I honestly feel safer with the 3 4 5 picks . So much debate about Nico's drop in scoring and Patricks health. Give me a safe pick like Glass.

-Vantel


Guys...The real winners of the draft lottery are the Canucks

I look forward to seeing how Marner develops. He had the toughest transition to make to the NHL.
- Aetherial

I also want to see how Andersen shapes up. Looked pretty good against the Caps. He cost less than either Toskala or Raycroft. And we all know Bernier was a waste of time. It's an important position that has been a glaring weakness for years. Nothing as demoralizing to a team than playing your guts out to get a goal and then the goalie lets in a couple of softies.

All other fanbases laugh at Kessel and Phaneuf and Clarkson and their contracts. Leafs trade said contracts and the other fan bases cry foul and accuse them of tanking.

All other fanbases spends years laughing at the Leafs trading away youth and picks for aging vets, then when Eklund pulls a Nylander for Tanev swap out of his ass, and Leafs fans think it's a horrible idea, the other fanbases laugh at us for overvaluing our players.

I get the Leafs hate, I hate a number of teams also. I don't think I will ever get the hate becoming stupidity and there is a whole poop ton of it on this site every day.
- Aetherial

I had someone telling me I was stupid for thinking Matthews will score over 30 next year. Apparently it was a fluke...I wish I knew hockey like some people

I honestly feel safer with the 3 4 5 picks . So much debate about Nico's drop in scoring and Patricks health. Give me a safe pick like Glass.

-Vantel


Guys...The real winners of the draft lottery are the Canucks
- Santo_44

They've been talking for weeks now about how they really wanted to avoid a top 2 pick. Lucky buggers.

That's why I think the lottery is rigged. Bettman knew the Nucks wanted 5th and gave them it.

They've been talking for weeks now about how they really wanted to avoid a top 2 pick. Lucky buggers.

That's why I think the lottery is rigged. Bettman knew the Nucks wanted 5th and gave them it.

- walshyleafsfan

the 2nd/3rd line player they will get is going to be the best PKer we have ever seen

screw Hicher and his 60-70 point seasons he will put up

They've been talking for weeks now about how they really wanted to avoid a top 2 pick. Lucky buggers.

That's why I think the lottery is rigged. Bettman knew the Nucks wanted 5th and gave them it.

- walshyleafsfan

I honestly feel safer with the 3 4 5 picks . So much debate about Nico's drop in scoring and Patricks health. Give me a safe pick like Glass.

-Vantel


Guys...The real winners of the draft lottery are the Canucks
- Santo_44

Also, anyone read anything about what they're going to do with Toninato?
He captained his team to the championship round this year
- langer420

Keep in mind I couldn't pick him out of a police lineup, but my wild guess is they do the same as Piccinich - Marlies contract to start.

I have never seen Toninato play, but looking at his stats doesn't lead me to believe he is anything special.

the 2nd/3rd line player they will get is going to be the best PKer we have ever seen

screw Hicher and his 60-70 point seasons he will put up
- Santo_44

They could easily get a good player at 5

They could easily get a good player at 5
- ClarksonDavid

They could easily draft a Virtanen

I've always disliked the term "weak draft". Although there is no flat out, head and shoulders above, lights out consensus number one pick, there are a lot of very good players with a lot of upside. I would still be excited picking up any of the top 5 crop in this years draft.

Sure the chances are most won't make an immediate impact on their teams or even make the NHL out of the gate but with the right development many of the players can and should make significant contributions to their respective teams.

They could easily get a good player at 5
- ClarksonDavid

I agree with you. Hard to say, Benning's/Canucks drafting track record is far from good. Juolevi might turn out ok, they passed on Tkachuk a real good looking rookie to take him. Juolevi had the same number of points as the previous season, and was outscorded on the Knights by a 16 year old kid by a two points and also by Mete by two. Doesn't look to be a great pick. Boeser the previous 1st rounder at 23 looks good, Virtanen at 6 is a total bust, Horvat was a good pick at 9 and Gaunce at 26 was a bust.

I agree with you. Hard to say, Benning's/Canucks drafting track record is far from good. Juolevi might turn out ok, they passed on Tkachuk a real good looking rookie to take him. Juolevi had the same number of points as the previous season, and was outscorded on the Knights by a 16 year old kid by a two points and also by Mete by two. Doesn't look to be a great pick. Boeser the previous 1st rounder at 23 looks good, Virtanen at 6 is a total bust, Horvat was a good pick at 9 and Gaunce at 26 was a bust.
- winsix

I was surprised at this as well. Watching the London Knights I was always very impressed with Tkachuk. He and Marner were a lights out combo. I wondered at the time which player made the other better but it's become obvious that both are excellent players and have will have long careers in the NHL.

