NHL Draft lottery race II - Bruins locked into 5th before ping pong balls.

[JoeIsAStud]

And I'm sure Malkoc has done his due diligence on McQueen, though I don't trust him.

Don't trust Malkoc or McQueen

 

[GordonHowe]

Send Tonya Harding to the Bruins locker room ASAP!

ETT Baby.

 

[GordonHowe]

Absolutely major. They have money, it’s just about Marner really, who was asked to waive around the deadline. I feel like he’s gone, especially if they don’t go far this post season. I’m not sure they could actually sign all three tbh unless Tavares signs for something ridiculously low… Marner obviously eats up a bit of cap space, Knies will likely get 1mil minimum more than Geekie gets imo, and Tavares probably 6.5? That right there is all of the the money they have or more. They still have a handful of roster spots to fill after those three names too. If Marner walks, they would easily be in the running for Boeser/ Ehlers

Were he available, does anyone really want John Tavares?

 

[Smitty93]

They are looking at all their options. I can say with certainty that Wetick has a complete book on Schaefer, Misa, Martone and O'Brien in the top ten. He is a master at his job IMO.

And I'm sure Malkoc has done his due diligence on McQueen, though I don't trust him.

And I'm sure Bissonnette has done the same with Desnoyers in the Q. Not to mention that they have all the inside info they can gather from Loke Johansson.

Im also sure that Harkins and his staff have done their homework on Hagens and PJ with the Swedes.

It's now time for the big guns to have a look at those players before they have their draft meetings.

All these players will be at the combine and the Bruins will interview them all. If (when) we get news that Sweeney has gone to meet the player and his family, then we'll know which way they may be leaning.

I'm asking this because I'm genuinely curious: what makes Wetick a master at his job?

As the Bruins OHL scout since 2015-16, I assume he's had a hand in the drafting of Jack Studnicka, Brett Harrison, Ryan Mast, Matt Poitras, and Jackson Edward. But the success (or lack there of) of OHL players they've drafted isn't necessarily indicative of his skills, since it doesn't look at the overall picture of his work. Does he have a good hit rate in identifying other OHL players who were underrated/underdrafted or maybe highly touted players who he correctly identified as busts?

Obviously, grading someone's ability to scout is a bit subjective, but I figure when trying to determine whether one is good or not, it's all about being able to see both what everyone else does and what others do not.

 

[Fenian24]

Were he available, does anyone really want John Tavares?

6 million for 2 years yes. Anything else no.

 

[GordonHowe]

Fairly simple yet important night for the tank. Pittsburgh wins we can no longer catch and pass them

Since 1984, and especially 1991, the Penguins are the bane of my existence.

First they steal our colors, which sent Sinden into orbit, then Mario and Jagr toy with the Bruins in the early 90s, then Crosby, then this..

Oy.

 

[Bruin4]

Were he available, does anyone really want John Tavares?

No
I dont want any stop gaps.

Id rather see interest in Howard

 

[GordonHowe]

but McKenna is a bigger name/talent than anyone in this years draft. So does he give Pittsburgh the #1 this year and the big market the "generational" prospect to Chicago next year, or does he go for the Lemieux -> Crosby -> McKenna story next year?

Obviously, I don't know.

However, don't discount the role of a larger media market and a so-called "Original Six" franchise.

Chicago is the third largest media market in the United States.

Pittsburgh is 27th.

I was never good at math.

Even so..

 

[GordonHowe]

6 million for 2 years yes. Anything else no.

34 years old. Consistent regular season production.

Assuming he would sign for anything less than what he is making annually with the Leafs, short-term help on a bruins team likely conducting a 2-year retool, with little elite support around him.

No thanks,

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/how-old-is-the-maple-leafs-joh-xhSLXhmfRNiEJNtqi8dLNA

Contract status,

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/how-old-is-the-maple-leafs-joh-xhSLXhmfRNiEJNtqi8dLNA

 

[The don godfather]

Haggens would be a sweet pick and a excellent fall back would be frondell. Hoping for the best this pick will make it or break it for us. Too important.

 

[GordonHowe]

No
I dont want any stop gaps.

Id rather see interest in Howard

#MeToo.

I don't know anything about Howard.

"Investigating..."

 

[DominicT]

I'm asking this because I'm genuinely curious: what makes Wetick a master at his job?

As the Bruins OHL scout since 2015-16, I assume he's had a hand in the drafting of Jack Studnicka, Brett Harrison, Ryan Mast, Matt Poitras, and Jackson Edward. But the success (or lack there of) of OHL players they've drafted isn't necessarily indicative of his skills, since it doesn't look at the overall picture of his work. Does he have a good hit rate in identifying other OHL players who were underrated/underdrafted or maybe highly touted players who he correctly identified as busts?

Obviously, grading someone's ability to scout is a bit subjective, but I figure when trying to determine whether one is good or not, it's all about being able to see both what everyone else does and what others do not.

