Tank Nation UNITE!!!

[Highlander]

The Leafs biggest need is a Centre.  Period, no argument.  As long as they keep the Pylon you have the D Man eating minutes, you also have a stable of pretty interesting defensemen, Percy, the Swedes, etc. that will be working their way onto the big team and you have Rielly getting better every game. Gardiner has looked way better under Horachuk as well.
You tell me where are we going without a bonifide #1 Centre?

 

[Kin]

As long as they keep the Pylon you have the D Man eating minutes, you also have a stable of pretty interesting defensemen, Percy, the Swedes, etc. that will be working their way onto the big team and you have Rielly getting better every game. Gardiner has looked way better under Horachuk as well.

But through your repeated use of the super clever and not at all tired label of "Pylon" you're admitting the Leafs don't have someone who sufficiently fills the role. Phaneuf inhabits the role of a #1 defenseman in the exact same way that Bozak inhabits the role of a #1 centre, which is to say not all that well. The Leafs also have any number of promising prospects at centre. Kadri, Carrick, McKegg, Brown, Gauthier and so on. Are any of them likely to be the ideal #1 centre? No, but outside of Rielly having a chance none of the defensemen you mention are ever likely to be challenging for a Norris either.

We're not talking about organizational depth here, we're talking about elite talent and in that regard the Leafs are largely as bare at defense as they are down the middle or anywhere really.

 

[Frank E]

As long as they keep the Pylon you have the D Man eating minutes, you also have a stable of pretty interesting defensemen, Percy, the Swedes, etc. that will be working their way onto the big team and you have Rielly getting better every game. Gardiner has looked way better under Horachuk as well.

But through your repeated use of the super clever and not at all tired label of "Pylon" you're admitting the Leafs don't have someone who sufficiently fills the role. Phaneuf inhabits the role of a #1 defenseman in the exact same way that Bozak inhabits the role of a #1 centre, which is to say not all that well. The Leafs also have any number of promising prospects at centre. Kadri, Carrick, McKegg, Brown, Gauthier and so on. Are any of them likely to be the ideal #1 centre? No, but outside of Rielly having a chance none of the defensemen you mention are ever likely to be challenging for a Norris either.

We're not talking about organizational depth here, we're talking about elite talent and in that regard the Leafs are largely as bare at defense as they are down the middle or anywhere really.

I agree with you and LK on this...but dammit if it's just not as sexy of a pick as a big #1 centreman. 

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I agree with you and LK on this...but dammit if it's just not as sexy of a pick as a big #1 centreman. 

Yeah, I believe that the 1C spot is the most important position in the league. You could argue goaltending but goalies are so volatile and unpredictable you can't really plan your roster around that. I definitely understand that this team needs talent in pretty much every single position, and that Hanifin is an upgrade over Rielly as the teams future 1D, but if I'm running the team my main priority is that 1C.

Now, that's not to say that if I'm picking 3rd I would definitely take Strome over Hanifin. I'd probably still go BPA and take Hanifin. It's just that a small part of me wouldn't mind if I was forced to draft one spot later and take Strome.

 

[Kin]

Yeah, I believe that the 1C spot is the most important position in the league. You could argue goaltending but goalies are so volatile and unpredictable you can't really plan your roster around that. I definitely understand that this team needs talent in pretty much every single position, and that Hanifin is an upgrade over Rielly as the teams future 1D, but if I'm running the team my main priority is that 1C.

Sure but I think that consideration tends to be baked into the way these players are evaluated. Hanifin being rated above Strome, to me, is a statement that people think there's a better chance of Hanifin becoming the sort of #1 d-man teams build around than there is of Strome being that kind of centre. If Strome were a lock to be that kind of centre they'd be talking about him alongside Eichel and McDavid.

 

[bustaheims]

If Strome were a lock to be that kind of centre they'd be talking about him alongside Eichel and McDavid.

I'm not so sure that's true. Eichel and McDavid are seen as generational talent/franchise player types. Strome could still be seen as a virtual lock to become a #1 centre and still not be part of that conversation. In a more average draft class, Strome would very much be in the conversation for 1st overall.

 

[Kin]

I'm not so sure that's true. Eichel and McDavid are seen as generational talent/franchise player types. Strome could still be seen as a virtual lock to become a #1 centre and still not be part of that conversation. In a more average draft class, Strome would very much be in the conversation for 1st overall.

But that's sort of my point. When I say "that kind of centre" I mean of the  Franchise variety. He may very well be a RNH sort of prospect but I don't know how sure they are in Edmonton these days that they've got that #1 C spot locked down for the future.

 

[bustaheims]

But that's sort of my point. When I say "that kind of centre" I mean of the  Franchise variety. He may very well be a RNH sort of prospect but I don't know how sure they are in Edmonton these days that they've got that #1 C spot locked down for the future.

From what I've read, he's much more of an Eric Staal/Jason Spezza level prospect than an RNH. Whatever team that gets him will almost certainly have that spot locked down, they just won't have a generational talent there.

 

[Kin]

From what I've read, he's much more of an Eric Staal/Jason Spezza level prospect than an RNH. Whatever team that gets him will almost certainly have that spot locked down, they just won't have a generational talent there.

