TOP 5 PICK!!!

[Tigger]

But if they decide to draft Galchenyuk I don't think New York can pass on Grigorenko which would take the top-2 centres off the board before we pick.

Would have to seriously consider Forsberg at that point, of course I don't know anything about him other than the hype but I'd wager the Leafs have an idea.

 

[Bullfrog]

I can see Burke moving up, but who would be the most likely trading partner? Given that we're getting a pretty damn good player at 5th overall, I can't see it costing too much to move up.

 

[maplesyrup]

I can see Burke moving up, but who would be the most likely trading partner? Given that we're getting a pretty damn good player at 5th overall, I can't see it costing too much to move up.

I was thinking Edmonton but what about Columbus (assuming they get the #1?) Would Kadri + the #5/6 overall plus say, our #35/#36 or a prospect be close?

 

[Tigger]

I don't think you have to give up a decent prospect to move up.

 

[maplesyrup]

I have no idea really, that's why I ask. I guess it depends on whatever the gap is between Yakupov and the rest of the herd. - Which obviously, I don't know either.

 

[rdowdall]

Talking to Habs fans they seemed fairly high on Grigorenko so I figured they would shoot for him (assuming they follow the Habs more closely than I would and have heard his name mentioned by scouts etc).  No fans really know what the team would lean towards but I figured their educated guess would be better than mine.

There's actually a decent number of Habs fans who think that Galchenyuk will be their pick. The reasoning is that he's more of a Timmins player (he's their head scout) and also some "whispers" from inside the organization. That could really mess with Toronto's draft plans (or mine at least). If the Habs went with Grigorenko I think the Islanders would draft a defender leaving Gally for us. But if they decide to draft Galchenyuk I don't think New York can pass on Grigorenko which would take the top-2 centres off the board before we pick.

Then trade down and get Gaunce?

I'd go with a defencemen. We have enough 2nd liners in our system.

Ah I thought he had higher potential than that.

Guance has top end of Jordan Stall, low end of Manny Malhotra.

 

[Corn Flake]

I can see Burke moving up, but who would be the most likely trading partner? Given that we're getting a pretty damn good player at 5th overall, I can't see it costing too much to move up.

Edmonton for sure.  There is a stack of good d-men they can pick from at #5 and I think the cost to move up won't be that insane, not in a draft like this. That said, getting Yakupov at #1 would be a different story.  CBJ has to walk away with a franchise piece in this draft or else they are all insane.  I don't think some parts gets you the #1.  They would want a Kessel or a Gardiner for that pick.

 

[nutman]

I can see Burke moving up, but who would be the most likely trading partner? Given that we're getting a pretty damn good player at 5th overall, I can't see it costing too much to move up.

Edmonton for sure.  There is a stack of good d-men they can pick from at #5 and I think the cost to move up won't be that insane, not in a draft like this. That said, getting Yakupov at #1 would be a different story.  CBJ has to walk away with a franchise piece in this draft or else they are all insane.  I don't think some parts gets you the #1.  They would want a Kessel or a Gardiner for that pick.

Yakupov is a winger is he not? if so  why would we want him, when we need a top center. so we dont need to move up to #1 but picking before the Habs would be nice.

 

[maplesyrup]

Edmonton or New York (especially the former) winning the lottery might screw things up a but for those who want one of the top forwards I think. I see a lot of mocks with these two taking "D" but if they win and barring a trade, don't they have to take Yakupov? It could be that the first three (or even four) picks go forward, forward, foward if one of these teams win it. I mean if that's the case, that means we get one of the two best defensmen in the draft which I'm cool with but I'm just saying that one (or both of) Gally AND Forsberg could be gone @5 depending on where the balls fall. Or, I could be wrong... 

 

[bustaheims]

Edmonton or New York (especially the former) winning the lottery might screw things up a but for those who want one of the top forwards I think. I see a lot of mocks with these two taking "D" but if they win and barring a trade, don't they have to take Yakupov?

The Islanders might feel that way (though, you never know with Snow and Co.), but, my guess is the Oilers wouldn't see a huge difference between taking Murray @ 2 and taking him 1st overall.

 

[nutman]

Edmonton or New York (especially the former) winning the lottery might screw things up a but for those who want one of the top forwards I think. I see a lot of mocks with these two taking "D" but if they win and barring a trade, don't they have to take Yakupov? It could be that the first three (or even four) picks go forward, forward, foward if one of these teams win it. I mean if that's the case, that means we get one of the two best defensmen in the draft which I'm cool with but I'm just saying that one (or both of) Gally AND Forsberg could be gone @5 depending on where the balls fall. Or, I could be wrong...

I'm all for picking the best center that is left when we pick, I dont believe we need defence at this point. our d need to have a system and we have just the coach to do that, so that is why I would go with the biggest weakness at center.

 

[maplesyrup]

I'm all for picking the best center that is left when we pick, I dont believe we need defence at this point. our d need to have a system and we have just the coach to do that, so that is why I would go with the biggest weakness at center.

Well, I've talked about this before and yeah, another top line forward (preferably a center) would be nice too but remember, there are only two years left on Phaneuf's deal and pairing Gardiner with another future top pairing defenseman (in my mind) would be equally nifty... and who knows, maybe the new could be paired with Jake sooner rather than later, pushing Dion to the second pairing which is probably where he belongs.   

 

[Corn Flake]

I can see Burke moving up, but who would be the most likely trading partner? Given that we're getting a pretty damn good player at 5th overall, I can't see it costing too much to move up.

