Harvest Moon 2019

by Lowetide

These are not your Dad’s Edmonton Oilers. The organization that was built on the back of boys from Ontario and the west drafted not a one player from the OHL or WHL this weekend. Incredible.

LOWETIDE PROJECTED WEEKEND

First round, No. 8 overall — RC Dylan Cozens, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL). NHLE: 29.4

Second round, No. 38 overall —  R Samuel Fagemo, Frolunda (SHL). NHLE: 28.3

Third round, No. 85 overall —  LC Blake Murray, Sudbury Wolves (OHL).  NHLE: 19.0

Fourth round, No. 100 overall —  LD Mattias Norlinder, MoDo (Allsvenskan). NHLE: 12.7

Sixth round, No. 162 overall —  L Daniil Gutik, Yaroslavl (MHL). NHLE: 5.33

Seventh round, No. 193 overall —  R Kirill Slepets, Lokomotiv (KHL). NHLE: 15.6

KEN HOLLAND’S WEEKEND

First round, No. 8 overall — LHD Philip Broberg, AIK (Allsvenskan). NHLE: 9.2

Second round, No. 38 overall — RHC Raphael Lavoie, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL). NHLE: 23.7

Third round, No. 85 overall — G Ilya Konovalov, Lokotmotiv Yaroslavl (KHL). SP: .930.

Fourth round, No. 100 overall — LW Matej Blumel, Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL). NHLE: 22.9

Sixth round, No. 162 overall — LHC Tomas Mazura, Kimball Union (USHS). NHLE: 9.6

Seventh round No. 193 overall — LHC Maxim Denezhkin, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL). NHLE: 19.3

HARVEST MOON 2019

Based on my observation of these Oilers over many years, I do think Ken Holland impacted this draft. I’m not suggesting the individual players were hand picked by him, but rather the draft landed in unusual places and didn’t land in traditional spots. Two KHL picks, a Swede in the first round and no OHL, no WHL? I don’t think this is in line with traditional Oilers dogma. That isn’t a bad thing.

No. 8 overall — LHD Philip Broberg, AIK (Allsvenskan). NHLE: 9.2. Holland’s Oilers doubled down on an area of strength and bet on Broberg being the best available. He is a fantastically mobile defenseman and the offense is more promising than the NHLE suggests. I won’t make much sense in saying this, but I believe he’s closer to Oscar Klefbom in offensive ability and closer to Darnell Nurse in style. We’re going to have to let this young man tell us who he is, beginning this winter.

No. 38 overall — RHC Raphael Lavoie, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL). NHLE: 23.7. The strongest selection of day two, Lavoie is a legit scoring forward who will probably play the wing as a pro. He also began a theme on the day among forwards: He has a fine shot and uses it a lot. Lacks consistency because teenager. This has a chance to be the best second round pick in a nice string of them (Benson, McLeod) over recent summers. Bob Green said there were several players at this number they liked, but were happy to get Lavoie.

No. 85 overall G Ilya Konovalov, Lokotmotiv Yaroslavl (KHL). SP: .930. I had to think about this pick for some time. It’s at a place where teams (rightly) choose prospects from secondary leagues, so I can’t object to the idea. As well, the numbers and scouting reports are eye popping. Look, the Oilers have spent picks in this area on men like Matt Cairns in recent years. I’ve decided this was an astute pick. He turns 21 in July.

No. 100 overall LW Matej Blumel, Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL). NHLE: 22.9. He’s an interesting pick, but a little shy of being an inspired one. He’s a shooter, works hard and has some range of abilities. I’m unsure that his offense is special and that will be the thing we track with Blumel.

No. 162 overall LHC Tomas Mazura, Kimball Union (USHS). NHLE: 9.6. There wasn’t much online, so I reached out to someone in the know. Here’s what I got: Very skilled- a top prep player for his all-around offensive package/upside. Comes from top program. Raw and will take time to develop/fill out but had a lot of pre-draft buzz.

No. 193 overall — LHC Maxim Denezhkin, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL). NHLE: 19.3. The thing about drafting Russians is that you can get excellent value because not every team does it. Corey Pronman had him as a mid-fourth and that’s a damned good player at this spot. Two-way center with enough skill to be considered a bona fide NHL prospect.

