Draft Pick Watch - WE PICKED NYLANDER!!1!!

[Redleaf]

I'm pretty excited for this draft. For all the talk about how this was a weak crop of prospects, I think that we can get a very good player even if we stay at 8. Even a guy like Ritchie has big potential.

Yeah. I'm with you. I just wish there weren't so many misses in past drafts among the top ten picks. Once you get past number 3, it really becomes a crapshoot. I'd feel better about it if they could find a way to get into that top 3 range, but what can you do?

Ritchie seems like a decent pick, but from this standpoint, they all do.

 

[Redleaf]

I mean, the only thing that has really been reported about Shanny is that he wants 'culture change'. The coach isn't going anywhere, so doesn't that mean he's going to make some changes to the player personnel?

Not necessarily. Even if "culture change" weren't a phrase that could be interpreted however the speaker wants, the fact remains that changes have been made to the coaching staff already. I think it's pretty clear that some guys on the team won't be back but wanting a culture change doesn't guarantee anything beyond that.

Unless you're the new president of operations, and you want to put your stamp on the team right away. Shanahan may have already decided he wants to take a different direction with this team, and has pegged guys he wants traded away.

We just don't know enough of what he's been thinking the past few months to base anything on right now.

 

[Kin]

Unless you're the new president of operations, and you want to put your stamp on the team right away. Shanahan may have already decided he wants to take a different direction with this team, and has pegged guys he wants traded away.

We just don't know enough of what he's been thinking the past few months to base anything on right now.

...Right. Which is why I said that a "culture change" could mean anything or nothing.

 

[bustaheims]

Unless you're the new president of operations, and you want to put your stamp on the team right away. Shanahan may have already decided he wants to take a different direction with this team, and has pegged guys he wants traded away.

We just don't know enough of what he's been thinking the past few months to base anything on right now.

Or, in his role as President, Shanahan understands that he's not the GM, and, instead of issue specific decrees on which players need to be moved, he's approached more like someone in his position is expected to - providing direction instead of instructing specific actions. If Shanahan didn't trust Nonis to make the decisions on who stays or who goes, he should (and, I imagine, would) have fired him by now.

 

[Redleaf]

Unless you're the new president of operations, and you want to put your stamp on the team right away. Shanahan may have already decided he wants to take a different direction with this team, and has pegged guys he wants traded away.

We just don't know enough of what he's been thinking the past few months to base anything on right now.

Or, in his role as President, Shanahan understands that he's not the GM, and, instead of issue specific decrees on which players need to be moved, he's approached more like someone in his position is expected to - providing direction instead of instructing specific actions. If Shanahan didn't trust Nonis to make the decisions on who stays or who goes, he should (and, I imagine, would) have fired him by now.

Unless you're the new president of operations, and you want to put your stamp on the team right away. Shanahan may have already decided he wants to take a different direction with this team, and has pegged guys he wants traded away.

We just don't know enough of what he's been thinking the past few months to base anything on right now.

...Right. Which is why I said that a "culture change" could mean anything or nothing.

I agree a 'culture change' could mean a lot of things. Doing nothing wouldn't be one of them though. Shanahan doesn't strike me as the type of guy to make a proclamation like that and then do absolutely nothing about it. That's why I believe we could see a pretty busy off season ahead.

 

[Kin]

I agree a 'culture change' could mean a lot of things. Doing nothing wouldn't be one of them though.

Sure it could. I mean he's already not done "nothing" by virtue of firing the assistants but regardless of what subjective reads we might get on Shanahan from his press conferences, where I'd point out that one of his primary responsibilities is to at least look like he knows what he's doing, he's not going to be a magician and be able to make deals just because he wants them to happen.

 

[ZBBM]

I think we get Nylander with the 8th.  Just a hunch.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I think we get Nylander with the 8th.  Just a hunch.

Was just coming to post that according to a Swedish newspaper he's terminated his contract with Modo, so he'll be available to play in North America next season. He had 1 year left on his contract.

It also mentioned that he had positive talks with the Oilers, Panthers, and Leafs.

 

[Palmateer29]

I think we get Nylander with the 8th.  Just a hunch.

Was just coming to post that according to a Swedish newspaper he's terminated his contract with Modo, so he'll be available to play in North America next season. He had 1 year left on his contract.

It also mentioned that he had positive talks with the Oilers, Panthers, and Leafs.

I'd be good with Jake Virtanen though...

 

[Redleaf]

That comment alone doesn't tell us anything really, but this article offers a little more insight...

http://www.tsn.ca/toronto/blogs/jonas_siegel/?id=455782

I'd say the chances of Nonis trading up to pick first overall are slim to none, unless Florida have a last minute change of heart as to what it will take to 'knock their socks off.'

