Marchessault would have been benched for Ryan Reaves.

#HeavyVeteranPresence
- Tomahawk

Trade for lehtera. He’s such an amazing person and professional. He’s a guy you want on the bench.

Trade for lehtera. He’s such an amazing person and professional. He’s a guy you want on the bench.
- Just5

Speed is overrated.

Trade for lehtera. He’s such an amazing person and professional. He’s a guy you want on the bench.
- Just5

How unbelievable was it that Weiss after being benched for 6 weeks was inserted back into the lineup in the playoffs?

How unbelievable was it that Weiss after being benched for 6 weeks was inserted back into the lineup in the playoffs?
- PLindbergh31

After they lost 3 out of the first 4 games by a combined 17-1 score, I had no issue with the coach changing the lineup.

17-1 in 3 games is some first round QMJHL playoff poop.

After they lost 3 out of the first 4 games by a combined 17-1 score, I had no issue with the coach changing the lineup.

17-1 in 3 games is some first round QMJHL playoff poop.
- jmatchett383

Well yeah they were getting embarrassed, and Weiss actually didn't play terribly but the fact he's even an option is a joke.

Speed is overrated.
- flyer_nutter

Support all over the ice. Interchangeable parts. None of their dmen are outstanding but they are all of the same mold in that they can play a heavy game and they can move the puck and skate well. The forwards cover for pinching Dmen all the time. It’s seamless. Amazing team to watch thanks to their coach.

Support all over the ice. Interchangeable parts. None of their dmen ar outstanding but they all can play a heavy game and they can move the puck and skate well. The forwards cover for pinching Dmen all the time. It’s seamless. Amazing team to watch thanks to their coach.
- Just5

I don't think I'd call Shea Theodore and Derek Engelland interchangeable and say that Theodore plays a heavy game or that Engelland skates well.

But generally, yes, they are a well-coached team that are all playing the system to perfection.

It's even deeper than that. Many teams had to make some tough decisions. Any statement that it is a bunch of players other teams didn't want, is asinine.

I want to know the guy who knew that Karlsson was capable of scoring 40+ goals before this season?
- MJL

Not only did Vegas get to pick Karlsson from the Blue Jackets, they also get a 1st and 2nd round pick from Vegas for taking on Clarkson contract.

Imagine if Hextall gave up a player that became a 40 goal scorer.

Marchessault would have been benched for Ryan Reaves.

#HeavyVeteranPresence
- Tomahawk

The same Ryan Reaves that scored the series clinching goal last night?

Not only did Vegas get to pick Karlsson from the Blue Jackets, they also get a 1st and 2nd round pick from Vegas for taking on Clarkson contract.

Imagine if Hextall gave up a player that became a 40 goal scorer.
- FlyerFan16

So you knew all along that Karlsson was going to be a 40+ goal scorer???

Can i borrow your crystal ball before I make my SCF pick?

He’s very good on the PK from what I’ve seen. If he can be a defensive sound 3rd liner who is one of the top 4 PKers and can up 12-15 goals (including a couple shorties) and 30-35 points, I can live with that.

Edit: At pick 22, you aren’t always getting a true 1st round talent. Most scouts are looking at the 2018 draft and are seeing 20-22 legit 1st round talents. If Rubtsov had been taken in the top 15, I’d be much more concerned.
- BiggE

Agreed, it’s not like Mickey Moniak.

Pittsburgh defense core over the last two years is comparable. But of course the Penguins have Crosby and Malkin to cover up a lot of defensive issues.

Marchessault, Perron, Smith and Karlsson are all nice players, but prior to this year they have never been top line performers.

The Knights were at the bottom of the list when it comes to Stanley Cup odds. The Vegas sports books usually are spot on. The point is no one saw this coming. What they are doing is nothing short of miraculous. To go 12-3 thus far against the Kings, Sharks, and Jets is absurd. And I just checked they are 4-0 combined against TB and Washington.
- PLindbergh31

It is pretty amazing what they are doing but from what I recall from past expansions, they were given a much better opportunity to select good players. I remember expansion drafts being limited to aging vets. At least that is how I remember them.

