I'd have him as my number two behind Babcock.

After that don't really care who gets it. Julien, Bylsma, Moustache man, or Deboer.
- flyer_nutter

I would tend to agree. I know more about Babcock than I do McLellan, but they both seem to be solid coaches. I am not sure that McLellan is to blame for years of underachieving in the playoffs by SJ. Seems to me that the leadership group with Marleau and Thorton being Captains was less than stellar. Wilson has seemed to go off his rocker recently as well. I think last year's epic playoff collapse spilled over to this year. I also have a feeling that the loss of the veteran presence of Dan Boyle hurt as well.

I think mcLellan is well respected (asked to coach Canada's world champs team).If it's announced that Todd is the new guy, I am good with it. I am all for us avoiding the old boys club and getting a new perspective in here.

So Craig Button has the Flyers drafting Rantanen with Provorov still on the board. I don't think he will be but if he is that's one hell of a pass.
- mayorofangrytown

Hextall had said if they have a forward and defence men ranked the same that they would take the forward.

He's good overall, but he sometimes get weird ideas about where certain players will go. Like when he spent the second half of the 2013 first round getting increasingly upset as teams ignored Fucale. Turns out those teams knew what they were doing.
- Feanor

Is Fucale a bust now?

That really doesn't sound like a bad player. The way everybody's talking, he sounds like an inevitable Luke Schenn level disappointment.
- BulliesPhan87

He's not bad, but he may be a player who's currently playing well based on his natural physical ability. He's 6'4 215 lbs playing against high school kids, so of course he's going to put up numbers. Not his fault, but there are question marks as to how much of it is just a natural physical advantage.

Hextall had said if they have a forward and defence men ranked the same that they would take the forward.
- manvanfan

Said the same last year but they went D in the end. They had Sanheim higher than any of the forwards (including ones that dropped, like Kapanen).

I guess I find it odd that so many are worried about drafting him, yet he's in that conversation for being a top 10ish pick. I never see anybody say anything outright good about him.

For the record, I didn't watch a lick of juniors this year.
- BulliesPhan87

I think he's considered a safe pick. You're getting an NHL player for sure, but his ceiling isn't close to some of the guys around him. That's the concern.

I don't think he will be. He plays the game with a level of intensity that isn't something to just forget.

My issue anyway, is that on a team where only really Giroux, Voracek and MDZ having the ability to carry and handle the puck up the ice consistently..

A guy with some more skill may be a better choice.
- flyer_nutter

That's fair. They need some forward talent in the system now that the defensive pipeline has some substance to it. I'd be hesitant about drafting based on the current needs of the NHL squad though, especially given then whole "patience" thing.

I don't think he will be. He plays the game with a level of intensity that isn't something to just forget.

My issue anyway, is that on a team where only really Giroux, Voracek and MDZ having the ability to carry and handle the puck up the ice consistently..

A guy with some more skill may be a better choice.
- flyer_nutter

A big reason I'm not high on Crouse at 7 is the lack of upside. Guys like Provorov and Barzal ooze upside. Crouse seems like a sure thing to make it to the NHL (probably even next year), but lacks that extra talent I'm looking for at 7. If we were picking in the mid-teens, sure, but Crouse is too low risk, low reward for me.

That's fair. They need some forward talent in the system now that the defensive pipeline has some substance to it. I'd be hesitant about drafting based on the current needs of the NHL squad though, especially given then whole "patience" thing.
- BulliesPhan87

I think Hexy meant more that they might draft based on the needs of the prospect pool, not the NHL team. The prospect pool is defense heavy, so if all things are equal, they would go with a forward to help even it out.

I think Hexy meant more that they might draft based on the needs of the prospect pool, not the NHL team. The prospect pool is defense heavy, so if all things are equal, they would go with a forward to help even it out.
- JAKEw1234

I am going with 7 and the TB pick to AZ for 3 where the Flyers select Strome.

NHL Player Safety @NHLPlayerSafety
(1) Upon standard review mandated by Rule 46. 22, NHL has determined that VAN's Alex Burrows shall not be suspended for Game 4 vs. Calgary.

