The answer to this lineup is quite simple:

Auston Matthews
- milly28diablo

This

As a result of this change, the team earning the fewest points during the regular season will no longer be guaranteed, at worst, the second overall pick. That club could fall as low as fourth overall.

The allocation of odds for the 1st Lottery draw will be the same as outlined above for the 2015 NHL Draft Lottery. The odds for the remaining teams will increase on a proportionate basis for the 2nd Lottery draw, based on which Club wins the 1st Lottery draw, and again for the 3rd Lottery draw, based on which Club wins the 2nd Lottery draw.

The 11 Clubs not selected in the Draft Lottery will be assigned NHL Draft selections 4 through 14, in inverse order of regular-season points.

So, I guess the actual odds to get 1st overall remain the same, but you can drop 3 spots instead of one.

So still no "Oilers rule" about maximum top picks in a given time frame but in theory the three worst teams in the league could be bumped out of the top three picks entirely by three teams who barely missed the playoffs.

Auston Matthews

Malkins only excuse for being a second line center is Crosby.
possibly RNH could be demoted to second line duties because of McDavid but for a first overall pick to not at least have a 60 point season is abysmal.

Edit* Tyler Johnson is already better than RNH
- SRam19

Maybe he is, maybe he isn't - it's pretty hard to compare a guy on a SCF team to a team that finished 4th last.

No realistic person would bet on Johnson having a better career than RNH from here on out.

Points aren't a good way to rate a player and RNH performed exceptionally last year.

James.

How can you not like what they have done? The system is over flowing with stud prospects both at forward & D. There are more coming as Maloney isn't looking at this year or even next. At least 4 solid draft picks are coming in the next 2 years; potentially 1st overall, & he will flip assets for more picks & prospects as the older players are moved out over the next 2 seasons at the deadline.

In the meantime the right culture is being laid to teach these players to be the right NHL players. This is how you build a contender. Patience, slow development paths to the NHL which seriously helps you to control your salary, cap space their waver eligibility & UFA time line.

Arizona is just entering year 3 of the rebuild. If I were an Arizona fan I would be very happy & excited with where they are at & where they are going. This team will be a power house in 5 years & a playoff contender again in 3.
- striker777

I don't like it because it's too conventional and safe. The team has a ton of great prospects but seems intent on babying them. I don't like these moves because they make the team too good to be the worst and not good enough to compete. Its ho hum at best.

Maybe he is, maybe he isn't - it's pretty hard to compare a guy on a SCF team to a team that finished 4th last.

No realistic person would bet on Johnson having a better career than RNH from here on out.

Points aren't a good way to rate a player and RNH performed exceptionally last year.
- James_Tanner

Ok.... Than please how do you rate a player based on Corsi? because than chris higgins is better than crosby.

Do you rate them on their impact for their team because without Tyler Johnson Tampa doesn't make the finals.

RNH hasn't proven a thing. Other than that he has a high ceiling.

the guy is terrible at faceoffs.

Ok.... Than please how do you rate a player based on Corsi? because than chris higgins is better than crosby.

Do you rate them on their impact for their team because without Tyler Johnson Tampa doesn't make the finals.

RNH hasn't proven a thing. Other than that he has a high ceiling.

the guy is terrible at faceoffs.
- SRam19

No one cares about faceoffs. And no one says just rate a guy on his corsi. There's fifty thousand stats and you need to look at all of them to determine who's a good player.

RNH has actually proven a lot, but you'd have to do more than look at his p oint totals and team success to be able tot do that.

Great strawman argument though., props.

I can't fault the Oilers for rushing the Nuge as every recent 1st-overall has stepped right onto the NHL ice.

That said, smaller players like him and Skinner have already taken a beating and are already making big $$$. It was frustrating as an Isles fan to see those guys playing well in the NHL while Ryan Strome was still in Niagara or Bridgeport, but now the Isles have an impactful player strong enough to be in the league while still on an ELC.

Unless the player is Crosby or Tavares or McDavid, where they pwned the OHL when they were 16 OR the big club could use the player right away, like the Bruins with Seguin, might as well slow-play the kids into the league and lose with Steve Downie.

domi vermette boedker
duclair hanzel trade???
downie richardson doan
chipchura gordon vitale
rieder,lessio,samuelson etc

ekman larson michaelek
stone trade????
grossman murphy
dahlbek gormley

smith lindback

If smith has a decent season this lineup is good enough to finish with 80 -85 points which should make interesting for everyone.

How has that been working out for the Oilers?

The Western Conf is so deep, I'm not sure who we can pass along the way to improve

I can't realistically see this team outplaying the following teams:
Anaheim
Chicago
Nashville
St.Louis
Minnesota
Winnipeg
Calgary
Los Angeles
Colorado

so that basically leaves us fighting with San Jose, Edmonton, Dallas & Vancouver for the bottom of the WC. Edmonton, because they're Edmonton might finish below us and we could possible be in front of Vancouver but that is about it. We're bottom 3 in Western Conf for sure.

On the other side of the Mississippi, only Carolina, Toronto and NJ look to be worse. I say we finish bottom 7. Which is still in a good enough spot to be gifted one of the top 3 picks which will then give us either Matthews/Chychrun/Puljujarvi.
- Sindiggy

The only Coyote that would be worth cracking the Nucks line up is OEL.

Miller>Smith
Sedins>Any Yotes forwards
Vrbata>Any Yotes forward.


The Coyotes will be a mess.

Ok.... Than please how do you rate a player based on Corsi? because than chris higgins is better than crosby.

Do you rate them on their impact for their team because without Tyler Johnson Tampa doesn't make the finals.

