The only FAs we should even look at are players with size and that excel at the physical aspects in the game.
It will make teams think twice about taking runs at our youth, these players will make us a tougher team to play against. Win or lose I want teams being black and blue at the end.
We should draft guys like this too but we really need help short term because we severely are lacking in these aspects, especially at forward.
I am only trying to save you the time, energy and frustration of something so pointless.
Like why bother? It was a bad pick, it's been almost 3 years since, move on. No need to be complaining, that time has long gone.
I don't get why people still defend the pick or attack it.
Only defense people have is the fact that you can understand why JB and co. made the pick. Size/Speed/'potential' skill was enticing and being a local boy. That doesn't make it a good pick though.
Whining about using the 6th pick for Jake when there was better players available in hindsight is a waste of time, get over it.
What we should be concerned about with Jake is his development. Potential is there, it won't ever be as great as his other draftees but something is better than nothing. Hopefully they don't make the same mistake they did when they brought him up to early with other players and with Jake again for that matter. Let him find his game in Utica next year because I doubt he will blow people out of the water come training camp.
He doesn't have the skill to be a consistent offensive threat or the size and grit to be a menacing power forward. What he can be is an elite forechecker/puck retriever, he has the tool set(enough size/speed) to be that. Hopefully we can get a better version of Jannik Hansen(More physical/scorer) as that would be a great complementary piece to whatever center we draft this June.
Gotta make the most of what we got and move forward.
On a side note that No-Man-Gains segment was gold.
Whoever writes stuff for Braun deserves to have his balls tickled by Vince McMahon just like how he tickles No-Man-Gains's
If we're able to acquire a skilled C with our first and then use our two 2nds(assuming CBJ gives us this year's) on a right shot D and a gritty forward with size and offensive upside then I'd consider that a good first three picks.
Yes of course.
The only real point producers I see are Hischier and Patrick or at least the highest probabilities at being point producers.
IDK if Vilardi is a Bo-lite. They do share a same deficiency being top end speed at their draft year.
I feel after 1-2 that there are a lot of centers at the same level in term of potential. Obviously I am likely wrong about that and one, two or even a few of those players after picks 1-2 will stand out amoung the rest in our range, I am not a scout and have not gone in depth about it too much so I don't have enough credibility to speculate who'd be the best at #3.
if we do not draft either 1-2 then I hope Benning can find the best player in that range. He said he wanted a playmaking center or PP defenseman. I'd pass on the defenseman this draft considering who's available next draft.
I don't think Vilardi would be the best fit personally. We need a center who is more dynamic offensively and is a lot better in transition since that's a huge drawback of our team. Best fit IMO would be Hischier, I hope we're able to draft top 2.
There are more things than his size that people rave about.
He isn't a speed demon by any means but he is probably one of the best players in all 3 zones and at protecting the puck in those tough areas within our draft range.
His coach speaks very highly of him.
I am not by any means set on wanting to pick Vilardi. I just try to outweigh the pros and cons of the players in our range and who would fit the team better.