PB Reader Q & A Part 5: NinoLove, Bailey to wing? Kovalchuk, Ridderwall, Newsday, Europe
The deadline for questions was Friday night. No more, please. You’re invited to respond to this segment, one Comment per reader. Thank you.
Hello CB. If Niederreiter were North American would he be the #1 Draft Prospect ? At 6′ 2″ 210 lbs and only 17, it is safe to say I have a man-crush on “El Nino” !
27Tonelli: Isles fan since ‘82 from Bayside,N.Y.! Keep up the great work !
I think the love for Nino in some quarters needs to settle down a bit. To answer your question, if his name was Matt Moore he would still be the 8-15th overall pick in the draft – he just wouldn’t be a cult hero and have people pining for him. And aren’t you going to be crushed if Gordie Clark takes him at No. 10 for the Rangers? Time to go to Nino Anonymous, people!
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Chris: I should have listened to you about not getting my hopes up on Bridgeport prospects 2 years ago. How do you project the center positions next year. JT is #1 but with Baily, Frans, and Schremp who do you think plays where? All the depth is great but we can only play so many people and I don’t think Schremp is a great defender.
Phil, Syracuse: Fan since grade school when I spent my summers on Long Island playing NHL94 with my Uncle.
Hi Phil. When you consider that Frans is a pure center, and Tavares and Schremp are centers – plus add in the fact that the Islanders “could use some size,” to quote Coach Gordon – I believe we could be looking at young Joshua seeing a lot of time on the wing next season. He played well there, so this is not a bad thing.
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As a fan who feels our team has too many role player types, is it really so outrageous to offer someone like a Kovalchuk a contract this summer to get a legitimate goal scorer on the team to give the younger studs more room to potentially get open and score?
Greg – Been a fan since I was 6 and came to my first game with my dad…Islanders Cup Night presented by Michelin. Turgeon scored a hat trick and became my all-time favorite. All the cups ended up on the ice, while mine still gets used every morning before heading to work for a nice glass of chocolate milk.
To Greg and everyone else who asked about this subject: The only way that happens is if Kovalchuk doesn’t get a significant offer from a playoff team and instead has to sign a shorter deal to prove himself all over again. The main reason why I don’t see Kovalchuk signing with the Islanders is because he turned down $101 million from Atlanta because he wanted to be on a winner. He was sincere about that, which is rare these days. So sincere that I doubt he’s going to see a $101 million offer again. Although the Islanders have an excellent chance of developing into a winner in the next few years, I doubt Ilya is projecting. He does love New York, I can tell you that.
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Hi CB. I know you had talked about a potential trade partner and I gather with Philly or Chicago being on the top of that list due to their cap issues. Would the trade be more of a draft pick, a prospect or a player on the current team for the Isles to give up? What player would you think we can back in return?
Dan – Stony Brook, NY. Not sure how or why I became a fan since my Dad was not a hockey guy. But have been one since 75. Worked at the Coliseum for a many years back in the late 80s and the scary thing is that the building has not changed much. Remember having to stay late while a cleaning crew was steam cleaning the suites especially Picket’s fancy wood one. You could hear a lot of noise coming from his suite from inside the arena since it was empty. Well let’s just say that the cleaning guys cleaned out his fridge of beers instead of the rugs.
Good stuff, Dan. If the Islanders ever use their immense cap space to “help” a team lose some of their’s, the Islanders would acquire a good player in his prime making good money. In this scenario, the Islanders would win the trade big on paper. They would not have to give up a top-five prospect from their roster or a first round pick. If anything, they would get a pick back as a sweetener. To find the players who could be available is simple. Just go to any NHL salaries website, look at the teams up against the cap and see the players fitting my description.
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Do you think the Isles have to draft Brett Connolly if he is there at 5 because the Isles just can’t draw the big time free agent goal scorer?
Steve K – I have been a fan since Trottier would come come into my father’s business at the start of the dynasty. I have pictures of me holding the cup when I was 5 (with help, of course).
Steve, the answer to your question is absolutely not. They should only take Connolly at 5 (or wherever they end up picking) if their scouts and tests tell them he is the best player available. When you’re picking 18-year-olds – unless you can grab a Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin or John Tavares with the top pick – you cannot worry about what you might be able to do down the road in free agency.
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Hey Chris: I just wanted to ask that since the Isles are having training camp in China, do you think the Isles will be playing overseas to open their season anytime soon?
