Ian Esplen: Pure Skill- Picks 1 and 2 Pure Skill- Picks 1 and 2

No Henrik Samuelsson? Think he'll be available at 26?

Should have saved this one till tomorrow .Everyone is in the main blog today.

Strombone ‏@strombone1
I miss you already! :-( “@imacVanSun: BC Lions camp, roll call at field morning of Day 1: 2 kickers, 1 coach, 4 reporters, 2 fans.”

Strombone ‏@strombone1
I miss you already! :-( “@imacVanSun: BC Lions camp, roll call at field morning of Day 1: 2 kickers, 1 coach, 4 reporters, 2 fans.”
- 1970vintage

He wants back

He's sorrrrryyyyyyyyyyy

Hmmmmmmm Ian I haven't heard or read much about Brady Skjei. Is he really one of the better skaters in the draft at 6'3? What's the consensus on where he'll be picked? sounds enticing

I also like Aberg but I think he'll get picked before us.

Should have saved this one till tomorrow .Everyone is in the main blog today.
- VANTEL

Was thinking the same thing! On the bright side possibly only 2 games left until the fun can really begin.

HENRIK SAMUELSSON

Sure he ain't a first liner, probably not a 2nd liner but if we ever want depth guys like Bolland and Stoll we have to draft and develope them as these guys rarely get traded.

Henrik is 6.2, 210 pounds who can hit (destroy), pass and score.
I believe he has atleast enough potential to be a 20g, 20a guy who can be moved around the line up.

We also happen to have the perfect mentors for him in the Sedins and Kesler( minus the diving).

We need this kid.

Was thinking the same thing! On the bright side possibly only 2 games left until the fun can really begin.
- Chest Rockwell

Vancouver and TO or CBJ can trade now though. Would not make sense yet though because NJD are still playing and if Brodeur retires then they need a goalie too.

HENRIK SAMUELSSON

Sure he ain't a first liner, probably not a 2nd liner but if we ever want depth guys like Bolland and Stoll we have to draft and develope them as these guys rarely get traded.

Henrik is 6.2, 210 pounds who can hit (destroy), pass and score.
I believe he has atleast enough potential to be a 20g, 20a guy who can be moved around the line up.

We also happen to have the perfect mentors for him in the Sedins and Kesler( minus the diving).

We need this kid.
- Whiskey-Tango

We do need to build or 3rd and 4 th lines.

We do need to build or 3rd and 4 th lines.
- VANTEL

Absolutly, it's time management stops going for the "best available" and starts scouting our needs. This is the son of Ulf Samuelsson for god sakes, stick a decent center between him and Kassian and vola, we have one of the most volatile and productive 3rd or even fourth lines in the NHL!

Absolutly, it's time management stops going for the "best available" and starts scouting our needs. This is the son of Ulf Samuelsson for god sakes, stick a decent center between him and Kassian and vola, we have one of the most volatile and productive 3rd or even fourth lines in the NHL!
- Whiskey-Tango

How many years before he is NHL ready?

Absolutly, it's time management stops going for the "best available" and starts scouting our needs. This is the son of Ulf Samuelsson for god sakes, stick a decent center between him and Kassian and vola, we have one of the most volatile and productive 3rd or even fourth lines in the NHL!
- Whiskey-Tango

Really? third and fourth line centers are easy to find. Through free agency, trade and later rounds of drafts. Guys like Alex Friesen who the Canucks drafted really late. Samuelssons point totals scare me. I'd much rather the Canucks go for a higher ceiling player. The Canucks are always going to draft in the mid to late 20's they can't afford to be taking players who don't project well. They have to find diamonds. Otherwise they wont have any blue chip young players. They'll have to live and die through free agency which isn't a recipe for success in this NHL.

