NHL Entry Draft 2018 Draft - Prospect Discussion (Poll added)

[BigRig4]

I was pissed when Runblad was traded because I thought he’d be real good. Maybe not Karlsson good, but a very good top 4 guy. Plus Turris had perceived attitude problems, so I wasn’t crazy about getting him.

I was in the same boat, but was even crazier about Rundblad tbh. Thought he'd be a top pairing guy, whereas Turris was probably a bust. Maybe my worst take ever.

 

[Hale The Villain]

That vid is pretty damning on Bouchard. Hopefully the Sens see the same thing.

It isn't really. Farkas took pieces of Bouchard's worst games all year, overanalyzed it and pretended it was the norm.

We're talking about a guy who has Bouchard ranked in the 2nd round and ranks his hockey sense and vision, two of his best assets, as sub-par. He's clearly not an objective source when it comes to this player.

Bouchard's effort level in the defensive zone is definitely a problem (probably his biggest fault), but I've watched a lot of Bouchard this year, and that was easily the most out-of-it I've seen him. He's not usually that dejected.

I've said this before but he reminds me so much of Ceci in almost every way.

That's a bad comparison.

Ceci is an excellent skater that works hard defensively but lacks hockey sense, vision, skill and shooting ability (not in velocity, but in accuracy/release), which makes him more of a DFD than a OFD

Bouchard is a mediocre skater that doesn't move his feet and compete defensively, but is a monster in the offensive zone because of his hockey sense, vision, skill and shooting ability.

 

[Engineer]

I'll be honest I haven't seen much of Bouchard, but watching that video makes me thing of Gudbranson.

 

[Harbour Dog]

Rangers fan coming in peace with a quick question:

I assume that the chances of you guys giving this pick to Colorado are pretty much 0%?

 

[Hale The Villain]

Bouchard is, in many ways, the defense-version of Logan Brown as a prospect.

There are a lot of qualities that describe both players pretty well:

The Good: very talented, high level of hockey sense, great passing ability and vision, good shooting ability, good size

The Bad: lacks quickness, doesn't move feet, doesn't put in all that much effort away from the puck, inattentive defensively, doesn't use the body enough

If the Sens feel they can iron out Bouchard's defensive issues, which primarily stem from a lack of effort level (not hockey sense), just like they felt they could do the same from Brown, them picking him at 4 wouldn't shock me.

 

[FolignoQuantumLeap]

Rangers fan coming in peace with a quick question:

I assume that the chances of you guys giving this pick to Colorado are pretty much 0%?

I think Dorion has said we're keeping the pick. He lies pretty often but it's the wrong move so I have every reason to think he'll follow through and pick someone underwhelming at 4.

 

[Hale The Villain]

I think Dorion has said we're keeping the pick. He lies pretty often but it's the wrong move so I have every reason to think he'll follow through and pick someone underwhelming at 4.

Yup. Have already prepared myself for the inevitable Tkachuk selection at 4th OVR.

 

[Harbour Dog]

I think Dorion has said we're keeping the pick. He lies pretty often but it's the wrong move so I have every reason to think he'll follow through and pick someone underwhelming at 4.

Fair enough. Thanks!

 

[Karl Prime]

I can't see Dorion taking Bouchard or Dobson anyways unless they know they're losing Karlsson, since they'd have him and Ceci (I guess they would trade Ceci if one of them became better but they love him it seems).

 

[Neiler]

I, unlike many here it seems, am stoked to get Tkachuk at 4. He is a very well rounded player who is good at a lot of things. That's what I want on my team.

Hoffman for instance is a great goal scorer but he's close to useless in many other situations and it costs us sometimes. Zadina looks very similar in my admittedly limited viewings.

Tkachuk, Brown & Stone on a line together in a year or two is an exciting thought.

 

[derriko]

So would anybody be upset if Zadina turns into a 70 point winger while Tkachuk is mostly around 55 and he’s the Sens pick?

I think intangibles are sometimes overrated, but if that was their production I would take Tkachuk.

 

[JungleBeat]

So would anybody be upset if Zadina turns into a 70 point winger while Tkachuk is mostly around 55 and he’s the Sens pick?

I think intangibles are sometimes overrated, but if that was their production I would take Tkachuk.

What 55 point winger would you take in the NHL over one that scores 70? Can’t think of any..

 

[FolignoQuantumLeap]

So would anybody be upset if Zadina turns into a 70 point winger while Tkachuk is mostly around 55 and he’s the Sens pick?

I think intangibles are sometimes overrated, but if that was their production I would take Tkachuk.

That would be crazy bad. 70 points would make Zadina a top 40 scorer. 2 guys that scored 70 points this year were Laine and Draisaitl who are both top 10 players at their positions.

That's like saying you'd rather have Kadri (scored 55 this year) over Laine.

I don't even think Tkachuk has 55 point potential either.

 

[Langdon Alger]

So would anybody be upset if Zadina turns into a 70 point winger while Tkachuk is mostly around 55 and he’s the Sens pick?

I think intangibles are sometimes overrated, but if that was their production I would take Tkachuk.

If Zadina is off the board, I wouldn’t hate getting Tkachuk, but if both guys are there you take Zadina.

