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

[Habs Halifax]

My perception on the 1" difference changes after being drafted and we see the real performance at the NHL level. Before being drafted, I'll take your word for it (edit... if you have the right attitude)

 

[NotProkofievian]

Talking Kupari. I think the Kotkaniemi helium is causing him to become a bit of an afterthought (you even read Kupari as Kotkaniemi lol).

In terms of the 3/10/18 game, I think he'd be my target at 18. And I think I'd go Zadina and Ty Smith at 3/10. The other direction would be Hughes and then best forward available at 10. Could be Wahlstrom, or I wouldn't even be against Hayton.

Kupari's actually 17 for me right now, so I'd be cool with him at 18 too. Zadina and Ty Smith would be 4 and 12 for me, so that'd also be a pretty amazing haul, IMO. Kupari is just such a wild card: some absolutely unbelievable tools, but little in the way of a tool-box. At 18 though you don't usually get guys who can skate, and stick handle, and shoot like that. I mean, it's hard to find guys who can skate like Kupari to start with.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Kupari's actually 17 for me right now, so I'd be cool with him at 18 too. Zadina and Ty Smith would be 4 and 12 for me, so that'd also be a pretty amazing haul, IMO. Kupari is just such a wild card: some absolutely unbelievable tools, but little in the way of a tool-box. At 18 though you don't usually get guys who can skate, and stick handle, and shoot like that. I mean, it's hard to find guys who can skate like Kupari to start with.

Ya he's the ultimate lottery ticket, similar to Chytil last year (though obviously without that size), and he certainly seems to be working out for the Rangers. Dude is absolutely electric out there, and the fact he's a RH shooting centerman is an added bonus considering the rest of our prosect pool. Zadina, Smith, and Kupari would be a good balance of BPA while also balancing the skillsets and organizational needs.

My bad, I was going through these posts too quickly. Damn.

Since I was so obsessed with Kotkaniemi, what's your take in terms of where he'll fall?

I have no idea, only takes one team to really like him and I'm hardly familiar with the organizational needs of other franchises so can't say.

 

[Runner77]

I have no idea, only takes one team to really like him and I'm hardly familiar with the organizational needs of other franchises so can't say.

Fair answer. I'm not an expert either but there seems to be growing attention on him and he seems to be climbing in recent rankings. We've also seen a lot of posters here consider him in the 3rd OA slot, FWIW.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I have no idea, only takes one team to really like him and I'm hardly familiar with the organizational needs of other franchises so can't say.

After the 3rd pick... Just to run through them quick off the top of my head.

4th (Sens):
- Batherson, Brown, Chabot, White.
- Pretty sure they will be going after a defenseman

5th (Coyotes):
- Strome, Keller, Chychrun
- I'm thinking defenseman as well

6th (Wings)
- Rasmussen, Larkin, Mantha
- Hard to say with the Wings. They need everything it appears. Don't think they go after Kotkaniemi IMO though.

7th (Canucks)
- Horvat, Boeser, Juolevi, Pettersson
- I think they need defenseman

8th (Blackhawks)
- Jokiharju
- They can use a bit of everything but no center drafted for a while now. I would be concerned about them taking Kotkaniemi

9th (Rangers)
- Andersson, Chytil, Skjei, Namestnikov, Howden, Hajek
- Pretty sure they want defenseman and they have a few centers already

10th (Oilers)
- McDavid, Drai, Puljujarvi, Yamamoto
- They need defenseman

11th and 12th (Islanders)
- Barzal, Bellows, Pulock, Beauvillier, Ho-Sang
- Depends on what Tavares does. I can see them drafting Kotkaniemi

13th Stars
- Heiskanen, who else?
- They could use a bit of everything it appears

14th Flyers
- Patrick, Frost, Rubtsov, Hart, Provorov, Konecny, Sanheim,
- Doubt they go after a center

15th Panthers
- Borgstrom, Tippett, Heponiemi, Ekblad, Barkov
- They need defenseman and maybe wingers. Doubt they go after a center.


Blackhawks and Islanders would be possible teams that consider drafting Kotkaniemi.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Just watched Bokk vs Berggren in the J20. Barry sets up his linemates with quality scoring opportunities galore. Bokk is so smooth with the puck on his stick. Really one of the most gifted players 1 on 1 in the draft, and has a hard shot with a quick release. He's still a bit of a work in progress otherwise, though.

 

[The Great Weal]

Earliest threat to take Kotkaniemi are the Hawks imo

 

[De Montreal]

So what's the knock on Benoit-Olivier Groulx? I admit I have not seen him play at all this year, I'm just curious as to why there's is no talk about him being a potential 2nd round pick for us, with him being slotted to go in the 35-40 range and us having two selections to make there... Is he good?

 

[Janne Niinimaa]

So what's the knock on Benoit-Olivier Groulx? I admit I have not seen him play at all this year, I'm just curious as to why there's is no talk about him being a potential 2nd round pick for us, with him being slotted to go in the 35-40 range and us having two selections to make there... Is he good?

I personally don't see very much, if any, offensive potential in him. Can be a decent 3rd line, gritty, smart player if all goes right but I think we have enough of those.

I remember someone in this thread mention Dubinsky as a comparable. I think thats a good top end potential for him. I may be okay with him with our late seconds if he makes it there and most other guys I like are off the board. I currently have him around 50 on my list.

 

[WeThreeKings]

So what's the knock on Benoit-Olivier Groulx? I admit I have not seen him play at all this year, I'm just curious as to why there's is no talk about him being a potential 2nd round pick for us, with him being slotted to go in the 35-40 range and us having two selections to make there... Is he good?

He is not good. Wouldn't be a name anyone cared about if his dad wasn't a prominent coach.

 

[De Montreal]

Thanks for the update!

