I'd put Barzal a touch above the C range, and a touch below the B range. In terms of ceiling, he'll probably be around 5th in this class. He's ranked lower (9th) cuz he'll be a project. Centers (that size) generally take a little longer to develop an NHL game than wingers. Giroux's career is close to what I'd see Barzal developing into.
- archromat

Giroux was a later pick though. I think barzal takes another season in juniors and then makes the jump.

Also what is so special about Yan? I've seen his name mentioned a few times but don't know much about him.
- rmdevil313

At this point a lot of the rankings have Greenway available in the third. His stock plummeted. Yan has size and scored over 30 goals in the QMHL last year. No idea how good of a skater he is.

Its taken a while but you've convinced me about prov. Barzal is still my first choice but prov is second.
- rmdevil313

I'd be ok with Barzal, Zacha or Provorov. I'm still pretty sure if we go Barzal or Zacha we could move back a few spots and pick up another pick.

Also what is so special about Yan? I've seen his name mentioned a few times but don't know much about him.
- rmdevil313

Not sure to be honest with you, i've seen a bunch of talk about him on other hockey forum sites, but i think he projects as more of a 3rd or 4th round pick. We'll see how the draft pans out.

At this point a lot of the rankings have Greenway available in the third. His stock plummeted. Yan has size and scored over 30 goals in the QMHL last year. No idea how good of a skater he is.
- smellmyfinger

Didn't know that, if he's available in the 3rd i'd take a shot on him, i want Provorov or Barzy, you've forced me into looking more into Provorov and i like what i see. Plus, the flow is

If we get Provorov at 6, and then take any combination of Bracco/Yan/Guryanov/Greenway/Roslovic at 36 + 42, i will be ecstatic
- Rangers_Suck01

If Guryanov drops to the second I would be shocked, given concerns of moving from the KHL(MHL) to NHL are real with him he has the talent to be ranked in the top 10ish.

At this point a lot of the rankings have Greenway available in the third. His stock plummeted. Yan has size and scored over 30 goals in the QMHL last year. No idea how good of a skater he is.
- smellmyfinger

Yeah, if greenway's there in the third round whatever, but I wouldn't touch him in the second.

I guess my only issue with the "take the best player available" school of thought is the unknown factor. After you get past the top 5 guys in this draft, there's a lot of debate between who would be the best guy available from around 6-10. If your looking at two guys and can't accurately project which player will be "better" does it not maybe make sense to take the player that fills a team need more? Again this is assuming there isn't a confident feeling about which player is the best available. Just a thought.

I guess my only issue with the "take the best player available" school of thought is the unknown factor. After you get past the top 5 guys in this draft, there's a lot of debate between who would be the best guy available from around 6-10. If your looking at two guys and can't accurately project which player will be "better" does it not maybe make sense to take the player that fills a team need more? Again this is assuming there isn't a confident feeling about which player is the best available. Just a thought.
- MannySilvers

It rarely works out that two players are really equal in someones head.

"Toronto assistant GM Kyle Dubas told reporters the team “would definitely look at” trading the fourth pick, if the right offer came their way. Arizona GM Don Maloney told ESPN.com’s Craig Custance that he had three calls about the third spot, but wasn’t sure yet what he’d do. After the top two picks, there are some differing opinions about how this draft is going to go.

Watch Columbus. Everyone knows the Blue Jackets want young defencemen. There are some nice ones in this draft. They are at eight. Do they need to go up to get their guy? And, more importantly, can someone move down and still get who they want? Moving down is risky."

From Friedman, possibly an opportunity to move down if the draft doesn't fall the way we like.

At this point a lot of the rankings have Greenway available in the third. His stock plummeted. Yan has size and scored over 30 goals in the QMHL last year. No idea how good of a skater he is.
- smellmyfinger

The knock on him is he doesn't play defense. I'm not sure I'd want him, tbh. People talk about being able to teach prospects to play defense, and that's true to an extent, but I'd still rather look to someone who's known to at least put in the effort on defense, even if he needs a lot of work in that area.

"Toronto assistant GM Kyle Dubas told reporters the team “would definitely look at” trading the fourth pick, if the right offer came their way. Arizona GM Don Maloney told ESPN.com’s Craig Custance that he had three calls about the third spot, but wasn’t sure yet what he’d do. After the top two picks, there are some differing opinions about how this draft is going to go.

Watch Columbus. Everyone knows the Blue Jackets want young defencemen. There are some nice ones in this draft. They are at eight. Do they need to go up to get their guy? And, more importantly, can someone move down and still get who they want? Moving down is risky."

From Friedman, possibly an opportunity to move down if the draft doesn't fall the way we like.
- rmdevil313

Or up if Shero decides he really wants Marner.

Or up if Shero decides he really wants Marner.
- CaptCrankypants

Wonder what the price would be...

I would give 6th and 36th, but would we give up 6th and Gelinas?

Wonder what the price would be...

I would give 6th and 36th, but would we give up 6th and Gelinas?
- archromat

I'd do either, i'm down to replace Gelly with a guy like Scarlett or Helgeson or another cheap FA who could bounce between the AHL + NHL incase a young guy gets hurt, etc.

