There’s no way Carolina’s GM Tulsky is that stupid, is there? The Hurricane just showed the world their line up isn’t capable of competing in the playoffs so they chase and over pay a guy who’s shown he can’t raise his game when it matters. I hope Tulsky does sign him so a KD isn’t able to match.
- paulr

If he is,then he is going to spare Kyle and a few other GMs their job for at least a season
Tulsky might think that Marner gets them over the finish line though. If he thinks (we made it to the conference finals with this team as is,if we land Marner we are Cup bound) then I can see him opening up the check book for Marner and offering $14mil

Was trying to look at it from the TB point of view....

They are not that old except in a few places and still think they can compete. Future round 2 picks and later prospects aren't interesting to them. They want a player they can use in the next couple of years.

If they can't get that they can just pass and take the 2nd rounder.
- totem

Nice job on the prospects!
And I agree, Tampa is going to want a 2nd liner or 3rd liner.
Or maybe even a Connor Murphy? Just don't think Kyle is going to be ready to move Murph until he sees if Lev/Rinzel/Korch can play in the NHL this season without hurting the team too much.

I'm not one of those. I want the best players and guys 5-10 or 11sh and 180+ lbs who can skate like the wind and score.......I'll take those guys all day long.

I've never seen Frondell play other than highlights, i saw Desnoyers play in Memorial cup and wasn't really impressed.

If i'm going just on highlights, I actually like Brady Martin the best.
- vabeachbear

Was on the road this morning and NHL radio on SiriusXM had Brady Martin on. He seems like a well rounded kid, farm boy. One of the questions he was asked during the combine was what animal would he be on and off the ice, his answer was “ox on the ice and parrot off the ice”, because he chirps a lot off ice. I like this kid as well, however not sure I like him at 3OA. I’m on the BPA train, but have to admit I’d like to see someone with size be the BPA. I’ll take Frondell and Spence if KD can move up to get him, and if he can move up to get Brady Martin after taking Frondell, even better.

There’s no way Carolina’s GM Tulsky is that stupid, is there? The Hurricane just showed the world their line up isn’t capable of competing in the playoffs so they chase and over pay a guy who’s shown he can’t raise his game when it matters. I hope Tulsky does sign him so a KD isn’t able to match.
- paulr

With the cap going up, there’s going to be some silly money given out to UFA’s, I’m hoping that KD doesn’t fall in that trap.

Howard may be costly. 52 pts (26g, 26a) in 37 games at MSU last season, Hobey Baker Finalist, played well in the Worlds tourney, etc. TB can trade him to any team at any time and may just keep him for a TDL chip since they’re in win now mode still. Kyle will need to blow them away to get him and worst case for TB, they lose him but get a 2nd round pick as compensation.
- Assman22

Unless he wants back on the line with Frank, then he could wait out the team that trades for him also, and still end up here.

Just guessing here, but I think TB may be looking for a player. The closest CHI has is Vanacker, I would guess KFC doesn't want to do that.
- totem

TB has no leverage in any of this, they will take what they can get and be happy

That's where we disagree if more prospects are playing and developing than the team isn't the same. It really is being an instafan when you want to trade the 3rd OA for Robertson.
- BetweenTheDots

Why? What are you expecting the 3OA to be able to produce (once he finally gets to the big show)?

If he is,then he is going to spare Kyle and a few other GMs their job for at least a season
Tulsky might think that Marner gets them over the finish line though. If he thinks (we made it to the conference finals with this team as is,if we land Marner we are Cup bound) then I can see him opening up the check book for Marner and offering $14mil
- captainserious

Haven't looked at their roster, anyone pretty good they'd need to dump to sign Marner. We have space.

Why? What are you expecting the 3OA to be able to produce (once he finally gets to the big show)?
- Chunk

Much Better over all hockey player.

Was on the road this morning and NHL radio on SiriusXM had Brady Martin on. He seems like a well rounded kid, farm boy. One of the questions he was asked during the combine was what animal would he be on and off the ice, his answer was “ox on the ice and parrot off the ice”, because he chirps a lot off ice. I like this kid as well, however not sure I like him at 3OA. I’m on the BPA train, but have to admit I’d like to see someone with size be the BPA. I’ll take Frondell and Spence if KD can move up to get him, and if he can move up to get Brady Martin after taking Frondell, even better.
- Angotti

Again, just highlights, but he looks like the closest thing to Tom Wilson to me

Unless he wants back on the line with Frank, then he could wait out the team that trades for him also, and still end up here.
- vabeachbear

I'm pretty sure, the acquiring team would require the kid to sign before any trade was completed. Everyone remembers the Vesey trade to Buffalo where he ended up walking anyway.

