J-P

I agree. Haven’t watched the prospects enough to have an informed opinion but if GMJB selects Caufield I will endorse it since he seems to have a high ceiling as a scorer whereas most other prospects around #10 seems to be more of the high floor safe pick types. Broberg is maybe an exception but I don’t trust his hockey IQ and could see him bust. Would love for us to get a late first round pick and pick up Bjornfot.

I agree with the takes on Jake that he’ll develop into a vital physical 3rd-liner at the least. I’m not so sure driving to the net will come naturally for him though as he just doesn’t seem to do it on instinct. I’m thinking maybe trying him as a net presence on PP2 could really help him? And also playing with skilled line mates so driving to the net is more relevant than when playing it safe on a defensive line and just dumping the puck on net or in the corner.

It’s easy as a fan to be impatient after the season Utica’s has, at least that’s how i feel. But on a larger scale those players going back to college and most prospects spending a year or two on the farm is what the franchise needs. I think the concepts of having a contending window with short-sighted trades and big FA signings is vastly overrated. If you look at the playoffs what wins is having depth both on D and with a top 9 F that can all produce. If you have that philosophy you can be a winning organization for a long time and not just within a certain window. That’s more or less what Sharks, Bruins and Tampa have done, and pretty sure that’s what Benning is aiming for.

Kinder is lame, back to Alien now please ;-)

NJ went a bit against the grain when they selected Hischier before Patrick (obviously the right choice in hindsight though) so you never know. If we can’t have Kakko I wouldn’t mind him being a franchise player for the Rangers actually.

See OJ included in all sorts of trade proposals on the site. Quite sure his value is low at the moment, and also a firm believer he will make a big difference to the D for a long time if he stays healthy. So let’s keep him.

Benn is 30 and have 6 years left at 9 mil with a NMC for all 6 years. He was great in the playoffs, but you can argue he's not a 9 mil player now. He definitely won't be in 2-3 years. Oh, right about when the Canucks might be good again and need the cap space to contend, then... So as intriguing as it sounds first - hard pass.

Yeah and it’s not just the goals either. Does everything brilliant pretty much every time he has the puck and doesn’t shy away from the physical stuff.

OMG - starting to wonder if Kakko will really be chosen after Hughes...

watched just 5-10 mins of QH vs Slovakia. Good with the puck and ok positioning, but you’d have to be very biased not to notice he had trouble defending one on one at times and that he was easily outmuscled. That’s ok, some of that will get better with positioning and experience, some of it is just accepting he’s an offensive D. What OJ and QH will hopefully do is change the transition game and the PP, if they achieve that I’m fine with them being a #2-3 D individually.

Agree on Nylander but LE actually played well tonight and won lots of battles with and without the puck in a very physical game.

He turned down the invitation to play. Haven’t seen why.

Willie N winning exactly zero puck battles on EPs line

Dahlin is 18 and can dangle and hit on a level OJ and QH can’t. I believe he’s a true no 1 D that will live up to the hype in a few years. Regardless, very happy to have OJ and QH on the team.

Gotta watch EP. how’s the Hughes brothers looking?

Double pace in SWE-CZE compared to CAN-FIN so far. Great game. EP got hit from behind against the boards but seems ok and looking good.

Good game

Finland have kind of a no name team but they’re really bringing it. Canada has some work to do, but it’s a long tournament.

Kakko is the real thing. Wow.

EP will be on a line with William Nylander and Hornqvist from the Penguins when WC starts today. Will be interesting to see as Hornqvist is the kind of player (tough, creates space, goes to the net) many want to see with EP.

Yeah I really don’t like the sound of that quote. Didn’t watch Utica and don’t know anything about wheeler, is he knowledgeable?

Nah, I wouldn’t mind 8 but I believe pool party still could pan out. He also fits nicely in age wise and Green might be a good coach for him.

I still find it curious that LE commented like he did - seems out of character - and that he was invited to and motivated for WC. I say either retirement or he or he really does want to move on...

The idea of a back-loaded 3 year deal with just a NTC and no NMC is actually a good one. Like year 1 and 2 at $5m and year 3 at $9.

You're right that the market value for Hutton is probably around 4 mil. On a contender as a #4-5D that could be a good fit. With the Canucks, I don't really see a fit unless he really ups his physical game (which is not of the question, but maybe not that likely either since at his age you have usually seen what you are going to get). So I'd like a trade before the draft and that we move on from Hutton. I would have no second thoughts about giving the 4 mil to NT instead ;-)