Tallon: Panthers have received ‘fair offer’ for first overall pick

[mister_mcgoo]

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2...-overall-pick/

Let the speculation begin...who do you think it is?

[Axeman33]

I wouldnt have considered Calgary as an option as they really dont have a lot of depth to offer up a team like Florida for the 1st overall.

[Oakville Squires]

I'll take a stab at it. Sven Baertschi and the 4th overall pick.

The only reason I am throwing this out there is the flames have a lot of prospect depth at left wing with Gaudreau, Poirier and Klimchuk and this is probably what it would take for Florida to consider moving the #1 pick.

[27Blue]

There was speculation on the weekend that Calgary had offered the 4th pick and tj brodie for the first and they would then take ekblad.

[mister_mcgoo]

I dunno why they don't just take Ekblad?
Why trade down when you've got a franchise d-man sitting there waiting for you and you desperately need just such a player?

[The Comish]

I dunno why they don't just take Ekblad?
Why trade down when you've got a franchise d-man sitting there waiting for you and you desperately need just such a player?

I would agree with you, unless FLA doesn't think Ekblad is going to be a franchise d-man...but really? Why not roll the dice with Ekblad? FLA has a decent amount of high end offensive prospects and I don't see that many young studs on their back end.

[austeane]

I see it the other way. There is less separation among the top five in this draft than in any I can remember, so if Tallon can add someone like Horvat or Sven... That is huge value for not moving far down, value-wise, in the draft.

[The Comish]

I see it the other way. There is less separation among the top five in this draft than in any I can remember, so if Tallon can add someone like Horvat or Sven... That is huge value for not moving far down, value-wise, in the draft.

I'd understand it if one of those top five weren't a defenseman. Those top four forwards are meh if you have the size and young talent that the Panthers have coming up, but a potential stud D? Hmm, I guess Tallon is just keeping his options open. Hey Dale, see what Edmonton wants and take them up on it...pretty please.

[kovalchuk17]

maybe the offer is nurse & edmonton's pick (#3) for florida's pick (#1)

[austeane]

I'd understand it if one of those top five weren't a defenseman. Those top four forwards are meh if you have the size and young talent that the Panthers have coming up, but a potential stud D? Hmm, I guess Tallon is just keeping his options open. Hey Dale, see what Edmonton wants and take them up on it...pretty please.

I subscribe to the idea that a well-run organization doesn't plug their current holes with an 18 year old. If having Dal Collie and Horvat allows them to trade excess talent for a defensemen in a couple of years, then it would be worth it.

[The Comish]

maybe the offer is nurse & edmonton's pick (#3) for florida's pick (#1)

I hope not, but if Edmonton thinks Ekblad is superior to Nurse, then that might satisfy both sides. I like Nurse's physical upside. I don't know enough about Ekblad's game yet to say which player has a higher upside.

[The Comish]

I subscribe to the idea that a well-run organization doesn't plug their current holes with an 18 year old. If having Dal Collie and Horvat allows them to trade excess talent for a defensemen in a couple of years, then it would be worth it.

Great point and I agree with you...up to a certain point; stud defensemen are held onto with kung-fu grips by GM's everywhere and cannot be had for excess talent. I guess if you are able to see something their current team doesn't (McDonagh and I'm sure there are several more examples like this), but that requires an element of luck in order to snag a player like that from under the nose of a rival GM.

[Dobber]

I thought we all agreed that he was getting Phaneuf and Kadri for it

[Big Ev]

If they actually were willing to trade it then I don't know why the other team would want it. Speaks to the quality of the draft

[mister_mcgoo]

maybe the offer is nurse & edmonton's pick (#3) for florida's pick (#1)

That's a possibility I hadn't considered but it does make some sense if EDM really covets Ekblad.
Personally I think he's very likely to be the next Pietrangelo or Hedman and he's not far off from stepping into the NHL full time. A team like Edmonton could really use him asap, perhaps FLA sees themselves as a few years further away and that's why they're considering dealing him?