Pre-Game Talk: 2014 NHL Entry Draft Part 1

[LickTheEnvelope]

Don't think Goldobin or Ho Sang will drop out of the top 30. Maybe Goldobin because he's Russian.

Ya I meant if the Canucks get another first round pick in a trade.

If they only have their top 15 pick I wouldn't take Goldobin or Ho Sang.

 

[Ventana*]

Ya I meant if the Canucks get another first round pick in a trade.

If they only have their top 15 pick I wouldn't take Goldobin or Ho Sang.

Ye just edited. Read it wrong.

Perlini/Ritchie would be a nice pick if they have a top 15, and then acquiring another 1st and maybe getting 6'4 d-man Petersson if not Goldobin or Ho Sang. Reminds me of Edler. Big d-man would be nice.

Another guy that intrigues me is Scherbak. Could be a solid 2nd round pickup. I think he's going to be a steal for whoever gets him in the 2nd round.

 

[Bleach Clean]

Perlini with his size, speed, and quick release would do very nicely. Alas, it's just about a pipe dream. Just had a look at the balance of our schedule and less than a quarter of the games feature an opponent with a decided edge in this year's standings.

Also, Henrik's decision to stay put and get healthy could be the deciding factor that sees us make the playoffs. So, maybe best to temper that suckage enthusiasm and refocus on the more probable 12-20 range.

This article is a good read: http://nhlnumbers.com/2014/1/13/score-adjusted-fenwick-and-remaining-strength-of-schedule. It discusses the remaining strength of schedule based on Score Adjusted Fenwick. The Canucks have the 3rd easiest remaining schedule based on the study.

I found this excerpt interesting:

Colorado, who is virtually Toronto West, has built a promising points-lead in the standings. But, they've been riding the percentages for forty-five games, and despite having a nice collection of young talent, they're woefully out-shot and have relied on even-strength save percentages and shooting percentages that rank in the top-five league-wide.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

This article is a good read: http://nhlnumbers.com/2014/1/13/score-adjusted-fenwick-and-remaining-strength-of-schedule. It discusses the remaining strength of schedule based on Score Adjusted Fenwick. The Canucks have the 3rd easiest remaining schedule based on the study.

I found this excerpt interesting:

Ya but that study was done on January 13th for games that day, and after, remaining...

Since the writing of that the Canucks have gone 3-10-0

 

[Golden Boy]

This is not the best year to tank, it's a great year to acquire additional firsts.

It's better to tank in a top heavy year like 2013/15.

I just realized, if Vanek signs with the Islanders, Buffalo gets their first (!)

That means they can probably take two of Bennett, Dal Colle or Reinhart.

Hot damn.

Fair enough. I know that this year's draft isn't the best in terms of talent, but what you said is mostly what I meant. Plus, if we somehow fall out of the playoffs and into the top 10, then I'd be glad to pick up Nylander. Kid has skills.

and he has sick flow.



majestic.

 

[Drop the Sopel]

Ya but that study was done on January 13th for games that day, and after, remaining...

Since the writing of that the Canucks have gone 3-10-0

Never mind the fact the Canucks and Avs have received virtually identical goaltending in terms of SV%...

Didn't believe it the 1st time I saw it. We will see soon enough.

 

[Wilch]

Fair enough. I know that this year's draft isn't the best in terms of talent, but what you said is mostly what I meant. Plus, if we somehow fall out of the playoffs and into the top 10, then I'd be glad to pick up Nylander. Kid has skills.

and he has sick flow.

majestic.

Though I'll admit I'd much rather see the Canucks just lose most of their games now and pick high rather than limp into the playoffs without a completely healthy line up minus Santorelli.

If people think the regular season has been ugly, it's probably only going to get uglier.

 

[Bleach Clean]

Ya but that study was done on January 13th for games that day, and after, remaining...

