cross16

There is chatter out there that Montreal is set on taking Tij.

this aligns with what I’ve heard as well. I do think and have heard the flames were too quick to ask Markstrom to waive (thus his media comment) but I have heard NJ got cold feet on the retention ask and then once retention was off the table the quality of the offer went down substantially. That’s why despite being close it never got done.

Bobrovsky heard this chat Edmonton might have the goalie edge and said “pardon?”

and fundamentally I could get behind this, but I don't think that is what you are accomplishing here. IMO pick 10 this year is not going to get you a high end core guy. Might not even get you a core guy.

I agree, I don't see Anderson as something they will target. The D they are looking for is depth, not top 3. Already have Nemec and Mario on the right side. Need to strengthen their 4-6.

Maybe it is but that doesn't make it smart. I think Anderson gets your more and likely should get a roster player/prospect type. Giving up that, plus multiple other picks for 1 pick is just not smart business.

I have no problem with the idea of trading Markstrom, Andersson or Pospisil. I can get behind arguments for why all 3 should be moved. I already think Markstrom and Andersson should be moved and while I like Pospisil, there's logic there too. Moving all 3 for 1 pick? That is an awful idea.

Really sucks, one of the best in the business.

Not really, it was average. it turned out to be overhyped but if you look at what came out of that draft it's pretty average. top 20 in the first round was very good. Late round first picks are not the assets that many people think they are and quantity throughout the draft is more important than quantity in the first round. That's what I would pull out of 2013.

I don't know that next year's draft is better but I'd happily take that gamble. If for not other reason you'd have 2 firsts next year now too. I like the idea of spreading out assets like that. I think they could sweeten it but your now getting to the point are the Flames giving up too much for the devils pick? Retention should have a price in itself. I don't see Mang or Kuzmenko being interesting to the Devils.

Schneider was 27. I don't think this is near the same. To each their own but I don't think Markstrom is going to generate that type of value.

I just don't prescribe to this idea of "Canada's team". Canada's team is Team Canada outside of the Flames I could care less if a Canadian team wins the cup. I don't get the nationality piece behind it.

That NJ acquires Markstrom? Yes That they get the 10th pick highly, highly unlikely.

I am really hating this angle. The cup lives in Canada full time why the heck should we care if a "Canadian team" wins it? The national angle to this is stupid. No Boston Pizza I am not going to go and have a beer with Oiler fans to "try something different" so a Canadian team might win a cup. who the heck cares.

Martin Brodeur, who works for the Devils, named Markstrom in his top 5 of active goalies. I don't think they view Markstrom as "settling". Think context matters here. It's not like Fitzgerald is saying I want to move the top 10 pick. He's stated he wants a goalie and a reporter asked him in that pursuit would he consider parting with the top 10 pick and he said he he would but it would have to be significant. I don't read that means that they are not interested in Markstrom but rather then are casting a wider net than the trade deadline.

Agreed. As i've said before, and still believe, unless Tij is telling you "draft me" I'd go a different direction.

that screams Saros or Askarov to me, or a name we haven't even put out there yet. Key quote in that article "it's going to have to be something significant". You don't trade a top 10 pick for a soon to be 35 year old goalie, not even in a package IMO. I don't doubt Fitz and Conroy will talk abut I think we are dreaming if we think we are getting a top 10 pick.

Yeah I don't think Tij is gonna touch his dad in goals. And that's not meant as a negative. They are VERY different in terms of how they play the game.

Another interesting thing about this series is it's going to be the furthest distance travelled in NHL history. It's the most southern based team against the most northern based team. So the 2 day travel period makes sense to me.

For me in this draft there is no nightmare scenario. sure some will reply with "yeah but what if they go off the board" to which I will say they didn't go off their board. There isn't really a hard shelf here that creates a nightmare scenario. Don't think this is a franchise altering draft outside of pick 1 but it's a good one. Starting to remind me of 2008. 1 maybe 2, franchise altering talents at the top and then a lot of good players throughout that were good/key members of a franchise but not altering.

They clog up the neutral zone/middle of the ice, keep everything outside and they've been really efficient at getting pucks to open areas and being in a good spot to exit the zone. It's really simple, but they are playing it well.

Fair. I've liked Mikkola in the games i've watched too. To give context I think more in terms of what you normally see in the finals I think the depth/quality isn't as great but your right they've had some players step up. OEL too.

It's an interesting series to look at. I don think florida has played better hockey in the playoffs because I don't think i've seen a team make it to the finals quite like the Oilers have (as in not actually playing that great). But a few interesting things to me: This it he first time in the playoffs the OIlers are going to play a team that can match their high end skill. McDavid, Drasaitl and Bouchard have been head and shoulders above every team but I don't think that's the case with Tkachuk - Barkov - Ekblad. I think both teams have excellent top 6s but forward depth is only ok. Small edge Florida there I'd say. Both are not the deepest on D but I do think Florida has a slight edge here. I'd normally save Bob over Skinner easily but both have had their ups and downs in the playoffs. Not sure there is a clera edge here. I think I give Florida the edge because I think what Dallas wasn't able to do, forecheck hard and wear down Oilers D, is what Florida excells at. I agree with Brewcrew that as long as Florida's doesn't take a huge L in the special teams column I do think they win this series but I wouldn't say i'm overly confident about it. I'm for sure cheering for Florida though. I have no issues with the players that left and would happily watch them all raise the cup.

Well should remember he asked to be traded (specifically his agent) and also they had a high chance of losing him in the expansion draft. Chose to take what was a pretty good deal rather than risk that. Flames did not do a good job in that development but don't think I agree they gave up too soon.

No question I think the Oilers have been extremely lucky in the playoffs. Getting LA instead of Vegas, Demko getting hurt, got the Canucks who I don't think where near as good as team as it seemed and then they get Dallas after what really should have been the WCF with the Avs. But where they deserve credit is they reinvented their game as a team. From top to bottom they are bought into what it takes to win in the playoffs. They get dirty defensively, there willing to sacrifice offense to do it and they are making the plays in their D zone/neutral zone. They no longer act like McDavid/Drasaitl will carry them, everyone has a role and there playing it well right now. Still think they've got flaws that can be exploited but they are making it tough to play against them for sure and you have to give them credit for that.