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

[Agent Zuuuub]

9/10 Bob Mckenzie scouts had Tkachuk top 5. Only 5/10 had Zadina top 5. 4/10 scouts had Dobson top 5.

I think it's safe to say we're missing something by just looking at stats and seeing him periodically.

My order of preference as of today:
1. Dobson (D) - #1 D upside
2. Kotkaniemi (C) - First line centre upside
3. Zadina (LW/RW) - First line winger upside
4. Tkachuk (LW/RW) - First line winger upside
5. Bouchard (D) - Top 3 upside, PP specialist

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### Give the pick to Colorado* ###
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6. Hughes (D)
7. Wahlstrom (LW/RW)
8. Smith (D)
9. Boqvist (D)
10. Hayton (C)

*Next year is not looking like a great year for top pairing right shot d-men. If you're looking for one you won't get a better chance than this year in the top 7.

Or maybe scouts are overvaluing brand name, size and intangibles like they do every draft.

 

[HSF]

Or maybe scouts are overvaluing brand name, size and intangibles like they do every draft.

Like who ? Crouse? VIrtanen?

Brady had just as good of a WJC as any of the other draft eligible guys and he looked damn good playing in it

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

Sandin's skating for a small defender worries me.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Like who ? Crouse? VIrtanen?

Brady had just as good of a WJC as any of the other draft eligible guys and he looked damn good playing in it

Reinhart, Lazar, Schenn etc etc

 

[HSF]

Reinhart, Lazar, Schenn etc etc

Im confused...Lazar didnt have the name or size.

Schenn just put up 70 pts in the nhl and Reinhart is probably a 2C.

Both are good players :s

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Im confused...Lazar didnt have the name or size.

Schenn just put up 70 pts in the nhl and Reinhart is probably a 2C.

Both are good players :s

Griffin, Luke

Lazar was definitely a brand name. He was one of those media darling players. "Future NHL captain material" "step in to the NHL right away" "Plays the game the right way"

 

[HSF]

Griffin, Luke

those are defensemen LMAO

lets compare Gudbranson to Thachuk aswell

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

those are defensemen LMAO

lets compare Gudbranson to Thachuk aswell

So what does it matter if they are defenceman or not? The point is that scouts overrate size and intangibles.

 

[HSF]

So what does it matter if they are defenceman or not? The point is that scouts overrate size and intangibles.

It matters cause it is a completely different position with different skillsets

 

[Jakeybonz]

hey guys, stopping in from the panthers board and the whole hoffman thing got me into "sympathetic root for ottawa mode." i was looking at your precarious position of owing colorado ur 1st rounder this yr or next and i was thinking instead of handing over the 4th and tanking or rolling the dice on next year and handing over that pick, why cant u guys trade down to a very low first round pick this year and get some great value out of it and just hand colorado the late first rounder? i would check if someone already posited this, but the thread is a billion pages long cause u guys actually have fans our threads are like 20-30 pages generally. anyway, thoughts?

 

[OgieO]

The pick to Colorado has to be our original pick, unfortunately.

 

[YouGotAStuGoing]

hey guys, stopping in from the panthers board and the whole hoffman thing got me into "sympathetic root for ottawa mode." i was looking at your precarious position of owing colorado ur 1st rounder this yr or next and i was thinking instead of handing over the 4th and tanking or rolling the dice on next year and handing over that pick, why cant u guys trade down to a very low first round pick this year and get some great value out of it and just hand colorado the late first rounder? i would check if someone already posited this, but the thread is a billion pages long cause u guys actually have fans our threads are like 20-30 pages generally. anyway, thoughts?

Been discussed plenty – the pick that was traded was Ottawa's pick, not a pick that Ottawa owns.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

If we re-sign EK, for some reason I think it would do us big favour to draft Tkachuk.

Not as skilled per say, but if he is capable of 55+ points then everything else he brings would be momentous. He would add so much character, team identity, work ethic and hard-nosed play to our team. Could change entire dynamic of our top 6 and locker-room. Kind of like Wilson in Washington or M.Tkachuk in Calgary, not as skilled as their teammates but as vital to their success.

 

[StoicSensFan]

Gotta think we're drafting Tkachuk if Smith is being traded.

 

[R2010]

Or maybe scouts are overvaluing brand name, size and intangibles like they do every draft.

