Matt Karash: Is the 5th pick really available? And for what? Canes draft thoughts...

why not draft Nurse?

why not draft Nurse?
- PinkSock

Rutherford has never liked drafting the top-end dmen. I think his theory is that by the time you spend the 3-4 years developing them they are past their entry level contract, are immediately expensive and are also real close to UFA status. Canes have not drafted a dman in the 1st round since Jack Johnson all the way back in 2005 and I would be surprised to see different this year. More likely is that the Canes try to restock on defense with a couple later picks.

buffalo is not trading two firsts to move up 2 spots.

why not draft Nurse?
- PinkSock

Not to mention hes probably 3 years away and some dont have him even in the top 10. Good call for sure if hes there at 9 or 10.

Matt Karash: Is the 5th pick really available? And for what? Canes draft thoughts...
- CarolinaMatt63

we were actually just commenting on a ballard trade. im sure van would move him for close to nothing at this point. i think he's a good player, not great but he never seemed to get a chance in vancouver. could be one of those guys who just needs a change to get going again.

Not to mention hes probably 3 years away and some dont have him even in the top 10. Good call for sure if hes there at 9 or 10.
- allen_gamble

I actually really like Nurse, but from everything I read he is a little raw and will take a few years. Nothing wrong with that, but you can probably get a pretty good lower caliber version of the "should be good in 2-3 years" with a late 1st or early 2nd round pick.

Rutherford has never liked drafting the top-end dmen. I think his theory is that by the time you spend the 3-4 years developing them they are past their entry level contract, are immediately expensive and are also real close to UFA status. Canes have not drafted a dman in the 1st round since Jack Johnson all the way back in 2005 and I would be surprised to see different this year. More likely is that the Canes try to restock on defense with a couple later picks.
- CarolinaMatt63

that probably explains why they need D so bad.

The Leafs want Monahan. They may be prepared to trade Jake Gardiner, the 21st pick and another young asset (Joe Colborne? Matt Frattin) for a potential #1 Centre

No way the sabres would give up both first round picks to move up 2 spots.. The canes need defense bad why not take a top defenseman

that probably explains why they need D so bad.
- SpoiledByOil

Very true. I think you can make this approach work if you aggressively spend some reasonably high picks (2nd and 3rd rounders) on the position and are good at developing the position. Close to home, Faulk was a 2010 2nd rounder. But the Canes have not had much luck developing defenseman which leaves them constantly heading back to the trade market or UFA pool.

Marc Staal for #5

No way the sabres would give up both first round picks to move up 2 spots.. The canes need defense bad why not take a top defenseman
- Dkosgood

Past Jones, I don't think any are close to NHL ready. Canes are not in rebuilding mode. Rutherford needs to add a top 4 dman for the 2013-14 season not the future. Most rate Nurse 2nd on D, and he is generally labeled as talented but raw and probably a few years away from NHL ready.

Very true. I think you can make this approach work if you aggressively spend some reasonably high picks (2nd and 3rd rounders) on the position and are good at developing the position. Close to home, Faulk was a 2010 2nd rounder. But the Canes have not had much luck developing defenseman which leaves them constantly heading back to the trade market or UFA pool.
- CarolinaMatt63

I was thinking the same thing actually. All things being equal. Forward in the 1st, dman in 2nd, the third you start to gamble a little more.

Past Jones, I don't think any are close to NHL ready. Canes are not in rebuilding mode. Rutherford needs to add a top 4 dman for the 2013-14 season not the future. Most rate Nurse 2nd on D, and he is generally labeled as talented but raw and probably a few years away from NHL ready.
- CarolinaMatt63

I think most say Ristolanian is pretty close to ready as he is playing pro already.

I think the 7th + Smid + another player is too much to ask for the oilers to move up 2 spots. If we were talking a top 3 draft pick than sure.

I think you aren't far off though. I could see the oilers offering the 7th + 1 of our 2nd rounders and a D prospect, or 7th overall + 2nd rounder + hemsky. Doubt you get Smid going the other way in any event.

