1st for Laine straight up. Seems fair .

Kuzy and Orlov and Capitals sit Wilson whenever they play the Ducks

nah just trade for Adam Larsson

Laine's QO is 7.5M and he only has 18 points in 43 games.

I blame Columbus, not Laine

still paying a premium for a product at its lowest value.

Maybe it’s just me, you and others can weigh in but:

I DO NOT WANT FIRST OVERALL, I don’t want to win, I wouldn’t want to win it, I wouldn’t even want it if I finished last lmfao.

It’s way to much of a crapshoot. I think just the sheer disparity and that almost 11-12 guys deserve to be in the top 10 and like 80% of them can be first overall. Like Powers, Hughes, Beniers are likely all top 3 generally but they’re safe picks. Then you have Guenther, Johnson, Wallstedt, Lucius, Clarke who can all be way better. Lysell Evindsson Eklund are great picks too.

This year I’d honestly rather trade down or have guys that are selected to make my selections easier lol. For example if I’m the Sharks and we win first; TRADE DOWN FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

but remember, its Columbus

point production really is not their strong suit

Laine is worth that money, its just the blue jackets are not built right for him

if Jarmo Kekalainen is serious on keeping him

1. Torts has to go
2. He uses the cap space and brings in guys to help support Laine

I agree first overall means nothing this year , every team will draft based on need. Which is mostly LD, a few centres , 1RD and 1 winger

This.

Someone will pay for him just like Washington paid for Mantha mayeb even a bit more. It will be a team missing 1 top 6 piece to compete where the core is already there

Jack Eichel.

Seriously, I don't see any deal realistically possible. To begin with, I don't foresee a multiple-picks scenario because first (or second) overall is worth two top-10 picks, and nobody has them. The closest would be New Jersey, with their own (4th overall), the Islanders' pick they got in the Palmieri deal (probably 20th overall), and Alex Holtz or Dawson Mercer, depending upon how our scouting staff felt about them. And I'm still not sure I'd do that.

So we're left with a top-5 pick in this year's draft plus an elite player, and who in the rest of the bottom 5 with us has and is willing to part with such a player, or late picks or 2022 picks plus elite players. And I don't see any team that has an All-Star RW or RD likely to part with him. Montreal ain't trading Caufield, Boston ain't trading McAvoy, Rangers ain't trading Fox, Colorado ain't trading Makar, and so on. The deal would have to be far more complicated, with multiple second-tier A+ prospects like Newhook and Timmins involved.

I'd rather have our choice of Beniers, Clarke, Guenther and Power and leave it at that.

Power is a clear step ahead of the rest. It drops off from there. If you get 1st overall, you take him. You don't get future top pairing defence often. Take it while you can

Columbus will have a tonne of cap space, and with Torts leaving Columbus for 2021-2022 can attempt to build around Laine

with the Kuznetsov situation that could be a starting point by means of acquiring a true 1c
then from there hiring a new coach and building a new identity

Who do u think is better as a player? Monahan or Kuzy?

And additionally; you have a majority of those all being interchangeable, except Wallstedt who by far the best goalie prospect and I like him more then Knight.

But back to the point:

C: Beniers, Johnson, Eklund, Lucuis, Sillinger
Lucius and Johnson have the HIGHEST potential in potentially the whole class; Sillinger close behind. Eklund and Beniers are safe but Beniers is projected to go as high as 1st.

W: Guenther, Lysell, Kent Johnson could switch to wing
All these 3 are great picks imo, no issue here.
Draft Guenther, than Johnson, then Lysell.

D: actually a crapshoot.
Powers or Hughes will probably be top 3 but I DONT think they’re gonna be the best selection in the class at all.

Like if I need a D, I got Powers Hughes screaming to be top 3 (if I’m top 3 selecting) but if I’m 4th I got Hughes, Clarke, Evindsson each representing a TWD, OFD, DFD with each having some real potential (in their own right)

Powers is safe but I don’t think he’ll be the best in class. I think he’ll be a legit top 4 guy and that’s why he’ll be first. I don’t see him being a bottom pair guy. Which is why I wouldn’t want first. Clarke for example could become a explosive OFD and if he fills out he’ll be scary. I wouldn’t draft Clarke first but at 5-10 that’s a good pick.

If I’m first do I draft Powers, yes. But do I want to..? When it’s
more likely that the best player in the class (IMO) is going after powers.

But the other skaters from 2-12 honestly are interchangeable imo. Which is why on the flip side of my argument, it’s a crapshoot and you may miss.

For the reg season Monahan has been superb and sure Kuz had a higher point total one year by 1 point but still Monahan is the better goal scorer.

Kuznetsov though is better in the playoffs so

rn its a toss up

been wondering about a potential Monahan for Kuz trade. Capitals get a mill more in space for Ovie, and Calgary changes things up

I think you’re way overselling the draft risk here. You may not get a McDavid but a top 6 forward or a top 4 D is there and that’s something to shake a stick at. If you believe in your ability to draft, then this makes sense.

ARI should consider this. Maybe Schmaltz or Garland and the CBJ 2nd? Probably not enough but IDK what the Ducks want.

Detroit 2021 1st + Detroit 2021 2nd, is the highest id go. Currently 4th in the standings so that’s roughly 4 OVR & 35 OVR.

I blame both. CBJ doesn’t have a C to play with him. But let’s not act like Laine does anything outside of shoot at an elite level. He doesn’t help himself. Needs puck retrieval/possession line mates that can pass.

No I’m defining the risk of trading something for a very risky pick compared to years past. All picks are risky and this year is not a definitive year in terms of who’s clearly cut for 1st. If I’m paying for first I’m gonna pay something very costly. If I’m any rebuilding team for example trading 6th OA and a to prospect or a top end player plus more less for 1st where the best guy could easily be my 6th pick... then the risk isn’t worth itb

Ducks need at least one 1st line winger. I think Comtois and Terry should slot as 2nd liners on an elite team. One might be able to slot on the 1st line if there’s enough quality behind them.

Obviously start with how much would need to be added to get Eichel but if price is too high maybe a Reinhart package or a Konecny package or a Boeser package.

Powers, Hughes, or Beniers. No need to trade for anything. You either have a Zegras/Beniers 1-2 punch at center in a few years or you have Drysdale - Powers combo

I think we still differ on how risky the top of the draft is but I realized I misread your original thought. Trade down and get more picks is the name of the game this year.