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But is that really enough to get worked up over? Leafs screwed up, live and learn. As i said, you still aint got a clue what the other 90% of teams are doing/gonna do/pick in the crap-shoot, so really, odds are it will amount to dick-all risk and more that Burke wants camera or air time to rant, when he really should be out of a job by now and just another err on his part. As bad as Gauthier was portrayed, he does not even come close to Burke's record of ineptness.

Cant argue one bit with anything you say. The Halak thing didnt even cross my mind though, hindsight stuff is history and prefer to look forward. I had a similar feeling as you, but towards Pacioretty and i thought he wouldnt even get 20 goals. And they say he is playing very well at world's also, which is super to hear. So my crystal ball aint worth much. Louis seems a smart player and a hard worker, who just needs improved strength/skating.

Burke didnt sign a smart contract with Dudley, not the first time he fooled up, i say screw him it is a business isnt it? Next time he will not include consultants not under contract or "free agent" management personnal, be a good but tough lesson for Braniac to learn, i have no sympathy. Why would Timmins care who Leafs want (very minor advantage)? After first several players or 1st round, no one knows who will be left nor what the other 28 teams want or will pick? And the Leafs are no draft gurus are they? I know it is a big ol boys club with lots of under the table agreements, but Bergevin might as well start by pissing off Burke, i am good with that.

Sure i get ya. Burke will whine about anything, like a spoiled kid. Toronto is perfect place for him. I still disagree about Dudley and draft and see the rush as an attempt to get mgmt all in place ASAP, so coach hiring, UFA-RFA contract and July 1st are all sorted out and make sure all are on same page. What does that Larry Carriere guy do? Is he a AGM?

I assume you just have a gut feeling Eller wont keep developing and be a top 2 centre within year or 2. You could be correct, but i think he is bigger and a better skater than those you listed and doubled goal production in 2nd year, as i said with little summer/fall training, so i am hopeful he becomes a 65-70 point guy. But i am always overly optimistic about young Habs. I also see Louis Leblanc also coming to camp as a different and heavier player, as he is a fitness freak and also will not be rehabbing shoulder this summer/fall. Dont see Louis ever being a 40 goal guy, but maybe a Mike Richards type?

Has to be a short list of 4 or 5 players at most. I Hope it is Galchenyuk, but i could maybe see Columbus grabbing him, so Grigorenko is likely favourite, find out in 6 weeks or so.

Stall is underpaid at $4/year, but i am sure 10-15 teams would toss a big contract to entice him and give up lots of stuff to Pitt also to pry him away. But Marleau/Thorton/Getzlaf/Stastny have all supposedly underachieved (reg season or playoffs), may be looking for new home and those 3 teams may see Plekanec as a nice change-up and might not take alot more than Thomas to get one of them ( a pick/prospect added might get it done)? But as far as Eller goes, he was rehabbing all last summer and had no training camp (which has been shown to be a killer for forwards offensively), so wilh a full off-season training and adding 5lbs or so he could easily be a young Mikko Koivu type player, who is better than Stall, so i wouldnt even think of trading Eller.

? Button has had him as a left-winger in every one of his monthly rankings since last fall? not sure what you are referring to? And dosent matter if he is a winger/centre for draft, Timmins will go BPA, no matter what position.

I dont see Beaulieu's defense being any better at all and why he was used sparingly at world juniors. Whereas Subban was solid at 2 world juniors. it is the only aspect that has to be worked on in AHL next year for him, he has all the stuff you cant teach and learning to defend against Pros should be teachable, unless you are like MAB who was always great offensively but couldnt stop my grandmother one on one. Hope for the best but have more reservations about Beaulieu than i do Tinordi, Ellis, Nash, St.Denis or Pateryn. Time will tell.

Timmins seems one of best on draft day and Dudley may have a valued opinion, but "likely" more to do with possible trades and not draft prospects specifically; but if he is hired at all, it wont be as Amaueur scout, but i really know dick-all about him. Just dont see a quick hire of this guy as that important for draft.

Sounds dandy, but i think you would only get 1 of 2 scenarios to happen. If Stall is available, many teams would want in for sure. I think a Paul Stastny/Marleau/Getzlaf or the like, may be alot easier to trade for than Stall, if cap room is available (e.g. Gomer is gone) I am on the fence about trading up in draft, but you can bet that Timmins will swap pick(s) to move up or down. See how conservative the new GM is i suppose.

Dudley "is said" to be pro-scout/player development guy and very good at that and not amateurs scouting per say.

