2018 Draft D-Men

[HockeyDBspecialist]

Of all the D-men drafted in this past draft how would you have them ranked? I know it’s very early but based off of what I have seen from each of them my top 10 would be
1. Hughes
2.Dobson
3.Wilde
4.Smith
5.Boqvist
6.Miller
7.Merkley
8.McIssac
9.Bouchard
10.Beaudin
HM: Bernard-Docker, Lundkvist, Alexeyev, Samuelson
-Also I am excluding Dahlin because he is obviously #1

where's Romanov or Brook...

 

[Nocashstyle]

Dahlin
Hughes
Miller
Bouchard
Wilde

Reality is that Boqvist hasn't been good this season by any measure, Smith is still hampered by his size, Dobson has not had an exceptional season and hasn't shown much improvement.

How about Wilde’s questionable hockey sense? Miller’s lack of experience?

They all have question marks.

As far as Smith, he’s a PMD, this isn’t 1995, 5’11 is not THAT small. His offensive numbers speak for themself. On the defensive side, one of his strengths is his positioning and ability to read the plays. He doesn’t necessarily need to manhandle guys to be effective if he is always in the right spot.

Can’t say I know enough about Boqvist or Dobson to comment, but their numbers do look solid and from what I’ve read they’ve look solid.

 

[Daximus]

where's Romanov or Brook...

Brook was drafted in 2017.

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

Brook was drafted in 2017.

Why did I put Brook, my mistake.

Romanov I meant. Alexeyev and Romanov are both top 10 of 2018 D

 

[FlyguyOX]

How about Wilde’s questionable hockey sense? Miller’s lack of experience?

They all have question marks.

As far as Smith, he’s a PMD, this isn’t 1995, 5’11 is not THAT small. His offensive numbers speak for themself. On the defensive side, one of his strengths is his positioning and ability to read the plays. He doesn’t necessarily need to manhandle guys to be effective if he is always in the right spot.

Can’t say I know enough about Boqvist or Dobson to comment, but their numbers do look solid and from what I’ve read they’ve look solid.

Put Smith on an NCAA team for this past year like Miller and you're telling me that he's near PPG (he is PPG for all intents and purposes if you take out his injury). Not bad for lack of experience. His upside is huge.

Wilde's hockey sense has improved this year. He also leads his team in points and is 6th on team in goals. He's big, he's dynamic. Higher upside.

 

[Nocashstyle]

Put Smith on an NCAA team for this past year like Miller and you're telling me that he's near PPG (he is PPG for all intents and purposes if you take out his injury). Not bad for lack of experience. His upside is huge.

Wilde's hockey sense has improved this year. He also leads his team in points and is 6th on team in goals. He's big, he's dynamic. Higher upside.

I mean, that’s not an argument you can make. You do not know that. Also, being PPG in NCAA as a defenseman is not all that uncommon anymore.

 

[Jerzey Devil]

Does being PPG in the NCAA make Jeremy Davies a top 5 d man from the 2016 draft?

 

[Nocashstyle]

Does being PPG in the NCAA make Jeremy Davies a top 5 d man from the 2016 draft?

Obviously. Walsh too for 2017. We’re so lucky

 

[DANOZ28]

isn't the wild's brilliant off the board pick filip johansson at the top of the list? (lol & crying)

 

[Mrb1p]

Bouchard has 49 points in 40 games (1.23 PPG) , while Boqvist has 56 points in 50 games (1.12 PPG).

Why is there such a big drop off between Bouchard and Boqvist? Bouchard is way too low on your list.

Boqvist is much younger and a rookie in the OHL.

 

[Rydgar]

I really don't get the high ratings of Boqvist. I'm not sure his D+1 is even better than Bouchard's D-1.

 

[newfy]

Put Smith on an NCAA team for this past year like Miller and you're telling me that he's near PPG (he is PPG for all intents and purposes if you take out his injury). Not bad for lack of experience. His upside is huge.

Wilde's hockey sense has improved this year. He also leads his team in points and is 6th on team in goals. He's big, he's dynamic. Higher upside.

I've seen this said more than once but K'Andre Miller isnt a point per game. Hes a 0.84 point per game player. Over a 40 game season thats the difference between 40 points and 33 points. You mention his injury but that doesnt just automatically change his numbers. You could play the what-if game for a lot of players. Lets just keep to the facts.. Miller is a ~0,84 point per game dman right now. Definitely has big upside, but who doesnt in these rankings? And he doesnt need a made up point per game to justify his big upside

 

[FlyguyOX]

Obviously. Walsh too for 2017. We’re so lucky

You're being intentionally obtuse. He's second in PPG for a U-19 player in NCAA this year as a defenseman. Top D-man.

