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2014 NHL Draft Thread

Do you say this due to some sort of information, or just general despair?
No information. Just a lot of talk about them needing character, grit, defense, all-around talent. A stay at home d and a gritty two way center is kind of right up that alley. I just can't see them going high-end talent at this point. Hopefully I'm wrong.
 
Let's see who's making that call first. We don't know that definitively right now, the draft is still a couple months away.

And also, even this scouting staff has made high-skill picks twice recently with selections in this range(5-10).
 
As I've said before, the one part of this organization I won't take issue with is our amateur scouting department. They've done a good job finding us talent. Thommie Bergmann might be the second best European scout in the League.

As to the players on offer at the 7th/8th pick. I'll offer this in advance of actually posting the whole draft review in a few weeks.

Brendon Perlini: Has the advantage of a lot of viewings from the Leafs scouting staff by virtue of playing with Carter Verhaeghe this year. Big kid, great skater, strong offensive upside. Could stand to play a more physical game. Uses his size to protect the puck well though.

Nikolaj Ehlers: A talented offensive player with skill. But I have trouble seeing him as the kind of player that drives a line's offence at the next level. I see a lot of Kristian Huselius in this kid. Talent and offensive skill but not gamebreaking. A good complimentary offensive player.

Jake Virtanen: A tough kid who does nothing but score. Good size, solid skater and an incredible nose for the net. There's a Keith Tkachuk streak to this kid

Nick Ritchie: Arguably the most frustrating big man in the draft. A ton of talent, but he spent two seasons playing like Dustin Penner and one season playing like Brendan Shanahan. You don't know what you're going to get from him and that's what scares me.
 
Keep on thinking Gardiner is worth a 2nd and a 3rd. that's ridiculous.

If thats what it takes to move up and get your guy do it and get your center. Gardiner is what he is , a puck mover who is weak in his own zone and struggles with physical forwards . Sure he may put up 40 points one year but Reilly is your star of the future not Jake . Unless you are prepared to give up the moon to get an established center or pay big bucks to overpay Stastny , Jake is easily expendable on your roster .
 
Yeah but every time "other" fans tell us what our players are worth the results tend to be closer to the price we put on them than you guys do. Your attempts at being unbiased, still come off as biased.

Except I have a track record of being right about player worth.
 
If thats what it takes to move up and get your guy do it and get your center. Gardiner is what he is , a puck mover who is weak in his own zone and struggles with physical forwards . Sure he may put up 40 points one year but Reilly is your star of the future not Jake . Unless you are prepared to give up the moon to get an established center or pay big bucks to overpay Stastny , Jake is easily expendable on your roster .

Sorry but Gardiner isn't a throw in to move up 3 spots. He's a more significant asset than that. Looking at the state of the farm system, I'm going to have to go ahead and say no, no he is not "easily expendable".

And Stastny is not even worth big bucks. not anymore. People need to stop bringing him up.
 
Brennan should've gotten a chance with the big club after the season he just had.

I wouldn't move Gardiner to move up 3 spots. He's not a great player, but still produced 30 points as a 24 year old. I'd move him in a bigger deal to get a more impact piece.
 
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