DON

I had thought Gaunce was a perfect fit, when i thought Habs might pick close to 10th and never thought they might end up 28th. I see Gaunce as the exact same player as Mark NcNeill was last year, a big centre who Hawks picks at 18th. But in hind sight, the Hawks 2nd round pick at 43rd, Brandon Saad was the most impressive at Hawk camp (according to Hawk bloggers) and closest to making roster ahead of McNeill. So i wouldnt trade any picks (33rd/55th nor 64th) to get a second 1st rounder, because same as last year there will be; Ty Rattie, Saad and Jurco type players to be had in 2nd round. The last time Habs did trade up, they got Tinordi, but again there were a few big d-men taken in the 2nd round and Tinordi was not likely worth both the 27th and 57th picks combined? So could of maybe picked 2 of these 3 -Emerson Etem, Justin Faulk, Stephen Johns instead of just Tinordi. Hind sight is very helpful, but stick with the picks, or maybe trade down with 1 of them if someone is real excited to get a player at 33rd/55th?

For sure it is hard to forecast, but of all the top 5 or 10 (ranked) prospects, Grigorenko is the only one who makes me nervous about being picked at #3. If he was from Saskatoon i would feel much better. But i have faith in Timmins making a good decision. Nice to hear positive reports and chances are he will be a fine NHLer, but the Habs so rarely have a top pick, i am just pulling for a safe pick and if Timmins is going to take a risk, i might prefer to take a flyer on Dumba, who could be even better than Subban?

[ Dumba still leading scorer at U18s, with his production and Grigorenko's lack of it, in the playoffs, maybe Dumba would be a better choice (if Yakupov and Galchenyuk go 1-2). But Timins would surely still take Forsberg i would guess?

Size can be overrated, there are as many cons as there are pros for being big or small. UNless you are superskilled like Gaborick/Malkin/Kovalchuk and the like, bigger is normally slower and lacks the quickness of smaller players. OIlers have drafted several big "Power Forward" prospects in last decade with little success at all, but get a small 2nd rounder in Eberle who is just super and will be a 50+ goal scorer within next couple years. Small players can be overlooked and then in hind sight, many GMs kick themselves for not taking a player like a 5'10" 165lb Giroux. And the most sought after UFA this year will be a guy who is under 6'0" and NJ just wishs they had the cash to keep him. A mix of sizes on a roster is likely best (Habs top 2 centres are small(ish) and really need an upgrade to have at least one being a bit bigger/stronger), but that really shouldnt influence who the Habs pick at #3 i dont think?

Button had Grigorenko at 7th in March and it dosent surprise me that he has fallen a bit. He is now 34th in QMJHL playoff scoring, well behind some other rookie players and not doing well in faceoff circle, so add that to some questions about his compete level and you get him dropping out of top ten. I think Grigorenko is similar to Zemgus Giegensons by having all the physical tools but is just not driven enough to really impress scouts, as they say Forsberg and Galchenyuk have. I dont agree with some of Buttons rankings (Subban at 10th, Collberg at 18th and Grigorenko should be at least top 10?), but he has been around for a long time doing the scouting thing, so i wouldnt dismiss outright that is for sure. I just noted, that Sweden beat Russia today 2-0 at U18s and Filip Forsberg had both Swedish goals.

I think you are a bit off-base, saying some classless acts by a minority extend to 'substantial portion" of Canuck fans, is the same as Booing the USA anthum and cheering an injury to an opposing player is typical of Hab fans. By and large a Canuck/Flame/Hab fans are no different what so ever and are just typical Canadians, but we each have our own opinions and stereotypes eh. I actually had thought Canucks would finally pull it off this year, but looks to be slim chance now. And with the Habs out, i am more concerned with my golf game and who the Habs will draft in June, than the playoffs.

Dont get the not cheering for a Canadian team? I will pull for any over an american based team and that even includes the hated Leafs, i have a dislike for leafs but if they were playing the Rangers or Philly i would pull for the most dysfunctional franchise in Canada. Go Sens and Canucks go!

