Vancouver and Stenberg

[stanw]

Appreciate it Young and Pierre. I suppose a Google search could have gotten me there. Thanks for filling me in though - I didn’t know that.

No problem backes. All you need to know is if we draft #1 or 2, we will have a fun storline. 2 stenberg brothers on the same team, or chi vs stl bedard vs his cousin. Easy script

Do you think that the Blues would pick a defenseman over a forward/winger if they had the pick of any of the dmen ? If it was a top center as the clear cut top pick,ok --but if we could get a game changer d-man like the Islanders last year would we better to go that route ?

[Banner29]

What exactly is the deal with McKenna? Before this season I was reading about him being a better prospect than Bedard, now he is dropping out of first overall and I have even seen him drop out of 2nd overall in some mock drafts. I’ve read his play has been criticized this year but haven’t really seen anything elaborating on that.

More than a little bit of "Bum Kyrou"-syndrome in his play with Penn State.

Very little interest in playing defense
No interest in the physical game
General lack of effort/intensity
Almost exclusively a perimeter player(very little interest in going to the tough areas)

What nobody seems to have an answer for is why those traits have crept into his game(he did NOT play like that in the WHL).
A- If they are legitimate parts of his personality, it's a big time red flag.
B- If it's just an adjustment to playing against bigger and older college athletes and he turns it around in the 2nd half of the season, it's a concern but not a major one("He'll get there eventually").
C- If it's just a "boredom" thing playing against less talented players; it's an overblown issue.

Personally, I think it's more a combination of B and C more than a real personality flaw. We saw him flip the switch in the WJC's. The "stud" is clearly still in there.

Honestly anyone that draws a comparison to Kyrou makes me nervous. For obvious reasons. Nothing worse than a player with insane potential that just doesn’t become what you need him to be.

I do hear a lot about players in any sport that know they are getting drafted high(or be the top pick) just kinda coast in their last year to stay healthy. So maybe that plays in. Tough call to make if the Blues get that first pick. Do you go the wow factor or the all around player with big brother already on the team?

Glad I won’t be the one making it

[seattleblue]

McKenna gives me Marner vibes. Not a deep comparison, but the kind of guy who is undeniably talented who gets questioned

Stenberg could have a Landeskog impact perhaps

[theograce]

McKenna gives me Marner vibes. Not a deep comparison, but the kind of guy who is undeniably talented who gets questioned

Stenberg could have a Landeskog impact perhaps

His post game presser told me what I needed to know. I will never like him.

[hockey jedi]

Appreciate it Young and Pierre. I suppose a Google search could have gotten me there. Thanks for filling me in though - I didn’t know that.

No problem backes. All you need to know is if we draft #1 or 2, we will have a fun storline. 2 stenberg brothers on the same team, or chi vs stl bedard vs his cousin. Easy script

Do you think that the Blues would pick a defenseman over a forward/winger if they had the pick of any of the dmen ? If it was a top center as the clear cut top pick,ok --but if we could get a game changer d-man like the Islanders last year would we better to go that route ?

I don't. I know the Blues will take the BPA, but we already have some really nice pieces on defense. What we don't have is a 1C in the pipeline. We need a franchise center like Celebreni, Bedard, McDavid, McKinnon. Stenberg would be another nice winger. Hopefully, we will have more first rounders this year and we can find a diamond in the rough center or acquire a 1C by trade.

[hockey jedi]

McKenna gives me Marner vibes. Not a deep comparison, but the kind of guy who is undeniably talented who gets questioned

Stenberg could have a Landeskog impact perhaps

I hope not . I want a healthy player. However, I know what you mean. You want someone that brings the same kind of attributes. Can you see Carboneau and Ivar as first line wingers?

[TruBlueFan_1970]

McKenna gives me Marner vibes. Not a deep comparison, but the kind of guy who is undeniably talented who gets questioned

Stenberg could have a Landeskog impact perhaps

I sure would hope, but I don't see it. Landeskog is a big, skilled forward with grit. Stenberg is a small waterbug. I seem him as potentially a more talented Schwartz. Feisty, tenacious, skilled, but lacking that ability to lead a team like Landy does. Just my opinion though, as I think this teams biggest short- and long-term issue right now is size, paired with grit and skill. We have a team full of middleweights in our top 9 at both the NHL and prospect level, other than maybe a guy or two (i.e. Pekarcik)

[seattleblue]

McKenna gives me Marner vibes. Not a deep comparison, but the kind of guy who is undeniably talented who gets questioned

Stenberg could have a Landeskog impact perhaps

I hope not . I want a healthy player. However, I know what you mean. You want someone that brings the same kind of attributes. Can you see Carboneau and Ivar as first line wingers?

I would be surprised if either McKenna or Stenberg were not first line talent in the NHL.