Since the writing of that the Canucks have gone 3-10-0

True, that's just the take based on possession metrics. They aren't meant to be wholly predictive. Just that this is a way to judge strength of team and schedule the rest of the way. Let's see how it goes.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

True, that's just the take based on possession metrics. They aren't meant to be wholly predictive. Just that this is a way to judge strength of team and schedule the rest of the way. Let's see how it goes.

Well (as I mentioned in the other thread) Nucks will likely have to go 15-6-1'ish just to have a playoff shot after the Olympic break.

 

[Ventana*]

Well (as I mentioned in the other thread) Nucks will likely have to go 15-6-1'ish just to have a playoff shot after the Olympic break.

I just know they're going to miss the playoffs by like 1 point and pick 14th.. Gonna be so typical. All of those blown leads are going to add up.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

I just know they're going to miss the playoffs by like 1 point and pick 14th.. Gonna be so typical. All of those blown leads are going to add up.

I'd be pretty livid. As much as it sucks to lose a lot better off with a 7th overall pick than a 14th.

 

[Verviticus]

They've got a shrewd GM, not a GM who thinks like an agent...

their gm traded for doug murray so uh

 

[Ventana*]

I'd be pretty livid. As much as it sucks to lose a lot better off with a 7th overall pick than a 14th.

True. Hopefully Gillis makes some moves to some desperate playoff teams at the deadline, though. Now is the time to snipe their picks and prospects.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

I'd be pretty livid. As much as it sucks to lose a lot better off with a 7th overall pick than a 14th.

In this draft I'm not too sure of that...it's a real crap shoot after 5.

 

[arsmaster*]

I'd be pretty livid. As much as it sucks to lose a lot better off with a 7th overall pick than a 14th.

I agree with Reverend below.

In this draft I'm not too sure of that...it's a real crap shoot after 5.

Yup, even after that, you can pretty much just cycle the names around from 5-20.

Really like Ho-Sang if he's our 2nd pick in the 1st but wouldn't pick him if we only had one pick (unless it was at the bottom of the 1st). Goldobin looked good in the top prospects game but not the same player in the O. On the perimeter a lot, shies away from physical play and traffic. Inconsistent.

Goldobin looked good in the 3rd period of that game because of Reinhart.

Don't have a firm list but right now I'm leaning towards:

Sam Bennett
Sam Reinhart
Michael Dal Colle
Aaron Ekblad
Leon Draisaitl
Brendan Perlini
Kasperi Kapanen
Nick Ritchie
Haydn Fleury
William Nylander

I have Virtanen quite a bit lower. Probably bottom of my top 20, if I had to guess.

Why do you have Kapanen so high. Doesn't seem as good as Mikael Granlund was, and he's still feeling his way out.

I'd take Nylander over him for sure.

Impossible to project these guys playing USHL hockey. I haven't seen him but am always skeptical of the big guys coming out of these US programs.

He's playing with Eichel and Milano on the top line and they do quite well against College teams.

I still like Milano, seems to have that P Kane like moxie and plays like Giroux a bit.


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edit* If you have Shaw, you can watch Virtanen take on the Giants tonight, or if you live in Vancouver you can watch it live.

 

[BerSTUzzi]

I agree with Reverend below.

Yup, even after that, you can pretty much just cycle the names around from 5-20.

Goldobin looked good in the 3rd period of that game because of Reinhart.

Why do you have Kapanen so high. Doesn't seem as good as Mikael Granlund was, and he's still feeling his way out.

I'd take Nylander over him for sure.


He's playing with Eichel and Milano on the top line and they do quite well against College teams.

I still like Milano, seems to have that P Kane like moxie and plays like Giroux a bit.


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edit* If you have Shaw, you can watch Virtanen take on the Giants tonight, or if you live in Vancouver you can watch it live.

Going to the Blazers game tomorrow just to watch Virtanen cause clearly I have no interest in watching the Blazers get smoked again. THe Blazers are going to be a fun team to watch over the next 2 years though. Kryski looks like a good player at 15/16 in the W.

