last thing we need (we love you joey!), but his ceiling looks high.

This pick better turn out either way. Can't afford to have a top 10 pick turn into a bust with this deep of a draft. Hope they do their due diligence and pick the best player they can who has a combo of both skill/personality.

If only Hishon hadn't gotten that concussion back in juniors..... Kid must have all the mental ingredients there of drive and determination to overcome almost two seasons of missing PRIME development years and still make it to the NHL. The pick seemed odd at the time, but someone knew what they were doing when they chose him and still hoping he can make up for lost time and pull an NHL career off.

Whoever we pick, I hope that they have the "X" factor and do something with their talent...... Skill is oozing everywhere in this draft. It's just finding that player that will do something more with it.

Well said Lundstrom. Its hard not to wonder where Hishon might be right now. Is it nuts to wonder if his healthy upside approximates Jordan Eberle? That ship may have already sailed with how derailed his career is sadly. He looked good the last few games however. If he can forge out a career similiar to Brian Little I would be so overjoyed.

Well said Lundstrom. Its hard not to wonder where Hishon might be right now. Is it nuts to wonder if his healthy upside approximates Jordan Eberle? That ship may have already sailed with how derailed his career is sadly. He looked good the last few games however. If he can forge out a career similiar to Brian Little I would be so overjoyed.
- Footer52

I would be very happy with that too. I am a big fan of Little, I think he has an under rated game. I would love him to be on the Avs one day. Hes like Stastny but not of the "hes over hyped" dribble that Staz gets thrown at him

How would you feel about picking Barzal. I've seen alot of mocks lately with him in the top 10.

How would you feel about picking Barzal. I've seen alot of mocks lately with him in the top 10.
- Footer52

Steve Konowalchuk will have the inside track on Barzal for the Avs. Guarantee he'll have some great insight for the Avs since he played/worked/coached for us.

Steve Konowalchuk will have the inside track on Barzal for the Avs. Guarantee he'll have some great insight for the Avs since he played/worked/coached for us.
- Lundstrom

In what capacity is Konowalchuk working? If the Avs could get a copy of him at 18 years old with our 10th overall pick I'd take it and run. Heart and Soul player.

In what capacity is Konowalchuk working? If the Avs could get a copy of him at 18 years old with our 10th overall pick I'd take it and run. Heart and Soul player.
- Footer52

He's been the head coach for the Seattle Thunderbirds since he left the Avs.

Barzal would be a safe pick for the Avs, but if one of the big Dmen are there I don't see the Avs passing on stocking the blueline.

Barzal would be a safe pick for the Avs, but if one of the big Dmen are there I don't see the Avs passing on stocking the blueline.
- KOGGS

sadly I can see them doing that with how Highly Roy has talked about Bigras and Geertsen lately. With how he mentions drafting with a vision and how he didnt like Pracey picking the same kind of players all the time, I could see them passing on a Dman for a Big forward.

sadly I can see them doing that with how Highly Roy has talked about Bigras and Geertsen lately. With how he mentions drafting with a vision and how he didnt like Pracey picking the same kind of players all the time, I could see them passing on a Dman for a Big forward.
- DDM-Coga

The Roy/Pracey thing really irks me.

Draft for skill, fill out your character on the cheap. This should be standard drafting procedure across all 30 teams by now.

sadly I can see them doing that with how Highly Roy has talked about Bigras and Geertsen lately. With how he mentions drafting with a vision and how he didnt like Pracey picking the same kind of players all the time, I could see them passing on a Dman for a Big forward.
- DDM-Coga

I'm hoping they see the obvious free agency trends. True Dmen just don't hit the market. It's 2nd to 3rd pairing guys or veterans well past their prime. I say you stock the cupboard with D since it's such a weak point for us. You can't have enough of them coming through the pipes.

Much easier to snag a forward in free agency.

The Roy/Pracey thing really irks me.

Draft for skill, fill out your character on the cheap. This should be standard drafting procedure across all 30 teams by now.
- aschuter82

you cant afford to have 1st and 2nd round busts. Those picks need to pan out these days or you are doing what the Avs have done...fill your rosters with disgarded AHLers and UFAs since you have no NHL ready prospects down on the farm.

In the top 10, take the best player available, even at 40 there will be lots of really good prospects available, maybe with that pick you can start to draft towards position.

I'm hoping they see the obvious free agency trends. True Dmen just don't hit the market. It's 2nd to 3rd pairing guys or veterans well past their prime. I say you stock the cupboard with D since it's such a weak point for us. You can't have enough of them coming through the pipes.

Much easier to snag a forward in free agency.
- Fols19

Yup, thats why if they are able to grab Werneski or Provorov with that pick, it really helps our D prospect pool. We would finally have that legit Top pairing D prospect and not hoping and praying that the development of Bigras to top pairing and Greetsen to second pairing. Takes the pressure of those guys having to develop and perhaps be fored into roles that they arent ready to succeed in. If they have a Prospect Depth chart like this..I would feel confident that we could build our Core from within.

1st Pairings - Werneski or Provorov
2nd Pairings - Bigras/Siemens
3rd Pairing - Geertsen/Butcher/Elliott

If some of those 2nd or 3rd pairing guys develop further and jump up the depth chart, then we are laughing, but if we continue their course we at least have all our bases covered.