"SCOT GOMEZ BETTER THAN KESSEL" or something.
- Brian Huddle

Why Yakupov should be selected first overall by the Leafs: The Effect of the Kessel Trade in 2012 - Brian Huddle

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There is a drop off of talent from Nail to the rest, just like their was a drop off from Hall to Seguin. But sometimes you have to project a bit as to what you think that player will be over a 15-20 year career.
- Brian Huddle

There were a good number of people projecting seguin to be picked ahead of hall... mostly because he was a centerman.. it was still a "surprise" when Hall was picked 1st overall.

And I still think Seguin will end up being the better all around player... only because Hall will average 60 games a year.

Nail has been put in a class of his own... and was projected like 2 years ago to be the clear 1st overall. He is by far the most talented player in this draft and the oilers would be stupid not to draft him.. or at the very least trade down if they want a defenseman so bad.

Ross looks like a solid 3rd line player to me. Good player to have on your team, im looking forward to him and Biggs joining the squad in the next couple years.

To me Galchenyuk should be the leafs number 1 target. Hes got the skills of a number one center and i really think thats what he is. Although i personally would love to trade the pick because im really high on the leafs getting Brayden Schenn, we need some character and grit in our top six. Brayden brings that with youth and skill plus hes Lukes brother. But if were picking i say go for Galchenyuk, i would still be happy with getting Faksa i really like his size, i know this sounds bad but i wish he was canadian. But he plays a real canadian style. But honestly if Galchenyuk is picked and so is Grigs that means Yakupov Dumba or Murray falls to us, and i dont know if we can pass on them. Dumbas kinda like another risky d man and we already have Phaneuf and Gardiner, i would really like Murray to play with Phaneuf though, although i think Stuart Percy will grow into that role in 3 years or so. So basically i say draft Galchenyuk, if hes not avalible and neither is Grigs Yakupov or Murray then go ahead and draft Faksa.... BUT, if you can trade our 1st and a Franson for a BRayden Schenn thats a guy i would love on the leafs.

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.
- ystoil

Galchenyuk is definitely an awesome, high end high octane player. I won't deny that at all. I'd still take Yakupov first though, without much thought. In this draft, I'd say there is a tier with only Yakupov, and just below it there is a tier with what could be argued to inclue the next grouping of 4 or 5 or 6 or so. Just my opinion.

Kessel is a second liner on all but 3 NHL teams.

Phaneuf shouldn't be captain.

(just trying to help you Brian)

I honestly am just hoping the Leafs dont pick up Forsberg hes got bust draft written all over him, i dont care about his size he really does have it written all over him.

There were a good number of people projecting seguin to be picked ahead of hall... mostly because he was a centerman.. it was still a "surprise" when Hall was picked 1st overall.

And I still think Seguin will end up being the better all around player... only because Hall will average 60 games a year.

Nail has been put in a class of his own... and was projected like 2 years ago to be the clear 1st overall. He is by far the most talented player in this draft and the oilers would be stupid not to draft him.. or at the very least trade down if they want a defenseman so bad.
- kneughter

I used Tavares because Tavares is more like Yakupov in that he was a clear front runner for two solid years, much like Yakupov. Hall and Seguin were talked about most of the draft year. The Duchene talk came up right about this time in Tavares' year. Odd.

One has to wonder though how a guy who didn't play at all could all of the sudden become a higher ranked guy than a player who basically just produced like people knew he could.

Kessel is a second liner on all but 3 NHL teams.

Phaneuf shouldn't be captain.

(just trying to help you Brian)

Kessel would be the leading scorer on all but 5 teams in the NHL and on those 5 teams he would still be the second highest scorer aka still on the first line...

There were a good number of people projecting seguin to be picked ahead of hall... mostly because he was a centerman.. it was still a "surprise" when Hall was picked 1st overall.

And I still think Seguin will end up being the better all around player... only because Hall will average 60 games a year.

Nail has been put in a class of his own... and was projected like 2 years ago to be the clear 1st overall. He is by far the most talented player in this draft and the oilers would be stupid not to draft him.. or at the very least trade down if they want a defenseman so bad.
- kneughter

that's definitely a consideration for why the oilers should look to trading the pick. I love hall and the way he plays but maybe a more seguin type player could be beneficial aka galchenyuk or a dman like Murray.