 

[Neiler]

What 55 point winger would you take in the NHL over one that scores 70? Can’t think of any..

I'm not going to pretend like this is a long list but I'd prefer guys like Simmonds (46) or Zuccarello (53) on my team over Bailey (71) or Perron (67). It can happen.

 

[JungleBeat]

I'm not going to pretend like this is a long list but I'd prefer guys like Simmonds (46) or Zuccarello (53) on my team over Bailey (71) or Perron (67). It can happen.

Bailey and Perron both had career contract years. Don’t think they’ll reach those totals again IMO. It can happen though.

 

[aragorn]

I’m on mobile, but I read a tweet about the Bobcast. It said basically here’s your 3-6 picks:

Zadina / Dobson / Tkachuk / Kotkaniemi

and I would include Bouchard in there too but as to the order, I think's it's anybodies guess.

 

[Sens Vader]

So would anybody be upset if Zadina turns into a 70 point winger while Tkachuk is mostly around 55 and he’s the Sens pick?

I think intangibles are sometimes overrated, but if that was their production I would take Tkachuk.

You take the 70 point player every day of the week

 

[DJB]

Bouchard is, in many ways, the defense-version of Logan Brown as a prospect.

There are a lot of qualities that describe both players pretty well:

The Good: very talented, high level of hockey sense, great passing ability and vision, good shooting ability, good size

The Bad: lacks quickness, doesn't move feet, doesn't put in all that much effort away from the puck, inattentive defensively, doesn't use the body enough

If the Sens feel they can iron out Bouchard's defensive issues, which primarily stem from a lack of effort level (not hockey sense), just like they felt they could do the same from Brown, them picking him at 4 wouldn't shock me.

Can you go post this and your previous post in the Bouchard thread in the prospects forum? The guy that made the video about Bouchard is clueless and i argued quite a bit with him buthe clearly is not objective like you say.

 

[Sens in Process]

I highly doubt Zadina is a perennial 70 point player. He is a shoot first type that wont rack up a high number of assists. 60 points seems like a more realistic projection. I think he will excel on the power play.

And for all you who prioritize speed, his combine results(top prospects game) suggest he might actually be slow.

Perhaps my bias..but I wouldn't want to take a plodding one dimensional goal scorer at 4.

 

[Sensinitis]

Plodding one dimensional goal scorer.

Yes, let’s pretend that’s exactly what Zadina is...

 

[aragorn]

Only 36 players scored 70 pts or more in the NHL this season, how can we be sure that Zadina has that potential & will consistently score that much yr after yr. It may even take him 5 yrs to even get anywhere near that amount (70 pts) & who knows how many times he can reach it on this team, not many have. 70 pts is a projection & not a fact, no one knows if he is capable of that until he does it.

IMO Zadina will be slightly better offensively than Tkachuk in the NHL but Tkachuk will be slightly better defensively & better in a number of other categories some of which can't be measured. For those who like goal scoring they will want Zadina & for those who like the intangibles & attaining team goals they will like Tkachuk.

And then there are those who think the team needs a defenceman more than a forward who will want one of the four defenceman ranked in the top 10. I also think that Kotkaniemi as a centre could & should be seen as a top contender as well to go anywhere from 3rd to 7th including Ottawa could pick him if they think he is the best forward on the board who could meet a number of their needs. IMO I think it comes down to five players Ottawa could select at #4 OA in Zadina, Tkachuk, Kotkaniemi, Dobson or Bouchard.

 

[Daffy]

Only 36 players scored 70 pts or more in the NHL this season, how can we be sure that Zadina has that potential & will consistently score that much yr after yr. It may even take him 5 yrs to even get anywhere near that amount (70 pts) & who knows how many times he can reach it on this team, not many have.

IMO Zadina will be slightly better offensively than Tkachuk in the NHL but Tkachuk will be slightly better defensively & better in a number of other categories some of which can't be measured. For those who like goal scoring they will want Zadina & for those who like the intangibles & attaining team goals they will like Tkachuk.

And then there are those who think the team needs a defenceman more than a forward who will want one of the four defenceman ranked in the top 10. I also think that Kotkaniemi as a centre could & should be seen as a top contender as well to go anywhere from 3rd to 7th including Ottawa could pick him if they think he is the best forward on the board who could meet a number of their needs. IMO I think it comes down to five players Ottawa could select at #4 OA in Zadina, Tkachuk, Kotkaniemi, Dobson or Bouchard.

I think Hughes is a possibility too.

 

[aragorn]

I think Hughes is a possibility too.

Dobson, Bouchard, Bodqvist & Hughes are the four defencemen I was thinking of that could all go in the top 10. But I would be surprised if Ottawa chose Hughes 4th overall given that they already have 2 or 3 very good left shot defencemen in the organization & could use a very good right shot defencemen, especially if they lose EK & Wideman this summer. Right shot defencemen are rare & they should be in a very good position to get a very good one if they choose a defenceman at 4th overall. I would think they would go for a right shot D over a left shot D but what do I know.

 

[BondraTime]

Plodding one dimensional goal scorer.

Yes, let’s pretend that’s exactly what Zadina is...

Yeah that's an absurd description