Really? third and fourth line centers are easy to find. Through free agency, trade and later rounds of drafts. Guys like Alex Friesen who the Canucks drafted really late. Samuelssons point totals scare me. I'd much rather the Canucks go for a higher ceiling player. The Canucks are always going to draft in the mid to late 20's they can't afford to be taking players who don't project well. They have to find diamonds. Otherwise they wont have any blue chip young players. They'll have to live and die through free agency which isn't a recipe for success in this NHL.
- Boinker

Right, because blue-chippers such as Shroeder and Hodgson would have filled out our third and fourth lines? Look at LA's fourth line, Clifford and King especially destroyed us. They where drafted and developed. I would much rather a guy like Samuelsson who we know from day one what his role is instead of a fringe 2nd line center in JS who quite frankly is top six or bust as he doesn't have the size or grit for anything else. Point totals? Again he would be drafted as a role player, someone we can count on to lay big hits, forcheck and be a energy guy. Playoff teams NEED these guys ( Torres last year). He has size, skill and grit, enough said...

How many years before he is NHL ready?
- VANTEL

He's got the size to be injected into a 3rd or fourth line role this season.
Like most players his style he could work on his skating and finish however I believe he could still be effective. He can also play center and wing.

He's got the size to be injected into a 3rd or fourth line role this season.
Like most players his style he could work on his skating and finish however I believe he could still be effective. He can also play center and wing.
- Whiskey-Tango

If he is ready to play and big and mean .Go for it. I don't see us getting any top 6 forwards or top 4 D NHL ready . If we can get guy NHL ready I think we go for it. Lord knows we need some toughness.

I assumed you ment next year as in the season approaching.

Wellwood and Sundin didn't work out for their own reasons. Players are individuals though, has no effect on whether Kulemin would. Again, he's very versatile, and any team would likely take him with open arms. He's very valuable.

But again, it's just a disagreement in views on the structure of your team/the player in question. No big

mochoson

I agree about players being individuals but TO does over hype their bad product and bad players. Average players become stars seeing them week after week in TO .If I have my choice I stay clear of the whole TO thing.

what would be a fair deal to toronto for loungo?

what would be a fair deal to toronto for loungo?
- AlfieisKing

Schenn and 2nd rounder pick ( NOOOOOO KOMISERIK )

Schenn and 2nd rounder pick ( NOOOOOO KOMISERIK )
- pker2theend

If Luongo didn't have that terrible contract this is fair. But he does, so this isn't fair. Best be taking Komo back if you want Schenn and a 2nd.

If Luongo didn't have that terrible contract this is fair. But he does, so this isn't fair. Best be taking Komo back if you want Schenn and a 2nd.
- Allstarzz

His contract is good....when he retires at his late 30's you'll be praising him (not to mention he'll get that horrible team you call the leafs in the playoffs)

If Luongo didn't have that terrible contract this is fair. But he does, so this isn't fair. Best be taking Komo back if you want Schenn and a 2nd.
- Allstarzz

Then go in a bidding war for Harding 4 years 4.5 M then instead of 5.3 for 6 for LU

If Luongo didn't have that terrible contract this is fair. But he does, so this isn't fair. Best be taking Komo back if you want Schenn and a 2nd.
- Allstarzz

$5.3/million for a vezina type goalie is a bad contract?

You guys in Toronto talk about all this money you have... lots of options there.

Gardiner, Schenn + 1st for Luongo
If you don't like it, go ahead and sign Hasek or trade even more for a "might be" goalie such as Harding, Bernier or Lindback.

$5.3/million for a vezina type goalie is a bad contract?

You guys in Toronto talk about all this money you have... lots of options there.

Gardiner, Schenn + 1st for Luongo
If you don't like it, go ahead and sign Hasek or trade even more for a "might be" goalie such as Harding, Bernier or Lindback.
- Scooby_Doo

I think a more fair deal is Schenn and Armtrong for Lu + 2nd

I know you're to be a smart ass more than anything... Lu's contract dollars doesn't pose many problems... but there is really only about 4 teams that would really want Lu and that Gillis would deal with. And out of those 4... I could only see Lu having real interest in going to NJ (assuming Brodeur retires) or Tampa. Toronto is a possibility.

I agree that for a team needing a goalie with immediate impact... there isn't really many options to be had. There are some gambles with Bernier, Lindback or Harding. But sure fire is really only Lu.