Official 2016 NHL Draft Thread

[CanadaCanes]

I'm still calling a better than 25% chance Ronnie does something big and bold on draft day. I don't see us making picks at 13 and 21 when all is said and done.

Sounds like a lot of chatter with teams after the first three picks listening on all offers to make some trades...I would not rule out Francis trading both first rounders to go after a guy like Tkachuk...how about the 13th and 21st picks along with Murphy to the Oilers for the 4th pick? I would hate to see a player like Fleury traded to the Oilers this soon...but that's likely the type of young D the Oilers want. Entertaining any thoughts of moving Faulk, Slavin or Pesce is not something I would like to see either.

 

[Elsker]

Whatever he does, I just hope we end the day with a seriously skilled forward under our tree. If that's a vet, great. If it's a coupe of picks, fine. Just inject some more skill into this mix.

That's why I don't blink when I see a mock draft that has us taking a seriously skilled defenseman like Chychrun at 13.

If he falls that far, he may well be BPA. And with a left-shot defenseman of that calibre in the fold, we could easily target a known-quality skilled forward in a trade featuring one of our too-many-to-play/pay left-shot defensemen.

Chychrun would no doubt be a keeper and an upgrade over whoever was used as the key asset in the D-for-O trade.

 

[JamesNorthern]

Just want to say that even though I am not sold on Fleury 100% (making his potential) another part of me worries that if we trade him he'll end up being better than any of the defenders we have moving forward.

 

[CanadaCanes]

Just want to say that even though I am not sold on Fleury 100% (making his potential) another part of me worries that if we trade him he'll end up being better than any of the defenders we have moving forward.

Fleury seems like the prototypical young defenseman that Francis will be patient with and JR would have already traded...to compare two GM styles.

 

[jeffbear]

Just want to say that even though I am not sold on Fleury 100% (making his potential) another part of me worries that if we trade him he'll end up being better than any of the defenders we have moving forward.

That's you freaking your own self out. A year ago, I could see the concern, but Fleury by all accounts made wonderful strides in his last year in juniors and should be back on tract to develop into a useful NHL player. I doubt anybody thinks he's going to peak higher than Hanifin in any case.

 

[Elsker]

I think the big D-for-O trade will be down the road a bit as one of those "missing pieces" trades, after we've had a chance to unwrap Fleury and play with our other D-man toys for a bit.

But also can't see all of Hanifin, Slavin, and Fleury on our left-side defense at once, at least once they start needing to be paid beyond their entry-level contracts.

Seemingly one of Slavin or Fleury would be expendable, with one of Carrick, Lowe, D-man-to-be-named-later more affordably in that third pairing instead.

 

[JamesNorthern]

I think the big D-for-O trade will be down the road a bit as one of those "missing pieces" trades, after we've had a chance to unwrap Fleury and play with our other D-man toys for a bit.

But also can't see all of Hanifin, Slavin, and Fleury on our left-side defense at once, at least once they start needing to be paid beyond their entry-level contracts.

Seemingly one of Slavin or Fleury would be expendable, with one of Carrick, Lowe, D-man-to-be-named-later more affordably in that third pairing instead.

I like Carrick and think he is valubale to us playing or might even been a interesting in a trade (for another team). Then again, out of all our defenders up and down the line, I think he's probably the most physical. Since he's also a pretty good defender, we might want to sit on that asset, keep developing it and see where it takes us.

 

[JamesNorthern]

That's you freaking your own self out. A year ago, I could see the concern, but Fleury by all accounts made wonderful strides in his last year in juniors and should be back on tract to develop into a useful NHL player. I doubt anybody thinks he's going to peak higher than Hanifin in any case.

LOL!

Yes, it is. And a year ago, even from draft day, I never quite saw the same thing as the org. I won't re-hash the why's, but yeah, I worry now that we will be too quick to trade him .

 

[jeffbear]

I like Carrick and think he is valubale to us playing or might even been a interesting in a trade (for another team). Then again, out of all our defenders up and down the line, I think he's probably the most physical. Since he's also a pretty good defender, we might want to sit on that asset, keep developing it and see where it takes us.

FWIW, Lowe is also fairly physical, at least by Canes standards.

 

[JamesNorthern]

FWIW, Lowe is also fairly physical, at least by Canes standards.

I didn't know that as I haven't looked much or seen much of Keegan's play to be honest. Carrick really impressed me in limited time playing at this past Spengler cup tournament. Found he looked big, solid, plays physical (the body) and played with lots of poise on the PP, has a pretty hard/heavy shot, when he lets it off.


Ok here's where we'll learn if there's any chance we have a deal with the Dead Things. Basically, it looks like Stamkos is going to test the open market. The Wings are in rumors to be interested in landing him. If he does approach/get approached, they WILL have to make room to fit in signing him. And it seems the Coyotes and Canes are the two teams with enough cap space to take on the Datsyuk cap hit, and rightly be compensated for doing it in the form of a young prospect and (hopefully) a 2nd round pick. The pick I am not so sure of, but I think any of the rumored prospects coming back would almost make it worth it. It is only one season. Still, it's a pretty hefty cap hit..