My ideal move aside from drafting Yakupov which I'm more than ok with is for a dman like Gardiner, or bogosian or maybe subban (there are others but I feel these are more realistic than oel or pietrangelo or doughty). I'd also make sure to grab one of their firsts as well to then grab galchenyuk or faksa or Murray.

Kessel would be the leading scorer on all but 5 teams in the NHL and on those 5 teams he would still be the second highest scorer aka still on the first line...
- Bar-South

He was using sarcasm

that's definitely a consideration for why the oilers should look to trading the pick. I love hall and the way he plays but maybe a more seguin type player could be beneficial aka galchenyuk or a dman like Murray.

My ideal move aside from drafting Yakupov which I'm more than ok with is for a dman like Gardiner, or bogosian or maybe subban (there are others but I feel these are more realistic than oel or pietrangelo or doughty). I'd also make sure to grab one of their firsts as well to then grab galchenyuk or faksa or Murray.
- ystoil

If I were the Oilers, I'd still take yakupov and get the D using other assets. With Nuge, Eberle, Hall, and Yakupov as your forward core, I'd basically just put a for sale sign on every other forward with a "looking for top D" sign right beside it.

He was using sarcasm
- Brian Huddle

But clearly it worked!

that's definitely a consideration for why the oilers should look to trading the pick. I love hall and the way he plays but maybe a more seguin type player could be beneficial aka galchenyuk or a dman like Murray.

My ideal move aside from drafting Yakupov which I'm more than ok with is for a dman like Gardiner, or bogosian or maybe subban (there are others but I feel these are more realistic than oel or pietrangelo or doughty). I'd also make sure to grab one of their firsts as well to then grab galchenyuk or faksa or Murray.
- ystoil

If Burke trades the #5 and Gardiner for #1 I will lose my sh1t

that's definitely a consideration for why the oilers should look to trading the pick. I love hall and the way he plays but maybe a more seguin type player could be beneficial aka galchenyuk or a dman like Murray.

My ideal move aside from drafting Yakupov which I'm more than ok with is for a dman like Gardiner, or bogosian or maybe subban (there are others but I feel these are more realistic than oel or pietrangelo or doughty). I'd also make sure to grab one of their firsts as well to then grab galchenyuk or faksa or Murray.
- ystoil

It would definitely make more sense for the oilers to either trade up to number 3-5 and draft murray... as well as getting another solid piece with it. Or just trade nail after the draft than it is to just draft a different player first overall.

So I will make a prediction and say Nail will definitely be taken 1st overall... it just may not be edmonton doing the picking... or most likely one of the top 3 guys will be traded in the summer for a big centerman.

If Burke trades the #5 and Gardiner for #1 I will lose my sh1t
- Leafs43

As would 90% of Oiler fans.

If Burke trades the #5 and Gardiner for #1 I will lose my sh1t
- Leafs43

Can't see it. I think the Leafs would trade down before they traded up, to be honest. What about trading 5th overall for 11 and 16? The Leafs take Gaunce with 11 and Subban with the 16th.

Leaf talk
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I hope collberg stays underrated

Baertschi/Backland/Collberg would be a fun line to watch.

But if Tom Wilson or Zemgus Girgensons is still around Calgary should draft them instead.

They need a big RW and a center more then another small player

Ross looks like a solid 3rd line player to me. Good player to have on your team, im looking forward to him and Biggs joining the squad in the next couple years.

To me Galchenyuk should be the leafs number 1 target. Hes got the skills of a number one center and i really think thats what he is. Although i personally would love to trade the pick because im really high on the leafs getting Brayden Schenn, we need some character and grit in our top six. Brayden brings that with youth and skill plus hes Lukes brother. But if were picking i say go for Galchenyuk, i would still be happy with getting Faksa i really like his size, i know this sounds bad but i wish he was canadian. But he plays a real canadian style. But honestly if Galchenyuk is picked and so is Grigs that means Yakupov Dumba or Murray falls to us, and i dont know if we can pass on them. Dumbas kinda like another risky d man and we already have Phaneuf and Gardiner, i would really like Murray to play with Phaneuf though, although i think Stuart Percy will grow into that role in 3 years or so. So basically i say draft Galchenyuk, if hes not avalible and neither is Grigs Yakupov or Murray then go ahead and draft Faksa.... BUT, if you can trade our 1st and a Franson for a BRayden Schenn thats a guy i would love on the leafs.
- Bar-South

I seriously pissed my pants reading this!

