Draft Lottery set for Tuesday!!

[DaBoltsNIsles]

The Worst 5 teams in the league have a chance at the 1st overall pick in the 2011 entry draft. To be held in Minnesota this June.

1.Edmonton
2.Colorado
3.Florida
4.N.Y. Islanders
5.Ottawa

I'll be honest about this. I really hope Florida, Isles or Ottawa win the damn thing. Edmonton doesn't deserve the 1st pick twice in a row. Colorado TANKED.

 

[falconski]

The Worst 5 teams in the league have a chance at the 1st overall pick in the 2011 entry draft. To be held in Minnesota this June.

1.Edmonton
2.Colorado
3.Florida
4.N.Y. Islanders
5.Ottawa

I'll be honest about this. I really hope Florida, Isles or Ottawa win the damn thing. Edmonton doesn't deserve the 1st pick twice in a row. Colorado TANKED.

the avs started tanking when they were 1st in the division...I'm pretty sure that was the team sucking after fleishmann went down (everyone else was injured at that time too, but that was the straw that broke the camel's back), not an intentional tank (you should have seen how happy they were with a shootout wind over the oilers to end a 20 losses in 21 games streak)

 

[TheRobotDevil]

Already got it marked down hoping we drop down a little lower that win today cost us two spots

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

the avs started tanking when they were 1st in the division...I'm pretty sure that was the team sucking after fleishmann went down (everyone else was injured at that time too, but that was the straw that broke the camel's back), not an intentional tank (you should have seen how happy they were with a shootout wind over the oilers to end a 20 losses in 21 games streak)

If they cared about winning they wouldn't have traded Anderson for Elliot. I know they had injury problems. Heck Mueller played something like 2 games all year. Stastny went down as well.

That said they still have a very talented team up front. The backend isn't that bad. The Islanders lost more man games due to injury than Colorado did. They don't have as much talent either. At the end of the season they were without 7 regular defenseman.

I don't understand what happened in Colorado. I do know that even if a team has injuries they should at least give 100% every night. I'm just not sure Colorado did that.

 

[TheRobotDevil]

I'm just hoping we can crack the top 5 the run we went on was nice and the win for Lemaire's last game was great to but it cost us finishing at 6th definately cant blame the devs for folding

 

[Jimmy_the_Tongue]

C'mon Pens!

 

[dash]

I hope the Oil win the lottery and the #1 pick. It's so much more fun to see a team with a boatload of top draft picks finish 30+ points out of the playoffs (and it will happen again next season). What is it, year 2 of rebuild 2.0?!? Just keep Lowebellini in place.

 

[falconski]

If they cared about winning they wouldn't have traded Anderson for Elliot. I know they had injury problems. Heck Mueller played something like 2 games all year. Stastny went down as well.

That said they still have a very talented team up front. The backend isn't that bad. The Islanders lost more man games due to injury than Colorado did. They don't have as much talent either. At the end of the season they were without 7 regular defenseman.

I don't understand what happened in Colorado. I do know that even if a team has injuries they should at least give 100% every night. I'm just not sure Colorado did that.

please, hunwick's ice time is a better argument than trading Anderson

Anderson quit on us, he didn't get the contract he wasn't and he played like crap after the first month of the season, see his stats in colorado. he wasn't going to resign, so they got what value they good....which ended upbeing another version of budaj. If you watched anderson at all before the trade he would just give up on shots that most AHL goaltenders would save pretty easily, if there was anyone trying to lose it was him. Budaj and Elliot at least tried, they just suck (think sherman was hoping for a change of scenery trade to work out for elliot). The avs were winning the first few months because the offense made up for the goals given up (the defense sucked too), the offense eventually dried up.

The avs may have more talent in the starting lineup, but have absolutely no depth, Ryan Stoa was the first callup: useless. The avs have 5 NHL caliber defensemen, one of which wasn't there until the trade deadline another of which was injured all season (Johnson, Liles, O'Byrne, Quincey, Wilson)...17 were used total and 0 NHL caliber starting goaltenders, the talent is in the offense and galiardi, meuller (who was injured in preseason), fleishmann were out for the season. Our best defenseman against Dallas(after EJ got injured): David Koci, I'm not kidding

During the 20 losses in 21 games, the team was completely demotivated, and yes there were some blowouts, once they figured out how to win again, the games were closer, but they were still coming up short, mostly because of a lack of defense and goaltending (EJ could only do so much, and hunwick is the worst defenseman I've ever seen play professional hockey)

 

[juliansteed]

Well anyone of those teams should be able to draft a potential franchise player regardless of the outcome of the lottery. There doesn't seem to be a concensus 1st overall pick, let alone a concensus on the top 5. I suspect RNH will go #1 overall. Hard to say how things will develop after that. As mentioned in the CHL thread, I'm very interested to see where Jonathan Huberdeau goes. Hopefully to a team with at least some depth at forward so they don't need to pluck him away from junior at 18.

 

[dash]

I will say that RNH has been conspicuous by his absence in this current playoff series with the Tigers. I hope he continues to not show up.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I hope the Oil win the lottery and the #1 pick. It's so much more fun to see a team with a boatload of top draft picks finish 30+ points out of the playoffs (and it will happen again next season). What is it, year 2 of rebuild 2.0?!? Just keep Lowebellini in place.

Edmonton already has a bunch of early 1st round picks on their roster. Picking 2nd wouldn't be a bid deal as far as I'm concerned.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

please, hunwick's ice time is a better argument than trading Anderson

Anderson quit on us, he didn't get the contract he wasn't and he played like crap after the first month of the season, see his stats in colorado. he wasn't going to resign, so they got what value they good....which ended upbeing another version of budaj. If you watched anderson at all before the trade he would just give up on shots that most AHL goaltenders would save pretty easily, if there was anyone trying to lose it was him. Budaj and Elliot at least tried, they just suck (think sherman was hoping for a change of scenery trade to work out for elliot). The avs were winning the first few months because the offense made up for the goals given up (the defense sucked too), the offense eventually dried up.

