Central Scoutings final draft rankings....

[Kin]

If Buffalo draft second and the Leafs 4th, is there any way we could swing a trade with them to swap picks and send Kessel to them? Or will it take much much more than that?

That's not happening.

I wonder if there is a deal out there that could somehow involve Florida's first and Kessel.  This based only on marginally credible rumors that they could have interest in him in the offseason.

That strikes me as possible, sure, but I think that would lead to a tough question for the Leafs. I think that I'd be a little disappointed if the best asset Kessel could fetch is the 9th or 10th pick in the draft(or wherever Florida ends up) but I also don't think it would be realistic to get a pick that high for KEssel and another more valuable asset so if that does happen, I think people would need to be happy with that being the primary return for Kessel.

 

[Frank E]

Just read that Team Canada has reached out to McDavid's agent about him joining Canada for the World's...not sure what McDavid would have to gain from this?

Don't get me wrong, it would be great to see him play against men.  I'm just having a hard time seeing an upside for him.

 

[Kin]

Just read that Team Canada has reached out to McDavid's agent about him joining Canada for the World's...not sure what McDavid would have to gain from this?

Don't get me wrong, it would be great to see him play against men.  I'm just having a hard time seeing an upside for him.

Is there ever really an upside for anyone to play at the WC?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Just read that Team Canada has reached out to McDavid's agent about him joining Canada for the World's...not sure what McDavid would have to gain from this?

Don't get me wrong, it would be great to see him play against men.  I'm just having a hard time seeing an upside for him.

An experience?

 

[mr grieves]

The teams that arguably have enough talent/young players to maybe take a chance trading a top 10-ish pick would be:

Columbus (they have a lot of prospect depth but lack a lot of top 3 type players)
Florida (they have a young solid core and could be ready to augment)
Philadelphia (they still have a lot of decent players and their GM is liable to be stupid)
Dallas (they have a handful of really good players and a lot of roster holes but also made a couple of big trades in the last few years with Spezza/Seguin)

Thanks. That's what I wanted to know. Well, that and who's going to have the space over the next 6 years to have Kessel or Phaneuf on their payrolls?

If they move Kessel this off-season, hope they only do it for something in the non-playoff-team range of the draft.

 

[Kin]

I'd love to see Dallas make a play for Kessel. Benn-Seguin-Kessel? Ridicidonk!

(the rest of their line-up, not so much)

I've wondered about them as a potential landing spot for Phaneuf. Seems to me that if they were going to invest a bunch of money this off-season they'd be more inclined to upgrade their blueline.

 

[Al14]

I'd love to see Dallas make a play for Kessel. Benn-Seguin-Kessel? Ridicidonk!

(the rest of their line-up, not so much)

I've wondered about them as a potential landing spot for Phaneuf. Seems to me that if they were going to invest a bunch of money this off-season they'd be more inclined to upgrade their blueline.

Dallas is where I'd prefer to see Phaneuf land, however, I think we may see him wind up in Detroit!  Just because things were close at the trade deadline.  How close?  Not sure.

 

[rdowdall]

I'd love to see Dallas make a play for Kessel. Benn-Seguin-Kessel? Ridicidonk!

(the rest of their line-up, not so much)

I've wondered about them as a potential landing spot for Phaneuf. Seems to me that if they were going to invest a bunch of money this off-season they'd be more inclined to upgrade their blueline.

Dallas is where I'd prefer to see Phaneuf land, however, I think we may see him wind up in Detroit!  Just because things were close at the trade deadline.  How close?  Not sure.

They were close, but I think Dallas was rumoured to be in the mix.  Also when you look at the moves Nill has made he has been aggressive in trading for established players. 

 

[Al14]

I'd love to see Dallas make a play for Kessel. Benn-Seguin-Kessel? Ridicidonk!

(the rest of their line-up, not so much)

I've wondered about them as a potential landing spot for Phaneuf. Seems to me that if they were going to invest a bunch of money this off-season they'd be more inclined to upgrade their blueline.

Dallas is where I'd prefer to see Phaneuf land, however, I think we may see him wind up in Detroit!  Just because things were close at the trade deadline.  How close?  Not sure.

They were close, but I think Dallas was rumoured to be in the mix.  Also when you look at the moves Nill has made he has been aggressive in trading for established players.

Well, he should consider Kessel then too!  How about taking Lupul of our hands as well!  Both are well established.

 

[rdowdall]

I'd love to see Dallas make a play for Kessel. Benn-Seguin-Kessel? Ridicidonk!

(the rest of their line-up, not so much)

I've wondered about them as a potential landing spot for Phaneuf. Seems to me that if they were going to invest a bunch of money this off-season they'd be more inclined to upgrade their blueline.

Dallas is where I'd prefer to see Phaneuf land, however, I think we may see him wind up in Detroit!  Just because things were close at the trade deadline.  How close?  Not sure.

They were close, but I think Dallas was rumoured to be in the mix.  Also when you look at the moves Nill has made he has been aggressive in trading for established players.

