All of this would be a mute point if we picked Draisaitl over Reinhart eh
- lulags

To be fair NOBODY had Draisaitl going before Reinhart in draft rankings

To be fair NOBODY had Draisaitl going before Reinhart in draft rankings
- turbo044

He was ranked number 1 for a little while.

1. Leon Draisaitl, C – Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
The German pivot is blowing scouts away right now. One thought the kid had some Anze Kopitar in him thanks to a combination of size and playmaking. The latter is where Draisaitl really shines. A complete player with great awareness, he makes players around him better and has great anticipation. Makes plays equally strong on both his forehand and backhand.

2. Aaron Ekblad, D – Barrie Colts (OHL)
Is it mean to put Ekblad second based on the assumption Edmonton will be picking in this slot? Just kidding, Oilers fans. But hey, Ekblad would be a welcome addition. The Colts star played quite well as an underager on a weirdly shaky Canadian blueline at the world juniors and he can do it all. Ekblad is big, strong and can contribute at both ends of the ice.

3. Sam Bennett, C – Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
A very versatile player, one scout noted that you don't usually find players who can play a variety of roles in the top five of the draft. Bennett has a great motor and competes hard, but he's also an excellent producer and hasn't been held off the scoresheet since Nov. 2. Speed, hands and the ability to change the tempo of a game also help his cause.

4. Sam Reinhart, C – Kootenay Ice (WHL)
Someone has to fall when others rise and Reinhart is that guy right now. Though my scouts nixed the idea his skating needs work (a flaw in the minds of some others), there was a minor question about how deep he digs sometimes. Otherwise, Reinhart does everything well and thinks the game on an elite level.

How is Tanner a blogger on this site
- SABRES 89

His choice in music??

Want me to list all the players I'm sure u consider very good that Sam had more goals than?

There was A LOT
- jdfitz77

He's not total trash but is he worth the next paycheck he is going to want? Not to mention if he has value they do need D and some GM may still be enamored with him and give up more now than in the future regarding the D we need. Don't let him become Kyle Turris before he is dealt.

If we stand pat and settle for mediocrity I'm going to be veryyy disappointed in new GM

At this point unless he's talked to Kane and he sounds open to extending we need to trade him TODAY for a top pairing Dman throw in Girgensons, Foligno or a mid round draft pick too.

If not Kane fine do the 8th overall pick. Just show some balls and get on with it!!!

Ottawa Senators defenceman Dion Phaneuf submitted his 12-team approved trade list on Thursday. Moving Phaneuf to a team on his approved trade list would allow the team to protect Erik Karlsson’s defence partner, Marc Methot.

Think we are on the list?

He was ranked number 1 for a little while.

1. Leon Draisaitl, C – Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
The German pivot is blowing scouts away right now. One thought the kid had some Anze Kopitar in him thanks to a combination of size and playmaking. The latter is where Draisaitl really shines. A complete player with great awareness, he makes players around him better and has great anticipation. Makes plays equally strong on both his forehand and backhand.

2. Aaron Ekblad, D – Barrie Colts (OHL)
Is it mean to put Ekblad second based on the assumption Edmonton will be picking in this slot? Just kidding, Oilers fans. But hey, Ekblad would be a welcome addition. The Colts star played quite well as an underager on a weirdly shaky Canadian blueline at the world juniors and he can do it all. Ekblad is big, strong and can contribute at both ends of the ice.

3. Sam Bennett, C – Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
A very versatile player, one scout noted that you don't usually find players who can play a variety of roles in the top five of the draft. Bennett has a great motor and competes hard, but he's also an excellent producer and hasn't been held off the scoresheet since Nov. 2. Speed, hands and the ability to change the tempo of a game also help his cause.

4. Sam Reinhart, C – Kootenay Ice (WHL)
Someone has to fall when others rise and Reinhart is that guy right now. Though my scouts nixed the idea his skating needs work (a flaw in the minds of some others), there was a minor question about how deep he digs sometimes. Otherwise, Reinhart does everything well and thinks the game on an elite level.
- MCGUIZZY

If Draisaitl with his size and skill was from Oakville, ON and not Germany he would have been drafted higher I believe. Even if he was from Russia.

Are they? If they pick the second protection option, rather than the formatted 5 forward, 3d, 1 goalie, they can protect all their good players.

There are very few forwards on that team that really, really good

Edit: That Parise contract is still ridiculous
- jcragcrumple

They have to protect Parise, Pommers, and Koivu. The second option only allows one more forward. Who would you leave exposed? Nino, Coyle, Staal, Granlund?

Then on D they have to protect Suter, so which do you leave unprotected? Dumba, Spurgeon, Brodin, Scandella?

Either way, they are in a tough spot.

If Draisaitl with his size and skill was from Oakville, ON and not Germany he would have been drafted higher I believe. Even if he was from Russia.
- GilPerreault11

Totally agree.

Think we are on the list?
- lulags

Highly unlikely

Think we are on the list?
- lulags

Do you really want to be?

