Oilers plan to keep No. 1 pick - maybe not?

[mattola]

sure sounds like he's trying to talk himself into it, doesn't it?

it sounds like he is trying to draw interest to trade #1 or to convince everyone him taking Murray as #1 is warranted.

I think its the former.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

I wonder what they'll do with next year's #1 pick.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

it sounds like he is trying to draw interest to trade #1 or to convince everyone him taking Murray as #1 is warranted.

I think its the former.

The Oilers have a lot of talent up front. There defense is awful. It makes sense to take Murray if they believe he's the BPA. I just don't buy it. Why show your hand so early in the process?

If Murray is taken 1st overall does Columbus trade down or take Forsberg?

 

[KennyBanyeah]

I wonder what they'll do with next year's #1 pick.

Trade it for Ales Hemsky, whom they traded away for this year's 1st overall pick, which they traded to Columbus for Cody Bass.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I wonder what they'll do with next year's #1 pick.

3 years in a row is bad enough. I don't want to believe it's fixed. The mere thought of them winning the lottery again is sacrilage.

 

[forty_three]

it sounds like he is trying to draw interest to trade #1 or to convince everyone him taking Murray as #1 is warranted.

I think its the former.

As long as they take Murray and leave Yakupov to #2, I don't care if they say the reason is to appease aliens or attribute it to the Mayans. Just give me the winger.

 

[pixburgher66]

So you're saying that they aren't trading it for Jordan Staal then? No? Okay.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

As long as they take Murray and leave Yakupov to #2, I don't care if they say the reason is to appease aliens or attribute it to the Mayans. Just give me the winger.

Howson better do his homework. Columbus hasn't had ANY luck drafting Russians.

 

[pixburgher66]

Is a bad track record with Russians really a reason to avoid picking a guy that seems to be 'can't miss'? I dunno...I guess I seem to think that the nationality shouldn't matter...although if they do take him they'd be awful wise to bring in some sort of Russian veteran (OV had Federov/Kozlov, Malkin had Gonchar).

 

[forty_three]

Howson better do his homework. Columbus hasn't had ANY luck drafting Russians.

Yeah, but look at the ones they drafted. They picked Filatov a few spots ahead of where he should have went and EVERYONE said he was a flake. He'd never been to North America. Other than Erik Karlsson a few slots later there wasn't anyone of consequence taken around him. And I'm not sure anyone could have predicted the stud Karlsson turned out to be. After Karlsson, the next best player is Mikkel Boedkker. They could have wound up with Hodgson. A North American head case, as opposed to a European one.

They picked Zherdev, and he should have been something. Maybe they went with him a little high, but they did have Fedorov at the time. Maybe they figured there was some magical Russian blood thing going to happen. That draft looks more terrible in hindsight because the next 7.
Vanek
Michalak
Suter
Coburn
Phaneuf
A Kostystin
Carter

Later on is Kesler, Seabrook, Parise, Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Any ONE of them would have been infinitely better. Well, except maybe Carter, as it turns out. Kesler, Suter, Getzlaf or Parise? Holy crap.

They grabbed Mayorov with a late pick and seem to be taking their time with him. Yakupov is not as big a risk because he's been here in the O and seems to have been adjusting well.

I still say that Howson should have a deal in place for a starting goalie with that pick. If Edm takes Yakupov, Howson should deal it rather than take the chance on Grigorenko. Murray is fantastic, but there could be a logjam on D real fast in Columbus. Better to get a big puzzle piece now.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

Yeah, but look at the ones they drafted. They picked Filatov a few spots ahead of where he should have went and EVERYONE said he was a flake. He'd never been to North America. Other than Erik Karlsson a few slots later there wasn't anyone of consequence taken around him. And I'm not sure anyone could have predicted the stud Karlsson turned out to be. After Karlsson, the next best player is Mikkel Boedkker. They could have wound up with Hodgson. A North American head case, as opposed to a European one.

They picked Zherdev, and he should have been something. Maybe they went with him a little high, but they did have Fedorov at the time. Maybe they figured there was some magical Russian blood thing going to happen. That draft looks more terrible in hindsight because the next 7.
Vanek
Michalak
Suter
Coburn
Phaneuf
A Kostystin
Carter

Later on is Kesler, Seabrook, Parise, Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Any ONE of them would have been infinitely better. Well, except maybe Carter, as it turns out. Kesler, Suter, Getzlaf or Parise? Holy crap.

