Prospect Info: 2015 Draft Thread

[kingsfan]

Woodlief is a joke. I remember one year, I think 2002, where he mocked the father of one of the top prospects for falling down the stairs at an arena, saying he now sees where the guys son learned his diving skills. It was the same draft where he mocked an unnamed team (in hindsight likely the Minnesota Wild) for having Pierre-Marc Bouchard in their top 10 because he was to small. Didn't just say it was wrong, they mocked the team for it.

You look at 2004 now and while Bouchard likely wouldn't be a top 10 pick, he wasn't a flop or a bust and for the guys drafted around where he went he was actually a fairly decent pick who may have been much better if not for some bad concussion issues.

 

[apadilla]

17 + 25 for 13 + 43 ????

Deal.

 

[apadilla]

For what it's worth. Button's final draft ranking.

http://www.tsn.ca/talent/craig-s-list-final-ranking-1.294692

Provorov on the rise on his list. Hanifin rated as 3rd dman to go off the board at 12.

Hanifin to 12. Reminds me of Fowler dropping to 12.

Rantanen at 16 and Zacha at 24, two surprises. Interesting. If I'm DL at 13 and Rantanen or Zacha or Hanifin is available, I'm taking 'em.

 

[apadilla]

On the other side, Kyle Connor sours to 6. If only he weren't going to Michigan =(

 

[damacles1156]

If Hanifin falls to 12/13, I don't even. What ? That is a strange projection.

That is a no brainier for the Kings staff.

 

[apadilla]

Yup, I could see DL smirking like the Ducks GM did when Fowler fell.

 

[King'sPawn]

If Hanifin falls to 12/13, I don't even. What ? That is a strange projection.

That is a no brainier for the Kings staff.

I feel I should point out that Button's rankings are based on the player's long term value, and not a projection of where he'll be taken.

I know you're aware of that, but wanted to bring it up to the other posters who didn't know

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

No way Hanifin gets past the Sharks if he's there. He's exactly what they need and would be BPA. No brainer pick.

 

[Scottkmlps]

No way Hanifin gets past the Sharks if he's there. He's exactly what they need and would be BPA. No brainer pick.

Two words: Doug Wilson.

 

[Brodeur]

Red Line Report had a tendency of making far reaching rankings too. I remember Woodlief had Jessiman in his top 10 for 2003. Try to contain your laughter.

You know what's even more scary? Jessiman was #4 on the Rangers board: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/22/sports/hockey-teams-hold-off-on-any-major-deals.html

All three New York City-area teams said they had rated their first-round picks higher than they went in the draft. The Rangers had HUGH JESSIMAN pegged at No. 4; the Islanders rated ROBERT NILSSON 12th. As for ZACH PARISE, who was taken at No. 17? ''I'll tell you how surprised we were that he was available,'' the Devils' LOU LAMORIELLO said. ''This is the first time in the last four years that we didn't have a name tag ready for the player we took. We saw him start to slip and we tried to move up.''

Woodlief is a joke. I remember one year, I think 2002, where he mocked the father of one of the top prospects for falling down the stairs at an arena, saying he now sees where the guys son learned his diving skills.

I've become less of a fan of Red Line over the years (back in the day, they were pretty much the only free info out there). If we're thinking of the same anecdote, it wasn't that bad (although the hooker in a diamond store line is bad comedy): http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/columnist/woodlief/2003-02-26-woodlief_x.htm

We will say right up front that Glazachev, without question, was the most pure offensive talent in the entire tournament. Hands down. We will also say that if we owned a franchise at any level, this pathetic, lame excuse of an athlete would not be allowed into the building — not even to sell peanuts in the stands — for fear that his freakish sideshow of diving at the mere thought of being touched would cause our fans to believe they were at a soccer game. Each team played only four games in the tournament, yet Glazachev was down writhing on the ice more often than a hooker at a free diamond store. It got so bad at one point that when a man in the stands took an accidental pratfall down the stairs near a cluster of NHL scouts, one of the scouts turned and, without missing a beat, said: "I see Glazachev's dad is in the audience."

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Two words: Doug Wilson.

Yeah, but I mean, positional need and BPA...he'd have to be drunk in his office to...you know what, you're right

 

[King'sPawn]

This is my last video I'm going to be making with commentary. Too many requests and not enough time up until the draft. However, I'm very happy with how this turned out, as far as commentary goes. I don't think it's great, but it's one of my better ones, in my opinion.

Zboril is a player I wouldn't mind the Kings trading down to get. I think he can make a good transition to the pro game and fit in the Kings structured system, which I touch upon a bit in the video.

The rest of my videos won't have any commentary on them.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Cheers to all your hard work KP!

 

[King'sPawn]

Cheers to all your hard work KP!

Thank you very much!

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Svechnikov is a guy who seems really mid-1st-round on most mocks and rankings, but he's been mentioned here a lot. What am I missing with him? Merkley too, and Harkins. Those are forwards I see moving up and down really far depending on the ranking team.

 

[LAKings88]

Svechnikov is a guy who seems really mid-1st-round on most mocks and rankings, but he's been mentioned here a lot. What am I missing with him? Merkley too, and Harkins. Those are forwards I see moving up and down really far depending on the ranking team.

I think after the first 12 guys it is pretty much a toss up. I'm just hoping we don't come away with a shut down defenseman from the first round. I wouldn't mind taking a risk on a skilled guy with concerns. I do trust the Kings staff tho.

