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

[DramaticGloveSave]

I just did the draftwired thing and was able to get Ty Smith, Dallandrea, O'Brien, Lauko, and Khovanov (after taking Zadina at 3, no trades).

 

[montreal]

When does Bob McKenzie release his final draft ranking? I think it's only shortly before the draft, is it not? I'm just curious to see where Kotkaniemi is in his final ranking.

around the 18th or so.

 

[ZUKI]

I wish we could somehow acquire two other high picks and end up with:

1st.
Boqvist/Dobson
Kotkaniemi
Wahlstrom

2nd.
Berggren
Alexeyev

That's the kid in me dreaming.

i don't like your dream . Mine would be ;

1st.
Dhalin
Svechnikov
Kotkaniemi

2nd.
Zadina
Boqvist
Wahlstrom
Alexeyev

 

[The Great Weal]

I think Shafigullin makes it to the 3rd round and ends up being a steal.

 

[durojean]

Nice revisionism. He’s out of place because he can’t read plays defensively and is not a good skater. His backchecks were targeting guys with the puck on their stick. He doesn’t cover passing lanes well at all. This idea that Galchenyuk is good defensively is just ridiculous. Drouin is lazy, Galchenyuk is dumb. Neither is good defensively.

i've never said good but he is not the worst defensive player either.

i think he is average defensively and that is actually ok for an offensive player.

 

[le_sean]

Zadina/Kotkaniemi is quite comparable to Puljujarvi/Dubois. Consensus #3 passed over for a big two-way centre. Habs tried to trade up for that 4th pick but the Jackets took the player they wanted.

 

[G0bias]

Wouldn't be surprised to see us trade Pacioretty and pick Farabee with the pick we get for him. Not enough talk of Farabee imo, the guy is so freaking good. Really didn't like him at the start of the year, but man he impressed the hell out of me.

Yeah he's underrated as hell. What didn't you like about him early on? He and Wahlstrom dummied USHL and Div-1 defences together.

Hughes obviously improved that line significantly but they sort of deferred to him alot more than say when Gruden was there.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I think Shafigullin makes it to the 3rd round and ends up being a steal.

I actually think he will go very very late if at all. It has nothing to do with talent but all to do with Russian factor and exposure.

 

[The Great Weal]

Yeah he's underrated as hell. What didn't you like about him early on? He and Wahlstrom dummied USHL and Div-1 defences together.

Hughes obviously improved that line significantly but they sort of deferred to him alot more than say when Gruden was there.

I kinda thought Wahlstrom was just carrying him, but they honestly compliment each other so well.

 

[The Great Weal]

I actually think he will go very very late if at all. It has nothing to do with talent but all to do with Russian factor and exposure.

Yup. For the 2nds I seriously hope we come out with Sandin, Berggren, Hillis and SDA. Very unlikely though.

 

[G0bias]

We have so many 2nds I wouldn't mind if we took him late but we could probably wait till 66 for SDA also. Think he goes 4th round. Lipanov went 76 and he was at the Hlinka, WJCs and a couple other U18s and had alot more hype going in the draft.

 

[The Great Weal]

We have so many 2nds I wouldn't mind if we took him late but we could probably wait till 66 for SDA also. Think he goes 4th round. Lipanov went 76 and he was at the Hlinka, WJCs and a couple other U18s and had alot more hype going in the draft.

I just wouldn't risk it imo

 

[S Bah]

It's probably in a secret underground lair.

Have MB get Moneypenny to arrange invites to Auric Goldfinger's estate, just hope that Oddjob isn't the doorman.(His Hattrick is a doozy)

 

[TT1]

If Svechnikov isn't available at 3 i'd honestly try to trade down with the Isles for #11 + #12 + #43 (draft chart says thats about an even value trade). Even tho i love Zadina the top 12 in this draft is stacked enough to justify making that move.

Pick 2 of Kotkaniemi/Smith/Farabee at #11/#12 (most likely the 3 that will be available) and you still have #43.

 

[yianik]

If Svechnikov isn't available at 3 i'd honestly try to trade down with the Isles for #11 + #12 + #43 (draft chart says thats about an even value trade). Even tho i love Zadina the top 12 in this draft is stacked enough to justify making that move.

Pick 2 of Kotkaniemi/Smith/Farabee at #11/#12 (most likely the 3 that will be available) and you still have #43.

