Dan Spiegel: Will Barkov Be The #1 Center In Florida Next Year?

If he scores 20 and has 40 assists then he deserves to be called #1. I think the Panthers need to make a huge effort to keep Weiss because then this team would finally have depth at center. Why let him walk? we can't benefit from that so they might as well pay him what he wants. That's a pretty decent top line with Steeger and Flash, pushed the Devils to 7 games in the playoffs, came so very close to beating the Eastern Conference Champs.

It's like this team likes to just stay the same, yeah lets let a 60 point a year player leave just because we drafted Barkov? Doesn't make much sense to me. Hope Tallon is smart enough to realize that. Bjugstad isn't ready, so if Weiss walks, Tallon is content on having another top 3 overall pick kind of season. Can't continue to go down that path. Weiss should be considered a huge piece to this teams future.

Anybody know if the military service will slow the process down?

Doesn't he have to serve a year in the Finnish military?

If he scores 20 and has 40 assists then he deserves to be called #1. I think the Panthers need to make a huge effort to keep Weiss because then this team would finally have depth at center. Why let him walk? we can't benefit from that so they might as well pay him what he wants. That's a pretty decent top line with Steeger and Flash, pushed the Devils to 7 games in the playoffs, came so very close to beating the Eastern Conference Champs.

It's like this team likes to just stay the same, yeah lets let a 60 point a year player leave just because we drafted Barkov? Doesn't make much sense to me. Hope Tallon is smart enough to realize that. Bjugstad isn't ready, so if Weiss walks, Tallon is content on having another top 3 overall pick kind of season. Can't continue to go down that path. Weiss should be considered a huge piece to this teams future.
- floridapanthers4ev

Perhaps you should chip in your own money to sign Weiss? Have you heard of that good ole salary cap? He isn't worth $5.5 million that's for sure.

Barkov is 17, don't rush the kid. Isn't that our motto? lol jokes.

Perhaps you should chip in your own money to sign Weiss? Have you heard of that good ole salary cap? He isn't worth $5.5 million that's for sure.
- spiegs13

Beat me to it, Spiegs...

While I'd love to have Weiss stick around, that much money is best spent elsewhere...

Doesn't he have to serve a year in the Finnish military?
- dzkefalas

He has to serve it, and can do it while playing for his Finnish League. Thus, he'll stay there, and do both.

Minimum a year away.

He has to serve it, and can do it while playing for his Finnish League. Thus, he'll stay there, and do both.

Minimum a year away.
- Viktory

Not true. I was told by sources this is a non-issue and he will be in the NHL this fall.

Not true. I was told by sources this is a non-issue and he will be in the NHL this fall.
- spiegs13

why rush the kid? lol

Doesn't he have to serve a year in the Finnish military?
- dzkefalas

Naw, if he wants to he can skip it and serve during the summer breaks over a year or two.

Barkov is a BEAST

Not a terrible pick since Barkov is a very good player, but Jones is a franchise stud d-man. Can't believe panthers didn't take him.

Not a terrible pick since Barkov is a very good player, but Jones is a franchise stud d-man. Can't believe panthers didn't take him.
- Smurfs-A-Joke

Can't believe that Tampa passed on him.

Dallas new logo is ugly.


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If he scores 20 and has 40 assists then he deserves to be called #1. I think the Panthers need to make a huge effort to keep Weiss because then this team would finally have depth at center. Why let him walk? we can't benefit from that so they might as well pay him what he wants. That's a pretty decent top line with Steeger and Flash, pushed the Devils to 7 games in the playoffs, came so very close to beating the Eastern Conference Champs.

It's like this team likes to just stay the same, yeah lets let a 60 point a year player leave just because we drafted Barkov? Doesn't make much sense to me. Hope Tallon is smart enough to realize that. Bjugstad isn't ready, so if Weiss walks, Tallon is content on having another top 3 overall pick kind of season. Can't continue to go down that path. Weiss should be considered a huge piece to this teams future.
- floridapanthers4ev

So Weiss is a #1 Center? Are you completely dense? Weiss is an undersized 3rd line center at BEST. he gets manhandled, doesn't back check worth a damn, and has the work ethic of a dead monkey. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy. Hell, I had lunch with him 6 years ago. But it's time to move on. Even if he does come back, he's a #2 center at best for a year until Bjugstad comes up.

Not true. I was told by sources this is a non-issue and he will be in the NHL this fall.
- spiegs13

Correct, he can postpone his service and play in the NHL this fall.

why rush the kid? lol
- floridapanthers4ev

It isn't rushing him at all. He already plays against men and former NHLers in Finland. He is more ready for the NHL than anyone else in today's draft.

he didnt look or sound to happy to be drafted by you guys...

he didnt look or sound to happy to be drafted by you guys...
- FiretheGM

He's a Russian from Finland who's going to play in the NHL for a team in Florida.. he's confused as hell.

he didnt look or sound to happy to be drafted by you guys...
- FiretheGM

Well he was probably expecting edmonton to have another top 2 pick and take him. Disappointed is an understatement... Edmonton is any players #1 destination.

Tallon passed on Kopitar and drafted Skille.

Tallon passed on Meyers and drafted Beach, a career AHLer.

Towes and Kane fell into Tallon's lap, so I don't give him much credit on those two.

I think that passing on Jones will haunt you guys.

Well he was probably expecting edmonton to have another top 2 pick and take him. Disappointed is an understatement... Edmonton is any players #1 destination.
- kneughter

Atleast they look happy when they get picked. All im saying it was not very good signal, wont be surprise if there are issues in the future.

Not a terrible pick since Barkov is a very good player, but Jones is a franchise stud d-man. Can't believe panthers didn't take him.
- Smurfs-A-Joke

Eric Johnson was the can't miss defenseman of the decade.

He's not really that special.

I think Barkov was the safe pick.

He looked so unhappy about being drafted by Florida. After he was drafted James Duffey asked him about being drafted so high. He said some like it's nice to be drafted high but Florida I don't know. He wasn't smiling at all. Reminds me of when the Flames drafted Erixon and we all know what happened with him.