THE 2016 NHL DRAFT-DAY THREAD

[Kin]

How many are going to clench up if before the Leafs make their pick, Bettman gets up to the podium and says "I have a trade to announce..."?

That's not even funny.

 

[rdowdall]

How many are going to clench up if before the Leafs make their pick, Bettman gets up to the podium and says "I have a trade to announce..."?

That's not even funny.

It was my use of the word clench, wasn't it?

 

[herman]

How many are going to clench up if before the Leafs make their pick, Bettman gets up to the podium and says "I have a trade to announce..."?

That's not even funny.

It was my use of the word clench, wasn't it?

You get a star *

 

[Zee]

How many are going to clench up if before the Leafs make their pick, Bettman gets up to the podium and says "I have a trade to announce..."?

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
"You're gonna wanna hear this!"  Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

 

[rdowdall]

How many are going to clench up if before the Leafs make their pick, Bettman gets up to the podium and says "I have a trade to announce..."?

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
"You're gonna wanna hear this!"  Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

I'm about 4 hours away from Toronto, hold off on burning the ACC to the ground till I get there.

EDIT:  I feel the need to qualify that I do not condone terrorism.  This was meant as a joke to show the amount of rage I would have if the Leafs traded the first overall pick away.

 

[herman]

Needs more draft hype:
https://sports.vice.com/ca/article/mark-hunter-is-the-maple-leafs-silent-assassin

Hunter demands a challenge and nabbing the two highly-touted prospects was no different. Perry and Hunter chased them around the city of London, trying to figure out where they were going for dinner, just so Mark could run into them again. Hunter's determination paid off, as Kane and Gagner would eventually play for the Knights and then go first and sixth overall, respectively, in the 2007 NHL draft.

Those two exemplified the type of player that Hunter was and is increasingly looking for. Skill before size became a priority of Hunter's in the OHL when he realized the league was getting rid of head shots. Gagner stands 5'11", as does the the diminutive but talented Kane, who scored an NHL-best 106 points this past season.

"We figured out the (OHL) was changing," Hunter told the Toronto Star last summer. "We needed skilled players. We switched then, and we went with skill. Those were our thoughts when we were drafting, and we didn't change."

Marner, also standing 5'11", was immediate proof that Hunter's preference for skill over size wasn't something he left behind in London, but rather a vision he would bring with him to the Leafs. Skill over size, as it were, has long been a notion refuted by the Leafs.

So much of what has plagued past rebuild efforts by the Leafs has been the need to create a rough-and-tumble team identity. In 2013-14, the Leafs were first in the league in fighting penalties. This season, Toronto finished second last in fighting majors.

"Skilled players have a better chance to get things done on the ice," Hunter told the Toronto Star. "You get a big, strong guy, it's hard to develop skill. Guys that do have skill, you can develop them physically. They can get stronger. That's how I look at it."

 

[rdowdall]

Needs more draft hype:
https://sports.vice.com/ca/article/mark-hunter-is-the-maple-leafs-silent-assassin

Hunter demands a challenge and nabbing the two highly-touted prospects was no different. Perry and Hunter chased them around the city of London, trying to figure out where they were going for dinner, just so Mark could run into them again. Hunter's determination paid off, as Kane and Gagner would eventually play for the Knights and then go first and sixth overall, respectively, in the 2007 NHL draft.

Those two exemplified the type of player that Hunter was and is increasingly looking for. Skill before size became a priority of Hunter's in the OHL when he realized the league was getting rid of head shots. Gagner stands 5'11", as does the the diminutive but talented Kane, who scored an NHL-best 106 points this past season.

"We figured out the (OHL) was changing," Hunter told the Toronto Star last summer. "We needed skilled players. We switched then, and we went with skill. Those were our thoughts when we were drafting, and we didn't change."

Marner, also standing 5'11", was immediate proof that Hunter's preference for skill over size wasn't something he left behind in London, but rather a vision he would bring with him to the Leafs. Skill over size, as it were, has long been a notion refuted by the Leafs.

So much of what has plagued past rebuild efforts by the Leafs has been the need to create a rough-and-tumble team identity. In 2013-14, the Leafs were first in the league in fighting penalties. This season, Toronto finished second last in fighting majors.

"Skilled players have a better chance to get things done on the ice," Hunter told the Toronto Star. "You get a big, strong guy, it's hard to develop skill. Guys that do have skill, you can develop them physically. They can get stronger. That's how I look at it."

One of the Stanley Cup finals that always stood out in my head was the Red Wings against the Flyers.  The Red Wings won in 4 straight.  One of the major factors in that series was that the Red Wings, who were the smaller team, just out skated the Flyers to the point where they look exhausted near the end of the games.

 

[TBLeafer]

Needs more draft hype:
https://sports.vice.com/ca/article/mark-hunter-is-the-maple-leafs-silent-assassin

Hunter demands a challenge and nabbing the two highly-touted prospects was no different. Perry and Hunter chased them around the city of London, trying to figure out where they were going for dinner, just so Mark could run into them again. Hunter's determination paid off, as Kane and Gagner would eventually play for the Knights and then go first and sixth overall, respectively, in the 2007 NHL draft.

Those two exemplified the type of player that Hunter was and is increasingly looking for. Skill before size became a priority of Hunter's in the OHL when he realized the league was getting rid of head shots. Gagner stands 5'11", as does the the diminutive but talented Kane, who scored an NHL-best 106 points this past season.