Yes, he's been with the organization but the question to ask is: How long before his voice was heard> It doesn't happen over night. He made a strong case for Robert Thomas, but when PJ pounded the table, who won out?

Studnicka was a reach at the time, but they fell in love with the "Bergeron Lite" comps as an organization.

Yes, he was responsible for the Harrison/Mast picks in the COVID year where neither played. Harrison has all the tools to be an NHL player but lacks the mental ability to put it all together (to date). He still might. He's come on in Providence lately. And Mast is exactly the type of player you take a shot at in the 6th round. How many sixth rounders actually make it to the NHL?

Finally, yes on Poitras and Edward, They were his picks. But I wouldn't include them in "lack of success". We know what Poitras is capable of and now he just has to get there. Was that a bad pick? Edward, first year of pro and McQuaid absolutely loves him and sees a lot of himself in him. Typically what you want in a seventh round pick.

Wetick did a masterful job scouting in the OHL for the Battalion and Rangers, and before that with OHL Central Scouting. I have always been amazed at his ability to take players earlier than expected and find success.

 

[pucksindeep92]

The mic

Were he available, does anyone really want John Tavares?

Yes and no. He would be able to immediately step in and play center in the top 6, and improve it from a stabilizing vet perspective, and the point production side as well. He would also provide great confidence in a short term contract while we chase/develop our elusive true 1c, and wouldn’t cost assets to acquire. Poitras, Minten, and our 1st pick in the upcoming draft have bright futures, and Tavares could be the mentor that Bergeron didn’t get to be for any of them.

That said, we would need to move names out from center depth for it to make sense, we just have too many with too much money tied up in the position without anybody great. Mittelstadt isn’t giving me attachment issues yet, so he can go at the draft honestly. Zacha could be an unfortunate trade chip towards bigger names this summer, and Tavares would soften the blow in the middle in that scenario. I honestly wouldn’t hate it if you moved Zacha and Mittelstadt for improved wingers and/or prospects +cap space, and had Tavares, Lindholm, Poitras, Minten and the 2025 1st as your center depth going forward. Geekie also gives you a safety net.

 

[GordonHowe]

I like Frondell the best unless the Bruins luck out and draft in the top two. Yes, the Bruins need a playmaking center, but they also need scoring. Hagens and Desnoyers lean more heavily toward playmaker. Frondell has a more “hunter” approach to his offense and can still make plays.

Desnoyers would be really intriguing if he can get his foot speed and coordination up…to meet his brain. I think he is really smart and creative and has an edge to his game, but I am hesitant to go all in. The Q is still weaker than other CHL leagues…and Moncton is dominant.

I like him, though.

Hagens would be more attractive to me if he had more of a shoot first approach this year at BC. 11g in 37 games gives me pause. He scored a bit in NTDP…

And then there is Jake O’Brien…he’s climbing..

They can find scoring on the wing in free agency. My understanding is that they have the money to do this.

The essential need is a playmaking center, someone with a well-rounded, responsible three zone game.

I would not select such as center merely based on NHL readiness. Select the best center, with the greatest upside. Which may mean waiting a few years until, ideally, they blossom and are ready for the varsity.

Easier said.

 

[Bergyesque]

Really need a different management for this draft, I have zero faith that they can make the right pick, even if it’s in the top4 and should be a slam dunk

Anyways maybe the best case scenario is starting to be ending up with Schaefer this season and C next season. Need to go for the highest ceiling despite the position and this doesn’t look like the -23 or -24 draft for forwards

What is your order for the top 5?

 

[GordonHowe]

The mic

Yes and no. He would be able to immediately step in and play center in the top 6, and improve it from a stabilizing vet perspective, and the point production side as well. He would also provide great confidence in a short term contract while we chase/develop our elusive true 1c, and wouldn’t cost assets to acquire. Poitras, Minten, and our 1st pick in the upcoming draft have bright futures, and Tavares could be the mentor that Bergeron didn’t get to be for any of them.

That said, we would need to move names out from center depth for it to make sense, we just have too many with too much money tied up in the position without anybody great. Mittelstadt isn’t giving me attachment issues yet, so he can go at the draft honestly. Zacha could be an unfortunate trade chip towards bigger names this summer, and Tavares would soften the blow in the middle in that scenario. I honestly wouldn’t hate it if you moved Zacha and Mittelstadt for improved wingers and/or prospects +cap space, and had Tavares, Lindholm, Poitras, Minten and the 2025 1st as your center depth going forward. Geekie also gives you a safety net.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

They can find scoring on the wing in free agency. My understanding is that they have the money to do this.

The essential need is a playmaking center, someone with a well-rounded, responsible three zone game.

I would not select such as center nearly based on NHL readiness. Select the best center, with the greatest upside. Which may mean waiting a few years until, ideally, they blossom and are ready for the varsity.

Easier said.

We don't need someone with a well-rounded, responsible three zone game. We need someone with explosive scoring and playmaking ability, high end skill and speed. Every player doesn't have to be a plus defensive player. At the top of the draft, I want the highest offensive ceiling player we can get. Those are the players who always go high in the draft, and who we haven't been able to draft because we don't pick high enough.

