Nah this is great.

Id be pleased with the pick if it didn’t turn out with Michkov goin 7 and zona picking someone who’d be available at 8

Agreed

Need bmac to make a trade for benson somehow.

Still time but disappointed in the lack of action from GMBm

How many years for Leonard? Thinking two more seasons before we see him

Clearly the price was too high, as I said earlier it’s not worth moving two of our top prospects for a drop in prospect value, especially not when Leonard was on the board. It sucks that Philly took Michkov, but with all the buzz around Simashev there was absolutely no guarantee he was going to be there at 8 (Seider type pick), Leonard is possibly the next Tkachuk and Michkov could very well not even sign in Philly, this is far from a cataclysmic ending to the draft.

One at BC, one at Hershey I believe.

Trade Marty for a first

Trading Feh, a top 4 defenseman, for a a pick that statistically could maybe become a top 4 d makes no sense.

I am fine with it. Really glad we did not give up an absurd package. Michov woulda been great, but we have a "safer" bet in Leonard. Heard NSH tried to package Askarov in a bigger package (consisting of picks and other prospects) for 4th or 5th oa. Price was way too high.

Anyway, Caps have some nice prospects.

First line wingers consisting of Miro and Leonard, a very young D core consisting of 3 LHD and 2 RHDs, and 2 young centers in McM and Lap (probably 2c and 3c) - not too bad.

Still a lot of talent on the board for 40oa as well.

I wanna see us make a move today and acquire a winger

Next day thoughts:

Truly pumped about Leonard, I think he will be a great top line winger.

The prospect pool is getting stronger. Miro was an absolute steal last year and Leonard is a good pick. I think McMike and Lappy will turn into good middle 6 centers (maybe top 6 if we are lucky).

Still disappointed in not trading up for Michkov. I truly believe he's a franchise cornerstone and drafting him in our one down year would've changed our future.

Obviously dont know what went on behind the scenes, Montreal may have wanted way too much but it seems like a deal with the yotes wouldn't have cost too much with who they selected.

I have always been a big fan of GMBM but this is the first time I am truly doubting him. Didn't like the vrana trade and a few signings but I could understand why they happened. This truly seems like a massive mistake

Andrew Cristall LW - great pick imo.

#22 prospect by NHL network. Pure offensive skilled specialist, apparently.

Really like this pick as well

Thoughts?

It’s an amazing pick.

If we can get his skating up a notch he will be elite. Dude looks rlly good. Just needs to move his feet

Hes a great pick. Scott Wheeler had him as his #13 prospect.

Hes a bit of a project, really needs to mature physically and approve his stride and edgework.

But he has a really high ceiling (low floor unfortunately)

😔

Don't know much about Patrick Thomas (C), but seems like a versality player.

I know analysts were high on Cameron Allen. Heard he coulda been a 3rd rounder - surprised he fell to the 5th round. Production this past year dropped, but still another RHD prospect to watch.

We are having a great draft. I’m a little mad about Patrick Thomas because there was better options. But this is excellent

Finally the big trade we've been waiting for!

GMBM says he is still trying to upgrade the top 6 but a lot of teams dont want to add cap and every team is tight. I doubt we make anything happen.

Who would you guys rather have? Leonard and Cristall or Michkov?

Leonard and Cristall.

They win you cups

will obviously say that i'm disappointed michkov didn't fall to them and i'm disappointed that they couldn't get anything done with arizona to move up to 6 especially considering AZ went way of the board with simashev.

with that out of the way, i'm fairly happy withe leonard and ecstatic with cristall. i still would've preferred the upside of benson or dvorsky at 8, but the difference isn't much imo and i think leonard projects as a wilson type -- good complimentary top 6 player who plays hard and fans love. the cristall pick is a home run. i don't care about the skating or the size. you have to be good to put up points in juniors, and he was behind only bedard among draft eligibles in the entire OHL in that category this year, ahead of previous whl phenoms like RNH. obviously nothing is a sure thing, but look at guys like robertson, point, debrincat who put up insane numbers in their draft year yet had concerns about their skating and size. those things can be worked on, scoring ability and hockey iq can't. also like the cam allen pick, a guy who had a bad season this year but in his 2-1 and d-2 was on track to be a 2nd rounder.

with the draft out of the way though, BMac has to address the top 6. he said in a press conference he's still working on it and i get money (i.e. mantha) is hard to move but i just can't imagine them not doing anything.

overall, still happy with the direction of the team and BMac but expecting a lot more.

I see Leonard as more of an oshie or tkachuk than Tom. No offense to Tom but i think he’s a lot more skilled.

Also excited that he and cam Allen are so advanced physically. Leonard could play games next season (after college) and Allen can in 2 years depending on development.

I may be pessimistic but i can’t see us making a move unless backy retires. GMBM seems to not want to attach an asset to Mantha to move him so that will make it tough.

Ideal world: backy retires and we add Nylander

I think you're right that he's made it clear he's not attaching an asset to move Mantha by himself. I could still see him being used as salary balance in a deal for a better player though