Maybe but not unanimously. There are some red flags with his offensive production but I have a hard time projecting him to be anything but a 50-60 point top line winger. That's a good top 10 pick every year. Zadina may have more upside but I think it is a little concerning that so many scouts view him as not top 5.

From what I understand the feeling is that he is less NHL ready than previously thought. Could be a bias towards the more NHL ready player with less upside (Tkachuk) over the less NHL ready player with more upside (Zadina).

Either way #1 D / #1 C upside > #1 W upside every day of the week for me.

 

[Jakeybonz]

The pick to Colorado has to be our original pick, unfortunately.

damnit, i thought i was being a genius there lol. well in that case i hope zadina falls for u and theres a decent chance he might. as far as giving away a 4th overall, im completely against that under almost any circumstances. just for a 50% chance at drafting top 3 and thats only if u finish dead last. no way. gotta keep this pick. plus imagine the message thatd send. garth snow was in almost the exact same position a few yrs ago and he kept the 5th overall. u must keep the 4th. especially in this draft.

almost no one knows this but in 98 we traded our first rounder to a team that owed it to tampa and we ended up winning the freakin lottery. lecavalier ends up going to tampa and helps bring them a cup. i hate trading first rounders that arent top 5 protected. its madness.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Gotta think we're drafting Tkachuk if Smith is being traded.

Lol anyone can replace what Smith's been bringing recently.

 

[FolignoQuantumLeap]

Gotta think we're drafting Tkachuk if Smith is being traded.

Makes sense. We'll need to fill our quota of unsportsmanlike penalties. The 4th overall pick would be well spent to replace that tremendous loss of stupidity and lack of goal scoring prowess.

 

[Ouroboros]

We won't even have the chance to take Tkachuk - he's going to the Habs at 3.

 

[FolignoQuantumLeap]

We won't even have the chance to take Tkachuk - he's going to the Habs at 3.

Please.

 

[TkachukNorris79]

I think Dorion likes Bouchard, and Boqvist to a lesser extent. Randy Lee likes Tkachuk. Mann likes Dobson.

They all really like Zadina, so I have to think he will be the pick if he's there if not it really depends on who has the final say (Dorion)

Damn, I really hope we go with Mann's opinion. Dobson is my preference if Zadina is off the board. I'd be fine with Boqvist. Not the biggest fan of Bouchard and Tkachuk compared to those other 3

 

[aragorn]

How would that be piling on... I have heard from all the Tkachuk detractors over and over ... not enough skill...look at his stats... Bowers ... I think Tkachuk will be a really good player. I can see over 60 pts peak, and a consistent 50-60 pt 2 way guy while making his linemates more productive. There is no way Zadina is a match for Tkachuk's 2 way play and without improved speed he certainly would not be in the NHL. Blueline in Zadina is really good .. shifty and he can score... no question and I think He'll out point Tkachuk on average but I think Tkachuk will offer more and be more valuable. I would take Dobson, Tkachuk or Kotkaniemi over Zadina

Good post. I'm down to those three but I'm leaning now a little more towards Kotkaniemi first, simply because it would give Ottawa a dynamic one two punch of Brown & Kotkaniemi at centre. Size, strength & skill down the middle seems to win championships.

I love the way Tkachuk plays & Ottawa could really use a disruptive agitator in their lineup & I also think they could really use a big potential top pairing RD who is good at both ends of the ice.

Kotkaniemi C, Tkachuk LW & Dobson RD by a very slim margin but I would think it a success with anyone of the three Friday night.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Damn, I really hope we go with Mann's opinion. Dobson is my preference if Zadina is off the board. I'd be fine with Boqvist. Not the biggest fan of Bouchard and Tkachuk compared to those other 3

You'd think the opinion of the team's head scout should take preference over the opinions of the GM and assistant GM, who have obviously seen far less of the potential picks than said head scout, but whatever

 

[BondraTime]

We won't even have the chance to take Tkachuk - he's going to the Habs at 3.

Everything's I've heard is Kotkaniemi or Dobson for the Habs, really high on Dobson and we've all heard heard about the Kotkaniemi connection.

 

[topshelf15]

Everything's I've heard is Kotkaniemi or Dobson for the Habs, really high on Dobson and we've all heard heard about the Kotkaniemi connection.

Now that has me worried about Dobson....The habs scouting has been ...well errr...Not that good