 

[Kally]

They can find scoring on the wing in free agency. My understanding is that they have the money to do this.

The essential need is a playmaking center, someone with a well-rounded, responsible three zone game.

I would not select such as center nearly based on NHL readiness. Select the best center, with the greatest upside. Which may mean waiting a few years until, ideally, they blossom and are ready for the varsity.

Easier said.

This from the Bruins drafting playbook? How about some skill instead for once? And stop trying to make every player a three zone king.

 

[Jdavidev]

My top 8 for the Bruins (assuming that's as far as they can drop)

Misa
Schaefer
Frondell
Hagens
Martone
Eklund
Desnoyers
McQueen

 

[GordonHowe]

The mic

Yes and no. He would be able to immediately step in and play center in the top 6, and improve it from a stabilizing vet perspective, and the point production side as well. He would also provide great confidence in a short term contract while we chase/develop our elusive true 1c, and wouldn’t cost assets to acquire. Poitras, Minten, and our 1st pick in the upcoming draft have bright futures, and Tavares could be the mentor that Bergeron didn’t get to be for any of them.

That said, we would need to move names out from center depth for it to make sense, we just have too many with too much money tied up in the position without anybody great. Mittelstadt isn’t giving me attachment issues yet, so he can go at the draft honestly. Zacha could be an unfortunate trade chip towards bigger names this summer, and Tavares would soften the blow in the middle in that scenario. I honestly wouldn’t hate it if you moved Zacha and Mittelstadt for improved wingers and/or prospects +cap space, and had Tavares, Lindholm, Poitras, Minten and the 2025 1st as your center depth going forward. Geekie also gives you a safety net.

All that sounds good to me.

I would prefer to move on from Zacha. I've seen enough, Pasta binkie or no.

CM seems to be a third line center on a decent team.

I wouldn't cry if they moved him, along with something else, for greater value. Not sure what that value would be, and I'm not saying you can trade him for a better center.

Perhaps you keep him around for a while.

Ultimately, I don't see him as any kind of long-term solution at the center position.

The Bruins may not be a playoff team next year. But they need to cut the meh fat, as it were.

Just a relatively uninformed opinion.

 

[pucksindeep92]

We don't need someone with a well-rounded, responsible three zone game. We need someone with explosive scoring and playmaking ability, high end skill and speed. Every player doesn't have to be a plus defensive player. At the top of the draft, I want the highest offensive ceiling player we can get. Those are the players who always go high in the draft, and who we haven't been able to draft because we don't pick high enough.

I agree. How many players in the top 100 point production category, with 4 years minimum in the league are actually huge defensive detriments to their team? I sometimes wonder about the defensive focus that’s gets brought up, Pasta is the outlier in development it would seem from this organization. Guy was pure octane in the ozone and his crap skating and lack of defensive play didn’t matter for a second. Nobody is Pasta, but still, how different would Lysell be right now if a year or two ago they were like “hey, you clearly need 3 zone work, but we don’t want to stifle your offensive progress right now, let it rip and we will improve the other stuff over time”. He had some swagger this week we haven’t seen in a while, and I feel like him getting into the groove offensively helped his confidence on the back end. He literally seemed to lose a step over time because we tried to mold him away from what made him attractive initially.

 

[GordonHowe]

This from the Bruins drafting playbook? How about some skill instead for once? And stop trying to make every player a three zone king.

"Can't we do both?"

 

[Bergyesque]

San Jose with greater odds of picking 3rd than 1st. Hmmm

If I did this well, each team "owns" only one pick rank, except SJ (1), who owns the 3 firsts, and NAS (3) and PHI (6), who owns none.

 

[pucksindeep92]

All that sounds good to me.

I would prefer to move on from Zacha. I've seen enough, Pasta binkie or no.

CM seems to be a third line center on a decent team.

I wouldn't cry if they moved him, along with something else, for greater value. Not sure what that value would be, and I'm not saying you can trade him for a better center.

Perhaps you keep him around for a while.

Ultimately, I don't see him as any kind of long-term solution at the center position.

The Bruins may not be a playoff team next year. But they need to cut the meh fat, as it were.

Just a relatively uninformed opinion.

Imagine what the extra 11.5million could do for this team if you moved Zacha and Mitts this summer? You could probably do Marner (13x7), Tavares (6.7x2), AND Pionk (6.9x5) with Geekie (5.15). Tavares and Marner on the second line, Pionk as 2RD

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Imagine what the extra 11.5million could do for this team if you moved Zacha and Mitts this summer? You could probably do Marner (13x7), Tavares (6.7x2), AND Pionk (6.9x5) with Geekie (5.15). Tavares and Marner on the second line, Pionk as 2RD

In theory sure. But those players have to actually sign with you, and the backup plan to that is pretty brutal.

I’d just buy out Mittelstadt. It’s not that punitive.