Bud, Toews all day
- Biggus Richardus

Yeah. 1 top end centre.

"I just saved 15% by switching to Geico"

No trades.

"I just saved 15% by switching to Geico"
- Biggus Richardus

When you are as good as Toews, you don't need a 2nd liner.

Plus they have an absolute elite winger in Kane. Yes Kane is worth more than most centers in the game. But a 4 time 30 goal scorer in Pacioretty isn't enough to get you a center why is that?
- Biggus Richardus

He doesnt speak French

Habs trying to trade up for Veleno.

No trades.
- deadpoulet

Pacioretty to LA is a possibility, the 20th could be involved

Habs trying to trade up for Veleno.
- Mashadar

why not?

Need to load up on centers

Habs trying to trade up for Veleno.
- Mashadar

Do it.

When you are as good as Toews, you don't need a 2nd liner.

Plus they have an absolute elite winger in Kane. Yes Kane is worth more than most centers in the game. But a 4 time 30 goal scorer in Pacioretty isn't enough to get you a center why is that?
- Biggus Richardus

Yeah but none of the centres drafted are as good as Toews or anything, so why get the 3rd line centre when you can get the 1st line winger? I'm sure, provided equivalent contracts, Pacioretty could be traded for say Trevor Lewis or Boone Jenner.

Yeah but none of the centres drafted are as good as Toews or anything, so why get the 3rd line centre when you can get the 1st line winger? I'm sure, provided equivalent contracts, Pacioretty could be traded for say Trevor Lewis or Boone Jenner.
- jugkope

Kotkaniemi has 1st line center ceiling

Colorado trade ?

can a pair of 2nds get a 1st for veleno here?

can a pair of 2nds get a 1st for veleno here?
- Biggus Richardus

Doubt it

Kotkaniemi has 1st line center ceiling
- Biggus Richardus

1st line on the Montreal Canadiens in the 2010s, maybe. This is getting cyclical; I don't believe Kotkaniemi ends up a legit 1st line centre, he'll play there if you have nobody good enough to really fill that position, and I can't be convinced of the contrary until he proves it for the club.

1st line on the Montreal Canadiens in the 2010s, maybe. This is getting cyclical; I don't believe Kotkaniemi ends up a legit 1st line centre, he'll play there if you have nobody good enough to really fill that position, and I can't be convinced of the contrary until he proves it for the club.
- jugkope

If he can be a good 2nd line center and you pair him with another good 2nd line center maybe poehling or one of the upcoming 2nd rounders you are looking much better.

Strong wingers already with Drouin, Gallagher and domi and lesser extent Scherbak and Lehkonen as up comers.

Now rebuild that defense

1st line on the Montreal Canadiens in the 2010s, maybe. This is getting cyclical; I don't believe Kotkaniemi ends up a legit 1st line centre, he'll play there if you have nobody good enough to really fill that position, and I can't be convinced of the contrary until he proves it for the club.
- jugkope

well well well

1st line on the Montreal Canadiens in the 2010s, maybe. This is getting cyclical; I don't believe Kotkaniemi ends up a legit 1st line centre, he'll play there if you have nobody good enough to really fill that position, and I can't be convinced of the contrary until he proves it for the club.
- jugkope

Yet any other winger was guaranteed? These are all prospects; several will be busts. While we can all appreciate you dislike the pick, none of the other picks are guarantees either. Habs needed a center that can play top line somewhere in the near future. They have their best prospect for the role since Chucky. Getting another winger wasnt going to help.

*Edit
Likely a better chance than Chucky since this guy has played center at 17 years old against professional ADULT players.

Yet any other winger was guaranteed? These are all prospects; several will be busts. While we can all appreciate you dislike the pick, none of the other picks are guarantees either. Habs needed a center that can play top line somewhere in the near future. They have their best prospect for the role since Chucky. Getting another winger wasnt going to help.

*Edit
Likely a better chance than Chucky since this guy has played center at 17 years old against professional ADULT players.
- nords21

Exactly. Now draft 2 more in the 2nd.

Bergevin may be dumb but at least he was smart enough to not trade down. Arizona taking Hayton at 5 means Kotkaniemi was falling no lower than 5. Ottawa took him on a steak dinner too so maybe Ottawa takes him at 4.

Nice pick. Fastest riser in the draft. Happy.

Yet any other winger was guaranteed? These are all prospects; several will be busts. While we can all appreciate you dislike the pick, none of the other picks are guarantees either. Habs needed a center that can play top line somewhere in the near future. They have their best prospect for the role since Chucky. Getting another winger wasnt going to help.

*Edit
Likely a better chance than Chucky since this guy has played center at 17 years old against professional ADULT players.
- nords21

He played wing all season long, aside from tournaments. He's likely to play centre next year.

Bergevin may be dumb but at least he was smart enough to not trade down. Arizona taking Hayton at 5 means Kotkaniemi was falling no lower than 5. Ottawa took him on a steak dinner too so maybe Ottawa takes him at 4.

Nice pick. Fastest riser in the draft. Happy.
- QuickSCF

Yup precisely.

Bergevin may be dumb but at least he was smart enough to not trade down. Arizona taking Hayton at 5 means Kotkaniemi was falling no lower than 5. Ottawa took him on a steak dinner too so maybe Ottawa takes him at 4.

Nice pick. Fastest riser in the draft. Happy.
- QuickSCF

Bang on. He wasn't getting past Arizona.

Ottawa got the guy they wanted in Tkachuk.

Yup precisely.
- Biggus Richardus

It was so easy to take a player that will join the team next season and help. But he thought about the long term future of the club before his own job, and no matter how big of a moron we think he is, I can respect that

gotta move up for veleno no?

He is slipping could be a robert thomas lite