Prospecting Prospect - End of Season 18/19

I think they’ll give him every opportunity to make the team and to move into that 2-3C position. White is someone that could be moved to the wing. The org are still high on him. But it’s senseless to trade him now unless there’s an overpayment.

Flo The Action wrote:I think they’ll give him every opportunity to make the team and to move into that 2-3C position. White is someone that could be moved to the wing. The org are still high on him. But it’s senseless to trade him now unless there’s an overpayment.

Norris is someone else who can move to the wing. Don't forget with have Pinto in the pipeline and he's probably 2 max 3 years away from being an NHL. He's more suited to be a center given his style of play. And then there's Chlapik who will probably force his way into a one-way contract this year and may be a 4C guy. Beaudin didn't look too out of place in his 22 games with Ottawa either.

All this to say Logan Brown better be working his arse off right now or he is going to be moved.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:I think they’ll give him every opportunity to make the team and to move into that 2-3C position. White is someone that could be moved to the wing. The org are still high on him. But it’s senseless to trade him now unless there’s an overpayment.

Norris is someone else who can move to the wing. Don't forget with have Pinto in the pipeline and he's probably 2 max 3 years away from being an NHL. He's more suited to be a center given his style of play. And then there's Chlapik who will probably force his way into a one-way contract this year and may be a 4C guy. Beaudin didn't look too out of place in his 22 games with Ottawa either.

I agree with everything you said. i just think that unless there's an overpayment they will likely work him into the line-up to show he's an NHL player. He might get traded after that.

I think Chlapik, Paul and Balcer get their shot to stick in Ottawa this year. unless they end up as part of a trade.

i find it hard to predict the line-up right now and will probably keep being that way until at least after the draft. besides we're are likely a minimum 6-7 months away from regular season puck drop. i hope they organise a little tournament with other non-playoff teams in the mean time.

wprager wrote:If we pick up Byfield in the draft Brown becomes immediately dispensable.  But I still maintain Byfield isn't ready for top six NHL minutes and Brown's trade value is near the bottom. I suspect they'll give him plenty of offensive starts and PP time to move that up a couple notches. Trading a 6'5" center with pedigree who has decent offensive stats should be fairly easy.

I don’t know anyone that thinks Byfield is ready for anything more than a couple games in the NHL. He doesn’t make anyone immediately dispensable in my opinion.

Lagoon wrote:

wprager wrote:If we pick up Byfield in the draft Brown becomes immediately dispensable.  But I still maintain Byfield isn't ready for top six NHL minutes and Brown's trade value is near the bottom. I suspect they'll give him plenty of offensive starts and PP time to move that up a couple notches. Trading a 6'5" center with pedigree who has decent offensive stats should be fairly easy.

I don’t know anyone that thinks Byfield is ready for anything more than a couple games in the NHL. He doesn’t make anyone immediately dispensable in my opinion.

Agreed. He's barely 18. Plus I don't think anyone should forget Brown put up good numbers and was a huge difference on the powerplay for the Sens. He had plenty of chances and made others around him better. Very similar playing style to Spezza IMO

If we draft Byfield, Brown doesn't become immediately dispensible, but in a year's time he does. Assume Byfield gets sent back to the OHL, Brown could take over regular duties in Ottawa. Just the sheer number of centers ready to play in 2021-22 will force the hand though (Byfield, Brown, Norris, White, Tierney, etc.) I doubt Norris is getting traded. It may come down to White/Brown, and White fill more of a need than Brown does IMO (defensive specialist, PK, projected replacement for Pageau). Tierney likely will be trade bait as well. Whatever Brown can do, Byfield can probably do better.

EDIT: there may also finally be a realization that Logan Brown is just too injury prone. He's battled it pretty much his whole career, would be foolish to think it will suddenly turn-around for him

SensHulk wrote:If we draft Byfield, Brown doesn't become immediately dispensible, but in a year's time he does. Assume Byfield gets sent back to the OHL, Brown could take over regular duties in Ottawa. Just the sheer number of centers ready to play in 2021-22 will force the hand though (Byfield, Brown, Norris, White, Tierney, etc.) I doubt Norris is getting traded. It may come down to White/Brown, and White fill more of a need than Brown does IMO (defensive specialist, PK, projected replacement for Pageau). Tierney likely will be trade bait as well. Whatever Brown can do, Byfield can probably do better.

EDIT: there may also finally be a realization that Logan Brown is just too injury prone. He's battled it pretty much his whole career, would be foolish to think it will suddenly turn-around for him

Because he is injury prone it would take a while to get his value up to be a solid trade chip. Even with a solid season.
But at this point what's the alternative? pennies on the dollar?

I still have serious doubts that he can be a good NHL player. Hasn't shown the speed, drive, and hustle that says he could permanently make the team. That said I'm sure he'll be given all the opportunities for him to prove it.

This long pause might be the best thing for him. Gives him lots of time to train and recover. Surely he and his agent realize he's quickly being passed by Norris on the depth chart and the Sens are about to get two maybe three high fliers. Room in the top-six is quickly disappearing.

If it's an attitude thing, I'm sure someone like Tkachuk and Boro will be all over him to compete. His agent bought him a couple games at the NHL level last season but this year it's on him.

I also expect a big bounce back year for White. I am salivating over the prospect of him playing with Brown and Norris as a two-way line that can get up and down the ice in a hurry. Which to me actually leaves Formenton on either L2 or L4. His speed is lethal and if paired with someone who can get him the puck (Duclair and L.Brown) he can do some damage.