If the Isles were interested in Patches and he would do a sign and trade I think that gets you close to 11 and 12. Then see if a team around 6 or 7 will trade us their pick for those 2, and we hopefully get Kotkaniemi. If no, several to choose from. Not my ideal Patches trade, but it might be an option.

 

[Omar]

If Svechnikov isn't available at 3 i'd honestly try to trade down with the Isles for #11 + #12 + #43 (draft chart says thats about an even value trade). Even tho i love Zadina the top 12 in this draft is stacked enough to justify making that move.

Pick 2 of Kotkaniemi/Smith/Farabee at #11/#12 (most likely the 3 that will be available) and you still have #43.

We might not need to if we’re targeting the Oilers’ pick at 10.

 

[sandviper]

I kinda thought Wahlstrom was just carrying him, but they honestly compliment each other so well.

Looking back at the mock, Farabee and Kravtsov were the two I struggled with. I guess I could have taken both, but I did think Tkachuk was good value where I grabbed him.

He’s a winger, sure, but Farabee is a great player. Would be interesting if we decide to go for Wahlstrom and Farabee (via trade), but I’d be shocked if TT and the scouts are entertaining that idea.

 

[Goldenhands]

If Svechnikov isn't available at 3 i'd honestly try to trade down with the Isles for #11 + #12 + #43 (draft chart says thats about an even value trade). Even tho i love Zadina the top 12 in this draft is stacked enough to justify making that move.

Pick 2 of Kotkaniemi/Smith/Farabee at #11/#12 (most likely the 3 that will be available) and you still have #43.

nothing guarentee Kotkaniemi will be available at that spot and Im not Smith's biggest fan personally, doubt he has top pairing upside.. I like Farabee alot though.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I am a Timmins supporter but there is one comment I'd like to talk about.. The skating/skill comment and he is not concerned at all about a 150 lbs 17/18 year old prospect. Well, lets look at the contenders.. Skating and skill is there but how many small players do they have that are making an impact in the final 2 or final 4 teams? We need all 3 (Skating/Skill/ & Size).

Skating/Skill < Skating/Skill/Size

Our team is lacking guys like Dobson and Svechnikov. Not guys like Hughes. I understand we can't turn our heads away from guys like Hughes and Wise but we need to be very careful how we construct the balance withing our prospect pool IMO. Our team is so soft it's not funny! I'm tired of us getting pushed around when the games get tight.

 

[Habs Halifax]

If the Isles were interested in Patches and he would do a sign and trade I think that gets you close to 11 and 12. Then see if a team around 6 or 7 will trade us their pick for those 2, and we hopefully get Kotkaniemi. If no, several to choose from. Not my ideal Patches trade, but it might be an option.

If we can somehow, someway swap Patch for Kotkaniemi, I'll be very happy (even if it's 1/1 worse case). Zadina and Kotkaniemi combined with whatever we get with our 4-2nd's, early 3rd, 3-4th's, and a early 5th! Talk about the draft we need!

 

[Habs Halifax]

My Draft Wired (rounds 1-3) results... Canes took Dobson at #2

3- Svechnikov
11- Kotkaniemi (Traded 35, 38, 97)
56- O'Brien
62- Demin
66- Hillis

 

[Habs Icing]

I actually think he will go very very late if at all. It has nothing to do with talent but all to do with Russian factor and exposure.

If he was a North American or western European where would he go in the draft according to you?

 

[Habs76]

Yeah I stopped using draftwired once I saw Kotkaniemi making it to our 2nd

That doesn't happen anymore, he fixed it.

 

[Janne Niinimaa]

Just gave Draftwired a shot. Traded #3 for #7 + #37 + #68.

7. Jesperi Kotkaniemi
35. Jonatan Berggren
37. Ty Delandrea
38. Ryan Merkley
56. Filip Hallander
62. David Gustafsson
66. Jack Drury
68. Ivan Morozov
97. Danila Galenyuk
102. Semyon Der-Argunchitsev
121. Jacob Ragnarsson
128. Kevin Mandolese

 

[boss10]

I watched alot of youtube video this weekend of Jesperi Kotkaniemi especially the semi final and final of the U18's for Finland. Very impressive...he plays a 200 foot game. He has size, goes to the net, great shot but an even better passer. His skating looks fine to me. If the Habs like him don't risk dropping back and take him at 3...plus he is a centre. I would be fine with him at 3.