Like comparing Larsson to Lidstrom??

I think they mean playing style more than anything, not necessarily point production. Plus you have to take into account he played for a low scoring poopty hockey team.
- Reveen

They used same comparison in the draft vid on NHL.com.

It is more about his skating and puck handling than point production.

How does he get compared to Scotty all the time? The offensive numbers are just no where near what Niedermayer was capable of, comparing Murray to Niedermayer just seems off to me.
- Lahey

I think Duncan Keith would be the more logical comparison.

Forsberg will go 4th overall to the isles... Galychuk or Rienhart will end up a leaf.. top 3 are what everyone is saying

then Dumba gets selected LATE in 1st round, cause you know that Kronwall went #29.

Which is fine with me. As long as Edm picks Murray (Trouba, Reinhart) I am happy.
- OilHorse

That went completely over your head, no offense.

Yes, but .75 PPG more is quite a large difference.
- Lahey

Your comparing the Junior hockey that Nieds played to the one Murrays playing now?

Not to repeat what was already in the article, but Murray certainly could have put up better numbers if his team wasn't so offensively inept.

They used same comparison in the draft vid on NHL.com.

It is more about his skating and puck handling than point production.
- OilHorse

Exactly.

Your comparing the Junior hockey that Nieds played to the one Murrays playing now?

Not to repeat what was already in the article, but Murray certainly could have put up better numbers if his team wasn't so offensively inept.
- mochoson

The problem I have is the guy put up numbers barely better than Mark Pysyk in his draft year and Pysyk played on one of the worse teams in the league.

That went completely over your head, no offense.
- mochoson

Not at all...you directly stated that Dumba will go Top 5, and then preceeded to compare him to a guy who was taken 2nd last in the 1st round, to prove he was worth a Top 5 pick.

Haven't read through the comments in awhile but assumign you guys stay second overall would you want yet another top forward in Gigorenko or a Dman in Murray even if hes technically not the best available player?

EDIT: And if the answer is Murray based on the need for D what do you do if you get first? Just draft Nail and worry about it later? Or perhaps move down and take a D?

The problem I have is the guy put up numbers barely better than Mark Pysyk in his draft year and Pysyk played on one of the worse teams in the league.
- Lahey

Who do you want to draft then if Murray isnt your fancy?

Also don;t know if this was discussed but if your CBJ are you scared poopless to draft a Russian considering how many times they've been screwed?? Wonder if thats actually an issue for them or not.

I would laugh if the leafs won the lotto today... it would be EPIC!

Also don;t know if this was discussed but if your CBJ are you scared poopless to draft a Russian considering how many times they've been screwed?? Wonder if thats actually an issue for them or not.
- mrhattrick27

It would have to be a draw for concern. If I were them I would trade Nash for another top 5 pick and take 1 of the centers as well... start a WSH all over again...

Who do you want to draft then if Murray isnt your fancy?
- saskoil21

I never said I wouldn't take him, I just think the comparisons are getting ridiculous the past few years.

Also don;t know if this was discussed but if your CBJ are you scared poopless to draft a Russian considering how many times they've been screwed?? Wonder if thats actually an issue for them or not.
- mrhattrick27

They have more Russians than any other team in the NHL. Or close to it.

I would laugh if the leafs won the lotto today... it would be EPIC!
- saskoil21

I'd like to see the reaction if we won the lotto. I could see Burke saying something like " (frank) that noise, they don't know what to do with the picks anyways".

Also don;t know if this was discussed but if your CBJ are you scared poopless to draft a Russian considering how many times they've been screwed?? Wonder if thats actually an issue for them or not.
- mrhattrick27

I'm sure they're considering it. I'd wait to see how desperate teams are for him. Minnesota could use a franchise player like that.

Not at all...you directly stated that Dumba will go Top 5, and then preceeded to compare him to a guy who was taken 2nd last in the 1st round, to prove he was worth a Top 5 pick.
- OilHorse

No.

I bolded certain parts of Richards post in regards to style of play. Everything Richard pointed out negatively about Dumba is how Kronwall makes a living, and very well might I add.

So yes, it did go over your head. Absolutely nothing to do with draft order.

The problem I have is the guy put up numbers barely better than Mark Pysyk in his draft year and Pysyk played on one of the worse teams in the league.
- Lahey

And Murrays team was that much better offensively? Did you read any of that summary?