Assessment

I’ve always said trust your board, and it looks like the Oilers did just that on the weekend. Despite clear anger from the fan base, management proceeded as they meant to go. Will it work? Was it the right call? Time will tell. The issues for the coming season on the wing remain, but that wasn’t going to change by drafting Cole Caufield this weekend.

Among the concerns I have tonight, only one is worth mentioning. I think this Oilers draft would have benefited from the insight an analytics department might have provided. Even if that department helps only once per draft, I think that improves Edmonton’s chances of beating the odds.

Impact players

The success of this draft will ride on the first two selections. Oilers fans aren’t going to work up a massive lather over the final four picks if they don’t cash, but the top two men are vital to success.

I like the courage of convictions shown by the Holland Oilers, I like that they paid no attention to the rage over the possibility of the Broberg pick. It shows maturity by the organization, and is a massive improvement from 2012 when entire floors of hotels were rented because higher ups worried about fan opinion.

This is better. Make the evaluation, come to a conclusion, make the pick, and own it. We wait.

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Professor Q

Pouzar:
Thought this was cool:

Matej Blumel, a prospect for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, scored four goals in the Czech Republic’s 6-2 win over Team USA in the Five Nations Under-18 tournament at Plymouth, Mich., on Feb. 14, 2018. He had an even-strength goal, a power-play goal, a shorthanded goal, and an empty-netter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5qFSAI1yNs

Lemieux look out!

oil-in-the-blood

Watched Lavoie hightlights…. anyone see a little of Jeff Carter there?

Happy with the draft overall 🙂

Pouzar

Thought this was cool:

Matej Blumel, a prospect for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, scored four goals in the Czech Republic’s 6-2 win over Team USA in the Five Nations Under-18 tournament at Plymouth, Mich., on Feb. 14, 2018. He had an even-strength goal, a power-play goal, a shorthanded goal, and an empty-netter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5qFSAI1yNs

Bling

I give this draft an A.

Broberg – Second best skater in his draft class with offensive numbers comparable to Lindholm, Klefbom, Larsson. Love Pronman’s verbal on his prowess with puck retrieval and zone entries. If he develops his offensive game, he becomes a number one. If not, he can still be a solid 2 with Bouchard.

Lavoie – Best player available and easily could have gone in the first round. This is shades of Benson, without the injury concerns. I’m not sure why he dropped. Someone posted a list of Mike Bossy trophy winners — spoiler, all are good to great players.

Konovalov – Spectacular rookie season against men as a 20 year old. He can play over there for a season or two and then challenge for a backup job.

The rest I don’t know. Excellent work by Holland, Gretz et al.

Tapdog

JimmyV1965: It cost Toronto a first round pick to dump Marleau’s $6.5 mill salary for one year. Do you honestly think we can dump Lucic’s $6 mill for four years for a second?

Pretty sure it cost Toronto that condional 1st because Carolina will be buying Marleau out. Carolina is not on the west coast last time I check and isn’t that the preferred location for Marleau. Makes me think a deal could not be reached with a west coast team and well Toronto had no choice but to move some dollars..
Time will tell here but that is my guess. While I am guessing I can also see that pick going back to Toronto in a deal.

LT, thank you for all you do with your top drawer draft coverage.

OriginalPouzar

Did a reporter ask him if he’ll be in the AHL? Considering that’s not a legal opinion, that’s not a very good question and shows a complete lack of knowledge by the reporter. How does someone get credentialed that doesn’t know stuff like that?

Professor Q

After seeing the Lavoie interview, he did NOT like the reporter to his right, it seemed. Fair enough though, as he asked weird questions.

“So, you describe yourself self as a Power Forward. Do you think it’s an advantage that there aren’t many players built like and who play like you?”

“I’m sorry, what’s that?”

“That there’re not many players like you anymore?”

*switches to deadpan, grumpy, questioning face*

“…one could say that?”

All the other reporters he responded to cheerily and with a great big grin. Just not to the one to his right.