Ross looks like a solid 3rd line player to me. Good player to have on your team, im looking forward to him and Biggs joining the squad in the next couple years.

To me Galchenyuk should be the leafs number 1 target. Hes got the skills of a number one center and i really think thats what he is. Although i personally would love to trade the pick because im really high on the leafs getting Brayden Schenn, we need some character and grit in our top six. Brayden brings that with youth and skill plus hes Lukes brother. But if were picking i say go for Galchenyuk, i would still be happy with getting Faksa i really like his size, i know this sounds bad but i wish he was canadian. But he plays a real canadian style. But honestly if Galchenyuk is picked and so is Grigs that means Yakupov Dumba or Murray falls to us, and i dont know if we can pass on them. Dumbas kinda like another risky d man and we already have Phaneuf and Gardiner, i would really like Murray to play with Phaneuf though, although i think Stuart Percy will grow into that role in 3 years or so. So basically i say draft Galchenyuk, if hes not avalible and neither is Grigs Yakupov or Murray then go ahead and draft Faksa.... BUT, if you can trade our 1st and a Franson for a BRayden Schenn thats a guy i would love on the leafs.
- Bar-South

I seriously pissed my pants reading this!

Can't see it. I think the Leafs would trade down before they traded up, to be honest. What about trading 5th overall for 11 and 16? The Leafs take Gaunce with 11 and Subban with the 16th.

Leaf talk
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- Lohaus

If that is an option it should be done. Not sure if I would want Subban or Wilson though.

Can't see it. I think the Leafs would trade down before they traded up, to be honest. What about trading 5th overall for 11 and 16? The Leafs take Gaunce with 11 and Subban with the 16th.

Leaf talk
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- Lohaus

I would have to see who is available at #5 when the pick came up.

Thats Risky though.. I wish we had another 1st to go with the 5th to have a security blanket so to speak...just in case

I would have to see who is available at #5 when the pick came up.

Thats Risky though.. I wish we had another 1st to go with the 5th to have a security blanket so to speak...just in case
- senstroll

Actually figure the top four will end up being Yakupov, Grig, Galch and Murray in no particular order. If I had seen more of Forsberg to have an opinion of him, I'd woder if he fit in that 5 spot, but I dont. It seems like he is still going off of a tournament that happened a little long ago with little since to justify that spot. Again, I haven't a real opinion of him because I haven't seen him play to the degree of some of the others on the list. If that top 4 stays and the option is Dumba, Forsberg or even stretchign for Faksa, I think the trade scenario might work out. If Galcheyuk or Grigorenko somehow slip, I like either for the Leafs.

Can't see it. I think the Leafs would trade down before they traded up, to be honest. What about trading 5th overall for 11 and 16? The Leafs take Gaunce with 11 and Subban with the 16th.

Leaf talk
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- Lohaus

GAUNCE AND WILSON!

GAUNCE AND WILSON!
- Brian Huddle

See... you're with me
EDIT: in truth, I almost put Wilson too!

See... you're with me
EDIT: in truth, I almost put Wilson too!
- Lohaus

In all seriousness though... if Gally/Grig not there at 5, Burke should try move down 1-2 spots (just before Carolina at 8) and take Faksa.

Actually figure the top four will end up being Yakupov, Grig, Galch and Murray in no particular order. If I had seen more of Forsberg to have an opinion of him, I'd woder if he fit in that 5 spot, but I dont. It seems like he is still going off of a tournament that happened a little long ago with little since to justify that spot. Again, I haven't a real opinion of him because I haven't seen him play to the degree of some of the others on the list. If that top 4 stays and the option is Dumba, Forsberg or even stretchign for Faksa, I think the trade scenario might work out. If Galcheyuk or Grigorenko somehow slip, I like either for the Leafs.
- Lohaus

2-5 seem to be all over the board at the moment
http://tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=61251

Forsberg has 2 goals in a 2-0 win the other day... so now people are high on him at the moment