JB should go after 2 players, a d and a forward in the first round, make a trade for that other mid to late first.
- Bettmanhatesus

I think we should only go for a forward in the first 2 rounds if one drops that we should not pass on. This draft as a defensman either BPA or pretty equal to the forward at that spot in most of the first 2 rounds. It is so heavy on D that it makes sense to stock up. We could easily go from a top 5 prospect pool to a best in the league pool.

Jamie Benn is a fluke in the 5th round. Realistically any player outside the 3rd(possibly even 2nd) becoming THAT good is a fluke. No necessarily for the player, but for the team. Benn would have likely been that god no matter who drafted him.
- Retinalz

Gaudette

So you advocate passing on Jamie Benn to draft Ben Hutton?

BPA every day, all day
- 1970vintage

Absolutely, BPA every pick. If a toss up, sure lean defense, but IMO youre more likely to unearth an NHL forward in later rounds than D. Plus I dont like his track record selecting defense very much:

1st round: Juolevi
3rd round: Tryamkin, Brisebois
4th round: Rathbone
5th round: Forsling, Neill, Candella, Gunnarsson
7th round: Stewart, Olson, Brassard

I did back when the team was actually good and had scrubs like Oreskovich/Glass/Sestito on it.

Doing it when the team doesn’t even have a top 6 F, Top 4 D and legit starting goalie is hilariously stupid.

It’s like renovating a house and focusing on sweeping the dirty floors before touching the walls.
- Nucker101

It's more like renovating a house and not sweeping the dust but putting the nice stuff over top and just leaving it there.

Probably why teams at the TDL pay 2nd round picks for scrubs because they forgot to think about the scrubs before and then have to overpay for them.

Boy scouts
- VANTEL

That's why you weren't allowed to go.

That's why you weren't allowed to go.
- manvanfan

It's more like renovating a house and not sweeping the dust but putting the nice stuff over top and just leaving it there.

Probably why teams at the TDL pay 2nd round picks for scrubs because they forgot to think about the scrubs before and then have to overpay for them.
- manvanfan

wtf

how is focusing on building a good team/core before putting together a solid 4th line anything like that at all?

No one gives a poop about the 4th line on a bad team


Which teams are paying for those scrubs? Good teams, right? Teams wanting to make a cup run? Probably teams who already have a good core of players?

All three will be gonzo before 5th selection, guaranteed
- Bakwas

more than likely:

1. Dahlin
2. Svechnikov
3. Zadina
4. Boqvist
5. Tkatchuk

I see us getting a pick between 5-9 this year. probably land on #7 and take the best Dman that is left.
? Noah Dobson, Evan Bouchard?

Jamie Benn is a fluke in the 5th round. Realistically any player outside the 3rd(possibly even 2nd) becoming THAT good is a fluke. No necessarily for the player, but for the team. Benn would have likely been that god no matter who drafted him.
- Retinalz

The point is that if you “only” draft d you risk missing out on high end talent at another position. Clearly I’m right because no GM in the league goes into the draft with a plan to only draft players at one position...

The point is that if you “only” draft d you risk missing out on high end talent at another position. Clearly I’m right because no GM in the league goes into the draft with a plan to only draft players at one position...
- 1970vintage

True


It's fine to want to come out of a draft with 3-4 dmen, but you can't pass up on drafting a forward that you have ranked much higher just because you want to draft for need. You can always trade a good young prospect to fill a need, but you can't do it with a bad one. Kole Lind probably has more trade value than Robin Salo right now.

The point is that if you “only” draft d you risk missing out on high end talent at another position. Clearly I’m right because no GM in the league goes into the draft with a plan to only draft players at one position...
- 1970vintage

Nashville GM says hi!

Nashville GM says hi!
- dbot

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...aft/teams/dr00007024.html

they've drafted plenty of forwards with 1st and 2nd round picks

Nashville GM says hi!
- dbot

That was more because they were building from the goal out and then once they had a huge stockpile of D prospects that weren't going to get ice-time, traded them for forward help. Note that Nashville also drafted Watson, Fiala, Ardvisson, Sissons and Salomaki, a few of whom (Fiala, Ardvisson, Sissons) are fixtures in their top 6 with Johannsen, Turris and Forsberg.

wtf

how is focusing on building a good team/core before putting together a solid 4th line anything like that at all?

No one gives a poop about the 4th line on a bad team


Which teams are paying for those scrubs? Good teams, right? Teams wanting to make a cup run? Probably teams who already have a good core of players?
- Nucker101

Why cant you build a core and a 4th line at the same time?

Why cant you build a core and a 4th line at the same time?
- manvanfan

You can

You can


- Nucker101

Then what are you worrying about?

Why cant you build a core and a 4th line at the same time?
- manvanfan

I think its because the 4th line is fluctuating one. Its a line that serves either as a transitional role for young players to gain experience, or one with a purpose to check/grind/energy.

IMO its hard to set guys in 4th line roles when they could be like Burrows/Hansen who happen to click with a skill player. You also wouldnt want to acquire a primarily 4th line guy like Matt Martin and prevent yourself a roster opportunity to find something in your top-6 if it is not first set already

Then what are you worrying about?
- manvanfan

Overpaying for role players when you don't have a good core in place.

I think its because the 4th line is fluctuating one. Its a line that serves either as a transitional role for young players to gain experience, or one with a purpose to check/grind/energy.

IMO its hard to set guys in 4th line roles when they could be like Burrows/Hansen who happen to click with a skill player. You also wouldnt want to acquire a primarily 4th line guy like Matt Martin and prevent yourself a roster opportunity to find something in your top-6 if it is not first set already
- WhiteLie

Your fourth line is supposed to be an alternate 3rd line in today's NHL anyways. I'd prefer to build a 4th line with players that are the fastest on the team but don't have the skill to be in your top 6 but do nothing but forecheck, forecheck, forecheck and try to hem the other team's line in their own zone and wear out the D, since that's how you win in the playoffs.

Your fourth line is supposed to be an alternate 3rd line in today's NHL anyways. I'd prefer to build a 4th line with players that are the fastest on the team but don't have the skill to be in your top 6 but do nothing but forecheck, forecheck, forecheck and try to hem the other team's line in their own zone and wear out the D, since that's how you win in the playoffs.
- DariusKnight

The point is that if you “only” draft d you risk missing out on high end talent at another position. Clearly I’m right because no GM in the league goes into the draft with a plan to only draft players at one position...
- 1970vintage

I also believe I had said that(in a different post) "If there is a forwad you can't pass on" or something to that effect. And many teams have gone into a draft thinking D all the way and switched during it. In 2016 EDM was thinking OJ until JP fell to #4. This happens a lot.
There is nothing wrong in planning to load up on D in a draft, as long as you have an open mind. This is what we should be doing. Have a plan for best D available at each pick and have a plan for forwards you would take instead. If one is aail take a F, if not take the D.

You can


- Nucker101

Come on Jake, prove them wrong.

wtf

how is focusing on building a good team/core before putting together a solid 4th line anything like that at all?

No one gives a poop about the 4th line on a bad team


Which teams are paying for those scrubs? Good teams, right? Teams wanting to make a cup run? Probably teams who already have a good core of players?
- Nucker101

Yes.

Overpaying for role players when you don't have a good core in place.
- Nucker101

Jake makes 894 K

Overpaying for role players when you don't have a good core in place.
- Nucker101

So its okay to have cheap useless guys that wont be around when a core is in place. after the core is in place then you want to go out and get decent 4th liners with picks or prospects. Also hope they gel in the last 20 games of the season.