GDT: 2018 NHL Draft Lottery

[Oddbob]

This just in:

Eichel trades #1 Pick!

 

[Frk It]

1) Defensemen are notoriously hard to project if they aren't slam dunk prospects.
2) Detroit has been notoriously bad at developing D-men. Any d-man that doesn't come with a polished game seem to be very likely to be fumbled by Detroit. Even highly thought of prospects that succeeded at every level before the NHL haven't seem to been able to make the jump.
3) Its not easy to develop good talent. If it was Edmonton should be a top team right now.

Right now Detroit has shown no ability to develop D-men. In the past they were dependent on using FA to supplement Lidstrom, and it worked well. This has left Detroit with poor scouting and development in that capacity. Until I see Detroit take a D prospect from juniors to top pairing, I am skeptical that they have the ability.

I think “development” is generally overstated.

I’ve said I think we overload the GR roster too much, but otherwise I don’t see much to suggest we are bad at developing players.

I think more likely we just haven’t drafted well. And just because we’ve been bad at it doesn’t mean you don’t pick them.

 

[Ezekial]

Also has nasty hands and has size....

If they pick up Wahlstrom I really see them similar to Winnipeg, big bodies that can move, score, and wear you down.

Obviously still need to shore up the D.

 

[Shaman464]

I think “development” is generally overstated.

I’ve said I think we overload the GR roster too much, but otherwise I don’t see much to suggest we are bad at developing players.

I think more likely we just haven’t drafted well. And just because we’ve been bad at it doesn’t mean you don’t pick them.

Development isn't that overstated actually. A lot of defense is taught/learned, and can be improved. Obviously you have to build on good bedrock to get there, but the fact that Detroit has had some very well regarded prospects and almost none have made much of a mark on the NHL tells me that there is something going on with how the team is preparing the d-men for the NHL game.

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

Happy for Buffalo, and glad that Montreal didn't get 1st.

I'm not happy for Buffalo.

Learn how to build a g'd roster. With the picks Buffalo has had in recent memory, there is no reason they should be as bad as they are. **** them.

Buffalo has good talent on their roster. They've just squandered the **** out of it.

 

[Frk It]

Development isn't that overstated actually. A lot of defense is taught/learned, and can be improved. Obviously you have to build on good bedrock to get there, but the fact that Detroit has had some very well regarded prospects and almost none have made much of a mark on the NHL tells me that there is something going on with how the team is preparing the d-men for the NHL game.

I disagree. Detroit’s “well regarded” prospects had clear flaws and didn’t make improvements like they needed to.

Is that on Detroit? I don’t know, that’s the risk with 2nd round picks and beyond.

 

[HisNoodliness]

Buffalo has been really terrible for a while, Dahlin seems like the kind of guy that could be the last piece of the puzzle for them and finally get that team off the ground.

Carolina getting #2 is pretty dumb. That team is way too good. They need to fix the lottery odds so that this stops happening. Svechnikov will be an awesome addition for them with their superb defense.

I hate Montreal and am happy they didn't get Dahlin. They traded Subban and Sergachev, they deserve to keep regretting those decisions.

6 is fine, we should be able to get a very good player there. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Boqvist, but I'd be happy with any of the consensus top 10 guys.

 

[Run the Jewels]

I'd be fine with Wahlstrom, Bouchard or Hughes. I might actually go with Wahlstrom at 6 and try to trade up to pick a D around 10th overall. Offer the Isles Mantha + the Vegas first rounder for one of their firsts.

 

[chances14]

who were these "highly regarded" d-men prospects detroit failed to develop? No matter which defensman is available at 6, it will be the most talented d-men prospect the wings have had since at least kronwall

 

[Sparty]

He's not going to Harvard...may end up at Michigan or BU

Did he decommit? I haven't heard about that.

 

[Run the Jewels]

Did he decommit? I haven't heard about that.

There's talk he could go to Michigan. Not sure how likely that is, I know Jack Hughes is a strong possibility to Michigan and they've both done well on a line together. Again, no idea what he is thinking but there's talk that Michigan is in the mix for Wahlstrom.

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

I'd be fine with Wahlstrom, Bouchard or Hughes. I might actually go with Wahlstrom at 6 and try to trade up to pick a D around 10th overall. Offer the Isles Mantha + the Vegas first rounder for one of their firsts.

That's an awful idea. Just terrible. No way in hell Mantha just moves your pick from 32 at worst to 10 or 11.

Even so, I'd be much happier with

Bouchard/Hughes/etc.
keeping Mantha
Ryan Merkley (with that 32nd at latest pick)

than

Wahlstrom
A D at the very end of the list of the top ten prospects (Dobson, maybe in a longshot)

 

[Zetterberg4Captain]

I'd be fine with Wahlstrom, Bouchard or Hughes. I might actually go with Wahlstrom at 6 and try to trade up to pick a D around 10th overall. Offer the Isles Mantha + the Vegas first rounder for one of their firsts.

sorry but gross

pick one of boqvist or bouchard
then use our next 3 picks on 1 dman and 2 centres
then next year use our top 5 pick on a centre
then the year after we draft lafrenise(sp)

 

[KJoe88]

Carolina picking second is absurd. Truly is.

