Bits: Wheeling, Dealing and Drafting

My heart skips a beat whenever I read a mock draft that has Larsson falling to us, and with Hoobie’s rapid climb into the top 5, recently more and more experts are predicting this. And I’m loving every minute of it hahahahaha

I LOVE that the Isles use some sort of psychological assessment battery on potential draft picks. It excites me that they’re protecting themselves from the talented but crazy picks out there!

For as bad of a rep that psych assessments get, for high stakes employment like professional sports, understanding an individual’s personality profile, and their potential derailers is critical for the health of the organization and the team. I think the Isles suffered for a number of years from bad seeds in the locker room, and I’m sure Snow saw that first hand. Talent doesn’t equate to playoff success….teamwork plus hard work plus talent equals success. Just ask the Rangers how individual talent works out. Better to screen out the crazy before it kills the locker room.

In the short term, the Flyers are quite a bit weaker down the middle, but they are potentially vastly improved a couple seasons down the road just when the Islanders should be peaking as well. I’d rather they choke on the bloated salaries until Richards and Carter are untradeable.

Now it looks like the Kings and Blue Jackets will be two of the teams looking for relief in buying out contracts under the next CBA. Is it me of did Richards fit better in Columbus as a set-up man for Nash and Carter better in LA as a shooter? In other words, the team that gave up the assets for Carter, got the lesser of the two players.

Did anyone catch SI.com’s Mock 1st Round picks? They had Strome (a center) going to the Isles at #5. Not to say that this won’t happen or anything, but their rationale was kind of weak and shows no knowledge of the organization or its players;

“The Islanders need help at center, so the 6-foot, 185-pounder would be a nice fit some day, perhaps on a line with John Tavares.”

(a) Center is one of the positions we actually have some depth with JT, JB, and FN.
(b) JT is a center. So they are implying that either he or Strome would convert to wing. Which contradicts the phrase “the Islanders need help at center”.

Why am I even surprised anymore at such sloppy Isles coverage?

Both MacDonald and Hamonic had breakout years this past season, but neither is especially physical

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/islanders/isles_target_defenseman_unless_DS7umeTztubvcbHFhWMzBL#ixzz1QCXtgTqx

I don’t see a move up and there really is no good fit for a movedown. Maybe they trade down one spot with Ottawa if Couturier is on the board at 5 (they seem to want him) and upgrade the 50th to 48th or something (assuming Garth wants Dougie). Maybe he packages the 2 2nds for a move up but with the depth in this draft it would likely only be if there was someone he really likes. I could kinda see the 50th and 62nd being sent somewhere to move back in to the 30’s. I think the only chance for a major shakeup is if someone dangles a roster player or close prospect that Garth likes.

I don’t see the Isles taking a Dman. Most do but like last year when Gormley and Fowler were there and they took Nino, I think with anyone but Larsson still there, they go forward again.

Couturier, until about half way thru this year, was the consensus number 1. Now he could fall to 5 pretty easily. If he falls and the Isles still hold him in high regard, they’ll take him. But if they feel his drop was warranted, or he gets taken, I think they go Zibenijad and I’ll be the happiest.

Not one mock has them taking him, but they didn’t have them taking Nino last year either.

Strome I could live with, I would trust Garth.

Isles last 3 years have a habit of going forward first pick, defense in the 2nd pick (in ‘09 that was 12th overall). I think there’s some high end talented forwards that the Isles will not pass up.

Making the pilgrimage to the mecca of dynastic hockey. NVMC.

One thing I hate about attending the draft parties … is the information black hole about what else is going on around the league as far as trades. I didn’t even find out about Garth getting the 12th pick in 2009 until I looked up on the score board and saw de Haan in an Islander jersey.

I’m still leaning Hamilton so that our future top four looks like this … A-Mac – Hamonic … de Haan – Hamilton … and leaves us with some quality depth to fight out the other 3 roster spots on D. Mean while … we still get to enjoy the now future with Streit.

I’ll still be happy with Strome, Courturier or Huberduberdoo … and estatic if somehow Larsson or Landeskog fell to us.

Play nice everyone … catch up with ya’s late tonight or tomorrow.

I know the formal start time is 7 PM but when do they actually get down to the business of picking?

1 – RNH
2 – Landeskog
3 – Huberdoobeedoo
4 – Larrson
5 – Strome
6 – Courturier
7 – Mika Z
8 Hamilton

I hadn’t thought Snow had been particularly public about anything, but from this blurb Kennedy’s implying that we’ve been ‘very public’ about trading down. I would’ve thought Snow would be more aggressive in trying to use the 5 to find that missing piece…

• Ottawa has a lot of love for the top of the board, but unfortunately picks sixth, meaning their favorite may not be around anymore. The Senators would like to trade up, while the Islanders (who pick fifth overall) have been very public about trading down.

I’s expect them to move down and compile. If they are going D they are definitly going to move down if the guy they want is lower on the board. Their biggest need is a crease clearing mean son of a bitch.

If they go with a forward I think they have to move one these guys projected in their top six to bulk up their blue line. Won’t be getting equal value back their. Always a chance that if you drop back and grab that top notch crease cleared one of the forwards in the later rounds with the picks you’ve compiled can blossom into a top six guy.

most glaring needs are a big, tough crease-clearing defenseman and a pure playmaking-passing forward. I don’t know these kids well enough to know who best fits those needs, but if the GM gets guys who addresses them, either by the pick or some trade maneuvering, he’ll have done a good job.

41 mocks listed with 65% listing Hamilton for us.

TSNBobMcKenzie: Smyth deal is there to be done for draft pick(s) only, but CGY ownership currently debating whether it wants to take the plunge

He likely could’ve gotten Nino later than 5 last year, but he doesn’t seem like one to gamble on someone being there (ahem, Bailey at 12).

I’m guessing Courturier is our man. Supposed to be good on the faceoffs. Can see him taking Konopka’s 4th line C position next season and filling the faceoff void.

said they tried to move 6th overall pick up but not possible, made it sound like top 5 picks are not going to be traded. Murray indicated Ottawa was now going to focus on trying to move up their other first rounder. Brian Burke of the Leafs also indicated the price to move into top 5 is too expensive.

there is a rumour that ottawa may give isles a little something to pass on courturier if courturier is around at 5, which i think he will be…ottawa is also rumoured to want Strome…

Tread carefully my friend!

because if there is he would become third on my big board.

Maybe they should give him one that says Potvin if it’s a d-man, Trottier if its a center or Bossy if its a winger. I’d say Smitty if its a Goalie, but if its a goalie I think I’ll hack up a furball…