RNH hasn't proven a thing. Other than that he has a high ceiling.

the guy is terrible at faceoffs.
- SRam19

RNH is britlle and terrible at draws. Still managed to be a 1.92 P/60 player last year.

The only Coyote that would be worth cracking the Nucks line up is OEL.

Miller>Smith
Sedins>Any Yotes forwards
Vrbata>Any Yotes forward.


The Coyotes will be a mess.
- blacksheep1

I said we might be able to finish above them...didn't say we would.

Also, OEL > than anyone on the nucks - best player wins

????? Toews. Hossa
????? Anisimov Kane
????? Shaw. Terrevanen
Nordstrom. Kruger. Desjardins

Keith. Jhammerstrom
Seabrook. Rundbladt

Crawford. Darling

Can someone please tell me how Chicago is going to be in the playoffs.

I said we might be able to finish above them...didn't say we would.

Also, OEL > than anyone on the nucks - best player wins

- Sindiggy

OEL aint got a art ross or a hart yet

or a vezina

OEL aint got a art ross or a hart yet

or a vezina
- SRam19

and as far as I can tell, it's 2015 so I'm certain that we're talking about today and in that respect OEL > anyone on Canucks

and as far as I can tell, it's 2015 so I'm certain that we're talking about today and in that respect OEL > anyone on Canucks
- Sindiggy

He aint no Brandon Prust

????? Toews. Hossa
????? Anisimov Kane
????? Shaw. Terrevanen
Nordstrom. Kruger. Desjardins

Keith. Jhammerstrom
Seabrook. Rundbladt

Crawford. Darling

Can someone please tell me how Chicago is going to be in the playoffs.
- granpa

That should pretty much do it.

????? Toews. Hossa
????? Anisimov Kane
????? Shaw. Terrevanen
Nordstrom. Kruger. Desjardins

Keith. Jhammerstrom
Seabrook. Rundbladt

Crawford. Darling

Can someone please tell me how Chicago is going to be in the playoffs.
- granpa

Easily. Very easily

I can't tell if you're being serious

That should pretty much do it.
- jtommyt

2 lines & 3 ds is not enough in western conference. You can get away with it in east Tampa is a great example.

2 lines & 3 ds is not enough in western conference. You can get away with it in east Tampa is a great example.
- granpa

That core has been the key to each iteration of the Blackhawks. The supporting cast will do its part, but it's that core group that steers the ship.

I don't like it because it's too conventional and safe. The team has a ton of great prospects but seems intent on babying them. I don't like these moves because they make the team too good to be the worst and not good enough to compete. Its ho hum at best.
- James_Tanner

james did you not watch the maloney interview from the night of the 1st or 2nd. he kind of addresses some of the issues you have.... Downie was brought in for one reason...they need a guy who will be able to be put in the line up who will stand up for the youth that will be in the line up. he flat out says downie is there to protect Domi and Duclair.

He also said adding vermette will give them the option to have STROME play wing. i dont know how true that will be since they wont beable to send him to the ahl but may allow him to see the 9 games before being sent back to the ohl. even though domi did great being sent back...maloney was not happy about him not being able to go to the AHL. so i think he will give strome a different look.

there seems to have finally been a directive given to maloney from ownership. Hearing Leblanc's interviews vs maloneys it seems hes been told to ice a team with the youth.

You used to hear in every interview about not rushing prospects etc. that has now turned to...properly growing our talent. thats nit picking words but you know how maloney/ tip are with youth. so if you go with conspiracy theories...for tip to be on board consessions will have to be made...he gets the vets he wants.
He loved vermette and Z....watch any post game where he talks about him. so they bring them back.
Boyd Gordon...Tip was not happy when they yotes let him and vernon fiddler go. Why bring him back....Tippett.
Grossman was with tip in dallas.

so tip gets vermette, z, gordon (his 3 favs) and grossman. its a given duke and domi are going to be in the line up but dont be surprised to see strome and/or dvorak.

james did you not watch the maloney interview from the night of the 1st or 2nd. he kind of addresses some of the issues you have.... Downie was brought in for one reason...they need a guy who will be able to be put in the line up who will stand up for the youth that will be in the line up. he flat out says downie is there to protect Domi and Duclair.

He also said adding vermette will give them the option to have STROME play wing. i dont know how true that will be since they wont beable to send him to the ahl but may allow him to see the 9 games before being sent back to the ohl. even though domi did great being sent back...maloney was not happy about him not being able to go to the AHL. so i think he will give strome a different look.

there seems to have finally been a directive given to maloney from ownership. Hearing Leblanc's interviews vs maloneys it seems hes been told to ice a team with the youth.

You used to hear in every interview about not rushing prospects etc. that has now turned to...properly growing our talent. thats nit picking words but you know how maloney/ tip are with youth. so if you go with conspiracy theories...for tip to be on board consessions will have to be made...he gets the vets he wants.
He loved vermette and Z....watch any post game where he talks about him. so they bring them back.
Boyd Gordon...Tip was not happy when they yotes let him and vernon fiddler go. Why bring him back....Tippett.
Grossman was with tip in dallas.

so tip gets vermette, z, gordon (his 3 favs) and grossman. its a given duke and domi are going to be in the line up but dont be surprised to see strome and/or dvorak.
- whatthepuckaz

it wouldn't surprise me at all.

James,
you simply cannot be naive enough to NOT thing that the Yotes are aiming for the bottom- which still gives them a very good chance at the defacto #1 draft pick next year.

And why pre tell... would they want that?

Tanner lost all credibility when he dissed the Foo Fighters.