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Official 2016 NHL Draft Thread

Assuming the Canes go forward all the way with their first pick and if you go with the projections at the top of the draft and assume the four top defensemen in Chychrun, Sergachev, Juolevi and Bean and the six highest ranked forwards Matthews, Laine, Puljujarvi, Tkachuk, Dubois and Nylander will all be selected before the Canes pick at 13...that leaves the following list of forwards that may be there when the Canes take the stage:

Logan Brown-Center-6'6", 220
Tyson Jost-Center-6', 190
Clayton Keller-Center-5'10", 165
Kiefer Bellows-Center-6', 185
Michael McLeod-Center-6'2", 185
Julien Gauthier-6'3", 220


Keller seems tiny but uber-skilled, Brown would be lucky to still be there at 13, Bellows has a great family pedigree, Gauthier is a monster-sized power forward and Jost and McLeod both look like safe picks for a center.
 
My opinion only ... we need size but not at the expense of real ability. I think somebody will take a flyer on Brown before we pick and I wouldn't be shocked to see Burrows as our target at 13. His pedigree is good, as is his offensive game, and he's a very mature player ... just the kind of guy Ronnie likes.
 
TheBigKahuna said:
Gauthier weighed 230 at the combine.
Click to expand...

What I also like about him is that he has been into body building since before adolescence. Kid is not only solid tough to support his frame, but his skill level hasn't taken a hit either. Has fantastic hands. More of a power forward though, so if we are looking at finding creativity first - may not be our guy. Still, we could do worse! You know this kid will have no trouble with work ethic and the instruction from guys like Rod the bod.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/prospect-need-to-know-julien-gauthier-gets-us-pumped-up/
 
All that is fine, I just think we'll be looking for a cake that's a little closer to done than those big old boys tend to be.

Again ... just my opinion and as always I counsel not getting too attached to any one prospect, because that road only leads to broken hearts
 
I'm reading that Columbus isn't completely sold on picking Puljujärvi and are instead looking to draft a center. Maybe this could become a golden opportunity for the Canes to get him and then have him and Aho to play on the same line for years to come.
 
Columbus needs scoring up front as badly as Carolina does. So, we're not the ideally suited trade partner unless they'll take multiple picks instead of players in return.
 
I don't think we are good fit for a trade with Columbus. Edmonton however we are fantastic trade fit with. If Ronnie really wanted Puljujarvi I expect he could get him. I think we could easily put together a package to Edmonton for the 4th overall pick involving our draft picks and Brett Pesce or Jaccob Slavin or Fleury that could shake the #4 pick loose if we were motivated enough. Then you could flip the #4 pick and say, one of our 3rd rounders to Columbus for the #3 pick (not saying that we should do that, but I think we COULD do that if for some reason Ronnie and crew decide that Aho and Puljujarvi on the same team would be an unstoppable force and we just have to make that happen).

Really this all comes down to what Ronnie feels is the right thing to do here as this draft approaches or on draft day. Are we willing to trade away our D depth and picks to move up in this draft to try to get higher end prospects or are we better off being more conservative and keeping our D as is and just making our mid round 1st round picks and waiting the 2 years for them to hopefully pan out? Ronnie might not even know the answer to that until the draft is rolling. Of course we could also trade some of that D depth and picks for higher end NHL players instead of top 5 draft picks.

Options galore and we are only 2 weeks away from the draft and 3 weeks away from free agency.
 
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For the record ... we BADLY need a franchise forward to take the heat off of Skinner and Puljujarvi looks for all the world like one of those. Size, wheels, aggression, skill, production ... all of that stuff. Jamie Benn-type guys don't grow on trees. I have no idea what Columbus' issues might be, if it was me I'd get the heck over them.
 
Here's a question for everyone. If just to get a chance at one of the top 4 picks, would we swallow trading our 2 first rounders and a blue chip defense prospect to either Columbus or Edmonton? I think I would be down with that. BUT, would be nice to get maybe another piece coming back. Say a good prospect already in the pros, or a 2nd round pick.
 
