FlyLow_

Was the whole issue with ROR's holdout not salary? I doubt he'll be cheaper for long, but I would still do that deal.

Of these I only feel like TB/Det are really options. Ducks/Hawks are going to have to really overpay or he goes to the east if he's moved. Tampa- Unless we're talking Kucherov, a mid level prospect, and another significant asset i'm not really interested. Tampa may not be willing to move Kucherov. Det- Again Nyquist would have to be the starting point, possibly Mantha but there'd need to be several pieces added by Det. Pitt seems unlikely now, and i'm not sure it ever made sense. Pitt's already going to lose 2 big contract players this summer, Pouliot is not enough, Bennett isn't anything special.. Maybe if we made a huge package starting with Kes and took a run at Malkin. Maybe we go for Pouliot and Neal.. those would make sense. Sutter, Pouliot, and a bad pick in a crap draft doesn't make sense. Anaheim- Would have to be Etem/Rackell and the Ottawa 1st before I even started listening. Chicago- Tuevo, Saad, Clendening. As i've said before, we trade Kes to Chicago and they are a dynasty if they aren't already. The asking price should be absurd.

I don't think it really matters between the two, i'm sure they'll both be useful gritty players. I'm just not sure either of them will be top 6 players. There's 6 or 7 guys i'd take before either of them.

Virtanen is a much better skater, considering Benning was pretty clear skating would be a focus for the team going forward it might be a reason to favor him and others over Ritchie.

I definitely got the impression we'll be picking size at #6, doesn't mean that's the case but definitely how it sounded.

I'd be pretty good with Trotz, Gully and whoever else Trotz brought in.

I'm pretty sure a top line winger has been our need since Naslund retired. Also showing just the 1st round picks in your defense of canucks drafting isn't a very good argument. There's 7 rounds..

Good news.

Does anyone else feel like Nyquist is a better comparison than the Bure/Kane comparisons? In terms of explosive speed, size, balance and puck skills I feel like it's a bit more realistic.

Nobody has the mix of speed and hands Bure had, I don't think we'll ever see that again but I hope so..

Bure may not be the best player ever, but he was the most electrifying NHL player ever. Period.

It was a very iffy trade and a somewhat off the board pick, people are going to question it for a long time and rightly so. I don't see how anyone that's been truly invested in this team for 20-40 years should be expected to just blindly agree with what the team does, especially when we simply just don't agree with the direction the organization is taking. Not sure if you're a new fan or not, but take a look at our draft record and you'll understand why nobody just expects our prospects to be good.

Lots of teams draft russians despite the "russian factor", we don't and we need to start. And i'm not just saying russians, I hate the "we need big north american players idea". Draft the best player, period.

No, I mean i'm tired of not drafting Russians when they are by far the best player available because they are Russians. I want someone who is going to draft the most skilled player available regardless of size or country they represent.

Fox did it in his 5th year, where as JT/Stamkos did it in their 2nd. Lots of over age players put up big goal totals, it doesn't mean anything. People that know nothing about the CHL are the ones you see with Dane Fox on the Canucks. Reality is he'll be lucky to ever be anything more than an AHL player. As for Bo, he did look really slow and he normally doesn't. Obviously he's either still sick or injured.

I dunno, they just look so off.

I like Tuch over Ritchie as well. Tuch is Raw but has much more potentialll. Ritchie is what he is, a monster with a good shot and okay skating. I'm not sure he's going to thrive in the NHL playing his style against guys as big as him. But people with more knowledge than me think he will, so who knows.. My picks @ 6: Obviously if someone falls we take them, otherwise I like Nylander, Ehlers, Virtanen in that order. Drop back picks: Fluery, Tuch, Fiala, Barbashev

Right, but if the information Crawford is being given is sh*t then you can see the problem. I like Crawford, my issue is with the organizations inability to recognize 10 years of mostly dreadful scouting as grounds for termination. You cannot go to your job and 90% of the time accomplish nothing and say "hey, remember that one year I did good". I wish for nothing more this offseason than for the new GM to come in, look at our draft history and absolutely clean house.

Not that I have found. He's basically a late bloomer which is not uncommon for powerforwards. His shot is phenomenal, goes hard to the net and battles hard in corners. More skilled with the puck than a typical powerforward but still plays with that edge. He's still pretty raw and is a few years away, but I really think he's going to become a hell of a player at Boston College playing with Eichel and Sonny Milano. Again, not saying he's going to be better than Ehlers or anyone else in the top 10 but combined with the type of asset we would get to move down it could be worth it. My preference for what i'd like to see at the draft is: 1. Move up for Bennett 2. Pick Nylander or Ehlers, i'm fine either way but my gut says Nylander. 3. Move down depending on the offer, pick Fleury or Tuch. Again fine either way..

True enough, he likely will be with boston college for the next few years at least. Which is even more reason why I like the pick, BC is phenomenal at developing players. But given our dire need of help now, and players that can do that available, it may not be the most prudent move.

There aren't really many highlights of him, which is why you don't hear much talk of him around here. I watch a lot of US hockey which is why I have a higher opinion of him than most.

Not many people get to see Tuch play, so i'm not surprised.

At least this should take some pressure of Bo.

I would be completely fine with moving down for a good asset and picking Haydn Fleury or Alex Tuch.

As stupid as most of this thread is, it's got what 50 pages on the other threads of players we might draft? It's pretty clear this kid generates interest be it good or bad, from a business perspective he's the clear choice. Not saying it's who i'd pick, but for a franchise that has seen fans lose some interest i'm sure it's a factor.