Your missing the entire point. What about guys from Europe? Guys from the USNTDP? You don't see huge numbers from them.

It's about talent, and realizing how that talent projects at the pro-level.

If Murray put up the PPG season he was capable of, Yakupov wouldn't be the consensus first overall. There would be plenty of people screaming for Columbus to take him instead.

Mark my words, its a blessing in disguise. One of the best players in the draft has fallen right into our lap.

Don't (frank) it up Tambo.

After seeing Dumba play a couple times one name kept popping into my head an undersized defenseman who is fast but make questionable reads to make a hit or pinch, Hated in the city of Edmonton unfairly I might add. Marc Andre Bergerion. If dumba fairs better than him good on him but it is a name that pops up in my mind after seeing him play.
- longbottom

Unfairly??
Quite the opposite. In fact, there were some times when he was praised and shoulda been sent packing. He was terrible

Remember our cup run when he was benched for most of it??? Its because he wasnt good enough! ( i dont care about the roloson thing.. Coulda happened to anyone)
Way too small to deal with any of SJ's or anaheims forecheck. He got pushed around and off the puck like he was a bantam player. Mediocre skater for a small guy.
Terribly weak in his own end. Makes Terrible decisions when hes rushed... Which is all the time.
Hes got one thing. A fukin cannon.
And in those days even that was a liability.
He'd ring pucks up by people ears more often than hit the net.

He can be semi effective in a pp role only.... And should be on the pine for the other 54 minutes.

Richard Cloutier: Stevie's Big Bucket of Weird
- Maxbone

Hey Clouts,

I actually completely with you on your first point. That was a silly thing to ask of Renney, who answered the call with class anyways.

I want Smyth back. Someone said that Smyth's exit interview sounded like he was on the outs, but it didn't seem that way to me.

As I was saying all along, Murray is a good pick at that slot. I don't think it's an embarrassing thing to pick the position that's best for your organization if the targets are of approximately equal skill. And Murray and Grigs are APPROXIMATELY equal.

And Murrays team was that much better offensively? Did you read any of that summary?

Your missing the entire point. What about guys from Europe? Guys from the USNTDP? You don't see huge numbers from them.

It's about talent, and realizing how that talent projects at the pro-level.

If Murray put up the PPG season he was capable of, Yakupov wouldn't be the consensus first overall. There would be plenty of people screaming for Columbus to take him instead.
Mark my words, its a blessing in disguise. One of the best players in the draft has fallen right into our lap.

Don't (frank) it up Tambo.
- mochoson

Great post

And Murrays team was that much better offensively? Did you read any of that summary?

Your missing the entire point. What about guys from Europe? Guys from the USNTDP? You don't see huge numbers from them.

It's about talent, and realizing how that talent projects at the pro-level.

If Murray put up the PPG season he was capable of, Yakupov wouldn't be the consensus first overall. There would be plenty of people screaming for Columbus to take him instead.

Mark my words, its a blessing in disguise. One of the best players in the draft has fallen right into our lap.

Don't (frank) it up Tambo.
- mochoson

You know just as well as I do that those leagues don't have 17 year olds ripping them up, the CHL on the other hand does.

You know just as well as I do that those leagues don't have 17 year olds ripping them up, the CHL on the other hand does.
- Lahey

Well the USNTDP plays in the USHL. Not to keep bringing him up, but my buddy Johnny Gadreau finished 4th in league scoring last year and won rookie of the year.

As for Europe, well yeah. 17 year old's dont typically rip open those leagues because most of those kids are playing against men in pro-leagues. They are often on lower lines and work their way up. They are rated high because of their obvious abilities though.

Its just why you can't go by numbers. The game in Europe is different too. It's projecting how that player will fit and perform in the NHL. You can just use stats as benchmarks all the time for for players.

Well the USNTDP plays in the USHL. Not to keep bringing him up, but my buddy Johnny Gadreau finished 4th in league scoring last year and won rookie of the year.

As for Europe, well yeah. 17 year old's dont typically rip open those leagues because most of those kids are playing against men in pro-leagues. They are often on lower lines and work their way up. They are rated high because of their obvious abilities though.

Its just why you can't go by numbers. The game in Europe is different too. It's projecting how that player will fit and perform in the NHL. You can just use stats as benchmarks all the time for for players.
- mochoson

I was never the one that brought up Europe. I just said the comparison is off. Niedermayer was offensively dominate in juniors, Murray not so much.