Figured the lottery would screw us over.

I’m actually baffled and quite demoralized as a fan of this game. They in no way should have the second pick over Arizona, Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa or Vancouver.

Might as make it so that any team can have equal or better odds for 1OA.

And now I truly believe we get no one of significance this draft. Honestly, none of the players outside of the top three have me excited. No different than picking a player at 20 or below. None of them will have an impact like we would want imho.

I’ll be smh at Carolina picking top three for a long time...

 

[Frk It]

Did he decommit? I haven't heard about that.

It just makes 0 sense for a top 10 pick to go to Harvard. He will go to another D1 program or the Q next year.

 

[BinCookin]

e

Carolina picking second is absurd. Truly is.

Figured the lottery would screw us over.

I’m actually baffled and quite demoralized as a fan of this game. They in no way should have the second pick over Arizona, Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa or Vancouver.

Might as make it so that any team can have equal or better odds for 1OA.

And now I truly believe we get no one of significance this draft. Honestly, none of the players outside of the top three have me excited. No different than picking a player at 20 or below. None of them will have an impact like we would want imho.

I’ll be smh at Carolina picking top three for a long time...

If you were/are expecting top 3 picks... news flash... worst team in hockey has decent odds to pick #4 each year.

 

[KJoe88]

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If you were/are expecting top 3 picks... news flash... worst team in hockey has decent odds to pick #4 each year.

It’s ridiculous that Carolina is picking ahead of us.

 

[Claypool]

Carolina picking second is absurd. Truly is.

Carolina tried to compete and make the playoffs this year. They got rewarded. Funny that.

 

[Orthodox Caveman]

just watched more shift by shift footage of Hughes.....man what a skater. On puck moving alone, he's precisely what this team needs. Really leaning towards Boqvist or him over the bigger defensemen at #6

 

[jkutswings]

It’s ridiculous that Carolina is picking ahead of us.

Blame the Sabres. It was public actions of intentional tanking that led to setting up the lottery this way.

Don't get me wrong; I'd be in favor of removing the odds altogether, and the worst team automatically gets the first pick. But the NHL didn't like the way that Buffalo tried to seal the deal for McDavid, so they instituted the current system to hedge against such behavior.

 

[ChadS]

Just need to keep at it and one day we’ll win...

 

[Ulysses31]

Wonder if carolina is interested it having both brothers svechnikov

 

[Leronziia]

I'm not happy for Buffalo.

Learn how to build a g'd roster. With the picks Buffalo has had in recent memory, there is no reason they should be as bad as they are. **** them.

Buffalo has good talent on their roster. They've just squandered the **** out of it.

Allow me to clarify: happy for Buffalo fans, who deserve something to get excited about after their organisation has continually f***ed up.

 

[Chris 84]

it isn't ridiculous that the canes are getting 2nd overall. they aren't a playoff team, so they aren't thaaat great. they attempted to make the playoffs rather than tank. they failed, and they haven't been punished for attempting to remain competitive and win games. that is the whole point of the new draft lottery, and i think that it is only a good thing. sure, disagree with that if you want, but i'm glad to see the relatively weak teams who try given a chance over similar teams who tank.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Carolina getting #2 is pretty dumb. That team is way too good. They need to fix the lottery odds so that this stops happening. Svechnikov will be an awesome addition for them with their superb defense.

Carolina is way too good? They haven’t made the playoffs in 9 years! The lottery is supposed to help out teams like that, the ones that are stuck in constant mediocrity or struggles and never quite get competitive. I’m actually happy for them. Necas+Svech/Zadina should give that team a major shot in the arm.

Carolina picking second is absurd. Truly is.

Figured the lottery would screw us over.

I’m actually baffled and quite demoralized as a fan of this game. They in no way should have the second pick over Arizona, Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa or Vancouver.

Might as make it so that any team can have equal or better odds for 1OA.

And now I truly believe we get no one of significance this draft. Honestly, none of the players outside of the top three have me excited. No different than picking a player at 20 or below. None of them will have an impact like we would want imho.

I’ll be smh at Carolina picking top three for a long time...

Lottery did not screw us over, we dropped only one spot. AZ and Sens got the worst deal.

But I find it funny how the higher we draft the less people value high picks.
Draft at #20? ”Should have stayed at #16 where the real impact players were!”
Draft at #15? ”Need to be in the top 10 to get talent!”
Draft at #9? ”Need to take this guy ranked top 5!”
Draft at #6? ”Only the top 3 would make a difference”

And I’m pretty sure if we got picks 2 or 3 there’d be negativity towards us adding a high-caliber forward instead of a D.