2015 NHL Entry Draft

[Kin]

If you could make a Draft Day Broadcast Dream Team, who would be on it?

For me it's not so much about the who as it is the what. One of the reasons the NBA draft works is because those players are occasionally burdened with personalities. In the NHL draft, where that's seriously frowned upon, like I said I'd really hope they take a cue from what ESPN did with Simmons and use it as a platform for a more generalized discussion about the league/game from smart people. Talk about teams and their strategies for the summer, talk about how the game is changing and how draft picks are affected by that, let someone on the panel show some personality and maybe even talk from the perspective of someone who has a rooting interest...anything other than "So, random Swedish 18 year old, how excited are you to be going to Columbus?"

 

[Kin]

Although with BUF/ARI/EDM picking first in the 2nd round and all having multiple 1st round draft picks surely one of them would be comfortable taking a risk on Kylington.

I mean, I'd think so too but I wouldn't have expected him getting out of the 1st so...?

 

[Frank E]

I thought it was Sprong that you wanted at 24?

He is, I was saying (and I think this is what Nik meant too) that if Kylington falls into the 2nd round I'd be pushing very hard to acquire a pick to select him with there.

Now if the Leafs just took him at 24 instead of Sprong I wouldn't exactly lose that much sleep over it, but obviously it'd be a hell of a draft if they somehow came out with both (plus their pick at 4).

Gotcha.  For some reason I thought you were advocating taking Kylington at 24.

 

[Kin]

Gotcha.  For some reason I thought you were advocating taking Kylington at 24.

He may not be but I certainly wouldn't hate it.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I mean, I'd think so too but I wouldn't have expected him getting out of the 1st so...?

That's true. And of course the flip-side to them having multiple 1sts is that they might be more inclined to move their 2nd rounder for immediate help. Buffalo and Edmonton will likely be looking to get better. Arizona maybe not but they'll need to add some rosters players there and it might be tricky for them to attract free agents this summer considering all that's going on. I could see Polak in particular as a real nice fit on any of those teams, and I think a high 2nd rounder would be a fair return for him.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Gotcha.  For some reason I thought you were advocating taking Kylington at 24.

He may not be but I certainly wouldn't hate it.

They'll probably be the two players with the highest upside available at that spot, which is all I'm looking at there. I'd just lean towards Sprong since after #4 positional needs come into play a little more for me and we already have two left-handed defencemen who have similar games.

 

[Highlander]

If Dubas/Hunter play their cards correctly we could at least be sitting with one or two first rounders and a couple of seconds if we get rid of all the dead wood.
Pretty exciting times.

 

[Kin]

They'll probably be the two players with the highest upside available at that spot, which is all I'm looking at there. I'd just lean towards Sprong since after #4 positional needs come into play a little more for me and we already have two left-handed defencemen who have similar games.

I see what you're saying but, assuming this is still a long-haul rebuild, I think that "we have too many good mobile defensemen" is a bridge you cross when you get there.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I see what you're saying but, assuming this is still a long-haul rebuild, I think that "we have too many good mobile defensemen" is a bridge you cross when you get there.

For sure, and barring another massive drop Sprong is the only player I take over Kylington at 24. Having a defence group consisting of Hanifin-Rielly / Gardiner-Kylington 4 years from now would definitely be a sight to see.

 

[pmrules]

If you could make a Draft Day Broadcast Dream Team, who would be on it?

For me it's not so much about the who as it is the what. One of the reasons the NBA draft works is because those players are occasionally burdened with personalities. In the NHL draft, where that's seriously frowned upon, like I said I'd really hope they take a cue from what ESPN did with Simmons and use it as a platform for a more generalized discussion about the league/game from smart people. Talk about teams and their strategies for the summer, talk about how the game is changing and how draft picks are affected by that, let someone on the panel show some personality and maybe even talk from the perspective of someone who has a rooting interest...anything other than "So, random Swedish 18 year old, how excited are you to be going to Columbus?"

