Just woke up. Saw this thread. Am pissed again.

The title should be welcoming Emerson Etem (or Jon Merrill, as Jay would've preferred). Darcy fucked up on this pick, with the organization needing center depth more than defensive depth. Rud, the team has five future NHL defensemen in Portland and more still in college or juniors - adding defensive depth is Darcy being weak and safe, not smart.

This team needed to address a dearth of scoring talent in the ranks, and Darcy balked. I'm still pissed but I shouldn't be surprised - he's a sissy and he'll always be a sissy when it comes to pulling the trigger. Instead of celebrating picking a gifted center with scoring prowess and praising Darcy for his vision, we're saying it's OK he took a mid-range rearguard while the team already has more depth at defense than any other position?

(This is in no way an indictment of Pysyk himself, I'm sure he'll be a serviceable NHLer eventually. This rant is wholly aimed at Darcy knowing he can fuck around at the draft cuz what's gonna happen to him ever? Nothin)

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mechaphil

fixed

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This guy is no where near a PP QB. They said he is a defensive D man who doesn't do anything spectacular and of course he has little assists and goals... He is A DEFENSIVE D MAN. NOTHING ELSE...

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

Just watch the kid develop...trust me, I know what I'm talking about here.

I mean, I'm 99% sure nobody ever said Chara was a PP QB when he was drafted either..and well, we all know how that turned out.

He's arguably the best skating defensive man in the draft, has tremendous hockey sense, and is developing his offense.

This wasn't about getting the best scorer available at 23, this was about getting the best player available at that position.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

Last night, you were saying it was Merrill. Flip-flop much, dude?

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mechaphil

I told you last night, it wasn't the player I wanted, but it wasn't the worst pick.

I also said, "Buffalo tried to move up to take Riley Sheahan, but the asking price was too high"

Also, Merrill still hasn't gone yet, he could be traded up for and had. At which time what do we say about Darcy? Plenty of project players available in the later rounds of this draft, especially from European countries.

I mean, you can say I flip-floped; but I also said, worst case scenario, Pysyk is Henrik Talinder...and thats very worst case scenario.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

After we got rolled over and F'd by Phoenix trading their pick to Montreal and knowing that Tinordi was the obvious pick they were gonna make. He's not a bad 2nd choice.

But you never know, I think the kid may be able to score a bit more than he's getting credit for as that wasn't really is role and he was probably just too freaking tired playing 30 minutes a night.

Listening to the draft, they were saying that his team was leaning on him for 30 minutes a night and played with a broken foot for a while before it got too difficult to play on...so the kid's got heart.

They also said he's not far from being able to play at the NHL level and that may be due in part to how much he was ridden by his coach to carry his team.

From NHL.com scouting report.
He finished the season with a broken foot and a lot of scouts weren't able to get a good grip on how good this player's going to be in the NHL. Smooth-skating, he has a neat knack for following up the play at the right time, leading the rush at the right time and throwing a crisp pass to one of his forwards to break out of his zone.”

In our system a D-man that has a knack for following the play is an interesting thing.



...and besides we just drafted an offensive defenseman in the 3rd.
Jerome Gauthier-Leduc

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If your having goal problems, I feel bad for ya son....we got 99 problems but Vanek ain't one!

Given Tallinder's never played up to his size...that's a good thing for Pysyk.

But Darcy couldn't resist the urge to go small again drafting a 176 lb. offensive defenseman.

We've gonna have a lot of blueliners playing in Portland in the coming seasons.

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If your having goal problems, I feel bad for ya son....we got 99 problems but Vanek ain't one!

Given Tallinder's never played up to his size...that's a good thing for Pysyk.

But Darcy couldn't resist the urge to go small again drafting a 176 lb. offensive defenseman.

We've gonna have a lot of blueliners playing in Portland in the coming seasons.

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If your having goal problems, I feel bad for ya son....we got 99 problems but Vanek ain't one!

Well keep in mind too, he's only 18 years old, he's gonna put on another 25-30 pounds of frame and muscle as he develops. Also having a surplus of defensive men isn't a bad thing, given that they tend to bring higher trade value than forwards. Especially given the influx of 3rd to 4th line players in the NHL right now.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

I think the kid's gonna be good. I don't think he has to get to 205 lbs to be a good defenseman...190 would be nice. We're gonna need a D-man who plays with his head out there. I'd be totally okay if it was him.

