2017 Draft & UDFA Thread - Part III

[Joey Bones]

Whatever happened to Khodorenko? He was in a lot of 1st round mocks a year ago, but he seems to have dropped off the face of the earth for some reason.

Had a pretty bad 15-16 season, but made up for it this year on a meh Spartans team. 4th round or later for sure. I like his upside as a middle 6 playmaker.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=233499

I think it's two things: Lack of a 'wow' factor, and his footwork. Honestly at 21, depending on who is left on the board, he's an excellent pick. I think a lot of scouts look at him and can't separate him from his Dad. They want to see that snarl that Adam brought, but Cal is just a steady two-way presence.

Note that the footwork part is my own opinion. I know a lot of outlets think it's just fine. I just see a little heaviness in his feet sometimes, but that could just be a kid growing into his fame.

I'm pretty sure he'll go in the 10-15 range though. It's a crazy draft and he's about as close to a "can't miss" prospect as I see in the class. He has the pedigree, size, ability, and he's a righty. It's just a question of whether or not scouts see top-pairing potential or not.

Spot on. Agree with this 100%

A bit naive ??

Pretty much every scouting service is touting his two way play, he's not naive, he's just the messenger

One example:

Future Considerations on Poehling: "Big, accountable centre who has all the talent to be a two-way threat down the road. Strong on the puck and able to force defenders back with his strength and speed. Cerebral vision and sees play development when skating the puck or setting up shop. Puck skill isn’t Datsyukian but he spreads the puck around with crisp passes and can manage to keep the puck safe with his reach and positioning. Sky’s the limit if he works on footspeed, and polishes his offensive game."

When has future considerations posted a good analysis on anyone, though.

In all seriousness, I've seen a lot of St. Cloud play this year. He's not impressive. A lot of that supposed "strong puck play" was not against the boards and was just transitioning up the ice. Even then, he needs the speed to be able to push it up on his own. He doesn't fight for the puck and his passes are crisp, but not accurate. A lot of his play has him watching the play and he just goes straight to the net in the offensive zone. His hand/eye is on point, but that's about it. He hasn't shown any IQ that translates well to the pros, IMO.

Is there someone who knows who the rangers talked to/did not talk to? May point us in at least some direction on what they are looking for..

Well based on what Joey posted on the previous page, 30 teams spoke to Elias Petersson with the Kings being the only exception; So there's one. On the tail end of the last thread there's some info about the Rangers interviewing Suzuki and Makar as well. So we know for certain they interviewed those guys.

Not Pettersson, Lias Andersson. I think Yamamoto, also, met with every NHL team. Other than them, the Rangers definitely met with Suzuki and Makar.

Lack of size is one thing but we're talking about a first-rounder, I don't remember the last time a guy was a buck 47 and made it into the first round. I guess it's definitely quite possible in this draft, but lets not forget the Grimaldi's and Bracco's of the hockey world, that kind of size scares teams off in round one.

See @ Clayton Keller

 

[Joey Bones]

Aight, that's fair enough.
Important to take their ice time into account aswell since you're taking the quality of their teams into account, Robertson plays about 2.30 more per game then Gadjovich.

Not going to take this further, i made my point about that top 31 from Redline.
I'd be happy with either Robertson or Gadjovich in the 2nd if we had a 2nd.

I gotchu. Good debate!!

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Had a pretty bad 15-16 season, but made up for it this year on a meh Spartans team. 4th round or later for sure. I like his upside as a middle 6 playmaker.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=233499

That's basically what I said

He was 4th in points on a very mediocre Spartans team, while only being 18 years old. I certainly see the upside with the way he plays. He deserves more minutes but some of those guys on his team seem to have been there forever. Haag, Stenglein, Ebbing, Cox. At least the latter two have moved on and Khodorenko should get some better minutes next season.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

I gotchu. Good debate!!

 

[Joey Bones]

That's basically what I said

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I've missed you, darling

The best month of the year is upon us! We get 2 drafts this year!

 

[Joey Bones]

I've missed you, darling

The best month of the year is upon us! We get 2 drafts this year!

 

[Trxjw]

Not Pettersson, Lias Andersson. I think Yamamoto, also, met with every NHL team. Other than them, the Rangers definitely met with Suzuki and Makar.

Whoops. You're right. Brain fart.

 

[Joey Bones]

Whoops. You're right. Brain fart.

No need to apologize. All good!!

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

With the amount of Euro-based defensemen in the draft this year, and seeing how many teams tend to lean towards players based in NA when it's close, I am curious to see which players will drop.

