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

[The Great Weal]

Dobson is definitely a guy that you can take at 3.

 

[Janne Niinimaa]

I trust Timmins in the top 10-12 range too. And that Sergachev pick was amazing!

Btw, what did you guys think of Noah Dobson? Very professional player. Anticipates the plus very well. Very calm and poise with the puck but I feel that if more rushed or pressed, he might be overwhelmed. But all in all, very exciting prospect. Worthy of 3rd overall? I’d go for Tkachuk or Zadina.

Dobson would be a good pick at #3 as would a group of players. Tkachuk is not one of them though.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I'm curious to see if Dobson's performance at the Memorial Cup pushes him up anymore. I could see Ottawa definitely taking a long look at him if Boqvist is gone.

Who takes Boqvist? Dobson is very much in that grouping we have to consider at 3. RD is the least of our needs, but he could end up a top 3 player from this draft.

 

[Habs76]

Dobson is definitely a guy that you can take at 3.

Too bad he'll be written off. Just listen to how dull his name is compared to Zadina.

 

[The Great Weal]

Too bad he'll be written off. Just listen to how dull his name is compared to Zadina.

I mean I kind of question his offensive game in the NHL, but he should still be getting 40 points and elite defensive game. That is a very good dman.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I mean I kind of question his offensive game in the NHL, but he should still be getting 40 points and elite defensive game. That is a very good dman.

Dobson vs Hughes is an interesting debate. I think considering our current D depth, I'd gamble on Hughes- but could end up biting us in the ass.

 

[The Great Weal]

Dobson vs Hughes is an interesting debate. I think considering our current D depth, I'd gamble on Hughes- but could end up biting us in the ass.

I don't think you will regret taking Dobson though. At worst he is still a very effective top 3 dman that is solid all around. I love Hughes as much as his biggest fan but I'm not blind, I have some concerns with him. You aren't going to be successful in the NHL by always having a forward take your position or always creating odd man rushes against.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I don't think you will regret taking Dobson though. At worst he is still a very effective top 3 dman that is solid all around. I love Hughes as much as his biggest fan but I'm not blind, I have some concerns with him. You aren't going to be successful in the NHL by always having a forward take your position or always creating odd man rushes against.

The thing with Hughes though is his skating is that good that he can get back. I see a superstar upside in him and I think he can get there quickly.

This draft is killing me, at least we have the combine this week that maybe can help define these guys a little better.

 

[The Great Weal]

The thing with Hughes though is his skating is that good that he can get back. I see a superstar upside in him and I think he can get there quickly.

This draft is killing me, at least we have the combine this week that maybe can help define these guys a little better.

His skating IS that good, but other NHL players are fast as well, it's not possible to ALWAYS be back in time. He will get burned more often than not if he keeps it up.

 

[Habs76]

I mean I kind of question his offensive game in the NHL, but he should still be getting 40 points and elite defensive game. That is a very good dman.

Idk, not that many defensemen of that height can skate like Dobson, should help his offensive game though. I'd like to see him shoot more for sure though.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

His skating IS that good, but other NHL players are fast as well, it's not possible to ALWAYS be back in time. He will get burned more often than not if he keeps it up.

NHL players are bigger and smarter, but I think Hughes skating will be just as dominant in the show- just like Barzal last year. My main concern with him is his size as teams are going to dump the puck into his corner and take runs at him but I think pairing him with Weber will alleviate that as Weber has no issues getting pucks for his partner. And when you're as quick as Hughes you're tough to hit anyway. We're lucky to have the perfect guy for Hughes to develop beside and might be wise to take advantage of that.

 

[WinterLion]

I have no problem taking Dobson if he's our guy. If he ends up player 20-25 solid minutes a night it will be a great pick. Trading down is fine in a fantasy league, but Timmins & co. will know these players very very well and will most probably have someone he likes much more than the others.

 

[The Great Weal]

NHL players are bigger and smarter, but I think Hughes skating will be just as dominant in the show- just like Barzal last year. My main concern with him is his size as teams are going to dump the puck into his corner and take runs at him but I think pairing him with Weber will alleviate that as Weber has no issues getting pucks for his partner. And when you're as quick as Hughes you're tough to hit anyway. We're lucky to have the perfect guy for Hughes to develop beside and might be wise to take advantage of that.

