EHM The Blue Line

Hey everyone.

Just wondering about everyone's opinion about what will happen at the draft. Being a Leafs fan (I know, I know, '67...got it already) it is shaping up to possibly be an interesting draft, thanks to Brian Burke. Tell me your thoughts and you can answer the poll as well.

My thoughts are that the Islanders are relatively solid in goal if DiPietro can ever stop doing his best Kari Lehtonen impression and stay healthy. They look like they have some good young forwards coming up and their defense is ECHL-like now with the Chris Campoli trade. They need Hedman badly and should choose him. But I think they will keep the pick and get Tavares and pray to God and the town of Hempstead that the Lighthouse Project starts, ya know, getting started.

Good question, i think it's staying as it is. Trading up to 1st or 2nd will cost too much for a franchise... And i don't think that the Isles have eyes on Hedman (even though i think they should), and will go Tavares 1st overall.

...stays at the draft.

Nice poll. I'm inclined to agree with Getzlaf.

Yeah, I have a feeling that will happen too, Getzlaf.

I remember a few weeks back, there was a rumour out there that the Lightning were planning on trading the #2 pick to the Leafs in exchange for the Leafs' #7 pick, Tomas Kaberle, and Luke Schenn. That tells you that the Lightning are not in a mood to trade the pick at all unless they get a substantial return.

and why should they? tavares if their lucky and hedman if their "unlucky". how would you rate stamkos compared to duchene? or kane or b.schenn?

I think Duchene and Kane (hey, that rhymes!) are, at this point, slightly better than Brayden Schenn. I know Burke, if he can't do the impossible and snag a top 2 pick, will want the Schenn brothers united on the Leafs. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen. It wouldn't shock me if Schenn dropped to the 7th pick. It wouldn't shock me if he was selected before that. Between 3 and about 9 is a bit of a crapshoot, in my opinion.

helGn wrote:and why should they? tavares if their lucky and hedman if their "unlucky". how would you rate stamkos compared to duchene? or kane or b.schenn?

I can't remember where i read it. But if Stamkos was in this draft, he would still be 1st overall...

I think that the Islanders are on a rebuilding process very similar to what the Flyers went through in 07. They will surely draft Tavares (Hedman may be as good a pick as Tavares) and sign a couple of big time free agents.Bring on a couple of veterans and they can do it next year !

Don't even talk about the cup ...but the playoffs aren't unreachable

getzlaf15 wrote:

helGn wrote:and why should they? tavares if their lucky and hedman if their "unlucky". how would you rate stamkos compared to duchene? or kane or b.schenn?

I can't remember where i read it. But if Stamkos was in this draft, he would still be 1st overall...

wow, i've read that he'd be nr. 5-7

What are they basing that on? Performance in juniors and potential? If so, Stamkos would still rank up there. Knowing about him what we know now? He would not be #1 over Tavares. No way, no how.

Yeah, seeing both Tavares and Stamkos live before, there is no comparison.

Stamkos is pretty good but Tavares was unreal. He controlled the pace of the game like not many others I have seen before.

I could see Stamkos being a #3 behind Tavares and Hedman since I believe the #3-#9 picks are somewhat interchangable.

If the Isles past Tavares they're out of their mind They need him if they want to go in the playoff like Joki said. With Okposo it could be a big time duo.

Tavares said he won't do the Lindros thing

Tavares will be a star wherever he goes, and with the salary cap the way it is, he'll get paid wherever he goes as well.

I think Tavares sould play a another year with London or a AHL team

Yeap, Pro Hockey magazine comes to my house every month. In latest magazine Burke said something like this: ''We will do anything to get first pick, im serious.''

But Leafs doesnt have much valuable trade stuff (?). Exept Kulemin. Toskala is worthless.. But Stajan and Blake are decent.

Well if the Lightning are asking for the Leafs' 1st rounder, Kaberle, and Schenn just for the 2nd pick (which doesn't guarantee them Tavares) then I can just imagine what the Islanders would want for the #1 pick. Kulemin could possibly be thrown in the deal and chances are the Isles would want another Leafs pick as well. I still wouldn't do it though, if Schenn is involved.

Maybe, if the Leafs did trade for the 2nd overall. They could offer The Islanders something to ensure they picked Hedman. Just like Florida did with Blue Jay's to pick Nash and the Thrashers to pick Lehtonen in 2002 when they wanted Bouwey at No.3.

Time will tell...