[News] Avalanche to pass on Seth Jones to take forward

[Stay Golden]

If the Avs picked McKinnon instead of Jones who could blame them i know i would. But i still believe they will pick Jones and are possibly trying to drive the price up even higher for the 1st over all pick and McKinnon and the order that will follow for the next 4. Maybe trying to create a bit of panic amongst FLA, TB, NSH, CAR that who they want to pick is going to get altered.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I said it before and I'll say it again:

The Avs are the new Oilers.


stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid...

[bubbsy]

why are they stupid?

Almost everyone on this board believes you gotta take the best player available in a lottery pick situation, and not draft for need. Furthermore, almost all would agree that all things being equal, if the choice comes down to a #1 dman, #1 center, #1 winger, #1 goalie, then you gotta go with the Center, as that's the hardest position to fill (aka most valued asset) in the NHL. I'd consider jones/mackinnon/droin to be relatively equal in their prospect value.

If the avs pick up mackinnon, they suddenly have a very very tradable asset in stastny that they could use to shore up other holes in their line up immediately. I'm sure teams like the leafs would be willing to part with some valued Dmen like a gardiner, etc, to get a #1 center (arguably) like stastny.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

why are they stupid?

Almost everyone on this board believes you gotta take the best player available in a lottery pick situation, and not draft for need. Furthermore, almost all would agree that all things being equal, if the choice comes down to a #1 dman, #1 center, #1 winger, #1 goalie, then you gotta go with the Center, as that's the hardest position to fill (aka most valued asset) in the NHL. I'd consider jones/mackinnon/droin to be relatively equal in their prospect value.

If the avs pick up mackinnon, they suddenly have a very very tradable asset in stastny that they could use to shore up other holes in their line up immediately. I'm sure teams like the leafs would be willing to part with some valued Dmen like a gardiner, etc, to get a #1 center (arguably) like stastny.

I disagree. I think getting a #1 defenseman who excels at both ends of the rink these days is even harder. Especially when the glaring weakness on your team is defense, it makes no sense to get another forward. I like MacKinnon and Drouin very much, but Jones is a superior talent that is ready to be in the NHL right now. If I'm in the Avs shoes it's a no-brainer who I take. Do you realize how rare that is for a defenseman? They almost always take some seasoning before they make the jump. That team is instantly better with Jones over MacKinnon or Drouin.

Stastny is not that tradeable BTW. He hasn't been anywhere near a #1 center for at least a few seasons.

[Enoch Root]

First, it wouldn't be stupid for them to take MacKinnon (or Drouin for that matter, if they think he's the better player).

Second, if they are interested in Jones, I think they are realizing that they could trade down to #2 or 3 and still get him. Everyone is loving the forwards - if I were the Avs and were still set on Jones, I would look to see if I could squeeze out a trade for more assets and let the other teams fight for MacKinnon.

[Erick Estrada]

Jones stock is slipping. On the 960 this morning they had a guy from one of those draft websites that said some scouts believe Nurse will be the better defenseman when all is said and done.

MacKinnon on the other hand is probably the best bet in the entire draft to become an elite NHL contributor. No brainer IMO that the Avalanche would take him especially given Roy has seen him and Drouin close up and knows what they can offer.

[toonmaster]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Stastny is not that tradeable BTW. He hasn't been anywhere near a #1 center for at least a few seasons.

Why is he not tradable? 27yr old center, one year left at $6MM, coming off a couple disappointing years of points production. I would think, any team with space to add him for next year, would look to make a reasonable deal. It gives the acquiring team a year to test him out before re-signing, dumping at the 2014 deadline, or cutting loose as a UFA. It all depends on what is reasonable and what Colorado is looking for in exchange.

[The Yen Man]

Could be all posturing. It could be a smart move if Florida is desperate to get Mackinnon, and is willing to trade something for that 1st overall pick. Colorado still gets Jones at 2nd, and they get an extra 2nd rounder or something.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

I disagree. I think getting a #1 defenseman who excels at both ends of the rink these days is even harder. Especially when the glaring weakness on your team is defense, it makes no sense to get another forward. I like MacKinnon and Drouin very much, but Jones is a superior talent that is ready to be in the NHL right now. If I'm in the Avs shoes it's a no-brainer who I take. Do you realize how rare that is for a defenseman? They almost always take some seasoning before they make the jump. That team is instantly better with Jones over MacKinnon or Drouin.

Stastny is not that tradeable BTW. He hasn't been anywhere near a #1 center for at least a few seasons.

