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2012 NHL Entry Draft

bustaheims said:
SGT said:
That's exactly where I'm at. Like virtually every draft pick it's just cross your fingers and hope.
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I guess so. I mean, I think Rielly is an excellent prospect and doesn't feel like a reach at 5, I'm jsut not convinced he's the right prospect for the team to have taken.
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I agree, but it does seem awfully strange to see defensemen dominate the draft class until Forsberg and Grigorenko go at 11/12. Maybe the top end forward talent simply isn't there. It's interesting that people talk about Gally and Rielly as having comparable issues: Rielly could've challenged for top defenseman overall if he didn't have ACL surgery, much like Galchenyuk vs. Yakupov.

At any rate, the more I read the more I have the sense that Grigorenko's compete level really did scare off the Leafs amongst other teams: Rielly seems to have a tenacious work ethic. In the interview he stated that many people said he wouldn't be able to play again this season due to the ACL injury but it sounds like his work ethic is very high based on his recovery. He also has the highest offensive upside of any d-man in the draft - it's always a positive when you're the best in one area amongst your cohorts. In reference to the "he won't be a top pairing D" the more I read the more I think that's false based on a few projections - TSN had him ranked as a potential 1D.

Forsberg: The jury is still out on him too. He's a big guy, but there's been talk that he's more of a responsible, two way forward type, not the big game breaker like Yak or Gally, so...

I don't know. The more I think about the pick the more I'm ok with it. What's interesting is if we manage to land Schultz as well: we'll be loaded on the back end for years and years.
 
At first I was a little disappointed, and surprised Burke passed on Forsberg when the Leafs selected Reilly, but now that I think about it, it's hard to argue against drafting a player who is supposed to be the best offensive defenceman available.
 
palmateer said:
TML fan said:
palmateer said:
I'm starting to wonder if Brendan Gaunce could possibly slip all the way to #35....
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Nope
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Ok. Figured it was too much to hope for.

Martin Frk, maybe...?
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I was thinking maybe Gaunce, Subban or Pearson would still be available at # 35 but no such luck.  Now I'm also hoping that they can get Frk with that pick.
 
Pierre LeBrun‏@Real_ESPNLeBrun

Pitt has dealt Z. Michalek to Phx in exchange for prospect Harrison Ruopp plus a 3rd-round pick this year (81st) and goalie Marc Cheverie.

There were reports that they were talking regarding Yandle, but this must be what they were discussing.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Well, this must have been a fun thread.
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Back on the ground, are you?  Yeah, you didn't miss much other than a definitive confirmation that Burke, for all his denials to the contrary, is not about to draft a Russian.  If you believe his assertion that he had Rielly #1, that is.  ::)
 
Something that stuck out for me: Pierre McGuire said that Rielly (seriously who intentionally misspells their own name?) adds much needed mobility to a Leafs blueline that lacked mobility.

Gardiner, Gunnarsson, Liles and Phaneuf can all be considered mobile defenders. Not great defenders mind you, but certainly mobile ones. So... what's he talking about?
 
This Morgan Rielly kid was taken 2nd overall in the WHL draft.  Psychological evaluation was 'off the charts'.
Physically, he's in excellent shape.  Had the ACL problem.  Well so did Malkin and he didn't do too bad either.  Came back and scored at a point/game.  Great hockey skills.  Maybe needs some work on his defensive game.  With his attitude, seems like he's very driven to get better.  I like this pick.  Although I was never dreaming the Leafs would find a center who could surpass Bozak on the depth chart either.
 
P.K.'s brother, Matthew Subban, elite goaltender from the OHL's Belleville Bulls, gets drafted by Boston.  Very joyful family celebration, with his older brother in attendance, snapping photos, and mouthing to someone "I've very happy for him".  Nice.
 
moon111 said:
This Morgan Rielly kid was taken 2nd overall in the WHL draft.  Psychological evaluation was 'off the charts'.
Physically, he's in excellent shape.  Had the ACL problem.  Well so did Malkin and he didn't do too bad either.  Came back and scored at a point/game.  Great hockey skills.  Maybe needs some work on his defensive game.  With his attitude, seems like he's very driven to get better.  I like this pick.  Although I was never dreaming the Leafs would find a center who could surpass Bozak on the depth chart either.
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As much as many a Leaf fan would have preferred for Burke to draft a Grigorenko or a Forsberg, or whomever, Reilly sounds like a good pick, at least on paper, with all the attributes given him.

Burke isn't stupid.  He obviously did his 'homework' and probably felt that this would make for the best choice for the Leafs to draft.

Reilly's size does come into question, but if the kid can display his talents as an offensive/defensive dman (when he will be ready to join the team in the near future), his skills can more than make up for his shortcomings.
 
Was fully hoping for a forward, and was giddy that Forsberg was there for our taking, but I am surprisingly not overly disappointed with the pick. If he indeed ends up in the Keith/Letang mold, I think we'll all be thrilled.

As Forsberg and Grigorenko were falling, I was beginning to wonder if Burke would pounce by trading a D (Schenn) to nab one of them. He has to move an excess d-man now.

And we still haven't resolved either of our glaring weaknesses.  :( Maybe later today.
 
Toronto Maple Leafs: As I wrote about in my mock draft, I heard Morgan Rielly was going to go high, but to be honest I never saw him going to Toronto. I had him 7th on my board, but his upside I think is the 5th highest in the draft class and the best amongst defenders. He has premier offensive tools across the board and is a risk because of the injury shortened season, but just bleeds upside
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http://www.hockeyprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=301
 
Thanks. Also;

@coreypronman: Rielly RT @WillSal89: @coreypronman Gardiner or Rielly?

I mean, even without Schultz, it's pretty much an embarrassment of riches of young D.
 
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