Also what is so special about Yan? I've seen his name mentioned a few times but don't know much about him.
- rmdevil313

Greenway would only be good if he lingered on and was a guy we moved up to take in the third.

Boy can Yan finish... Excellent player and clutch too. Bracco, Roslovic, and Yan are the three that I pray we can nab two of in the second round. I'm in favour of Prov at 6 as a realistic pick but I'd way rather trade. I'd move up for Marner or down for Barz/Rant/Zacha in a heartbeat.

I almost want to root for Chicago just because of that epic national anthem. holy cow. I'd be happy for either team if they win. Vermette deserves one, Timonen too (even if they won't play the guy). But I'd like Morrow to get another; and I like Bishop, Johnson, Stamkos, Callahan, Cooper of course.

I really do like both teams. Tough call.

I almost want to root for Chicago just because of that epic national anthem. holy cow. I'd be happy for either team if they win. Vermette deserves one, Timonen too (even if they won't play the guy). But I'd like Morrow to get another; and I like Bishop, Johnson, Stamkos, Callahan, Cooper of course.

I really do like both teams. Tough call.
- MartysBetter88

Agreed

Wonder what the price would be...

I would give 6th and 36th, but would we give up 6th and Gelinas?
- archromat

I'd do either as well, tho as most of you know I'm more in favor of trading Merrill.. if there was an option of one or the other.

I'm hesitant to trade down. We're assuming the guy we want will be there at whatever pick (8-12). I don't want to miss out on either Barzal or Zacha, 2 guys that could easily go at 6, 7, or 8th.

I almost want to root for Chicago just because of that epic national anthem. holy cow. I'd be happy for either team if they win. Vermette deserves one, Timonen too (even if they won't play the guy). But I'd like Morrow to get another; and I like Bishop, Johnson, Stamkos, Callahan, Cooper of course.

I really do like both teams. Tough call.
- MartysBetter88

I'd rather see Tampa win, i always like seeing someone new win it. Also, it would rub it in NYR fans faces, Cally, Boyle, and Stralman lifting the cup

This. Go look at his draft record.
- TheRollingPuck

Thats because the pens had no one on their team that even knew what the D zone was

Ray Shero is your GM. You're getting a defensemen. Book it.

- Pens fans.
- Sarge

Hopefully we wont trade him for Ben Lovejoy.

Hopefully we wont trade him for Ben Lovejoy.
- Springsteen

Still can't get over how boneheaded that trade was...

I'd do either as well, tho as most of you know I'm more in favor of trading Merrill.. if there was an option of one or the other.

I'm hesitant to trade down. We're assuming the guy we want will be there at whatever pick (8-12). I don't want to miss out on either Barzal or Zacha, 2 guys that could easily go at 6, 7, or 8th.
- MartysBetter88

Trading down to 12 at worst is with Dallas. They are only moving up to draft a d-man so the worst case scenario would be:
6) Dallas - Provorov
7) Philly - Zacha
8) Columbus - Werenski
9) SJ - Barzal
10) Colorado - Crouse
11) Florida - Rantanen/Connor
12) NJ - Connor/Rantanen

Connor is a stud scorer and barely off Barzal or Zacha. Rant is a beast too who is playing with adults. Dallas would need to give us way more than 49th overall to trade up. It would likely take Elie and a second next year. If we trade down to 8-10, the worst scenarios are:

6) Columbus - Provorov
7) Philly - Zacha
8) NJ - Barzal
or
6) SJ - Zacha/Barzal/Provorov
7) Philly - Crouse/Zacha
8) Columbus - Provorov/Werenski
9) NJ - Barzal/Crouse/Provorov
or
6) Colorado - Provorov
7) Philly - Zacha
8) Columbus - Werenski
9) SJ - Barzal
10) NJ - Crouse

Worst we get is Crouse and I wouldn't be heartbroken as it would give us 39th or 40th overall as well. Crouse plus three picks between 36 and 41 is setting up a pretty amazing draft and that's without the possibility of packaging Gelinas with one or two of the second rounders to move up and into the back half of the first round.

Wonder what the price would be...

I would give 6th and 36th, but would we give up 6th and Gelinas?
- archromat

As a Canes fan I would the first one before Gelinas one. That being said I would want something more, obviously, since there is a drop off from 5 to 6 in most opinions. Someone mentioned the 5th for 6th and both y'all's 2nd rounders which I would take in a heartbeat. That being said history would tell us moving from 6 to 5 isn't even worth a 7th rd pick(according to statistics and some study). I'm not crazy thrilled about Gelinas and believe I can pick just as successful of a dman in the second round(of this draft), I know I would want at least the 6th and 36th after that I'm asking for your other second rounder until we eventually settle on your 3rd/4th rounder instead. But maybe I'm getting way into being an armchair gm.

I still say the Devils should trade Gelinas, a lower rated prospect and the 6th overall pick to Colorardo for ROR and the 10th oerall pick. Worse case scenario the Devils get Werenski to replace Gelinas. Best case they get one of Rantanen, Brazal or Zacha along with ROR.