Jones is the right pick only if he pans out exactly as you say. problem is that just doesn't seem to happen, for whatever reason scouting young D is a million times harder. where did Karlsson get drafted? 15th...how about Subban? a whopping 43rd. if they were projected to be as good as they are now, why weren't they drafted in the top 3? I don't even have to bother mentioning all the other top 3 drafted recent d-men who ended up being mediocre to above average at best.

now look at the current top scorers in the league...Sid, Ovie, Stamkos, Tavares, Malkin, Kane. what do they all have in common? drafted 1 or 2. you can trust today's scouts to get you a surefire top forward. until they can start doing that with defenseman, you have a tough argument on your hands explaining how Jones is the best and safest bet.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

First, it wouldn't be stupid for them to take MacKinnon (or Drouin for that matter, if they think he's the better player).

Second, if they are interested in Jones, I think they are realizing that they could trade down to #2 or 3 and still get him. Everyone is loving the forwards - if I were the Avs and were still set on Jones, I would look to see if I could squeeze out a trade for more assets and let the other teams fight for MacKinnon.

I get all that, and I agree that it's a good strategy. I just happen to believe that on pure talent right now (and I stress right now) that MacKinnon, Drouin, and Jones are all pretty much on par. I feel like Jones is going to be much better in 2-3 years and will likely dominate at his position, just my opinion.

Add to that opinion, the FACT that the Avs have little to no help on the back end and they would be truly foolish to not draft Jones. E. Johnson is their defacto #1 defender...the next best guy is Jan Hejda. After that, it's a severe drop off in talent. Prospects? Well they have some potentially good players in Tyson Barrie, Duncan Siemens, and Stefan Elliott, but they are nowhere near Jones' level. They simply NEED that top level defender too much to ignore Jones. You can have all the Dennis Seidenbergs and Johnny Oduyas, but without a Chara or Keith you won't go far.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

Jones is the right pick only if he pans out exactly as you say. problem is that just doesn't seem to happen, for whatever reason scouting young D is a million times harder. where did Karlsson get drafted? 15th...how about Subban? a whopping 43rd. if they were projected to be as good as they are now, why weren't they drafted in the top 3? I don't even have to bother mentioning all the other top 3 drafted recent d-men who ended up being mediocre to above average at best.

now look at the current top scorers in the league...Sid, Ovie, Stamkos, Tavares, Malkin, Kane. what do they all have in common? drafted 1 or 2. you can trust today's scouts to get you a surefire top forward. until they can start doing that with defenseman, you have a tough argument on your hands explaining how Jones is the best and safest bet.

This is a fair explanation, but the "poisoned well" argument doesn't sway me enough.

[Northendzone]

Soft heaves grab a forward, does that mean they would be open to trading bubba o'reilly to the flames next February?

[Roof-Daddy]

I'd be picking MacKinnon if I was in the Avs shoes.

MacKinnon and Duchene is a sick one-two punch that will anchor that team down the middle for at least a decade.

Use trades and free agency to rebuild their defense, and they'd have a couple nice pieces to start doing that with Stastny and O'Reilly, plus they'd have the added bonus of removing O'Reilly from their locker room and working towards removing the supposed divide they have between O'Reilly and Duchene.

[flamesfan6]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I'd be picking MacKinnon if I was in the Avs shoes.

MacKinnon and Duchene is a sick one-two punch that will anchor that team down the middle for at least a decade.

Use trades and free agency to rebuild their defense, and they'd have a couple nice pieces to start doing that with Stastny and O'Reilly, plus they'd have the added bonus of removing O'Reilly from their locker room and working towards removing the supposed divide they have between O'Reilly and Duchene.

depending on the trade deadline .. they won't be able to move O'Reilly until next offseason

[FlameZilla]

Popeye is gonna be pissed!!

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by flamesfan6

depending on the trade deadline .. they won't be able to move O'Reilly until next offseason

I realize that, they just have to wait it out but he'll still be an asset at that point that hey can use to build their team in other areas via trade.

[bubbsy]

if i was picking number one, i'd basically be trying to choose between droin vs mackinnon. though i think my CGY "what's it like to have a franchise center" stigma would obviously push me in the direction of mackinnon.

[GGG]

One reason to make it public is to get the fans ready for not picking Jones. Not taking the home town kid might not be popular with fans so you soften the blow and get them on board the Mackinnon train.

[SanFranFlamesFan]

I'm starting to think there's a possibility of Jones falling to 6. Do we want him? Im not sure we do. Need a Center so bad.

Let's say this crazy scenario happens - Top 5 are MacKinnon, Drouin, Barkov, Monahan, Lindholm. Falls to the Flames at 6 with Jones and Nichuskin available. What do you do?

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by SanFranFlamesFan

I'm starting to think there's a possibility of Jones falling to 6. Do we want him? Im not sure we do. Need a Center so bad.

Let's say this crazy scenario happens - Top 5 are MacKinnon, Drouin, Barkov, Monahan, Lindholm. Falls to the Flames at 6 with Jones and Nichuskin available. What do you do?

As much as i want a center, if Jones falls to #6 they should take him. I don't think Jones will fall to #6 so it will not matter.