NHL Draft 2015

The Leafs have a history of drafting small players like William Nylander and Nazen Kadri before Marner. However, some people think Marner will be another Patrick Kane (or he might be another Nazen Kadri)

I'm definitely hoping it's the former. The size doesn't bother me that much. Look at how Gaudreau played for Calgary this season almost won ROY. How about Tyler Johnson in the playoffs? Skill trumps size in the new NHL.
 
I'm definitely hoping it's the former. The size doesn't bother me that much. Look at how Gaudreau played for Calgary this season almost won ROY. How about Tyler Johnson in the playoffs? Skill trumps size in the new NHL.

True, but you can't have a team made up of just small guys. You still need some muscle to protect the little ones. I do believe the Leafs got pushed around quite a bit this past season.
 
Hey it is all cool that the Leafs turned the 24th pick into three picks, but I may have preferred the Leafs pick Konecny themselves.
That said I see where their thinking is, collect as many young players as possible.
 
True, but you can't have a team made up of just small guys. You still need some muscle to protect the little ones. I do believe the Leafs got pushed around quite a bit this past season.

Of course. Gauthier is a big boy. And there is a definite need for more power forward types. This team is better when it plays a physical game - it's always been that way.
 
What impressed me about Babcock is that he made it a point to go over to the families of the drafted prospects and introduce himself. Class. I'm really impressed with our personnel right now although the jury is still out on Dubas.
 
What impressed me about Babcock is that he made it a point to go over to the families of the drafted prospects and introduce himself. Class. I'm really impressed with our personnel right now although the jury is still out on Dubas.

Babcock also said the Leags should have drafted Noal Hanifin instead. First big decision and the team can't agree with the 50 million man.
 
Didn't like the Leaf's draft at all. Wasted opportunities galore.

I wouldn't have taken Marner. If the game plan was to load up on picks and skill, then they should have flipped with Boston let them select Hanifan and use those mid 1st rounders on high end skill guys like Connor & Barzal. And I would've sprinted to the podium at 24 to take Konecny.
 
The Leafs added some size inthe later rounds. The Leafs are drafting skill because the NHL is heading towards skill. 3on3 OT is a start.
 
The Leafs are drafting the most skills first because acquiring skill later from Free agents you will have to over pay. Size is cheaper to get at the free agent market than skill. So draft skill first over size. The salary cap era GM smarts.
 
Draft is over as is the Free Agent frenzy
Calgary and Edmonton - On paper, the battle of Alberta looks very positive for years to come. These two clubs are looking like Canada best overnight.
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Calgary yes. But for the Oilers it's wait & see. You're putting a lot of confidence in one drat and one signing. None of the Oilers' previous top picks have made the team one once better. I recall Taylor Hall being hyped as much as McDavid, and from an earlier age. HE was supposed to be the once-in-geeration franchise player not too long ago.

Bottom line is they should have traded a coupe of those picks. Young talent is great but you need to bring in some quality around them and a couple of effective role models. By effective I mean guys who can still play at a high enough level to upstage the young guns some of the time, not guys who are just "good in the dressing:" or "good on the road trips".

The Leafs are drafting the most skills first because acquiring skill later from Free agents you will have to over pay. Size is cheaper to get at the free agent market than skill

Totally agree. Drafting for size these days is a waste of time EXCPET in cases where you can drat a big guy who virtually everyone believes will be ready to play big minutes in the NHL right from day one - which these days is almost never.
 
Totally agree. Drafting for size these days is a waste of time EXCPET in cases where you can drat a big guy who virtually everyone believes will be ready to play big minutes in the NHL right from day one - which these days is almost never.

Last year Aaron Ekblad. This year McDavid, Eichel and Stome who are pretty big with skill top 3 in this years draft. However, Eichel and Strome would be number 1 picks in any other draft year. This was the very deep draft.