zduck14

I'm not sure what to think about Lynch coming back. The majority of RB's decline heavily at 30 years old and this is a guy that sat out all of last year. On top of that, he only played 7 games in 2015 and even in those 7 games he only had something like 400 yds on the year. I know he's a big name that should sell merchandise and tickets but I think it's a step back for Oakland compared to Latavius Murray

You're bang on. The one report I read this morning in the province said he was 231 lbs in training camp but is down to 213 right now. Also, talking to two people that know him quite well, they described him as a "chubby, immature teenager" but also said he's definitely smart enough to figure out what it takes to succeed at the NHL level. I do believe the season in Utica under Travis Green has been and will be a huge help to his career. Just things like getting him to eat right (this one was a big deal his rookie year) and work out properly will get him on track and I have every bit of confidence that Jake will end up as a very good top 6 power forward.

I want to see 17 simply because I still have a Kesler jersey that I'd like to get changed and I never thought it was worth it to get it changed to Vrbata since he only signed a 2 year deal. I think there would be a ton of jerseys being switched if he wore 17.

I really like the way Gaunce is developing and I honestly see a lot of Chris Higgins (in his prime) in his game. He's very good defensively, can play C or LW and can move up and down the lineup. I believe Gaunce will have a few years where he puts up 2nd line production but on a Stanley cup contending team he'll be a very good third liner.

I'll be honest, my initial reaction was why would Benning give up on Shinkaruk already but looking at the deal a little closer, I really don't mind it. Granlund, being a year and a half older has proven everything he needs to at the AHL level and is ready to be a full time NHLer whereas there is still a high risk that Shinkaruk doesn't pan out at the next level due to his lack of size and two way game. I get that teams need goal scorers, but in today's NHL a player won't last long if they simply can't play defense. The other complaint I keep seeing on here is that Benning gave up a winger for another center. I honestly don't see anything wrong with that as Sutter, Granlund, Vey and McCann can all play on the wing as well as in the middle. Just look at the LA Kings first Stanley Cup run, they had 7 centremen play regularly (all 20 games) throughout the postseason meaning they had 3 lines with 2 centers on each. To me, having Sedin, Horvat, Sutter, Granlund, McCann, Vey and Cracknell all in the lineup is not a bad thing at all.

I had heard Nashville had Horvat rated that high but when Jones slid it was a no brainer.

I really like Horvat's chances of making the team this year. The number one reason for this is Coach Desjardins' comments last week on the team 1040. He said "If it's a tie, then for sure you go with the young guy. That just makes sense because you want to develop and you want to get them in there" and at this point in Horvat's young career I can't see him not beating out Sestito or Dorsett. I could even see him beating out Richardson and Vey.

I think the 6th pick depends entirely on what the return for Kesler would be. If he is traded to Anaheim, then I think Fleury should be the pick at 6 and then whichever one of Ritchie, Ehlers, Nylander, or Virtanen is still available at 10. I feel that if they don't take Fleury at 6th overall, there's no way he lasts until 10th being the only d-man (besides Ekblad) ranked in the top 10. 1. FLA - Ekblad 2. BUF - Reinhart 3. EDM - Draisaitl 4. CGY - Bennett 5. NYI - Dal Colle 6. VAN - Fleury 7. CAR - Nylander 8. TOR - Ritchie 9. WIN - Ehlers 10. VAN - Virtanen It just seems like the perfect way to ensure you get a d-man and a forward in the top ten.

I think the another possibility is that the owners have had enough and don't want Gillis calling the shots with the intention of firing him soon or after the season is done. After the goalie fiasco, this wouldn't surprise me considering what Gillis managed to get back for two elite goalies.

Actually, there are only a couple players on the team that don't really like Torts. They all really respect what he does for them though and I can honestly tell you that most guys including Hamhuis love the coach.

Just for the record, Hamhuis and Torts get along great.

I agree and I really think Gaunce will earn the 3rd center position with Richardson and Santorelli both on the fourth line.

Coho did order milk at a bar. He was with about 7 or 8 teammates when he did it too. That said, Miller lite isn't a whole lot better to be honest.

I have to say I like the fact that Gaunce's ceiling is comparable to that of O'Reilly but the thing that impresses me the most is that at worst, we can probably expect a Manny Malhotra type. To me, this kid seems like one of the most "can't miss" prospects in this draft. I doubt he's ready to be a full time center in the NHL this year, but I think we'll see him centering the third line as early as the 13-14.

To get back on topic, I didn't have a chance to watch Schroeder play a lot but it seems like he's made a lot of improvements this season. 21 goals and 44 points isn't too bad for a kid that's been pushed to focus on his defensive game quite a bit. I also think the most notable improvements came in his +/- (from -7 up to +8) and shot total (up nearly 100 shots to 183 on the season).

I may be wrong, but I'm fairly certain it happened after the 5-0 loss at home. So he was of legal drinking age which makes it worse. Besides, you can't tell me that kids like Jeff Skinner, Matt Duchene, John Tavares and even Zack Kassian at the beginning of this year don't/didn't go to the bar and drink with their teammates. And to Psycho_Path, have you ever seen someone order milk at the bar? Probably not because it's embarassing. At least order water if you don't want to have a drink.

It is definitely true, I assure you. That said, hopefully Schroeder can fit in better with the team. Let's hope one of the vets orders Schroeder's "beer" for him before he can embarrass himself like Hodgson.

HAHAHA I honestly never even thought of that, but it could have been.

I know it shouldn't be the case, but I think the Cody Hodgson trade has given Schroeder a boost in confidence late this year. Maybe I'm reading too much into it but I think Schroeder sees Hodgson being traded as an opportunity for him to grab a roster spot next year. Let's just hope he fits in better with the team (ie. not ordering milk at the bar)

I agree that the Tanner Glass penalty was probably the worst call all night. I also can't believe Iginla and Phaneuf. Phaneuf should've had those four penalties for sure but I bet if someone was in the Flames dressing room after the game, they'd have seen the dirt on his knees from blowing the ref before the game. About Iginla, what's with all the chirping? He reminded me of Matt Cooke. If you're gonna run your mouth like that at least have the balls to do something about it. Rypien had just beat the s*** out of your "tough guy" and then you start beaking him like that? Come on!! I understand he was trying to keep his team pumped up, but mouthing off the whole Canucks team and even giving the goalie a shot and not having the balls to do anything about it, is absolutely the kind of dick move a player like Matt Cooke or Steve Ott would pull. The Flames and their fans should be embarassed to have their captain act like this.