Much Better over all hockey player.
- BetweenTheDots

In terms of what? Look at 2019 (for example). Dach, Byram, Turcotte, Cozens, Seider, Broberg, Zegras, Podkolzin, Boldy. Soderstrom, Caufield.

All of these guys were drafted 3-15 and are any of them better than Robertson?

Heck I just want back to 2017 and looked at the top 15 draft picks. I found Stutzle, (slightly better defensive metrics, with slightly worse offensive metrics), and Tkachuk who I might rather have. He's 0.93 PPG for his career, and there isn't an exceptionally wide deviation from that. His playoff performance is very close to those numbers (even with him coming off of injury and missing the first series this year).

You're grasping to think that you'll find a better player than him at that slot. It's fine to build through the draft. I'm not against it at all. It for sure keeps costs controlled, and you have more control over the players themselves. But waiting until all of your picks make it (hopefully) to the show is just waiting for mediocrity.

Again, just highlights, but he looks like the closest thing to Tom Wilson to me
- vabeachbear

Apparently the most physical player in the draft, he hits everything in the opposition sweater.

I've found a reasonable trade for KD.

The Hawks 3rd and Reichel for Mavrik Bourque.

He's already more willing to engage than Reichel, but was stuck behind a ton of talent. He's listed at 5'10" 191 lbs.

Reichel is already signed to a low number for Dallas. It's a win-win.

Offensive Game
Bourque is an undersized forward who plays an excellent puck protection game. Bourque controls the puck down low with his shifty skating ability and good puckhandling skills. He can avoid defenders with his feet and also uses his quick hands to open up passing and shooting lanes in order to create scoring opportunities. He shows high hockey IQ for his age and makes smart plays both with and without the puck. Bourque is very good at running a give-and-go type play, getting to open space after he dishes the puck to a teammate. He has good vision and can make smart passes to his teammates. His ability to work down low extends plays and when his teammates get open, he can hit them with a quick pass.

Bourque’s bread and butter are as a goal scorer though. He can score in a variety of ways with an excellent wrist shot, strong snapshot and very-good one-timer. He even generates power on his backhand. Bourque’s quick hands allow him to get off a quick release as well as to change his angle just before shooting the puck. This helps to confuse goaltenders. Bourque also has the soft hands to finish in close to the net with a deke, deflection or banging in a rebound.

Defensive Game
Bourque’s game is extremely well-developed for his age, including his play in his own end of the rink. He is a willing and effective back-checker and provides support to the defence down low. Bourque is strong positionally and anticipates well. He uses an active stick to break up passes and steal the puck off of opposing players. Bourque has been used on the penalty kill by Shawinigan, Team Canada, and at the Top Prospects Game. However, his size can be an issue in 5v5 hockey. He has trouble defending against bigger, stronger players working the cycle game. He also can have issues being outmuscled along the boards and in front of the net. Bourque will need to bulk up and improve these areas of his game. He is decent in the face-off circle, but this is another area he can improve before heading to the pro game.

I'm pretty sure, the acquiring team would require the kid to sign before any trade was completed. Everyone remembers the Vesey trade to Buffalo where he ended up walking anyway.
- Chunk

I thought i read somewhere that he wanted to play with Nazar and Moore, and he'd go back to MI ST if he had to. Maybe i'm misremembering, or wishful thinking.

I've found a reasonable trade for KD.

The Hawks 3rd and Reichel for Mavrik Bourque.

He's already more willing to engage than Reichel, but was stuck behind a ton of talent. He's listed at 5'10" 191 lbs.

Reichel is already signed to a low number for Dallas. It's a win-win.

Offensive Game
Bourque is an undersized forward who plays an excellent puck protection game. Bourque controls the puck down low with his shifty skating ability and good puckhandling skills. He can avoid defenders with his feet and also uses his quick hands to open up passing and shooting lanes in order to create scoring opportunities. He shows high hockey IQ for his age and makes smart plays both with and without the puck. Bourque is very good at running a give-and-go type play, getting to open space after he dishes the puck to a teammate. He has good vision and can make smart passes to his teammates. His ability to work down low extends plays and when his teammates get open, he can hit them with a quick pass.

Bourque’s bread and butter are as a goal scorer though. He can score in a variety of ways with an excellent wrist shot, strong snapshot and very-good one-timer. He even generates power on his backhand. Bourque’s quick hands allow him to get off a quick release as well as to change his angle just before shooting the puck. This helps to confuse goaltenders. Bourque also has the soft hands to finish in close to the net with a deke, deflection or banging in a rebound.