They grabbed Mayorov with a late pick and seem to be taking their time with him. Yakupov is not as big a risk because he's been here in the O and seems to have been adjusting well.

I still say that Howson should have a deal in place for a starting goalie with that pick. If Edm takes Yakupov, Howson should deal it rather than take the chance on Grigorenko. Murray is fantastic, but there could be a logjam on D real fast in Columbus. Better to get a big puzzle piece now.

They rushed Zherdev, it's hard to fault the player when they aren't developed properly.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Yeah, but look at the ones they drafted. They picked Filatov a few spots ahead of where he should have went and EVERYONE said he was a flake. He'd never been to North America. Other than Erik Karlsson a few slots later there wasn't anyone of consequence taken around him. And I'm not sure anyone could have predicted the stud Karlsson turned out to be. After Karlsson, the next best player is Mikkel Boedkker. They could have wound up with Hodgson. A North American head case, as opposed to a European one.

They picked Zherdev, and he should have been something. Maybe they went with him a little high, but they did have Fedorov at the time. Maybe they figured there was some magical Russian blood thing going to happen. That draft looks more terrible in hindsight because the next 7.
Vanek
Michalak
Suter
Coburn
Phaneuf
A Kostystin
Carter

Later on is Kesler, Seabrook, Parise, Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Any ONE of them would have been infinitely better. Well, except maybe Carter, as it turns out. Kesler, Suter, Getzlaf or Parise? Holy crap.

They grabbed Mayorov with a late pick and seem to be taking their time with him. Yakupov is not as big a risk because he's been here in the O and seems to have been adjusting well.

I still say that Howson should have a deal in place for a starting goalie with that pick. If Edm takes Yakupov, Howson should deal it rather than take the chance on Grigorenko. Murray is fantastic, but there could be a logjam on D real fast in Columbus. Better to get a big puzzle piece now.

Milpuke took Robert Nilsson when everyone thought Parise was a lock. That draft was a NIGHTMARE for Islanders fans.

Howson has a chance to change the Blue Jackets franchise for the better in a BIG way come draft day. Not only with who the team selects at 2, but with the Nash trade.

Is there a goalie available worth the 2nd pick overall? I guess Luongo is the odd man out in Vancouver. No chance that happens. Heck I wouldn't trade it straight up for Schneider. The pick is too valuable, especially if Yakupov falls to 2.

 

[forty_three]

Milpuke took Robert Nilsson when everyone thought Parise was a lock. That draft was a NIGHTMARE for Islanders fans.

Howson has a chance to change the Blue Jackets franchise for the better in a BIG way come draft day. Not only with who the team selects at 2, but with the Nash trade.

Is there a goalie available worth the 2nd pick overall? I guess Luongo is the odd man out in Vancouver. No chance that happens. Heck I wouldn't trade it straight up for Schneider. The pick is too valuable, especially if Yakupov falls to 2.

The drop off after Yakupov is so big that he would get more value out of trading the pick if the Oilers show unusual hockey sense and pick Yakupov.

He could have a deal in the wings for a swap of first rounders and a goalie coming back. IE: with Ottawa for Lehner and their (mid) first rounder. Blues have two goalies. It's clear that Holtby is the man in DC, perhaps Neivirth (or however you spell it) is available.

A bitterly disappointed team might just be willing to do it. St Louis would be nuts to let go of Elliott, but Halak was decently solid too. Or maybe send Mason away too to even it out. I don't think Luongo is the answer, but a change of scenery for him might just help the team ride the wave for most of the season. Just making the playoffs is enough. No worries about success once they get there.

A Nash deal is still way too risky. He has a solid D corp with talent in the wings. Atkinson is coming into his own. Get a goalie teammates can relate to (this has apparently been a problem with Mason), and a few gritty players to fill depth and they could be a playoff contender. Just getting rid of a locker room distraction and having Mason's ego get crushed near the end of the year was considerably different than the first half.

Besides, Nash has not and he will not reduce the list. And none of the places he would go really need him.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

The drop off after Yakupov is so big that he would get more value out of trading the pick if the Oilers show unusual hockey sense and pick Yakupov.