Then the reporter asked him again, if he knows that he’ll be in the AHL or NHL next year.

Again, a grumpy and questioning deadpan response of,

“I don’t know. I guess I’ll have to go to camp first.”

I sort of like that. He knew which questions were obvious and stupid and which questions he actually enjoyed, and made a point to point them out in a non-obvious way, while keeping composure in a sense. I also like the fact that even though Gretzky, McDavid, and Draisaitl are the only Oilers he can name, he knows he has to work on his explosiveness and speed if he wants to eventually play with them.

I think he’ll deliver on working on those areas, too.

rickithebear

Holland, Playfair, Gullickson, all talking the need to adjust def structure aproach.
Dmen do not abandon defence unless they are aware they can get back to a 2-1 structure.

– Real GM,
-My #1 choice of HD sys coach for Vegas expansion.
-Def coach that Tippet says is on par with Yawney.
But he has a working comfort level to starting running at beginning of camp.
Identifying he got Calgary to play a Def structured game when he was their.
– PK coach talked the subtlety of teaching proper identification of points of pressure.

rickithebear

Have not quite finished a age/ league NHLE breakdown down of top 155 (first 5 rounds) Forwards in NA national league based players, USHL, CHL, Cdn tier 2

So far the highest age NHLE in lower round is Beaucage #78 34G 34A 68P

Lavoie #38 is in a collection of fwds in the 50-56 age NHLE grouping
23G 29A 52P

Blummel is with the forwards in the 40-45 range.
21G 21A 42P

Considering I looked at the age/ league NHLE of our top FWD prospects:
Maroody (22) 12G 29A 41P
Nygard (26) 24G 16A 40P
Maximov (20) 20G 20A 40P
Mcleod (19) 13G 27A 40P
Benson (21) 9G 30A 39P
Yamamotto current age/ league NHLE is no we’re near this group.
Since goals are the most pocession efficient pt in goal measure.

Lavoie and Blummels NHLE has superior arrow to our current fwds prospect group.
Except maybe Nygard.

Making our first 4 picks beauties:
#8 Broberg a top 10 valued Swe Dmen which usually end up as top 10 HD Open Sh def Dmen
##38 Lavoie 50-56P NHLE group of forwards
Dach 56, Krebs 53, Poulin 56, Mcmichael 52, Afanaseyou 52, Leason 51, Beckman 50, Rybinski 50,
#85 KHL rookie of year as a starting goalie
#100 blummel a potential 20 G scorer with age/ league NHLE in range of
Foote 42, Rees 43, Alexandrov 40, Campbell 40, Schwindt 39, Olsen 42, Abramov 45, Keppen 44, Murray 43.

Salty Fanboy

Thanks LT for the comprehensive coverage of the draft. Just great stuff delivered at breakneck speed through the day. I was quite surprised that Yzerman took three defencemen in his first four picks. As a widely regarded big thinker amongst GM’s, it certainly affirms the general mood to draft and develop your D resources even with expensive draft currency like high picks.

Psyche

Thanks LT for the magnificent draft coverage! You’re a gentleman and a scholar.

Your Harvest Moon post is always my favourite. In with the new!

Mr. Holland’s Opus is beginning to the shape. I like ole Ken. He’s like a well worn suit, familiar and more comfortable than the rest. I have a feeling that I’m going to enjoy this journey.

albertaboundedmonton

I would like to add my thanks to the outstanding job you do at draft time LT
Great comments on the threads today so thanks for that too. Holland is looking at the long term and I believe the Oils development model is changing. Let’s get to free agency so we can continue the ride

Professor Q

Oil2Oilers:
Draft done, with no obvious screw ups onto free agency!

I have three major free agent targets;

GMoney
Micheal Parkatti
Jeff Krushell

For $500K/year each on a three year term with a $2 million dollar budget to fill out the analytics and sports finance department.

Return on investment would be significantly over $10M over 3 years in avoiding stupid contracts. Would also likely lead to more wins, merchandise sales and home playoff games.

Wouldn’t Krushell be sports medicine?

Plus he’d likely be similar to Oates in that his own business is doing fine, and likely making more than that by spreading their services around leagues rather than focused on one team.

