2011 NHL Entry Draft Watch

Prospects in OTT nxt wk for visits: Mon.-Couturier,Strome,Zibanejad. Tues.-Hamilton,Huberdeau,Landeskog. RNH,Larsson,Murphy not coming

Big Ev wrote:Prospects in OTT nxt wk for visits: Mon.-Couturier,Strome,Zibanejad. Tues.-Hamilton,Huberdeau,Landeskog. RNH,Larsson,Murphy not coming

interesting. and that's by invitation I inagine? Zibanejad is an interesting name in there. We probably won't pick him unless we move that 21st overall into a 10th overall. He might higher then that. Huberdeau... I hope and cross my fingers it's not just wishful thinking.

Big Ev wrote:Prospects in OTT nxt wk for visits: Mon.-Couturier,Strome,Zibanejad. Tues.-Hamilton,Huberdeau,Landeskog. RNH,Larsson,Murphy not coming

So...they're not trading up to 1 or 2 and we deem Murphy as redundant (although, he's awesome), but....they're gonna have a chat with Hamilton, a 6'4" hard-hitting puck mover to complete the fearsome foursome.

Imagine:

Cowen - Karlsson
Hamilton - Rundblad
Phillips - Gryba

In a few years...

Or they just want one of Huberdeau, Landeskog, Couturier or Strome which makes more sense.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Big Ev wrote:Prospects in OTT nxt wk for visits: Mon.-Couturier,Strome,Zibanejad. Tues.-Hamilton,Huberdeau,Landeskog. RNH,Larsson,Murphy not coming

So...they're not trading up to 1 or 2 and we deem Murphy as redundant (although, he's awesome), but....they're gonna have a chat with Hamilton, a 6'4" hard-hitting puck mover to complete the fearsome foursome.

Imagine:

Cowen - Karlsson
Hamilton - Rundblad
Phillips - Gryba

In a few years...

Or they just want one of Huberdeau, Landeskog, Couturier or Strome which makes more sense.

How about Cowen & Hamilton as a pairing.
Karlsson & Rundblad
Phillips & Gryba

That's 3 hard hitting D. With 2 towers together. That would take down the truculent Leafs.

I wouldn't call Hamilton a true hard-hitter. He has been criticized for being soft and easy to play against, and he isn't big for his frame (less than 200 pounds for a 6'4 or 6'5 foot player). He may be tall but he certainly isn't a "tower". He can hit and he can move the puck, but he's a tweener.

Big Ev wrote:I wouldn't call Hamilton a true hard-hitter. He has been criticized for being soft and easy to play against, and he isn't big for his frame (less than 200 pounds for a 6'4 or 6'5 foot player). He may be tall but he certainly isn't a "tower". He can hit and he can move the puck, but he's a tweener.

I keep reading that he's slowly learning to use his big frame to erase guys - and that he was hesitant to do it before. When, not if IMO, he learns the art of demolishing guys, some team is gonna be REAL pleased they selected him at 7 or wherever he goes.

Hyopthetical: lets say the Flames don't sign Tim Erixon today, which would cause him to go back into the draft. He was money with Rundblad last year. I assume a team would love to draft him in the Top 10, so maybe there's another d-man who would be picked before us which would give us the player we want.

Big Ev wrote:Hyopthetical: lets say the Flames don't sign Tim Erixon today, which would cause him to go back into the draft. He was money with Rundblad last year. I assume a team would love to draft him in the Top 10, so maybe there's another d-man who would be picked before us which would give us the player we want.

Top 10 maybe, top 5...I dunno about that personally. What are the indications right now? The Flames have until 5, will they miss? That would be a MASSIVE blow to the Flames who already suck.

I would draft Erixon right behind Larsson in terms of d-men.

I think they have until midnight?

Whose midnight though? Eastern or Pacific?

Big Ev wrote:I would draft Erixon right behind Larsson in terms of d-men.

I think they have until midnight?

The more I think about it, the more you might be right. I think he goes behind Hamilton and Murphy, but I could be wrong, he could go in the top 10. Imagine him and Rundblad together in the future, with Cowen and Karlsson. Diddle...

EDIT: And I heard it was 5 PM from SteffeG.

What a potentially crazy story. The Flames would receive a compensatory pick a la Phoenix for Wheeler I believe, but what a loss and what a story that would be.

Also...someone else, either Czikas or Eakin has to be signed today as well.

Why didn't he ever come to terms with Calgary though? He's their best defence prospect, probably best prospect in general.

While the team knows what they are getting, having seen him a few more years than other draft eligible players, he is older and may not sign with them either.

Dash wrote:Why didn't he ever come to terms with Calgary though? He's their best defence prospect, probably best prospect in general.

While the team knows what they are getting, having seen him a few more years than other draft eligible players, he is older and may not sign with them either.

Yeah, it's a hell of a red flag, I'll admit.

Geez, SteffeG thinks top 10 for Erixon if he's back in the draft. I asked him if he could go top 5...waiting for a response.

Yes he could. I don't need "steffeg" to confirm that. He's better than any d-man except Larsson arguably.

Cizikas is getting signed, Eakin was signed a while ago.

Big Ev wrote:Yes he could. I don't need "steffeg" to confirm that. He's better than any d-man except Larsson arguably.

Cizikas is getting signed, Eakin was signed a while ago.

Except SteffeG watches all of the Swedish games, lives in Sweden and is one of the best sources of information on Swedish prospects.

Big Ev wrote:Yes he could. I don't need "steffeg" to confirm that. He's better than any d-man except Larsson arguably.

Cizikas is getting signed, Eakin was signed a while ago.

In your opinion he is...I put him on par with Hamilton which puts him in the top 10 at best.