Morrow should be able to compete for a spot. It's up to management to open up the opportunity, but he's ready to move on after this season. I wouldn't worry about his size, he's pretty strong.

And Staal for the #1 makes no sense from an Edmonton perspective, IMO. I like Staal, a lot. But he's a 60 pt center, and Yakupov has the looks of a 100 pt winger. I just can't see why Edmonton would entertain that without Pittsburgh adding some serious weight to a package.
- Brian Huddle

Z plays a power game. He bangs, he has great hands and he is a very good skater. I saw him at the Oshawa tournament last year and he was just so much more than any other player on any of the other teams. Saad was the only kid there who appeared to be a sure fire NHL player. You saw Z at the world juniors. The comment I remember most was, "he appeared to be a man among boys." the golden goal was the play of a superstar in the making.

He was at the playoff game in Ottawa against the Rangers. I know someone who spoke with him, their comment was he looks like a very big fourteen year old.

European kids at 18 are not ready for the NHL unless they get some CHL time in before the draft (Landeskog). Had the Swedish kids at the WJC been wearing Canadian sweaters we would be talking very differently about the upcoming draft.

The team that takes Yakupov over Forsberg will come to regret the choice. Zbad may never win a scoring title, but he is the kind of player you can win championships with.

Z plays a power game. He bangs, he has great hands and he is a very good skater. I saw him at the Oshawa tournament last year and he was just so much more than any other player on any of the other teams. Saad was the only kid there who appeared to be a sure fire NHL player. You saw Z at the world juniors. The comment I remember most was, "he appeared to be a man among boys." the golden goal was the play of a superstar in the making.

He was at the playoff game in Ottawa against the Rangers. I know someone who spoke with him, their comment was he looks like a very big fourteen year old.

European kids at 18 are not ready for the NHL unless they get some CHL time in before the draft (Landeskog). Had the Swedish kids at the WJC been wearing Canadian sweaters we would be talking very differently about the upcoming draft.

The team that takes Yakupov over Forsberg will come to regret the choice. Zbad may never win a scoring title, but he is the kind of player you can win championships with.
- spatso

That's a bold prediction. I look forward to hanging on to that one.

Why would the leafs want Strome??? Id rather have Galchenyuk or Dumba... Stromes skilled but hes a right handed player like Kessel and i think it was a bad pick by the isles... over Coutourier and Doug Hamilton? Really?
- Bar-South

Huddle mentioned it on the first page so I was just keeping the conversation going about it. For the record, I wanted Hamilton. Saying Strome was a bad pick is a bit of a stretch, we need a second line center as well and he's got loads of skill, not to mention nobody knows how he's going to be as an NHL player yet. But you could certainly argue for other guys over him.

Huddle mentioned it on the first page so I was just keeping the conversation going about it. For the record, I wanted Hamilton. Saying Strome was a bad pick is a bit of a stretch, we need a second line center as well and he's got loads of skill, not to mention nobody knows how he's going to be as an NHL player yet. But you could certainly argue for other guys over him.
- eichiefs9

Strome to me was the "boom-bust" of that draft in the Top 8 or 9 guys. I think I had him at 5 or 6 that year, so not a bad pick, in my book.

why has kerdiles ranking gone up so much in the past week or two?

Why is Tom Wilson rated so high?

Huddle-

Pairing of Brodin-Trouba, Brodin-Dumba, or Brodin-Rielly?

NO i refuse to see Crosby Neal and malkin Yakupov.... I refuse.

Why is Tom Wilson rated so high?
- Jack-artist

Just turned 18 and is already 6'4" 200lbs. mostly. They think he has scoring touch and might grow to be bigger.

Huddle-

Pairing of Brodin-Trouba, Brodin-Dumba, or Brodin-Rielly?
- Sharktank45

Brodin would work best with a high offense type-- Reilly or Dumba make most sense. Trouba will end up being a mobile shutdown... think Luke Schenn if he could skate better.

