Commandant

Sweden and Russia WJC players to watch includes two Habs prospects. http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/12/24/2014-world-juniors-players-to-watch-sweden-and-russia/

Players to watch on Norway Switzerland and Finland includes a Hab. http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/12/23/2014-world-junior-championships-players-to-watch-norway-switzerland-finland/

Players to watch in Pool A http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/12/22/players-to-watch-at-the-2014-world-juniors-pool-a/

Re "Tanking" the Hawks have 2 top 5 picks in their lineup. The Habs have the same already. The key will be Galchenyuk developping into that elite player.

I'm meeting with Derek soon, do you guys have any updated questions?

Goals against / minute played..... diaz is our best defenceman. Now I know that he isn't playing the hardest minutes (though he did play some tough minutes when Therrien wasn't trusting Subban) but the guy is much better defensively than anyone gives him credit for. Yes, he's not a big hitter, but hes good positionally, has a great stick and blocks a ton of shots... plus he moves the puck when he has it getting us out of the zone. The hate for him is so overblown.

We need an impact offensive contributor, there is little doubt about that. The question is who is out there and how do we get them. Some guys I would look at Ryan Callahan (UFA to be, Rangers are going nowhere, but is a heart and soul guy, is he resigning in New York? Could be just a dream) Thomas Vanek (Do the Isles want to recoup some of the futures they gave up for him?) Marian Gaborik (almost surely will be traded, price is an issue, both short and long term) That said, I'd need to be confident I was locking the guy up to a contract before making the deal. In some ways I might just want to run with what I have and wait til the summer to make a run at them, cause I don't think this is our year anyway.

I gave the 30 goal threshold because that is the work that has been done in looking at CHL players and stats. If he's a 17 goal 45+ point guy then yes he can fill in as a second line forward. But here's foligno's stats at the same age as McCarron, ... 88 points in 66 games. Generally speaking the numbers show, that almost all forwards (like in the range of 98%+) who become top 6 players in the NHL, were scoring at over 1 PPG when they were in their post-draft season in the CHL. Heck even third and fourth liners like Ryan White, Max Lapierre, Brandon Prust, Nick Kypreos, Mike Blunden, and others are darn good scorers at 18 and 19 years old in the CHL. Thats the concern. There isn't a large number of guys who are scoring .3, or .4 PPG in the CHL at McCarron's age who become impact NHL forwards. Heck at that level of scoring, it just doesn't happen, even with 4th liners unless they are named John Scott. As for the order, I had McCarron at 60. I wouldn't have taken him even at 36. I wouldn't have taken him before the Connor Crisp pick.

Charles Hudon will be traded to Baie-Comeau, where he will join Gregoire.

Watching the game, Josh Anderson has to be one of the cuts IMO, the other I'm not sure, but I'd lean toward Girard. The idea that Anderson is a lock on the team is lost on me watching him. I don't think he's as good as some others. The idea that Shinkaruk/Mantha are competing for one spot and anderson is a lock? comical Imo.

He doesn't have to be Galchenyuk. You only picked top line guys.... I'm saying at least a 2nd line guy or top 4 D.... also look at least 10 picks past the spot. Add to your list, Derek Roy 32nd overall (2001) considered undersized. Loui Eriksson 33rd overall (2003) Jeff Schultz 2004 (was a top pairing defenceman for a couple years, Id rather have a top guy for 2 years than a fourth liner for 10). Dave Bolland 2004 Niskanen (top 4 D), Downie (scored over 20 goals), Neal, Vlasic 2005 Foligno, 2006 Brendan Smith 2007 JOhn Carlson, Tyler Ennis, Jacob Markstrom, Jake Allen 2008 Simon Despres, Ryan O'Reilly, 2009 Charlie Coyle, Brock Nelson, Emerson Etem, 2010 So its quite a bit bigger. All I'm saying is don't limit yourself in drafting early. Yes players bust, but given the salary cap, and the fact that top line guys are just not making it to free agency (and when they do they are overpaid) you should swing for the fences with early picks. Yes some players bust. But I'd rather have David Fisher, Mathieu Carle, and PK Subban instead of Kyle Chipchura, Brian Boyle, and David Steckel. Swing for the fences instead of making the "safe pick". The McCarron pick is the epitome of the "safe pick" drafting philosophy that I absolutely loathe. Take a riskier player with huge upside and hope to develop him, instead of him. And those guys were there, in Erne, in Compher, in Zykov, in a number of other possible guys who have shown high end skill to score. The other issue is that even those so called "safe picks" can bust, and they do. With a lower ceiling its easier to see the third line safe pick become Mike Blunden were if a potential top 6er doesn't reach that level, he might still end up a third liner, or a fourth.

