Early NHL Draft Thoughts and Comedy

      This will be one of the most intriguing NHL Drafts in recent years.

       What sets it apart is how closely-rated the top players are after consensus No. 1 pick Nail Yakupov. I think if you looked at the boards for all 30 teams right now, you’d likely see that players ranked second and third by one team might be 12 and 13 by another.

       North American defensemen and European forwards will dominate the first dozen picks or more. There are a couple goalies that could go high as well.

       The Tampa Bay Lightning own six or seven of the top 71 picks. That may change with trades, but the Bolts have a good chance to enhance their prospect pool.

       Lightning Director of Amateur Scouting Al Murray said there are 12 top prospects available and plenty of players under that group that he and his staff like. Picking 10^th and 19^th allows the Bolts to grab one of those and possibly two if a player slips or they trade up.

       Who will be available when the Lightning picks is a big mystery. They are in a good spot because they can get a player they like by staying at No. 10. The question is, will the Bolts consider moving up if their top target is still sitting there at six or seven? They have the ammunition to do it with the extra picks.

       How I would love to be sitting in the corner, listening to the Lightning staff discussing and adjusting their draft board. Guys, really, I wouldn’t say anything. Please?

      Instead, we are all left to speculate by reading and watching some highlights. The first 10-15 picks are awful hard to predict this year. There are endless scenarios, but I will take an early look – exactly a month draft day.

      Edmonton selects first and, even though the Oilers need a defense prospect badly, it is impossible to pass up Yakupov. The Russian, who plays for Sarnia in the Ontario Hockey League, would join Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Sam Gagner and other young forwards on a team that could be ready to emerge. Well, if they can improve their defense.

      Could the Oilers add a player and/or a bundle of picks by moving down a few spots? Yes. But that’s quite a risk to take when a player like Yakupov is sitting there.

      Columbus picks next and, assuming Yakupov is gone, they have a chance at the top defenseman or another potential standout at forward. Some think Everett’s Ryan Murray is the best defenseman, but others have him rated below about four or five others. TSN scout Craig Button, a former GM with Calgary, said Russian Mikhail Grigorenko may not be a pure No. 1 center. But, for the Blue Jackets, he could slot in behind Ryan Johansen and they would have a very strong one-two punch for years. Maybe 1-2-3 with Derick Brassard. It’s about fit. The Jackets could use another young defenseman and they could take Wisconsin-born Russian Alex Galchenyuk or Swedish wing Filip Forsberg as well.

      That brings up the Montreal Canadiens, who have used their top pick to select a defenseman or a goalie (Carey Price) five of the last seven years, may have the most difficult choice of all. They could definitely use a center like Grigorenko or Galchneyuk, or a big forward like Forsberg. If Patrick Roy gets the head coaching job, he will have his chance at Grigorenko who he coached with the Quebec Remparts this season.

      Let’s just take a guess that Yakupov goes first, Columbus takes Forsberg and the Habs select Grigorenko.

      That leads us to the Islanders. Trying to figure out what Garth Snow’ is going to do is not easy. The logical tact for Snow would be to add another defenseman to the stable after adding forwards Nino Niederreitter, Brock Nelson and Ryan Strome to the organization the last two years. Snow could just grab Galchenyuk, who may have the best upside, if Grigorenko and Forsberg are gone. But it would make sense to grab a defenseman like Murray, Morgan Rielly, Griffin Reinhart or Mathew Dumba. I’m gonna guess Snow takes Murray.

       Toronto is next and you know what Brian Burke is looking for. Of course, he wants truculence. The forwards that are likely to be left don’t really provide that, except maybe Forsberg. Everyone seems to be predicting the Leafs are going to take a forward. But after trading Keith Aulie to the Bolts for Carter Ashton, they may just pick a defenseman. To me, the most exciting defenseman they could take would be Dumba. He seems to be the wrecking-ball type of player Burke prefers. That would be disappointing, because my initial thought is that he is the best of many fits for the Lightning. I just don’t think he’ll last. But if he or perhaps Rielly is sitting there at No. 6 or 7, maybe Steve Yzerman makes a deal to move up. We’ll see. Burke could also like defenseman Jacob Trouba’s truculence.

