Southpop45

Started out as a Glass guy but I'm liking the idea of taking Valiardi if he's available more and more. The only major concerns that I hear about are his speed and the fact that he played a large chunk of the season at wing. I know his coach has gone out and said Valiardi is a centermen but the concern as to what hell be at the NHL level is still there. (reminiscent of Pierre-Luc Dubois last season)

To Dallas: Tanev 2nd Rd Pick (Columbus) To Van: 3 OA Nichushkin's Rights Lehtonen Explanation: - Mckenzie stated he wasn't even sure Dallas would get a top 4 D or top 6 F at all for 3 OA - We do them a favor by taking the Lehtonen contract - Dallas (who wants to win now) will not lose a roster player (besides Lehtonen) in this deal and they will clear cap - Dallas will get an effective, cheap top 3 D (rather than overpaying someone like Alzner in free agency) - Dallas still has a second first round pick to fall back on and they receive a pick to offset the one they lose in this trade

close to another shutout

If he does come to North America to play next season I would lean towards the CHL more than the AHL. Let him play in an easier league while learning the North American game. While also gaining confidence as he should be able to put up good numbers in a league with younger players. P.S. Anyone know when the CHL import draft is?

I see brandon dubinsky as a good comparison for guance. same size both known for their defensive play both put up very similar junior careers both started out at center but found more success as wingers A player similar to dubinsky is what I think guances ceiling is. Dubinsky as we all know is a very good shutdown 3rd line center who can get 35 - 40 points a season. Or as we have seen him more recently a 2nd line two-way winger who could put up 20+ goals and 45 - 55 points. I think guances future in the NHL is on the wing and (big surprise here) thats what hes currently playing in Utica

has anyone heard anything on when hell be making his debut for the hitmen

    does not matter; id rather him take the extra time and make sure he is fully healed than play in a tournament that does not really mean anything. my hope is that he is ready to go for game 1 of the hitmen's season

if jake is ready to play in game 1 of the calagary hitmens season i would consider that a huge plus. he is not gonna be playing in the young stars or training camp. theres no way they will risk him getting injured again. And people lets not kid ourselfs here, he is going back to the hitmen where im sure he will dominate.

no offense to the first 3 picks but tryamkin is the most interesting van pick this year. gotta believe benning picked him for a good reason

i know some people wont like it but that is a very fair deal for florida

http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hockey/opinion/2014/06/30-thoughts-nhl-free-agents-reluctant-to-commit-early.html 4. One team that has definitely made an offer? Vancouver. I believe it included their first pick in this draft (which is sixth overall) and Hunter Shinkaruk, who was taken 24th in 2013. There was at least one other piece, probably off the main roster, but I can't pin it down. It's not Ryan Kesler, who won't go there. On Kesler 5. The Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch reported Kesler would only go to Chicago or Pittsburgh. I don't think the list is a long one, but it does include Anaheim. 6. Interesting scenario of the week: Will the Canucks and Kesler work towards a three-way deal that gets Kesler where he wants to go if Vancouver can't find a match with one of his preferred destinations?

ill suggest what bob mckenzie mentioned a while ago: 6th pick overall + an nhl d-man not named edler for the 1st pick overall

Dale Tallon wants him enough to consider trading down to get him, that says a lot (Ehlers)

would like to see the canucks pick up more picks in the first round. multiple GMs have gone on record latley saying that this draft is actually a lot better than was first though

some food for thought, its been made clear that benning was not part of the scouting staff that drafted kessel, lucic, or marchand. he came in the year after when u take a closer look bennings draft record with the bruins is not actually that great.

you think getting dal colle will save us from a rebuild next year lol. besides i havn't heard or read a lot that says dal colle is ready for the nhl next year. he will most likely get sent back to oshawa

its true that Tallon really likes Ehlers but i doubt he would use the first pick on him. if Tallon really wants Ehlers then he'll trade down to 6th for him, pick up an asset or two from the Canucks but still be in a position where ehlers is guaranteed to still be available. (6-12 is a total toss up) if Tallon trades down any further than 6th, then he he'll risk losing Ehlers as the next 5 or so picks are a total guess

this article states one of the reporters who made a statement about anehiem dealing for kesler: http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/rumor-roundup-kesler-sweepstakes-to-resume-in-june/ fowler, gibson, and lindholm were they only untouchables. says that everyone besides those 3 was fair game (young players in system)

couple things you got wrong: 1) yes your correct wont argue with this one 2) Etem was on the table and i would have to think he still is. the only untouchables were hampus lindholm and john gibson 3) Shero was never opposed to offering Pouliot but he was being cautious with Letangs injury, i think bruce garroich reported recently that Shero is willing to include Pouliot now 4) Dont know what you mean all their picks but the rumoured deal at the deadline was a prospect and both first round picks this year, have to think thats still on the table especially with the increased amount of interest there will be at the draft

this is how i see the draft going: 1. Ekblad (they need to improve next year so tallon takes the guy who is most NHL ready, they dont need anymore centers and its a little bit of a stretch to take MDC in this spot) 2. Bennet (tim murray likes guys who play with an edge and hes gone on record saying he really likes bennet) 3. Draisital (edmonton needs a big #2 center, i've listend to edmonton fans and media and this is their consensus choice) 4. Reinhart/Ritchie/Virtanen (burke is the one guy i could see going off the board by taking ritchie or virtanen but its hard to see him passing on sam reinhart, also dont think MDC is a brian burke type of player) 5. Dal Colle ( they dont need another center, if MDC is still there the take him, if burke passes on reinhart i cant see snow taking him either with all the centers he has already) In short, people may be surprised how the draft goes, believe it or not i think if anyone one of the consensus top 5 slip down the draft it will be sam reinhart.

im a huge ehlers fan but after a lot of reading the idea of drafting Ritchie is starting to win me over. Im also happy to find out that most of CDC wants nothing to do with Virtanen at #6, too many issues with him.

of course Draisital or Dal Colle are better options but they are part of the consensus top 5. you cant assume that they will fall to us although CDC is acting like its just about a sure thing. (note: i dont want perlini either but something in my gut tells me its gonna be him)

the Canucks need to draft guys with high end offensive skill (nylander or ehlers) but of course Linden has already said SIZE and skill. So gotta figure its gonna be one of Ritchie, Virtanen (please no), Perlini, or Tuch. I dont know why but i got a strong feeling its gonna be Perlini for whatever reason (not that i want them to)

i DO NOT want Viritanen. I've heard way too many bad things about him: almost all of his goals come off the rush (couldnt score when he was in the offensive zone for an exteded period of time) he benefits from having 2 high-scoring overaged players on his line on a team with a high shooting percentage he has a disturbingly low amount of assits

correct, Van will pick 1st, 6th, or 7th depending on the lottery