Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Hextall,Draft, Boynton and More

R.I.P Big Al
He was a true Philly sports icon and one of the great sports voices of my childhood.

I watched the Carcillo video this morning as it came up on my Facebook feed. It is very disheartening to see this happening to these players.

I wonder sometimes how it would be if a high profile megastar like Eric Lindros did start to draw attention to these issues across all the major sports, especially hockey and football.

Carcillo's comments about Crosby and his worry for him and players like him was very poignant.

Going to miss Big Al, a true icon. We can debate the ins and outs about how the team is structured every year, but no doubt this organization has been run first class on taking care of its own family and the community. It makes me proud to be a Flyers fan.

I didn't remember Boynton's brief stint with the Flyers, or that it was his last stop in the NHL.

So, for Jan Levine's mock draft, I took Joel Farabee with the 14th overall pick and am trading the #19 and #50 pick to move up to #15 to grab a certain unnamed Finnish center.

Thoughts?

So, for Jan Levine's mock draft, I took Joel Farabee with the 14th overall pick and am trading the #19 and #50 pick to move up to #15 to grab a certain unnamed Finnish center.

Thoughts?
- jmatchett383

smart and then dumb...thanks for ruining

Sounds solid to me

I watched the Carcillo video this morning as it came up on my Facebook feed. It is very disheartening to see this happening to these players.

I wonder sometimes how it would be if a high profile megastar like Eric Lindros did start to draw attention to these issues across all the major sports, especially hockey and football.

Carcillo's comments about Crosby and his worry for him and players like him was very poignant.
- MBFlyerfan

If you aren't a Flyers' fan or just not a Lindros fan due to his draft decision, people still make distasteful concussion comments. The number comment that I get "Guy never learned to keep his head up", as if getting hit in the head was his own fault.

Did anyone here watch the Rangers/Devils game, where Lindros faced off with Scott Stevens for the first time after the hit. Lindros wasn't letting up that game.

So, for Jan Levine's mock draft, I took Joel Farabee with the 14th overall pick and am trading the #19 and #50 pick to move up to #15 to grab a certain unnamed Finnish center.

Thoughts?
- jmatchett383

If it's Kupari (since Kotkaniemi is off the board), I would pass on making the trade and stay at 19 and 50.

I watched the Carcillo video this morning as it came up on my Facebook feed. It is very disheartening to see this happening to these players.

I wonder sometimes how it would be if a high profile megastar like Eric Lindros did start to draw attention to these issues across all the major sports, especially hockey and football.

Carcillo's comments about Crosby and his worry for him and players like him was very poignant.
- MBFlyerfan

I follow the guy on Twitter because I believe in what he's trying to do but I have to admit that it is really hard for me to reconcile Carcillo the player with Carcillo the person. Honestly, I haven't done it yet.

If it's Kupari (since Kotkaniemi is off the board), I would pass on making the trade and stay at 19 and 50.
- bmeltzer

I like Kupari but I bet you have an option that will still probably be there at 19 that should do just fine.

If it's Kupari (since Kotkaniemi is off the board), I would pass on making the trade and stay at 19 and 50.
- bmeltzer

There may be someone who turns out better in the 15-18 range, but from a scouting perspective...there isn't enough of a difference there to warrant giving up 50.

There may be someone who turns out better in the 15-18 range, but from a scouting perspective...there isn't enough of a difference there to warrant giving up 50.
- YuenglingJagr

Exactly.

If it's Kupari (since Kotkaniemi is off the board), I would pass on making the trade and stay at 19 and 50.
- bmeltzer

I actually considered staying at 19 and going off the board after Berggren, but decided I wanted to nab a center (Berggren has played center, but is primarily a winger). I know that centers and wingers often get converted in the NHL, but I feel that center, outside of Frost (who may actually be a better fit as a winger at the pro ranks), is the organization's biggest prospect need right now. Rubstov has been a bit underwhelming, at least offensively, at the North American game, and the second-best option is probably Vorobyov. That leaves a bit of a hole after Couturier and Patrick. I don't see Laughton ever being a permanent 3C option, which makes the internal option a tough one currently.

I know it's a but of a pricey move, but I wanted to make sure I was able to grab a center, Kupari in this case. He was a bit sheltered in his usage at the higher Finnish levels, but adapted to his role and played it well. Also, has some fantastic hands and a nice shot.

Again, if I couldn't be guaranteed to get him, I probably wouldn't make the trade.

Edit: Plus, he's Finnish, which means he may be into black metal. That is a bonus to this GM.

There may be someone who turns out better in the 15-18 range, but from a scouting perspective...there isn't enough of a difference there to warrant giving up 50.
- YuenglingJagr

Well, trade was already submitted before I posted this.

Fight me.

I mean, "I know no one's going to agree with me here, but..."

So, for Jan Levine's mock draft, I took Joel Farabee with the 14th overall pick and am trading the #19 and #50 pick to move up to #15 to grab a certain unnamed Finnish center.

Thoughts?
- jmatchett383

Farabee-yes
Kupari-please, no. Guy has speed but no hockey sense. Go with Berggren. Should have just stayed at 19, you gave up a 2nd for basically nothing

Farabee-yes
Kupari-please, no. Guy has speed but no hockey sense. Go with Berggren. Should have just stayed at 19, you gave up a 2nd for basically nothing
- BiggE

ban him!

Have we considered the possibility of trading back from 19, grabbing another selection, and taking Berggren in the mid-late20s? Or is that too risky in that his stock is rising so much he'll go earlier than that?

I don't really get into the draft stuff as much as others, but Berggren seems like solid player for the team to target.

Have we considered the possibility of trading back from 19, grabbing another selection, and taking Berggren in the mid 20s? Or is that too risky in that his stock is rising so much he'll go earlier than that?
- Giroux_Is_God

Sounds like everything is already in so ...

Everything it literally turrrrrrible

ban him!
- YuenglingJagr

It's just a waste of a 2nd round pick. If you really want a center (though personally I'd rather have Berggren than any of the centers left on the board), between Hayton, Lundestrom, and Kupari, you'd probably have at least 2 to pick from at 19.

Kupari is not a lock to be a good NHL center and is another guy, when you examine his skill set closely, may be better off as a wing at the NHL level. I really don't like the move at all.

Farabee-yes
Kupari-please, no. Guy has speed but no hockey sense. Go with Berggren. Should have just stayed at 19, you gave up a 2nd for basically nothing
- BiggE

Hey, the trade has to be approved by HB members, so feel free to veto it.

Sounds like everything is already in so ...

Everything it literally turrrrrrible
- dragonoffrost

Have we considered the possibility of trading back from 19, grabbing another selection, and taking Berggren in the mid 20s? Or is that too risky in that his stock is rising so much he'll go earlier than that?

I don't really get into the draft stuff as much as others, but Berggren seems like solid player for the team to target.
- Giroux_Is_God

I would even move back for a future pick (2019). There will be a bunch of guys that I would be okay with, but who knows who Hextall and them are targeting. We have seen he isn't afraid to just get the guy he wants (Sanheim) and we have seen him pick up assets and get the guy he wants (Rubstov). Konecny and Ratcliffe are a bit different, but still an example he has a good feel for moving when needed.

It's just a waste of a 2nd round pick. If you really want a center (though personally I'd rather have Berggren than any of the centers left on the board), between Hayton, Lundestrom, and Kupari, you'd probably have at least 2 to pick from at 19.

Kupari is not a lock to be a good NHL center and is another guy, when you examine his skill set closely, may be better off as a wing at the NHL level. I really don't like the move at all.
- BiggE

It is trash! We should've never let this happen. Embarrassing. Sad!