Couldnt see ratings but seems fairly clear cut; Price is MVP Subban best d-man Yemelin is best Rookie Leblanc is best call up from Bulldogs Cole is best forward Desharnais most improved Pacioretty come-back player St. Denis is most underrated Cammalleri is most overrated Gomez is biggest underachiever

I had picked Caps vs Canucks in finals. And will stick with Vancouver till fat lady is singing Great for Sedin to come out and say Brown;s crushing hit on him, was a clean one. Caps are finallly healthy and have no choice between the pipes for once and Holtby is doing very well.

Only if Holland plays on a line with Gallagher and Kristo (all 3 are wingers), would he put up super offensive #s. But if put with Nattenin and some other checker (Shultz) they could form a nice checking line? But i would bet he is to become a 3rd line checker with Habs, becasue he can really skate and is super defensively (Tom Pyatt with bit better hands); but if he ever gets 20 goals in a year i would be pleasantly surprised (Pyatt did have almost 15 with Tampa this year i think). Beaulieu is weak defensively, he gets away with it in junior but wont in pros, and will go exact same route as Subban (with almost same pros and cons) and will need at least 1 full year in AHL. Given Tinordi's size, reach and OK skating he might be able to hold his own as an early call-up for Habs, especially if he comes into camp at 225lbs or heavier. But Pateryn, St Denis or Nash may also be in line for early call up if injuries crop up? Just my guess how might play out.

I would assume Palushaj and Nash both resigned to 2 way contracts, but Palushaj may go in a trade? Conboy must be on last legs with Habs and Shultz has probably taken his role?

Collberg 6 points and +5 vs Forsberg 3 points and -1 at the u18S, Collberg seems the mroe dangerous of the 2 again, as he was at world juniors, Forsberg is Captain of Sweden and taller than Collberg, but is he just another Paajarvi. Dumba is leading Canada, albeit after only 2 games. Grigorenko is not lighting up QMJHL playoffs at all, is 33rd in scoring and only 45% on faceoffs, seems to likely be at least 2 years away from being a NHL centreman eh? U18 scoring list http://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/292/IHM292000_85B_5_0.pdf

I saw the same games you must of and you seem typical of most Hab fans, who think he is no good, but i liked his play and he just never got a regular shift as he does now in Colorado. Martin had his favorites and young players were not among them. Which is why Martin begged for Campoli, Sopel, Mara to be signed. i was very disappointed to see OByrne traded from Habs, but he wasnt getting a fair shake by Pearn and Martin (who i was very very happy to see both fired, just might of picked a better time maybe). i know OByrne isnt a big fighter, who cares, he still is very strong in front of net and along boards and i had no illusions of him being a Chara. Also, Colorado, was 11th in goals against this year. But hey, i really like the Kaberle and Bourque signings, which most see as terrible also.

Sure and for as much as many Hab fans have a dislike for OByrne (why, i am not quite sure??), he is exactly what all seem to be crying for the Habs to add this summer, a crease clearing big d-man who is not as slow footed as Gill and tougher. Seems many are in favour of trying to trade the #3 pick and go either up or down? Which i disagree with. Say the obvious choices left at #3 will be either Grigorenko or Galchenyuk, whom you could catagorize as A- prospects and Yakupov is A (not near a Crosby/Stamkos), i just dont see it worthwhile to go from 3 to 1 for the cost of an additional pick/prospect? And trading down, after the Habs hit a home run last time with a #5 pick, just dosent seem to make much sense and i cant see Timmins/Molson group moving from #3.

The US is producing some nice d-men (that Seth Jones kid will be interesting to see play next week in U18 game vs Canada), not near as many as the CHL of course, but Timmins being smart may see them as being undervalued and is not afraid to give them several years to develop in the NCAA, where some teams dont want to wait and dont scout the USHL as much? Komisarik and McDonagh were both super picks, Fischer was not, but got a draft pick back for not signing him anyways. Pateryn and Bennett could both turn out very well and the latest picks; Didier and Sullivan are again being given lots of time to develop. OByrne and Nash were both good sigings out of Cornell also and just too bad OByrne was not one of Martin's favorites and Nash missed all of last year. But still OByrne got turned in Bournival, who is very promising bottom 6 player. For me, i could care less where a pick comes from, with the 1 exception, being Russia.

