…‹In this edition of the hotstove, we share our thoughts on which team(s) had the best weekend factoring in draft picks, trades and signings. …‹ Todd Cordell
Carolina is the obvious choice – I think they won the Dougie Hamilton trade and they drafted a star in Andrei Svechnikov – but I'm going to say Los Angeles.
In Rasmus Kupari, they added a top-15 talent who possesses high-end puck skills and elite skating ability. Traits the Kings certainly need.
Then Akil Thomas, an above average playmaker and skater, slipped to them in the 2nd round. He was (rightfully) a consensus 1st rounder so I think the Kings did very well getting him where they did.
On top of adding some much needed speed and skill to their forward pool, they signed Ilya Kovalchuk. His elite KHL numbers suggest he can still score and he's a fitness freak so I'm not worried about giving him three years to get a deal done.
I think the Kings addressed some big time organizational needs now and in the future. Well done by them.
Peter Tessier I think you have to give Carolina the edge here although LA did alright as did Detroit. Not only did they get the most ready prospect in Svechnikov they also ride themselves of to RFA they were likely not going to agree with on salary and then acquired Dougie Hamilton arguably a top 5 RHD in the league.
To play into the rather reaching hands of owner Tom Dundon they all managed to get a prospect (Fox) who was not likely to sign in Calgary and some cap stability in both Ferland and Hamilton.
LA did well but that deal for Kovalchuk is atrocious. Again, what is going on in LA?
Big hat tip to Don Waddell who has been the butt of more than a few jokes this past few weeks.
Jan Levine To me, the winners were the Red Wings, Islanders and Blackhawks. Detroit, after grabbing Zadina and Veleno, who slipped way too far, get Berggen and McIsaac in the second. Islanders picked Wahlstrom and Dobson, two possible top-five picks at 11 and 12, then nabbed Wilde and Ishakhov in the second. Chicago had Boqvist come to them at 8 and added Nicolas Beaudin at 27. Jack Wise slipped to 69 and then lucked into Nordgren at 74. Those three teams got A while Buffalo, Carolina and LA (if factoring in Kovy) have to be that range as well.
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