Jim from Scotland – Isles fan from 1979. Originally from Philly. I used to make it to 5 or so games a year before moving here. I still live and die everything Isles.
There is a good chance the Islanders will be one of the teams starting the regular season in Europe in 2011 or 2012. I’m a sucker for that “When Helsinki Freezes Over” slogan.
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Since all the Isles questions concievable are probably going to be asked, I have a general NHL question: Do you think after the Devils flame-out in the first round, that we are seeing that the trapping (and most say boring) style of Lemaire and the Devils won’t work against these high-octane offenses in today’s NHL especially in a playoff series?
AM – Big Isles fan since the age of 6, now living in NYC
I really don’t think so, AM. I covered that series. The Devils didn’t lose because of their system, they lost because in every key period they were out-worked by the Flyers. The Devils’ Way will stay as long as Lou Lamoriello is there, but they’ll come back next year with at least a half-dozen new players.
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Please explain something to me about shootouts. There are no longer ties anymore, meaning that every game is either won or lost. The logical assumption then is that every game should have a game-winning goal, but if the game is won in a shootout the player who scores that goal does not get credit for the GWG. At the end of the year, if a team won 40 games, they should therefore have 40 GWG.
IslesYanks: Love Point Blank, moved to NJ over 10 years ago and this site reminds me that I’m not the only islander fan in the world. Thanks CB.
Stop being so darn logical! Let me explain it to you this way. The NHL thinks the shootout is the greatest thing in the world. Although the league is okay with deciding games by having one guy skate in alone on a goalie, it does not believe that guy should get credit for anything. Got it?
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Hey Chris, where is Stefan Ridderwall on the Islanders goalie depth chart. Is he still in their future?
Bob – Commack, NY – A fan from the beginning
Hi Bob. He’s not necessarily anywhere on the depth chart, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. He has had an outstanding season in the Sweden Elite League and the Islanders like him.
In terms of goalie prospects, the Islanders have a good problem. Mikko Koskinen is a lock to hold down one of the two spots in Bridgeport next season. With his amazing play in the Quebec League, Kevin Poulin has earned a contract (not completed yet) and should get a spot in the AHL – although you cannot rule out him playing some games in the East Coast Hockey League. If he fulfills his potential, 2009 third round pick Anders Nilsson could be in North America by the 2012-13 season.
Ridderwall just turned 22, has great size and ability and is very much an option for the Islanders down the road. Like everything, it’s going to come down to money – how much they end up paying Poulin, how much Ridderwall will cost.
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I love the blog. It’s my Islander fix in a void of anything regarding Islanders. If Newsday offered you a job as the Islanders beat writer would you take it? Because if they did I would subscribe to the rag.
Blizzard – Long Islander and Islander fan for life. 42 years old.
Hey, Blizz. I appreciate the sentiment, but I don’t see it ever happening. Among the countless reasons why, Newsday already has an outstanding young writer and tireless professional, Katie Strang, in the position. She is a rising star in the business. My hope is that Katie is on the beat for as long as she wants to.
On my end, I don’t think I could have possibly landed in a better spot than with AOL and FanHouse. They have given me the opportunity to cover the entire NHL and they have supported my little Islanders obsession. My goal was to cover the sport, and I just got back from a Game 6 in Boston and Game 7 in Washington. Hopefully, I can keep fooling them for a while in both gigs.
You’re invited to respond to this segment, one Comment per reader. Thank you.
41 Responses to PB Reader Q & A Part 5: NinoLove, Bailey to wing? Kovalchuk, Ridderwall, Newsday, Europe
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CB I do really love your work but why are U always dumping on us El Nino Lovers? Even if the WJC was a “Fluke”, he still lead his team w/ 36 Goals in his Rookie WHL Year. He scored a bunch of clutch goals in the playoffs. If he was 1 week younger he’d be eligible for the 2011 Draft & U know how long it takes Power Forwards to develop. He’s a good skater & the rarest of all animals, a true Power Forward. Red Line Report rated him 4th Overall 1 month & most scouts rate him 7th overall. What are his big faults that we are supposedly ignoring? (If CB isn’t replying, maybe a NYI fan can help us)
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Numbers65 in Ohio says:
Anyone who doesn’t get the Nino thing DID NOT WATCH THE WJC’s. OK! Who cares about how his name sounds. When you hear the play by play saying his name a million times and watch the game you see he is a dominant player.