I've always disliked the term "weak draft". Although there is no flat out, head and shoulders above, lights out consensus number one pick, there are a lot of very good players with a lot of upside. I would still be excited picking up any of the top 5 crop in this years draft.

Sure the chances are most won't make an immediate impact on their teams or even make the NHL out of the gate but with the right development many of the players can and should make significant contributions to their respective teams.
- Atarileaf

Meh, it's pretty disappointing for teams like the Avs, Canucks and LV to go through horrible seasons and finish last and 2nd last and then lose the lottery and have to pick 4 and 5 in a below average draft. Sure they will draft a player that will help the process but they wont get a player that is going to really help turn things around. Now they have to wait for next year to hopefully get Dahlin. Who will be an actual difference maker in a franshise

I was surprised at this as well. Watching the London Knights I was always very impressed with Tkachuk. He and Marner were a lights out combo. I wondered at the time which player made the other better but it's become obvious that both are excellent players and have will have long careers in the NHL.
- Atarileaf

I agree with you. Tkachuk has something that the other top rookies do not, which is a high level of toughness and a significant mean streak. It is really a two-edge sword, you don't really want a player taking stupid penalty, but in the playoffs especially, you want a player to hit hard and not let your opponent take liberties with your goalie or star players. He's not big but takes no guff.

I agree with you. Hard to say, Benning's/Canucks drafting track record is far from good. Juolevi might turn out ok, they passed on Tkachuk a real good looking rookie to take him. Juolevi had the same number of points as the previous season, and was outscorded on the Knights by a 16 year old kid by a two points and also by Mete by two. Doesn't look to be a great pick. Boeser the previous 1st rounder at 23 looks good, Virtanen at 6 is a total bust, Horvat was a good pick at 9 and Gaunce at 26 was a bust.
- winsix

I think that his similarity in style to JV and the fact that they appear to have gotten burned by him may have played into that somewhat tbh.

I've always disliked the term "weak draft". Although there is no flat out, head and shoulders above, lights out consensus number one pick, there are a lot of very good players with a lot of upside. I would still be excited picking up any of the top 5 crop in this years draft.

Sure the chances are most won't make an immediate impact on their teams or even make the NHL out of the gate but with the right development many of the players can and should make significant contributions to their respective teams.
- Atarileaf

I'm not enthralled by the term either, but not all drafts are equal. The term can be a crutch for a GM/team that is inept at scouting/drafting. If you think about it for a moment, GM's and scouts really earn their money and accolades in drafts where the talent is below average. There is a much better chance of choosing poorly if you do not do your homework.

As much as I like the Tkachuk Canucks storyline (not sarcasm, it's hilarious) we still don't know how good Juolevi will be. He might actually end up being a beast. They're not close to competing anyway so they can afford to have a prospect that takes longer to develop.

I think that his similarity in style to JV and the fact that they appear to have gotten burned by him may have played into that somewhat tbh.
- lumlums

I think you are right, plus they might have thought that Tkachuk was riding on Marner's coat tails. Logic aside, it doesn't appear to be a good pick certainly at this point.

As much as I like the Tkachuk Canucks storyline (not sarcasm, it's hilarious) we still don't know how good Juolevi will be. He might actually end up being a beast. They're not close to competing anyway so they can afford to have a prospect that takes longer to develop.
- daeth

I agree that it is early to tell, but two d-men on the Knights scored more than Juolevi - including a 16 year old. Not what you expect to see from a number 5 pick sent back to junior. Virtanen scored 19 points during a full season in the AHL, he must now be considered a bust. Juolevi has two more years to avoid the same conclusion.

Some Leaf haters talk like this fanbase hasn't been one of the most tortured fanbases in sports for fifty (frank)in' years. The Leafs were due some breaks from the hockey gods and their fans deserve it. It's good for the league and the game itself to have the Leafs rise to prominence. Haters can suck a Richard with tears of gratitude streaming down their face.

I agree that it is early to tell, but two d-men on the Knights scored more than Juolevi - including a 16 year old. Not what you expect to see from a number 5 pick sent back to junior. Virtanen scored 19 points during a full season in the AHL, he must now be considered a bust. Juolevi has two more years to avoid the same conclusion.
- winsix

He'll be 20 in 2 years. A lot of dmen aren't even in the NHL yet at that point.

I honestly feel safer with the 3 4 5 picks . So much debate about Nico's drop in scoring and Patricks health. Give me a safe pick like Glass.

-Vantel


Guys...The real winners of the draft lottery are the Canucks
- Santo_44

https://twitter.com/drcoo...status/858715966200578048

They've been talking for weeks now about how they really wanted to avoid a top 2 pick. Lucky buggers.

That's why I think the lottery is rigged. Bettman knew the Nucks wanted 5th and gave them it.

- walshyleafsfan

Five is the new two.