Official lead up to 2015-16 season thread

[batdad]

GM/Scout Christmas Day, Super Bowl, Stanley Cup final, birthday....coming soon. Cannot wait.

Where is the first bomb going to drop?

Vancouver-Lack? A Dman?
Boston-Lucic?
Edmonton-Get a goalie?
Ottawa-Trade a goalie?
Toronto-get a player of NHL Caliber? Kessel?
Phoenix-get anywhere near cap floor?
San Jose-Goalie?
Chicago-Sharp? Bickell? Anyone else?

Should be an exciting time this week. Interesting anyway. Looking forward to the insanity to begin.

LOTS of scouts lives on the lines, with so many dudes now unemployed.

[Peter_Doherty]

Apparently Sather rejected an offer of 2 2nd rounders for Talbot, unclear which year the 2nd rounders where or if there were any conditions to them so it really doesn't tell us much I hope for a pick of #45 or under, anything more then that and i'm really happy. Knowing how Sather does things though i expect him to try and package Talbot with Klein and/or Hagelin to get a scoring winger on a cheap contract.

And yes, this week will be so much fun, even more fun if Rangers get some picks in the first 2 rounds

[philou21]

Draft will be fun and the trades rumors are good too. For once alot of them look like they could really happen.

[bruins72]

I've been seeing a lot of articles saying that Lucic is going to get traded. One rumor had it for a couple of young players in Calgary. The other rumor was Lucic plus the Bruins 1st for a high first round pick. As much as I've always liked him, he's played less and less like the way he did when he won over Bruins fans. Also, he's got a very high cap number right now and he's going to be looking for a raise. I don't think the Bruins are in a position to overpay him even more. If they're going to trade him, I just want them to make sure they look at all options and don't jump at the first deal that looks okay to them (Thornton and Seguin deals).

[Peter_Doherty]

Lucic should still have solid value for alot of teams so Bruins should be able to get a good deal with some good negotiating and some patience. Problem is that Bruins can't really take back much salary.

[bruins72]

Yup! That's the salary cap pit that Chiarelli left us in.

[MontySteelers]

I've been seeing a lot of articles saying that Lucic is going to get traded. One rumor had it for a couple of young players in Calgary. The other rumor was Lucic plus the Bruins 1st for a high first round pick. As much as I've always liked him, he's played less and less like the way he did when he won over Bruins fans. Also, he's got a very high cap number right now and he's going to be looking for a raise. I don't think the Bruins are in a position to overpay him even more. If they're going to trade him, I just want them to make sure they look at all options and don't jump at the first deal that looks okay to them (Thornton and Seguin deals).

I'm not sure he could be any more hated in Vancouver....playing for Calgary might just do that though

Not sure I'd be too bothered about Flames trading for him to be honest.

[bruins72]

The return I heard (again... unsubstantiated rumor) the Bruins would get from Calgary was Wotherspoon and Poirer.

[batdad]

He is not hated in Vancouver guys. Canucks would love to have him. Just have to deal with the Miller-Looch love fest. LOL>

Bieksa is part of that rumour.


But it will amount to nothing as Kevin would have to waive his no trade. He has said he will not.

Lack rumours heating up out here. Lack for a 2nd.

[Peter_Doherty]

Can't see Bruins being willing to take back a contract as big as Bieksas tbh, they are well in cap hell. Läck will get a 2nd, question is if it's an early 2nd or a late 2nd imo.

[Prowl]

I'm not sure I would want Lucic as a Flame. I like how he was playing when he first came into the league but at that high cap it, I'd rather see someone else like an Okposo for example (though that likely won't happen either).

[batdad]

Talk is the Bs want Bieksa if they do the Looch Trade with Van. Bieksa plus obviously. He is exactly the type of Dman Boston does not have enough of. However....like I said, chances of this happening are slim and none.

[bruins72]

I haven't heard any talk about the B's going after Bieksa this offseason (from the Boston end of things). Like has been said, he makes too much. They need cheaper, younger talent.

[batdad]

Yea this rumour started from a post by one of your reporters saying maybe Looch to Vancouver for a dman. Then the media in the west started to pick up on that and named Bieksa...they also named Hammer but the speculation was if the talks were happening it was Kevin. It was a twitter comment from someone yesterday and it blew up into a ton of re tweets and comments. Then the radio here picked it up.

Likelyhood is no.


KB contract is quite manageable. 4.6 for 1 year. Looch at 6. So savings there.

And if Sweeney thinks team still has a window, a player like Bieksa would be attractive to him. More blueline nasty.


Now...that being said do not for a minute think it will happen. Just was food for thought put out there on twitter by an eastern reporter yesterday. Want to say it was Buccigross.


Looked it up. It was. He was asked a question on twitter and responded with...I think Bruins are trading Looch to Vancouver for a dman.

[bruins72]

Ah. No wonder I hadn't heard it. I don't listen to Buccigross. He's been around a long time but I never cared for him.