I'd say they're just straight up none.

Dreger "in fact, I've heard stories that trades that have basically been agreed to & will be signed off at the draft floor"

 

[bustaheims]

Dreger "in fact, I've heard stories that trades that have basically been agreed to & will be signed off at the draft floor"

And that has what to do with the Leafs acquiring the #1 pick? Nonis basically put the kibosh on that yesterday when he said he wouldn't trade young players to move up in the draft. The Leafs might make moves, but they won't be to get the 1st overall pick.

 

[louisstamos]

Dreger "in fact, I've heard stories that trades that have basically been agreed to & will be signed off at the draft floor"

And that has what to do with the Leafs acquiring the #1 pick? Nonis basically put the kibosh on that yesterday when he said he wouldn't trade young players to move up in the draft. The Leafs might make moves, but they won't be to get the 1st overall pick.

I don't think Dreger said it was the Leafs.  If anything, my guess is Edmonton would want to trade up in order to be guaranteed Ekblad.  I think Florida would be happy with Bennet/Reinhart @ #3 + additional assets/players.

 

[Redleaf]

Dreger "in fact, I've heard stories that trades that have basically been agreed to & will be signed off at the draft floor"

And that has what to do with the Leafs acquiring the #1 pick? Nonis basically put the kibosh on that yesterday when he said he wouldn't trade young players to move up in the draft. The Leafs might make moves, but they won't be to get the 1st overall pick.

I don't think Dreger said it was the Leafs.  If anything, my guess is Edmonton would want to trade up in order to be guaranteed Ekblad.  I think Florida would be happy with Bennet/Reinhart @ #3 + additional assets/players.

Oh. Ok. I didn't get the full context of that comment.

 

[Highlander]

what time does the draft start?

 

[bustaheims]

I don't think Dreger said it was the Leafs.  If anything, my guess is Edmonton would want to trade up in order to be guaranteed Ekblad.  I think Florida would be happy with Bennet/Reinhart @ #3 + additional assets/players.

I don't think he was referencing any particular team in general, nor was he really even referencing the 1st overall pick. Just that there are trades in place right now that haven't been finalized, but might be during the draft.

As for Edmonton specifically, he posted this:

DarrenDreger: Doesn't sound like either Buffalo or Edmonton are interested in moving the 2nd or 3rd pick overall.

Now, that doesn't mean they wouldn't trade to move up, but, to me, it sounds like they're pretty comfortable with the player they'll get if they stay where they are now.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Tim Murray seems to agree with Dreger, something's clogging up the movement. Pending big trade?

John Vogl @BuffNewsVogl

Sabres GM Tim Murray is disappointed all the trade chatter so far has not resulted in trades, says there must be a blockbuster somewhere.

You'd have to think that one or more of those big names we've all heard about are moving and it would naturally involve high picks.

 

[Redleaf]

John Shannon said on HC@N that he's hearing Ekblad isn't going to Florida.

I'm not saying the Leafs are the team that will get that pick, but it's looking more and more like Tallon will trade away the first overall tonight.

 

[bustaheims]

You'd have to think that one or more of those big names we've all heard about are moving and it would naturally involve high picks.

Well, there's this:

Hope_Smoke: John Shannon just said on FAN 590 that Anaheim and Vancouver had an agreed upon deal for Kesler at the deadline and Kesler's family nixed it

Hope_Smoke: Shannon also said Bryan Murray isn't happy with the Spezza offers. Said Murray really wants a first round pick and isn't being offered one

 

[bustaheims]

John Shannon said on HC@N that he's hearing Ekblad isn't going to Florida.

I'm not saying the Leafs are the team that will get that pick, but it's looking more and more like Tallon will trade away the first overall tonight.

Or just that they don't want Ekblad. It's not like he's way out in front of everyone. Bennett or Reinhart have both been talked about as potential 1st overall picks, as well.

 

[Kin]

I think people may want to take their cues just a bit from last night's NBA draft. In the week leading up to the draft we heard about how the #1 pick was going to be traded and the #3 pick would be traded and the Celtics would trade the #6 pick for Kevin Love and the Lakers would trade the #7 pick for cap space and on and on and on.

Then the draft comes and what happens? Philadelphia swapped the #10 pick with Orlando at #12, Denver traded #11 for #16 and #19 and Miami traded up from #26 to 24. That's it. No big names, nobody traded out of the top ten.

Talk happens before the draft. Probably best not to read too much into any of it until something gets announced.