Sean Maloughney: Trading Down In The First Round

This Draft class is not being heralded as phenomenal nor is it being called a weak group.
Really? Hasn't all the talk been about how this is the strongest draft class in a decade or more?

This Draft class is not being heralded as phenomenal nor is it being called a weak group.
Really? Hasn't all the talk been about how this is the strongest draft class in a decade or more?
- CaliNewf

Depends on who you talk to. Some are saying it looks fairly good in the first round while there are less "sure thing" superstars. Regardless it looks like as long as you are drafting somewhere in round one you will have a chance at getting a good player.

Depends on who you talk to. Some are saying it looks fairly good in the first round while there are less "sure thing" superstars. Regardless it looks like as long as you are drafting somewhere in round one you will have a chance at getting a good player.
- freelancer

A guy like Rossi put up numbers better than Marner and is considered a guy that might fall. This draft has some serious heft and a lot of guys putting up near historic levels of production per age.

A guy like Rossi put up numbers better than Marner and is considered a guy that might fall. This draft has some serious heft and a lot of guys putting up near historic levels of production per age.
- AdamFrench

Just post your draft blog already you lazy bum.

I don't think Edmonton has a good enough history of getting players out later picks/rounds, so stick with the pick they have. When they can start getting players later in drafts, then make these kinds of moves.

Not sure how this is not viewed as an incredible draft. The picks between 10-24 are all top 10 value in any other draft. Basically, Edmonton has the ability to draft someone very good at 14.

Kapanen being traded for the 15th overall is not a measure as to how weak the draft is, rather, it is an indication as to where the Penguins are in the grand scheme philosophy of competing for the cup while Malkin and Sid still have something left in the tank. Plus Rutherford hates drafting, facts.


If anything the Oilers should try and trade up. Imagine Lundell, Perfetti, Askarov or Quinn going to Edmonton?
These guys are almost NHL ready if not one year of development away from making an NHL impact.
Lundell or Perfetti would be absolute steals, Askarov would solve the goalie issue for the remainder of McDavids tenure with Edmonton.

I've tried multiple times to get a feel for this draft. Strong weak. Forward heavy. Top heavy. Deep. Defense heavy... Nothing/no one really seems to leap out. The top few and then... and then... and then...

Good blog. Hope Holland does not trade down. Highest pick was 16 and not surprisingly the best of the bunch. 14 is too value able even in a weak draft to trade down.

Wings can give the Oilers their 2nd and 4th round pick for that 14th overall

Hollands response " I want all my picks back and i want Luke god damn Glendening, just because i feel like it."

Hit up Ottawa. 14 for the Stars or Isles 1st and the Isles 2nd. Then draft Mysak or Reichel and Robins.

No one that's likely available at 14 stands out as such a good pick that they'd be crazy to pass on. The only exception might be Askarov, but I don't like drafting goalies that high even though the success rate of high-drafted goalies is actually better than recent mainstream thought would have us believe.

I really do like Bourque, but he's a bit of a reach at 14.

Depends on who you talk to. Some are saying it looks fairly good in the first round while there are less "sure thing" superstars. Regardless it looks like as long as you are drafting somewhere in round one you will have a chance at getting a good player.
- freelancer

I don't get where the confusion comes from. Every year people say "but every draft is hyped up as the best draft in years" but there's no ambiguity in the sources I trust. 2020 is accurately considered a strong draft year- along the lines of 2015. Both the high end and the depth are top notch.

A guy like Rossi put up numbers better than Marner and is considered a guy that might fall. This draft has some serious heft and a lot of guys putting up near historic levels of production per age.
- AdamFrench

Byfield outscoring Lafreniere in per-60 scoring surprised me somewhat, too.

If Quinn and Askarov are off the board at 14 trade down. Then target Mavrik. Quinn and Askarov off the board trade to about 20 -22 and hope for Mavrik. If he goes... trade for a next years 1st and 2nd/3rd for a team desperate this year to get back into the 1st. Or offer our lord Larsson and 1st to zona for the new lord OELarsson. Did bettman convince them to hire Chia yet?

Byfield outscoring Lafreniere in per-60 scoring surprised me somewhat, too.
- MaximumBone

Seen some comments from "fans" that claimed they watched him this year... said he was lazy like he knew he was going where he is regardless... lost heart. I want no part of byfield rn. But it could be mistake scouting report. Seems like he kinda just skated thru the year tho instead of saying f** you, i'm the next best guy. We'll see.

They should without a doubt try and land A. Askarov, the next Vaislevskiy. If not got to Russia and sign Timur Bilylov as a 25 year old free agent who is mulling over several nhl offers for the near future. The Oilers completely suck in goal more than anywhere.

They should without a doubt try and land A. Askarov, the next Vaislevskiy. If not got to Russia and sign Timur Bilylov as a 25 year old free agent who is mulling over several nhl offers for the near future. The Oilers completely suck in goal more than anywhere.
- joegreif17

IIRC Koskinen posted top-15 stats across a number of goalie stats behind a D corps that virtually everybody agrees is below NHL average. Something doesn't add up and it's probably related to a tiny 4 game sample size.

IIRC Koskinen posted top-15 stats across a number of goalie stats behind a D corps that virtually everybody agrees is below NHL average. Something doesn't add up and it's probably related to a tiny 4 game sample size.
- MaximumBone

He was so good they started Smith in the palyoffs

He was so good they started Smith in the palyoffs
- flashfire

And there's a reason why everyone and their dog panned that choice by Tippett. Wonder what that reason could be 🤔

And there's a reason why everyone and their dog panned that choice by Tippett. Wonder what that reason could be 🤔
- MaximumBone

You’d best tell him. He’ll be worrying over that bone for ages.

He was so good they started Smith in the palyoffs
- flashfire

And Talbot was so bad they pulled him for big save dave in the playoffs.


Or was the team that bad after 1 head rattling goal?

He was so good they started Smith in the palyoffs
- flashfire

Tippett wanted to go with the Vet.

And Talbot was so bad they pulled him for big save dave in the playoffs.


Or was the team that bad after 1 head rattling goal?
- wreckage

you wanna fire Holland already ?

you wanna fire Holland already ?
- Reveen

I put that there the day he was hired. Never agreed with the hiring.

I put that there the day he was hired. Never agreed with the hiring.
- wreckage

He's been okay so far