JimmyV1965

leadfarmer: Not a salary dump per se but the team needed to dump salary

I guess the Leafs could have theoretically traded Kappanen and Johnson and received actual value in return. Would have probably saved them even more cap space than dumping Marleau.

Hell, you could probably even argue that might have been the better strategy. If they did this, they would acquire actual assets in return, keep their first round pick and still have:

Mathews
Marner
Tavares
Kadri
Nylander

Still a decent looking top six. I’m in no way arguing that’s what they should have done. Just sayin.

flyfish1168

It sounds like every pick is excellent skaters. If you can skate you have a better chance to at least be a useful fourth line player. It sounds like the last 3 picks have that chance at least.

leadfarmer

JimmyV1965: Although the Bolts dumped salary, trading Miller wasn’t a salary dump. His contract is reasonable and many many more teams would be interested in acquiring him, when compared to Marleau or Lucic.

Not a salary dump per se but the team needed to dump salary

JimmyV1965

Victoria Oil: Agreed that Toronto paid a king’sransom to unload one year of Marleau (who despite his age still had a fairly decent year with 37 points, I believe).

However, Tampa unloaded JT Miller’s $5.25 mln x 4 contract to the Nucks who gave up way too much in return.

Although the Bolts dumped salary, trading Miller wasn’t a salary dump. His contract is reasonable and many many more teams would be interested in acquiring him, when compared to Marleau or Lucic.

OriginalPouzar

Decidedly Skeptical Fan: I was a big fan of the Lucic signing when it happened. Would have been perfectly happy with the Kings version of Lucic on a slow degradation curve but that is not remotely what we have now. At this point in time, I would be happy to just have the roster spot. Addition by subtraction.

Its a dead $6M cap hit with zero benefit until October, then the benefit disappears until after the next season starts. I get your premise, its still a terrible result.

Decidedly Skeptical Fan

OriginalPouzar: It would also be an awful result – severely debilitating to the ability to build the team each and every off-season for the next four.

LTIR is a horrible way to manage the cap – we wouldn’t even get any relief until the season starts and would have to be compliant on day 1 of the season, with Lucic’s full $6M – impossible to truly build.

I was a big fan of the Lucic signing when it happened. Would have been perfectly happy with the Kings version of Lucic on a slow degradation curve but that is not remotely what we have now. At this point in time, I would be happy to just have the roster spot. Addition by subtraction.

doritogrande

Thanks for running the show as always LT. Been here a while and have always appreciated your hard work, knowing that you doing something you love isn’t really work.

Two quibbles that come from your depth chart:

– holy crap, out C depth was real thin before today! Have some older prospects been recently shunted to wing based on junior/minor leqgue usage? Looking at you, Currie and Mcphee.

– I’m starting to get a little more perturbed at the Leftorium jokes. Take a look, there are more righties in number (even larger disparity before the Broberg pick) and, arguably high end talent (Jones plays the offside, so does Broberg when needed as confirmed by Bob Green today). Just because our depth chart favours so many more talented lefties on the NHL roster, it does not mean the same rings true of our prospects. I think this ongoing complaint about handedness needs to be curbed.

Very much agree with Dustrock above RE: the Americans. Much the dame way Kekalainen came to pass on Puljujarvi in 2016, he probably saw something in the NTDP boys that had him worried about projectability. We’ll see in 5 years.

Lastly, regardless of who you wanted drafted, its important to be positive regarding our draftees. Get mad at team management if you must, but don’t direct the vitriol towards the players.

JimmyV1965

v4ance:
Toronto had to package a 1st rounder to ditch Marleau’s contract and with the rumored pending deals to Kapanen and Johnsson totalling around $7 million, the Leafs would need at least $5 million to re-sign Marner to his ask of $11 million. The Leafs would still need a couple of cheap wingers to fill out their roster past those RFA signings.

Looking at Kadri’s $4.5 million and Brown’s $2.1 million cap hits, maybe offer Jesse Puljujarvi and Colby Cave as the cheap forwards and throw in a 4th rounder or some other pick to round out the offer to help them shed salary?

