Michael Stuart: Ranking the Placeholder Teams

Great list cannot argue about much at all. Seeing teams that should not have even made the play in round rewarded would blow.

If the Leafs / Oil get the pick they should just close the league down.

Bergervin should only be in a drawing to get punched in the face.

Great rationale for Cbus.. and Az would be the logical choice after the league Shafted them with AM.

But Really it should be a redo with only Sens and Wings in the drawing.

Oilers & the Flames are quickly becoming ( if not already ) the best rivalry in NHL, extremely entertaining hockey!

The Flames have never had a 1st overall pick in the draft lottery. So if they were able to land Lafreniere, how much would that ratchet up the BOA!

My first choice was (of coarse) the Red Wings. The worst team in the league should have the best shot at 1st overall. And of coarse the League would tell you that they had the best percentage with their own pick. But with this latest format it is not the shot at #1 a worst team should have and then end up at #4. So now a fairly decent team gets a shot at what may be a generational player......

I would hope that out of these fairly decent teams that the BJ's would get it.....But then I would rather watch them beat Toronto in the qualifier. So that leaves Arizona to get the 1st overall pick. My blood would boil if Pittsburgh, Toronto, Edmonton, Chicago, or Vancouver were to win it . I am indifferent about Montreal winning the pick: I remember the years when they got their first dibs on all the Frechies from Quebec and the surrounding areas. But I would cry foul if they did win Laff and made him Le Hab.....but somehow it seems that that fairy tale could come true....only in Bettman's NHL.

Michael Stuart: Ranking the Placeholder Teams
- Michael_Stuart

I honestly think lafreniere wants to play in Canada. It would be a waste to have a canadian player high caliber to be in a dump US city that hes hidden away. Any of the canadian teams he will get alot more exposure and I hope he goes to a canadian team. I could see him in Calgary. Edmonton already had the fare share of no1. Vancouver (being from the city) would hate if they received him being a sens fan. Toronto (frank) no! Winnipeg I wouldnt mind. Montreal doesnt deserve an easy ride cause hes french lol. If US gets him no pens no islander no rangers!!!

We’ve suffered too long out here on the west coast without a championship or 1st overall pick. One or the other this year will make up for it.

Anyone but the Rangers.

Let see the Blackhawks win it. Start another 3 cups in 6 year run (and 6 western finals in 8 years)... else, if this isn't the best option, then the 'Hawks win the cup this year and another team gets this #1 pick.

I mean....Lafreniere would look pretty sick on a line with Aho and Svech 😊

I mean....Lafreniere would look pretty sick on a line with Aho and Svech 😊
- FinnGod

Hearing Stutzle being taken at 2 makes me nervous but then again Only in 2007, 1990 - 2 wingers drafted in the top 2

Not in the past 35 years 2 Left Wingers were drafted. Wendel Clark, Craig Simpson were taken back in like 1985

Don't have strong feelings in terms of who gets Lafreniere. Except, would be disappointed if Sens lost Islanders draft pick for this year.

Overall, probably would be content to see Oilers nail down another first overall. Can't think of an outcome that would better symbolize Bettman's insanity.

From a Sens perspective, we know that they are getting either Stutzle or Byfield and one of Rossi, Drysdale or Perfetti. Believe Sens will have a great shot at Hendrix Lapierre or another good forward with that Islanders pick.

Don't know how anyone can be disappointed by the potential opportunity the Sens have made for themselves.

If, I think hard on the matter. I would be happy for Montreal fans if the Canadians won the 1st overall pick. They are wonderful, even gracious, hockey fans. They have had a very long stretch of suffering's through some really bad teams. They have been terrible at the draft table. They have drafted multiple duds on the few occasions they have had a top pick. All of hockey would benefit from a French Canadien superstar leading the Habs.

I think if Montreal don t win Laf. I m pretty sure Dorion gonna make a big package for Laf. And Laf would be a Sens woohou

I think if Montreal don t win Laf. I m pretty sure Dorion gonna make a big package for Laf. And Laf would be a Sens woohou
- Crosside

I just don't know how you could make that kind of deal work. Would you do the 3rd and Islanders pick? Maybe. You certainly would not offer the the 3rd and 5th.

Problem is once a team is open to dealing the top pick there are multiple teams that can step up. LA Kings have the 2nd pick plus a huge talent base of prospects. Theoretically the Kings could offer a top prospect for the team holding #1 to pass on Lafreniere. But is Lafreniere going on to win the Calder, good chance the GM who did the deal is looking for a job.

Dealing for the #1 pick is incredibly problematic.

I just don't know how you could make that kind of deal work. Would you do the 3rd and Islanders pick? Maybe. You certainly would not offer the the 3rd and 5th.

Problem is once a team is open to dealing the top pick there are multiple teams that can step up. LA Kings have the 2nd pick plus a huge talent base of prospects. Theoretically the Kings could offer a top prospect for the team holding #1 to pass on Lafreniere. But is Lafreniere going on to win the Calder, good chance the GM who did the deal is looking for a job.

Dealing for the #1 pick is incredibly problematic.
- spatso

Yeah the 3 and 5 and if the team don t want , I put a prospect in the deal

Yeah the 3 and 5 and if the team don t want , I put a prospect in the deal
- Crosside

I would not do that deal.

The Canucks have never had the 1st overall pick, ever. Therefore I feel your ranking is off.

Give it to the Leafs. They deserve it for propping-up the NHL and getting punished the worst by the league. It's a joke.

The revenue Toronto will bring in the next few years will single handedly keep a few poor teams alive. If the Leafs lose in the qualifying round (unlikely) the league will give Lafreniere to the Leafs.

I watched Stutzle play this week. He's very good but let's face it there is Alexie Lafreniere and then the rest. I think this year's draft is going to be unpredictable.

The revenue Toronto will bring in the next few years will single handedly keep a few poor teams alive. If the Leafs lose in the qualifying round (unlikely) the league will give Lafreniere to the Leafs.
- Wissler

Leafs were playing music in practice yesterday. NHL might strip them of a draft pick for that.

I already bought a Lafrenierre LA Kings jersey. Thanks Ek!

If, I think hard on the matter. I would be happy for Montreal fans if the Canadians won the 1st overall pick. They are wonderful, even gracious, hockey fans. They have had a very long stretch of suffering's through some really bad teams. They have been terrible at the draft table. They have drafted multiple duds on the few occasions they have had a top pick. All of hockey would benefit from a French Canadien superstar leading the Habs.
- spatso

This.

Arizona woild be great then Mathews will have a bigger incentive to sign there eventually