I don’t want to trade 7. However, a 23 yo proven commodity with a 2nd round pick would make me pause. I get the sense it still would not be enough to budge the Bruins and I can’t really blame them as this seems like the time to roll the dice rather then making the safer play.
What is preventing Aitcheson from moving up the board? I’ve read some pretty glowing reports but haven’t seen anybody respectable put him in the top 10.
Interesting question. There are always doubters though. I remember there were questions about Scott Stevens due to his temper, and he still went 5th.
Martin (if we're talking consistently physical) but the top guys all want the puck.
I guess it all comes down to how they project him. I think he could go top 10 myself. Doubt that he will but I think it would be foolish to not at least have a conversation about him in the 10 spot.
And the legend of Brady Martin continues. Bunyanesque.
Geekies value is closer to the 40th pick than the 4th so I’m not sure that’s gonna work.
He is also violent as hell. Love Aitcheson. I’d trade zacha if it means drafting him and Martin/eklund or OBrien.
We do need a better pipeline...that I agree with ...but Pasta is a pretty special player to build around and #7 is a pretty attractive trade chip to bring in young proven top 6 talent. We still have lots of other picks to try and find some diamonds in the rough and wait out their progression curve. If we do draft at #7 spot I'm hoping they take a top 10 skill talent with the highest compete and fastest estimated progression curve (Fondell, Martin, Eklund) ... if we had all the time in the world to wait I'd take O'Brien or McQueen
Eklund is one of a few players in the draft that I think can play in the NHL next year.
I saw a mock early that had him going 5 or 6, that was the highest, but I agree this guy seems like a unicorn back there. Someone who can knock you into next week and then turn around and put up a highlight reel goal.
Eklund is great, wouldn’t hate the pick. But in 8 years, I’d (hopefully) like to have our 2025 draft center be our 1c. You’re not going to have Zacha or Lindholm by then. Minten projects as middle 6 if not just 3rd line. Poitras mightttt be a 2c and I don’t see either being here by then. Top 6 wingers come around so often via trade or Free agency, that the case for a centering pillar of the team matters more imo. It doesnt sound like the plan is to draft top 10 again for the foreseeable future either. If we make/made the unlikely trade for a Pettersson, Berniers, McTavish, Larkin, then I’m more on board for a winger like Eklund or even D like Aitcheson.
You are assuming whoever we pick at center with #7 that they will become a legit #1 center. I think the chances of that happening are around 15%...not good odds!
I’m guessing the obvious candidate, our own Zdeno Chara.
Oh I understand the odds, and fully agree, even said “hopefully” but this post was in response to picking Eklund instead at #7, and the I’d bet similar odds apply for Eklund being a top line winger. My point is aiming for the center position. I’m not assuming anybody makes it, just that if the pick hits, I want them to be a center. That’s the point of the post, not odds of a pick developing. I’m not expecting a Krecji or Bergeron here, but if the pick ends up being a 3rd liner, I’ll take a Coyle over a Bertuzzi. If they are 2nd liner, even better, but nobody is screaming 2c in 8 years from now at the moment in our prospect pool or roster, and wingers are much easier to find on the market.
