McDavid will be the best player in the world very soon. I was one of the guys who seen the pts eichel put up in college and watched him play in the world js and thought he might be as good or better but from watching them both play in the nhl it's obvious eichel is a great player but mcdavid is special.

Edit: i know you've probably watched a lot more of him than I did. How do you feel about mcdavids defensive game?
- HealthyScratch6

Good enough. He's such a strong skater that he can back there easily.

it's funny when people call Ek a Leaf hater than turn around and quote anyone on TSN, when they are all huge Leaf fans and chug the Kool-aid.
- Ross77

Not all the guys on tsn are huge Leafs fans. The guys from overdrive obviously are but MacKenzie and button poop on the Leafs more than anyone.

Good enough. He's such a strong skater that he can back there easily.
- Jeropotato

I know that people don't praise his defensive game ad much as they do his offense but I think he has the work ethic and is smart enough to be an elite defensive centre. I see a little Datsyuk in him how he strips pucks from people.

I know that people don't praise his defensive game ad much as they do his offense but I think he has the work ethic and is smart enough to be an elite defensive centre. I see a little Datsyuk in him how he strips pucks from people.
- HealthyScratch6

He just needs to not be a liability while scoring boatloads. That's all I ask.

He just needs to not be a liability while scoring boatloads. That's all I ask.
- Jeropotato

I think that's a pretty safe bet.

Laine is the true #1 pick. All over to you TO.
- VanHockeyGuy

You're the true #1 pick.

Trade proposal about Edmonton's fourth pick:

To Edmonton: Jacob Trouba, 22nd overall pick, plus top prospect

To Winnipeg: Darnell Nurse, 4th overall pick

Trade proposal about Edmonton's fourth pick:

To Edmonton: Jacob Trouba, 22nd overall pick, plus top prospect

To Winnipeg: Darnell Nurse, 4th overall pick
- TheUltimateJet

I think trouba plus the 22nd puck for the 4th. If you gotravel add a little from edmonton perspective sure but doubt they add nurse even though I'm not sold on nurse but it seems a little counter productive to trade nurse.

Trade proposal about Edmonton's fourth pick:

To Edmonton: Jacob Trouba, 22nd overall pick, plus top prospect

To Winnipeg: Darnell Nurse, 4th overall pick
- TheUltimateJet

Nope. Keep your 22nd , we'll give you the 4th, Griffin Reinhart and 2nd rounder next year.

I think trouba plus the 22nd puck for the 4th. If you gotravel add a little from edmonton perspective sure but doubt they add nurse even though I'm not sold on nurse but it seems a little counter productive to trade nurse.
- HealthyScratch6

I think straight up is fine to be honest. But I am willing to overpay.

Nope. Keep your 22nd , we'll give you the 4th, Griffin Reinhart and 2nd rounder next year.
- Jeropotato

I'd probably do this from Winnipegs stand point. In my opinion reinhardt adds nothing beyond a potential bottom 6 dman buthe the opportunity to draft Tkachuk Dubois Nylander or a Dman like one of the top dman in this draft for trouba who's gonna be hard to sign if the rumors are true about what he's asking for I'd take it even without the extra pick.

I don't know how many Edmonton games you watched this year, but McJesus is already the best player in the league.

I don't know how many Edmonton games you watched this year, but McJesus is already the best player in the league.
- PavohnDatsvares

How much better would McJesus be if Edm ever ice's an NHL team to play with him?

How much better would McJesus be if Edm ever ice's an NHL team to play with him?
- ifiwasgm

Or manages to turn their NHL player into NHL players.

How much better would McJesus be if Edm ever ice's an NHL team to play with him?
- ifiwasgm

I believe this is the year that the Oilers light up the league. They will go deep into the playoffs. Chiarelli will do a deal for an elite Dman. My guess is he will pay the price to get a player that the rest of the league is going to be shocked was traded to the Oil.

I think Chiarelli will double down in his belief that you need a #1 D. Other than for McDavid anybody or combination from the Edmonton roster including anyone of Hall, NuHop, Eberle, Draisaitl, Nurse and #1-4. Chiarelli will be relentless and he will pursue the possibility of Doughty, Keith, Weber, Burns, Letang, Karlsson et. al. until he gets the guy that is suited to an Oiler attack led by McDavid. (I think a McDavid/Karlsson would be a wonderful combination that could instantly transform HNIC ratings.) Anyway, everyone needs to get ready for the Oilers, they are about to become the most exciting team in hockey.