Keep in mind I'm referring to them as prospects, not the finished product they became(or in RNH's case wherever he is now)

To me Staal and Spezza were two very different types of prospects. Spezza was a point per game player in the OHL at the age of 15(like McDavid), made the WJC at 16 and better than two points a game in his draft year. He's definitely someone who was touted as potentially being a Franchise player for a few years before he was draft eligible and has been something of a mild disappointment as a pro. 

Staal, on the other hand, had a pretty standard junior career and while I'm sure he was highly touted I remember the top of that year's draft sort of ironically being short-shold by who people didn't see much in the way of great talent at the top of it.

So maybe Strome fits in there, I don't know. His junior numbers are obviously better than Staal's but to what extent that has to do with McDavid I couldn't say.

 

[Fanatic]

Draft Lottery is indeed set for Saturday April 18th

 

[Fanatic]

Is it same to assume this draft lottery is going to be the most watched since it's been televised?  Half of Toronto is going to tune in hoping to see the Leafs win the right to bring the Golden Child home.

What date is the lottery supposed to take place?

I read a tweet that said it would likely be April 18th but it wasn't confirmed.

That seems late. The season ends on Saturday the 11th. If this year follows last year, the draft lottery will be on the following Tuesday the 14th and the playoffs will begin on Wednesday the 15th.

The tweet I read said that the  NHL was aiming for the first Saturday of the playoffs.

You were right.

Draft Lottery Saturday April 18th

 

[Al14]

Draft Lottery is indeed set for Saturday April 18th

Then the crying begins!

 

[Kessel Run]

Speaking of Button, saw a ranking of his from 2009 of his Top 10 for that draft - had Tim Erixon 10th overall, had Jacob Joseffson 6th (he went 20th) and didn't even have Evander Kane in the top 10 at all.

I'm pretty much at the point of ignoring anything he says.

Had Matt Finn as the 9th best player in the 2012 draft. Fell to #35. I know a lot of outlets had Finn in the 1st round somewhere but that was still very high. Also had Dumba as the 2nd best player and Murray and Trouba were both out of the top-10.

I suppose this all falls into the category of why he is a bit-piece on TSN and not with an actual team anymore.

I'm all for bashing Button, but both he and Pierre McGuire had Evander Kane at #4 to the Thrashers, which was correct.

Full 1st round list from 2009 here:

http://www2.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=11908

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Speaking of Button, saw a ranking of his from 2009 of his Top 10 for that draft - had Tim Erixon 10th overall, had Jacob Joseffson 6th (he went 20th) and didn't even have Evander Kane in the top 10 at all.

I'm pretty much at the point of ignoring anything he says.

Had Matt Finn as the 9th best player in the 2012 draft. Fell to #35. I know a lot of outlets had Finn in the 1st round somewhere but that was still very high. Also had Dumba as the 2nd best player and Murray and Trouba were both out of the top-10.

I suppose this all falls into the category of why he is a bit-piece on TSN and not with an actual team anymore.

I'm all for bashing Button, but both he and Pierre McGuire had Evander Kane at #4 to the Thrashers, which was correct.

Full 1st round list from 2009 here:

http://www2.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=11908

http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=649192

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

If Edmonton beats Colorado tonight they'll be 5 points back of us and GP will be even. Just 8 games left though so the Leafs would have to keep doing what they're doing and the Oilers would have to finish with a very good record. Not expecting it to happen, but that's closer than I thought.

And Edmonton wins.

 

[L K]

If Edmonton beats Colorado tonight they'll be 5 points back of us and GP will be even. Just 8 games left though so the Leafs would have to keep doing what they're doing and the Oilers would have to finish with a very good record. Not expecting it to happen, but that's closer than I thought.

And Edmonton wins.

Just to be clear, the first tie-breaker is ROW.  So really Edmonton is 6 points back of the Leafs unless the Leafs lose the rest of their games and Edmonton wins the rest of theirs.   

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

If Edmonton beats Colorado tonight they'll be 5 points back of us and GP will be even. Just 8 games left though so the Leafs would have to keep doing what they're doing and the Oilers would have to finish with a very good record. Not expecting it to happen, but that's closer than I thought.

And Edmonton wins.

Just to be clear, the first tie-breaker is ROW.  So really Edmonton is 6 points back of the Leafs unless the Leafs lose the rest of their games and Edmonton wins the rest of theirs. 

Well, at least one half of that equation is plausible.

 

[Al14]

If Edmonton beats Colorado tonight they'll be 5 points back of us and GP will be even. Just 8 games left though so the Leafs would have to keep doing what they're doing and the Oilers would have to finish with a very good record. Not expecting it to happen, but that's closer than I thought.

And Edmonton wins.

Just to be clear, the first tie-breaker is ROW.  So really Edmonton is 6 points back of the Leafs unless the Leafs lose the rest of their games and Edmonton wins the rest of theirs. 

Well, at least one half of that equation is plausible.

Which half?  :-\

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Just to be clear, the first tie-breaker is ROW.  So really Edmonton is 6 points back of the Leafs unless the Leafs lose the rest of their games and Edmonton wins the rest of theirs.   

Thanks, didn't really check that. Know what's crazy? Colorado has 1 more ROW than we do and they're 18 points ahead of us. Florida has 2 more ROW than us and they're 20 points up.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Mirtle posted this chart of the lottery odds for the bottom five teams:

Definitely a different way to look at it. It's weird that the bottom-3 teams are all more likely to drop a spot than they are to move up or stay where they are.