sicknfla

And that is why I think Grigo should stay. Unfortunately though I think he is headed to Rochester. Armia and him can start building a chemistry. That is not all bad but I hope he keeps up the positive attitude and works hard. Bigger question - IF we get one of McEichel this June where do we put these guys? McEichel is your #1, Grigs 2, Reinhart 3, and Girgs back to wing??

With all the picks we have accumulated odds are a player or two that nobody expected is going to be an impact player for us. We all focus on the top picks but this team is going to need guys to come out of nowhere as well.

According to my wife I am the most impatient person she knows. I think you nailed it.

I don't think anybody is labeling him a bust. Just think after going through a season like we did we were expecting a little more. He will most likely end up being a fine player.

Ok just to be a Dick. Take that list and lets go back 15 years. Where does Samson get picked? My point is i am afraid of what was at the top of his draft more than anything else. Not a knock on him. Should be good NHL player. Just don't think he will be at the level of most #2s.

No you give me a break. This is not a mid-round pick. This is the #2 pick in the draft. A pick that should be able to make the team blindfolded. Just like the rest of the #2 picks the last twenty years. Listen, if your good work the results so far great. I hope and think it will all work out. I just expected more at this point - even if it is early. I also would be willing to offer you the wager of your choice that management didn't expect more also. Sending him back to junior was probably something that was not in their plans. However, if he isn't ready they have no choice. As for Armia we will let time (there is that more time thing again) play out. Sorry, nothing there has me thinking he is what we all envisioned 2 years ago when it was Armia Armia Armia on here.

I was simply classifying them by what the majority on here have been describing. Very little positive coming from our so called future. If you haven't noticed you haven't been reading.

Whatever makes you guys feel better is fine by me. Rationalize however you want. When i am asked to "suffer" and our intent is to suck for the opportunity to draft impact players i expect impact. Not two years from now. Today. I am thoroughly sick of waiting and hoping. We did that for two years before Armia got here. Guess what? We are still doing it.

Being the top offensive prospect is debatable. I think both Edmonton and Calgary got who they wanted. He was picked #2. All signs point to him needing work on his skating. You ok with that? Fine.

Grigs - skating, Armia - everything, Zadarov - weight gain and looking slow, Samson - noneffective. This is getting a little depressing.

I was thinking the same thing the other day. I don't recall hearing him getting a point in prospect camp, Traverse City, and now 3 preseason games. That is 8 games - 5 of which were against prospects. That sucks - no two ways about it. What concerns me is people are questioning his speed. The last thing a second overall pick should be lacking is speed. You can give me all the hockey IQ crap you want but it don't mean a damn thing if you can't keep up. The fact the we have now drafted two centers with skating issues with our l first round picks is unacceptable. Andrew Luck was considered one of the smartest QB's in years to come out of college. Do you think he goes #1 if he had a weak arm? My point is you can't teach skill. I hope we are all overreacting and look stupid down the road. However, when you have had the importance of getting a top tier pick rammed down your throat for the last two years you expect more for your suffering.

I keep thinking back to GMTM's original comment about manipulating the draft. As much as Nolan may be trying to get as much as he can out of these guys I can't help but think GMTM will ultimately make this happen. Right now on paper we look better than last year. Once we send some guys back to jrs and AHL we will then still have a better team than last year. It is when injuries start happening and he starts hitting the waiver wire that things will work out. They have gone this far. Can't see him letting it happen. Nolan better be on board with that or he shouldn't have taken the job.

I hope your right.

When GMTM got here he had no choice but to stay the plan that was put into action by DR. It was already too deep. I wonder if he had been hired a year prior if he would have shared DR's bottoming out philosophy. I see him being more competitive and proactive than that. Too me bottoming out and tanking is the ###### way out.

I think we are due for something like that to happen to us!!

I am assuming one team doesn't get both. So unless they have become one or the league added a team i am pretty sure it is 28. Also, just doing a quick search of the last 60 top picks in the 4 majors sports 4 have a championship. I may be off one or two but regardless a top pick does not equal a championship. Obviously, many of these picks are still playing and may get one before their careers are over.

My point was a lot of you are acting like its McEichel or bust for our future. Yes, getting one of those two would be great. However, if we don't it doesn't mean all the gloom and doom that many on here predict. 28 teams are not going to get McEichel. You think the league is going to just stop? Take the last 15 top overall picks from the 4 major sports. Now add up how many championships they have won. I honestly don't have the exact number. Don't have the time to look it up. Maybe i would be surprised by the number but my guess is of the 60 picks totaling 900 seasons you have less than 5% of championships won by teams with #1 overall picks on it.

Yeah I can't fathom what will happen if we don't get one of McEichel. To think our entire next ten years comes down to a couple guys in the 2015 draft. Thank God this is not how it really works or sports would suck.

The kid is 18. Realistically could have a 15+ year career. Is 6 more months in juniors going to hurt him? Where he is at physically scares me. I have a very physically gifted 17 year old. Much bigger and stronger than Samson. The thought of putting him out there for 82 games would scare the hell out of me. Not to mention living the NHL lifestyle. That is another part I don't feel these kids are ready for. I understand the NHL is unique in getting these kids going ASAP but that is a lot to put on a kids plate.

Give him his nine and then send him back with a workout and nutrition plan. See you next summer stronger, bigger, and more mature. Absolutely no point in subjecting this kid to an 82 game beatdown on a team that is going nowhere. Don't let his draft position change a thing.

I don't care where he was picked in the draft. The kid needs to go back to juniors period. If Drouin can go back as the 3rd overall pick then Samson can go back as the 2nd.

That's better. Thanks guys.

Yeah the updates suck tonight.

And when they drafted him they thought he was a good skater but he has suddenly become slow and immobile. Kind of likes to just sit in front of the net and look for easy tap ins.

Just for shits and giggles now that management has seen Reinhart up close and in person for development camp, Traverse City, and now training camp what do you think they are thinking? If given a do over do you think the choice is Draisytl or Bennett? I know this is ridiculously premature but i wonder if behind closed doors they are satisfied with what they have seen. I can't help but think in his small body of work they weren't expecting a little more. From what i have read and heard he just doesn't jump out at you. Just really concerned that our second overall pick would be drafted mid round in 2013 or 2015.