 

[arsmaster*]

Today, Bennett (3 assists, +4) apparently showed Ekblad (-6) where it is at when it comes to going 1st overall. There's your Henrik replacement if we win the lottery.

Just watched the highlights. Ekblad got two of those minuses with his teams net empty.

Got victimized once on an outside rush by Lawson Crouse (look out for him next year....big PWF). That was the only one I could say he was personally victimized by.

Bennett drew him away from the net up the half boards on Kingston's 1st goal (nice finish by Spencer Watson).

Watson also made a really nice pass on a 2 on 1 threw Ekblad to score a goal. Can't fault Ekblad on it though.

 

[Tiranis]

Why do you have Kapanen so high. Doesn't seem as good as Mikael Granlund was, and he's still feeling his way out.

I'd take Nylander over him for sure.

I like his skill, overall skating, head for the game and size. Doesn't hurt that he's one of the younger players in the draft. With Granlund and Teravainen, skating was an issue and to me dampened their top-end projection. But I've only seen highlights and U18 so you know, take that for what it's worth...

 

[fancouver]

Do fans really want Ho-Sang? Another 5"11 type player to be pushed around by the Johansens, Perrys, Getzlafs, Kopitars, Carters, Thorntons, Hertls, you see the trend? We'll always play in the physical and big-bodied divisions. Guys that small are going to have trouble.

Cutoff should be 6'0 for Vancouver if both players have relatively same skillset

 

[arsmaster*]

Do fans really want Ho-Sang? Another 5"11 type player to be pushed around by the Johansens, Perrys, Getzlafs, Kopitars, Carters, Thorntons, Hertls, you see the trend? We'll always play in the physical and big-bodied divisions. Guys that small are going to have trouble.

Cutoff should be 6'0 for Vancouver if both players have relatively same skillset

Yeah, cause that 1 inch makes a huge difference

Draft skill, compete and hockey sense, worry about the size after. Brendan Gallagher is a beast, and he's lucky to be listed at 5'8".

 

[BobbyJazzLegs]

Well (as I mentioned in the other thread) Nucks will likely have to go 15-6-1'ish just to have a playoff shot after the Olympic break.

Really? Is that to beat out Phoenix on their current pace?

 

[Tiranis]

He's playing with Eichel and Milano on the top line and they do quite well against College teams.

I still like Milano, seems to have that P Kane like moxie and plays like Giroux a bit.

This is kind of my issue with it though. Does he drive the play? Probably not from what I've seen of Eichel and judging by Milano's stats. There aren't many forwards in this 1st round I'm apprehensive about but he's one.

 

[Wang Gretzky]

Really? Is that to beat out Phoenix on their current pace?

Phoenix is on pace for 91 while we're on pace for 88

 

[Drop the Sopel]

I like his skill, overall skating, head for the game and size. Doesn't hurt that he's one of the younger players in the draft. With Granlund and Teravainen, skating was an issue and to me dampened their top-end projection. But I've only seen highlights and U18 so you know, take that for what it's worth...

How would you slot the 6-12 or so ranked forwards in terms of offensive upside? The Canucks really need to swing for the fences with this pick IMO and only look at players they see as 1st line talents if they hit their potential...

 

[Tiranis]

How would you slot the 6-12 or so ranked forwards in terms of offensive upside? The Canucks really need to swing for the fences with this pick IMO and only look at players they see as 1st line talents if they hit their potential...

I don't know if any of them have 1st line upside in the way that people talk about it here (where there's only 10 #1 centres in the league and 20 top line wingers). They all have pretty similar offensive upside IMO (60-70 points), just pick what type of player you prefer. I think Ritchie, McCann and maybe Barbashev probably have lower points-ceiling (but we're talking 5-10 point difference at most) but will provide a lot of value in other ways. If I had to pick one guy out of this bunch who could explode beyond that projection then that's probably Nylander (the flip side being that I think he could flame out into a 40 point player or worse).