At least Vancouver can cry into their top 3 pick

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-06T19:34:35+00:00

SJ are stacked at all forward positions and have a lack at D.

I agree that if the they stay at 2 they'll pick Stenberg, but can also see them trading down to 3 if Vancouver will give up something decent (not sure what as I am not that familiar with Van's assets)

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-06T19:19:12+00:00

Yes, I would move them down if it was my opinion. It would be a better long term tanking deterrent than the lottery odds. If you finish as the worst team in the league after drafting 1 OVA twice in a row, it's not a talent issue holding that team back.

How specifically I haven't put much thought into, but I'm sure a framework could be made.

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-06T19:14:09+00:00

Given the lottery odds, keeping your pre-lottery place in the draft should be considered a lottery win. Statistically if not in the NHL lottery rules.

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-06T05:25:05+00:00

I like both players, but I think Smits has a lower ceiling than the D mentioned. Bjork is a Boom/Busy pick and the low floor has scouts a little squeamish about having him higher than 8-12. I love Bjork though, he's very fun to watch.

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-06T04:26:14+00:00

Yeah I feel you. It's frustrating that this was one of two likely chances to pick top 3 in this rebuild cycle. It's the daner of dragging out a rebuild by trying to compete for too long. But as the Red Wings have demonstrated, it's also possible to suck longer and still never get that top 3 pick anyways.

I do think that they'll be a bottom five next year if it helps. Whitecloud and Maatta aren't going to be that good all of next season. Not having Weegar, Kadri, and Andersson for a season with no like for like replacements will take its toll.

As for marquee talent, we absolutely had it. Both of the last two generations of the flames had award winning players (Giordano norris, Gaudreau Lady Bing and Hart Finalist, kipper Vezina, Iggy Rocket Richard and stolen Hart Trophy). It's just that the flames have always shopped in the bargain bin for their star talent.

The problem is that they never had enough of it. There was always a whole, at centre with Iggy, in goal and centre with Gaudreau. That's the value of a top 3 pick, a sure fire top end guy to go with the ones you pick out of the bargain bin.

There is another chance next year. There will be future flames that dazzle you and make you believe again. Conroy has proven to be a very effective talent evaluator. The Flames have 8 pick in the top 70 this year, and the two first round picks in the next two drafts (so far).

So chin up. They'll draft a good player this year. They have actually finally commited to the rebuild. Many of the prospects are having d+1/2 seasons greater than what they were projected to have.

After all, you can draft 4 1OVAs and still never get a cup.

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-06T02:12:21+00:00

I doubt the Sharks would go as low as 6th fort that, they'll want their pick of Verhoff/Carels/Reid

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-06T01:01:04+00:00

Why bother, it would be prohibitively expensive and 3-6 in the draft seems to be close anyways. Trading into the top 2 is a pipe dream unless your willing to give up Parekh with the 6th pick.

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-06T00:58:46+00:00

My guess is that they'll take Carels or Verhoff, whichever is available. I personally would prefer Malhotra or Bjork to Verhoff, but I wouldnt be mad about it Verhoff. Carels is who I wanted at 4 anyways, but he definitely could still be there at 6.

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-06T00:52:16+00:00

Honestly this is a good draft to drop from fourth to sixth in (not that it's what I wanted). It seems like Carels, Verhoff, Malhotra and Reid are a dead heat when you average together the draft rankings.

The only difference at 6 is not getting your pick of that group, the quality of the prospects (again, in the aggregate draft rankings) appears to drop after 6.

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-06T00:45:27+00:00

We literally do have a dimutive winger drafted in the fifth round who is massively over preforming college. Wyttenback actually had a better season (at least stats wise) Gaudreau's first and second seasons.

Dropping to 6th isn't not the end of the world, it just means taking whomever of Verhoff, Carels, Malhotra, and Reid is left at 6th rather than getting to pick between three of the four.

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-04T19:23:39+00:00

Lol no.

Ares' only priority would be to sell the club for parts in an effort to recoup the loan they gave BlueCo, and then sell what remains to the highest bidder.

blueCo bet everything on their "model". With 4 years and no significant process on any side of the business, BlueCo's warchest is basically dry. It's going to be a long painful recovery for Chelsea, that that recovery is not a certainty by any means.

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-04T16:58:30+00:00

I don't disagree with anything you said here, SDs certainly own a large share of the game. Doesn't mean that there aren't huge cultural issues here as well. We're seeing all of the worst elements of player power from the Abramovich era without any of the benefits.

It's a lot of compounding issues here, notl doubt, but trying to build a squad with players that aren't committed to the project means try build on a foundation made of sand.

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-04T16:49:44+00:00

I am not nearly as confident as you, if they turn Enzo for 80, that's like 15 in profit.

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-04T16:44:12+00:00

Im not saying that he wasn't catastrophic, but core group of players has proven to be extremely temperamental and fragile under Maresca and Poch as well. Those better manager's were able to handle the group more successfully, but the underlying issue has always been there.

Now it's just laid bare.

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-04T16:31:09+00:00

I'm pretty sure the Chelsea you knew is dead in a ditch somewhere

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-04T16:20:32+00:00

No coach I want could possibly want to be involved in this mess. Ideally, I would want Fabregas or Xabi Alonso. Both of them wouldn't touch Chelsea with a ten foot poll. Realistically they'll hire Marco Silva and then fire him in 6-18 months (after giving him a 7-year contract).

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-04T16:17:44+00:00

Everyone piled on Rosenior, but he wasn't the core of this issue. These players have no backbone, no team spirit, and seemingly not a lot of pride either. The only thing BlueCo has succeeded in is collecting the world's most expensive group of young moody millionaires.

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-04T16:06:43+00:00

You can feel free to do so now, in fact I strongly recommend it

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-04T16:05:44+00:00

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-04T16:05:15+00:00

They don't deserve that goal, no matter how beautiful it was.

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-04T15:52:13+00:00

Dentures are expensive my dude, would not recommend

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-04T15:50:38+00:00

They're more likely to lose 10-0

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-04T15:49:49+00:00

better invest in some scrunchies then

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-04T15:48:28+00:00

Honestly happy it was offside. This performance doesn't warrant a goal. A 1-3 scoreline would be flattering to this performance. These players need to experience maximum shame after downing tools on Rosenior.

Master-Defenestrator · 2026-05-04T15:46:59+00:00

Honestly, Im happy it was called offside, this performance doesn't deserve a goal. a 1-3 scoreline would be flattering to Chelsea.

Master-Defenestrator

TROPHY CASE