You putting Galchenyuk ahead of Yakupov reminded me of the year Tavares was drafted. People watch Tavares come into the league and dominate. Scouts crown in the first overall pick 2 years before hand, the clear cut first pick, and they continue to watch him.

Game in and game out they watch him, one game they notice something, the next they notice something else. Pretty soon, they start to wander and see a kid in Brampton playing who is faster. Hmm, maybe he's better? So they watch him with the same eye they watched Tavares 2 years before. Not the one that breaks down weaknesses, but the one that looks at positives.

So they watch him, and watch him and pretty sure they've convinced themselves that this can be a discussion. Never mind the fact that this kid is a second line center and always has been and neve rmind the fact that Tavares just keeps pumping in numbers.

Eventually the draft comes along and enough people are saying that you could legitimately say that Duchene is better than Tavares because one is being scrutinized constantly and the other is being pumped up to make a discussion. Without discussion, the draft is boring because we all know who is going first. End result... they were right, were always right.
End result?
Yakupov is the first pick. Discuss the rest.
- Lohaus

Good point. Kinda like the Hall/Seguin thing.

B-Hud, give me 5 players that will be available between 15-20 that could be absolute game-changers for a team that takes them.
- dangerdale

Collberg (Another Swede for you Sens fans), Koekkoek (proooooooject D), Matt Finn (High IQ Dman), Brendan Gaunce (the next Ryan O'Reilly?).

Just going off some lists of what might be around then.

Obviously I have 3 of the 4 in my 10-15 range, but most lists have them lower.

You know, watching him in the 7 game series makes me realize/appreciate just how awesome Ekblad is. I thought it was odd to see a D enter the league with "exceptional" player status, and doubted him a bit, saw him earlier in the year and sure, he was fine, but this last series with him impressed the hell out of me. He's got franchise number 1, Norris Trophy, big minute muncher, shut down/PP QB, you name it.... written all over him.

You know, watching him in the 7 game series makes me realize/appreciate just how awesome Ekblad is. I thought it was odd to see a D enter the league with "exceptional" player status, and doubted him a bit, saw him earlier in the year and sure, he was fine, but this last series with him impressed the hell out of me. He's got franchise number 1, Norris Trophy, big minute muncher, shut down/PP QB, you name it.... written all over him.
- Lohaus

He had had that baby Colt syndrome early on (zing!) where he was still trying to figure out his body. Since?



Now if only he were mean...

MTL will pick Galchenyuk, thank you for trying.
- DrRecchi

Because you can see the future? They might, but they also might not pass up the second ranked player in the draft and take Grigorenko.

how much do you think the play in the playoffs is contributing to Wilson's rise?

how much do you think the play in the playoffs is contributing to Wilson's rise?
- IanEsplen

A fair bit. He showed he's more than a forechecker-- and with "power forwards" being late bloomers, gotta wonder if this is just the beginning.

A fair bit. He showed he's more than a forechecker-- and with "power forwards" being late bloomers, gotta wonder if this is just the beginning.
- Brian Huddle

The more I watch the playoffs the more I think the oilers need a player like tom Wilson. Does he compare to backes at all? Or lucic?

The more I watch the playoffs the more I think the oilers need a player like tom Wilson. Does he compare to backes at all? Or lucic?
- ystoil

Lucic-like in the way he plays, yes.

Lucic-like in the way he plays, yes.
- Brian Huddle

How is his skating? Does he have line 2 potential?

How is his skating? Does he have line 2 potential?
- ystoil

Improving (positive). He's a good in-zone player, who wears you down and competes well in the cycle.

He's not a great fighter, though. Like he can, but he's not gonna fight with the best of them, like Lucic can.

Improving (positive). He's a good in-zone player, who wears you down and competes well in the cycle.

He's not a great fighter, though. Like he can, but he's not gonna fight with the best of them, like Lucic can.
- Brian Huddle

Are you saying he is sort of like Kaleta... with a spine?

Are you saying he is sort of like Kaleta... with a spine?


- Lohaus

Better hands, and IQ.

I know this is way off topic, but how sick is Brad Ross looking right now. 10 games 9g 4a and 16PIM.

I really wish I could watch the games on tv or something.

I know this is way off topic, but how sick is Brad Ross looking right now. 10 games 9g 4a and 16PIM.

I really wish I could watch the games on tv or something.
- wolfos412

Well, I don't know. I get the idea he might be feeding off Baertschi and Rattie a bit.

Well, I don't know. I get the idea he might be feeding off Baertschi and Rattie a bit.
- prock

In his defense, he rarely plays with them, as they're a LW-RW combo, and he plays on the LW as well.

In his defense, he rarely plays with them, as they're a LW-RW combo, and he plays on the LW as well.
- Brian Huddle

In other words, the Winterhawks is the WHL translation of the Leafs.

The more I read about galchenyuk the more I like. Is he NHL ready huddle? Or will he likely need another year in the ohl? I'm thinking with the year lost to injury it will only help.

The more I read about galchenyuk the more I like. Is he NHL ready huddle? Or will he likely need another year in the ohl? I'm thinking with the year lost to injury it will only help.
- ystoil

I would agree with this as well. He couldn't really train to the level that his peers could this year. That muscle is important in order to make it as an 18 year old.

Yeah ok...

Hits much?

Yeah ok...

Hits much?
- hugefemale dog77

If I wanted hits, wouldn't I put "YAKUPOV NOT NUMBER ONE" in the title?

I'm not the only one who doesn't have Yakupov at Number one on my list.

If I wanted hits, wouldn't I put "YAKUPOV NOT NUMBER ONE" in the title?

I'm not the only one who doesn't have Yakupov at Number one on my list.
- Brian Huddle

With a Leafs logo = hits

If I wanted hits, wouldn't I put "YAKUPOV NOT NUMBER ONE" in the title?

I'm not the only one who doesn't have Yakupov at Number one on my list.
- Brian Huddle

I'd go with "Leafs to take Tanner Pearson"

With a Leafs logo = hits
- Lohaus

"SCOT GOMEZ BETTER THAN KESSEL" or something.

I would agree with this as well. He couldn't really train to the level that his peers could this year. That muscle is important in order to make it as an 18 year old.
- Lohaus

I also just read hockeyprospects.com article on galchenyuk and they have him as the top prospect. They said nail benefited more from galchenyuk rather than what most people assumed or said was the othe way around. Interesting.