On our back end, after the July 1st bonus is paid, send Lucic out with a 2nd rounder with no salary retained to any team that will take his $6 million cap hit off our hands?

Too crazy?

It cost Toronto a first round pick to dump Marleau’s $6.5 mill salary for one year. Do you honestly think we can dump Lucic’s $6 mill for four years for a second?

Primetime

Thanks again LT, great draft coverage! Love seeing your projected list up against what actually happened in the draft.
However, what I would actually love to see every year is what your draft looks like if you “stuck to your list” to draft in real time (i.e., based on what had happened up to that point). I took a quick look for this year so maybe some mistakes, but team Lowetide draft would have looked like this based on your top 100 (actual draft slot in brackets)

#8: Kaliyev (33)
#38: M. Robertson (49)
#85: Blake Murray (183)
#100: Ethan Keppen (122)
#162: Billy Constantinou (ND)
#193: Nando Eggenberger (ND)

Would you be happier with that list than what the Oil actually did? Would like to look back to past years

leadfarmer

godot10: Buyouts come out of the players’s share.More buyouts, more escrow.Free buyouts encourage incompetent GM’ing.

Exactly. As business has been done in the past the players would have to pay for a Lucic buyout which why would you agree to that

Victoria Oil

OriginalPouzar: I should have added the caveat: unless you are dealing with Jim Benning.

Poile paid a huge amount as well – having to take a middling return for a top 10 RD to get the cap space.

Good points.

OriginalPouzar

Victoria Oil: Agreed that Toronto paid a king’sransom to unload one year of Marleau (who despite his age still had a fairly decent year with 37 points, I believe).

However, Tampa unloaded JT Miller’s $5.25 mln x 4 contract to the Nucks who gave up way too much in return.

I should have added the caveat: unless you are dealing with Jim Benning.

Poile paid a huge amount as well – having to take a middling return for a top 10 RD to get the cap space.

OriginalPouzar

leadfarmer: Wait to see what happens when cap doesn’t rise much next year as they try to control escrow. I thought it will lead to a lockout but instead they will clamp down on the cap.
Our goal needs to be to open up as much cap space as we can in next two years.
Player costs are rising astronomically while cap will rise very little

The salary structure landscape has changed – start paying high end players for their 20s – started by Chiarelli. The correction on the other end hasn’t happened yet – stop paying UFAs for their declining 30s (except the elites, such as the Tavares deal last year).

v4ance

godot10: #ThoroughlyMediocreCoach

Even if it’s true about McLellan, it’ll be a lose-lose? Win-win for the Kings?

If he sucks as bad as you think, he’ll be fired within two years with only the ability to ruin Turcotte while the team does this rebuild/retool. The rest of the draft talent they picked today will break into the NHL in 3 years after McLellan has been booted.

Plus with two bad years under his helm, McLellan will give the Kings two top 5 lottery picks before he’s shown the door. He’ll be gone but they’ll still have the 2019 talent they acquired ready for the NHL…

slopitch

Oil2Oilers:
Draft done, with no obvious screw ups onto free agency!

I have three major free agent targets;

GMoney
Micheal Parkatti
Jeff Krushell

For $500K/year each on a three year term with a $2 million dollar budget to fill out the analytics and sports finance department.

Return on investment would be significantly over $10M over 3 years in avoiding stupid contracts. Would also likely lead to more wins, merchandise sales and home playoff games.

An analytics dept is overdue. Id bet these 3 would a) cost less and b) yield more than u project.

OriginalPouzar

Decidedly Skeptical Fan: The only hope there is a ‘Hossa’ … unlikely but not impossible.

It would also be an awful result – severely debilitating to the ability to build the team each and every off-season for the next four.

LTIR is a horrible way to manage the cap – we wouldn’t even get any relief until the season starts and would have to be compliant on day 1 of the season, with Lucic’s full $6M – impossible to truly build.

Gerta Rauss

Munny:
leadfarmer,

I wonder if they can work some deal next summer where in exchange for no cap increase, they get one non-cap buyout per team.I don’t see why the PA would be against the buyout portion, since it allows for movement and a second salary.And they should be on-board with the no increase bit like they were this year, if it is deployed to fix escrow.

