i'll never get over 2004. i remember that game 6 like it was yesterday.

interesting thing in noticed in the handshake line was kim johnsson shaking hands with his left hand, i assume because of the injury he sustained to his right hand in the waning moments of game 5 vs. that scum sucking nj devils franchise.

i'm very high on NAK....look forward to his continued development. he's not the only one. i think they've got some sleepers which could end up being huge parts of the team in a few years.
- hammarby31

Sure you will get over 2004. When they win the Cup in 2044

The draft cannot come soon enough. I'm sure it's tempting to trade one of these picks to upgrade this roster, even for myself. However, once the choice is made in the draft, there is normally a lot of pride and excitement around the player chosen. I'm very excited to see who we choose.

I will say this though, drafting the best playing available isn't always the way to go. If it's a no brainer pick in terms of the best available player, sure, go ahead. I personally believe the Flyers need to walk away with at least one forward, hopefully a natural winger.
- SuperSchennBros

I'd have no problem with them drafting another Dman with one of their first round picks. I'd have a problem if they used both of their first rounders on a dmen. Their forward cupboard is bare.

Tim Gleason will be the reason the Caps lose this series

I'd have no problem with them drafting another Dman with one of their first round picks. I'd have a problem if they used both of their first rounders on a dmen. Their forward cupboard is bare.
- Just5

I'm thinking "Best Player Available" and then a natural winger with Tampa's pick.

I'm thinking "Best Player Available" and then a natural winger with Tampa's pick.
- SuperSchennBros

I look at the board when they pick and go with the BPA & not trying to target a specific player or position

Moral: the Rangers can do no wrong

I look at the board when the pick and go with the BPA & not trying to target a specific player or position
- ob18

The think going with the "Best Player Available" is lazy and not every team in the league manages needs this way. If Hextall truly is different from the rest of the GM's, be different.

The think going with the "Best Player Available" is lazy and not every team in the league manages needs this way. If Hextall truly is different from the rest of the GM's, be different.
- SuperSchennBros

BPA on their board is not lazy, they do all this scouting for a reason not to say I only want a certain player because if that player goes off the board they are left scrambling.

Regis acting like CSP was the only person in the world that knew the oney was coming from Ovechkin

BPA on their board is not lazy, they do all this scouting for a reason not to say I only want a certain player because if that player goes off the board they are left scrambling.
- ob18

I think it's extremely lazy. Your club might need certain needs, fill them. There isn't always a know who will turn out to best player in the draft by order. Is Owen Nolan, Petr Nedved, Keith Primeau, Mike Ricci, Trevor Kidd better then Jagr? How do you determine that a defenseman is better then a forward long term?

I think it's extremely lazy. Your club might need certain needs, fill them. There isn't always a know who will turn out to best player in the draft by order. Is Owen Nolan, Petr Nedved, Keith Primeau, Mike Ricci, Trevor Kidd better then Jagr? How do you determine that a defenseman is better then a forward long term?
- SuperSchennBros

You don't target specific positions because if that said position you want so badly isn't available you then may force yourself to take somebody not as high on your board & that's when you begin making mistakes.

If you target say a D with the 1st pick but when you are up and say the top 5 on your board are forwards do you still go with D?

BPA on their board is not lazy, they do all this scouting for a reason not to say I only want a certain player because if that player goes off the board they are left scrambling.
- ob18

If they draft hanafin or provorov because they drop and he was their highest rated I've got no problem with it. With the 2nd 1st rounder is hope they'd have at least a couple forwards pegged that are worthy of the pick. And if they don't think they can get him. I'd like them to trade up/down to acquire that a forward where it makes sense rather than just pick a defenseman at 27 Bc he was the BPA

If they draft hanafin or provorov because they drop and he was their highest rated I've got no problem with it. With the 2nd 1st rounder is hope they'd have at least a couple forwards pegged that are worthy of the pick. And if they don't think they can get him. I'd like them to trade up/down to acquire that a forward where it makes sense rather than just pick a defenseman at 27 Bc he was the BPA
- Just5

I'm sure they'll have many pegged and stick to their draft boards when they are set up in the next 2 months.

I just don't target a specific position because you don't know how things will unfold before they pick.

You don't target specific positions because if that said position you want so badly isn't available you then may force yourself to take somebody not as high on your board & that's when you begin making mistakes.

If you target say a D with the 1st pick but when you are up and say the top 5 on your board are forwards do you still go with D?
- ob18

Hextall said last season that he would favour getting a defenseman. He did. This year he's expressed interest in looking for a forward in the draft. I think showing his cards and expressing his mindset is a really good thing. I absolutely feel you have to cater to the needs of the organization.

Hextall said last season that he would favour getting a defenseman. He did. This year he's expressed interest in looking for a forward in the draft. I think showing his cards and expressing his mindset is a really good thing. I absolutely feel you have to cater to the needs of the organization.
- SuperSchennBros

I know he did but again if that position isn't the top on your board to me you don't reach just so you can feel good about it.

If they are tied at the top of his board then yes I believe he would take the defenseman. But he also said in this draft if that was the case he would lean with the forward.