My guess is this is the last year that someone other than McDavid wins the scoring title for a very long time.

Way too much emphasis is being placed on Matthews' bona fides coming into the tournament. Fact is he has been outscored and outplayed by the Finish Flash. Toronto Sports Network has panicked. They have way too much invested in Matthews and they are trying to answer questions nobody else appears to be asking.

Not unlike the Taylor/Tyler debate of a few years ago. The consensus was that Taylor was the better player.....but, you all know the story.

I agree in most years, except for the 2012 draft in my eyes was a little weaker than normal compared to other years, Yakupov, Murray, Galchenyuk aren't generational players, but good players! Galchenyuk is just starting to pick it up this year and Murray is a defense that had injuries set him back and in general defense always take longer to develop (unless if you're ekblad), but Yakupov has been a disappointment in my eyes.

They aren't trading the pick. There'll be the usual, "We're listening to all offers.", but they won't trade it. There'll be no trades of first round pics in the top 10.

There is no debate, the Leafs are going to draft Auston Matthews with the first pick.....and no, they won't be trading the pick to anybody.
Maine will be a good player, no doubt, but Matthews has a better all round game. Being a Centre, also is a key factor. Finding top flight, all-round Centremen are hard to come by these days. and when u hear that Matthews leadership and competitive spirit is compared to a Jonathan Toews, you DONT pass up on a player like that.
Stamkos will be a nice piece for Matthews to learn off of.....and Stammer would take some of that initial pressure off of him as well.
This is a no-brainer, and a non discussion here.....Matthews is not only going #1 (Toronto), but he will be the better all round player, than Laine.

Way too much emphasis is being placed on Matthews' bona fides coming into the tournament. Fact is he has been outscored and outplayed by the Finish Flash. Toronto Sports Network has panicked. They have way too much invested in Matthews and they are trying to answer questions nobody else appears to be asking.

Not unlike the Taylor/Tyler debate of a few years ago. The consensus was that Taylor was the better player.....but, you all know the story.
- spatso

Your hatred for the Leafs burns deep, my friend.

Just smoulders in your empty black soul.

There is no debate, the Leafs are going to draft Auston Matthews with the first pick.....and no, they won't be trading the pick to anybody.
Maine will be a good player, no doubt, but Matthews has a better all round game. Being a Centre, also is a key factor. Finding top flight, all-round Centremen are hard to come by these days. and when u hear that Matthews leadership and competitive spirit is compared to a Jonathan Toews, you DONT pass up on a player like that.
Stamkos will be a nice piece for Matthews to learn off of.....and Stammer would take some of that initial pressure off of him as well.
This is a no-brainer, and a non discussion here.....Matthews is not only going #1 (Toronto), but he will be the better all round player, than Laine.
- Sandro

If Laine keeps going at the pace he is going, if Finland wins the gold led by Laine, the choice will become hard

I'd probably do this from Winnipegs stand point. In my opinion reinhardt adds nothing beyond a potential bottom 6 dman buthe the opportunity to draft Tkachuk Dubois Nylander or a Dman like one of the top dman in this draft for trouba who's gonna be hard to sign if the rumors are true about what he's asking for I'd take it even without the extra pick.
- HealthyScratch6

For sure...but no way is Trouba and a couple of maybes worth the 4th and Nurse.

If Laine keeps going at the pace he is going, if Finland wins the gold led by Laine, the choice will become hard
- spatso

You're embarrassing yourself again Spazzo

Or manages to turn their NHL player into NHL players.
- ifiwasgm

You're just trolling all the Oilers fans but I'll try not to get too defensive, but who exactly are you talking about?
Hall is an Elite NHL left winger.
Eberle is a top 5 scoring RW over the 5 years.
Draisaitl got over 50 points as a sophomore.

Ryan Nugent Hopkins has not become that PPG player we thought he would. But he's STill progressing ahead of Daniel Sedin at his age, which is kinda who I see Nuge eventually developing into. But yes, offensively, he hasn't been spectacular at all.

Yak is an absolute bust.

We need D to stop goals against, and to transition the puck to the O Zone.

I agree in most years, except for the 2012 draft in my eyes was a little weaker than normal compared to other years, Yakupov, Murray, Galchenyuk aren't generational players, but good players! Galchenyuk is just starting to pick it up this year and Murray is a defense that had injuries set him back and in general defense always take longer to develop (unless if you're ekblad), but Yakupov has been a disappointment in my eyes.
- Icecold088

Yak is a bust.