2015 NHL Entry Draft

[Highlander]

Morrison: You know we are looking for a high compete, big heart, huge work ethic, great hockey sense, wide vision with good smarts to dish, first into the corners, last at practice, low bar tab and good wholesome men to shore the breach in the Wall.  These are the men we are looking for! Onward Ho!

 

[CarltonTheBear]

ONE WEEK

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

ONE WEEK

How many more sleeps is that?

 

[Fanatic]

ONE WEEK

How many more sleeps is that?

That depends on when and how often you sleep. The traditional number, however, is 7 and I am looking forward to it. 

 

[Kin]

One of the things I'm starting to think, and I might be wrong, is that the drop off from 2 to 3 is steeper than we thought. I think the fact that a really clear candidate for Arizona hasn't emerged might be a sign that the "he'd be a #1 candidate in an average year" talk for Strome might be a little off base and we might want to adjust our Hanifin expectations down a little.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

One of the things I'm starting to think, and I might be wrong, is that the drop off from 2 to 3 is steeper than we thought. I think the fact that a really clear candidate for Arizona hasn't emerged might be a sign that the "he'd be a #1 candidate in an average year" talk for Strome might be a little off base and we might want to adjust our Hanifin expectations down a little.

It's crazy how just like 2-3 months ago Hanifin was the clear-cut number 3 guy. Back then it seemed like he was closer to Eichel than he was to Strome.

 

[hobarth]

It's Hanifin all the way unless he's taken, don't let sexiness get in the way of quality. Strome or Marner are simply reaches not proper substitutes for what TO needs a quality stable defense, Hanifin and maybe Rielly should provide that in the near future.

If TO doesn't go all scorched earth on the roster, a possible #1 center will probably be available in next years draft and within 2 years I think there's a possibility TO could be competitive, the pieces and coaching should be there to ice a far superior team to what we have now, dismantling this team for iffy draft choices and other team's cap problems makes no sense to me, nor should it to any actual Leaf fan. Trading our good assets for draft choices should and does make sense to draft choice junkies, not actual fans.

We are finally rid of the GM that had an extremely poor ability to manage so I think we all need and want success in as near a time frame as is possible, let's hope that is possible with Shany at the helm. Scorched earth is buying time, a common refrain of a poor manager, proper allocation of assets is what we need to see.

 

[Tigger]

Draft choice junkies? Buying time? Actual fans? Oh my!

a possible #1 center will probably be available in next years draft and within 2 years I think there's a possibility TO could be competitive

Heck, if we're being so definitive just move Hanifin to centre, problem solved.

 

[Kin]

And now we know why companies invest so heavily in packaging.

 

[Tigger]

Man, I've been dying for a good crystal ball analogy.

 

[Frank E]

I was just thinking about the whole timing issue with respect to roster building a contender...all things remaining constant, wouldn't it make more sense to be drafting defensemen first since it takes a few years longer for them to develop (typically)?

 

[Kin]

I was just thinking about the whole timing issue with respect to roster building a contender...all things remaining constant, wouldn't it make more sense to be drafting defensemen first since it takes a few years longer for them to develop (typically)?

Sure, but things aren't constant and teams are going to first and pretty much entirely draft based on who they think has the best chance to be a great player.

 

[dappleganger]

One of the things I'm starting to think, and I might be wrong, is that the drop off from 2 to 3 is steeper than we thought. I think the fact that a really clear candidate for Arizona hasn't emerged might be a sign that the "he'd be a #1 candidate in an average year" talk for Strome might be a little off base and we might want to adjust our Hanifin expectations down a little.

I think you're right Nik. Strome, who is projected to go number 3 by some, is not a lock to be top offensive player.

Consensus is both Eichel and McDavid gonna be good. I think its a steep drop off if Strome is the 3rd best offensive prospect.

 

[Frank E]

I was just thinking about the whole timing issue with respect to roster building a contender...all things remaining constant, wouldn't it make more sense to be drafting defensemen first since it takes a few years longer for them to develop (typically)?

Sure, but things aren't constant and teams are going to first and pretty much entirely draft based on who they think has the best chance to be a great player.

I'd agree in the first few rounds, but after the 3rd, I think I'd be putting more eggs into the defensemen basket in the first couple of years of a rebuild.

 

[dappleganger]

I think you build from the net out. Where would Chicago be without Keith? Where would Pittsburgh be without their stud defenseman... oh, right.

 

[Kin]

I'd agree in the first few rounds, but after the 3rd, I think I'd be putting more eggs into the defensemen basket in the first couple of years of a rebuild.

After the third your chances of finding an NHL player are so small and an impact NHLer even smaller that the odds of a team weighting the selection by position making a major difference to their fortunes seems pretty slight to me.

 

[Frank E]

Wilson says Sharks will consider moving 9th overall pick:

Wilson has said the Sharks need to add more pieces and want to bounce back strongly after failing to make the playoffs this season, ending their 10-year streak of postseason appearances. San Jose has plenty of salary cap space as well as lots of trade ammunition in terms of players and draft picks.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=771527

Another possibility for Kessel. 

 

[ZBBM]

When did people think there wasn't a steep dropoff after Eichel?  He and McD were always spoken of in different terms than the rest.

Anyway I haven't read or seem anything that leads me to disagree with Hobarth's stance on Hanifin. I think now he's the choice if he's available even if AZ were to pick Marner.

 

[Kin]

When did people think there wasn't a steep dropoff after Eichel?  He and McD were always spoken of in different terms than the rest.

Never. Hence "steeper" rather than "steep". I think there was a perception among some that, and again I specifically reference it in the post in question, that the guys who were candidates for the #3 pick would have constituted a fair, if a little weak, top of a draft class in a normal year. Now I don't know if that's the case.

 

[Frank E]

When did people think there wasn't a steep dropoff after Eichel?  He and McD were always spoken of in different terms than the rest.

Anyway I haven't read or seem anything that leads me to disagree with Hobarth's stance on Hanifin. I think now he's the choice if he's available even if AZ were to pick Marner.

There was a perceived consensus top 5 at one point, so I think that it's more of a comment that Strome and Hannafin have dropped in value vs. the others in the top 10 appreciating.