NHL 2009 Draft question

Perhaps this signing causes him to drop somewhat in the draft.... say till the end of the 1st round? Or us picking up an extra 1st round pick and getting him in the early round? Some teams might be looking for a guy for the now, and MSP clearly won't be joining an NHL team next season.

I'm fairly confident we will wind up with a top 2 pick, that is unless the NHL Draft is rigged (and I have my conspiracies). In that case, look for a team like Atlanta to win, maybe NYI as well, considering one is going bankrupt and the other's owner wants to sell and move the team.

I'm certain we should wind up with at least 3 first round picks in the 09 draft.

I like Hedman/Tavares as my 1/2 pick, or vice versa (OTT's pick), followed by a guy like Duchene if we get that lucky, or Peter Holland, Schroeder, Schenn (acquired via trade), and then a goalie like Roy or Pasquale in the late round (SJ's).

DashRiprock wrote:Perhaps this signing causes him to drop somewhat in the draft.... say till the end of the 1st round? Or us picking up an extra 1st round pick and getting him in the early round? Some teams might be looking for a guy for the now, and MSP clearly won't be joining an NHL team next season.

I'm fairly confident we will wind up with a top 2 pick, that is unless the NHL Draft is rigged (and I have my conspiracies). In that case, look for a team like Atlanta to win, maybe NYI as well, considering one is going bankrupt and the other's owner wants to sell and move the team.

I'm certain we should wind up with at least 3 first round picks in the 09 draft.

Yeah, it really depends cause I forget the percentages but they are significantly better if your last... How many times has it happened where the team finishing in last place dosen't get the 1st pick?

DashRiprock wrote:Perhaps this signing causes him to drop somewhat in the draft.... say till the end of the 1st round? Or us picking up an extra 1st round pick and getting him in the early round? Some teams might be looking for a guy for the now, and MSP clearly won't be joining an NHL team next season.

I'm fairly confident we will wind up with a top 2 pick, that is unless the NHL Draft is rigged (and I have my conspiracies). In that case, look for a team like Atlanta to win, maybe NYI as well, considering one is going bankrupt and the other's owner wants to sell and move the team.

I'm certain we should wind up with at least 3 first round picks in the 09 draft.

Not a chance.

If he drops past the top-10, every GM who passes on him from then on should be fired on the spot.

Falling out of the top-6 would be a surprise to me.

I don't see why taking another year in Europe would deter GMs much. The Blues knew Erik Johnson was going to take another year in College and yet still drafted him first over-all even with the knowledge of Toews' potential.

Here is a scenario for everyone... Thrashers get the 1st overall pick, does Tavares refuse to play there? I bet he will.

To be honest, I think this is just confirmation of what everyone knew. I really doubt it affects his draft status.

It's probably more relevant to Erik Karlsson, because there were rumours that MSP was looking to move to Frolunda next season.

Don't count on it - he wants to play in the NHL. He will not hold out like Wheeler. Only way is if he is traded.

Neely4Life wrote:Here is a scenario for everyone... Thrashers get the 1st overall pick, does Tavares refuse to play there? I bet he will.

I'd put money against that.

He's a good kid. If it's that bad, he'll leave after his first deal.

Refusing to play for the team that drafts you IMO makes you look like a prima donna and thus less enticing to other teams.

Also this is probably moot because the Islanders are running away with last place and will have a very strong chance at first over-all as a result.

DashRiprock wrote:Don't count on it - he wants to play in the NHL. He will not hold out like Wheeler. Only way is if he is traded.

Maybe not, but if Im Tavares I tell Atlanta not to draft me or to trade me as soon as you do. Tavares will not help that franchise, nothing will.

Neely4Life wrote:Here is a scenario for everyone... Thrashers get the 1st overall pick, does Tavares refuse to play there? I bet he will.

yeah I figure he'll go to where he's drafted... He dosen't seem like one to cause trouble like that... If it gets that bad where he goes, he can always leave after his entry contract...

asq2 wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:Here is a scenario for everyone... Thrashers get the 1st overall pick, does Tavares refuse to play there? I bet he will.

I'd put money against that.

He's a good kid. If it's that bad, he'll leave after his first deal.

Refusing to play for the team that drafts you IMO makes you look like a prima donna and thus less enticing to other teams.

I dont know, I really dont. This is just some food for thought, but I can see it happening. I wouldnt even hold it against him, who would want to play there. I say its 100% justified if he wants to actually make an impact in the NHL. Good kid or not, he may also be a very smart kid.

Neely4Life wrote:

asq2 wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:Here is a scenario for everyone... Thrashers get the 1st overall pick, does Tavares refuse to play there? I bet he will.

I'd put money against that.

He's a good kid. If it's that bad, he'll leave after his first deal.

Refusing to play for the team that drafts you IMO makes you look like a prima donna and thus less enticing to other teams.

I dont know, I really dont. This is just some food for thought, but I can see it happening. I wouldnt even hold it against him, who would want to play there. I say its 100% justified if he wants to actually make an impact in the NHL. Good kid or not, he may also be a very smart kid.

I agree that it will be unfortunate to waste 3 years of his NHL if indeed he goes to a team that is helpless...

Ya, I dunno, just curious what people think... Im not saying he will, but I dont think anyones mouth would hit the ground if he did. I dont think the reaction would be "what a little punk" either. Mine would be "hell, I wouldnt play there either".

They made the playoffs a few years back.

Bogosian finally gives them a presence on the blue-line, Kovalchuk probably will still be there, same goes for Kozlov, Brian Little, Todd White etc.

Ya, but Atlanta has to win now, they cant wait. Kovulchuk is as good as gone, Kozlov is on his last legs, Lehtonen seems to be a bust... not a good situation in Atlanta right now.

If Kozlov isn't wanted in Atlanta, this guy would be perfect here to balance out our secondary scoring. A little expensive, but he's damn good.

Anyway, going back to the original discussion (and the MSP discussion), how often does (a non-1st overall) pick come in as an 18 year old and make an impact in the NHL?

When you ask whether you can get these guys into your line-up, it's not like you're getting them in their primes.

Even if MSP was coming over next season, I doubt he'd have a huge impact as an 18 year old kid.

Neely4Life wrote:

DashRiprock wrote:Don't count on it - he wants to play in the NHL. He will not hold out like Wheeler. Only way is if he is traded.

Maybe not, but if Im Tavares I tell Atlanta not to draft me or to trade me as soon as you do. Tavares will not help that franchise, nothing will.

Firing Waddell is a start. How he's still employed is beyond me.

asq2 wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:Here is a scenario for everyone... Thrashers get the 1st overall pick, does Tavares refuse to play there? I bet he will.

I'd put money against that.

He's a good kid. If it's that bad, he'll leave after his first deal.

Refusing to play for the team that drafts you IMO makes you look like a prima donna and thus less enticing to other teams.

Also this is probably moot because the Islanders are running away with last place and will have a very strong chance at first over-all as a result.

"running away" might be a bit of an overstatement, don't you think? I mean, they're 4 points behind us...Don't count us out just yet