 

[Bluenote13]

Everything about Poehling screams the Rangers to me. Hard working two-way center with some good size, American-born NCAA player, and a seemingly "safe" pick...but the skating issue is a big one.

I don't think I'd be upset if he's our pick, but it will depend on who's available when we come up.

Poehling, Bowers, Reedy, Norris, Farrance, Gildon - would not be shocked by any of these names being called

Also, Cameron Crotty, headed to Boston U and from, get this, Greely Ontario !

I'd imagine that Tyler Ennis wasn't too far off from that number and he went in the 1st in a much, much deeper draft.

I think the thing that separates him from other smaller guys is that his strength numbers were still pretty damn good at the combine. The league is pretty well populated with smaller players doing very well and his lack of size hasn't gotten in the way of him going into the dirty areas and he doesn't have a problem with his motor.

In most years you're probably right but in a draft like this where everything is all over the place, he could (and should IMO) go in the 1st.

Ennis was 147 pounds as well, your right, in this draft KY should be in the 1st round discussion, just saying, these kind of players are rare, helps that this draft is allover the map.

Keep in mind, this organization may be putting a lot of pressure to add depth down the middle and on defense. Don't misinterpret this as me saying not to draft guys like Yamamoto or Kostin, but moreso that they probably have guys ranked in similar positions that fit more of a need.

It's not a knock on those guys, but it falls in line with the same idea I brought up with Brannstrom. We really need a young center to add to the stable and a young RHD. A player that fits that mold, while also arguably being BPA, will be available at 21.

Lots of times teams have two players rated very closely and often go with the need.

I am pretty confident FO will pick the right player based on who is available and their experience after interviewing the players. When we look at all the players we have picked in the 1st round in the last 10 years, only McIlrath failed to become a decent player.

Thats still a scary thought. Kind of why I don't trust Gordies judgment sometimes, he swings and misses on the big fellas more often than not. In the first round, that's no bueno.

Thomas is going to be one of those players that rises and gets taken higher than he probably should.

Possibly, but there's a reason why, he's a very good player.

Had a pretty bad 15-16 season, but made up for it this year on a meh Spartans team. 4th round or later for sure. I like his upside as a middle 6 playmaker.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=233499



Spot on. Agree with this 100%



When has future considerations posted a good analysis on anyone, though.

In all seriousness, I've seen a lot of St. Cloud play this year. He's not impressive. A lot of that supposed "strong puck play" was not against the boards and was just transitioning up the ice. Even then, he needs the speed to be able to push it up on his own. He doesn't fight for the puck and his passes are crisp, but not accurate. A lot of his play has him watching the play and he just goes straight to the net in the offensive zone. His hand/eye is on point, but that's about it. He hasn't shown any IQ that translates well to the pros, IMO.





Not Pettersson, Lias Andersson. I think Yamamoto, also, met with every NHL team. Other than them, the Rangers definitely met with Suzuki and Makar.



See @ Clayton Keller

Yamamoto met with 26 teams, not sure who didn't meet with him though.

And Keller? He was 20lbs heavier than Yamamoto at draft time, that's a huge difference at those weights.

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

Which of these top 5 or so Dmen do you guys think has a chance to fall to us?

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Which of these top 5 or so Dmen do you guys think has a chance to fall to us?

Brännström and MAYBE Liljegren, big maybe though. I think there's pretty close to a 0% chance Makar, Heiskanen or Välimäki fall to us.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Which of these top 5 or so Dmen do you guys think has a chance to fall to us?

I still think Makar will drop, due to him playing in the AJHL.

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

ok im trying to really follow the draft this year. i want liljegren or brannstrom in the first round and id probably trade back if they dont fall. idk i havent really looked into the forwards that would be available then

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

ok im trying to really follow the draft this year. i want liljegren or brannstrom in the first round and id probably trade back if they dont fall. idk i havent really looked into the forwards that would be available then

This really is a draft where, aside from maybe 5 guys who will be gone by the time we draft, the players to focus on seem to be defensemen.

 

[Joey Bones]

Yamamoto met with 26 teams, not sure who didn't meet with him though.

And Keller? He was 20lbs heavier than Yamamoto at draft time, that's a huge difference at those weights.

Was wrong on that, but there was another player that met with all 31 teams. I'll try and find it.

That is true, Yamamoto was 146lbs at the combine, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have talent.

 

[Joey Bones]

http://thehockeywriters.com/2017-nhl-combine-heights-weights/

All heights and weights at the combine, FWIW....