I’d love this and I think a lot of teams would as well

godot10

Munny:
leadfarmer,

I wonder if they can work some deal next summer where in exchange for no cap increase, they get one non-cap buyout per team.I don’t see why the PA would be against the buyout portion, since it allows for movement and a second salary.And they should be on-board with the no increase bit like they were this year, if it is deployed to fix escrow.

Buyouts come out of the players’s share. More buyouts, more escrow. Free buyouts encourage incompetent GM’ing.

Victoria Oil

OriginalPouzar: Yes, crazy, considering the Leafs had to give up a first for a team to take Marleau who is WAY better than Lucic and has a WAAAAAAAAY better contract that Lucic – A 1st rounder to get rid of 1 year of $6M.

No team is taking Lucic’s contract without giving an almost equally one back (i.e. Eriksson) with a sweetener.

The cost for cap space today was insane.

Agreed that Toronto paid a king’s ransom to unload one year of Marleau (who despite his age still had a fairly decent year with 37 points, I believe).

However, Tampa unloaded JT Miller’s $5.25 mln x 4 contract to the Nucks who gave up way too much in return.

leadfarmer

Munny:
leadfarmer,

I wonder if they can work some deal next summer where in exchange for no cap increase, they get one non-cap buyout per team.I don’t see why the PA would be against the buyout portion, since it allows for movement and a second salary.And they should be on-board with the no increase bit like they were this year, if it is deployed to fix escrow.

If the buyouts come from owners share it would probably fly but I think buyouts have not come from there in past

OriginalPouzar

Gret99zky:
How much does Broberg make playing for Skellefteå AIK?Is it realistic to expect him to come over and play in Hamilton next year?What kind of pay cut can he expect?

Will Holland have to make a deal with Broberg’s agent (ala Puljujärvi) in order for him to develop in North America on the small ice?

Comp wouldn’t be alot – well under six figures – still more than junior though. I would think a full year in the SHL would be just fine for Broberg – they may want him in Hamilton but I think arguments could be made for either path and Sweden would be just fine – playing with Berglund!

Kraz
Munny

leadfarmer,

I wonder if they can work some deal next summer where in exchange for no cap increase, they get one non-cap buyout per team. I don’t see why the PA would be against the buyout portion, since it allows for movement and a second salary. And they should be on-board with the no increase bit like they were this year, if it is deployed to fix escrow.

leadfarmer

OriginalPouzar: Yes, crazy, considering the Leafs had to give up a first for a team to take Marleau who is WAY better than Lucic and has a WAAAAAAAAY better contract that Lucic – A 1st rounder to get rid of 1 year of $6M.

No team is taking Lucic’s contract without giving an almost equally one back (i.e. Eriksson) with a sweetener.

The cost for cap space today was insane.

Wait to see what happens when cap doesn’t rise much next year as they try to control escrow. I thought it will lead to a lockout but instead they will clamp down on the cap.
Our goal needs to be to open up as much cap space as we can in next two years.
Player costs are rising astronomically while cap will rise very little

Munny

OriginalPouzar: The cost for cap space today was insane.

It wasn’t bad for Tampa at all. Bargaining position is everything in NHL trades. That is the key. Not that the Oil are in a good spot with Lucic, but they’re in a better spot than Dubas and Poile were. And can hold the player for another year if needs be,

leadfarmer

Woodguy v2.0:
Proman’s grades for the Oiler’s draft:

https://theathletic.com/1024886/2019/06/22/grading-the-edmonton-oilers-2019-draft-class/

Gives them a B

I give them an A-.
Drafted a player appropriately at 8
And got a guy that shouldn’t have been available in the 2nd round
And then Chias work limited the rest. Bunch of long shots that are drafted in long shot range

OriginalPouzar

godot10:

My only worry is the OIlers have demonstrated incompetence in developing these kinds of players.The upside potential is as high as anybody in the draft.

How so?

Which Oilers d-man have they shown some incompetence? Nurse? Klefbom? Lagesson?