Even if he hasn't (which I think he has come close to, but not his full ceiling) he's never supplanting ROR or Eichel on the depth chart

and again, I'll trade a 3rd line center or 50 point winger for a 2/3 D man all day every day
- sbroads24

Trading Sam & Kane puts us in a spot to have only 2 lines that can score

That's not good enough, bc like u point out, our top2 lines aren't better than the great teams top2 lines

So imo, we need to have that 3rd line that can score

Trading Sam & Kane kills our top2 lines for at least this year,
and heavily depends on Nylander, Bailey & Baptiste to be solid producers asap instead of developing into that over time

Trade Same & Kane for whoever...
and show us your lineup

The forwards are gonna be in really rough shape

They have to protect Parise, Pommers, and Koivu. The second option only allows one more forward. Who would you leave exposed? Nino, Coyle, Staal, Granlund?

Then on D they have to protect Suter, so which do you leave unprotected? Dumba, Spurgeon, Brodin, Scandella?

Either way, they are in a tough spot.
- adambuffalo

Ah thx, should have done my homework. I didn't know they had to protect those guys.

Do you really want to be?
- Lilroot9

I like Phaneuf. He is not as good as he used to be but he would be a huge upgrade to most our or Dmen currently. He wants 1st unit PP time as well which he did not get in Ottawa

So does anyone think Vegas with sign Yakopov? Should we try to make a move for him (should be very cheap).


I tend to think he is garbage (he cannot crack the lineup for the Blues last year), but what does anyone think?

How is Tanner a blogger on this site
- SABRES 89

Shock value I guess

Nikita Nesterov will not be qualified. (drafted by Tampa, on Montreal last year)

Anyone interested in him?

Are they? If they pick the second protection option, rather than the formatted 5 forward, 3d, 1 goalie, they can protect all their good players.

There are very few forwards on that team that really, really good

Edit: That Parise contract is still ridiculous
- jcragcrumple

U need to look at Minny's player stats from this past year
Their young forwards are producing more than u think
http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ons/teams/0023312017.html

NMCs-
Koivu, Parise, Pominville

Other forwards they'd want to protect-
Staal, Niederreiter, Coyle, Grandlund, Zucker

That puts them at 8 forwards they want to protect,
when the most they can is 7

So they're in a spot where they lose either Brodin/Dumba or Zucker
If they do 4-4-1
Then they could lose Scandella, or an even better forward

I like Phaneuf. He is not as good as he used to be but he would be a huge upgrade to most our or Dmen currently. He wants 1st unit PP time as well which he did not get in Ottawa
- lulags

I still cant get over that moment where he absolutely smoked Ghule in preseason. I thought that was one of the scummiest moves ive ever seen.

Trading Sam & Kane puts us in a spot to have only 2 lines that can score

That's not good enough, bc like u point out, our top2 lines aren't better than the great teams top2 lines

So imo, we need to have that 3rd line that can score

Trading Sam & Kane kills our top2 lines for at least this year,
and heavily depends on Nylander, Bailey & Baptiste to be solid producers asap instead of developing into that over time

Trade Same & Kane for whoever...
and show us your lineup

The forwards are gonna be in really rough shape
- jdfitz77

Do we not have the ability to make other trades or sign FA's?

This is my entire point, people are treating 9 and 23 is if they are irreplaceable.

They scored 43 and 47 points respectively. Not 60 and 70.

I agree with having 3 scoring lines. But without a competent top 4, it's a moot point, and before you bring up Pitt winning this year without a good D, they got bailed out against WSH by MAF and have 2 generational centers

Trading Sam & Kane puts us in a spot to have only 2 lines that can score

That's not good enough, bc like u point out, our top2 lines aren't better than the great teams top2 lines

So imo, we need to have that 3rd line that can score

Trading Sam & Kane kills our top2 lines for at least this year,
and heavily depends on Nylander, Bailey & Baptiste to be solid producers asap instead of developing into that over time

Trade Same & Kane for whoever...
and show us your lineup

The forwards are gonna be in really rough shape
- jdfitz77

That's why you trade Kane in a package for a winger if you have to or resign him if you can and use Reinhart as the card for the young D

Since Tocchet and Martin weren't interviewed I'm guessing Housley was a foregone conclusion and Florida hired Boughner knowing that

So does anyone think Vegas with sign Yakopov? Should we try to make a move for him (should be very cheap).


I tend to think he is garbage (he cannot crack the lineup for the Blues last year), but what does anyone think?
- Lilroot9

Whenever he played with good talent he produced
He just isn't responsible defensively
I'd be ok giving him a shot
I agree he'd be very cheap

Rather give him a shot on Jack's wing instead of Moulson

So does anyone think Vegas with sign Yakopov? Should we try to make a move for him (should be very cheap).


I tend to think he is garbage (he cannot crack the lineup for the Blues last year), but what does anyone think?
- Lilroot9

I think he will head to Europe or Russia. There are no more homes for him in the NHL. He really tried to be a team player and was very mature in STL but he still could not crack the line up unless injuries dictated so.

That's why you trade Kane in a package for a winger if you have to or resign him if you can and use Reinhart as the card for the young D
- GilPerreault11

Show me a mock lineup