Aside: Talking about ESPN/Simmons/NHL Draft reminded me of this gem from Simmons on his take of the 2007 NHL draft:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070625

 

[Bullfrog]

I see what you're saying but, assuming this is still a long-haul rebuild, I think that "we have too many good mobile defensemen" is a bridge you cross when you get there.

For sure, and barring another massive drop Sprong is the only player I take over Kylington at 24. Having a defence group consisting of Hanifin-Rielly / Gardiner-Kylington 4 years from now would definitely be a sight to see.

I'm still partial to Samsonov. If he drops to the second round and they manage to get a high pick, he's who I'd go after.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm still partial to Samsonov. If he drops to the second round and they manage to get a high pick, he's who I'd go after.

I'm not exactly against drafting a goalie in the 1st or 2nd round, but I think that ideally a team will be pretty comfortable with their prospect group at F and D when doing so. The Leafs aren't at that point yet. I think that he'd be a perfect pick for either Edmonton at 16 or Buffalo at 21.

 

[L K]

I'm still partial to Samsonov. If he drops to the second round and they manage to get a high pick, he's who I'd go after.

I'm not exactly against drafting a goalie in the 1st or 2nd round, but I think that ideally a team will be pretty comfortable with their prospect group at F and D when doing so. The Leafs aren't at that point yet. I think that he'd be a perfect pick for either Edmonton at 16 or Buffalo at 21.

If the Leafs grab a 3rd 1st round pick...especially if they find a way to get one of those to 10-12 picks I would have no problem taking him at 24.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I'm sure that they'll have Damien "I've never really covered the draft before but now I'm an expert" Cox kicking around too.

But as an aside to Nik's point, Jeff Marek is criminally underused on Sportsnet. Dude should be on every single broadcast.

He absolutely should.  There's really nothing he doesn't bring to the table:  he's unbelievably knowledgable about hockey at all levels, he's insightful, he asks good questions and interacts with others well, and just flat-out loves hockey.

The fact that he's so underused means either of two things to me:  that the people in charge are too blind to see his gifts, or that they see them but think that the public would rather listen to a combination of assertive loudmouths and bland talking heads.  I don't like what either or those possibilities says about the people in charge at Sportsnet.

I pretty much never listen to Hockey Central on 590, but last week Jeff Marek subbed in for Daren Millard for a show last Thursday, and it was excellent.  Great interview with Dan Marr, NHL director of central scouting.  If the guest host is infinitely better than the usual host, you've got the wrong usual host.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I pretty much never listen to Hockey Central on 590, but last week Jeff Marek subbed in for Daren Millard for a show last Thursday, and it was excellent.  Great interview with Dan Marr, NHL director of central scouting.  If the guest host is infinitely better than the usual host, you've got the wrong usual host.

Yeah, it's absolutely insane that Millard is their #2 guy behind Strombo for hosting duties. I think it might be a combination of both your explanations. I also think though that Rogers wanted a "home-grown Sportsnet" guy to be in that position as opposed to somebody they were able to poach from CBC.

 

[Zee]

It's quiet.  Almost too quiet.

 

[Highlander]

the calm before the storm, the darkness before the light

 

[Zee]

the calm before the storm, the darkness before the light

I want to kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight.

 

[Can8899]

I read an article about the Blue Jackets looking to trade up to #3.  If that doesn't happen, would it be smart for the Leafs to drop down to #8 and pick up a second rounder or two (or more)?  At #8 Zacha, Barzal, Werenski and maybe even Crouse will be available I would expect.

Does it make sense?

 

[bustaheims]

I read an article about the Blue Jackets looking to trade up to #3.  If that doesn't happen, would it be smart for the Leafs to drop down to #8 and pick up a second rounder or two (or more)?  At #8 Zacha, Barzal, Werenski and maybe even Crouse will be available I would expect.

Does it make sense?

Nope. The 2nd round pick doesn't make up for the talent difference between the player they'll get at 4 and those available at 8. Unless someone blows them away with an offer, the Leafs shouldn't trade down.