I'd reach for a kid Like Ian Mitchel or Gustav Lindstrom in the 3rd and 4th. Take Luke Martin in the first.
Build a pipeline over one season. By June '18, teams will pony up to plug roster holes.
Wouldn't be so quick to nab Mitchell. He's a rising prospect, for sure, but he's a project. Will be playing a year in the USHL, BCHL, or something to that effect after the draft. He is a U. of Denver commit for the 2018/2019 draft. If he falls to the 3rd or 4th round, then I'd say take a flier on him. Not too convinced he's a capable late 1st rounder just yet.
As for Lindstrom, I couldn't agree more. Putting up fairly decent numbers in his first year in the Allsvenskan (not an overager, this is his 1st year of draft eligibility). Is also consistently playing for Almtuna, even though he is a minus-7 as of today. He's 6'2"/187lbs. righty defender that is above a PPG in the J20. He's, for sure, got skills and wouldn't put it past him to increase his production in the coming seasons. Would say, currently, an early 3rd rounder. Not sure if he's on any radars though. Not a lot of talk on him.
Yeah, and I don't think its a particularly bad comparison. Timonen was very effective, despite not being the tallest player. I think Brannstrom is similar. A few inches does matter and could be the difference between being top 4 and a legitimate top pairing defenseman, but Brannstrom doesn't seem to be unable to play defense and battle against bigger players due to his size. He might not be great at it, but serviceable should be good enough for a PMD.
Agreed.
Among realistic picks, I'm debating back and forth between Brannstrom and Lipanov. Probably Brannstrom, then Lipanov in that order. I'd prefer Liljegren and then Pettersson, but I don't think either are realistic second half of the first round prospects, think both will be picked top 10, and possibly both top 5. I'd have them 1, 2. If not those two, probably Jesper Boqvist, an electric Swedish forward. Excellent skater with skill, playmaking ability and very good hockey sense. He's played both wing and center, but probably will be a winger in the NHL. Interesting note on Boqvist, his brother is probably an even better prospect, a 2018 draft eligible. There are so many Swedish defenseman compared to Erik Karlsson, but his brother Adam is probably the closest to Karlsson that Sweden has produced since Karlsson. And thats not to say best since Karlsson, just the closest in style of play. If we are going RHD, Cale Makar, Ian Mitchell. Mitchell's a more realistic target, I think Makar will be over drafted.
Agreed on Brannstrom and Lipanov, but don't count out Cody Glass, Connor Timmins or Urho Vaakanainen. Think Glass would go earlier, but all are solid options at about 25th overall. I wouldn't mind Yamamoto, or even Boqvist, there either. Boqvist will be an NHLer just on his speed alone. I could seem him in the mold of Grabner, with less speed, but a better, more lethal, shot.
Not entirely sold on Mitchell just yet. He will be a project pick and I don't see NYR using their 1st on a project pick. We all know what happened with the last 1st round project pick (HINT: He's a Panther now). Would take Mitchell in the 3rd or 4th, though.
I don't think anyone projected him to be a 1st rounder. He's 5'3.
He's a good player against kids his age, and I wouldn't doubt that someone could draft him, but I think its just very unlikely he can make the NHL.
I don't think he can physically hold up against pro's, regardless of the league, unless its a very low level where he's so much more skilled than everyone else.
Agreed. He was projected in the mid 1st, believe it or not, in the early predictions of this draft back in 2016. Like ManUtdTobbe said, I also think scouts thought he would've grown a bit, but he's 5'3". Still doesn't mean he can't grow a few inches, but even then, he'll be somewhere around 5'7"/5'8". Not too promising, IMO. Hope for the best with him, though. Kid works his ass off!!
I assume scouts expected Dhooghe to grow atleast a few inches when he was projected as a 1st rounder, still 5'3, plays like 6'3 though
Yeah, Ã…hman is very athletic. Thanks for the info on Farrance, i like his tools quite a bit honestly, i'd be very happy if we got him in the 4th+ round.
Svenningsson is playing but sparsely so i can't say i've noticed him much.
Wouldn't mind Ahman as the annual 7th round sleeper goalie pick NYR takes. Last year it was 6th rounder Tyler Wall. In 2015, it was 7th rounder Adam Huska. In 2014, it was 4th rounder Igor Shesterkin. Don't be surprised if NYR take 1 or 2 more goalies in this class. It is, after all, a goalie heavy draft.
Agreed on Dhooge and Farrance. Thanks for the info on Sveningsson!!
I like Boqvist, but i wouldn't take him in the 1st over someone like Yamamoto or Popugayev if we're going for a F. He's really good but i think he's a early 2nd rounder and i wouldn't reach for him so he's in an awkward spot for us to land him. Really quick (both feet and mind) player.
I would, for sure, reach on Boqvist. Think Grabner's offense, with less speed, and Fast's defense. Kid is a magnificent all around player already. His season this year has been stellar; PPG with Brynas J20, almost a PPG player with Timra and an almost PPG player with Brynas in the SHL. Think it just goes up from here, for him.
I, however, wouldn't reach on Popugaev. Things are there offensively for him, but not defensively, yet. He is also rumored to have some attitude issues, like PB pointed out. Think that there are better players than him at 25th at the current moment.
This mock has the Rangers taking Shane Bowers in the first. Was last updated February 1st.
http://www.mynhldraft.com/NHL-Mock-Draft/
He's playing in the USHL this season I believe he's going to BU this fall.
Don't mind Bowers, but I would've taken Brannstrom, Vaakanainen, Lipanov, or Boqvist there.
I wouldn't take Popugayev. Just don't like what I've seen of how he plays, I think he's too slow and he plays like he's 5'10 instead of 6'6. Doesn't play much defense either. I also don't like what I've read about his attitude.
I'd be hesitant to take any forward under 5'10 in the first round. And given the trend where players like Abramov and Debrincat are not going in the first round even though they were top 30 talents, I don't think Yamamoto will be a first round pick. I think he's a risky player. Great talent, top 3 or 4 in the entire draft, but there are a lack of 5'7 players in the NHL. He wouldn't be the first really good 5'7 player to not make it because he was physically overwhelmed, despite being very offensively skilled.
Agreed on Popugaev, however, I don't think he is "too" slow. He has good base speed, but needs work on the so called "extra gear". Unfortunately, I do agree with you on Yamamoto and draft eligibles under 5'10". As much of talent as Yamamoto, Abramov, Debrincat and Bracco have, they unfairly get selected in middle rounds. I really don't think this should be a trend, but it unfortunately is. All four will be very good players in the coming future, though, and the teams that selected them will be proud of the fact that they bit on them early. Still wish NYR drafted Timashov in 2015, even with his rookie struggles.
