2018 NHL Entry Draft Thread (Less then 24 Hours Edition)

[Mrb1p]

Can someone explain me why Denisenko is still consider a mid first round talent (other than @Mrb1p ) because I don't get it.

Because he has better tools than a lot of people in the first round and despite what people claim, junior production matters a lot less without context.

Why do you think he should be out of the top 20?

 

[Mrb1p]

Just how much will Thomas' underwhelming U18 performance affect his status as a possible top 30-40 pick? I still like him very much as a prospect despite his weak play for Team Canada. I like his mind for the game.

Personally I'd take him ahead of McLeod, Dellandrea and Wise with pick #35. Not confident that he'll be on the board though.

People are putting way too much emphasis on small tournaments these days.

 

[Meat Wave]

People are putting way too much emphasis on small tournaments these days.

I'm wondering about scouting staffs though. Probably less than the general public.

 

[Habs76]

People are putting way too much emphasis on small tournaments these days.

People always have.

I don't watch much junior hockey, since its impossible to find streams and I'm not paying for an overpriced package of low quality hockey, but Thomas did absolutely nothing when I was watching Niagara, couldn't even tell he was playing.

EDIT: If you're bumping down Thomas based off the U-18's, you've gotta do the same with Wise, he and Gruden were terrible.

 

[Mrb1p]

I'm wondering about scouting staffs though. Probably less than the general public.

Recency bias is strong, so thats why most amateur amateur scouts choose to put emphasis on POs and u18s. I say scouts dont work like this at all, they evaluate strengths and weaknesses for the player, performance in a 10 game tourney matters, just not enough to drop someone more than 10 spots.

 

[Mrb1p]

People always have.

I don't watch much junior hockey, since its impossible to find streams and I'm not paying for an overpriced package of low quality hockey, but Thomas did absolutely nothing when I was watching Niagara, couldn't even tell he was playing.

EDIT: If you're bumping down Thomas based off the U-18's, you've gotta do the same with Wise, he and Gruden were terrible.

Arent you east coast canada? Isnt TVA available to you?

 

[Habs76]

Arent you east coast canada? Isnt TVA available to you?

I don't have TVA, I think it's just Quebec.

 

[ProspectsFanatic]

Because he has better tools than a lot of people in the first round and despite what people claim, junior production matters a lot less without context.

Why do you think he should be out of the top 20?

Denisenko supposedly has the offensively tools, but he doesn't have the track record to back it up, I am not convinced he is as skilled as he is portrayed to be. His season in the MHL was underwhelming and if you look at his international play this season he didn't outproduce players ranked 2nd/3rd round. He is only 5'11" too, I just don't get it. I have a Rubstov vibe about him.

 

[WinterLion]

Just how much will Thomas' underwhelming U18 performance affect his status as a possible top 30-40 pick? I still like him very much as a prospect despite his weak play for Team Canada. I like his mind for the game.

Personally I'd take him ahead of McLeod, Dellandrea and Wise with pick #35. Not confident that he'll be on the board though.

I think he will still go late 1st. He has a nice package of skills... just had a bad U18's. Pick 35 might be possible... we should be choosing from a group that includes guys who were on many 1st round lists.

 

[Mrb1p]

I don't have TVA, I think it's just Quebec.

Might be, yeah. You guys have to have a provider or something that offers a Q package? Halifax, fredericton, cape breton, saint john, etc.... there has to be something

 

[Mrb1p]

Denisenko supposedly has the offensively tools, but he doesn't have the track record to back it up, I am not convinced he is as skilled as he is portrayed to be. His season in the MHL was underwhelming and if you look at his international play this season he didn't outproduce players ranked 2nd/3rd round. He is only 5'11" too, I just don't get it. I have a Rubstov vibe about him.

How much of Denisenko have you watched?

 

[ProspectsFanatic]

How much of Denisenko have you watched?

I didn't see him play other than highlights which is why I am asking.

 

[Habs76]

Might be, yeah. You guys have to have a provider or something that offers a Q package? Halifax, fredericton, cape breton, saint john, etc.... there has to be something

I dunno there's probably something. I'm not buying it though with the $1.50 on my debit card haha. Also Fredericton doesn't have a team

 

[WeThreeKings]

I didn't see him play other than highlights which is why I am asking.

Do you remember Maxim Afinogenov? He's like that. Small guy who skates around the perimeter acting all fancy with a little muffin shot.

 

[Mrb1p]

I dunno there's probably something. I'm not buying it though with the $1.50 on my debit card haha. Also Fredericton doesn't have a team

Used to.

Tell your parents to checks its probably free

 

[Mrb1p]

Do you remember Maxim Afinogenov? He's like that. Small guy who skates around the perimeter acting all fancy with a little muffin shot.

Liar.

 

[Mrb1p]

Denisenko having a muffin shot is news to me. Its deceptively quick in tight and skating around the perimeter too. Maybe ive caught only the good games from him, i dont know.

He has somewhat of a typical skilled dangler vibe, thats true. Similar skillset to Drouin maybe a bit less hands. Every time i watched Denisenko he was absolutely dangerous and created chances for his team in a variety of ways. Hes really good at hiding himself behind Ds to bat one in easy and hes also really good at quick wristers in the slot.

 

[Andrei79]

I've seen Denisenko rip it. He can definitely shoot.

I'd take his Loko season with a grain of salt as well. I saw him get 3rd line minutes and Kovalenko (who's a bit older) aside, no one really produced. Slepets had an awful season there. Denisenko actually had one of the better ppgs despite all of this.

He's pretty much all skills. He has everything you want but sometimes he's a little too focused on unstructured play. Thats where the Afinogenov comparison is decent and why hes more of a mid to 20s pick. Id pick him high, but thats because after about 13 theres not much skill like his.

 

[G0bias]

Didn't look out of place next to a player like Svechnikov, even on the smaller ice surface. Definitely looked better than Khovanov in most areas.

In my viewings he was great in Plymouth but did tend to disappear at times in the couple Lokomotiv games I saw. Looks like the type of player who needs a specific environment to really thrive. Won't drive a line but he has top 30 talent, just the rest of his game and shift-to-shift consistency keeps me from putting him higher than 20's.

 

[tooji]

Recency bias is strong, so thats why most amateur amateur scouts choose to put emphasis on POs and u18s. I say scouts dont work like this at all, they evaluate strengths and weaknesses for the player, performance in a 10 game tourney matters, just not enough to drop someone more than 10 spots.

The tourney is an important metric because most of the players are part of the same age group and represent the best that group. It's one of the only times you can see them compete without making excuses like "oh the competition they play against is so much weaker/stronger/bigger/faster/slower"

 

[The Great Weal]

I am back to being unsure on Boqvist or Hughes again. Why does it have to be so difficult?

 

[NotProkofievian]

People are putting way too much emphasis on small tournaments these days.

Tournaments are pretty much the only games in which Denisenko has put up a dominant performance, and even that's been sporadic.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

I am back to being unsure on Boqvist or Hughes again. Why does it have to be so difficult?

It isnt. Just think Zadina

 

[The Great Weal]

It isnt. Just think Zadina

Id take either dman over Zadina tbh. They have scary good potential.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Id take either dman over Zadina tbh. They have scary good potential.

Boqvist and Hughes can become 1D.
Zadina can become an elite top line winger.
Usually you would choose the defenseman over the winger.
But in this case, Zadina's floor is a top 6 winger and Hughes/Boqvists floor are bottom pairing pp specialist.

At 3rd overall, you don't take the risk with Hughes/Boqvist when you got a much safer pick in Zadina who has as much potential as the other 2 (in his respective position).