A few slight of build players around where LA is picking. I think Johnson and Johnny Hockey fever are running a little too high lately. I know you can hit with a smaller player but so many more don't cut it. Kozun /Azevedo/Moller are still fresh in my head. I love Konecny in highlights but he seems smaller than he is actually listed. Merkley is in the spotlight due to the memorial cup but is slight as well. Harkins seems like a potential 2cd line center.

 

[TopT]

Evgeni Svechnikov (6'2" - 200) of Cape Breton in the QMJHL is an interesting candidate as well. He started the season as a winger, but he's apparently made a pretty smooth transition to center at the mid-point of this year.



Link

You couple that with his strong offensive game and that's a nice prospect too.

He cant skate backwards

 

[apadilla]

I know you can hit with a smaller player but so many more don't cut it. Kozun /Azevedo/Moller are still fresh in my head. I love Konecny in highlights but he seems smaller than he is actually listed. Merkley is in the spotlight due to the memorial cup but is slight as well. Harkins seems like a potential 2cd line center.

I hear what you are saying about Konecny. He is listed on some sites as 5'10. One site has him at 5'9 + 3/4". Then I was looking at another site a few days ago, and it had him listed at 5'9 + 1/4". The Craig's List final ranking site has him at 5'9". He seems to be shrinking

Of note, I went to the doctors officer the other day, and the lady measure my height. She surprises me by telling me I'm 5'11". I'm pretty sure I'm 5'10 + 1/4", and shrinking due to age.

 

[King'sPawn]

Vince Dunn, with guest commentary from a Youtube user, who does a better job at this than I could ever hope to! Hope you all enjoy!

 

[apadilla]

I think after the first 12 guys it is pretty much a toss up. I'm just hoping we don't come away with a shut down defenseman from the first round. I wouldn't mind taking a risk on a skilled guy with concerns. I do trust the Kings staff tho.

The number could be 12. But it could be 13 too, listed here.

McDavid
Eichel
Strome
Hanifin
Marner
Barzal
Provorov
Crouse
Werenski
Rantanen
Zacha
Meier
Conner

Then the drop off happens (I hope).

 

[kingsfan]

The number could be 12. But it could be 13 too, listed here.

McDavid
Eichel
Strome
Hanifin
Marner
Barzal
Provorov
Crouse
Werenski
Rantanen
Zacha
Meier
Conner

Then the drop off happens (I hope).

Crouse is so overrated IMO. He'll be a NHLer, but I doubt he's anything more than a 20-25 goal guy and frankly I could see him becoming Brad Winchester. I hope he's off the board well before we pick, which if you believe the scouting mags/rankings, he will be.

 

[Primakov!]

For those curious, here's a Mock Draft from USA Today written by Kyle Woodlief.

Link

ISS Final Rankings

Link

Thanks to the guys at The Pipeline Show, anyone interested in buying the Draft Guide from ISS can use promo code "Pipeline" to get a 25% discount.

 

[AnThGrt]

Crouse is so overrated IMO. He'll be a NHLer, but I doubt he's anything more than a 20-25 goal guy and frankly I could see him becoming Brad Winchester. I hope he's off the board well before we pick, which if you believe the scouting mags/rankings, he will be.

If anything the contrary. No he shouldn't be a top 5 pick, but if he drops out of the top 10 yet alone to us and isn't taken someone needs a good head shake. Anyone who has actually watched him play has him in their top 10 and only people who have never seen him play or only look at stats think lowly of him. People love Zacha here as do I (favorite prospect this draft). If I'm a GM I easily take Crouse over him.

Also I agree with the top 13 list although I could see someone taking a guy like Konecny or Svechnikov in the same range.

 

[417th]

Thanks for posting this here. Makes it easier then reading the whole thing on line or sifting through the draft section.

I said early in this thread that Connor was a player that I think we should be looking at and we are but here are the players that will all be available or within reason should be there right at or around our draft picks.

12 Konecny, Travis C 3/11/1997 R 5.09.75 175 Ottawa OHL
13 Connor, Kyle C 12/9/1996 L 6.01 177 Youngstown USHL
14 Meier, Timo RW 10/8/1996 L 6.01 209 Halifax QMJHL
15 White, Colin RW 1/30/1997 R 6.00 183 USA Under-18 NTDP


Konecny is talented but I think too small for our system. Connor would be a great pick at 13 so would Meier. In fact either one of those two would be really great adds to our depth. White is outside the box but not so much so. They all bring what we need no doubt but if I were to put them in order I would go with Meier
Connor
Kopecny
White
That is of course barring any move that could land us Zacha who I believe could go as early as 7thOA or wouldn't be surprised to see him do so. With the exception of the obvious top 4 I think we could see a very interesting 1st round. I also hope that we have Ahl targeted. He could go anywhere from 16th to the early 2nd round but wherever he goes that kid is going to be a gamer.

 

[kingsfan]

If anything the contrary. No he shouldn't be a top 5 pick, but if he drops out of the top 10 yet alone to us and isn't taken someone needs a good head shake. Anyone who has actually watched him play has him in their top 10 and only people who have never seen him play or only look at stats think lowly of him. People love Zacha here as do I (favorite prospect this draft). If I'm a GM I easily take Crouse over him.

Also I agree with the top 13 list although I could see someone taking a guy like Konecny or Svechnikov in the same range.

I've watched him play plenty, so I call ********.

The guy is going to be a NHLer, and yes, likely he goes top 6-8. But IMO when we look back on this draft 10 years from now he will be the Taylor Pyatt, a good worker, big body, but the offense just won't be there. I don't see the offense now, and I don't see it translating in the NHL. Maybe I'm wrong, and I'd be glad to be wrong if we get him, but I do not see him being an impact NHLer.