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

[admiralcadillac]

Wingers are rarely game breakers, you can have the best wingers in the world but if you don't have solid centers they will struggle to score goals.

A good center can elevate his wingers but rarely you'll see a winger elevate his center.

Luckily, three of the top 3 players in this draft are game breaking players

 

[Habs Halifax]

Yes Malkin and Brazal are 2nd line centers but they are behind elite 1st line centers. The habs have neither.
Draft depth centers in the 2nd round this year and get the 1st center in next years draft is a more logical approach in my opinion.

The difference here is if Kotkaniemi turns into a depth center or not. Calling him a depth center is not right IMO.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Bulat to the head.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Luckily, three of the top 3 players in this draft are game breaking players

I agree that Dahlin, Svechnikov, Boqvist and Wahlstrom are game-breakers.

 

[Belial]

Luckily, three of the top 3 players in this draft are game breaking players

You really think Zadina will be able to drive a whole line? Not so sure about that...

 

[Habs Halifax]

What are the chances Wahlstrom can play center? If we are thinking about drafting Kotkaniemi as a center and he may become a winger if he don't reach potential. Why not consider drafting Wahlstrom with the 3rd pick? I think he is similar to Zadina in the end but he has ability to play center. Sounds like Galchenyuk all over again but options are better than none. Zadina won't be a center

 

[admiralcadillac]

I agree that Dahlin, Svechnikov, Boqvist and Wahlstrom are game-breakers.

Lol edgy

 

[Belial]

Yes Malkin and Brazal are 2nd line centers but they are behind elite 1st line centers. The habs have neither.
Draft depth centers in the 2nd round this year and get the 1st center in next years draft is a more logical approach in my opinion.

A solid second line center is not a depth center IMO, he's a huge contributor to the team success.

 

[Habs Halifax]

You really think Zadina will be able to drive a whole line? Not so sure about that...

Hard to predict when we don't know who he plays with. Zadina does have play making and puck possession skills. Him and Galchenyuk would make a good combo IMO.

 

[NotProkofievian]

What are the chances Wahlstrom can play center? If we are thinking about drafting Kotkaniemi as a center and he may become a winger if he don't reach potential. Why not consider drafting Wahlstrom with the 3rd pick? I think he is similar to Zadina in the end but he has ability to play center. Sounds like Galchenyuk all over again but options are better than none. Zadina won't be a center

Difference between Jesperi and Olly-Wahly with the center ice position is that we've actually seen Jesperi play center, and he's done extremely well at it. We have evidence. With Olly, it's just a purely theoretical exercise. Does he have the hockey IQ and playmaking skill to be a center? I think so. Does he even want to be a center? I have no idea. He is a fantastic winger though.

 

[Belial]

What are the chances Wahlstrom can play center? If we are thinking about drafting Kotkaniemi as a center and he may become a winger if he don't reach potential. Why not consider drafting Wahlstrom with the 3rd pick? I think he is similar to Zadina in the end but he has ability to play center. Sounds like Galchenyuk all over again but options are better than none. Zadina won't be a center

Why not just go with Kotkaniemi then?

 

[Habs Halifax]

Difference between Jesperi and Olly-Wahly with the center ice position is that we've actually seen Jesperi play center, and he's done extremely well at it. We have evidence. With Olly, it's just a purely theoretical exercise. Does he have the hockey IQ and playmaking skill to be a center? I think so. Does he even want to be a center? I have no idea. He is a fantastic winger though.

Agreed. But for as much as I like Zadina, I can see Wahlstrom as a similar forward but with ability to play center (maybe). It's more of a measure between these two.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Why not just go with Kotkaniemi then?

Skating concerns me. I like the upside with Kotkaniemi but I rather try to pull off a trade to acquire him from the 10-15 range. Something tells me scouts and teams will have the same concern with his skating and he goes outside of the top 10. I think he goes 8-12 range but won't be surprised if he is still around with the 15th pick.

I don't have the guts to draft him with the 3rd pick. I would have the guts to take Wahlstrom at the 3rd pick.

I always target guys with Skill/Size/Skating. You need to hit on all 3 with top 10 picks IMO. It's a trend in the NHL and that's why guys slip in the draft. They lack one of the 3.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Agreed. But for as much as I like Zadina, I can see Wahlstrom as a similar forward but with ability to play center (maybe). It's more of a measure between these two.

My evaluation between Zadina and Wahlstrom is between them as sniping wingers. I think Zadina plays that role more intelligently, while I think Wahlstrom has more tools at his disposal. I'm a sucker for players who think the game well, and while Oliver is a clever player, Zadina thinks the game at an instinctual level. He knows how to find the ''no man's land'' around which The Great One modeled his entire game, to quote him directly:

That's all hockey is: open ice. That's my whole strategy: Find Open Ice. Chicago coach Mike Keenan said it best: "There's a spot on the ice that's no-man's land, and all the good goal scorers find it." It's a piece of frozen real estate that's just in between the defense and the forward.

This ability gets really underrated around here. I normally don't listen to a word that Gretzky says (''prospect x is the best i've ever seen''), but when he's talking about his own game I assume he knows what he's talking about.

 

[Belial]

Skating concerns me. I like the upside with Kotkaniemi but I rather try to pull off a trade to acquire him from the 10-15 range. Something tells me scouts and teams will have the same concern with his skating and he goes outside of the top 10. I think he goes 8-12 range but won't be surprised if he is still around with the 15th pick.

