Draft Pick Watch - WE PICKED NYLANDER!!1!!

[Kin]

It seems pretty likely that, at this point, Nonis has a pretty good idea about what's out there trade wise and who's interested in trading their pick and for what price. Saying that he expects to stay at 8 seems to me to be a pretty good indication of what nobody probably needed to be told, that movement within the top 10 tends to be pretty rare, and that the deals that are out there aren't to Nonis' liking.

That doesn't mean things can't or won't change on draft day but that doesn't make it a meaningless thing to say.

 

[Redleaf]

It seems pretty likely that, at this point, Nonis has a pretty good idea about what's out there trade wise and who's interested in trading their pick and for what price. Saying that he expects to stay at 8 seems to me to be a pretty good indication of what nobody probably needed to be told, that movement within the top 10 tends to be pretty rare, and that the deals that are out there aren't to Nonis' liking.

That doesn't mean things can't or won't change on draft day but that doesn't make it a meaningless thing to say.

Or, you know, it could mean he is close to making a deal to trade up, but is at a stale mate in the process. There is no way to know either way. I'd say that makes it a rather useless comment at this point, unless you believe Dave Nonis would never try and bluff the media?

 

[bustaheims]

Or, you know, it could mean he is close to making a deal to trade up, but is at a stale mate in the process. There is no way to know either way. I'd say that makes it a rather useless comment at this point, unless you believe Dave Nonis would never try and bluff the media?

Well, I, for one, really feel that the whole notion that GMs negotiate through the media is seriously overblown. Does it happen sometimes? Yeah, maybe, but, nowhere close to as often as people think. And, sure, GMs aren't always completely honest with the media, but, you can often get a sense of what they're really up to by how they phrase things. When he says something like he expects the Leafs to stay at 8, that usually means he doesn't like what's out there and that he's not really involved in any serious trade negations to move in the draft. If he felt there was a legitimate possibility of the team making a deal, he'd say something a little less committal - like the Leafs were "comfortable" picking at 8 or something about there being a lot of good players available at 8.

So, I mean, no, it's not a useless comment at all, nor is it absolutely valueless. That doesn't mean that things can't change, but, it does provide a lot more information than you're giving it credit for.

 

[Kin]

Or, you know, it could mean he is close to making a deal to trade up, but is at a stale mate in the process. There is no way to know either way. I'd say that makes it a rather useless comment at this point, unless you believe Dave Nonis would never try and bluff the media?

There really isn't much of a difference between not expecting a deal to get done and hitting a "stalemate in the process" a day before the draft.

I mean you yourself say that you think that the Leafs picking at #8 is the most likely thing to happen so why assume that Nonis saying that he agrees with you is him engaging in devious subterfuge?

 

[2badknees]

engaging in devious subterfuge?

I would have said occupying in duplicitous chicanery, but I suppose yours works, at least on a blue collar level.

 

[Redleaf]

That comment alone doesn't tell us anything really, but this article offers a little more insight...

http://www.tsn.ca/toronto/blogs/jonas_siegel/?id=455782

I'd say the chances of Nonis trading up to pick first overall are slim to none, unless Florida have a last minute change of heart as to what it will take to 'knock their socks off.'

 

[bustaheims]

That comment alone doesn't tell us anything really, but this article offers a little more insight...

http://www.tsn.ca/toronto/blogs/jonas_siegel/?id=455782

I'd say the chances of Nonis trading up to pick first overall are slim to none, unless Florida have a last minute change of heart as to what it will take to 'knock their socks off.'

I'd say they're just straight up none.

 

[Kin]

engaging in devious subterfuge?

I would have said occupying in duplicitous chicanery, but I suppose yours works, at least on a blue collar level.

I would very much like to have a word with any thesaurus who listed "occupy" as a synonym for that meaning of engage.

 

[2badknees]

I would very much like to have a word with any thesaurus

No harm in trying. I would very much like to discuss with my cat how the thermostat works, but I think you'll have a similar issue. 

 

[hockeyfan1]

I would very much like to have a word with any thesaurus

No harm in trying. I would very much like to discuss with my cat how the
thermostat works, but I think you'll have a similar issue. 

Ha! ha!  This made me laugh. 

 

[Mr. Leaf]

The main guy I'd like to see the Leafs draft is Ehlers.  I didn't think he'd still be available at 8, but I read four mock drafts this morning and in only one of them was he picked before then.  If he's gone, maybe Nylander or Virtanen.  Either way, I'm excited to see who they end up with!

 

[Zee]

Nonis won't do anything but walk up and pick at 8 will he?  Then turn around and sign Bolland to $5M+

 

[Bullfrog]

I'm fine with the first part of that. The second part, not so much.

 

[Boston Leaf]

Morrison better have done his homework and not blow this pick

 

[Kin]

Nonis won't do anything but walk up and pick at 8 will he?  Then turn around and sign Bolland to $5M+

I don't think he'll do either. It doesn't make any sense to give Bolland that sort of money when they just gave their #1 center a million less, they have to work on Kadri's first big money contract next year and they're up against the cap close enough as is.

Nonis doesn't have a history of egregious contracts. As bad as the Clarkson deal is, and there's really no need to play the "who can come up with the best adjective for how bad that contract is" game here, it's still just one deal.

 

[Redleaf]

Nonis won't do anything but walk up and pick at 8 will he?  Then turn around and sign Bolland to $5M+

I get the sense that something different will happen this year. Shanahan and his ideas on how to run this team are still sort of a mystery at this point. He could surprise us with a big move or three in the coming days.

I mean, the only thing that has really been reported about Shanny is that he wants 'culture change'. The coach isn't going anywhere, so doesn't that mean he's going to make some changes to the player personnel?

 

[Frank E]

Nonis won't do anything but walk up and pick at 8 will he?  Then turn around and sign Bolland to $5M+

I don't think he'll do either. It doesn't make any sense to give Bolland that sort of money when they just gave their #1 center a million less, they have to work on Kadri's first big money contract next year and they're up against the cap close enough as is.

Nonis doesn't have a history of egregious contracts. As bad as the Clarkson deal is, and there's really no need to play the "who can come up with the best adjective for how bad that contract is" game here, it's still just one deal.

I agree.  It would be very inflationary to sign Bolland to $5mil, and I have to think that that logic would prevail as Leafs would be in a very precarious position if they did that.  At least I hope they think that way.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm pretty excited for this draft. For all the talk about how this was a weak crop of prospects, I think that we can get a very good player even if we stay at 8. Even a guy like Ritchie has big potential.

 

[bustaheims]

I'm pretty excited for this draft. For all the talk about how this was a weak crop of prospects, I think that we can get a very good player even if we stay at 8. Even a guy like Ritchie has big potential.

It's an interesting draft, in that, it doesn't feel like there's anyone who would be a #1 pick in a typical draft year, but, there's like 10 guys who could conceivably be top 5 type talents in one.

 

[Kin]

I mean, the only thing that has really been reported about Shanny is that he wants 'culture change'. The coach isn't going anywhere, so doesn't that mean he's going to make some changes to the player personnel?

Not necessarily. Even if "culture change" weren't a phrase that could be interpreted however the speaker wants, the fact remains that changes have been made to the coaching staff already. I think it's pretty clear that some guys on the team won't be back but wanting a culture change doesn't guarantee anything beyond that.