Hey Reaves scored the GWG in his home town yesterday. That has to be an amazing feeling. He said his family members were all rooting for the Jets.
- PLindbergh31

if a team has Bufflin, the other team having Reeves is a good thing

Support all over the ice. Interchangeable parts. None of their dmen are outstanding but they are all of the same mold in that they can play a heavy game and they can move the puck and skate well. The forwards cover for pinching Dmen all the time. It’s seamless. Amazing team to watch thanks to their coach.
- Just5

Every single coach in the NHL has a system and strategy that works. Gallant certainly deserves a lot of credit and coaching decisions can have an effect but no matter what move a coach makes, execution on the ice has to happen for it to work. Execution, buy in, mental makeup along with talent make a coach look really good.

So you knew all along that Karlsson was going to be a 40+ goal scorer???

Can i borrow your crystal ball before I make my SCF pick?
- jmatchett383

Did I say that?.... No, maybe that is what you read, but it's not what I said. I pointed out a fact and then said, imagine if that was Hextall that did that.

It is pretty amazing what they are doing but from what I recall from past expansions, they were given a much better opportunity to select good players. I remember expansion drafts being limited to aging vets. At least that is how I remember them.
- FlyerFan16

The best player from past expansion drafts is probably John Vanbiesbrouk from the 1993 expansion draft. But the protection rules for Las Vegas were much more restrictive and gave them a much bigger pool to draw from.

Also, I'd argue that Brian Bradley did the exact same thing in 92/93 that Karlsson is doing this year, but no one was raking Toronto over the coals because of it.

Did I say that?.... No, maybe that is what you read, but it's not what I said. I pointed out a fact and then said, imagine if that was Hextall that did that.
- FlyerFan16

But he came here for an argument.

Did I say that?.... No, maybe that is what you read, but it's not what I said. I pointed out a fact and then said, imagine if that was Hextall that did that.
- FlyerFan16

If Hextall gave up a player who has totalled 14 goals over 2+ seasons in order to protect others players (due in part to inherited NMC/NTC status), I don't see how anyone could say he did anything wrong.

So sorry if I misinterpreted your comment. I just think that Columbus made the right call given their options.

The best player from past expansion drafts is probably John Vanbiesbrouk from the 1993 expansion draft. But the protection rules for Las Vegas were much more restrictive and gave them a much bigger pool to draw from.

Also, I'd argue that Brian Bradley did the exact same thing in 92/93 that Karlsson is doing this year, but no one was raking Toronto over the coals because of it.
- jmatchett383

Bradley wasn't even a top 20 goal scorer in 92/93. Karlsson was the #3 goal scorer. I would argue against the comparison.

If Hextall gave up a player who has totalled 14 goals over 2+ seasons in order to protect others players (due in part to inherited NMC/NTC status), I don't see how anyone could say he did anything wrong.

So sorry if I misinterpreted your comment. I just think that Columbus made the right call given their options.
- jmatchett383

In hindsight (which is easy now), I would say Columbus was a year late on the Hartnell buyout.

Bradley wasn't even a top 20 goal scorer in 92/93. Karlsson was the #3 goal scorer. I would argue against the comparison.
- FlyerFan16

True, he wasn't a top-20 (he was 21). However, he did score more goals than anyone on his former team, Toronto, did. My point was that, much like no one expected Bradley to go from 10 to 42 goals, the same can be said of Karlsson.

If Hextall gave up a player who has totalled 14 goals over 2+ seasons in order to protect others players (due in part to inherited NMC/NTC status), I don't see how anyone could say he did anything wrong.

So sorry if I misinterpreted your comment. I just think that Columbus made the right call given their options.
- jmatchett383

And being right or wrong is different than being ridiculed in hindsight. Still reading that they traded for Lehtera, with no mention of 2 first round pics.

True, he wasn't a top-20 (he was 21). However, he did score more goals than anyone on his former team, Toronto, did. My point was that, much like no one expected Bradley to go from 10 to 42 goals, the same can be said of Karlsson.
- jmatchett383

That's fair.

And being right or wrong is different than being ridiculed in hindsight. Still reading that they traded for Lehtera, with no mention of 2 first round pics.
- FlyerFan16

What first round picks?

What first round picks?
- jmatchett383