 

[Habs Halifax]

Earliest threat to take Kotkaniemi are the Hawks imo

Agreed. Then the Islanders and maybe the Stars. However, I won't be surprised Kotkaniemi slips to 15th. The skating concerns might scare some teams away vs another player they can draft in the top 15.

I would swing a deal with the Panthers by trading Patch for their 15th pick plus other pieces. I would even consider adding Lindgren in a bigger package and acquiring Mascherin and other pieces. I'd make that deal today. Take who is left from Kotkaniemi, Veleno, Hayton, or Kupari. Or have a pre-negotiated deal based on who is left with by the time the Panthers pick. Then entertain other offers that may be better.

Boom!! Grade A center right there to add on top of Poehling and Zadina. Go after another center and LD with our 2nd round picks. Prospect pool reinforced overnight

 

[G0bias]

Used to think there was no chance but Denisenko might be another candidate to slip out of the 1st. Russian, on the smaller side, didn't have the best numbers this year and those stories about him being a bit hot-headed (he got suspended for some questionable plays).

Wouldn't be mad if that happened.

 

[Habs Halifax]

So what's the knock on Benoit-Olivier Groulx? I admit I have not seen him play at all this year, I'm just curious as to why there's is no talk about him being a potential 2nd round pick for us, with him being slotted to go in the 35-40 range and us having two selections to make there... Is he good?

He has 28 goals this year which ranks up there against all prospects. However, he has been a disappointment to Mooseheads fans for the most part. Does he suck? No, but he is limited offensively and he earns his value by working hard and he has some grit to his game. Could be a 3rd line center in the NHL.

Not the type of center we need to target. Some team from 30-50 range will take a chance on him. I hope a team before we pick at 35 and 38. One more player not to worry about and one more player that slips to us

 

[Mrb1p]

Used to think there was no chance but Denisenko might be another candidate to slip out of the 1st. Russian, on the smaller side, didn't have the best numbers this year and those stories about him being a bit hot-headed (he got suspended for some questionable plays).

Wouldn't be mad if that happened.

God i wish. Thatd be another Kucherov waiting to happen.

 

[WeThreeKings]

God i wish. Thatd be another Kucherov waiting to happen.

Lol ya right

 

[jaffy27]

Earliest threat to take Kotkaniemi are the Hawks imo

I think they go defenseman and select Dobson if he's available.

Kotkamiemi will go to either NYR at 9 or Islanders at 11 or 12 IMHO.......I'd target these two teams for trade (Pacioretty)

 

[Mrb1p]

Lol ya right

The talent certainly is there. Anyway you dont even watch russian prospects, how would you know.

 

[Runner77]

I think they go defenseman and select Dobson if he's available.

Kotkamiemi will go to either NYR at 9 or Islanders at 11 or 12 IMHO.......I'd target these two teams for trade (Pacioretty)

The way Kotkaniemi has been rising in rankings and recent favorable profiles on him, is it still realistic to believe he could fall as far as 12th? He's the best available center in this draft who also happens to be a BPA that is getting top 5 consideration in some cases, including by our HF experts in this thread.

What sayeth you? Still possible that he falls under the circumstances?

 

[Runner77]

Earliest threat to take Kotkaniemi are the Hawks imo

How do we deal with Kotkaniemi? Should we be in the game at all? Take him 3rd OA or forget about him?

 

[Runner77]

Was having this exchange with The Great Schlemko in another thread:

Assuming the BPA is a center with 2 or 3 of our second rounders -- are any of these centers that may be available at our turn, potential top 6Cs?

I believe so. Not the majority, but I do believe that a few of them have top 6 potential.

TGS believes a few of those centers who may be available to us in the second round, have top 6 potential.

Who would you say fits this profile and how likely are they to be available to us?

Also, yianik mentioned in another thread yesterday how Timmins claimed last year that he'd be favoring a different draft approach, not necessarily premised on BPA but that would take into account a player's position. I don't remember Timmins saying that however if this is in fact implemented, would he not be more inclined to target centers and LHD PMDs in the 2nd round rather than do that with the 3rd OA pick?

 

[Runner77]

Here's yianik's post where he's indicating that Timmins is moving beyond a BPA approach:

Last year TT stated our drafting was geared to selecting the currency of the NHL, and he said the currency of the NHL was PMDs and centres.

So we may have moved off of the BPA model.

...

Has anyone else heard this? I frankly can't recall him saying it, I must have missed it.

 

[G0bias]

He is already up to 10 in McKenzie's recent consensus list (was 19th in his mid-season rankings).
His article was published on April 27th, likely finalized on the 26th and compiled in the days leading up. Meaning before Kotkaniemi's best performances at the U18s - I wouldn't be surprised if he's up a few more spots on BMac's final list.

And being the highest ranked center is a pretty big X factor. Who knows how high GMs have him.

 

[Janne Niinimaa]

I truly believe that BPA anywhere between 3-9 with Zadina, Wahlstrom, Boqvist, Hughes, Kotkaniemi, Dobson and Smith can go any way and they can all be considered BPA. I'm sure teams will have Tkachuk and Bouchard in there as well even though I don't.

I'm very jealous of the Islanders at #11 and #12. They can take whoever drops from there and have the luxury of selecting between Farabee, Kravstov, Veleno and Hayton.

 

[The Great Weal]

I think they go defenseman and select Dobson if he's available.

Kotkamiemi will go to either NYR at 9 or Islanders at 11 or 12 IMHO.......I'd target these two teams for trade (Pacioretty)

I'm sure the Hawks would take the big skilled center ahead of a dman. I also doubt Dobson is there at 8.

How do we deal with Kotkaniemi? Should we be in the game at all? Take him 3rd OA or forget about him?

I would personally try to get 8th overall regardless because 3-8 is insanely close imo.