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Its nice that you have loyalties to people who I presume are your personal friends. However, I cannot get behind this “rising star” notion when it comes to Katie Strang. She does not research things adequately, she gets things wrong a lot, she doesnt offer any semblance of insight on her blog entries, its just somewhat poorly researched facts (the Gillies error, telling people that the Isles were guaranteed to pick no later than 5th in the draft before the lottery, etc.) and generic sports writing. She does not know enough about hockey or the Islanders themselves to be a “star” beatwriter. I can only hope that she learns. But, I think once she does get the hang of things, she will be replaced by another intern. At least she will have a great resume… the only ones to suffer will be, as usual, Isles fans.
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UIF says:
Yeah, the Nino deal isn’t about the name for me (I’d have been pulling for Magnus last year if it was just about names!). Nino’s numbers this year are identical to the numbers Connoly put up last year in the same league that everyone is gushing about. Plus he seems to be getting better, is younger by a few months, and bigger…already over 200 lbs at 17! Given the severe lack of size on the Isles, I don’t think it’s so unreasonable to consider how he could be a fit. Won’t happen though because of where he’s projected versus where the Isles are picking.
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rb says:
Gotta disagree on Nino. Why assume he goes 8-15? TSN has him at No. 7, and that’s with Connolly and Gormley at 5 and 6. If a team is scared off Connolly because of the injury history and doesn’t think Gormley measures up to Fowler and Gudbranson, the next pick COULD be Nino.
Also, although ISS has Nino at 9, they have Connolly even LOWER at 11.
When you consider that Nino got invited by the Swiss to play on the MEN’S World Championship Team (the regular team, not the U-18) in May as a younger than average draft prospect, after already playing very well in the WJC, you have to assume his stock is rising. Finally, Bob McKenzie also seems to like him a lot.
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isles72 says:
yeah lets ignore the Nino hype since we’re such a big team up front
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Chris R says:
Ridderwall could be a good trading chip in a year or so. I’d trade him if Koskinen and Poulin play well next year.
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(Sim)ple says:
Finally, a good problem on this team: too many young goalies with upside. Has everyone stopped complaining about the drafting of Koskinen and Nilsson last year yet?
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Metalcoconut says:
Can we just hurry up and let some west coast team win the cup already so that the Isles can get to their free agency period. The wait is killing me.
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Teller says:
To all the nine lovers. Whatever happens happens. Snow has not botched a draft pick yet. Looks like the bailey trade down is about to pay dividends with hamomic and petrov. Let’s all just sit back not really think about it because snowjanks has proven besides with Tavares they will pick their guy not the guy everyone thinks they should pick. But with that said they haven’t made a mistake yet so let’s just trust them. Hopefully after this year we will begin to see the light.
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With regard to the comment about the boring trap (I agree it is boring), in the last two games between the caps and habs, the habs completely shutdown the caps high octane offensive playing in that style. Of course, it helped even more that Halak turned into a superhero during the last two games.
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isle in nyc says:
If you go on youtube and look at the videos between Connolly and Nino there is no comparison. Nino looks much better and if you compare Nino’s first year vs Connolly’s first year in the WHL they have the same points and Nino had 6 more goals. Plus Nino doesn’t have all the injury issues. And he has taken the reigns of team and said get on my back we are winning this game. CB has Conolly ever done that vs good competition?
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Examiner says:
To all those wanting to draft Nino just because of his size: The team is going to get bigger. Matt Martin, maybe Jesse Joensuu, maybe Kirill Petrov, and maybe Brett Connolly. Don’t make it like Nino is the only guy we can get that is over 6-feet.
Oleg Kvasha had great size and was a good prospect. You want him back? Not saying Nino will be like him, but you get the point.
Don’t take someone just because of their size. There must be a reason(s) why almost every scout has Connolly listed above Nino and that includes the knowledge of his lost season due to injury. Let the scouts do their job and let’s do our by supporting them.
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Boss15 says:
Katie was hired because she had no experience so they could pay her nothing to do the job. She stunk at first but is improving, when she gets to be a star they will fire her because that’s what they do. Newsday stinks and even if it didn’t CB would be crazy to leaving new media for print since it could die at any moment.
