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2017 Draft & UDFA Thread

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Mac n Gs

Mac n Gs

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I honestly don't see Liljegren falling barring something drastic happening between now and June. Too many teams need a kid like him, and there's no way he gets past a team like Detroit. Hell, Vegas might take him if Patrick and Hirschier are off the board.
 
Savant

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ManUtdTobbe said:
Agree with most of this.

Thing with Liljegren is that his upside outweighs all his defensive issues, he's got that game breaking offensive upside. He didn't have the best U18 five nations (don't get me wrong, he was good but didn't dominate), but the way he breaks the puck out of his own zone is a joy to watch, he's simply automatic.
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To be Devils advocate, what makes TL different from a player like Rundblad who wound up being a bust. I haven't seen enough of TL obviously but looking at two high offensive ceiling Swedish dmen here.
 
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Mac n Gs

Mac n Gs

Drury plz
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Savant said:
To be Devils advocate, what makes TL different from a player like Rundblad who wound up being a bust. I haven't seen enough of TL obviously but looking at two high offensive ceiling Swedish dmen here.
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Rundblad has absolutely horrible lateral mobility, which severely hindered his game on the smaller ice surface. TL can skate like Karlsson.
 

ManUtdTobbe

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Savant said:
To be Devils advocate, what makes TL different from a player like Rundblad who wound up being a bust. I haven't seen enough of TL obviously but looking at two high offensive ceiling Swedish dmen here.
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His skating separates him from Rundblad, Liljegrens skating is elite, Rundblads skating was his biggest flaw.

Also, Rundblad probably shouldn't have been a bust, needed a team to believe in him and let him iron out his warts, never got a fair shake. His numbers were fine for the ice-time he was getting, just never found a team who had patience with him.
 
Joey Bones

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Mac n Gs said:
I'm gonna get shot for this, but I can see them passing on Brannstrom simply because they've loaded up on LD recently. I wouldn't sleep on a kid like Bowers. One of the top draft-eligible scorers in the USHL (besides Tolvanen) in a league that's been cranking out talent lately. He's going to BU. Center that plays a 200-foot game. He just screams Rangers pick to me.

That being said, they should go BPA. Talent is talent, and they need it in a depleted farm system.
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I could see this, especially with Greeley and Drury involved.

Steve Kournianos said:
He's fine. Young kid playing in a men's league, plus the mono and you have some ups and downs. People expected a monster Hlinka after his U18 and he was above-average rather than dominant. He followed that with mono, and took a while to get his timing and strength back. Naturally, he fell in most rankings and people had to justify it, so they've been harping on his reads, and decision making in the defensive zone.

He is the best offensive defenseman available, and with all due respect to Makar, it's not as close as people think. Scouts know it, but the stat-watching media and most analysts still don't get how difficult it is to be a teenager in an all-adult locker room while playing in an all-adult league. Young kids have egos and they try to fit in, so that means more pressing, more mistakes.

Liljegren is more polished than people are giving him credit for.
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^This.

Pavel Buchnevich said:
I still think Liljegren has the highest upside in the draft, and its not like he's very unlikely to reach his ceiling compared to other players. What makes Hischier closer to his ceiling than Liljegren? Because the Canadian media watches him dominate kids instead of test himself against adults? I'd select Liljegren #1. This is a bad draft, no sure things. Take the player with the highest upside.

Pierre McGuire said a few days ago that this is the worst draft since 1999, which he considers the worst draft in the Modern History of the NHL. Pierre not liking a draft means its pretty bad. :laugh:
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ManUtdTobbe said:
I would take Pierres scouting with a whole lot of salt.
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TBH, the draft is the only thing I would listen to Pierre about. He sucks SOOOO BAD with commentating, but his draft analysis's are usually very informative. Other than the draft, I hate Pierre :laugh:
 

Ranger Ric

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First of four part series on top college free agents:

http://lastwordonhockeyprospects.com/2017/03/04/top-2017-college-hockey-free-agents/

While the college hockey season is still going on for most teams a few teams already have been eliminated in their conference playoffs and their season is now over. One such team is Lake Superior State. Freshman Defenseman Kristofers Bindulis can now sign a pro contract if he wants to leave school. A few more teams will be eliminated today as they finish the best of 3 playoffs in their conference and more teams will be eliminated next weekend as the conference playoffs continue.
 