[sao.phim]

I expect Sharp to get traded during Friday Evening - probably for late 1st round pick + additional cost. Bowman has to make some moves for sure, their cap hit is unmaintainable.

I hope Hextall is going to make some good deal while cleaning up Flyers defence (L. Schenn on Friday or Grossmann on Saturday at least). Maybe bringing in goalie from Ottawa or Canucks? Flyers possess 7 picks in first 100, so almost sure we can expect some trades in order to move up.

[Peter_Doherty]

Sure feels like there will be alot of action these next few days, i got the popcorn ready

sao.phim - I so hope you take Crouse with your pick, i think he has by far the lowest ceiling of the top-13 and will be a "bust". By bust i mean he won't be a top line producing player, he will make the NHL and he will be good, but he won't be "#7 in the best draft since 2003"-good

[sao.phim]

I hope Flyers take Zacha at #7
I am not big fan of Crouse neither, PD.
Would love to get Marner, but can't see him falling down to #7.

Btw. There is no GM in Toronto still, who is going to make final decisions for them? Shanahan, Babcock, Asistant GM?

[Peter_Doherty]

Yeah, no way Marner drops to you guys If i were Philly i would definitely take Rantanen/Provorov. Pretty sure someone (Shanahan?) said that Dubas is handling the business for now. I really hope we can get into the first round or early 2nd round and that Kylington drops to where we are, he will be a stud, his skating is incredible.

[sao.phim]

Provorov will be real deal, but I would prefer top talent up front with that #7. We have Sanheim already and Provorov will not be better than him.
Kylington, I guess, will go to Detroit, Vancouver or maybe even Columbus, if there is no Provorov available. I don't believe him dropping down so much like on many of final scouting-web rankings.. in November he was considered top european talent with Zacha, early speculations were about him cracking up top 10.

As for Rangers - you know there is hardly any worse organization in drafting&development of own prospects than NYR, right? And honestly for Talbot, it would be hard to get in first round.

Rantanen sounds good to me as well, but rather around the middle of first round. If Hexy was able to move there for #29 and some additional pick/defender, I would be happy for Rantanen.

[Peter_Doherty]

Kylington was considered more or less equal to Hanifin before the season, now some scouts have him outside top-60, that's just crazy... On pure talent he's easily top-10 in this draft but he has some questionmarks, i don't think he will drop outside the first round though.

Rangers have drafted really well lately actually, we just haven't had any first rounders Just look at our last 2 drafts, really really good. Rangers aren't bad at developing either, we just never have the TOP talents to develop since we never draft early, and when we do we pick McIlrath instead of Tarasenko/Fowler

Rantanen will definitely go top-13, most likely top-9. Honestly though the difference between the guys that are ranked 5-13 is minimal, i think Rantanen is the best of the big wingers (Crouse, Rantanen and Meier) and i think that's Phillys biggest need, but maybe your scouts have someone as BPA and doesn't care about need.

[sao.phim]

Ok with last 2 drafts, but before it was always disaster
you are right with the Flyers need of wingers, but I would prefer top center over those available on W this year. Just feel dont want to pass such talents on center. But have to agree with you on that 5-13 small nuances, truly great draft year!

[sao.phim]

Flyers Head Scout stated, that they want to take BPA, but who knows..?

[Peter_Doherty]

I wouldn't say disaster either, Rangers have drafted and developed some solid players, Hank, Kreider, JTM, and Staal just to name a few that are still on the team. Not saying we have been one of the best teams at it but far from a disaster.

If i were to take a Center at #7 i would take Barzal unless Devils took him at #6, his hockey IQ is through the roof.

[batdad]

1. Provorov may be the best dman in the draft. I love this guy. Of course I have seen him more than Hanifin as he plays in WHL which is a league I watch a fair bit of. Kid can do everything. So promising. Hanifin must be ridiculous to be better than Provorov.

2. Rangers-average prospect development.

3. Anyone who takes Barzal top 10 is insane. Have you seen this kid's injury history? Started at age 11 with first concussion, and has had 3-4 since then. Shoulder injuries, knee injuries, you name it kid has hurt it. Has not played a full season in hockey since he was 10, and I am not sure about that. Tons of talent, but he is as fragile or more so than Sammy Salo. Reminds me of small Sakic, but he is .... so scary for a top level pick to me. And I will guarantee you I have seen a ton more of Barzal than anyone on this site. He is not a great character either. Selfish is the way he has been seen. Skills Sakic, constitution Salo, Brain is strong, mental character though? Not sure. Just not my guy. Scouts will be taking big risks on this kid though.


4. Landon Crouse is a man, so he looks really good in junior. He will just be okay in NHL. Still darn good though, but not a star.

5. Patrick Sharp--price on him needs to come down for him to be moved by Friday. It may well do so, but not sure.

6. Lack-Canucks have 5 offers on the table according to local radio. Waiting on Talbot deal maybe to pull the trigger. Sure sounds like those two are on the move for sure.

7. Flyers-back up goalie need, not starter. Mason will be good with a real D in front of him. Flyers need 2-3 of them.