I like Nino but I agree with Teller, Snow and his scouts will make the right decision. I hope they give Pulkkinen a look if he is around somewhere in the second. The kid could be the next Selanne, 10G 5A in 6 games at the U18, hat trick against Russia (that clip is on youtube).
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steve says:
CB-thank you for posting, you pick the best available/talented player when you are dealing with 18 year olds. you dont draft need, when the player your drafting wont be in the league for 2 years, nor an effective player until he has 1 or 2 years in the NHL.
no such thing as too many talented players at a position. too often, its not enough talent. -
doublew says:
One comment about the GWG… there is no way to award a GWG to a player in every shootout, and the reason being it is a 3-shooter system. An example…The Islanders score with their first two shooters (Schremp, and Tavares, for instance), and the Rangers two shooters wiff (Gaborik and Anisimov.) Who for the Islanders gets the GWG? that (I believe) is why there is no GWG awarded on shootouts
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Blizzard says: ….count me in the Nino camp. That is if Fowler and Gubransen are gone by the time we pick. Im no scout however and so Im just gonna go with the pros in this draft. My wish is somehow Fowler falls to number 5.
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Tom NYC says:
HA! I still have my Michelin Islanders Mug. That cup is tremendous and probably my favorite. They don’t have giveaways like that anymore. Or any giveaways at all for that matter.
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battfist says:
If Fowler and Gudbranson are gone…
I believe Nino Niederreiter is the pick.Why?
-Help take Portland to the playoffs after missing the playoffs for 4 years.
-Scored 36 goals (Isles could use some of those) 11 of those were on the power play.
-6 game winning goals
-Did this as a 17 year old (6-2 200lbs)
-Plays all aspects of the game
-No injury issues
All aboard the El Nino train….
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cjzimm says:
CB, sorry to disagree with you but with the way things are with the Islanders, I absolutely think they should put a premium on drafting goal scoring forwards. They obviously shouldn’t reach or gamble to much but with their financial constraints, venue situation and general attractiveness for free agents, its obviously tougher to get a top shelf offensive player to sign here without breaking the bank. The cheaper route in free agency is to sign defensemen for the near future. So if Snow believes there is a top shelf goal scorer in the draft, I say go get him. Because I don’t know how else we’re going to get one.
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Katie Strang should take a look at the Washington Post’s Takik El-Bashir. Great blog/beat writer for the Caps. His coverage has set a new standard.
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MattNC says:
Quick look at points scored in Juniors, using Tavares as a benchmark:
—John Tavares 1.956 ppg in 182 games (excluding his 15 y.o. season)
—Taylor Hall 1.530 ppg in 183 games
—Tyler Seguin 1.395 ppg 124 games
—Brett Connolly .975 in 81 games
Sure, GMs will look to more than raw point totals and averages when projecting NHL performance, but these are one important criterion. It’s possible that Brett would have had a 90-100 point season had he been healthy. But he wasn’t, and didn’t. He has a shorter track record, and an injury history.
Count me among the Nino fans if it comes down to him or Brett. With Nino’s size (6’2″, 203 at age 17 1/2), he could possibly be playing in the NHL after one more year in Junior Hockey, or two at most. It might take him a little longer to reach the Isles than Connolly, but he might be the bigger and healthier player.
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Hoguefanclub says:
CB, Have to agree with many of the other posters, Nino’s name has little to do with it. TSN has him at 7 and ISS at 9. With Connelly’s history, and Nino’s size, development at age 17, and heart, it wouldn’t be a stretch at all. Perhaps trade down 2 spots and grab another 2nd rounder and move that 2nd rounder plus ours and move back into the 1st round and grab Kabanov or another project or a decent hard-hitting d-man. That would be my strategy. Move down 2 spots for another 2nd rounder, grab Nino, then package the 2 second rounders to move back into the first round. After Seguin and Hall no one is a sure thing.
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Seth says:
I love your work, Chris.
Hopefully we can add a few parts to the puzzle this summer through the draft, through trade and free agency. Maybe a playoff spot in 2010-2011 is not that fat out of the question.
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IslesYanks says:
CB, just want to thank you for taking the time to respond to my question about shootouts. While I understand what you’re saying, the logical conundrum still baffles me. On a similar note, in the old days games used to end in ties where each team would receive 1 pt if there was no goal scored after overtime. Back then, if someone scored in OT, the losing team would get nothing. Nowadays, if a team gets scored on in OT, they do get that point for some reason. Who is the brains behind this lack of solid deductive reasoning? Could this be a factor leading to the parity people are complaining about now in the NHL?
