whi would you take if....

[devs30rko]

They were both, by some miracle available at pick number 4

 

[MCDevils]

Here's my thinking.

Zajac is going to be this teams #1 center purely based off the fact that he and Parise are gangbusters together. Whether you like him or not, or think he's actually a #1. I personally do, and love absolutely everything about is game.

Kovalchuk + Elias/JJ + Whoever, is going to be the second line most likely.

Obviously Coroutier could be a great centerman, but honestly, I think it's easier to find a UFA 2nd line center than a guy that's projecting to be what Larsson is projected to be. An elite 1 or 1a defenseman. Everyone says he's better than Hedman at the same age, and some even keep saying he's going to turn into a Lidstrom (probably wishful thinking).

When was the last time you saw one of those guys on the market? I guess maybe Chara, definitely not Dan Boyle who is an offensive defenseman, although he's not atrocious on defense.

It just doesn't happen that these guys get to FA very often. Think Doughty, Weber, Mike Green, Lidstrom, Keith, Seabrook, Burns, Staal, It's hard enough to find a legit #2 defenseman most years.

 

[nj_cup]

listen i agree both of the spots are huge holes imo...either way you cant go wrong. i just believe that even with a great defenseman the devils are still going to struggle to score goals...if we get larrson i wont ever expect him to put up 15 goals thats just not how the devils do things. even with this group of no name d men we still are a top notched defense thats because the forwards come back and help out. its just alarming that even with kovalchuk on fire the devils scored their lowest goal total ever...yeah i know half a year under mac didnt help but even when kovy was on fire the rest of the team didnt do much to help him out. i'm afraid thats going to happen again. i see what your saying about defensemen come around once in a lifetime...but that doesnt mean we cant trade for one? we draft cutourier and that makes maybe joffenson a piece we can deal. if chris pronger or eric johnson or chara can be traded so can anyone else.

as for zajac i think hes a GOOD #2 center but he just isnt #1 nhl center matieral (in my book) hes very GOOD at what he does but he just doesnt control dominate a play like say joe thorton does he isnt a force to be worried about...its rare you seem him take the puck from point a in our zone to puck b in their zone. to me you need those wheels in the nhl to be a #1 center. ESP if your on a line with parise or kovalchuk you want to make sure someone is always getting them the puck.

i'm fine with my defense being bangers and playing their side of the puck...and i'm more hthen fine letting the forwards do work on their side of it...look at the flyers they have richards/carter playing alongside brierre/van rymsdyk yet their top d man only got something like 40pts? i think offensive d that move the puck are nice in theroy just nto really practical esp when your looking at a great puck moving center.

 

[devs30rko]

I'm very confident josefson is going to be a very capable player as well, I feel puck moving is a big need no matter where it comes, now Merrill could be Damn good but other than that who do we have that's a sure thing? I will love either one of these two but if I had my pick you take the player we have not had in a long time and also the type that formerly anchored this club.

 

[nj_cup]

this team hasnt been the same since gomez/arnott and to some extent newendyk left. same can be said the team hasnt been the same since neids/stevens/rafalski left.


if both are still there just throwing that out there IF they are both there...i just dont see how you can pass up a chance to help your 2 offensive threats for the long term. you can never have enough scoring

 

[MCDevils]

listen i agree both of the spots are huge holes imo...either way you cant go wrong. i just believe that even with a great defenseman the devils are still going to struggle to score goals...if we get larrson i wont ever expect him to put up 15 goals thats just not how the devils do things. even with this group of no name d men we still are a top notched defense thats because the forwards come back and help out. its just alarming that even with kovalchuk on fire the devils scored their lowest goal total ever...yeah i know half a year under mac didnt help but even when kovy was on fire the rest of the team didnt do much to help him out. i'm afraid thats going to happen again. i see what your saying about defensemen come around once in a lifetime...but that doesnt mean we cant trade for one? we draft cutourier and that makes maybe joffenson a piece we can deal. if chris pronger or eric johnson or chara can be traded so can anyone else.

as for zajac i think hes a GOOD #2 center but he just isnt #1 nhl center matieral (in my book) hes very GOOD at what he does but he just doesnt control dominate a play like say joe thorton does he isnt a force to be worried about...its rare you seem him take the puck from point a in our zone to puck b in their zone. to me you need those wheels in the nhl to be a #1 center. ESP if your on a line with parise or kovalchuk you want to make sure someone is always getting them the puck.

i'm fine with my defense being bangers and playing their side of the puck...and i'm more hthen fine letting the forwards do work on their side of it...look at the flyers they have richards/carter playing alongside brierre/van rymsdyk yet their top d man only got something like 40pts? i think offensive d that move the puck are nice in theroy just nto really practical esp when your looking at a great puck moving center.

