No one would have said we would have had the 29th pick this year so hold off on saying we will "never" have it next year or the year after....

new CBA coming...Lou probably is going to give it a shot to have the punishment dropped....even if that doesnt work there isnt much of a difference between 29 this year and 25 two years from now.....once you get outside the top 10 on a normal draft year its a shot in the dark pretty much
- mhowitzer

You run a good point... We took Pouliot and passed on Parise...

You run a good point... We took Pouliot and passed on Parise...
- saskoil21

I think Steve Bernier was the pick before parise too lol

and i think 5 picks before both of them was Hugh Jessimen

LOL Schultz signing with the devils? Or edmonton or vancouver... its the worst kept secret in the NHL he will be a leaf come July 1st or before if Murray and Burke work out a deal for his rights.

He wants to play with his buddy gardiner.
- beleaf4ever

And then later in the year, they'll find out Burke was the one who tampered with the situation and they'll be fined draft picks.

How does it make any sense at all keeping the pick? This is as bad as the pick could possibly get. You really think they'll win the cup next year cause that's the only way this makes any sense.

What's the difference in 29th overall this year and say 25th overall next year? The 29th overall will be a good prospect and already have a year of development. That's how it makes sense.
- Todd.Cordell

The difference is you know that this is the 2nd worst selection in the draft, You have no guarantee of next year. What if the Devils collapse with Brodeur and Parise gone and they get the 4th overall again? They just screwed themselves over.

This is almost the best possible scenario and they blew it.

The difference is you know that this is the 2nd worst selection in the draft, You have no guarantee of next year. What if the Devils collapse with Brodeur and Parise gone and they get the 4th overall again? They just screwed themselves over.

This is almost the best possible scenario and they blew it.
- nhaneo

They have two more seasons to give up the pick...

And then later in the year, they'll find out Burke was the one who tampered with the situation and they'll be fined draft picks.
- RyanGetzPerry

No hence why they will make a trade for his rights instead. Murray and Burke r buddies they will make a deal before he goes and rats on him... plus players saying they wanna play with another player is not tampering. The most we would get fined is like a 2nd rounder.. well worth schultz.

They have two more seasons to give up the pick...
- mhowitzer

Woops, my bad but still this is almost the best case scenario. If they suck the following year and do not want to give up the pick they're forced the year after that. At least they have control over the situation here. Still think he blew it.

Woops, my bad but still this is almost the best case scenario. If they suck the following year and do not want to give up the pick they're forced the year after that. At least they have control over the situation here. Still think he blew it.
- nhaneo

You can always play the if game. Doesnt matter obviously Lou has plan or direction he believes in, he's been doing this for along time. Cant be that bad has gotten three rings putting the Devils together over the years. Ill trust him to do his job over someone commenting on some forums.

I thought this years draft is weak... and next years draft is supposively deeper... YOu will never get the 29th pick next year you will be picking higher - book it... I find this absolutely amazing... I guess in LOU you trust....
- saskoil21

The top tier of next year is much better than this years. This draft is very underwhelming. There are a lot of players who could likely be players, but no real standouts. The issue is, in my opinion, if the Devils do take a step back and end up say picking 9th as an example, and hit the lottery, they have a top 5 pick in a top tier that looks to have about 7 absolute impact players. Just based on the CHL ones alone, its an extremely impressive group. So now they've picked both times and have set themselves up for the following year in which they have to give up the pick. As for the depoth of the following year, who knows.

I guess the point is, in a draft that is not strong and you have the 2nd worst pick available, you'd think the GM would forfeit that one and go forward to the other two drafts, where the likelihood of returning to the finals is historcially growing slimmer and slimmer. Just my thinking. It seemed like an absolute no brainer. Weaker draft, worst pick versus strong draft unknown pick versus unknown draft and unknown pick. Play the odds.

And then later in the year, they'll find out Burke was the one who tampered with the situation and they'll be fined draft picks.
- RyanGetzPerry

That will never happen to Burke. He worked at the NHL head office. He knows what he can and cant do.

I don't know if you've noticed, but the Leafs have signed a lot of UFA coming out of the NCAA.

They have a chance to play with the Leafs. That is all there is to it.

There is no opportunity in Vancouver, NY etc.

I think Steve Bernier was the pick before parise too lol

and i think 5 picks before both of them was Hugh Jessimen
- mhowitzer

That hurts everytime draft day comes around!!!

That will never happen to Burke. He worked at the NHL head office. He knows what he can and cant do.

I don't know if you've noticed, but the Leafs have signed a lot of UFA coming out of the NCAA.

They have a chance to play with the Leafs. That is all there is to it.

There is no opportunity in Vancouver, NY etc.
- 13LEAFS01

There is plenty of chance in NY, just look at McD. Aren't the leafs loaded with Dmen?

Silly move by Parise, at least stay mum if that's your feeling & use the Rangers to help drive up your price. And it should be noted also that Scott Gomez said similiar things about not going to the Rangers before he went UFA in 07 & we know how that turned out.
- B2B76

Yea, Ryan McDonaugh

Yea, Ryan McDonaugh
- Pat MaGroin

McDonaugh, he is friends with Scott Hurtinell?

Silly move by Parise, at least stay mum if that's your feeling & use the Rangers to help drive up your price. And it should be noted also that Scott Gomez said similiar things about not going to the Rangers before he went UFA in 07 & we know how that turned out.
- B2B76

except Gomez was obviously an idiot, being that he won nothing with anyone but NJ, and Parise knows a lame franchise when he sees and beats it.. so i doubt he'll change his mind.

That hurts everytime draft day comes around!!!
- Prucha

Just as bad when you guys selected Bobby Sanguinetti right before the Flyers pick, the Flyers for sure thought Sanguinetti was going to be their guy. Than Bob Clarke went up to the podium and forgot who their selection was going to be, thank god it turned out to be a good one (Claude Giroux).

Lou may be using that pick in a trade? maybe trade up? who knows.

McDonaugh, he is friends with Scott Hurtinell?
- Prucha

Never said I was a good speller

You can always play the if game. Doesnt matter obviously Lou has plan or direction he believes in, he's been doing this for along time. Cant be that bad has gotten three rings putting the Devils together over the years. Ill trust him to do his job over someone commenting on some forums.
- Bowkes

So no talking about decisions being good or bad because he has a few rings?

LOL Schultz signing with the devils? Or edmonton or vancouver... its the worst kept secret in the NHL he will be a leaf come July 1st or before if Murray and Burke work out a deal for his rights.

He wants to play with his buddy gardiner.
- beleaf4ever

Sucks for him

That will never happen to Burke. He worked at the NHL head office. He knows what he can and cant do.

I don't know if you've noticed, but the Leafs have signed a lot of UFA coming out of the NCAA.

They have a chance to play with the Leafs. That is all there is to it.

There is no opportunity in Vancouver, NY etc.
- 13LEAFS01

But there is no chances with the other teams... maybe he signs with LA and wants the cup ring immediately as we all know they are fav for next year and years after??

LOL Schultz signing with the devils? Or edmonton or vancouver... its the worst kept secret in the NHL he will be a leaf come July 1st or before if Murray and Burke work out a deal for his rights.

He wants to play with his buddy gardiner.
- beleaf4ever

At least in Edmonton he would/could end up playing with 2-4 upcoming potential superstars... or in New Jersey with superstars in Kovy, HOF in Brodeur... but I guess if TO is the choice then Gardiner will have to do...

If I was Parise i'd sign in Toronto aka NHL All Stars

http://blogs.northjersey....y_hell_sign_with_rangers/

I like to read that.