VanIslander89

I understand where your coming from, I found myself referring back to 2012 when Hertl put up 25 points in 38 GP, was bigger, had a really good WJC, and slipped all the way down to 17th?! Not that he even really slipped, if you go back on mock drafts he was in the 20-28 range. Now here we are 5 years later and we've got a kid who put up 15 points in 41 games, is smaller, getting talked about going as high as 3rd overall. Now, that might make me sound like I'm not very high on Necas but that's not the case. He's a stud, that's well known, just statistically referencing the 2 is crazy no?! Just the type of draft it is I guess, we're also talking about a kid playing in high school going 3rd as well!

I was being cheeky before, referring to Max Reinhart and Sam Reinhart. In regards to Domi for Hutton, I would do that deal in a heart beat, but ARZ wouldn't. I know we may be a little thin on the backend losing Tryamkin and then adding Hutton but that's something that can be dealt with after we all finishing crying from the thought of a Domi-Horvat-Boeser combo.

You're thinking of Max. The fellas are talking about Sam

Central Scouting does a North American list and Euro list. Matthews, Laine and Pulj would've been ranked in the Euro category, leaving PLD and Tkachuk as the 1-2 punch out of North America.

If Middelstadt hadn't gone back to high school he would be the clear cut #3 I think.... Bonehead decision to go back IMO. I get the "unfinished business" thing but still, it's got to hurt his ranking, which sucks because it makes me skeptical even at #5. I won't be disappointed, just not sold.

I don't buy Necas being to small. Is Ehlers to small in Winnipeg and Goldobin for us? I vote no Cody Glass has 1 inch and 9 pounds on Necas

Don't know if this has been discussed or not but I had forgotten how often 2nd best odds have won recently. 2012 draft lottery, 29th place EDM jumped 30th place CBJ 2013 draft lottery, 29th place COL jumped 30th place FLA 2014 draft lottery, 29th place FLA jumped 30th place BUF 2015 draft lottery, 29th place EDM jumped 30th place BUF Crappy luck for Buffalo... McDavid and Ekblad or Eichel and Reinhart... What could've been... I know it's all random as hell, just wanted to bring that to some people's attention who maybe wern't aware. Fingers crossed... One week today...

One of many, many rankings? One that has Rasmussen as the 5th best NA skater... Not a chance. Button just did a mock draft on Monday that has Liljergen going 4th behind Glass at 3rd? It's all over the map, but I would be willing to bet that Lilj is the first Euro skater picked, if not, the 2nd. I'd give up all hope if Benning drafted Lias Anderson over Liljergen...

Agreed. If you're looking for that added mid first round pick, pray SJ wins and use #31 and #33 as bait, otherwise, like you've mentioned, focus on next years draft.

No flame from me, it's a solid argument. I'm taking Lilj but would be just as excited with Foote. Kids a stud and is probably the safer pick.

Forsberg! You and I went back and forth on Bean vs Sergachev last year, I'll tip my hat to you one year later. I still like Bean as a prospect though, but you're looking right thus far. Whats your take on Liljergen?

Yeah it is stupid. Notice how high Tippett is on ISS, I love the kid, some team is going to be really happy walking away with him. Pretty ballsy of CS to rank Liljergen so low. I can't see it happening.

He's a European skater, ranked 6th

You can say the same about Patrick. I just seen CS has Liljergen ranked as the 7th best Euro player... Yikes. Everyone's list is all over the map. Right now I'd probably take Liljergen at 3, assuming the big 2 are gone.

Embarrassing story about the Draft Lotto... Last year my 8 year old son had a couple buddies over when I was watching the lotto reveal, I was having a heart attack, just freaaaaking out. Screaming at the TV, throwing pillows as he's counting down. Well the little brats were laughin and chirping me watching it all go down, they were in tears, as was I when that bald head flipped our logo over at #5. Fast forward to this morning, driving the little dude to school, "oh hey, 'rattles off 6 names' want to come over in 2 weeks on Saturday.... it's the draft lottery isn't it, we told all my friends about what happened last year, they all want to come now" with a massive grin on his face. I said Blizzards on me if we win top 2, looked like he had just won the lotto himself "...AWESOME!!!"

I've just been fighting myself on that 4-10 list, can honestly say I would be happy with 8 of them in the top 5. I'm a happy guy, can only get better come the 29th. With Jim's comments yesterday(top centre or QB Dman) I think his Top 3 is pretty easy to figure out. I think he's got Liljergen at 3, as do I.

I'm sure everyone's doing this today... Today was a good day... Just gonna send it ohhhh my phone just said Willie just got fired....GONNA BE A GOOD DAY

Yes and no. I get why you wouldn't but really, if you and your scouting staff believe that Nolan is going to be the best, or Nico, why would you not want the first choice. I understand the uncertainty around Patrick, but go back to 2012 and Alex Galchenyuk played 2 games in his draft year and went 3rd, looking back, arguably should've gone 1st. Side note: Im excited for tonight, game is so key as it has large impact on the rest of our draft picks, as Vegas automatically gets 3rd in each remaining round. Either we get 2nd or 4th picks, makes a huge difference in that 2nd and 3rd round (especially if SJ wins, having #31 and #33....ughhh... Stock that cupboard up Jimmy) Hope the boys do us draft lovers a solid and come up with a big L tonight

11 games remaining

I think you mentioned this reasoning to me in a couple pages previous, but you are aware that we could've signed Horvat last year anyways? July 1st he has been eligible for an extension, the same time he would be RFA in your theory. You can burn a year and it helps, you can burn a year and it bites. All this talk about trying to convince ol' Brock to sign here, for all we know he's excited as hell at the thought of even inking an ELC, let alone dictating where he's going to start etc etc.

It wouldn't be next summer, it would be summer 2019 that he would be UFA. "They didn't just sign me so I can burn a year off my ELC... Naw forget this franchise man" ... I don't know, I just can't see it happening.

...not bad

Also, I'm 100% against bringing him to Vancouver at any point this season. Burning a year off his ELC shouldn't even be an option for us. Get him into Utica on a APTO if the timing even matches up, or let that wrist heal up. There's a problem with AHL playoffs though, no? He can't play, something along those lines? Ie : Gaunce's paper transaction at the deadline. If he's forcing Jim's hand saying he wants some games in the show this year... I don't like that, and I love Boeser as a prospect, my #1 favourite, but I don't like that. You don't decide.

Funny, I had the exact same situation tonight at a family dinner, except he's a Leafs fan, and it was jabs at Virtanen and Olli as well. The league knows who Brock Boeser is now, and for good reason. Sophomore slups happen to elite players in the show as well, teams start to keen in on your ways, your style, your habits. This is exactly what's happened. You'll notice half the opposing team trying to always get in Brock's shooting lane, they all know he's gonna pick corners with ease. Its up to us to surround Brock with players that then use that as opportunity to capitalize on players that are focused on that elite goal scorer. Losing key players, like you mentioned, hasn't helped matters either. I'm still thrilled with this season for Brock!

12 games left for Utica, statistically speaking, would be nice to see Jake finish off the season with 22 points, finish off strong here at a .5 PPG. I know it's not all about points, I know, would just be nice to see. Its all about opportunity... Johnathon Cechoo almost sniped 60 goals once... 3 years after potting 21 down in the A