JamesNorthern said:
Here's a question for everyone. If just to get a chance at one of the top 4 picks, would we swallow trading our 2 first rounders and a blue chip defense prospect to either Columbus or Edmonton? I think I would be down with that. BUT, would be nice to get maybe another piece coming back. Say a good prospect already in the pros, or a 2nd round pick.
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Depends on the prospect and where he fits into the Canes plans over the next 2 years or so. I'd think it would have to be Fluery rather than one who has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to be a decent NHL player. You'd pretty much be giving up three to get one, and if you do that then the one you get better be pretty doggone good. It's the kind of deal that if it works, nobody even remembers it was a risk, but if it doesn't ... then you lose your GM job in a few years because of it. And yeah, you'd take the edge off if you got a useful NHLer in the deal. I don't think a pick outside of the first two rounds would be enough to make the risk a bit more bearable.

I don't know if Ronnie's built for that big a gamble, though. Doesn't seem like his style.

I might do it for Matthews or Laine .... MAYBE Puljujarvi ... none of the others.
 
Would I trade our 2 first round picks and Fleury for pick #3 in this draft? Yes I would for the chance to pick Puljujarvi. Would I make that same trade for the #4 pick if I had to then use that draft pick to take Tkachuk? Nope. This is all about ending up with Puljujarvi when all is said and done. Anything less than that I wouldn't make that sort of play for pick #4 (which we would flip for pick #3).

Here is why I would accept being that bold...here is 8 minutes of Puljujarvi highlights from this past Liiqa season. As impressive as watching these might be by itself (remember 17 years old playing against men for the most part), as a Canes fan you will note that you see a whole lot of Sebastian Aho doing fantastic things in these clips as well.

[video=youtube;4wdTpfxDhiw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wdTpfxDhiw[/video]

Bottom line is its very doubtful the Canes would be bold enough to make an effort to trade up enough to pick Puljujarvi. To be honest the cost might be so high that the smart thing to do is not be that bold and go with some of the significant other options that we have to via this draft, free agency and trades. If you did watch that video hopefully you got enough looks at Aho to put a smile on your face :thumbup:
 
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cmaleski2 said:
Would I trade our 2 first round picks and Fleury for pick #3 in this draft? Yes I would for the chance to pick Puljujarvi. Would I make that same trade for the #4 pick if I had to then use that draft pick to take Tkachuk? Nope. This is all about ending up with Puljujarvi when all is said and done. Anything less than that I wouldn't make that sort of play for pick #4 (which we would flip for pick #3).

Here is why I would accept being that bold...here is 8 minutes of Puljujarvi highlights from this past Liiqa season. As impressive as watching these might be by itself (remember 17 years old playing against men for the most part), as a Canes fan you will note that you see a whole lot of Sebastian Aho doing fantastic things in these clips as well.

[video=youtube;4wdTpfxDhiw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wdTpfxDhiw[/video]

Bottom line is its very doubtful the Canes would be bold enough to make an effort to trade up enough to pick Puljujarvi. To be honest the cost might be so high that the smart thing to do is not be that bold and go with some of the significant other options that we have to via this draft, free agency and trades. If you did watch that video hopefully you got enough looks at Aho to put a smile on your face :thumbup:
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Indeed. Excited about Aho and even more inticed at the possibility of making a stab fo Puljujarvi too. Yeah probably wouldn't happen and to me, giving up what would amount to THREE 1st rounders to get him (2 1st rnd picks 2016+Fleury) seems steep steep steep. If we could get a needed player in return along with that it could help. Or a 2nd round pick.

Man Puljujarvi is big. I mean, height aside, big boned, solid looking guy.
 
Yup ... there's a lot of Sakku Koivu in that kid's game. I've seen all the clips and every time that's the guy who leaps to mind.
 
I know we're still nine days out, but I'm thinking--especially with today's awesome trade news--that it's time to get this thread rocking. (Mods: If you agree, please "sticky" this one.)

It's hard not to get excited by the fact that our Canes--even without a top ten pick--still have six of the first 75 picks after moving one to Chicago today. Here's the full draft order, which of course can still change between now and next Friday...

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2016/06/15/heres-the-full-order-of-picks-for-the-2016-nhl-draft/

Let's do this!
 
It's been a long time since I've been excited in an off season. I am a bit wary of getting too high (or too low) but looking forward to seeing what RF does...
 
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