Defensive Game
Bourque’s game is extremely well-developed for his age, including his play in his own end of the rink. He is a willing and effective back-checker and provides support to the defence down low. Bourque is strong positionally and anticipates well. He uses an active stick to break up passes and steal the puck off of opposing players. Bourque has been used on the penalty kill by Shawinigan, Team Canada, and at the Top Prospects Game. However, his size can be an issue in 5v5 hockey. He has trouble defending against bigger, stronger players working the cycle game. He also can have issues being outmuscled along the boards and in front of the net. Bourque will need to bulk up and improve these areas of his game. He is decent in the face-off circle, but this is another area he can improve before heading to the pro game.
- Chunk

Bourque is a RFA and Dallas has cap issues, all that’s probably needed to acquire Bourque is an offer sheet, so you should be able to get him away from Dallas in a trade fairly cheap, maybe a 2nd.

Bourque is a RFA and Dallas has cap issues, all that’s probably needed to acquire Bourque is an offer sheet, so you should be able to get him away from Dallas in a trade fairly cheap, maybe a 2nd.
- Angotti

Do what St. Louis did to Edmonton. Target both Bourque and Wyatt Johnson with offer sheets and see what happens.

In terms of what? Look at 2019 (for example). Dach, Byram, Turcotte, Cozens, Seider, Broberg, Zegras, Podkolzin, Boldy. Soderstrom, Caufield.

All of these guys were drafted 3-15 and are any of them better than Robertson?

Heck I just want back to 2017 and looked at the top 15 draft picks. I found Stutzle, (slightly better defensive metrics, with slightly worse offensive metrics), and Tkachuk who I might rather have. He's 0.93 PPG for his career, and there isn't an exceptionally wide deviation from that. His playoff performance is very close to those numbers (even with him coming off of injury and missing the first series this year).

You're grasping to think that you'll find a better player than him at that slot. It's fine to build through the draft. I'm not against it at all. It for sure keeps costs controlled, and you have more control over the players themselves. But waiting until all of your picks make it (hopefully) to the show is just waiting for mediocrity.
- Chunk

That's one example of the last 10 years, like i said Chunk even though you won't admit it, can't be a NHL GM if you are fearful your top 3 pick won't pan out.

Fantilli
Cooley
McTavish
Stutzle
Dach
Kotkaniemi
Heiskanen
LucDubois
Strome
Draisaitl

You've got some real studs in there

Do what St. Louis did to Edmonton. Target both Bourque and Wyatt Johnson with offer sheets and see what happens.
- paulr

Johnston signed for five more years at an $8.4M AAV. I don’t think management was happy with his playoffs this year, maybe there’s an opportunity there, but it won’t be cheap.

That's one example of the last 10 years, like i said Chunk even though you won't admit it, can't be a NHL GM if you are fearful your top 3 pick won't pan out.

Fantilli
Cooley
McTavish
Stutzle
Dach
Kotkaniemi
Heiskanen
LucDubois
Strome
Draisaitl

You've got some real studs in there
- BetweenTheDots

Outside of Draisaitl, which of those guys are better than Robertson?

Johnston signed for five more years at an $8.4M AAV. I don’t think management was happy with his playoffs this year, maybe there’s an opportunity there, but it won’t be cheap.
- Angotti

I didn’t know he was re-signed?

Outside of Draisaitl, which of those guys are better than Robertson?
- Chunk

Us Robertson that much better than Strome?

Id rather have Heiskanen, Stutzle, McTavish, Cooley, Fantilli,

DuBois, Strome would be a wash

So he's better than 2 players, Kotkaniemi and Dach

Us Robertson that much better than Strome?

Id rather have Heiskanen, Stutzle, McTavish, Cooley, Fantilli,

DuBois, Strome would be a wash

So he's better than 2 players, Kotkaniemi and Dach
- BetweenTheDots

If Robertson was on Chicago I know you’d say he’s better than the rest, except perhaps Stutzle.

Us Robertson that much better than Strome?

Id rather have Heiskanen, Stutzle, McTavish, Cooley, Fantilli,

DuBois, Strome would be a wash

So he's better than 2 players, Kotkaniemi and Dach
- BetweenTheDots

What are you basing your comments on here? Just that you like them better, or is there an actual argument?

Yes, he’s better than Strome, and Dubois. Point generation and playoff success alone, I’ll go back and check the defensive metrics, but I’m pretty sure those are a wash at best.

I’ll say Stutzle is a wash, but what argument is there to say that Fantilli, McTavish, and Cooley are better, outside the fact that you say so? Is that’s your argument, then there’s no point in furthering the discussion.

If Robertson was on Chicago I know you’d say he’s better than the rest, except perhaps Stutzle.
- paulr

Hahaha you're probably right

But we wouldn't have to give up the 3rd OA pick for him either. I'm still curious about the cyst removed from his foot?