Prospect Info: 2017 NHL Draft Discussion

[Reesor]

Can someone provide a brief compare/ contrast between Timmins and Jokiharju?

 

[McDNicks17]

Can someone provide a brief compare/ contrast between Timmins and Jokiharju?

Kind of random comparisons, but I would say something close to:

Timmins = Scandella
Jokiharju = Spurgeon

 

[40oz]

Kind of random comparisons, but I would say something close to:

Timmins = Scandella
Jokiharju = Spurgeon

I think Timmins offensive potential is much greater than Scandella.


Edit: well maybe not 'much' haha. maybe Petry-ish?

 

[McDNicks17]

I think Timmins offensive potential is much greater than Scandella.

Edit: well maybe not 'much' haha. maybe Petry-ish?

He's a much better transition passer than in-zone passer/PP quarterback, IMO.

I think he's going to be a guy like Larsson where you notice his passing ability when he's making outlet passes, but no so much when he gets into the offensive end.

 

[McDavyCrockett]

Glass

Center
We can't be sure that Nuge will be here when McDavid's contract kicks in. Without him, we have 2 centers in the top 6, and 2 centers in the bottom 6 if you include Khaira (who I imagine won't be counted on to step in as anything beyond 4C). We have a decent pipeline of checking centers in Gambardella, Vessel, and Rasanen (Platzer is AHL depth at this point). But top 6 center prospects? None. Thomas would be tremendous value. Smart two-way player that, if he can't play 2C, we'd be happy if he could play 2RW. If not even that, I'm sure he could at least be a long term cost effective 3C.

Good post agree with it all except Centers. Benson will be a great top 9 center.

This in a nutshell.

As much as we as fans are vindicated in crapping on RNH and Eberle for their playoff performance, the fact remains that we need to be able to replace their regular-season production (or close to it) after managing to dump their contracts. If we don't do that, we run the risk of suffering a Islanders-esque step back after Snow thought that Ladd and Chimera would be adequate replacements for Okposo and Nielsen....

We need to draft a Suzuki/Thomas as well as get Spencer Foo inked...Stat. Then hope that those guys can come in and replicate RNH/Eberle from 2016-2017 by the time both McDavid and Draisaitl are on their second contracts.....that's how Pittsburgh and Chicago have managed to remain consistently competitive.

EDIT: Isn't Benson a LW? Also, I'm not as high on him as I once was. One of my buddies in Calgary was helped train and work with him a while back and said that his skating needed to improve by leaps and bounds if his game were to translate to the NHL.

 

[40oz]

He's a much better transition passer than in-zone passer/PP quarterback, IMO.

I think he's going to be a guy like Larsson where you notice his passing ability when he's making outlet passes, but no so much when he gets into the offensive end.

Interesting, I only watched one SSM game this season but he looked dangerous with the puck. It'd be interesting to see someone dive into his stats, he's scoring at nearly a ppg and for a draft elligible dman that's huge. Really, he's scoring at a rate similar to guys like Ceci/Hamilton/Peitrangelo/Subban/Doughty in their draft years.

edit: Timmins is one of the older players in this draft though too

 

[THall4]

yeah i think Chia's plan is to draft lots of defensemen and some high iq forwards. Given the price of good dmen this is a great plan, hope we can turn into a D factory like Anaheim

I actually believe that Chia will focus harder on all forward positions. I think he may end up grabbing a RHD but RW and LW prospects are of higher need ATM

 

[THall4]

Alright, if these players are still on the board when the Oilers pick at #22, who would you guys choose and why?

LW Kristian Vesalainen, Frölunda (SHL)
LW Jason Robertson, Kingston (OHL)
LW Matthew Strome, Hamilton (OHL)

C Nick Suzuki, Owen Sound (OHL)
C Robert Thomas, London (OHL)
C Shane Bowers, Waterloo (OHL)
C Ryan Poehling, St. Cloud (NCAA)

RW Klim Kostin, Dynamo Moskva (KHL)
RW Kole Lind, Kelowna (WHL)

RD Callan Foote, Kelowna (WHL)
RD Conor Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
RD Henri Jokiharju, Portland (WHL)

Certainly not an easy choice, and it feels a lot harder when you put it up in a list like this. So many options and players that are interesting. Maybe another good reason to move down. Then again if you really like someone...

For me it would be

Cal Foote - RHD...
Klim Kostin - Big, physical, fast, Chiarelli type player
Ryan Poehling - also big, and skates well, high hky IQ, reminds me of a lighter version on Toews in some kinda way

 

[Zaddy]

He's a much better transition passer than in-zone passer/PP quarterback, IMO.

I think he's going to be a guy like Larsson where you notice his passing ability when he's making outlet passes, but no so much when he gets into the offensive end.