The avs may have more talent in the starting lineup, but have absolutely no depth, Ryan Stoa was the first callup: useless. The avs have 5 NHL caliber defensemen, one of which wasn't there until the trade deadline another of which was injured all season (Johnson, Liles, O'Byrne, Quincey, Wilson)...17 were used total and 0 NHL caliber starting goaltenders, the talent is in the offense and galiardi, meuller (who was injured in preseason), fleishmann were out for the season. Our best defenseman against Dallas(after EJ got injured): David Koci, I'm not kidding

During the 20 losses in 21 games, the team was completely demotivated, and yes there were some blowouts, once they figured out how to win again, the games were closer, but they were still coming up short, mostly because of a lack of defense and goaltending (EJ could only do so much, and hunwick is the worst defenseman I've ever seen play professional hockey)

Well before the Lottery the Avs are picking 2nd & 11th. I guess it's Larsson or bust right? If Edmonton takes him 1st do the Avs take RNH or trade down?

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Final CSS rankings for North America.

FINAL RANKINGS - NORTH AMERICAN SKATERS - 2011 NHL Entry Draft

Interesting to see Couturier drop to #6.

 

[dash]

Edmonton already has a bunch of early 1st round picks on their roster. Picking 2nd wouldn't be a bid deal as far as I'm concerned.

I really think the Oil need to look at packaging a deal with draft picks and prospects for some immediate help, but then I take a closer look at the roster and all I see is crude (er, I mean crud). I mean, Hall and Eberle are untouchable and after that, there's not much else.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

I really think the Oil need to look at packaging a deal with draft picks and prospects for some immediate help, but then I take a closer look at the roster and all I see is crud. I mean, Hall and Eberle are untouchable and after that, there's not much else.

I disagree with that Dash.

When healthy Hemsky is a true first-liner in the NHL.

Paajarvi is a talented kid too. A good second line scorer down the road, IMO.

Theo Peckham is a good, hard-nosed defenseman.

Ryan Whitney looked better this year before his injury and Tom Gilbert even looked half decent at times.

The problems right now are that in general the only top-flight talent guys (Eberle and Hall) are too young. That can work if you have depth through 4 lines and 5-6 D-men. The Oil have no depth at the NHL level.

In short they have no one performing at the elite level (right now) and no depth. The result is plain to see.

I can see another Oil tank next year for sure.

 

[dash]

I disagree with that Dash.

When healthy Hemsky is a true first-liner in the NHL.

Paajarvi is a talented kid too. A good second line scorer down the road, IMO.

Theo Peckham is a good, hard-nosed defenseman.

Ryan Whitney looked better this year before his injury and Tom Gilbert even looked half decent at times.

The problems right now are that in general the only top-flight talent guys (Eberle and Hall) are too young. That can work if you have depth through 4 lines and 5-6 D-men. The Oil have no depth at the NHL level.

In short they have no one performing at the elite level (right now) and no depth. The result is plain to see.

I can see another Oil tank next year for sure.

I'm not sure about Paajarvi, he was supposed to be the best of the Hall-Eberle-Paajarvi trio due to his age and playing in the SEL, yet I see a player tentative along the boards and having trouble adjusting to the North American style. I'll cut him a break because it's his first year over here, but he definitely needs to step it up.

As for Hemsky, he always leaves me wanting more...Talented player, but he just seems to have trouble putting it all together (and staying healthy). Tom Gilbert was better before Lowebellini signed him to that monstrous contract and he seems to have let the money go to his head. As for Ryan Whitney, he reminds me of a bigger version of Marc Andre-Bergeron, will put up some points, but what about his defensive play?

 

[KennyBanyeah]

I'm not sure about Paajarvi, he was supposed to be the best of the Hall-Eberle-Paajarvi trio due to his age and playing in the SEL, yet I see a player tentative along the boards and having trouble adjusting to the North American style. I'll cut him a break because it's his first year over here, but he definitely needs to step it up.

As for Hemsky, he always leaves me wanting more...Talented player, but he just seems to have trouble putting it all together (and staying healthy). Tom Gilbert was better before Lowebellini signed him to that monstrous contract and he seems to have let the money go to his head. As for Ryan Whitney, he reminds me of a bigger version of Marc Andre-Bergeron, will put up some points, but what about his defensive play?

Gilbert looked like a real player before the contract seemingly ruined him. He did have a bounce back year this year, IMO; not > $4M, but decent. Whitney can be a nightmare in his own end for sure, but he can certainly play a role on a good team.

Paajarvi is a perimeter player and probably always will be to a degree but he's showed some good to excellent hands this year. I think he'll be a Huselius type guy with a bit higher ceiling.

I just don't see these guys as being as bad as you do. It might have something to do with being a Flames fan. . Now if they were Leafs...

That being said these guys are frontline guys for the Oil Tankers when on a good team they would be part of organizational depth.

Hemsky is the exception here as I believe he is a top line talent. He's about 1 PPG since the lockout.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

as a division rival, Im hoping on draft day to hear "with the first pick overall, The Edmonton Oilers are proud to select ... Jason Bonsignore Junior"

 

[jstewismybastardson]

I think Paajarvi (and young swedes in general) needs time ... i dont know anything about his work habits but if theyre good ... look out

 

[dash]

I just don't see these guys as being as bad as you do. It might have something to do with being a Flames fan. . Now if they were Leafs...

I have to admit that I'm being a tad harsh due to my Flames fandom. As long as Oilers fans can be patient, I will not object to staying the course.