Habs Fan in Edmonton

That can happen, you can lose momentum after a layoff but the rest should start to pay off later in the series. I still want the Bruins to win against Florida (and then lose the next series) to improve the Winnipeg pick.

It wouldn't surprise me either, he is a hometown boy, seems to be thriving in Montreal, should have another 4 or 5 good years left, maybe more.

This looks good to me. Obviously some extra pieces that will need to be managed/traded, Kovacevic as mentioned might be a good 7th D. Engstrom is the dark horse here that may surprise. Perhaps Matheson's eventual replacement.

No surprise here. Kings won't buy out Dubois despite his disappointing season | theScore.com

That would be very Donald Trump like wouldn't it. The Leafs are so close, you can't let them go now!! They just need a little tweak here and there. They just need 1 more year.

Maybe, but I think he realizes (and likely his agent too) that a fresh start in a new city is the best thing for his mental health and future.

It certainly depends on how deep you think the draft will be. Not suggesting they trade down to 14, just saying San Jose is in a very desirable position in this draft. It sucks for Pittsburgh as this is their pick. Here is a hypothetical trade down. Right now Calgary is at #9 and they really want Tij Iginla. They are concerned he might be gone at #9. They want to switch with Montreal who is at #5. Kent Hughes says sure. In return I want you to take any conditions off the 1st round pick next year (ie. They get Calgary's pick no matter where it lands). Do you make this trade if you are Montreal? You could win big next year or gain nothing. If Calgary is outside the top 10 then Montreal would likely have received that pick anyway. If Calgary is bottom 10 then yippee!! Do you make this trade if you are Calgary? You could lose big next year (if you are bottom 10) or lose nothing if outside the top 10.

Yes, you would have to do some advance work with the deal conditional on who is available. I think San Jose is in a great position with 2 picks in the top 14 but they need the help.

Agreed, it would be a hard deal to make ahead of time since you don't know who is available when you are going to draft as teams guard these secrets with their life. A deal would have to made quickly which makes it harder to accomplish.

Of course on draft day commentators have to find a story, that's the entertainment business and it will always be like this. The "Nail or Mikhail" draft was a good one, both busts. I just think this draft will one of the most interesting because of the divergence of opinion. As Bob says, he hasn't seen anything like it in 35 years.

I was thinking the same thing. If there ever was a draft where trading down might make sense it might be this draft since it is so up in the air after Celebrini. I guess it would depend on the sweetener somebody offered you.

Here is the complete article https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/bob-mckenzie-s-nhl-draft-ranking-an-unpredictable-ride-after-macklin-celebrini-1.2116004 Interesting comments from Mckenzie. "The lack of clear consensus beyond Celebrini — from No. 2 through to No. 10 and beyond — would be unprecedented. I’ve been doing draft rankings like this one for more than 35 years, and I don’t recall a year where the Top 10 is such a hodgepodge of opinion."

Excellent points, just don't see it happening. Carolina does have some interesting decisions, especially if they want to sign Guentzel. Necas and Jarvis will be getting huge raises if they want to keep both. I guess that's the price you pay for drafting well.

I agree. I do think throwing in Xhekaj would certainly get teams attention much much more than Struble or Harris but I don't think Arber is going anywhere. It would take Mailloux and Winnipeg's 1st to get teams to listen. Mailloux certainly has value.

It's possible but unlikely. Looking at the teams drafting in the top 12, I don't see any of them wanting to give up their pick unless it's an overpay. Unless one of them really likes a Harris or a Struble and we throw in the Winnipeg pick and a couple seconds. The Calgary pick next year could be real interesting or not. Hopefully Calgary is good enough to just finish outside the top 10 or we can dream and hope Florida has the year from hell next year.

If KK gets bought out, he will have several choices as many teams will take a chance on a guy who was a #3 pick not long ago. I can't think of any reason he would want to come back to Montreal.

Even if the Canes buy him out, I don't think there is any chance KK wants to come back here and I don't think the Habs want him back. That ship has sailed. He will go somewhere where he can start fresh. I still don't think the Canes buy him out.

I don't think the Habs will take Eiserman with their 1st pick however he does have elite goal scoring skills and is one of the youngest guys in the draft so he has time to mature. If he falls much then maybe you try and trade up to take him although that is tough to do.

In the tourney Iginla finished 5th in scoring and Ritchie 11th. An interesting stat is that Eiserman (on a team that scored 33 more goals than it gave up) finished with a plus minus of 0.

Interesting discussion about Sennecke starting about the 38 minute mark. Looks incredible in some of the clips. McCagg would take him over Iginla now. There is a goal at the 41:20 mark that is phenomenal McCagg: Wouldn't Shock Me If Sennecke Went Top 3 - Prospect Talk #50 (youtube.com)

I was hoping for a Vegas win as that would move the Winnipeg pick to 26 (only reason I would ever cheer for Vegas). Hopefully the Avs can take out Dallas which would accomplish the same thing. The Avs are well rested but Dallas will be tough, not sure who the favourite is in this series.

I watched that play over and over again trying to figure out what went wrong for the Leafs. I don't know if it was a set play or just dumb luck. There have been a lot of weird bounces off the back boards/stanchions. Skinner got burned badly against LA giving up an easy goal and there have been others so maybe goalies are getting a little nervous coming out to try and play or anticipate the bounces. If it was a set play then it was done to perfection as Pastrnak was streaking across the blueline at full speed just as the puck entered the zone. The speed and angle at which the puck came off the backboards seemed a little unusual (although not sure what usual is anymore) making it difficult for Samsonov to react in time. If I blame anyone I would blame the Leaf defensemen on that side who should have been in a better position to retrieve the puck. That's my take on it for what it's worth. Bottom line, the Leafs lost and we can happily move forward.

Offer sheets rarely work, I don't think that is Hughes preferred method of acquiring talent.

Iginla with a goal and 2 assists, nice snipe for what turned out to be the winner. Horrible, undisciplined 5 minute penalty cost the Americans. I like Ritchie with the Winnipeg pick if they don't trade the pick. That Gavin Mckenna is a pretty decent player.

I think the US is deeper, if Catton and Lindstrom were healthy and available it might be a little different.