So this is going to have to be a bigger off-season than I had originally expected, but I will get to that after a draft recap. We had picks 28, 53 and 58. So here they are. (Again all *** 1/2 stars)

(28) LW SNP Sergej Klementyev: First of all he wasn't drafted because he has the same name as another former pick of mine (although it's a huge +)..He was the top player on the draft board when I came up to pick, he already has a pretty sick shot and I think he will be NHL ready around the same time as his brother.


(53) TWD Gilbert Devereaux: He was a player I had considered @ 28 and was shocked when he was still on the board. He is listed as a TWD but looking at his stats he is a complete offensive minded dman. He is already 70 overall and I think we could be in the same position as we were with Pascal Lemieux a few years back.

(58) PWF Gord Stanfield: A 5'11 214 pound PWF who I felt was the BPA for the pick. It looks like if he develops like I hope he could become a good 3rd liner. Also his last name is from the Wire so I like that too ...

As always, rest don't matter.

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HUGE season for player development!!!!

Player Dev:
Pascal Lemieux 83-85
Brendan Gallagher 80-83(Looks like I am going to win the Vanek trade)
Sam Reinhart 84-84 (Not his fault, was playing 4th line minutes :lol: )
Marty Frk 69-72 (hope for him yet)
Teuvo Teravainen 66-69 (Right behind Frk, hopefully one of the two turn out)
Landon Springer 63-67
Bo Horvat 59-63 ( Y u develop so slow)
Milan Sedlak 58-62
Ruslan Klementyev 57-60
Tero Rintanen 55-60
Preston Fitzpatrick 57-61
Aaron Ekblad 79-82

So those were the smaller ones, it gives you a look at how deep our prospect pool is coming along! Now for the big two.

Mark Pysyk 84-89 (Wow, becoming a franchise Dman. Might look into moving Myers in a season or two when Ekblad takes his spot on top pair)

Ok, now this ones shocking. I did not expect this at all...I expected this player to become between 85-88...I have never got a **** 1/2 player to become this good before, but it happened :o ...

Petr Mrazek 85-92

As much as it was criticized when it happened, even by me. I think we ended up winning the Miller trade, we basically got the same goalie + a **** prospect in Frk and a **** 1/2 star prospect in Horvat..Very pleased with with what's happened



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Ok now to get to the bigger part of the off-season. Usually I don't post contracts because I have been able to mostly keep my cap under control. This year however everything has changed...It of course would when you have Hunter Shinkaruk, Alex Galchenyuk, Sam Reinhart and the great Petr Mrazek all coming into their 2nd contracts.

ATM it looks like I will have to deal two of Ennis/Schenn/Girgensons.. I am leaning towards Girgensons and one of the others. Reinhart should really be our 3rd line centre and Girgensons is a UFA next season. As much as I have loved Girgensons in his time here I think its time to move on....


EDIT: Actually thinking about it in my head, I might deal all three I think they are all replaceable in my orginization and can get quite a price for each of them! (I pondered trading (7.75) Jonathan Huberdeau but decided it would make a mess out of our top six.)