Aka the "What's the best value trade bait we can pick/best overagers we can pick later on" thread
If we lose against the Habs, I hope it becomes the "OMG OMG OMG WE GOT LAFFY!" thread.
If we lose against the Habs, I hope it becomes the "OMG OMG OMG WE GOT LAFFY!" thread.
But we already have Laffy.
Byfield or Cup!
Byfield would make this team so god damn good.
How so? He is very raw. A Joe Thornton type of rookie season is very likely. By the time Byfield's grow enough to be a superstar, Sid and Geno will be out.
And, where do you play him? 3C? With next to no prime offensive time?
My guess is Pixies would suggest using Sid to take match up duty to create soft assignments for him.
upside, upside. and more upsideHow so? He is very raw.
upside, upside. and more upside
Sure, but you do that to exploit weaker match ups with Geno.
Byfield would not get offensive wingers while Sid and Geno are there.
there are always risks...you do need to try to lessen them as much as possible. as for getting one of them, ya, we have a much better chance at getting the cup.Yeah, but lower floor. High bust potential (for a top 5 pick, not more likely to fail than succeed).
He has huge upside (if the mental side of his game improves, with the raw skills he has, watch out), but I do not see him as an immediate contributor. Not as bad as Kotkaniemi, but in the same mold. Younger player (he does not turn 18 until August), big, fast, good hands, raw game.
He might need some seasoning in the minors. Problem is, he is a CHLer, so it is CHL or NHL for him. If we were rebuilding, sure, play him in the NHL and let him have growing pains. But for us? If we were to miraculously get the 2nd overall pick, I'd pick someone else or find someone who REALLY wants him and move down a few spot and still grab a player with similar value.
If we get 1st overall though... Lafrenière all the way. Plug and play player. One of the oldest in the draft class. Very mature game. Super high hockey IQ. Uses his teammates well. Gets open. Uses angles to create space for other players. Strong down low. Sid would LOVE playing with him. Hossa-like player.
Lafrenière - Sid - Whoever can carry a stick
Jake - Geno - Rust
Now, that's top 6
But, hey, we aren't getting either so!
I think there's enough ice time to go around to give that to both Geno and Byfield if desired, although I'd also argue that Geno responds best to getting tough match-ups and hard assignments himself.
The issue about the wingers is a bigger one. I guess you could have one of Jake, Rust and Zucker on each line, but then we do have the complimentary wingers needed?
In this incredibly speculative scenario, I think I'd stick Jake with Byfield. Zucker-Crosby and Malkin-Rust both seem to function well (at least in good form) without him, and his IQ makes him the ideal guy to guide around a not completely high IQ rookie. If everything was working perfectly that'd be a hell of a unit, but I think it's a little too dependent on everything going right. Not to mention that doesn't just seem to be the desired way anymore.
not a bad choice eitherI mean, that's not a bad take at all. Makes sense.
However, I'd say my bigger issue is role.
Byfield is a raw player, cannot expect him to play the PK at 18 (a very young 18). So how do you get his minutes up? He clearly won't have PP1 time with Sid and Geno on the team. PP2, cool. Maybe even the ES minutes between Sid, Geno and him. Sid and Geno are old after all.
I mean, it COULD work. And it might be the best situation (room-wise) for a guy like Byfield to develop in. Sheltered minutes, great leaders around him, guys that have won. So yeah, maybe the risk is not that high. But, I dunno. I'd prefer a Drysdale.
Yeah, but lower floor. High bust potential (for a top 5 pick, not more likely to fail than succeed).
He has huge upside (if the mental side of his game improves, with the raw skills he has, watch out), but I do not see him as an immediate contributor. Not as bad as Kotkaniemi, but in the same mold. Younger player (he does not turn 18 until August), big, fast, good hands, raw game.
He might need some seasoning in the minors. Problem is, he is a CHLer, so it is CHL or NHL for him. If we were rebuilding, sure, play him in the NHL and let him have growing pains. But for us? If we were to miraculously get the 2nd overall pick, I'd pick someone else or find someone who REALLY wants him and move down a few spot and still grab a player with similar value.
If we get 1st overall though... Lafrenière all the way. Plug and play player. One of the oldest in the draft class. Very mature game. Super high hockey IQ. Uses his teammates well. Gets open. Uses angles to create space for other players. Strong down low. Sid would LOVE playing with him. Hossa-like player.
Lafrenière - Sid - Whoever can carry a stick
Jake - Geno - Rust
Now, that's top 6
But, hey, we aren't getting either so!
I mean, Byfield would be a long term thing for sure. But, Crosby and Malkin for the next two years would be fine and then you'd have a franchise center to insert as Malkin and Sid start to age out. It'd be insane to not take him tbh if we have the second overall.
And as @Peat always points out, if he isn't hitting the areas we want him to, he'd be an asset.
Gotta say that in terms of the next 2-3 years, trading down from 2 if we somehow landed there, or taking a guy who can definitely play W and maybe play C (i.e. Stutzle), is probably the smarter move. Byfield would work and make us stronger, but I think the other options have the edge.
The Byfield appeal comes after that when you start thinking about the post-Crosby/Malkin age.
Hypothetically if the Pens drafted Byfield, I'd let him marinate in the OHL for the 20-21 season (if it exists) -- unless he forces his hand into the NHL. Then, if he's able to play in WBS in 21-22 (I forget the rule and his age), have him there. And reward him with a few NHL games here and there. Perhaps even have him try out some wing.
Given our window, I'd go Lafrenière, if we got him. But if we make it into the playoffs, what picks do we have (since the 1st would be gone)?
I agree with the analysis, disagree with the conclusion. My conclusion is similar to:
This is what I think. Move done a few spots, get a better fit + other assets. Lafrenière is the clear cut #1. After that, it becomes less clear. Byfield used to be the consensus #2, but he seems to be sliding a little.
Great prospect, but his red flags are a little bigger than other people's (rumored laziness, raw game, dominates because he is a man in a boys league). At #2, you would as close a "ready to contribute now" player as possible. As I pointed out already, I am a huge Drysdale fan and think he could play the third pair right away and be our Letang replacement pretty quickly. Then again, he would likely be available at 5. So you move down and get more assets.