       So, with Toronto picking Dumba that leads us to Anaheim at No. 6. The Ducks could grab Galchenyuk or Grigorenko if they are there to slot behind Getzlaf at center when Saku Koivu retires. Perhaps small, quick forward Teuvo Teravainen gives them another scorer up front. But I’m thinking they will take a two-way defenseman like Reinhart, who has good size and offensive ability. Or, if they like Swede Hampus Lindholm better, maybe they go in that direction. It would not be crazy to see the Ducks drop down. Yzerman may be able to move up to six and take Rielly, Reinhart, or maybe Dumba if they are available. Could they do it for No. 10 and 37? Or, maybe add a 4^th this year or next? Hard to say. Let’s give Reinhart to the Ducks.

      The Wild, in my opinion, still need offense. Yes, Mikael Granlund is on the way. But Galchenyuk may be hard to pass up. They could also go with Teravainen to join fellow Fins Granlund and Mikko Koivu. You could see them saying to themselves, we can get Teravainen at 10 and trade down. They could like big Czech center Radek Faksa as well. This is a tough one, but when it comes down to it they take the best player and hope – Galchenyuk.

      Carolina is next and GM Jim Rutherford has taken defensemen Ryan Murphy, Brian Dumoulin, Justin Faulk, Mark Alt and Keegan Lowe high lately. You have to think they look at forwards. Faksa could look good at center for the Canes, even if they do get Jordan Staal. Teravainen would fit as well and I think that’s where they go. They have offensive defensemen, perhaps they may take a pain in the neck to play against like Trouba.

       Unless they really love a forward that has slipped down, you have to think Winnipeg will pick a defenseman. If they are scared off by Rielly’s torn ACL (he’s back playing though), they could go with Trouba, Lindholm or Cody Ceci. But I’m thinking Rielly is the kind of heady offensive defenseman they need for the future.

      If it goes like my scenario, Faksa, Trouba, Lindholm and Ceci would be left for the Bolts at No. 10. Perhaps Guelph defenseman Matt Finn, Swede defenseman Sebastian Collberg or goalie Malcolm Subban as well.

     Faksa’s potential and size are interesting, but you would think they would nab one of the defensemen. Anything can happen this year. The Bolts are in a good spot. The key to whether they move up is how much better they like the players rated 4-8 on their list than 9-12.

     One month to go.

    

     Lots of laughs: They just don’t make comedies like they used to. In my opinion, it’s been a while since there has been a really great comedic movie released. The Hangover certainly came close. Sorry, Borat and Forgetting Sarah Marshall were vastly over rated.

      I won’t include Garden State, Swingers, Bull Durham, High Fidelity and Four Weddings and a Funeral on my list because, although they could be classified as comedies, they were more of a combo. Here’s my top 20:

      20. Pirate Radio -- Funny British comedy with a great ending.
      18. Wedding Crashers/Dodgeball – A Vince Vaughn double. Didn’t want to leave one of them out.

      17. Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back – Kevin Smith’s wacky duo is crude, but funny.

      16. Anchorman – Ron Burgundy grows on you. He’s tweeting now. Really.

      15. Major League – Jusssssst a bit outside the top 10. The Indians win the pennant!

      14. Sixteen Candles – Everyone forgets Molly Ringwald’s birthday.
      13. Fletch -- Chevy Chase uncovers the crime and the Underhills pay for it.

      12. The Hangover – Still haven’t figured out what the chicken is doing in the room.

      11.  Better Off Dead – John Cusack as Lane Meyer, a young man that knows how to ski….Two dollars!!!!
      10.  Airplane! -- Hilarious spoof with plenty of lines we still use.

        9.  Spaceballs – Just a laugh a minute from Mel Brooks.

        8.  Best in Show – Wacky cast takes their pets to a big dog show. Fred Willard steals the movie as a dog show announcer.

        7.  Mallrats – Jason Lee as a really bad boyfriend who wants to win back Shannen Doherty from Ben Afleck. I don’t see the sailboat either.

        6.  Clerks – Kevin Smith’s offbeat, crazy film about a Jersey Shore Quick Stop.
        5.  Slap Shot -- Paul Newman and the Hanson Brothers show their truculence on the ice. 

        4.  Animal House – John Belushi and others turn Faber College into a madhouse of fun.

        3.  Office Space – Can watch this movie over and over. Come on, you’ve all have a boss like Lumberg.

        2.  CaddyShack – It’s 32 years and it holds up just as good. How about a Fresca?

        1.  Stripes – Arrrrrrmy training sir!!  Like No. 2, my generation can use a line from this movie just about every day. That's the fact Jack.

-      Mark Pukalo