Joey Bones

Joey Bones

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Ranger Ric said:
First of four part series on top college free agents:

http://lastwordonhockeyprospects.com/2017/03/04/top-2017-college-hockey-free-agents/

While the college hockey season is still going on for most teams a few teams already have been eliminated in their conference playoffs and their season is now over. One such team is Lake Superior State. Freshman Defenseman Kristofers Bindulis can now sign a pro contract if he wants to leave school. A few more teams will be eliminated today as they finish the best of 3 playoffs in their conference and more teams will be eliminated next weekend as the conference playoffs continue.
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Gahagen getting some praise!! I love it!! :handclap:
 
Joey Bones

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Shout out to caley for the info in the signed prospects thread. These prospects were all drafted in the 2015 draft and teams will lose their rights if not signed by June 1st. Here's the list....

BUF D: Devante Stephens
BUF C: Giorgio Estephan
CGY D: Riley Bruce
CAR G: Callum Booth
CAR RW: Spencer Smallman
CAR C: Steven Lorentz
CHI RW: Roy Radke
CBJ D: Sam Ruopp
DET LW: Adam Marsh
LAK C: Matt Schmalz
LAK D: Chaz Reddekopp
MTL C: Matt Bradley
MTL LW: Jeremiah Addison
NAS G: Evan Smith
NYI D: Ryan Pilon
NYR C: Brad Morrison
PHI LW: Samuel Dove-McFalls
STL C: Glenn Gawdin
STL LW: Liam Dunda
TBL LW: Bokondji Imama
TOR D: Stephen Desrochers
TOR RW: Nikita Korostelev
VAN D: Carl Neill
VAN D: Tate Olson
WPG C: Jansen Harkins
WPG C: Matteo Gennaro

2013 EUROPEAN UNSIGNED PICKS (Rights expire June 1st, 2017)

BUF LW: Gustav Possler
CGY D: Rushan Rafikov
CHI D: Robin Press
COL D: Wilhelm Westlund
CBJ RW: Markus Soberg
DAL LW: Matej Paulovic
DAL D: Aleksi Makela
DET RW: Hampus Melen
LAK LW: Dominik Kubalik
NAS LW: Saku Maenalanen
NAS C: Emil Petterson
NYI C: Marcus Crus-Rydberg
OTT G: Marcus Hogberg
SJS G: Fredrik Bergvik
SJS LW: Emil Galimov
STL D: Santeri Saari
TBL C: Saku Salminen
TOR RW: Fabrice Herzog
WPG D: Marcus Karlstrom

Thoughts? I remember being very high on both Harkins and Possler.

Will update this post as signings come.
 
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Fitzy

Fitzy

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Smirnov has been lighting up the NCAA this year. Could be a solid overage pick.

Food for thought.
 

Trxjw

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Land of no calls..
Mac n Gs said:
Ryan Poehling is another one I can see them opting for if he's there.

Cody Glass too because I know Trxjw has been talking about him for like 3 months now :)
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:laugh: The worst part about having a 1st round pick is having to watch guys go off the board before we have a chance to get them. I think Glass will be next on my list of guys we missed out on. I'd be really shocked if he made it out of the mid-teens in the first round.

Since we're talking about USNTDP guys, here's another name that could be interesting on draft day #2: Scott Reedy. Good build and can skate very well. Has good hands in tight and can set-up teammates from the wing. Some had him in going in the first round to start the year, but a lousy start with the U18 squad has a lot of mocks slotting him in the late 2nd or early 3rd. I could see him being a late season riser though.
 
Joey Bones

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Trxjw said:
:laugh: The worst part about having a 1st round pick is having to watch guys go off the board before we have a chance to get them. I think Glass will be next on my list of guys we missed out on. I'd be really shocked if he made it out of the mid-teens in the first round.

Since we're talking about USNTDP guys, here's another name that could be interesting on draft day #2: Scott Reedy. Good build and can skate very well. Has good hands in tight and can set-up teammates from the wing. Some had him in going in the first round to start the year, but a lousy start with the U18 squad has a lot of mocks slotting him in the late 2nd or early 3rd. I could see him being a late season riser though.
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Reedy is projected to be mid-late 2nd rounder. IMO, he's a steal at late 2nd easily.

Not sure what to think about Poehling. He is the youngest in the NCAA this year, if I'm not mistaken. He shows spurts of offensive flair by driving to the net every time and is a deflection wizard, but is very inconsistent in the neutral zone and defensive zone. His back-check and defensive positioning are atrocious. Not sure if that's due to being a true freshman or if there are holes in his game. There are times where I think of Jessiman when I see him. Not a fan for a 1st rounder.