I don't see Chicago giving up Hossa. He's still a first line player for them, and they are a legit cup contender. Why for a guy who would be their 5/6 defenceman a prospect and a pick. They are in win now mode and are fine cap wise right now. With the cap increasing they should be able to manage it going forward too (and even if they are forced to dump salary they aren't doing it til after the season).

I would not say that a fourth liner is a successful pick in the first round. You can sign fourth liners in free agency every single year. You can pick up a Prust or a Moen, or a guy like that and they don't cost much. You need to fill a top line spot, there aren't many guys in free agency and they cost a heck of a lot more. If that is what you are doing with your first rounders, you are setting yourself up for a lot more work getting under the cap. Getting guys who can fill top 6 roles, top 4 on D, or number 1 G... while on ELCs and Bridge Deals should be the goal in drafting, especially with early picks. While those bigger guys take longer to develop at the pro level.... with the exception of Lucic, they all score at the junior level. AHL and NHL is different, it can take time for a kid when he's playing against men. When playing against his own age group, a future scorer will dominate in most cases. Pacioretty was a PPG guy as a freshman at Michigan, made the US WJC team, and played well in that tournament. Against his own age group he was an offensive force. A big forward can take time to learn to effectively use his size against other big players. McCarron is a man amongst boys in the OHL, his sheer size advantage will never be bigger than it is right now where most kids need to put on muscle and are still growing. He should be dominating the game along the boards and in front of the net. He should be unstoppable when he drives to the net with the puck, and controlling the cycle game. He's not... far from it.

Gorges for sure. I see Patches as a top line winger. Gorges is a 4/5 defenceman... he's the spot more in need of the upgrade.

At even strength, yes.... we need more puck movement on the second pair. A pair of Gorges and Emelin is getting hemmed in their own end too often.

He doesn't have to hit those levels, but at this point he doesn't even look like he'll be capable of 20 goals or 40 points. If you can't get that out of a first round pick, I think its unsucessful. You know I loved the Chipchura pick at the time, but that is an unsucessful first rounder despite the fact he is still an NHL player. You should be aiming for a top 6 forward, a top 4 defenceman, or a #1 goalie with your first rounders.

A look at some stats that show the team really needs to learn how to win games when they don't get as many PPs. http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/12/18/reliance-on-powerplay-has-potential-to-urt-canadiens/

Send him and don't recall him. LOL

Didier is one of the best defensive defencemen in his conference. I have high hopes for his game to translate to the AHL.

Disgust

Red Sox didn't want Salty back, they only wanted a one-year deal on a catcher as they have two blue chip guys coming up. Willson is crazy. Granderson 4 years 60 million to the Mets is FREAKING INSANE. Beltran 3 years 45 to the Yanks Napoli 2 years 32 to the Redsox.... He makes 40 million over 3 years there... you'll remember his original Boston deal was 3 years 39 million and got voided after his physical. He then took 1 year 5 million + 3 million in incentives, and hit all the incentives.

The same "experts" who loved Tyler Biggs and Kyle Beach.

2 goals 2 assists for Bozon.

I have no problem with De la Rose (who has some potential offensive upside IMO) and Fucale. I just personally wouldn't have taken McCarron anywhere before 60th overall. I'm a firm believer that you don't take a guy with 3rd line upside early in a draft. Those guys become free agents, the first liners don't as often, and when a first liner does the bidding war is huge. So gamble. Take a guy who is maybe riskier, but has that high end upside.... Sometimes you get a bust, but sometimes you get a Subban or a Corey Perry, or other such player at the bottom of round 1, early in round 2. Yeah most guys won't turn out like that... .but its the only way to get one, cause once you draft them, they rarely if ever hit the open market.

Gionta is a leader. Keep him around so that kids like Pacioretty, Gallagher, Galchenyuk, Bournival, etc... will see the example he sets on what you need to do to be a playoff player. That learning experience is FAR, FAR more valuable than any late 2nd round pick or 3rd rounder you get in a trade. Remember that these picks will be late because you are trading him to a contender, and this draft, it looks like a good top 10-15 but not deep.