Just a quick little post, before free agency opens up at noon.
Leafs will end up with three P's: Penner, Prust and Parros.
Another "P", Zach Parise will end up in Pittsburgh.
Ryan Suter will don the red and white again, this time for Detroit.
Not so much of a prediction as it is a wish to see Shane Doan leave Phoenix... for Winnipeg.
Anxious to see how it all turns out in 24 hours time.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
NHL Draft, the after
So Edmonton actually took Yakupov. Apparently the offers for the top pick were not impressive, so they took the best player available. A sensible choice, except for their glaring weakness on defense, easily filled in a defense-rich first round. They didn't end up taking a defenseman until the top of round four, which was slightly surprising, especially given some of the prospects still available in round two.
Edmonton did end up taking Michigan Tech's incoming freshman Jujhar Khaira in the third round, making him the highest drafted Tech player since David Weninger was chosen by the Washington Capitals in round three in 1996. With the addition of Khaira and Jamie Phillips, taken in round seven by the Winnipeg Jets, to New Jersey Devils prospect Blake Pietila, Tech will have three players who have been drafted on the team for the first time since the 1998-99 season (the trio of Mat Snesrud, Paul Cabana, and Weninger).
Ryan Murray went second to the Columbus Blue Jackets, giving them someone to play alongside Jack Johnson in the near future. Perhaps the most shocking thing with this pick is the rumor that the New York Islanders offered their entire draft to Columbus for this pick, conditional upon whether Nail Yakupov was available at 2, or perhaps not, depending on who you talk to. Shocking that the Islanders, look more towards ownership than at GM Garth Snow for this stroke of genius, would offer such a package for the second pick in a draft, and that Columbus would turn it down. The Blue Jackets would have still got a great prospect at pick #4 and would've been able to patch the holes of organizational depth within an afternoon. As for the Islanders, if you like a prospect enough to offer your entire draft for him, why not offer it to the Oilers at the one, instead of the Blue Jackets at two? I would find it hard to believe that the Oilers would turn that offer down, as they would have gotten a glut of prospects, including the defenseman they need at four, and could've moved those picks in a package to pick up NHL ready talent. Straight out of the Book Of Milbury, GM edition. Similar, if not identical to the Book Of Charles Wang, "How not to run an NHL franchise".
Interesting to see the Penguins stock the goalie cupboard this weekend, taking Soo Greyhounds' Matt Murray in the third round and Boston University bound Sean Maguire in the fourth. I wouldn't necessarily see this as the Pens being down on Marc-Andre Fleury after that abysmal playoff this past season. Both prospects will need time in junior/college and likely the AHL before being ready for the next step. Murray was progressing well as the starter on a defensively-challenged Greyhounds team, then the trade for Jack Campbell happened and it seemed to shake up the young goalie, who didn't really regain his early season form. He'll be given the reins again to start the season in the Sault, who have tried to improve their defense this summer, but I wouldn't expect that Murray's numbers this season would accurately reflect his talents.
I touched on Tom Wilson and "Boo" Nieves in the pre-draft blog. Wilson went to the Washington Capitals, and he'll mesh well regardless of who out of the Caps' talent he plays with. Nieves was taken at the end of the second round to the Rangers. After some time under Red Berenson, he should round into one heck of a pro.
Edmonton did end up taking Michigan Tech's incoming freshman Jujhar Khaira in the third round, making him the highest drafted Tech player since David Weninger was chosen by the Washington Capitals in round three in 1996. With the addition of Khaira and Jamie Phillips, taken in round seven by the Winnipeg Jets, to New Jersey Devils prospect Blake Pietila, Tech will have three players who have been drafted on the team for the first time since the 1998-99 season (the trio of Mat Snesrud, Paul Cabana, and Weninger).
Ryan Murray went second to the Columbus Blue Jackets, giving them someone to play alongside Jack Johnson in the near future. Perhaps the most shocking thing with this pick is the rumor that the New York Islanders offered their entire draft to Columbus for this pick, conditional upon whether Nail Yakupov was available at 2, or perhaps not, depending on who you talk to. Shocking that the Islanders, look more towards ownership than at GM Garth Snow for this stroke of genius, would offer such a package for the second pick in a draft, and that Columbus would turn it down. The Blue Jackets would have still got a great prospect at pick #4 and would've been able to patch the holes of organizational depth within an afternoon. As for the Islanders, if you like a prospect enough to offer your entire draft for him, why not offer it to the Oilers at the one, instead of the Blue Jackets at two? I would find it hard to believe that the Oilers would turn that offer down, as they would have gotten a glut of prospects, including the defenseman they need at four, and could've moved those picks in a package to pick up NHL ready talent. Straight out of the Book Of Milbury, GM edition. Similar, if not identical to the Book Of Charles Wang, "How not to run an NHL franchise".
Interesting to see the Penguins stock the goalie cupboard this weekend, taking Soo Greyhounds' Matt Murray in the third round and Boston University bound Sean Maguire in the fourth. I wouldn't necessarily see this as the Pens being down on Marc-Andre Fleury after that abysmal playoff this past season. Both prospects will need time in junior/college and likely the AHL before being ready for the next step. Murray was progressing well as the starter on a defensively-challenged Greyhounds team, then the trade for Jack Campbell happened and it seemed to shake up the young goalie, who didn't really regain his early season form. He'll be given the reins again to start the season in the Sault, who have tried to improve their defense this summer, but I wouldn't expect that Murray's numbers this season would accurately reflect his talents.
