Is this supposed to make sense? If you change a sentence, then I've refuted my argument??!!??

Thanks, but I'll stick to my position that Zaitsev is an improvement over what we've got now until you can show us all how to acquire "any number of equally capable d-men." And quoting you is not "cherry-picking" you. I'm trying to illustrate what I'm responding to.

Here's a bit of light reading for you. It seems that the rest of the league knows that Zaitsev is a cap dump. Not 100% sure why you don't, but we'll thank our lucky stars that it isn't you running this organization, my friend.

https://mynhltraderumors.com/nhl-rumors-a-lot-of-teams-interested-toronto-maple-leafs-defenseman-nikita-zaitsev/2019/06/19/

Dreger-" teams are concerned about Zaitsev’s play this past season and would want the Maple Leafs to a sweetener to take on his contract."
McKenzie-"you know teams like Vancouver and Edmonton are probably — certainly Edmonton, anyway — if they are going to take Zaitsev and his contract, they are probably going to want to get a premium"

Fine. I stand opposed to those pundits who think Zaitsev is a negative trade value. I think that he's an upgrade on what the Ducks have right now. And your statement that "You've turned a team that has freed some seriously needed cap space into a team that's back into cap hell, and haven't improved it" is another opinion with which I don't agree. The only changes I've made to the existing team are to add Myers and Zaitsev (and the supernumerary Marleau) and subtracted Kiefer Sherwood. If you think a right side of Manson, Myers and Zaitsev isn't an improvement on Manson, Dotchin and Welinski, then fine.

Looks like you were right, friend! Anaheim got an absolute steal, Zegras looks so good.

And you got Matthew Boldy. I think that's going to work out very well for you.

I hope so! He wasn't high on my radar but The Athletic writers had him as the 7th and 8th best player in the draft. I really want to see what he looks like at center, apparently he has played the position before and I think his game is suited well for it.

He was the guy Edmonton should have taken instead of Broberg. I would have thought that with Klefbom and Nurse, and a dearth of high-quality wingers on the roster and in the system . . .

I agree, I liked Boldy to Edmonton all the way back in the winter. I do think Broberg is still a good pick, he reminds me a bit of a Sergachev: has a ton of exciting tools (skating, puck handling, defensive play) but needs to work on decision making. I was shocked Chicago took Dach and Detroit took Seider.

The other picks that surprised me were Seider, of course, and Beecher instead of Leason, who I think is ideal for Boston. I will be interested to see who is left to you guys in Round Two. I'm predicting Ottawa takes Lavoie, my Kings take Matt Robertson, New Jersey takes Kaliyev and Yzerman takes one of the polysyllabic Russians. I still like Korczak for the Ducks.

Only 10 minutes away! And some big blockbusters with Subban to NJD and Marleau to Carolina just happened... Wonder if Barrie is next.

I have you guys taking Anttoni Honka at 42.

For the thread title

You failed us, we had to give up the 1st......

I'd be alright with that. I'm hoping for Cajkovic, but I like Honka's upside

Or maybe the goalie Sogaard.

You gotta believe that my trade was better for Toronto . . .

I'd like that too! I'm hoping we take one of Kochetkov or Sogaard

Lol Kochetkov and Sogaard taken back to back...

Still leaves Leason, Brink, Lavoie on the board . . .

Brink and Lavoie are gone. I think Leason might be available... Vancouver just took Hoglander, I liked him a ton too

Well, Firstov wasn't my first choice for you . . .

I can't believe how far Leason has fallen . . . I was pretty close on Korczak . . .

Another left shot LW... apparently he has a lot of offensive upside which I like. Time will tell I guess

And a trade-up to get Peterborough's goalie . . . a good thought. I'm done for the day. Good luck, friend!