Saying that Zajac doesn't control the play is completely wrong, IMO.

at 5 v 5 Zajac and Kovalchuk had identical point production rates /60 minutes.

 

[MCDevils]

I'm very confident josefson is going to be a very capable player as well, I feel puck moving is a big need no matter where it comes, now Merrill could be Damn good but other than that who do we have that's a sure thing? I will love either one of these two but if I had my pick you take the player we have not had in a long time and also the type that formerly anchored this club.

Have you heard anything about Merrill staying at Michigan?

 

[devs30rko]

I hard most likely he is but just for another year, who k.les tho, all speculation

 

[TheRobotDevil]

Would be very happy with either I am leaning slightly in cups direction on this though.Not that it means anything but Lou Lams was at the last St Johns game I'm sure hes going to want to see all his options but don't write Huberdeau out either

 

[devs30rko]

where'd you hear that? about lou being there?


and i'd love huberdeau also. even then you're getting a well sized player with skill, in fact w huberdeau lots of skill. LOTS


i really find myself wavering back and forth. one day i want couturier, one day i want larsson

 

[TheRobotDevil]

where'd you hear that? about lou being there?


and i'd love huberdeau also. even then you're getting a well sized player with skill, in fact w huberdeau lots of skill. LOTS


i really find myself wavering back and forth. one day i want couturier, one day i want larsson

Juliensteed posted it earlier in the draft lottery thread on the main board he iss A huge sea dogs fan and always been reliable

 

[devs30rko]

the only drawback to huberdeau in my mind, is well.....

my own impatience. i want someone who might be in the lineup NOW hahah

 

[TheRobotDevil]

I could see any one of them as in the lineup now

 

[MadCaptain]

Yay Larsson. Fall to the Devils!

I honestly would be happy with any of the top players. Lou can't really do any wrong with the 4th overall pick

 

[SJ20]

Yay Larsson. Fall to the Devils!

I honestly would be happy with any of the top players. Lou can't really do any wrong with the 4th overall pick

Colorado is the only team standing in the way of Larsson falling to the Devils IMO. If they select someone else, he's all ours. I'm hoping we get the Swedish version of Scott Niedermayer in June!

 

[TheRobotDevil]

Colorado is the only team standing in the way of Larsson falling to the Devils IMO. If they select someone else, he's all ours. I'm hoping we get the Swedish version of Scott Niedermayer in June!

I really think the avs go with Landeskog he's the best fit for them but I could be wrong

 

[SJ20]

I really think the avs go with Landeskog he's the best fit for them but I could be wrong

You make a great point. The Avs really could go in a few directions. IMO, it's all about what the Avs do which will help decide which way the Devils draft. Either way, we know the Devils will land a very talented player. I just love Larsson because from everything I've read, he's the most NHL ready by far. Going for a center would be fine with me. But I just feel like D is a more pressing need right now. Especially since Larsson can step right in from day 1. I've been comparing this Devils team to the Flyers of 06-07 and I think the Devils are in a much better situation. Now I'm not saying we will go from missing the playoffs to the ECF's like those Flyers did, but if we land Larsson, look out. Drafting Larsson, and picking the right head coach will go a long way in determining just how far this team will go next season. I just remember after Niedermayer came up the Devils really made a turnaround as a franchise. Now it didn't hurt that we were awarded Scott Stevens from St. Louis at the time. I don't expect Larsson to be Niedermayer, but it sounds like he has a chance to be pretty good. When I think back to the past 5 seasons or so, I've complained about the D time and time again. I just don't think we can pass up a solid puck moving Dman if he is there when the Devils pick.

 

[nj_cup]

I don't see the avs going center with stasny and duchense. Also with grabbing Eric Johnson I don't think they take larson. I think the oilers take him they are missing defense on that team and have a goof core group of forwards. Worse case for the devils is if Hopkins courierand larrson are gone

 

[TheRobotDevil]

I don't see the avs going center with stasny and duchense. Also with grabbing Eric Johnson I don't think they take larson. I think the oilers take him they are missing defense on that team and have a goof core group of forwards. Worse case for the devils is if Hopkins courierand larrson are gone

These are my thoughts exactly throw liles into the mix as well with the avs not needing d help as much.I really can't see how they wouldn't pick Landeskog.Saw A couple mock drafts yesterday that had us taking Murphy over Larsson and Couturier and all I could do was shake my head.Nothing against Murphy but to me that would be A senseless stretch for the Devils.Seriously if that were their man I would think they would trade down to get him but you know A lot of these so called experts hate the devils and are really burned that we for the fourth pick.