Well, he should consider Kessel then too!  How about taking Lupul of our hands as well!  Both are well established.

Well I think he has his offence figured out, but he may want to beef up his D.  That's were Phanuef comes in.

 

[Al14]

I'd love to see Dallas make a play for Kessel. Benn-Seguin-Kessel? Ridicidonk!

(the rest of their line-up, not so much)

I've wondered about them as a potential landing spot for Phaneuf. Seems to me that if they were going to invest a bunch of money this off-season they'd be more inclined to upgrade their blueline.

Dallas is where I'd prefer to see Phaneuf land, however, I think we may see him wind up in Detroit!  Just because things were close at the trade deadline.  How close?  Not sure.

They were close, but I think Dallas was rumoured to be in the mix.  Also when you look at the moves Nill has made he has been aggressive in trading for established players.

Well, he should consider Kessel then too!  How about taking Lupul of our hands as well!  Both are well established.

Well I think he has his offence figured out, but he may want to beef up his D.  That's were Phanuef comes in.

Your offense is never figured out until you've blessed it with a Phil Kessel! 

I can think of better beef than Phaneuf. 

 

[Pick]

Something tells me Leafs will pick a goalie early, maybe with their second or third pick.

Who's the best goalie available? Is he 1st round material or do Leafs wait till the 3rd round if in fact a goalie is in their plans?

 

[Highlander]

They could go after O Conner from Boston U for free. He is a 6'5" Louongo style goalie and he is from T.O.  Why waste a pick on a goale when we have Centre and defense issues to deal with.

 

[Kin]

They could go after O Conner from Boston U for free. He is a 6'5" Louongo style goalie and he is from T.O.  Why waste a pick on a goale when we have Centre and defense issues to deal with.

Going after him doesn't mean getting him and getting him doesn't mean that drafting a goalie is wasting a pick. Free Agent goalies are never sure things and you want a broad talent base.

 

[Highlander]

Not saying that at all, we have drafted some good goalies along the way, I have high hopes for Bibeau down the road.  However Hammond seems to have fallen from Heaven to the Senators, there must be few more like him out there that have not been drafted over the years.

 

[Can8899]

Regarding the Leafs pick, let's assume they are looking for the an offensive forward.  McDavid, Strome and Marner appear to fit that mold but lets also assume that come time for the Leafs to pick all 3 are gone.  The only scenario where this could happen would then leave one of Eichel or Hanifin for the Leafs to pick. 

The Leafs will not be picking Eichel because he will go #2 in the draft and barring a trade the Leafs cannot get that pick.  If Hanifin is available at #4 or #5 should the Leafs pick him OR trade down, pick up another 1st rounder+ and find a offensive forward later in the first round like Crouse, Barzal or Zacha? 

Or is Hanifin the pick if he's available?

 

[Kin]

Regarding the Leafs pick, let's assume they are looking for the an offensive forward.  McDavid, Strome and Marner appear to fit that mold but lets also assume that come time for the Leafs to pick all 3 are gone.  The only scenario where this could happen would then leave one of Eichel or Hanifin for the Leafs to pick. 

The Leafs will not be picking Eichel because he will go #2 in the draft and barring a trade the Leafs cannot get that pick.  If Hanifin is available at #4 or #5 should the Leafs pick him OR trade down, pick up another 1st rounder+ and find a offensive forward later in the first round like Crouse, Barzal or Zacha? 

Or is Hanifin the pick if he's available?

So basically you're asking what they should do if they pick #5 and the top 4 are McDavid, Eichel, Strome and Marner?

Then, yeah, take Hanifin.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Hanifin, for sure. Our prospect pool at this point still needs quality over quantity, so while trading down and stockpiling more picks could be appealing it's probably not the right call at this time.

 

[Kin]

Not saying that at all, we have drafted some good goalies along the way, I have high hopes for Bibeau down the road.  However Hammond seems to have fallen from Heaven to the Senators, there must be few more like him out there that have not been drafted over the years.

You flat out said "why waste a pick on a goalie"? Players "falling from heaven" is not a strategy for long term success.

 

[Can8899]

Regarding the Leafs pick, let's assume they are looking for the an offensive forward.  McDavid, Strome and Marner appear to fit that mold but lets also assume that come time for the Leafs to pick all 3 are gone.  The only scenario where this could happen would then leave one of Eichel or Hanifin for the Leafs to pick. 

The Leafs will not be picking Eichel because he will go #2 in the draft and barring a trade the Leafs cannot get that pick.  If Hanifin is available at #4 or #5 should the Leafs pick him OR trade down, pick up another 1st rounder+ and find a offensive forward later in the first round like Crouse, Barzal or Zacha? 

Or is Hanifin the pick if he's available?

So basically you're asking what they should do if they pick #5 and the top 4 are McDavid, Eichel, Strome and Marner?

Then, yeah, take Hanifin.

Yup, that's a much clearer way of saying it...  ;D