You know who the top U-19 D-man was last year in PPG? Quinn Hughes.

Before that? Adam Fox

Before that? Werenski

Before that? Werenski

Before that? Trouba

Before that? Gostisbehere

Before that? Justin Faulk

Those are all some comps for you. Meanwhile the D-man +1 in the WHL with Smith's stats are countless.

 

[Nocashstyle]

You're being intentionally obtuse. He's second in PPG for a U-19 player in NCAA this year as a defenseman. Top D-man.

You know who the top U-19 D-man was last year in PPG? Quinn Hughes.

Before that? Adam Fox

Before that? Werenski

Before that? Werenski

Before that? Trouba

Before that? Gostisbehere

Before that? Justin Faulk

Those are all some comps for you. Meanwhile the D-man +1 in the WHL with Smith's stats are countless.

Not sure what these name have to do with Miller. “He’s second in ppg as a 19 year old D...so here are some guys that were in first”

He certainly has upside and potential for a high ceiling. He’s not there right now though.

 

[avsfan09]

Today is his birthday so yeah I guess lol.

Well this changes everything

 

[The Moose is Loose]

Why did I put Brook, my mistake.

Romanov I meant. Alexeyev and Romanov are both top 10 of 2018 D

Yeah because he is a Habs prospects. Thats the only reason why

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

Yeah because they're both Habs prospects. Thats the only reason why

Alex was drafted by Wash....

they are the 2 best russian D prospect and deserve way more hype. THey both were steal in the draft

 

[FlyguyOX]

Not sure what these name have to do with Miller. “He’s second in ppg as a 19 year old D...so here are some guys that were in first”

He certainly has upside and potential for a high ceiling. He’s not there right now though.

It's ok, reading comprehension is hard. 2nd in PPG for any U-19 position in NCAA, he's the tops in PPG for U-19 D-man

That list is previous top U-19 D-man in NCAA for previous ears.

Joel Farabee at 0.94
Miller at 0.84

 

[scallionjj11]

This thread needs some JBD love. He should at least be on the list.

 

[Nocashstyle]

It's ok, reading comprehension is hard. 2nd in PPG for any U-19 position in NCAA, he's the tops in PPG for U-19 D-man

That list is previous top U-19 D-man in NCAA for previous ears.

Joel Farabee at 0.94
Miller at 0.84

At least now you’re admitting he’s not at a point per game pace like you previously were.

There’s a reason he was hardly utilized on the US WJC team. He’s not a fully reliable top tier defenseman yet.

 

[bigdog16]

Put Smith on an NCAA team for this past year like Miller and you're telling me that he's near PPG (he is PPG for all intents and purposes if you take out his injury). Not bad for lack of experience. His upside is huge.

Wilde's hockey sense has improved this year. He also leads his team in points and is 6th on team in goals. He's big, he's dynamic. Higher upside.

Only thing I'm weary about with Wilde is the fact that he took a step down from last year when you look at the competition he faced. Going from facing NCAA teams to facing OHL players is a step down. I don't hate his decision, because I do think he was one of those players that needed a ton of reps, and also a player who might struggle early in the NCAA with the questionable IQ. It is looking like a good call on his part development wise though.

 

[theVladiator]

1. Dahlin
2. Dobson
3. Hughes
4. Boqvist
5. Miller
6. Sandin
7. Alexeyev
8. Bouchard
9. Smith

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

I think Bouchard looks pretty good to me. I don't get why people dislike him.

Lots of good dmen for sure. Just have to wait a few years and see how they pan out.

 

[boredmale]

I think Bouchard looks pretty good to me. I don't get why people dislike him.

Lots of good dmen for sure. Just have to wait a few years and see how they pan out.

I think the 2 strikes against Bouchard is his skating and if he isn't scoring he will be useless. I see his upside though that of Mike Green or prime Sheldon Souray(not sure if that is a good or bad thing. lol)

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

I think the 2 strikes against Bouchard is his skating and if he isn't scoring he will be useless. I see his upside though that of Mike Green or prime Sheldon Souray(not sure if that is a good or bad thing. lol)

We'll just have to wait and see I guess.