 

[Boardwork]

Lowe is physical, but every time I've watched him, he makes at least one boneheaded play that makes me wonder how he could have so little hockey sense given his lineage. And I mean every game, for the last few years.

 

[Punzil]

What's the scoop on Kieffer Bellows? A bunch of mock drafts have the Canes selecting him. There's a bunch of comparisons to his father, naturally, but if he's as good as they're claiming, why isn't he slotted higher?

 

[TheBigKahuna]

Word is, Stamkos is only interested in signing with a top contender. He wants no part in a rebuild. Be interesting to see if that's true, or if it's about money.

 

[JamesNorthern]

Word is, Stamkos is only interested in signing with a top contender. He wants no part in a rebuild. Be interesting to see if that's true, or if it's about money.

Well I guess that rules out Tampa since they're in full rebuild mode. I am being sarcastic. Is there a reason he don't want to play for Tampa? That is what I find interesting. Does he just want a change- to _another_ top contender?

 

[cmaleski2]

What's the scoop on Kieffer Bellows? A bunch of mock drafts have the Canes selecting him. There's a bunch of comparisons to his father, naturally, but if he's as good as they're claiming, why isn't he slotted higher?

From what I've seen from 'experts' who have evaluated Bellows:

Good:

* 100% Sniper, likes to shoot, shoot, and shoot again
* Has very quick release and deadly accuracy
* Plays with a bit of an edge

Bad:

* Likes to shoot, shoot, and shoot again. Apparently at his current development level the idea of him passing the puck to more open teammates for a better scoring chance doesn't enter his mind enough
* Average to below average skater.


So those last 2 are why he is projected where he is. I've seen mock drafts with us taking him at 13 and also getting him at 21.

 

[TheBigKahuna]

Well I guess that rules out Tampa since they're in full rebuild mode. I am being sarcastic. Is there a reason he don't want to play for Tampa? That is what I find interesting. Does he just want a change- to _another_ top contender?

What I heard on the radio yesterday was speculation that he wants to stay in Tampa first and foremost, but Tampa can't afford to pay him. He wants Kane and Toews money. They think he's about $2 million to high.

I think it was O'Sulivan talking about it, and said that the talk about Toronto/Stamkos was baloney.

 

[CanadaCanes]

From what I've seen from 'experts' who have evaluated Bellows:

Good:

* 100% Sniper, likes to shoot, shoot, and shoot again
* Has very quick release and deadly accuracy
* Plays with a bit of an edge

Bad:

* Likes to shoot, shoot, and shoot again. Apparently at his current development level the idea of him passing the puck to more open teammates for a better scoring chance doesn't enter his mind enough
* Average to below average skater.


So those last 2 are why he is projected where he is. I've seen mock drafts with us taking him at 13 and also getting him at 21.

Bellows at 13 seems terrible, Bellows at 21 seems terrific. Everything out there would seem to have better players still there ahead of him at 13th overall...and the age old adage pick the best talent available!

The one kid that seems small and frail for his age but uber-skilled is Clayton Keller...those are the kids that are hard to project at 18 but if he fills out a bit he could end up being another Patrick Kane type of player.

 

[bagopux]

What I heard on the radio yesterday was speculation that he wants to stay in Tampa first and foremost, but Tampa can't afford to pay him. He wants Kane and Toews money. They think he's about $2 million to high.

I think it was O'Sulivan talking about it, and said that the talk about Toronto/Stamkos was baloney.

If he wants a winner and not a rebuild then Toronto is out. So should Detroit be. They seem to be trending sideways at best. If he wants to stay in the east (but not in Tampa), the options are pretty limited. Fla. has the cap space and is in solid shape. The Caps might be able to make it work. But that's pretty much it, unless you count the Islanders, Rangers or Philly. I think the Rangers have peaked with this core group. Philly is on their way up, but Stamkos doesn't seem like a Philly kind of guy. The Islanders have been on the cusp but have shown an inability to get to the next level. There are more options in the West, but unless you have some particular affinity for the west (and he's from Markham) I wouldn't want to deal with all that travel. But if winning is paramount, he might exit the East. Out west, as far as teams that are on top and looking like they can stay there for a few years, and have the cap room, Dallas and St L are in the best shape. But Dallas needs defense and goaltending, not scoring. St L is a decent option, but they have a coaching change on the horizon.

So many things for a young bazillionaire to consider....

As far as the money, if he's healthy he's perennially in the top 2 in goals, so he is in the Kane/Toews zone. But his health is a question.

 

[hockeylover]

I don't think Toronto's "out", I just think they'll have more work to do on selling the plan moving forward.


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[bagopux]

I don't think Toronto's "out", I just think they'll have more work to do on selling the plan moving forward.

Toronto finished dead last in the league last year. If this were Europe, they wouldn't even be in the NHL right now. (That didn't come out quite right, but you know what I mean.) If Toronto is still a candidate, then pretty much any team is (except for Edmonton, of course, which has re-written the book on incompetence).