NJ hasn't had much success in recent time with players from the Q & Shero also hasn't went to that league for too many players.
- ob18

I guess this answers Patrick or hischier for you?

I agree with MJL! They're just prospects right now; they're not money in the bank. But if they hit, become quality NHL d-men, their value only increases. It's way too soon to think about moving one. Besides, just look at Nashville. That's the dream. Is Drouin, who has shown so far to be very good but not great, worth that? Realistically, we could keep our entire d core together for quite awhile, at least until they hit UFA in their late 20s, before trading one. That is still the basis for our future team.

But I mean, sure, if Tampa wants a trade around Morin or Hagg for Drouin, I'd entertain that one (they won't). But this #2 pick changes so much. I still think we need another star quality sidekick winger long-term, but that can be found more easily. Jake rebounding to that form would go a long way. And maybe we already have it in one of our prospects. I imagine we'll keep having a lot of lottery ticket draft picks for the foreseeable future. But our top 9 is stacked starting next year. We have a couple soon to be 30+ free agents I'd consider moving in the near future for premium assets way before our d-men.
- Mononoke

If it's built around ghost I'm entertaining it if I'm hexy. Provy, sanheim, Myers not touching.

If it's built around ghost I'm entertaining it if I'm hexy. Provy, sanheim, Myers not touching.
- Just5

Not ready to give up on Ghost in this scenario. Myers is still an unproven NHL D, I still have trepidation till he gets 2 years of under his belt without another concussion.
Under the get Drouin plan I'd error and do deal with Myers instead.

Still would rather wait and see though.

Not ready to give up on Ghost in this scenario. Myers is still an unproven NHL D, I still have trepidation till he gets 2 years of under his belt without another concussion.
Under the get Drouin plan I'd error and do deal with Myers instead.

Still would rather wait and see though.
- Konalover

Totally fine with waiting and I hope they do. But the perpetual hard on the flyers have with the Q and the recent Tampa dealings definitely legitimizes the smoke

I guess this answers Patrick or hischier for you?
- Just5

Nope, I've said I would be very happy with either...........don't need to pick

Nope, I've said I would be very happy with either...........don't need to pick
- ob18

choose 1 now

choose 1 now
- Crimsoninja

Nino became a helluva player and still is wildly underrated. I get the point of the article, but the comparison is a bit odd to me. It would be like comparing Patrick to Jordan Staal, except those two probably have more in common as players. In his draft year, Nino was under a point/per game. Even if you use his D+1 season, given his early September birthday and Hischier's January one, he still only had 70 points in 55 games on a very good 50 win Portland team, playing with Ryan Johansen, Sven Baertschi, Ty Rattie. Hischier was on a significantly worse 27 win team, with a bunch of 16 year olds and I believe 1 drafted player, a 7th rounder. He had 86 points in 57 games, in his first year of NA hockey. As acknowledged, they don't really compare stylistically or positionally.

Nino was set up to fail in the NHL, and the Islanders team he played for was awful and will be a far cry from the Flyers next year. While you always prefer to take a very good player over a bust and not every top pick ends up a star and that can taint their true worth (a good comparison to Nino is Couturier), I do imagine that if Hischier only became Niederreiter as a #1/2 pick, fans would be as thrilled as if we took Patrick and he became Jordan Staal. It helps too that Hextall is not Garth Snow in evaluating and managing.

For the record, I think both will be better than either, and I don't foresee some drastic, highly abnormal developmental curve. 35 points, with PP2 time, sounds like a great first year to me as a 19 year old, but they don't even need to hit that to have a good year.....look at guys like Monahan, Barkov, Seguin. Don't even need to use as drastic an example as Nino.....plenty of star guys took a couple years to touch their potential. But like I said, rare is the top pick that goes to a team this talented where they can just be a support guy and are insulated. Most go to the worst teams out there. That they are both 2-way players will endear them to a coach too. What is likely to happen is that the player on the Flyers will do immediately better than the one on the Devils, at least to start. To me, it's Devils fans/management that need to better manage expectations and remember the long-term.

Nino became a helluva player and still is wildly underrated.
- Mononoke

What you did there. I see it.

Kind of expecting really good years from Rubtsov and Allison. I'm not sure what to make of Laverne, just hoping he can have a healthy year
- ravishingone

Im sure Shirley can give you some insight on Laverne....

My honest belief is that the Devils will choose the dynamic offense of Nico Hischier. From my basic understanding, Pavel Zacha and Nolan Patrick offer the same thing. The Devils need to light a fire under their offense.