I think that anyone who really hates how Darcy drafts just isn't watching as he drafts pretty well overall, I just wish he'd take that shot to get that top player, not just take the best available at his pick.

If he can take a chance on redrafting Raffi Torres with a 2nd round pick....take a chance in the draft. We had 3 third round picks....get back into the 2nd round.

We're never gonna suck so bad that we can just go out and draft Crosby, Malkin, and Fleury.

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If your having goal problems, I feel bad for ya son....we got 99 problems but Vanek ain't one!

Saw this skimming through The Hockey News:



http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/34234-THN-at-the-NHL-Draft-Pysyk-Connolly-Gudbranson-learned-to-lead-in-major-junior.html

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Twitter - @Ryan911T - @MotoExposure

Dude, you said you'd shit a brick if they took Pysyk

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mechaphil

it may not have been the worst pick, but when you look at who was left on the table still, theres no way to say it was the most logical pick to be made, either. emerson etem and quinton howden were both still available.

I'm starting to come around to Pysyk (even though I was shocked they passed on Etem) and seeing how many people on hfboards panned the Myers pick in 2008, I have a little more faith in this one.

I don't think we needed to go Defense in the 1st, but I'm ok with what we got...

http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=526601 The first few pages are hysterical

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"Let's just trap Sekera in the caverns underneath HSBC arena." -BlueandYellow

Reporter: "Steve, you guys now lead the league in defensive scoring."
Montador: "It's probably because of how good-looking we are."

Merrill as much as i liked him he had off ice issues; darcy is giving kassian trouble with off ice issues i hoped but had a feeling they'd pass. I'm shocked he passed on Etem. The offensive threat and the size. I also had Nelson pegged to be good but i don't think the sabres even had him on their board. they said three forwards they considered fell in a row. that means Bennet, Sheahan, and Bjugstad. though i wouldn't rule out watson being on their list. well whatever all i can do is hope things turn out.

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It's sad that as long as Quinn is in charge Regier will be here, and as long as Regier is here Ruff is here. Say hello to more years of mediocrity Buffalo. However it is urged that you don't accept it.

RIP K.E.G. 3-16-2004

Hasn't Sheahan been arrested before?

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mechaphil

Riley Sheahan arrested
Posted By BILL POTRECZ , STANDARD STAFF
Posted 1 month ago


A party with some of his buddies has turned into a big problem for Riley Sheahan.

The former St. Catharines Falcons star centre and potential first-round pick in the 2010 National Hockey League draft was arrested in South Bend, Ind., Sunday morning.

Sheahan, a freshman at Notre Dame, was charged with public intoxication and minor alcohol consumption.

Fellow Notre Dame hockey player Kyle Palmier i , a f i r s t -round selection of the Anaheim Ducks at last year's draft, was charged with two counts of resisting arrest and minor alcohol consumption.

According to a police report, an officer saw Palmieri, Sheahan and a third person, who was standing in the back of a pickup truck, at approximately 2:30 a.m. Sunday. According to the South Bend Tribune, which originally broke the story, when approached by an officer, Palmieri tried to run away, which led to a struggle. Palmieri then allegedly reached for the officer's Taser. The Tribune also reported that the police said tests showed Palmieri's blood-alcohol level to be .10 and Sheahan's to be .12.

Sheahan, 18, is the 22ndranked North American skater in the Central Scouting final rankings, having previously been fifth in the midterm rankings.

Riley's father, Mike Sheahan, respectfully declined comment on behalf of the family.

However, Mike Sheahan did indicate Riley would be eligible for a pre-trial diversion program that would require him to complete 40 hours of community service and stay out of trouble with the law for a year, after which charges would not be filed.

Riley Sheahan is slated to attend the NHL combine at the end of May in Toronto when, no doubt, this incident will be brought up by NHL teams in their interviews.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2558394

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"Let's just trap Sekera in the caverns underneath HSBC arena." -BlueandYellow

Reporter: "Steve, you guys now lead the league in defensive scoring."
Montador: "It's probably because of how good-looking we are."

Oh that's a pussy arrest. No big.

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mechaphil

I'm sure 70% or higher of the kids drafted this weekend have been pants-on-head wasted at one point or another. They just never got caught

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"Let's just trap Sekera in the caverns underneath HSBC arena." -BlueandYellow

Reporter: "Steve, you guys now lead the league in defensive scoring."
Montador: "It's probably because of how good-looking we are."