NHL Player Safety @NHLPlayerSafety
(2) Incident deemed "not related to the score, previous incidents in the game or prior games, retaliatory in nature, "message sending."

I guess I find it odd that so many are worried about drafting him, yet he's in that conversation for being a top 10ish pick. I never see anybody say anything outright good about him.

For the record, I didn't watch a lick of juniors this year.
- BulliesPhan87

He was an important part of the goal medal winning World Junior team as a 17 year old.

Is Fucale a bust now?
- JAKEw1234

No, but he wasn't worth a first round pick. Few goalies are.

I am going with 7 and the TB pick to AZ for 3 where the Flyers select Strome.
- J35Bacher

I'm going 7 and our 2nd to move up to 5th where we pick Hanifin or Marner.

No, but he wasn't worth a first round pick. Few goalies are.
- Feanor

Late 1st round can be.

NHL Player Safety @NHLPlayerSafety
(1) Upon standard review mandated by Rule 46. 22, NHL has determined that VAN's Alex Burrows shall not be suspended for Game 4 vs. Calgary.

NHL Player Safety @NHLPlayerSafety
(2) Incident deemed "not related to the score, previous incidents in the game or prior games, retaliatory in nature, "message sending."
- BulliesPhan87

Such bullpoop. Had that been a guy like Rinaldo, they would have upheld it.

NHL Player Safety @NHLPlayerSafety
(1) Upon standard review mandated by Rule 46. 22, NHL has determined that VAN's Alex Burrows shall not be suspended for Game 4 vs. Calgary.

NHL Player Safety @NHLPlayerSafety
(2) Incident deemed "not related to the score, previous incidents in the game or prior games, retaliatory in nature, "message sending."
- BulliesPhan87

I thought it was an automatic suspension?

I'm going 7 and our 2nd to move up to 5th where we pick Hanifin or Marner.
- JAKEw1234

No thanks

I'm going 7 and our 2nd to move up to 5th where we pick Hanifin or Marner.
- JAKEw1234

I don't think Marner gets past Toronto if they pick 4. I think Leafs want a center bad.

I thought it was an automatic suspension?
- JAKEw1234

It is. Unless you're a good player (see: Malkin 2008 SCF Game 5).

Late 1st round can be.
- JAKEw1234

Button had him going 9th to NJ, then when they traded for Schneider he said we should take him at 11.

http://www2.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=98084

I'm going 7 and our 2nd to move up to 5th where we pick Hanifin or Marner.
- JAKEw1234

Unless they can move into the top 3, I'm not down with trading the pick. For all they know, they guy they want at 3 could still be there at 7, and the drop-off is fairly small.

Unless they can move into the top 3, I'm not down with trading the pick. For all they know, they guy they want at 3 could still be there at 7, and the drop-off is fairly small.
- jmatchett383

I think on draft day teams start to get a good idea of who other teams will pick. Like a couple years ago, somehow Montreal caught wind that we wanted Morin at 11, and tried to trade up to get him from us. I think it will be a little like that. Find out who's looking hard at taking one of those guys with their pick, and try to move up to get him there.

I think on draft day teams start to get a good idea of who other teams will pick. Like a couple years ago, somehow Montreal caught wind that we wanted Morin at 11, and tried to trade up to get him from us. I think it will be a little like that. Find out who's looking hard at taking one of those guys with their pick, and try to move up to get him there.
- JAKEw1234

After McDavid and Eichel, you've got Strome, Barzal, Hanifin, Proporov, Rantanen, and Marner. At least 2 of those players will be available, and you can add Crouse/Zacha/Werenski to that list. Is losing your 2nd rounder worth picking one of them over the other?

I think on draft day teams start to get a good idea of who other teams will pick. Like a couple years ago, somehow Montreal caught wind that we wanted Morin at 11, and tried to trade up to get him from us. I think it will be a little like that. Find out who's looking hard at taking one of those guys with their pick, and try to move up to get him there.
- JAKEw1234

I still wouldn't do it. I just don't think that talent in the top 7 projected, outside of McD and Eichel, is a steep decrease in talent. Unless Hextall really, really wants Hanifin, I just don't see the sense in it, personally.