Barzal is a forward, he can get away with that play style. Defensemen can't be doing that if they want to be successful in the NHL. I'm not too concerned about his size, it's just the transition he HAS to make to become that #1 dman.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Barzal is a forward, he can get away with that play style. Defensemen can't be doing that if they want to be successful in the NHL. I'm not too concerned about his size, it's just the transition he HAS to make to become that #1 dman.

He's going to be cutting in and around guys like Barzal though when rushing the puck. His skating and playmaking are on that level.

 

[L4br3cqu3]

Some posters when thinking about their favorite prospects...

 

[Belial]

Draft the center! We're not getting that center anywhere else.

 

[Habs Icing]

I trust Timmins in the top 10-12 range too. And that Sergachev pick was amazing!

Btw, what did you guys think of Noah Dobson? Very professional player. Anticipates the plus very well. Very calm and poise with the puck but I feel that if more rushed or pressed, he might be overwhelmed. But all in all, very exciting prospect. Worthy of 3rd overall? I’d go for Tkachuk or Zadina.

Good player but not worthy of 3 OA. Actually, I would draft Boqvist and Hughes ahead of him.

 

[Habs Icing]

His skating IS that good, but other NHL players are fast as well, it's not possible to ALWAYS be back in time. He will get burned more often than not if he keeps it up.

So he learns to pick his spots.

 

[Habs Icing]

Draft the center! We're not getting that center anywhere else.

What are you talking about? MB has his scouts scouring hockey beds such as Estonia, Kazakhstan and Svalbard.

 

[ProspectsFanatic]

I still can't decide between Boqvist, Hughes and Dobson; why does it need to be so hard?

 

[WinterLion]

I still can't decide between Boqvist, Hughes and Dobson; why does it need to be so hard?

It doesn't. When in doubt, just take the Finn.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I still can't decide between Boqvist, Hughes and Dobson; why does it need to be so hard?

Over them 3, I take Dobson. Complete game and has value at both ends of the ice. He has all 3... Size, Skill, Skating. That is rare.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I still can't decide between Boqvist, Hughes and Dobson; why does it need to be so hard?

I think Boqvist has slipped to a fairly distant 3rd in that race- while he's been concussed, Hughes has only shown he belongs with the best in the world at the WC, and Dobson just backboned a Memorial Cup Championship.

This really is a steller draft at the top. After Dahlin and Svechnikov you have FOUR guys who have shone brightly on the largest of stages... Hughes and Dobson have now joined Zadina and Tkachuk who did it at the WJC...

I can't recall a draft where you had multiple guys who fit this profile...

 

[Belial]

They will not draft a D, I'm pretty sure about it.

With Mete and Juulsen close to the NHL and all those Petry clones they drafted last year they will draft a forward with that first round pick IMO.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

To this writer, the team's choice at third overall is clear: Quinton Hughes. When you have a chance to draft a dynamic/elite skater, the choice should be very simple. While Zadina is a nice prospect, I have concerns that the limitations to his skating will always hinder him from being the game changer at the NHL level that this team desperately needs. Zadina is no Pasternak, who is an above average skater. The only thing they share is the same nationality. Those who worry about Hughes' size should be reminded that the Boston Bruins have largely revamped their defense with smallish, mobile players (Krug, Grzelcyk and McAvoy) who have converted the Bruins from a slow, lumbering team to one that can skate with any team in the league. That mobile defense will allow them to be a contender for the next half decade. Yes, its preferable to have a player that is both large and has elite skating ability. Unfortunately, that player will be drafted first overall. As demonstrated by his performance at the WHC, if drafted by the Canadiens, Hughes should immediately make the team, and with Mete and Petry, quickly convert Montreal's defense from being one of the league's slowest to one that can form a stable foundation for the future. I really suspect that if Carolina did not already have one of the youngest and most mobile bluelines in the league, Hughes would be a compelling option for them. If Hughes is taken, and we draft wisely with our 4 picks in the second round, management can correct many of its sins and mistakes of the past few years. And wouldn't that be a nice change.