I dont let friggin facts get in the way of my point. But thanks for slight correction anyways sir.I see Canada made short work of denmark in U18s and TSN is televising a couple games next week, Can vs USA on Tuesday afternoon should be interesting. Branden Troock is a big lad who may be an OK late 2nd or 3rd round pick, but just may not have alot of offense eh (and just be another Turner Stevenson type)?

But Galchenyuk listed Moscow as his home (if i recall correctly) and also i think has dual citizenship and he has a strong Eastern European/Rusian accent also; which could never be said for 99. But i highly doubt he is a danger of going the KHL route and he would be my choice if available at #3.

Just to be argumentative i will disagree and say hard-working is just one important part of being BPA, BPA isnt just the one with most skill, but a combination of all the factors you hint at. Same as a PGA golfer isnt just a swing, likely the quality of player is a function of that 9 inches between his ears. For Example: Taylor Hall is bigger, stronger and faster than Jordan Eberle, but Eberle is the better player overall, only because of his hockey IQ (and slick hands) and Nugent-Hopkins is a mix, he has the Hockey IQ of Eberle and can skate like Hall.

The Habs did get a franchise player with last high pick. And no matter who they pick this year, highly unlikely to even play in NHL next year and then unlikely to be a big impact player the following year, so the best option to make playoff next year is trade for an All-Star forward on JUly 1st. Yakupov may be better but not by a crazy amount, when compared to other top few prospects, i myself am very happy picking 3rd and will stick with it.

I still see Caps trading for Yakupov, just seems to be a perfect fit and they have the assets to trade. With Kuznetsov coming and the chemistry between the 2, i can see the Caps selling the farm to make it happen and that would start with both their 1st round picks this year and maybe next years 1st +whatever else is needed(Semin/Alzner)? And i think the Caps also have a ton of other prospects which may fit Oilers roster.

You do realize he is a rookie and was not named to all-star by accident instead of Yemelin. I might say Weber is a #7 on the Habs, but Weber may be a regular on another team without so much defensive depth, say OIlers, Chicago, Leafs, Jets?

3rd pick is fine for me and i dont see any need to move. Yakupov is not likely worth a pick/prospect MORE, than Grigorenko/Galchenyuk/Forsberg are to the Habs is he? I see the Oilers are now presented with a ton of options and Taballini seemed in shock., the most likely being trading with 1 of the 3 teams with 2 first round picks. And i would give the Caos the inside track, with the #13 and #14 (at present) picks going to OIlers for Yakupov and the Caps would have Yakupov and their other Russian, who tore up the world juniors (cant remember name), coming into camp next fall. . But Buffalo and Tampa might also package their 2 picks if Yakupov is what they really want. And i must say for all the shit Bettman does, i would give him a nod on the lottery this time and great to see the bottom dweller lose out for a change.

Of course, sorry, still braindead from long weekend.

Galchenyuk was a #1 selection for OHL, so he didnt really come out of left field and like you, i like all the mention of "hard work" that i just dont hear in Grigorenko descriptions, but eastern europeans can come across as 'laid back, inconsistant', but when look at scoring race every year; there is a Gaborick/Hossa/Kovalchuk/Malkin always near the top. When they are "On" they are awesome, when not they can be invisible. But i would take a hard working guy over a "slightly" more skilled but inconsistant prospect, every time. But there is a chance Grigorenko is another Malkin and if Yakupov and Galchenyuk are taken, i would bet Timmins would have grab Grigorenko next. But still am quite anxious to see if Yakupov will be at Habcamp this summer!

That would be cuttin it close for UFA/RFA resignings/negotiations wouldnt it?