He could have a deal in the wings for a swap of first rounders and a goalie coming back. IE: with Ottawa for Lehner and their (mid) first rounder. Blues have two goalies. It's clear that Holtby is the man in DC, perhaps Neivirth (or however you spell it) is available.

A bitterly disappointed team might just be willing to do it. St Louis would be nuts to let go of Elliott, but Halak was decently solid too. Or maybe send Mason away too to even it out. I don't think Luongo is the answer, but a change of scenery for him might just help the team ride the wave for most of the season. Just making the playoffs is enough. No worries about success once they get there.

A Nash deal is still way too risky. He has a solid D corp with talent in the wings. Atkinson is coming into his own. Get a goalie teammates can relate to (this has apparently been a problem with Mason), and a few gritty players to fill depth and they could be a playoff contender. Just getting rid of a locker room distraction and having Mason's ego get crushed near the end of the year was considerably different than the first half.

Besides, Nash has not and he will not reduce the list. And none of the places he would go really need him.

San Jose wants him. If the Rangers don't win the Cup, Slats will have Howson on speed dial.

 

[pixburgher66]

Still have no idea how the Rangers could afford to bring on that much more salary...

Also, is this years draft really that shallow?

 

[puckhead]

Also, is this years draft really that shallow?

not really. Yakupov appears to be head and shoulders above the rest of the group,
but there is a lot of talent after him (especially defensemen).
I'm not convinced Ryan Murray is the even best defenseman available, let alone a possible #1 overall.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Still have no idea how the Rangers could afford to bring on that much more salary...

Also, is this years draft really that shallow?

Obviously they would have to trade some salary. Apparently one of the reasons Nash wasn't dealt to the Rangers at the deadline was the BJ's don't want Dubinsky.

Doug Weight is an assitant coach as well as an assistant to Garth. Weight said on NHL Live that pick 4 through 20 are about the same from a talent standpoint. With that statement I expect the Isles to trade down.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Yeah, but look at the ones they drafted. They picked Filatov a few spots ahead of where he should have went and EVERYONE said he was a flake. He'd never been to North America. Other than Erik Karlsson a few slots later there wasn't anyone of consequence taken around him. And I'm not sure anyone could have predicted the stud Karlsson turned out to be. After Karlsson, the next best player is Mikkel Boedkker. They could have wound up with Hodgson. A North American head case, as opposed to a European one.

They picked Zherdev, and he should have been something. Maybe they went with him a little high, but they did have Fedorov at the time. Maybe they figured there was some magical Russian blood thing going to happen. That draft looks more terrible in hindsight because the next 7.
Vanek
Michalak
Suter
Coburn
Phaneuf
A Kostystin
Carter

Later on is Kesler, Seabrook, Parise, Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Any ONE of them would have been infinitely better. Well, except maybe Carter, as it turns out. Kesler, Suter, Getzlaf or Parise? Holy crap.

They grabbed Mayorov with a late pick and seem to be taking their time with him. Yakupov is not as big a risk because he's been here in the O and seems to have been adjusting well.

I still say that Howson should have a deal in place for a starting goalie with that pick. If Edm takes Yakupov, Howson should deal it rather than take the chance on Grigorenko. Murray is fantastic, but there could be a logjam on D real fast in Columbus. Better to get a big puzzle piece now.

1) The players taken in that draft, including Filatov, are 21 years old. Their prospects as NHL players are far from determined at this point.

2) Picked in the 1st round after Filatov are some pretty solid players with solid pedigree. Wilson, Eberle, Myers, Carlson, Del Zotto and Gardiner to name a few have had some very nice success early in their careers.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

1) The players taken in that draft, including Filatov, are 21 years old. Their prospects as NHL players are far from determined at this point.

2) Picked in the 1st round after Filatov are some pretty solid players with solid pedigree. Wilson, Eberle, Myers, Carlson, Del Zotto and Gardiner to name a few have had some very nice success early in their careers.

Eberle was taken in the 20's. As was Carlson. Have to give credit to Edmonton & Washington. Both are light years better than Bailey will probably ever be.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Eberle was taken in the 20's. As was Carlson. Have to give credit to Edmonton & Washington. Both are light years better than Bailey will probably ever be.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Erik Karlsson taken at 15 might end up being better than Josh Bailey too.