I don't have the guts to draft him with the 3rd pick. I would have the guts to take Wahlstrom at the 3rd pick.

I always target guys with Skill/Size/Skating. You need to hit on all 3 with top 10 picks IMO. It's a trend in the NHL and that's why guys slip in the draft. They lack one of the 3.

What's wrong with his skating? He's not a roadrunner but it's not like he's Lehtera...

He wont be there so late, someone will draft the guy earlier for the same reason, cuz he's a natural center.

 

[Habs Halifax]

My evaluation between Zadina and Wahlstrom is between them as sniping wingers. I think Zadina plays that role more intelligently, while I think Wahlstrom has more tools at his disposal. I'm a sucker for players who think the game well, and while Oliver is a clever player, Zadina thinks the game at an instinctual level. He knows how to find the ''no man's land'' around which The Great One modeled his entire game, to quote him directly:.

You are so right about Zadina. He seems to score goals where the puck finds his stick. I think (today), I'm 66% sure we should draft him 3rd overall. lol

Just entertaining the idea of Wahlstrom as a potential center.

 

[Habs Halifax]

What's wrong with his skating? He's not a roadrunner but it's not like he's Lehtera...

He wont be there so late, someone will draft the guy earlier for the same reason, cuz he's a natural center.

It's the only concern about his game from what I have been hearing. He may not look out of place at the moment but at the NHL level, he may struggle. Hard to predict. Scouts and teams will be wary of this. Like I said, you need to hit with all 3 in the top 10... Skating/Skill/Size. Guys who have had history of slipping outside of the top 10 had concerns with one of the 3

 

[Belial]

It's the only concern about his game from what I have been hearing. He may not look out of place at the moment but at the NHL level, he may struggle. Hard to predict. Scouts and teams will be wary of this. Like I said, you need to hit with all 3 in the top 10... Skating/Skill/Size. Guys who have had history of slipping outside of the top 10 had concerns with one of the 3

His skating is fine, it's not amazing but it's not atrocious.

When he gets going he can fly, his first steps need work.

But if seriously I would probably be more concerned with a slow winger and D than a slow center.

 

[Runner77]

To be honest, if you get lucky, or scout well, or both, you can get a 1st line centre in the 2nd round...

Draft re-dos prove that there are a lot of players that end up getting undervalued and drafted too late and the opposite, with several players selected too soon. It's not an exact science but there are scouts who clearly have a better success ratio and ... we need to poach those people from other organizations so that we can maximize our chances.

 

[sandviper]

You are so right about Zadina. He seems to score goals where the puck finds his stick. I think (today), I'm 66% sure we should draft him 3rd overall. lol

Just entertaining the idea of Wahlstrom as a potential center.

I've said it earlier, maybe in January, but Wahlstrom I think can be developed into a center with the right coaching staff and complimentary wingers due to his skating ability, vision and hockey IQ. I say it this way though because I don't have the confidence in the Habs doing this, and maybe other teams can. Heck, with the changes in staff now, maybe we can also.

However, I do think he'll be a winger at the NHL level and while Kotkaniemi is a center, I would not be surprised if he ends up a winger as well depending on his development path.

Anyhow, I've made it clear in the past I like Wahlstrom more than Zadina, but I don't see Wahlstrom being an option as he doesn't seem to be the type of player the team typically favours. I've also been high on Boqvist (he's my #3), but same reasoning as I have with Wahlstrom in that I don't see him on the Habs' radar also. Despite the fears and jokes, I don't think we'll draft Tkachuk either (though I am certain he is in their top-6). I am expecting us to call out Zadina on draft day, but would not be shocked at all to hear Kotkaniemi's name.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Not only does Zadina think the game well and know where to go to score, he has a rare will to score. The top prospect game was a great illustration of that. I really am loving this young group of Czech forwards coming up led by Pastrnak. These guys just seem to have it all, size, skating, intelligence, two way play, tremendous compete level, and jaw dropping skill. In a half decade, the Czech National team is going to be a force IMO.

 

[Garnet76]

A solid second line center is not a depth center IMO, he's a huge contributor to the team success.

I agree. I dont believe there is a 1st line to be had in this draft. Some obviously disagree with that but I enjoy everyone's opinions here. I do believe there are quality middle 6 centers to be had in the 2nd round and the habs have 4 picks there to pick some up. The Habs will not cure all their depth issues in one draft.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I agree. I dont believe there is a 1st line to be had in this draft. Some obviously disagree with that but I enjoy everyone's opinions here. I do believe there are quality middle 6 centers to be had in the 2nd round and the habs have 4 picks there to pick some up. The Habs will not cure all their depth issues in one draft.

Considering Kotkaniemi is somewhat of a lottery ticket himself, this is why I would rather just go BPA at 3, and then dedicate every single 2nd rounder to lottery ticket centerman.

 

[Belial]

Considering Kotkaniemi is somewhat of a lottery ticket himself, this is why I would rather just go BPA at 3, and then dedicate every single 2nd rounder to lottery ticket centerman.

How do you decide who's the bpa though?

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

How do you decide who's the bpa though?

You scout them? I mean if Kotkaniemi is TTs top prospect at 3, then ya, take him. I just hope we don't pass on someone better because we are desperate for a center.