Macklin Celebrini to Pittsburgh thread.

[Big Friggin Dummy]

We gotta see how bad the team finishes up and what happens in the lotto, if they're eligible. If it's a top-10 pick, especially top-5, you keep it I guess. If it's like 10-14, I think you gotta punt. I am not confident that this team will be better next year with Dullivan (tip of the hat to @HandshakeLine ) at the helm.

 

[Goalie_Bob]

Well, if it’s 11-14 they have no choice.

 

[BusinessGoose]

Well, if it’s 11-14 they have no choice.

48 hours ago, i felt this would be most likely

The last two games, and, yeah, we're pretty much guaranteed to be getting a solid top ten after the lottery

 

[The Old Master]

48 hours ago, i felt this would be most likely

The last two games, and, yeah, we're pretty much guaranteed to be getting a solid top ten after the lottery

top ten just doesn't cut it. when we are a solid top 5 next year and it goes to another team

 

[BusinessGoose]

top ten just doesn't cut it. when we are a solid top 5 next year and it goes to another team

I wanted them to get a pick outside so we can keep the better pick that will be coming next year

But these chuckle f***s are in FREEFALL right now, that i have zero confidence they finish well away from top ten so the lottery percentage of getting into top ten is smaller

 

[SEALBound]

Here's something to ponder - consider what winning 1OV does for us. We draft Celebrini and suddenly you have a franchise 1C again.

If you elect to keep everyone and add Celebrini...is that alone enough to turn things around? Does adding him delay the much needed rebuild? Or would it accelerate it?

I somehow think it might be worse for us overall if we got the 1OV as opposed to, say, the 5OV. The only thing that would save it, would be a true commitment to an early rebuild. You can keep Sid-Geno-Letang. Ask EK what his thoughts are but plan to move him. Then 100% move Pettersson, Jarry, Rakell, and Rust. You might get them on board with 1-2 losing seasons with the idea that you try one last time when Sid is on the end of his extension.

Obviously, the most important part of that scheme would be to can Sullivan and Co. Instilling "Pittsburgh hockey" into the new kids is fine and all, but a rebuild involves a rebranding of what Pittsburgh Hockey means.

Fire Sullivan.
Pettersson+Jarry+DOC+Koivenen to NJD for Holtz+Mercer+Bahl
Rust to Detroit for Berggren (I think Detroit has a ton of young guys that they could afford to give him up - similar to Carolina and Guentzel)
Smith to Buffalo for a 2nd
EK+Rakell to Ottawa for Chabot+Norris
Eller and Acciari to whoever will take them.
Draft Celebrini

Bunting-Sid-Yager
Holtz-Celebrini-Mercer
Malkin-Norris-Berggren
Poulin-Pono-Puustinen

POJ-Letang
Bahl-Chabot
Graves-Ludvig

Blomqvist-Nedeljkovich

 

[The Great Mighty Poo]

Here's something to ponder - consider what winning 1OV does for us. We draft Celebrini and suddenly you have a franchise 1C again.

If you elect to keep everyone and add Celebrini...is that alone enough to turn things around? Does adding him delay the much needed rebuild? Or would it accelerate it?

I somehow think it might be worse for us overall if we got the 1OV as opposed to, say, the 5OV. The only thing that would save it, would be a true commitment to an early rebuild. You can keep Sid-Geno-Letang. Ask EK what his thoughts are but plan to move him. Then 100% move Pettersson, Jarry, Rakell, and Rust. You might get them on board with 1-2 losing seasons with the idea that you try one last time when Sid is on the end of his extension.

Obviously, the most important part of that scheme would be to can Sullivan and Co. Instilling "Pittsburgh hockey" into the new kids is fine and all, but a rebuild involves a rebranding of what Pittsburgh Hockey means.

Fire Sullivan.
Pettersson+Jarry+DOC+Koivenen to NJD for Holtz+Mercer+Bahl
Rust to Detroit for Berggren (I think Detroit has a ton of young guys that they could afford to give him up - similar to Carolina and Guentzel)
Smith to Buffalo for a 2nd
EK+Rakell to Ottawa for Chabot+Norris
Eller and Acciari to whoever will take them.
Draft Celebrini

Bunting-Sid-Yager
Holtz-Celebrini-Mercer
Malkin-Norris-Berggren
Poulin-Pono-Puustinen

POJ-Letang
Bahl-Chabot
Graves-Ludvig

Blomqvist-Nedeljkovich

My Bahls itch.

 

[Ulf5]

You peeps crazy. Imo, there's zero chance Dubas gives away a top 10 pick. Right or wrong.

 

[HandshakeLine]

If you keep the pick you better clean house.

 

[Turin]

You peeps crazy. Imo, there's zero chance Dubas gives away a top 10 pick. Right or wrong.

There's no way he is going to send the message that he expects the team to be a lottery team next year. He would trade the top 10 pick for a player before doing that.

 

[BusinessGoose]

You peeps crazy. Imo, there's zero chance Dubas gives away a top 10 pick. Right or wrong.

I think we're top ten this year and next

SJS are for sure getting a top ten pick either way

 

[cygnus47]

I think we're top ten this year and next

SJS are for sure getting a top ten pick either way

IMO the only way we're not worse next year is if we ditch Sully and get a new coach that really clicks, Guentzel or someone equally good returns in UFA plus we get bottom 6 contributions from one of the new prospects. Pretty tall ask.

