2015 NHL Entry Draft

[cw]

The answer as to whether they should do it is in the details. I think the Nordiques/Avs won the Lindros trade - though Lindros, perceived as the best player in the deal, was projected as even more of an impact player than McDavid.

If the Leafs won the lottery and Buffalo offered their #2 pick plus a bunch of really good prospects & picks, I'd be quite tempted - certainly look at it very seriously. I realize Don Cherry types would have a fit but you've got to do what is best for your team. Don Cherry types will be pretty happy if the Leafs are winning.

You'd certainly haven on look at what the offer was, but man if that deal backfired, and McDavid was the real thing, sabres go on to win the cup, and Eichel and the rest of the return was just alright, everyone on the Leafs managements staff would be nuked.

McDavid could suffer a major injury (for example) and Eichel wind up with the better career. Or the guy the Sabres offer with Eichel turns out better than both Eichel & McDavid (ie Forsberg in the Lindros deal in terms of the career he had). If the Leafs kept McDavid, then some folks would want management's head on a platter for that.

Sometimes, folks get unlucky when going with the best odds doesn't work out.

[Nik]

The only reason the Lindros trade worked out the way it did was because of two things that were essentially unknowable, Lindros' injury history and Forsberg's development, and still it was a trade that A) Quebec was forced to make and B) was not the offer they wanted to accept.

It was essentially a fluke that it turned out the way it did, it's still not that sound of a strategy.

[TDotMassive]

Sometimes, folks get unlucky when going with the best odds doesn't work out.

Says every poker player on Earth 

[Frank E]

The only reason the Lindros trade worked out the way it did was because of two things that were essentially unknowable, Lindros' injury history and Forsberg's development, and still it was a trade that A) Quebec was forced to make and B) was not the offer they wanted to accept.

The Nords weren't forced to do anything..What was the offer they wanted to accept?

Wait...are you saying that Lindros would have been better than Forsberg if it weren't for Lindros' injuries?

[L K]

The only reason the Lindros trade worked out the way it did was because of two things that were essentially unknowable, Lindros' injury history and Forsberg's development, and still it was a trade that A) Quebec was forced to make and B) was not the offer they wanted to accept.

It was essentially a fluke that it turned out the way it did, it's still not that sound of a strategy.

The thing about Lindros' injury issues is that a lot of it all stemmed from illegal hits to the head too.  I mean how many careers did Scott Stevens end prematurely?    But hey, he's in the Player Safety office so all is cool and everything.  Good think Paul Kariya wants nothing to do with the NHL anymore.  He was just a dirty little scorer.

[Nik]

The only reason the Lindros trade worked out the way it did was because of two things that were essentially unknowable, Lindros' injury history and Forsberg's development, and still it was a trade that A) Quebec was forced to make and B) was not the offer they wanted to accept.

The Nords weren't forced to do anything..What was the offer they wanted to accept?

Wait...are you saying that Lindros would have been better than Forsberg if it weren't for Lindros' injuries?

No, I mean, for starters I would flat out just say that Lindros was better than Forsberg regardless. Lindros was a force of nature out there who basically matched Forsberg point for point while being a significantly better goal scorer despite always being the guy on his team other teams needed to shut down.

And the Nordiques were absolutely forced into that trade. Remember, Lindros sat out a whole year. They either had to trade him or get nothing for him and they made a deal with the Rangers after the Flyers deal that would have gotten them Tony Amonte, Doug Weight and Alexei Kovalev. It was an arbitrator that ruled that they'd made the Flyers deal first so it was the one that stood.

[KW Sluggo]

So that Mitch Marner guy?  12 points (7G 5A) in the first 3 games of their playoff series against Kitchener.

I'm feeling more and more that between the two of them, Strome is the solid can't-go-wrong safe pick and Marner is the pick which might pay the biggest dividends.

I want both.

IMO Strome is a large 1C that we are looking for. Marner is exciting in the OHL, but his size may limit him.

I must confess that I concur with your statement.

Having said that the other day I was reading an article that said the most overrated and hence unreliable quality is the size of a player.  I have no idea if that is correct or even if there is any data to support the supposition, however it would seem that a skilled smaller player can still be the equal of a larger one with equal skill. It all comes down to the player's drive and commitment to his game.

For every Doug Gilmore, Dave Keon and Denis Savard there are many skilled players of smaller stature who don't have the same careers. Equally true is the fact that there are many
larger players who don't utilize their size to any advantage.

[Potvin29]

I don't even think Marner is very small.  I read somewhere that he's grown recently to 6' or something.  And besides, size is nowhere near the issue it might have been at one time.

[L K]

It's not a problem for him.  He's built like Patrick Kane.  He's not going to run around crushing people.  He's not as physical as a guy like Kadri but he's stronger in his core too.  People commenting on Marner's size are looking at hockeydb/hockeyreference and not watching the games.

[freer]

It's not a problem for him.  He's built like Patrick Kane.  He's not going to run around crushing people.  He's not as physical as a guy like Kadri but he's stronger in his core too.  People commenting on Marner's size are looking at hockeydb/hockeyreference and not watching the games.

Just going on what comments I heard. I have seen a couple of games. He is good do not get me wrong. He has talent. He has not been hit by too many guys who weight 220 in the O. I have the same concern with Brown like most others.

[L K]

Carolina beat Philadelphia in a shootout this afternoon.  That pretty much locks the Leafs in at 4th.  Carolina moves 5 points up on the Leafs with both teams having 4 games remaining. 

[Al14]

Carolina beat Philadelphia in a shootout this afternoon.  That pretty much locks the Leafs in at 4th.  Carolina moves 5 points up on the Leafs with both teams having 4 games remaining.

Not a lock, just yet!

[L K]

In OHL news the McJesus and Stromebolopoulos show are set to face off against Marner and Not Ryan Rupert in the 2nd round.

I bring it up because:
1) The Knights are awesome and Barrie is not
2) Matt Rupert is having a pretty solid season and while not officially Leafs property is probably doing enough to warrant a late draft selection or at least a minor league contract.
3) The Leafs are extremely likely to draft one of McDavid, Strome or Marner.

[CarltonTheBear]

2) Matt Rupert is having a pretty solid season and while not officially Leafs property is probably doing enough to warrant a late draft selection or at least a minor league contract.

Points aren't everything of course, especially for Rupert, but he's actually scoring at a lower rate this season than he did last season. Not really a great sign for a guy in his overage year.

[CarltonTheBear]

A good read on Daniel Sprong, likely my first choice for the Nashville pick (assuming someone else doesn't drop a ton):

http://www.mckeenshockey.com/prospects-blog/daniel-sprong-potential-2015-nhl-draft-steal/