The Oilers have many many assignment mistakes with forwards over the years, as we know, but not really with d-men. Klefbom would be the closest example to Broberg and he was allowed to develop. Maybe some more AHL time would have been OK but I can’t get on board with “incompetence”.

itsaleaf

I know we have to wait 5 years, but I was unimpressed with Holland’s first draft.
There was too much talent and too much need elsewhere to take Broberg at 8. If he turns out to be Lidstrom, then I will gladly admit I’m wrong.
Outside of the 2nd rounder, there were many more skilled options over the players they took.

Hard to be excited by a bunch of overager longshots

Decidedly Skeptical Fan

OriginalPouzar: Yes, crazy, considering the Leafs had to give up a first for a team to take Marleau who is WAY better than Lucic and has a WAAAAAAAAY better contract that Lucic – A 1st rounder to get rid of 1 year of $6M.

No team is taking Lucic’s contract without giving an almost equally one back (i.e. Eriksson) with a sweetener.

The cost for cap space today was insane.

The only hope there is a ‘Hossa’ … unlikely but not impossible.

OriginalPouzar

v4ance:
Toronto had to package a 1st rounder to ditch Marleau’s contract and with the rumored pending deals to Kapanen and Johnsson totalling around $7 million, the Leafs would need at least $5 million to re-sign Marner to his ask of $11 million. The Leafs would still need a couple of cheap wingers to fill out their roster past those RFA signings.

Looking at Kadri’s $4.5 million and Brown’s $2.1 million cap hits, maybe offer Jesse Puljujarvi and Colby Cave as the cheap forwards and throw in a 4th rounder or some other pick to round out the offer to help them shed salary?

On our back end, after the July 1st bonus is paid, send Lucic out with a 2nd rounder with no salary retained to any team that will take his $6 million cap hit off our hands?

Too crazy?

Yes, crazy, considering the Leafs had to give up a first for a team to take Marleau who is WAY better than Lucic and has a WAAAAAAAAY better contract that Lucic – A 1st rounder to get rid of 1 year of $6M.

No team is taking Lucic’s contract without giving an almost equally one back (i.e. Eriksson) with a sweetener.

The cost for cap space today was insane.

Decidedly Skeptical Fan

Reja: If you try to slow fuk Leon Connor Rnh you’ll lose them.

Not sure where you have been these last several years but each is in the middle/latter stages of being “slow fucked” as you put it. Pretty sure they are acutely aware of it.

Gret99zky

How much does Broberg make playing for Skellefteå AIK? Is it realistic to expect him to come over and play in Hamilton next year? What kind of pay cut can he expect?

Will Holland have to make a deal with Broberg’s agent (ala Puljujärvi) in order for him to develop in North America on the small ice?

Munny

dustrock,

Very well put, and ditto.

Decidedly Skeptical Fan

godot10: #ThoroughlyMediocreCoach

And we can all be thankful for that. Too bad we can’t clone Todd so he can be made available for any new coaching vacancy that comes up around the league.

Decidedly Skeptical Fan

Reja: Leon And McDavid say otherwise.

They said otherwise last year too … money talks and bullshit walks. They can’t do it alone.

godot10

v4ance:
Not liking the fact that LA’s draft was quietly efficeient and competent.Their rebuild will be over before the Oilers:p

#ThoroughlyMediocreCoach

godot10

My list was Byram, Cozens, Krebs, Dach. Three gone and the 4th blew his Achilles.

I saw a couple of Broberg’s games at the Hlinka. He was the most watchable player on the ice. Who the hell is #4? First lookup on the roster sheet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGFToiLtXro
But then until the U-18s, the reports back were meh.

My only worry is the OIlers have demonstrated incompetence in developing these kinds of players. The upside potential is as high as anybody in the draft.

I hope they leave him in Sweden for two years. Although Hamilton might not be a horrible idea.

I was Team Not Caufield and wasn’t particularly high on the Americans.

It would have been interesting if Cozens and Broberg were both on the board.

The salary cap constraints are impacting relative value in the draft. It pushed the D and goaltenders up. D and G are harder to find via free agency and trade. Forwards are a dime a dozen. It was reflected in this draft.