2019 Off-Season Discussion

[chopper]

Ive noticed camp is creeping up closer, and we stil havnt signed this import pick. Last year, both our picks signed ~2 weeks after the draft, and we are quickly becoming the only team without this done. Swift signed, kootenay-peg signed both, pg signed their’s, kelowna hasnt but its kelowna...theyll be fine.

There may be an easy explanation for it, but am i the only one who thinks this shouldve been done by now?

No you are not the only one thinking that. When I look at Swift signing the overall 1st Import pick and we have not, it's definitely concerning.
I check daily or every other day to see if he has signed but it keeps coming up NADA!!
It's not panic mode but it's still quite concerning.
I have absolutely no idea why they are picking up a marginal 19 forward in the person of Delorme. A d-man perhaps but this??

[sandman]

Raiders still haven't signed their import, although as the last pick in the first round they probably never got a huge impact player. As a Raider fan I'm more concerned with the overall lack of signings. Only 2 players was last years bantam draft (1st and 2nd), and 1 from this years have signed (1st). I would think coming off a league championship and having both our head coach and GM re-sign extensions the kids wouldn't hesitate to come here.

[Pats7]

No you are not the only one thinking that. When I look at Swift signing the overall 1st Import pick and we have not, it's definitely concerning.
I check daily or every other day to see if he has signed but it keeps coming up NADA!!
It's not panic mode but it's still quite concerning.
I have absolutely no idea why they are picking up a marginal 19 forward in the person of Delorme. A d-man perhaps but this??

I have absolutely no worries about this, John has always signed the guys he has drafted. Until he doesn't, I am not concerned. As far as the trade for Delorme goes, it is a no risk venture. Portland traded a guy they had no interest in for a conditional pick. The pick will likely be conditional on whether he makes the team or how many games he played. Creates some competition at camp for forwards, while not racing any 16/17 year olds into the league that may not be ready. Absolutely no risk in that.

[Pats7]

Sebastian Streu signs a contract to play in a German Pro League. Not too surprised, that definitely simplifies the 20 year old situation (for now) heading into camp. Three overage forwards might be a good thing after the lack of scoring upfront last year. However, I wouldn't be shocked to see a 20 year old defencemen at some point. I am starting to really look forward to camp.

[Reider]

It's definitely interesting that Daniil Gushchin hasn't signed with the Pats (yet?), but I agree, it's not panic mode yet. He may still be considering his options or there may be some other good reason why it's not official yet. If he doesn't sign with the Pats and decides to stay in the USA, that would certainly be a big hit to the Pats, especially after trading Alkhimov away. What is plan b?

I view the Haydn Delorme acquisition as not unlike the Justyn Gurney acquisition last year. It's more competition at camp at the forward position. The difference being that the Pats may not have to give up a 6th round draft pick for him. With the Pats currently having 3 OA forwards, the acquisitions of Delorme, Englot and Gushchin + all of the other returning players and other forwards at camp, there should be a lot of competition at forward this year. Perhaps not elite competition, but competition nonetheless, which is never a bad thing.

I can see there being 3 OA forwards this year, but I agree with Pats7, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of the Pats ultimately going with 2 OA forwards and 1 OA defenseman. There's certainly an argument to be made that the 2:1 ratio would / could be ideal this year based on the structure and depth of their line up. Of course, this is all dependent on a lot of factors, which will all play out in due time.

Priority #1 right now needs to be getting Gushchin signed.

[RWAH]

I guess my earlier post that “a bird in hand is better than two in the bush”. Traded a quality euro for a no show draft pick and Vancouver gets an 18 year old 25 to 30 goal forward. Good work JP