Edmonton for sure.  There is a stack of good d-men they can pick from at #5 and I think the cost to move up won't be that insane, not in a draft like this. That said, getting Yakupov at #1 would be a different story.  CBJ has to walk away with a franchise piece in this draft or else they are all insane.  I don't think some parts gets you the #1.  They would want a Kessel or a Gardiner for that pick.

Yakupov is a winger is he not? if so  why would we want him, when we need a top center. so we dont need to move up to #1 but picking before the Habs would be nice.

If you can get the best player by a fairly wide margin in the draft, you worry a lot less about what position he plays, and you move other assets around to fill the other voids. 

I don't think Yakupov is the next Ovechkin, but he's quite likely a franchise level player. I don't think you can say that about any other player in this draft.. not right now, anyway.

 

[bustaheims]

Yakupov is a winger is he not? if so  why would we want him, when we need a top center. so we dont need to move up to #1 but picking before the Habs would be nice.

Because he's an elite talent that has a higher ceiling than all the available centres, and, what the Leafs really need to do is upgrade the talent level among the forwards, not just among the centres.

 

[Erndog]

I can see Burke moving up, but who would be the most likely trading partner? Given that we're getting a pretty damn good player at 5th overall, I can't see it costing too much to move up.

Edmonton for sure.  There is a stack of good d-men they can pick from at #5 and I think the cost to move up won't be that insane, not in a draft like this. That said, getting Yakupov at #1 would be a different story.  CBJ has to walk away with a franchise piece in this draft or else they are all insane.  I don't think some parts gets you the #1.  They would want a Kessel or a Gardiner for that pick.

Yakupov is a winger is he not? if so  why would we want him, when we need a top center. so we dont need to move up to #1 but picking before the Habs would be nice.

If you can get the best player by a fairly wide margin in the draft, you worry a lot less about what position he plays, and you move other assets around to fill the other voids. 

I don't think Yakupov is the next Ovechkin, but he's quite likely a franchise level player. I don't think you can say that about any other player in this draft.. not right now, anyway.

Right.  I think this is very reminiscent of the Tavares draft... where Tavares was seen for years to be head and shoulders above everyone in his draft year, then their started to be some whipsers later in the year that he *might* not be the best player available and Hedman and/or Duchene could go number 1.

3 years later and Tavares is CLEARLY the best player from that draft and the Isles made the right choice.

It's the same here... Yakupov is (will likely be) the best player to come out of this draft.  Like you said, he's probably the only franchise-esque player available.  If you can get him, you do it.  If we could go back and do the #7 plus Schenn deal for Tavares (like what was rumoured that year) I'm sure we do it in a heartbeat.

 

[Corn Flake]

Right.  I think this is very reminiscent of the Tavares draft... where Tavares was seen for years to be head and shoulders above everyone in his draft year, then their started to be some whipsers later in the year that he *might* not be the best player available and Hedman and/or Duchene could go number 1.

3 years later and Tavares is CLEARLY the best player from that draft and the Isles made the right choice.

It's the same here... Yakupov is (will likely be) the best player to come out of this draft.  Like you said, he's probably the only franchise-esque player available.  If you can get him, you do it.  If we could go back and do the #7 plus Schenn deal for Tavares (like what was rumoured that year) I'm sure we do it in a heartbeat.

Yep. People spend too much time over-analyzing draft rankings when really it's an easy choice at the top this year.  Plus I think the Russian stigma thing gets way overplayed here.  This talk about Columbus shying away from drafting a Russian player because of Zherdev and Filatov is just so laughable it's pathetic.  I mean, talk about stereotyping.  Teams are not that stupid to do things like that... not anymore anyway.  Maybe in the 80's that kind of history would play in, but not now.

 

[bustaheims]

It's the same here... Yakupov is (will likely be) the best player to come out of this draft.  Like you said, he's probably the only franchise-esque player available.  If you can get him, you do it.  If we could go back and do the #7 plus Schenn deal for Tavares (like what was rumoured that year) I'm sure we do it in a heartbeat.

That all-but-confirmed rumour was for the #2 pick from Tampa, not the 1st overall. The Islanders were never going to move that pick.

 

[Corn Flake]

It's the same here... Yakupov is (will likely be) the best player to come out of this draft.  Like you said, he's probably the only franchise-esque player available.  If you can get him, you do it.  If we could go back and do the #7 plus Schenn deal for Tavares (like what was rumoured that year) I'm sure we do it in a heartbeat.

That all-but-confirmed rumour was for the #2 pick from Tampa, not the 1st overall. The Islanders were never going to move that pick.

And was something the Leafs might have pulled the trigger on if NYI had gone with Hedman.

 

[Oracle]

I see Faska had shot up to #7.  He might be the best/safest pick at the centre ice position in the draft. It might be just plain old good sense to take this kid.

I think the opposite is true.

Any reason? He's a pretty talented fella with zero injury concerns, no? 

He's been out for about a week and a half with a concussion. Now word on his recovery.

Just heard on the radio Faksa is playing tonight, so the concussion must have been fairly mild. They did say last week that keeping him out was precautionary, but that seemed to ring false when he didn't play the first two games of the semi final this week.

Glad he's back tonight and apparently OK.

 

[maplesyrup]

Hmmm... Well, that changer my mind back a bit. Maybe @6 I take him assuming Gally is gone but I'm still thinking;

@5 Gally or Dumba 
@6 Forsberg or Faska.

(assuming all the other higher ranked prospects are gone.)