Rutherford has a great track record with high draft picks. It's one of the few things this franchise does right when it comes to the draft.

I don't see anyway he moves the pick without getting a king's ransom for it (which I suppose is technically possible). In the case of the Canes, King's Ransom would be another early to mid 1st round pick plus a young Top 4 Dman.

I think most say Ristolanian is pretty close to ready as he is playing pro already.
- allen_gamble

I was just going to say that, I think Ristolainen could step into a teams top four next year, he's huge, very physical, and has a bomb of a shot. He is also very versatile, he can play both right and left side. He also played against men in the finish elite league which also helps make his development quicker. I see nurse as mor of like schenn/Bogosian type, and I have read many reports say he's more of a project. I see Ristolainen developing into a Shea weber type D. Id say trade down to Edmonton get some extra stuff from them to help Edmonton will take Monahan (multiple reports say he is the guy they want) Calgary takes Nichushkin, Carolina gets Ristolainen. They won't regret taking him, if he slips top ten, he'll be a steal

I'm also curious if the Canes can use the eye injury and coaching change in NY to pry Staal way from the Rangers at the draft this year.

Maybe Ryan Murphy and the Canes early second round pick at this point?

I think the 7th + Smid + another player is too much to ask for the oilers to move up 2 spots. If we were talking a top 3 draft pick than sure.

I think you aren't far off though. I could see the oilers offering the 7th + 1 of our 2nd rounders and a D prospect, or 7th overall + 2nd rounder + hemsky. Doubt you get Smid going the other way in any event.
- NEEDSMORHORCOFF

I like Hemsky (seemingly more than Oilers fans over the past 3-4 years :-)), but I don't think Rutherford would want him. Canes can't fit another $5M forward in the budget. That money is allocated for the blue line.

If you were NJ, would you trade the #9 pick plus Anton Volchenkov plus something else?

Absolutely, but I thought you said you wanted a top-4 defenseman?

Vlochenkov is not, unless you're being a fanboy.

I'm also curious if the Canes can use the eye injury and coaching change in NY to pry Staal way from the Rangers at the draft this year.

Maybe Ryan Murphy and the Canes early second round pick at this point?
- Gossler1

I wouldn't touch him until he proves he is healthy.

How about this instead?
Canes trade a 4th round pick (or similar) to Vancouver for Ballard. This only happens if Vancouver is really looking to get out of his contract for salary cap reasons, i.e. they really are contemplating buying him out. He is

What if they got the forward help they needed for moving down from the #5 pick, and grabbed Risto.

So short term, they come out even'ish if the mystery player can produce at the same level as an 18 yo rookie, and long term (or possibly even short term) they get a great defensive prospect with size that allegedly can even play defense.

Still have the problem of filling that top 4 slot, but with one more possible solution in the organization.

Do the Oilers still like Paarjarvi?

Absolutely, but I thought you said you wanted a top-4 defenseman?

Vlochenkov is not, unless you're being a fanboy.
- FLdevilsFAN

Has his stock really fallen that much?

His skill set as a bigger, reasonably physical/gritty dman who blocks shots and can play PK fits what the Canes could use. Obviously if he has only doing that at the level of a #6 dman, it doesn't cut it...

Matt Karash: Is the 5th pick really available? And for what? Canes draft thoughts...
- CarolinaMatt63

We are really into rebuild thinking & would love to acquire that #5 pick to go with our #6 pick. Big debate about having guys like Gio or Wideman at this stage, mentor/experience while developing a new young core versus kick starting the rebuild. Gio seems to be a better fit, definitely top4 & can play top 2 in injury scenarios, only 4.0mill for 3 more years, so well priced. A straight swap sounds fair. Wideman played pretty good last year, I thought we overpaid & that's what usually happens when you dip into UFA markets, it costs $$$ but not any assets. Because of the salary, would Wideman + our Pitt or Stl 1st be enough?