Carbonneau has size and I feel he has elite shot and elite competition. So that is a recipe for first line success, but he still has some benchmarks in his game he has to tick past before I say yes he "should" be. He definitely "could" be. But it is not a shameful or untalented thing to be a second line NHL sniper with a 10+ year career. Carbo is in the ballpark with a solid projection to skilled winger whereas the other undrafted two are the real deal. McKenna is not a Yakupov, I feel zero risk about that.

[MandatoryDenial]

Looks like they want to draft Stenberg instead of McKenna. I want Stenberg for the Blues!!!!!

From what I have read and summaries of the players I have heard, I am also leaning toward wanting Stenberg as well. I really hope we don’t screw this up and go on a winning streak right out of prime draft positon. I know that sounds terrible but right now that is where I am as a fan. I honestly wouldn’t be angey if we didn’t win one more game this year. We need elite level talent and the draft is how you get it.

[seattleblue]

McKenna gives me Marner vibes. Not a deep comparison, but the kind of guy who is undeniably talented who gets questioned

Stenberg could have a Landeskog impact perhaps

I sure would hope, but I don't see it. Landeskog is a big, skilled forward with grit. Stenberg is a small waterbug. I seem him as potentially a more talented Schwartz. Feisty, tenacious, skilled, but lacking that ability to lead a team like Landy does. Just my opinion though, as I think this teams biggest short- and long-term issue right now is size, paired with grit and skill. We have a team full of middleweights in our top 9 at both the NHL and prospect level, other than maybe a guy or two (i.e. Pekarcik)

When I first saw him play I was watching Lindstein last year and I was like who's that best player on this other top men's team because he is physical and dominant, and it was 17 year old Ivar. You're right he isn't as physically imposing in his body right now. but his size is also not a liability. Stenberg is more physical than McKenna by a lot.

[Pierre McGuire]

McKenna is an absolute game breaker, he’s a mix of Patrick Kane and Mitch Marner. Any GM that passes on him at #1 overall won’t be a GM for much longer. He is one of the best junior players in history, one of only 3 players to put up 2pts per game as 17 year old in the WHL. You don’t pass on that, not even for Ivar Stenberg

[MandatoryDenial]

McKenna is an absolute game breaker, he’s a mix of Patrick Mane and Mitch Marner. Any GM that passes on him at #1 overall won’t be a GM for much longer. He is one of the best junior players in history, one of only 3 players to put up 2pts per game as 17 year old in the WHL. You don’t pass on that, not even for Ivar Stenberg

What would you say to the people who criticize his drive and tendency to not show upwhen unmotivated to? I ask not because I hold this opinion, its just what I have read about him.

[seattleblue]

The second overall pick, which we are currently holding alone, is the one we want, but it's determined by lottery ball.

[noted]

Looks like they want to draft Stenberg instead of McKenna. I want Stenberg for the Blues!!!!!

Vancouver is taking McKenna for many reasons, one of which is possibly stealing Bedard away from Chicago

Hey Pierre, could you expand the stealing Bedard from Chicago statement? Is there a rumor or story behind that? Thanks.

Just speculation on if he’s really willing to sign long term in Chicago. Rumors are that he would like to play for his home town team. Having his cousin in Vancouver would definitely improve the Canucks chances of possibly getting Bedard in the future

That must be a years away type speculation since I don’t think he hits UFA until 2030 or 2031? And can’t see the Hawks trading him for anything less than Fort Knox.

Gonna be answered here this summer…if he doesn’t agree to a long term deal it’s gonna set the wheels in motion for endless speculation and maybe a possible early exit from Chicago.

What would you think is more important to bedard?
Playing for his hometown team or with his cousin? Just asking your opinion

Oh his dream was always to play for the Canucks. His cousin possibly being there probably just enhances the opportunity.

I don’t know. I think it would have to be that top 2 pick for Sens to do it. Blues probably should but would prefer not to rebuild. Brady gives them a face if the franchise and answers the next captain dilemma.

[Pierre McGuire]

McKenna is an absolute game breaker, he’s a mix of Patrick Mane and Mitch Marner. Any GM that passes on him at #1 overall won’t be a GM for much longer. He is one of the best junior players in history, one of only 3 players to put up 2pts per game as 17 year old in the WHL. You don’t pass on that, not even for Ivar Stenberg

What would you say to the people who criticize his drive and tendency to not show upwhen unmotivated to? I ask not because I hold this opinion, its just what I have read about him.

It’s all fodder, it’s a story so they have something to talk about leading up to the draft
Were they criticizing his drive the last two years?

[seattleblue]

McKenna can make plays that nobody else in this draft class can make. He has that next level to him, which paradoxically is the quality that makes you wonder where it is more often. When he takes over games, it's over.