Glass is an awesome get.
 
NUhockey

NUhockey

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UAGoalieGuy said:
What's the scouting report of Zach Aston-Reese from Northeastern? Has 30 goals and 62pts after last night's smoking of UCONN.
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Not an expert but here goes:

Of the two styles he's been attributed, 200 foot player is more accurate than two-way with his gritty style but ok defense, I very much consider him to be an offensive forward with toughness. He's average size for an NHL forward but plays a gritty, physical game that includes taking penalties but he's improved in that department. Tries to get under the skin of opposing players.

He's relatively fast on skates (not a burner though) and has a decent wrister. His puckhandling really stands out for me though, he can put on a show and create scoring opportunities out of nowhere. Doesn't force the issue on these plays though and makes good decisions with the puck.

Projecting him is tough. Hobey Baker (You could argue he should win this season) historically does not translate well into NHL success for senior players who weren't selected in the first few rounds, although his size suggests he'll at least get a shot, even though comparable players like Kevin Porter and Junior Lessard did not pan out. He could easily not make it past AHL if he can't do damage against pros consistently.

I'd say his potential is 3rd line scoring forward who can contribute defensively if he hones that part of his game in a little more, and could slot in well with talented linemates. Troy Brouwer comes to mind for me, although Zach's stickhandling ability could give him a little more upside. He'll most likely end up at RW.
 

ManUtdTobbe

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Trxjw said:
:laugh: The worst part about having a 1st round pick is having to watch guys go off the board before we have a chance to get them. I think Glass will be next on my list of guys we missed out on. I'd be really shocked if he made it out of the mid-teens in the first round.

Since we're talking about USNTDP guys, here's another name that could be interesting on draft day #2: Scott Reedy. Good build and can skate very well. Has good hands in tight and can set-up teammates from the wing. Some had him in going in the first round to start the year, but a lousy start with the U18 squad has a lot of mocks slotting him in the late 2nd or early 3rd. I could see him being a late season riser though.
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I really like Reedy, he was very good in the U18 five nations here, drove that line with Barrat and Mismash. Not sure i would use a 1st rounder on him though, i'd definitely be happy with him in the 2nd (if we'd somehow get a 2nd).
 
Joey Bones

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https://www.draftsite.com/nhl/mock-draft/2017/

Draftsite update. Here are the picks (without the 3rd rounder this year in the Smith trade)....

1st (26) C: Shane Bowers (CAN) (6'0"/169lbs., Shot: Left, Waterloo/USHL) *Boston Uni. 17/18 commit*
4th (107) D: Mark Rubinchik (RUS) (6'0"/180lbs., Shot: Left, Saskatoon/WHL)
5th (150) RW: Denis Mikhnin (RUS) (5'9"/167lbs., Shot: Left, Rimouski/QMJHL)
6th (160) RW: Cole Coskey (USA) (6'0"/189lbs., Shot: Right, Saginaw/OHL)
7th (212) C: Mark Kastelic (USA) (6'3"/205lbs., Shot: Right, Calgary/WHL)

This is a risky draft. There is no sure fire way that any of these picks could translate well into to pros. Bowers obviously has the higher ceiling out of all of them. Rubinchik is a defensive defender in the mold of a skinnier Radko Gudas, IMO. Takes runs at players, but sometimes connects with some clean hits. If fighting is demolished in a few years, he'll be a useless prospect. He's sound defensively, though. For a skill set like Mikhnin's, you'd think he'd have above PPG. He's tiny, but can move a good north/south game and has a brilliant wrister. Not sure how physically mature he'll become, but he's a good gamble with a 5th. Coskey will be nothing more than a 4th line grinder/13th forward. Think he goes undrafted. Same with Kastelic.

Thoughts?
 

ManUtdTobbe

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Still not sold on Bowers, can't say i know much at all about the rest.

Would prefer Brännström/Jokiharju/Vaakanainen with the 1st.
With the 4th i'd take Texier/Farrance/Norris/
With 5th i'd be fine with Mikhnin, has some nice trends in the Q, otherwise i'd go with Zhukov (or maybe Ã…hman?)
6th, Barratt.
Other 6th, Ikonen
7th, i really don't know :P

Ikonen that low is crazy to me, should be a 3rd/4th rounder, no? Maybe even slip into the 2nd with a good finish to the season.
 
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