My honest belief is that the Devils will choose the dynamic offense of Nico Hischier. From my basic understanding, Pavel Zacha and Nolan Patrick offer the same thing. The Devils need to light a fire under their offense.
- SuperSchennBros

That's a fair assumption. Both Zacha and Patrick seeming mirror each other in many respects.

Both have the same body types and skill sets, though Patrick's offensive upside may be a bit better.

Both are centers and about 6'3", 200 pounds, each came off injuries limiting their playing times during their draft year. Both are/were "NHL ready", each use their size, strength and reach and guard the puck, each have good shots and quick releases, and both have deceptive speed.

So unless the Debs are looking for twin towers, my guess is that they'd rather diversify their offense and go with the package that Hischier brings.

Im sure Shirley can give you some insight on Laverne....
- Hatchet

I Love auto correct. I'll take some insight on Laberge.

That's a fair assumption. Both Zacha and Patrick seeming mirror each other in many respects.

Both have the same body types and skill sets, though Patrick's offensive upside may be a bit better.

Both are centers and about 6'3", 200 pounds, each came off injuries limiting their playing times during their draft year. Both are/were "NHL ready", each use their size, strength and reach and guard the puck, each have good shots and quick releases, and both have deceptive speed.

So unless the Debs are looking for twin towers, my guess is that they'd rather diversify their offense and go with the package that Hischier brings.
- 77rams

I don't think Zacha came close to accomplishing what Patrick has done in junior. Zacha was drafted that high more on potential then substance. Columbus and Flyer fans aren't complaining with the Zacha choice at the moment.

I don't think Zacha came close to accomplishing what Patrick has done in junior. Zacha was drafted that high more on potential then substance. Columbus and Flyer fans aren't complaining with the Zacha choice at the moment.
- ravishingone

Yeah Zacha is a good young piece but I don't think he's on Patrick's level. I'm skeptical Zacha ends up even being a center long term.

I Love auto correct. I'll take some insight on Laberge.
- ravishingone

Yes Alex, I'll take "insight on Laberge" for 1000 please!!

That's a fair assumption. Both Zacha and Patrick seeming mirror each other in many respects.

Both have the same body types and skill sets, though Patrick's offensive upside may be a bit better.

Both are centers and about 6'3", 200 pounds, each came off injuries limiting their playing times during their draft year. Both are/were "NHL ready", each use their size, strength and reach and guard the puck, each have good shots and quick releases, and both have deceptive speed.

So unless the Debs are looking for twin towers, my guess is that they'd rather diversify their offense and go with the package that Hischier brings.
- 77rams

The Devils were famous for big centers all through the line up in the cup years. I know it is a different GM. Shero may be looking more for a Crosby, Malkin type balance.
I'm ok with Patrick, Coots, Rubstov and Vorobyov?, down the middle in the next 2-3 years. G and Veccs on wing and see who else filters in to score. Interesting times are coming.

On an aside here, were does Weal fit in and at what cost? Does it depend on who we get at #2? The more I look at the log jam, I don't see him long term or much over 1 to 1.5 mil. It is too short a time frame for him to have proved it at this level. I like his game but I'm not sure for how long. Ideally I would like to see him as the worst player on our fourth line.

I don't think Zacha came close to accomplishing what Patrick has done in junior. Zacha was drafted that high more on potential then substance. Columbus and Flyer fans aren't complaining with the Zacha choice at the moment.
- ravishingone

Agreed, which is why I stated Patrick's offensive upside may be better.

But let's look back in a few years to get a better perspective. Both Patrick and Zacha each will be/were drafted on potential.

Agreed, which is why I stated Patrick's offensive upside may be better.

But let's look back in a few years to get a better perspective. Both Patrick and Zacha each will be/were drafted on potential.
- 77rams

Agree also. I'm intrigued by Ob s comment of Shero s recent track record of not drafting from the Q. If it truly is neck and neck between these two prospects, I would think familiarity would carry some additional weight when trying to make this choice.

GO PREDS!!!

(frank) the Pens!

Oh, and (frank) the Rangers too!

Agreed, which is why I stated Patrick's offensive upside may be better.

But let's look back in a few years to get a better perspective. Both Patrick and Zacha each will be/were drafted on potential.
- 77rams

Even if Patrick is head and shoulders better than Zacha, you still have to consider his injury history. If the Devils think Zacha can reach his potential, why draft a player in Patrick who could potentially offer all the same things? I want Patrick but I want him in the hopes he doesn't get hurt often.

Lavy with the F bomb.

Lavy with the F bomb.
- jmatchett383

Amazing

Why are they starting the Stanley Cup Final like an All-Star Game?