"We figured out the (OHL) was changing," Hunter told the Toronto Star last summer. "We needed skilled players. We switched then, and we went with skill. Those were our thoughts when we were drafting, and we didn't change."

Marner, also standing 5'11", was immediate proof that Hunter's preference for skill over size wasn't something he left behind in London, but rather a vision he would bring with him to the Leafs. Skill over size, as it were, has long been a notion refuted by the Leafs.

So much of what has plagued past rebuild efforts by the Leafs has been the need to create a rough-and-tumble team identity. In 2013-14, the Leafs were first in the league in fighting penalties. This season, Toronto finished second last in fighting majors.

"Skilled players have a better chance to get things done on the ice," Hunter told the Toronto Star. "You get a big, strong guy, it's hard to develop skill. Guys that do have skill, you can develop them physically. They can get stronger. That's how I look at it."

Nice primer. 

 

[CarltonTheBear]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y0hWsyPC4Q[/youtube]

 

[rdowdall]

If JVR doesn't move today, do people still think that he will be moved at some point this summer, or does he stay around with the Leafs for the next year?

 

[Kin]

If JVR doesn't move today, do people still think that he will be moved at some point this summer, or does he stay around with the Leafs for the next year?

My guess is that if he doesn't get moved today he sticks around at least until the start of next year.

 

[bustaheims]

If JVR doesn't move today, do people still think that he will be moved at some point this summer, or does he stay around with the Leafs for the next year?

That depends on the kind of return they're looking for. I wouldn't say the deadline is the draft. I'm thinking more mid-July. If he's not moved by the time free agency really winds down, he's probably a Leaf until at least the trade deadline.

 

[Kin]

If JVR doesn't move today, do people still think that he will be moved at some point this summer, or does he stay around with the Leafs for the next year?

That depends on the kind of return they're looking for. I wouldn't say the deadline is the draft. I'm thinking more mid-July. If he's not moved by the time free agency really winds down, he's probably a Leaf until at least the trade deadline.

Yeah, I really would say that if JVR isn't dealt today than at the very least people should temper their expectations for what he'll return by a fair degree.  If he doesn't move today then I think it's at least fair to say that reaction to his availability isn't "JVR is available?!?! Holy smokes, we gotta meet the Leafs asking price before anyone else does."

 

[Zee]

If JVR doesn't move today, do people still think that he will be moved at some point this summer, or does he stay around with the Leafs for the next year?

That depends on the kind of return they're looking for. I wouldn't say the deadline is the draft. I'm thinking more mid-July. If he's not moved by the time free agency really winds down, he's probably a Leaf until at least the trade deadline.

That makes sense to me, JVR back playing and healthy, if he puts up great numbers on a more offensive Leafs team his value will be at an all time high by trade deadline.  Given his age, production, and contract, he would be attractive to a team looking for a playoff push.

 

[herman]

If JVR doesn't move today, do people still think that he will be moved at some point this summer, or does he stay around with the Leafs for the next year?

That depends on the kind of return they're looking for. I wouldn't say the deadline is the draft. I'm thinking more mid-July. If he's not moved by the time free agency really winds down, he's probably a Leaf until at least the trade deadline.

Yeah, I really would say that if JVR isn't dealt today than at the very least people should temper their expectations for what he'll return by a fair degree.  If he doesn't move today then I think it's at least fair to say that reaction to his availability isn't "JVR is available?!?! Holy smokes, we gotta meet the Leafs asking price before anyone else does."

They should post about him on that website of available players.

Tall, youthful left winger in his prime with a deft scoring touch. Looking for a serious team that is ready to compete today and desires to win it all. Willing to go into the dirty areas, or make a tip, or go bar down from inside the blue paint. Must have a center who can skate and is okay with visible mouthguards.

Can cosplay Channing Tatum, Chris Hemsworth, or Chris Evans

 

[Bill_Berg]

My son has T-ball from 6-7. There's a good chance I'll make it back before the first pick, but just in case, I'm PVRing the draft. Something I never thought I'd be saying.

 

[Tigger]

If JVR doesn't move today, do people still think that he will be moved at some point this summer, or does he stay around with the Leafs for the next year?

That depends on the kind of return they're looking for. I wouldn't say the deadline is the draft. I'm thinking more mid-July. If he's not moved by the time free agency really winds down, he's probably a Leaf until at least the trade deadline.

Yeah, I really would say that if JVR isn't dealt today than at the very least people should temper their expectations for what he'll return by a fair degree.  If he doesn't move today then I think it's at least fair to say that reaction to his availability isn't "JVR is available?!?! Holy smokes, we gotta meet the Leafs asking price before anyone else does."

They should post about him on that website of available players.

Tall, youthful left winger in his prime with a deft scoring touch. Looking for a serious team that is ready to compete today and desires to win it all. Willing to go into the dirty areas, or make a tip, or go bar down from inside the blue paint. Must have a center who can skate and is okay with visible mouthguards.

Can cosplay Channing Tatum, Chris Hemsworth, or Chris Evans

..and new Benning tampering charges emerge...

 

[disco]

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-sheer-joy-of-draft-watching-gary-bettman/

https://twitter.com/DownGoesBrown/status/746338166458679296

 

[disco]

https://twitter.com/TSNDaveNaylor/status/746297282778169344

 

[Frank E]

Wendel Clark looks 40 years old at 18.