Why is Tom Wilson rated so high?
- Jack-artist

A big mean power forward in the mold of a Cam Neely/Milan Lucic already at 6'4, 200 lbs, who has soft hands. He's a case of a guy scouts "project". They hope they can work on his game with him and coaching, and that natural development he'll turn into a Top Six type who can bang bodies, drop mitts, etc.

Those types of forwards tend to be late bloomers anyways with their numbers.

why has kerdiles ranking gone up so much in the past week or two?
- matt1337

Cause he's awesome. Had a good U-18 tournament as well.

A big mean power forward in the mold of a Cam Neely/Milan Lucic already at 6'4, 200 lbs, who has soft hands. He's a case of a guy scouts "project". They hope they can work on his game with him and coaching, and that natural development he'll turn into a Top Six type who can bang bodies, drop mitts, etc.
- Brian Huddle

Another player I remember in junior that I often remember is James Neal. People who didn't watch junior see a sniper and a power forward, but in junior, he was just a hammer who was respnosbile in his own zone the year he was drafted. He ended up a second rounder because people saw an upside of a third line forward and the downside of a career AHLer but power forwards take time to develop. Even in his last year, I don't think he even cracked 30 goals. He was always a kid I was extremely high on and if we were talking draft back in his year Huds, I would have told you I'd take him in the first round and people would have laughed at that, but I always thought the world of him. I think Wilson has that same part in him, and by part I mean that I think the player that will ultimately translate better as an NHLer than a junior. Gudbranson is probably another example. He couldn't play the style he needed to in junior because he'd get called, essentially for two minutes for being too strong.

Another player I remember in junior that I often remember is James Neal. People who didn't watch junior see a sniper and a power forward, but in junior, he was just a hammer who was respnosbile in his own zone the year he was drafted. He ended up a second rounder because people saw an upside of a third line forward and the downside of a career AHLer but power forwards take time to develop. Even in his last year, I don't think he even cracked 30 goals. He was always a kid I was extremely high on and if we were talking draft back in his year Huds, I would have told you I'd take him in the first round and people would have laughed at that, but I always thought the world of him. I think Wilson has that same part in him, and by part I mean that I think the player that will ultimately translate better as an NHLer than a junior. Gudbranson is probably another example. He couldn't play the style he needed to in junior because he'd get called, essentially for two minutes for being too strong.
- Lohaus

A guy like that that I'm keeping an eye on is Alexandre Grenier. Really late bloomer but he's got a truly decent shot.

Cause he's awesome. Had a good U-18 tournament as well.
- Brian Huddle

I was hoping he wouldn't climb so much and the leafs would draft him with our 2nd

Another player I remember in junior that I often remember is James Neal. People who didn't watch junior see a sniper and a power forward, but in junior, he was just a hammer who was respnosbile in his own zone the year he was drafted. He ended up a second rounder because people saw an upside of a third line forward and the downside of a career AHLer but power forwards take time to develop. Even in his last year, I don't think he even cracked 30 goals. He was always a kid I was extremely high on and if we were talking draft back in his year Huds, I would have told you I'd take him in the first round and people would have laughed at that, but I always thought the world of him. I think Wilson has that same part in him, and by part I mean that I think the player that will ultimately translate better as an NHLer than a junior. Gudbranson is probably another example. He couldn't play the style he needed to in junior because he'd get called, essentially for two minutes for being too strong.
- Lohaus

Oh I remember Neal pretty well back then. Was just a fan, but I remember the Whalers coming in a lot and the fits he'd give Kitchener hammering everything in sight.

Granted Wilson doesn't have that same shot, but their are so many similarities in their games as juniors.

Hopefully Biggs is the same...

I would love to see some Winterhawks vs. Knights action...

Ross vs McKegg

I think the best team of all 3 leagues are the Winterhawks. My cup winners.
- wolfos412

That would be nice. Just scored a pair of tickets for game 3 this Sunday against the Oil Kings.

That would be nice. Just scored a pair of tickets for game 3 this Sunday against the Oil Kings.
- Beaver-Warrior

Hey let me know your opinion as I am a big Oil King fan and have the feeling they will go all the way this season.