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

[Habs Halifax]

He's been playing ahead of his age group, and recovering from injuries in the meantime. What he's managed to do so far is pretty remarkable, actually. I think he will positively contribute to his club's possession numbers since apparently he already did that this year in Liiga. It's really hard to take the puck away from him, and as you saw in the video you posted, he turns a lot of pucks over and is able to find people all over the ice with his passing. These abilities are what made me a huge fan of Chytil last year.

You can tell the raw skill is there. Skating can improve but I won't bank on him being a Kopitar kind of skater. More like a Drai type skater. I was impressed with his offensive abilities

 

[The Great Weal]

Kotkaniemi Dobson and Bouchard interviewed by Detroit. So Kotkaniemi is definitely in the top 10 radar.

Where did you see that?

 

[WeThreeKings]

Where did you see that?

Prospect forum combine thread.

 

[Mrb1p]

Kotkaniemi Dobson and Bouchard interviewed by Detroit. So Kotkaniemi is definitely in the top 10 radar.

Obviously he is. Wings seems to really want to make this pick work, no crap pick like Rasmussen. They were on the Denisenko bandwagon in mid Febuary, now theyre up the Kotkaniemi train.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Obviously he is. Wings seems to really want to make this pick work, no crap pick like Rasmussen. They were on the Denisenko bandwagon in mid Febuary, now theyre up the Kotkaniemi train.

I don't know about Denisenko but I remember reading that their scouting staff was pretty livid they didn't get to see Iskhakov on the PP at one of the Nation's tournament.

 

[SakuKoivu11]

Zadina is 6’1” 196lbs
Kotkaniemi is 6’2” 180lbs

Zadina better skater, scorer, physically.
Kotkaniemi better playmaker, defensively.

Not saying Zadina is not good defensively. But between the two. Zadina does throw his body around and isn’t shy about that. Just because he’s a sniper people get tunnel vision that Zadina isn’t good defensively or not a physical player. The best comparison is Marian Hossa.

Personally I don’t like projects when picking this top 5. Kotkaniemi is a project and may or may not turn out a superstar like Carey Price.


Also I really dislike when a GM say we pick players base on projections. Not how good they are now but how good they are in 5 years. Basically it means when don’t have a clue so let’s wait 5 years to find out.

 

[Mrb1p]

Zadina is 6’1” 196lbs
Kotkaniemi is 6’2” 180lbs

Zadina better skater, scorer, physically.
Kotkaniemi better playmaker, defensively.

Not saying Zadina is not good defensively. But between the two. Zadina does throw his body around and isn’t shy about that. Just because he’s a sniper people get tunnel vision that Zadina isn’t good defensively or not a physical player. The best comparison is Marian Hossa.

Personally I don’t like projects when picking this top 5. Kotkaniemi is a project and may or may not turn out a superstar like Carey Price.


Also I really dislike when a GM say we pick players base on projections. Not how good they are now but how good they are in 5 years. Basically it means when don’t have a clue so let’s wait 5 years to find out.

Physically ? Kotkaniemi is physical as hell! Hes tenacious in puck battles and all, much more than Zadina.

 

[Runner77]

Also I really dislike when a GM say we pick players base on projections. Not how good they are now but how good they are in 5 years. Basically it means when don’t have a clue so let’s wait 5 years to find out.

This GM wants to vye for projections? Then do something about upgrading your scouting contingent -- make sure you own the best in the business before shooting your mouth off about the type of sophisticated evaluations that are best made by those who have a proven track record, which of course are not the people you are relying upon right now.

 

[Mrb1p]

I don't know about Denisenko but I remember reading that their scouting staff was pretty livid they didn't get to see Iskhakov on the PP at one of the Nation's tournament.

Scouting staff were high on him, calling him a real gem in the rough, looking at him for early teens picks.

 

[The Great Weal]

Prospect forum combine thread.

I think they will take Bouchard.

 

[Locks]

Canadiens unlikely to trade No. 3 pick: 'We're going to get rewarded' - Sportsnet.ca

That's a very poor piece of journalism. He basically went over the entire interview but skipped the most relevant draft related segment and made a conclusion that is the opposite of what anybody with a minimal understanding of the issue would make.

"One thing Montreal won’t find at third overall, however, is the centre it so sorely needs. In Sportsnet’s most recent ranking of the top 31 draft prospects, Sam Cosentino’s top-ranked pivot was Barrett Hayton at No. 10. After Hayton was Joe Veleno, ranked 13th."

The guy is out to lunch if he brings up Cosentino’s ranking as the main authority. Maybe he should check with Detroit (6th pick) who has already interviewed Kotkaniemi.

 

[Ozmodiar]

TSN radio spoke with an NHL reporter. Speculation that Habs want another first round pick (mid)? to take a Center Kotkaniemi/Hayden/Veleno.

Could this actually be true???

Could the GM be planning something that the fans would like to see?!

Also, i'd add Kupari to that list ... if Kotka is gone, he'd be my next pick.

 

[Binary Code]

Honestly I feel like trading down and taking Wahlstrom is a better choice for us.

That would be a dumb move.