I touched on Tom Wilson and "Boo" Nieves in the pre-draft blog. Wilson went to the Washington Capitals, and he'll mesh well regardless of who out of the Caps' talent he plays with. Nieves was taken at the end of the second round to the Rangers. After some time under Red Berenson, he should round into one heck of a pro.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
NHL Draft, the before
Each year, the NHL Draft is one of the events I anticipate the most. With the Leafs holding the fifth pick overall, this year will be no exception. The intrigue starts four picks higher, at the top of the board with the Edmonton Oilers. The consensus top prospect in this year's draft is Nail Yakupov, a dynamic right winger. The Oilers, however, are loaded to the gills with exciting young forwards and have a glaring need for defensemen with any discernible skill. Don't be at all surprised if Edmonton takes a pass on Yakupov to take a defenseman in a defense-rich draft; most feel they are sweet on Ryan Murray.
Columbus picks second and would be a great landing spot for Yakupov, especially with the impending departure of Rick Nash via trade. Having watched both Yakupov's evident skills and Columbus' lack thereof, it would seem a match made in heaven. However, Columbus may be swayed to trade down a few spots, not only by a good offer from another team, but because of past experiences with the stereotypically enigmatic Russians Nikolai Zherdev and Nikita Filatov. Both were selected high in the draft and had big time talent, but couldn't find success in the NHL. The Blue Jackets are in need of talent in every position and may be tempted to accrue a few extra picks, move down and still get a talented prospect.
The Leafs are in dire need of a center, and there are a few who could fit that bill, just not for the upcoming season. The name most associated with Toronto in mock drafts and insiders has been Alex Galchenyuk, but there is no guarantee he would get past Montreal at three or the Islanders at four. Brian Burke has said he usually drafts the best available athlete, but this time around he is tempted to pick by positional need. Given how talentless Toronto has been down the middle, I expect Burke will go for a center, but he will be tempted by some of this year's crop of defensemen.
Cristoval "Boo" Nieves might squeak into the late first, but should go in the second round and is headed to the University of Michigan for this upcoming season.
Jujhar Khaira will go sometime on Saturday, and this fall, he will join Blake Pietila as a Michigan Tech draftee.
It'll be interesting to see how a down season in the OHL will affect Gianluca Curcuruto. He didn't have a great season on the blueline for the Soo Greyhounds, but he wasn't alone in that category. Curcuruto is rumored to want a trade, and one may be imminent with the recent arrival of fellow draft eligible defenseman Alex Gudbranson.
Columbus picks second and would be a great landing spot for Yakupov, especially with the impending departure of Rick Nash via trade. Having watched both Yakupov's evident skills and Columbus' lack thereof, it would seem a match made in heaven. However, Columbus may be swayed to trade down a few spots, not only by a good offer from another team, but because of past experiences with the stereotypically enigmatic Russians Nikolai Zherdev and Nikita Filatov. Both were selected high in the draft and had big time talent, but couldn't find success in the NHL. The Blue Jackets are in need of talent in every position and may be tempted to accrue a few extra picks, move down and still get a talented prospect.
The Leafs are in dire need of a center, and there are a few who could fit that bill, just not for the upcoming season. The name most associated with Toronto in mock drafts and insiders has been Alex Galchenyuk, but there is no guarantee he would get past Montreal at three or the Islanders at four. Brian Burke has said he usually drafts the best available athlete, but this time around he is tempted to pick by positional need. Given how talentless Toronto has been down the middle, I expect Burke will go for a center, but he will be tempted by some of this year's crop of defensemen.
Other guys I'll be watching further down the board
Tom Wilson has caught a lot of eyes with his physical play with Plymouth in the OHL. Projected to go sometime mid to late first round.Cristoval "Boo" Nieves might squeak into the late first, but should go in the second round and is headed to the University of Michigan for this upcoming season.
Jujhar Khaira will go sometime on Saturday, and this fall, he will join Blake Pietila as a Michigan Tech draftee.
It'll be interesting to see how a down season in the OHL will affect Gianluca Curcuruto. He didn't have a great season on the blueline for the Soo Greyhounds, but he wasn't alone in that category. Curcuruto is rumored to want a trade, and one may be imminent with the recent arrival of fellow draft eligible defenseman Alex Gudbranson.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
"You Know You're A Leaf When..." #2
Going back a round in the Calder Cup Playoffs, the Marlies seal the series win over the Oklahoma City Barons with an empty net goal scored by Matt Frattin. Scan to about the 2:00 mark of this video:
A seemingly routine empty netter. Except that Frattin blows out his knee on the play, ruling him out for the rest of the playoffs and the start of next season. Completely shocking, until you realize the colors Matt Frattin would have been wearing at the start of the 2012 NHL season: blue and white.
A seemingly routine empty netter. Except that Frattin blows out his knee on the play, ruling him out for the rest of the playoffs and the start of next season. Completely shocking, until you realize the colors Matt Frattin would have been wearing at the start of the 2012 NHL season: blue and white.
“You Know You're A Leaf When…”
Restarting the blog with a feature I’ve cooked up with the aid of the eternal misfortune of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Here is the game-winning overtime goal in the Calder Cup Final Game 3. Only in the blue and white…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)