For hockey fans (Boston and Edmonton fans in particular), the night is finally just hours away. The 2010 NHL Draft is just around the corner, and the age-long debate will soon be decided: Taylor or Tyler?
After thinking long and hard about the draft, the pieces involved, the possibilities for each side, the benefits, the costs, the rumors, and all of that, I've concluded that the Oilers' decision will dictate the direction the Bruins' franchise goes in. Peter Chiarelli has reiterated that the gap between Seguin and Hall is so small that he wouldn't consider it to be worth it to trade up and snatch the #1 selection. So, here are what I believe the outcomes will be if Edmonton picks this one or that one.
If Edmonton Selects Taylor Hall: This is the scenario that, in the past 24 hours, I have grown more and more fearful of happening. I had reached a point where I would have been satisfied with Boston taking Seguin and making him a winger. Playing him with Savard. Lots and lots of goals. But then the Marc Savard trade rumors surfaced. So this is the vibe I've gotten. If Boston gets Seguin and not Hall, they seem to be interested in shipping Marc Savard and Tim Thomas in the trade market. What they will get back? I have no idea. But it seems that this is their goal if they are dealt the hand of Tyler Seguin. Make Seguin your third-line center and deal Marc Savard. I'm not saying this is what I would do, but this is what I think Chiarelli has the intention of doing. Clearly, the franchise goes in a particular direction with this outcome.
If Edmonton Selects Tyler Seguin: Heaven for Bruins fans. I may not be correct, but I damn well hope that Peter Chiarelli would be making his three centers untouchable if he was dealt Taylor Hall in this draft. A dynamic goal scoring winger who will almost assuredly light it up with a phenomenal puck-moving centerman to distribute. If the Oilers take Tyler Seguin -- who, in the past few days, many scouts have actually jumped back on the bandwagon with -- then Boston should be just about done dealing. Sure, they will still look to trade Thomas. And they may look to trade some of their bottom-tier forwards. But there is no way the Bruins trade Marc Savard if they get Taylor Hall. I just don't see how they could. Clearly, a whole new direction for this franchise based on one decision by Edmonton GM Steve Tambellini.
So, ultimately, if I'm seeing things properly here, we shouldn't expect a trade of Marc Savard before the draft tonight -- or at least not before the Bruins somehow guarantee which player they will receive in the draft. In light of the fact that Boston seems to be reluctant to play Seguin at the wing, maybe Peter Chiarelli will realize that the price to get Taylor Hall may not be as high as the price of trading Marc Savard to clear center space for Seguin. Personally, I'd keep your three borderline-all-star centers intact and make your new star forward a winger. But who knows -- the B's could have inside information that leads them to believe Seguin can't play wing effectively at the NHL level. I don't know. We can beat this debate to a pulp, but we still won't get the answer until tonight. It's almost here. The crazy analysis can cease in just a few hours' time.
Will it be Taylor or Tyler? Nobody knows -- seemingly not even the men making the decisions.
I don't believe that savvy will be shipped no matter who we choose. Look at your roster without Marc Savard, regardless of what you get in return, and realize there’s no way the league’s worst offense gets better without its best performer. None of the players or picks rumored to be coming to Boston for Savard make them a better team in the here and now, when the Bruins are allegedly chasing the Stanley Cup. I fail to believe that anything Savard has done off or on the ice could have changed their opinion of him so quickly. He took a cap-friendly deal to stay here, so make it so. Keep Savard.
ReplyDeleteWhat? Do you live under a rock? Let me remind you that we got Nathan Horton who will excel in Boston with some play makers, and Tyler/Taylor. Not to mention, Savard has been labeled "un-coachable" meaning he could possibly be a distraction in the locker room. I love Savard's playing but I wouldn't care if he were shipped, and the Bruin's offense will be fine.
ReplyDeleteUn-coachable???? are you insane? Julien made him the two-way player he is now with IMPROVING his offensive capabilities with good defense coaching. he is on the pp AND the pk. he took guys like lucic under his belt and trained them to become nhl players. you are high for not thinking savvy is the HEART of the bruins offense and needs to stay and will stay.
ReplyDeleteEnticing argument boys. "Fitch" is right in some aspects including the two-way player part. Savvy has really developed into a solid 2-way player and he's been a fairly good mentor to our younger guys. Anonymous though has some good points too. Savvy can be selfish at times and he's back-talked me alot in pressure situations. Ultimately, boys, I wanna keep Savvy, but there's no doubt our offense could survive without him. I've been working on gameplans and we are going to find ways to get pucks to the net and create some more flow moving out of the zone. Regardless of which guy we get tonight, boys, I think we're gonna have a bright future here in Boston. I'm looking forward to coaching this group, they're a hearty bunch.
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