 

[Goldenhands]

Also I really dislike when a GM say we pick players base on projections. Not how good they are now but how good they are in 5 years. Basically it means when don’t have a clue so let’s wait 5 years to find out.

lol you always draft based on long term projection, thats the main difference between real scouts and amateur ones...

 

[The Great Weal]

I don't really think I would trade Pacioretty for a 1st if I know that I can't do something to get Kotkaniemi after.

 

[WeThreeKings]

That would be a dumb move.

It would be great. Trading down, getting another asset and getting a player with more upside than Zadina and is still gonna be an elite sniper in the league.

 

[The Great Weal]

It would be great. Trading down, getting another asset and getting a player with more upside than Zadina and is still gonna be an elite sniper in the league.

There is no valid argument not to trade down to stay in the same group of interchangeable players. Even if we get a 2nd, that's still another asset and another shot to take a steal.

 

[Binary Code]

It would be great. Trading down, getting another asset and getting a player with more upside than Zadina and is still gonna be an elite sniper in the league.

You trade down to which position?

 

[ZUKI]

I don't think he is really bad but I do think he is like a Beaulieu type player. Lots of raw skills but he leaves you the feeling you can always get more from him. The other thing I don't like about Veleno is he is not a goal scoring center. He has a decent shot but no accuracy or will to score. Not the type of center we need on our roster. His ceiling is a Duchene and his low is a Danault. More likely in the middle somewhere and likely just a bit better than Danault IMO.

well , i agree that he won't be a scorer in the NHL if he doesn't work on his shot . But Beaulieu's always been a Prima Donna and never worked hard to be better . I don't think that Veleno is comparable to him

 

[ZUKI]

I'm still so torn. I'd like either of Kotkaniemi or Boqvist, but don't like the idea of passing up Zadina.

same for me . I also like Wahlstrom .

 

[WinterLion]

Don't waste your money on THN. It's not good. It's really just designed for casual fans who only want a very limited report on players.

Spend the extra money to get Blackbook. You will get game reports, quotables from scouts, in depth scouting reports.

But can I take into my bathroom with me?

 

[yianik]

Let's face it, trying to predict what we are going to do is like trying to spot cotton balls in a blizzard.

MB plays close to the vest, is a hypocrite, changes policy/ philosophy depending on the day or the dream he had, is on borrowed time, has an owner who wants play offs now apparently, may have an invisible hand at work.

So on the latter stuff I mentioned, was this all MB letting go people and hiring the people he did ? Was Molson involved ? If Molson was involved did he really on his own know who to push out and who to bring in ?

Has MB been told to win ( meaning play offs ) now but no way is he trading the top pick for some past his prime vet to try to get us into the play offs ?

I think these are all really valid questions.

God help us if there is nothing restraining MB from using everything to get us into the post season next year.

 

[Mrb1p]

It would be great. Trading down, getting another asset and getting a player with more upside than Zadina and is still gonna be an elite sniper in the league.

Come on... More upside than Zadina...

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Zadina is 6’1” 196lbs
Kotkaniemi is 6’2” 180lbs

Zadina better skater, scorer, physically.
Kotkaniemi better playmaker, defensively.

Not saying Zadina is not good defensively. But between the two. Zadina does throw his body around and isn’t shy about that. Just because he’s a sniper people get tunnel vision that Zadina isn’t good defensively or not a physical player. The best comparison is Marian Hossa.

Personally I don’t like projects when picking this top 5. Kotkaniemi is a project and may or may not turn out a superstar like Carey Price.


Also I really dislike when a GM say we pick players base on projections. Not how good they are now but how good they are in 5 years. Basically it means when don’t have a clue so let’s wait 5 years to find out.

Not really.

That's like saying drafting the better player now means you don't have a clue and just looked at stats.

 

[S Bah]

Canadiens unlikely to trade No. 3 pick: 'We're going to get rewarded' - Sportsnet.ca[/QUOTE ]

Habs should consider trades with Ottawa whose got Boqvist at #3, say Colin White & #4. Then Arizona whose pick is Zadina #4, for Max Domi & #5. That's if the Habs are going after Kotkaneimi(C). They could trade with Detroit 5th OV for either Mantha or Detroit's two 2nd's (33rd & 36th OV) & 6th OV. Still having 6th OV to pick between Hughes(LHD), Bouchard(RHD), Dobson(RHD), Wahlstrom(RW/RHC), acquiring a line of secondary forwards in center Colin White(LHC) + Anthony Mantha(RW) - Max Domi(LW). All players that have Top Six potential with the Habs, while struggling with their current NHL teams for various reasons injuries etc.

Optimizing their 3rd OV position, possibly missing out on a franchise type player in Zadina, Boqvist or Kotkaneimi. Still having three very good defensive prospects to choose from, while acquiring three young former 1st round forwards, one a possible 2nd line center to play behind Drouin. Still having Max Pacioretty as a trade option to acquire more high draft choices, NYI's with (11th, 12th, 41st & 43rd) have the assets available to allow the Habs 3 picks between 6th OV & 12th OV. Lots of time to consider the values of trading our #3 OV, depending upon how the Habs scouts see the value of course.

Why gamble putting "All your eggs in one Basket" if the option could be gaining big depth for a slightly less potent upside in picking #6 OV, just saying?