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admin says:
I don’t see where anyone sees a diagreement by me with you on Niederreiter. I wrote that no matter what his name was, he would fall in the 8-15 hole. His name has added to his popularity in some parts, many readers have admitted such. But he is an excellent talent. If you want to take him with the No. 5 pick, go for it! CB
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Jon the sniper Sim says:
I just bought my nino express train ticket might have to refund it if grubranson is available nothing against Fowler but we have streit and dehaan who both at puck movih powerplay qbs . Grubs is a big nasty man who loves to hit fight and can actually play hockey as well. We don’t have a lot of tough guys unless Jackman is tough?
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SuperFry TNT says:
There is only one certainty to the Isles draft plan, and it is this: Whatever you think is going to happen, will not happen.
Consider this: Outside of Tavares, a pick so easy my late grandmother could make it today from her grave (and she never even heard of hockey), when is the last time Garth did ANYTHING that you actually saw coming? Anything remotely predicable? Anything popular?
I haven’t read up on this Nino guy very much but I can tell you for sure, the simple fact that he’s this popular basically precludes Garth from taking him.
Whatever Garth does, it better be good. At the end of next season, this team is a Cup contender, or Garth has failed miserably.
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Jim Clark says: Islanders to open overseas in 2011 or 2012? In the spirit of possibly getting a casino next to NCVMC, I bet 100 quatloos it happens.
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doublem09 says:
What I think everyone is missing in the connolly/nino debate is that nino spent this year on a stacked portland. team. Connelly season last year was on a terrible prince george team. I believe the teams second leading scorer had 10 goals. In comparison, nino has johansen, ross, petrovic and sbisa(part of the season) as teammates. Connellys season speaks more of his individual talent.
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Mike L says:
CB I agree on Niederreiter. He is the most overrated/overhyped prospect in the draft. I’m not saying Nino is not better than him, but saying that we should draft Nino because he has size and puts up points sounds like the logic used to draft Mike Rupp. Nino’s teammate Ryan Johansen also has similar size and puts up similar points, yet no mention of him. I believe the team will draft the BPA and trust the scouts on their decision. If it’s Connolly, Gormley, Nino, ect, I think the main idea is that we should be getting a good player that will help us in the future.
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David Volek says:
Boy reading all these posts, is eerily similar to when everyone was begging to draft Filatov.
I do think the isles should draft a forward………preferably one with size and speed.
What do the isles do with Bergenheim? Package him up and see what a cap strapped team like the hawks, or the caps wanna give up???
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Jimmy Mac says:
Stick with Connolly… I think he will be great one day.
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Spartiarti - RVC says:
no need to get creative in draft. we have the #5 pick. its not the 8th or 9th.
B/c schremp cant play wing, i guess bailey can play LW. his board play was much improved this year.
However i still think Bailey has so much more upside. Bailey will be our best two way center
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27Tonelli says:
I guarantee you CB after Streit plays with him at the WC he will beg Snow to draft “El Nino”! Not just a cool name this kid is the real deal !
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19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
All this talk about future draft picks … always makes us hope that we land the next big diamond in the rough. A player that becomes a permanent fixture and fan favorite.
All this talk about the future … But … I always wonder what happens to the vast majority of drafted players that will never see their names listed on an NHL 23 man roster on a regular basis… The college players have something to fall back on. How many minor leaguers become career minor leaguers and can eek out a living? Just wondering.
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Handlanger says:
Sorry Tonelli, Streit won’t go to the WC. But if Niederreiter performs against men – you can bet his stock will raise more!
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Hockey1919 says:
Too soon to judge the 2009 draft, but 2008 brought the Isles Bailey, Hamonic, Martin, Poulin to name just four. It looks like if all the picks develop as projected they may have 4 to 5 NHLers from a single draft. That is a pretty good record so I am going to hold off judgement on what SnoJanks does right or at this years draft until I see how it pans out.
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admin says:
Thread closed.
CB I agree it does look logical that Bailey will be on the wing for the forseeable future, just the move there seemed to hurt him for the first part of teh season, but that looks over to me
As for ms strang i met her at the LH meetings and she is a very smart young woman and super nice. I dont like when people get on someone new to a job making one or two mistakes, because lets face it, we have all been there. Thanks CB
eek—-Pnut