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Was wrong on that, but there was another player that met with all 31 teams. I'll try and find it.

That is true, Yamamoto was 146lbs at the combine, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have talent.

Well, hockey is slowly transitioning into a style where it's less and less about physicality, and more about finesse, skating, pace and vision. 10 years ago, Yamamoto would possibly go undrafted.

 

[Joey Bones]

Well, hockey is slowly transitioning into a style where it's less and less about physicality, and more about finesse, skating, pace and vision. 10 years ago, Yamamoto would possibly go undrafted.

Agreed

 

[Bluenote13]

The kid has a lot of talent and even though he's only about a buck-fifty he's pretty wirey and strong, he's not a weak 150, he tested great at the combine whereas a guy like Ennis did not.

And then this draft if you looking to get skill you're not going to find it in too many places or at least it's not that apparent on a lot of these young guys yet, with KY you know he has skill.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Agreed. I think whoever drafts Yamamoto (if he falls lower than 20th) will be very happy.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

With the Rangers inviting Tkachev to prospect camp, what are the chances of the Rangers drafting him with a late pick? He is still draft eligible.

 

[Ranger Ric]

I am not sure that's correct. According to Elite Prospects Tkachyov turns 22 in October. I think non North American players are eligible for the draft only until the year they turn 21. (see definition of age of player).

8.4 Eligibility for Claim.
(a) All Players age 18 or older are eligible for claim in the Entry Draft, except:
(i) a Player on the Reserve List of a Club, other than as a try-out;
(ii) a Player who has been claimed in two prior Entry Drafts;
(iii) a Player who previously played in the League and became a Free Agent pursuant to this Agreement;
(iv) a Player age 21 or older who: (A) has not been selected in a previous Entry Draft and (B) played hockey for at least one season in North America when he was age 18, 19, or 20 and shall be eligible to enter the League as an Unrestricted Free Agent pursuant to Article 10.1(d); and
(v) a Player age 22 or older who has not been selected in a previous Entry Draft and shall be eligible to enter the League as an Unrestricted Free Agent pursuant to Article 10.1(d).

8.10 Age of Players. As used in this Article, "age 18" means a Player reaching his eighteenth birthday between January 1 next preceding the Entry Draft and September 15 next following the Entry Draft, both dates included; "age 19" means a Player reaching his nineteenth birthday by no later than September 15 in the calendar year of the Entry Draft; "age 20" means a Player reaching his twentieth birthday by no later than December 31 in the calendar year of the Entry Draft; "age 21" means a Player reaching his twenty-first birthday by December 31 in the calendar year of the Entry Draft; and "age 22" means a Player reaching his twenty-second birthday by December 31 in the calendar year of the Entry Draft.

With the Rangers inviting Tkachev to prospect camp, what are the chances of the Rangers drafting him with a late pick? He is still draft eligible.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I am not sure that's correct. According to Elite Prospects Tkachyov turns 22 in October. I think non North American players are eligible for the draft only until the year they turn 21. (see definition of age of player).

8.4 Eligibility for Claim.
(a) All Players age 18 or older are eligible for claim in the Entry Draft, except:
(i) a Player on the Reserve List of a Club, other than as a try-out;
(ii) a Player who has been claimed in two prior Entry Drafts;
(iii) a Player who previously played in the League and became a Free Agent pursuant to this Agreement;
(iv) a Player age 21 or older who: (A) has not been selected in a previous Entry Draft and (B) played hockey for at least one season in North America when he was age 18, 19, or 20 and shall be eligible to enter the League as an Unrestricted Free Agent pursuant to Article 10.1(d); and
(v) a Player age 22 or older who has not been selected in a previous Entry Draft and shall be eligible to enter the League as an Unrestricted Free Agent pursuant to Article 10.1(d).

8.10 Age of Players. As used in this Article, "age 18" means a Player reaching his eighteenth birthday between January 1 next preceding the Entry Draft and September 15 next following the Entry Draft, both dates included; "age 19" means a Player reaching his nineteenth birthday by no later than September 15 in the calendar year of the Entry Draft; "age 20" means a Player reaching his twentieth birthday by no later than December 31 in the calendar year of the Entry Draft; "age 21" means a Player reaching his twenty-first birthday by December 31 in the calendar year of the Entry Draft; and "age 22" means a Player reaching his twenty-second birthday by December 31 in the calendar year of the Entry Draft.

Ah, I thought the cut-off date was September 15th for the age, determining draft eligibility.