Hextall said last season that he would favour getting a defenseman. He did. This year he's expressed interest in looking for a forward in the draft. I think showing his cards and expressing his mindset is a really good thing. I absolutely feel you have to cater to the needs of the organization.
- SuperSchennBros

They should take a goalie with the pick

I'm sure they'll have many pegged and stick to their draft boards when they are set up in the next 2 months.

I just don't target a specific position because you don't know how things will unfold before they pick.
- ob18

I personally don't believe Laughton to be a good fit for the Flyers right now. He's still currently developing and that feeling of mine could be proven wrong but right now, I see him as being too similar to Sean Couturier.

I personally don't believe Laughton to be a good fit for the Flyers right now. He's still currently developing and that feeling of mine could be proven wrong but right now, I see him as being too similar to Sean Couturier.
- SuperSchennBros

I think he's a fit but it not uncommon for some players to take some time more than others to find their game and make the NHL roster.

I like the approach they are now taking with let the prospects develop. This team is not that close so there is no need to make sure every single pick we take is forced into the lineup early.

I think it's extremely lazy. Your club might need certain needs, fill them. There isn't always a know who will turn out to best player in the draft by order. Is Owen Nolan, Petr Nedved, Keith Primeau, Mike Ricci, Trevor Kidd better then Jagr? How do you determine that a defenseman is better then a forward long term?
- SuperSchennBros

So you should by-pass Shea Weber because you need a winger? You determine which player will be better using the same criteria and weigh the potential of each guy against one another. If you have a guy who is better rated by your scouts than a guy at a position of need, take the guy who will be better.

I don't want the Flyers to take Crouse over Provorov because they need a winger. I want them to take the better player. If that's Provorov, they can trade a defenseman to address the hole at wing. If it's Crouse, then great-but right now, I think Provorov rates higher than Crouse to a lot of folks.

A big part of the reason that Jagr went behind Nolan, Nedved, Primeau and Ricci(Kidd was taken after Jagr) is because of the uncertainty of the Iron Curtain. There was no guarantee that Jagr would be able to leave Czechoslovakia to play in North America at the time, and that was a big factor. Communist nations in the Iron Curtain were only just starting to allow veterans to come over to the NHL, and if a young guy bailed, it was as often as not the result of a defection(like Alexander Mogilny)

Hextall said last season that he would favour getting a defenseman. He did. This year he's expressed interest in looking for a forward in the draft. I think showing his cards and expressing his mindset is a really good thing. I absolutely feel you have to cater to the needs of the organization.
- SuperSchennBros

Actually, last year Hexy said they'd go for a forward if all things were basically equal but then Sanheim ended up as BPA at 17.

I think it's extremely lazy. Your club might need certain needs, fill them. There isn't always a know who will turn out to best player in the draft by order. Is Owen Nolan, Petr Nedved, Keith Primeau, Mike Ricci, Trevor Kidd better then Jagr? How do you determine that a defenseman is better then a forward long term?
- SuperSchennBros

That's what your scouting is for. You don't take the 20th rated prospect on the board because he fills a need when you're picking 7th. You take the best player available. It is idiotic to reach to fill needs.

Actually, last year Hexy said they'd go for a forward if all things were basically equal but then Sanheim ended up as BPA at 17.
- bmeltzer

That's how it should be, they just never know unless they are picking #1 who will be on the board when they pick.

That's what your scouting is for. You don't take the 20th rated prospect on the board because he fills a need when you're picking 7th. You take the best player available. It is idiotic to reach to fill needs.
- Flyers1218

The flip side is, if you draft for need, you're basically expecting a rookie to step in and fill a need at the NHL level at age 18.

So you should by-pass Shea Weber because you need a winger? You determine which player will be better using the same criteria and weigh the potential of each guy against one another. If you have a guy who is better rated by your scouts than a guy at a position of need, take the guy who will be better.

I don't want the Flyers to take Crouse over Provorov because they need a winger. I want them to take the better player. If that's Provorov, they can trade a defenseman to address the hole at wing. If it's Crouse, then great-but right now, I think Provorov rates higher than Crouse to a lot of folks.

A big part of the reason that Jagr went behind Nolan, Nedved, Primeau and Ricci(Kidd was taken after Jagr) is because of the uncertainty of the Iron Curtain. There was no guarantee that Jagr would be able to leave Czechoslovakia to play in North America at the time, and that was a big factor. Communist nations in the Iron Curtain were only just starting to allow veterans to come over to the NHL, and if a young guy bailed, it was as often as not the result of a defection(like Alexander Mogilny)
- Jsaquella

I already stated going with the "The best player available" with the first pick and then going specific with the second pick. An obvious "Shea Weber" shouldn't be on the board by the time we get to Tampa's Pick but seeing how Shea Weber was on the board until the second round at #49 overall in 2003, how many people chose the best player available?

Actually, last year Hexy said they'd go for a forward if all things were basically equal but then Sanheim ended up as BPA at 17.
- bmeltzer

Hextall said he favoured drafting a defense last season when he was asked the question. The way he began to respond to the question, some believed he might respond goalie because of how he began to answer.

EDIT

What Hextall favours and what he felt like he might go for are two different things, so we might have two different responses mixed up.