Dont see him being a better choice than Sutter, but you guys must think he has more offense upside or something, casue in other aspects Sissons does not play near as "rugged" a game. But other rankings have him as a late 1st rounder as well. He should be a OK -good checker and grinder, but i see Sutter getting more offense screening and tipping shots in front of net and being a pain in the ass for d-men.

Still like Bourque and Kaberle trade and good moves by me? Lazy is Bourque? than what would Cammalleri be classified as? Bourque has 72 goals in last 3 years, Cammalleri has 65 at twice the salary, pretty simple math. 3 more years at $3 is pretty small these days. And Kaberle is a valuable, albeit soft d-man, but loads of experiance and great with puck and Habs need more offense no matter where comes from and he is the opposite of Cammalleri and a total team player. Stewart might be interesting pick-up but just a 4th liner isnt he and woudnt waste much on him.

dont think Gallant speaks french, should it matter? no, will it yes, will it hamstring on ice product, likely to some degree, which is where Molson needs to grow a pair and prove team success is priority and not political agenda

I wouldnt think Forsberg is a frontrunner, and Galchenyuk or Murray would be the safe picks as well Dumba and Grigorenko would be risky ones i think

Gallant Charron McTavish Quinn

Dont see anything as sad? Just natural to be curious what moves/steps he will take, good-bad or neutral. And already seeing Timmins as an important and valued employee and moving Randy to assistant are good signs of things to possibly come. More, glass half-full than opposite. Francophone player pool shrinking is what it is. No big deal, smaller families, aging demographics, who knows, still lots of fine canadian kids from all over making impact in NHL?

I wouild say Murray is better than all 3 now and really these 2 prospects are in a different class than Weber and other 2. These 2 prospects will be top 4 d-men if not top 2, the other 3 will likely never be. Who is coach will have zero impact on draft i think, scouting deptartment gets paid to do a job and they dont rank players by who may be coach. I could be off-base on this, but current roster need will have little to do with which prospect is called in June? In the NFL and NBA they tend to draft more for current roster needs, becasue draft picks go straight to pro contract; but in MLB and NHL they, by and large, need to forecast farther out, a couple years down the road (as they did when Theodore was #1 goalie and former MVP and still drafted a goalie with #5 pick).

I dont know about what Columbus's needs, but just seems a smart fit to get a top goalie in Nash deal and solidify d-core with Murray, just a wild guess. I am like you and Galchenyuk seems best/safest pick at 3, but see Dumba as a more risky but maybe the best player to be available and is a close second in my eyes. Scouting reports on Forsberg seemed a bit more positive than what i saw at the world juniors, but he is a young pick this year and was playing a bit over his head. He seemed to show more at U18s and impressed me for sure. I also thought the same about production in Sweden being a bit unimpressive, but i looked at Mats Sundin for comparison, in 1990 he only had 18 points in SEL (fair comparison or maybe not?), so Swedish low production may not be a good indication of much? If he is like Paajavi (sp??) was as a junior, i dont know and cant remember and have to rely on scout reports; Button is very high on him as are others. But has been a long time since Habs have had a top notch Swede and if his name is called, i would be fine with that. He is a big kid who does seem to have lots of potential. Seems to me that #3 must be one of these 5; Murray/Galchenyuk/Grigorenko/Dumba/Forsberg and any of them should help the Habs in a couple years.

Good call sir. I know dick-all about Bergevin, but he should have a busy next 9-10 weeks.

no i said Dumba wont be full time 2014-15, no way he is ready this fall, but Murray is, my guess Murray will be suiting up and paired with Jack Johnson or Wisniewski.

I would expect Murray would suit up for almost any team in NHL this fall, cept Habs. I would expect Dumba to suit up as a regular for opening game in 2014-15 (if a Hab), same development timeframe as Subban went through.

sorry, i must misremember your comment on Dumba, maybe were just questioning his play or something? And some other article commented his 2nd half was a drop off.

I am sure the Habs scouting staff has had info on Grigorenko going back awhile (couple years?) and as with many prospects they likely have collated reviews from many different sources and playing in Quebec i am sure hardly a game went by that some scout hasnt noted some pros/cons of his play and i would think game video is likely gone over also. As well, i would guess they have had informal chats with him and his coach. So his final play with a sickness would be noted/discounted or however you want to catagoriaze it and not brand him 1 way or the other at this late stage of scouting. With such a valuable pick, Timmins is surely being diligient and doing his homework. Given his track record, he knows what he is doing and i hope he also finds another Gallagher or Dietz with a long-shot late round pick again this year.