Agreed. I think absolute best case scenario he could be a #2D, but much more likely he'll be a stay-at-home D on the 2nd pairing who is great at transitioning the puck up the ice. Think he could still put up a lot of points in that role, especially if he plays with McDavid

 

[dustrock]

Interesting, I only watched one SSM game this season but he looked dangerous with the puck. It'd be interesting to see someone dive into his stats, he's scoring at nearly a ppg and for a draft elligible dman that's huge. Really, he's scoring at a rate similar to guys like Ceci/Hamilton/Peitrangelo/Subban/Doughty in their draft years.

edit: Timmins is one of the older players in this draft though too

Yeah, this gives me pause. He's kind of zoomed the last few months and he's older. If he zoomed and he was one of the younger kids, I'd probably be more interested.

I get that players figure it out at different times, particularly d-men, but there's other players I'd take at 22, most of them forwards.

 

[Reesor]

So of the two Timmins is the safer pick but Jokiharu has more untapped offensive potential ?

Who would you pick for the oilers between the two?

 

[Aceboogie]

I see lots of dynamic qualities in Timmins, not sure if he meets that "safe" label for me, since normally that means lower upside. While Timmins is older, he really started to come on strong this season and I really like those late bloomers

 

[Zaddy]

Great in-depth interview with the New Jersey Devils director of amateur scouting Paul Castron:

https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/ten...-of-amateur-scouting-paul-castron/c-289689520

Really gives you a good idea of how NHL scouts/teams operate and how they think.

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

Wow, I just looked at some mock drafts and I haven't heard of some of the guys in the top 10. Feels weird to not care too much about the draft.

I don't think its just that we have a low pick, but that its also just a boring draft year.

 

[Paralyzer008]

My guess is the Oilers will wait and see if Michael Rasmussen falls to 22.

If he doesn't, they'll trade their 1st for a 2nd + another pick and take Issac Ratcliffe in round 2.

Not a fan of Ratcliffe, Rasmussen I think will be a solid No.3 C with potential to move up.

 

[SupremeTeam16]

Draft BPA or players with highest ceilings and keep tapping NCAA and Europe FA's for safe bet NHL'ers and coach em up.

NCAA and Euro leagues are starting to produce more quality prospects who are further along development wise. They are free and usually close to contributing in bottom 6 or supporting roles.

 

[Zaddy]

Come ooooooooooon, can draft day get here already. I want some new shiny prospects to be excited about

 

[dustrock]

I think the top 30 could be all over the place, especially with draft day trades and such.

There's a general consensus I think on the top 20 or so, but even there, guys like Makar, Liljegren, Thomas, Suzuki have been ranked all over the place.

 

[Aceboogie]

Reports are that Lil JeGren is open to coming to NA next year to play in CHL or AHL. I think thatd be pretty cool. Personally id try him in AHL first to see if he can handle it, if not put him in CHL for a year

I like that flexibility over a CHL player where you have to wait 2 years

 

[40oz]

My guess is the Oilers will wait and see if Michael Rasmussen falls to 22.

If he doesn't, they'll trade their 1st for a 2nd + another pick and take Issac Ratcliffe in round 2.

Not a fan of Ratcliffe, Rasmussen I think will be a solid No.3 C with potential to move up.

I'm not a fan of Rasmussen, this year's highly ranked big guy with questionable offense.

26 of his 55 points came on the PP, and almost half of his goals. He's not even in the top 20 of draft eligible WHL forwards in even strength goals, assists, or points per game. Personally, i wouldn't risk wasting a first rounder on him.


oh but he's big!

 

[dustrock]

Canucks Army had a compilation on the various draft rankings. Man, this year is all over the place.

 

[Zaddy]

Canucks Army had a compilation on the various draft rankings. Man, this year is all over the place.

Yup, but what's encouraging is that Nick Suzuki is ranked pretty low still, so there seems to be a very real chance that he'll be available at the Oilers pick.

 

[dustrock]

Only knock I've seen on Suzuki is his skating.

Is that a real problem?

 

[cordlessphone]

Only knock I've seen on Suzuki is his skating.

Is that a real problem?

His skating is inefficient, but his quickness and top speed are both surprisingly decent. It's something that if he improves on, it could be a really strong asset for him, but even if he doesn't, it shouldn't hinder him.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

Alright, if these players are still on the board when the Oilers pick at #22, who would you guys choose and why?

LW Kristian Vesalainen, Frölunda (SHL)
LW Jason Robertson, Kingston (OHL)
LW Matthew Strome, Hamilton (OHL)

C Nick Suzuki, Owen Sound (OHL)
C Robert Thomas, London (OHL)
C Shane Bowers, Waterloo (OHL)
C Ryan Poehling, St. Cloud (NCAA)

RW Klim Kostin, Dynamo Moskva (KHL)
RW Kole Lind, Kelowna (WHL)

RD Callan Foote, Kelowna (WHL)
RD Conor Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
RD Henri Jokiharju, Portland (WHL)

Certainly not an easy choice, and it feels a lot harder when you put it up in a list like this. So many options and players that are interesting. Maybe another good reason to move down. Then again if you really like someone...

Bowers. His floor is a 3rd line centre. We need someone with his skill set in our prospect pool anyways and we don't need to rush him. He's the next Antoine Vermette type guy. Oilers haven't had one of those guys come along in years.