SensHulk wrote:If we draft Byfield, Brown doesn't become immediately dispensible, but in a year's time he does. Assume Byfield gets sent back to the OHL, Brown could take over regular duties in Ottawa. Just the sheer number of centers ready to play in 2021-22 will force the hand though (Byfield, Brown, Norris, White, Tierney, etc.) I doubt Norris is getting traded. It may come down to White/Brown, and White fill more of a need than Brown does IMO (defensive specialist, PK, projected replacement for Pageau). Tierney likely will be trade bait as well. Whatever Brown can do, Byfield can probably do better.

EDIT: there may also finally be a realization that Logan Brown is just too injury prone. He's battled it pretty much his whole career, would be foolish to think it will suddenly turn-around for him

Byfield will take 3, most likely 4 years to be a #1 center. Anyone thinking otherwise will be wrong in my opinion. And don’t be surprised if Byfield goes overseas next year for his D+1. That wouldn’t shock me.

Ev wrote:I can’t get behind Rossi in the top 4 at all. I’d wager the odds are extremely low that any team has him above Stutzle. I would have Rossi 7-10 (with Holtz and Sanderson and Lundell being close together) I believe Perfettis offensive game and upside is superior and I’d much rather take Drysdale due to him being RD and having excellent offensive upside. I can’t envision Rossi being a 1st line Centre in the NHL.

Only Byfield has prototypical 1C potential and ability from this draft.

Times are changing everywhere, every way and every day in this world. Rossi can be a #1C the way the NHL is going. Perfetti will be a very good #2 with outstanding PP1 ability.

Lagoon wrote:

wprager wrote:If we pick up Byfield in the draft Brown becomes immediately dispensable.  But I still maintain Byfield isn't ready for top six NHL minutes and Brown's trade value is near the bottom. I suspect they'll give him plenty of offensive starts and PP time to move that up a couple notches. Trading a 6'5" center with pedigree who has decent offensive stats should be fairly easy.

I don’t know anyone that thinks Byfield is ready for anything more than a couple games in the NHL. He doesn’t make anyone immediately dispensable in my opinion.

Dispensable is not the same as replaceable. In 1 year Byfield will be *at least* where Brown is now and, very possibly, a notch above. Brown has until the trade deadline to prove himself but, unless he lights it up he will be replaced by Byfield. His best hope for staying in Ottawa is the draft lottery giving us the 1st overall.

wprager wrote:

Lagoon wrote:

wprager wrote:If we pick up Byfield in the draft Brown becomes immediately dispensable.  But I still maintain Byfield isn't ready for top six NHL minutes and Brown's trade value is near the bottom. I suspect they'll give him plenty of offensive starts and PP time to move that up a couple notches. Trading a 6'5" center with pedigree who has decent offensive stats should be fairly easy.

I don’t know anyone that thinks Byfield is ready for anything more than a couple games in the NHL. He doesn’t make anyone immediately dispensable in my opinion.

Dispensable is not the same as replaceable. In 1 year Byfield will be *at least* where Brown is now and, very possibly, a notch above. Brown has until the trade deadline to prove himself but, unless he lights it up he will be replaced by Byfield. His best hope for staying in Ottawa is the draft lottery giving us the 1st overall.

In one year, Byfield will have maybe played a couple games in the NHL versus Brown and his almost 200 pro games in the AHL and NHL. Byfield is years away from making Brown’s impact no matter how small and upsetting thus far.

I just don’t see the comparison and outcome you are trying to create.

I will be on cloud 9 if we get 2nd overall and grab Byfield, but he isn’t going to come in a do anything special for along time. As uber talented as he is, he will need a lot time  and development for him to become what everybody knows he can and will be. Most of these kids won’t wait for the 2020-21 NHL season and therefore the OHL season to even start before they sign overseas to play. They want to play.

I think Formenton is a likely candidate to start the season in Belleville. Still young and without anyone being moved on from Ottawa I’m not sure there’s room from all the other guys making the team.

Logan Brown was the 5th center taken in his draft year, then he missed huge chunks of two seasons which stunted his development.

Byfield will be the first center in what is expected to be one of the best drafts ever. "3 most likely 4 years" is unlikely.

wprager wrote:Logan Brown was the 5th center taken in his draft year, then he missed huge chunks of two seasons which stunted his development.

Byfield will be the first center in what is expected to be one of the best drafts ever.  "3 most likely 4 years" is unlikely.

I hope they keep him in juniors an extra year. wouldn't hurt. by many accounts he's still quite raw in comparison as to what he projects to be. I have heard analysts (such as Mcguire) say that they think he could play in the NHL next season. I don't like that personally. seems like it's another way that could stunt his development. but i tend to agree. he's likely to make the jump to the NHL as a 20-year-old. not sure about him jumping straight into the top 6 though.

wprager wrote:Byfield will be the first center in what is expected to be one of the best drafts ever.  "3 most likely 4 years" is unlikely.

I fail to see why you think your first sentence automatically means your second sentence should be accurate.

Byfield is one of the youngest players in the draft. Add that to physiology and the immense skillset of Byfield and you’ve got a perfect opportunity to slowly mold a franchise player.

It’s my guess that even with normal progression, Byfield is 3-4 years away from giving us more than Logan Brown could be giving us in 3-4 years.

Anyway, if we draft Byfield, I will gladly continue more discussion and my realistic love affair with him

IMO Byfield will be in the nhl full time next year. Depending on what the OHL does, he could play OHL and world juniors to start the year before the NhL even starts their 2020-2021 season.