 

[Ulf5]

I think we're top ten this year and next

SJS are for sure getting a top ten pick either way

Dubas' ego alone won't let him think they'll be worse next season if they finish bottom 10.
I'm sure he's planning to dump at least Smith which shouldn't be too difficult with only 1 year left and the cap rising.
With at least $17 million in cap space, a few new prospects and a top 10 at his disposal, there's no doubt in my mind Dubas will think he can get them into a playoff spot.

 

[The Old Master]

Here's something to ponder - consider what winning 1OV does for us. We draft Celebrini and suddenly you have a franchise 1C again.

Fire Sullivan.

that alone will make next year bearable

 

[The Old Master]

You peeps crazy. Imo, there's zero chance Dubas gives away a top 10 pick. Right or wrong.

ok, you tell me whats going to happen? we already know what we will be without jake now.
we won't have jake all year
the core will all be older
we will probably lose a few more players in trades for picks
and most of all we will s till have sully
plus, all the guy's that will be asked to be moved.
how will we be better next year?

 

[Ulf5]

ok, you tell me whats going to happen? we already know what we will be without jake now.
we won't have jake all year
the core will all be older
we will probably lose a few more players in trades for picks
and most of all we will s till have sully
how will we be better next year?

You asking the wrong person. I'm not the GM. See my next post.

 

[The Old Master]

SJS are for sure getting a top ten pick either way

it's which one is higher and who's available at that pick.

 

[The Old Master]

Here's something to ponder - consider what winning 1OV does for us. We draft Celebrini and suddenly you have a franchise 1C again.

more i think about it, with the Russian factor in full swing for this draft. just how far will Russian players fall? we might be able to get a franchise play without the number one pick. but it would be picking blind, but having a young Russian kid here living with Geno would only help both going forward. (thinking Demidov)

The TSN’s Mid-Season Top 10 is as follows:

6. Ivan Demidov. The Russian left-shot winger is as smart, skilled and offensively gifted as any player in the draft. Two of the 10 scouts surveyed ranked him at No. 2, behind Celebrini, and he was top five in the eyes of another five scouts.

Demidov is quite likely the only high-end Russian prospect in this draft class who has been seen in a live viewing by North America-based scouts and GMs, though it happened in the summer of 2022. Demidov, a late 2005 birthdate, was playing as an underage in the 2022 Hlinka-Gretzky U-18 tournament. Russians in this draft class have not been seen live by most scouts since then because of IIHF sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine.

The dynamic winger was No. 3 on our pre-season list, but Demidov missed the better part of two months (October and November) with a knee injury.

 

[Jacob]

I’ve been watching some highlights of guys in the 6-12 range and I like Catton a lot. He’s not big but he’s got all the skating facets you’d look for, speed, quick on the turns, crossovers, skates well with the puck. Good shot, vision, can dangle, has that swagger. Just looks like an all-around high-end offensive guy. Leading Spokane in scoring with 105 (!) points. Kinda reminds me of Duchene or Kane. Of course highlights are highlights but he looks like he could step into the NHL right away, though probably as a wing first. He looks more NHL-ready than I thought Benson was.

He’s not a future Sid or future captain, he’s just a pure creator of offense.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Bird in the hand.

If it is a top ten pick you keep it. And pray that they improve the powerplay enough to be average.

They are not the least talented team in the league. No where close.

 

[Ryder71]

I’ve been watching some highlights of guys in the 6-12 range and I like Catton a lot. He’s not big but he’s got all the skating facets you’d look for, speed, quick on the turns, crossovers, skates well with the puck. Good shot, vision, can dangle, has that swagger. Just looks like an all-around high-end offensive guy. Leading Spokane in scoring with 105 (!) points. Kinda reminds me of Duchene or Kane. Of course highlights are highlights but he looks like he could step into the NHL right away, though probably as a wing first. He looks more NHL-ready than I thought Benson was.

He’s not a future Sid or future captain, he’s just a pure creator of offense.

I like Catton as well, I'd prefer we not go for a defensemen, they take longer to develop and IMO can be a lot more hit or miss. Best forward available we need to take.

 

[Jacob]

Bottom line is Catton can play. And we need guys that can play.

 

[The Old Master]

Well, if it’s 11-14 they have no choice.

then they can't screw it up.

 

[The Old Master]

Bottom line is Catton can play. And we need guys that can play.

View attachment 833903

as of now i have him a little higher (8) so if he's still there i wouldn't mind that pick

 

[SEALBound]

more i think about it, with the Russian factor in full swing for this draft. just how far will Russian players fall? we might be able to get a franchise play without the number one pick. but it would be picking blind, but having a young Russian kid here living with Geno would only help both going forward. (thinking Demidov)

The TSN’s Mid-Season Top 10 is as follows:

6. Ivan Demidov. The Russian left-shot winger is as smart, skilled and offensively gifted as any player in the draft. Two of the 10 scouts surveyed ranked him at No. 2, behind Celebrini, and he was top five in the eyes of another five scouts.

Demidov is quite likely the only high-end Russian prospect in this draft class who has been seen in a live viewing by North America-based scouts and GMs, though it happened in the summer of 2022. Demidov, a late 2005 birthdate, was playing as an underage in the 2022 Hlinka-Gretzky U-18 tournament. Russians in this draft class have not been seen live by most scouts since then because of IIHF sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine.

The dynamic winger was No. 3 on our pre-season list, but Demidov missed the better part of two months (October and November) with a knee injury.

He's just like Michkov. He might drop but he's clearly the #2 talent in the draft. MIGHT depend if your organization needs a dman but BPA #2 is 100% Demidov. But you're right, he might fall.