If you could have one prospect from another team in your system right now, who would it be and why?

Question

What is the biggest issue concerning your team currently and who do you think is the best young prospect out there to fill that weakness?

I will spare everyone the essay on Detroit's goaltending and how good I think Carey Price is going to be, what are yours?

Ok, maybe numbers will help you guys out....

1. Who is your favorite team?
2. What, in your opinion, is your teams biggest weakness?
3. Who do you think is the best prospect to address that weakness and (4.) why?

Bob- agreed with the drafting part, but we are not talking about a kid from the O or the Q anymore. I watched the kid in person dominate at the AHL level in the CCF in Hersey. The kid is so technically sound and was head and shoulders above any other player IMO. That said, Its a good thing I have you here to remind me about the Maxim Oulette's of past or else I might have already handed this kid a Vezina. lol.

Snoop- Neither Liv or Howard has blown me away in Grand Rapids.
Liv- an unimpressive 0.895 sv% and a stint back down in the E last season. Needs much more work.
Howard- Definitely the more steady, I think he is ready, but will they actually give him a fair shot this year?? That Joey MacDonald mess last year made made me wonder. It would be nice to see him, they may be forced to after the floss holding Dom's groin finally pops. But my point is, I think Price is there now, Where as the others are questionable. But Bob's answer shows that I could easily be off. Nobody's calling me to be a scout. lol

Answer 1

My team is the Pittsburgh Penguins. The biggest weakness to me is goaltending. I'm not sold on Marc-Andre Fleury for some reason. It concerns me that the hopes of this team going forward are pinned upon the unsure shoulders of Fleury. If there is one prospect who could help the needs of the Penguins into tomorrow, that player would be...Carey Price. If ever there was a player who proved he could handle loads of pressure and deliever, Price is that guy. He was outstanding during the World Juniors. To follow up that performance, he pulled a Mike Richards/Jeff Carter during the AHL finals against the Hershey Bears. Simply amazing...this kid is going places in the NHL. Another possibility: Leland Irving of the Calgary Flames. Irving has a great attitude about him, and has proven in junior that he can handle pressure as well.

I just don't think Fleury has the chops to lead the Penguins into the future. I only hope he proves me wrong.

Zamdriver: What's wrong with Stefan Liv and Jimmy Howard? I thought those guys were pretty good goalie prospects.

Answer 2

My favourite team is the Flames and I would take Erik Johnson for a few reasons.
1. He is projected to be a franchise defenseman, along the lines of Chris Pronger. He's big (6-4, 222lbs), moves VERY well for a guy his size, plays a physical game, moves the puck well, and is rarely out of position.
2. With the number of good goalies in the NHL right now (and several on the trade market such as Bryzgalov) I wouldn't need a great goalie prospect in the system.
3. How many Chris Pronger calibre defensemen are there in the NHL? All I can think of is Pronger, Dion Phaneuf, and perhaps Zdeno Chara. Most offensive guys (Gonchar, Boyle, Kaberle, etc.) don't have the size and physical play of those 3, and most big solid defenseman (Regehr, Hannan, Jason Smith, etc.) don't have the offensive game.

The only other player I might consider is John Tavares, although he isn't old enough to get drafted yet. If you haven't heard of him he's a 17 year old kid playing for Oshawa in the OHL. Last season as a 16 year old he scored 72 goals and had 134 points in 67 games, which beat the record for 16 year olds formerly held by guess who...Wayne Gretzky.

The Flames biggest weakness is without a doubt their offense. The defense is rock solid with a projected top 7 of Dion Phaneuf, Robin Regehr, Cory Sarich, Adrian Aucoin, Rhett Warrener, Mark Giordano, and Anders Eriksson, but Erik Johnson is just too good a prospect to pass up. In addition the Flames have David Hale on D, so with Johnson they'd have 9 NHL defenseman and could easily make a trade or two to upgrade the offense.

Side note: Tony Amonte was signed 2 years ago to really boost the offense. He used to be a 40+ goal scorer but since joining the Flames he has scored 24 goals in 161 games. What the hell happened to him?

Answer 3

Did you know that the Colorado Avalanche passed on Alexei Cherepanov AND Angelo Esposito in the draft??? I'm still having trouble getting over that, so yeah I'd like to have one of those guys in the Avs system. How could you pass on both????? WAAAH :(

~

1. Colorado Avalanche.
2. Goaltending, but Budaj should get better.
3. Budaj.
4. He's still young, he should be given a chance.

Even though we do seriously need defense, and we drafted Shattenkirk, a d-man in the first round, there is no way you pass on two players that will probably be superstars in 4 years. Either one of them would be better than drafting Shattenkirk. I admit I don't know much about Shattenkirk, but he'd better turn into the next Rob Blake or Adam Foote, or else the Avs made biiig mistake.

Answer 4

While I would be tempted as well to take Price, we have had this discussion before about the wait and see with young goalies. Seen too many can't miss goalies flop and if I were a GM, I would never take one in the 1st round...EVER. That said, maybe I'd still take Price. No, actually I'd take either of those Johnson kids, Eric or Jack.
Had you not said from another team, I'd take undrafted John Tavares.

I'm also high on Nic Backstrom, Pat Kane and Jonathan Toews. I also like Kris LeTang but I am not as sure about him.

Answer 5

Leafs - scoring and leadership - Johnathon Toews from the Hawks - watching him perform at the World Juniors and then the World Championships, this kid is going to be good. Real good. We'll still be talkling about Toews 10 or 15 years from now.
I like Carey Price too. Again at the World Juniors and last years Calder cup Price is another I expect to be talking about for many years to come.

Answer 6

Well goaltending or forward lineup is the Oilers weakest spot right now so a prospect I would like is either Jonathan Toews or Carey Price.

Answer 7

Drew Stafford

Answer 8

1. Chicago Black Hawks
2. Everywhere is a problem
3. Jack Johnson
4. Because I think we need defence more than offence and I like Jack Johnson better than Erik

Answer 9

Toronto Maple Leafs
Impact Scorer
Johnathan Toews is amazing. He is a great two-way player, and has amazing offensive skills. I would be ecstatic is the leafs could have him.

Answer 10

rangers
right now we dont need much, but i would think in the future we would need wingers
i think id take Kyle Okposo just so the islanders wont get him lol