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

[Runner77]

"Among the teams I believe they’ve chatted with is Montreal at No. 3, which depending on what Arizona would be willing to pay...

Operative words.

 

[Hope Of Glory]

Quotables on SDA are not good. Main issues are his skating for his size. A bunch of quotes said he and no Pete's were on their lists.

Anything that stands out for the others projected 2nd roundish centers (Hillis, Fonstad, etc) or the russians (Isk, Marchenko, Zhu etc)?

 

[le_sean]

If this stuff about wanting a defender is true, i wonder who. Dobson fits that Timmins profile, but really, another RD?

Could be Hughes as well. Emphasis on speed, Timmins loves NCAA players. Would be a huge roll of the dice.

 

[Andrei79]

If this stuff about wanting a defender is true, i wonder who. Dobson fits that Timmins profile, but really, another RD?

Could be Hughes as well. Emphasis on speed, Timmins loves NCAA players. Would be a huge roll of the dice.

Speed and skill... Dobson, Boqvist and Hughes would all fit the bill. Wouldn't mind any of them.

 

[The Great Weal]

If this stuff about wanting a defender is true, i wonder who. Dobson fits that Timmins profile, but really, another RD?

Could be Hughes as well. Emphasis on speed, Timmins loves NCAA players. Would be a huge roll of the dice.

I doubt it's Hughes. Probably Dobson.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Anything that stands out for the others projected 2nd roundish centers (Hillis, Fonstad, etc) or the russians (Isk, Marchenko, Zhu etc)?

Hillis they said was talented but they were worried about skating, see him more as a guy who goes between rounds 3-4 but they seemed willing to gamble.

No quotables on Fonstad.

No quotables on Iskhakov, Marchenko they said could score but those feet were problematic, one glowing quotable on Zhuravlyov just based on his talent level.

Shafigulin was mentioned and a lot of them said they just didn't see him live but what they did see, he checks all the boxes.

 

[Hope Of Glory]

Hillis they said was talented but they were worried about skating, see him more as a guy who goes between rounds 3-4 but they seemed willing to gamble.

No quotables on Fonstad.

No quotables on Iskhakov, Marchenko they said could score but those feet were problematic, one glowing quotable on Zhuravlyov just based on his talent level.

Shafigulin was mentioned and a lot of them said they just didn't see him live but what they did see, he checks all the boxes.

Thanks WTK!

Lots of skating concerns this year, it seems. I wonder if there's an even bigger emphasis being put on that skill or if the same as usual and I just didn't notice that about 2-3-4th rounders in the previous years.

 

[Runner77]

Hillis they said was talented but they were worried about skating, see him more as a guy who goes between rounds 3-4 but they seemed willing to gamble.

No quotables on Fonstad.

No quotables on Iskhakov, Marchenko they said could score but those feet were problematic, one glowing quotable on Zhuravlyov just based on his talent level.

Shafigulin was mentioned and a lot of them said they just didn't see him live but what they did see, he checks all the boxes.

Man, W3K, you're really getting a lot of mileage out of the Black Book. What did you order, a PDF format?

Do I take it that you enthusiastically recommend?

 

[WeThreeKings]

Thanks WTK!

Lots of skating concerns this year, it seems. I wonder if there's an even bigger emphasis being put on that skill or if the same as usual and I just didn't notice that about 2-3-4th rounders in the previous years.

I think it seems to me they are being super picky on footwork this year. Haven't noticed it as much.. but it is also stated a lot more with the smaller guys

 

[WeThreeKings]

Man, W3K, you're really getting a lot of mileage out of the Black Book. What did you order, a PDF format?

Do I take it that you enthusiastically recommend?

It's comprehensive.. and the quotables on prospects is always a fun bit that you're not gonna get just scouting the games yourself. Also offers an outlook on next year and 2020 guys.

Spending money on a draft guide, that's the one. The others just don't give as much content. The Blackbook is almost 700 pages.

 

[Runner77]

It's comprehensive.. and the quotables on prospects is always a fun bit that you're not gonna get just scouting the games yourself. Also offers an outlook on next year and 2020 guys.

Spending money on a draft guide, that's the one. The others just don't give as much content. The Blackbook is almost 700 pages.

Did you order the hard copy?

Although, I'm usually partial to the Red Line Report, it's so well-written. But hate the fact that it's so condensed.

With the Habs owning so many picks this year, a brick like the Black Book is enticing.

 

[Runner77]

Does anyone know where this is from?

 

[WeThreeKings]

Did you order the hard copy?

Totally agree. I'm partial to the Red Line Report, it's so well-written. But hate the fact that it's so condensed.

With the Habs owning so many picks this year, a brick like the Black Book is enticing.

PDF.. I'm a fan of using the search function.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Thanks WTK!

Lots of skating concerns this year, it seems. I wonder if there's an even bigger emphasis being put on that skill or if the same as usual and I just didn't notice that about 2-3-4th rounders in the previous years.

I think a lot of this is mountains out of mole-hills. Junior players are pretty bad skaters in general. A handful or two have NHL skating already, the rest need to work on it. Yet somehow pro level skaters are unilaterally better. How many times have you read this little tidbit in a player's profile ''needs to improve lower body strength. Needs a better first few steps.'' Hmmmmmm...

 

[WeThreeKings]

I've never noticed skating concerns with SDA or Hillis.. I mean sure they aren't blazing fast like you want for undersized guys but also you don't need that anymore since the game opened up.

 

[Fozz]

If you believe Kotkaniemi has no chance of being as good as Barkov you dont pick him 3rd. Its the same as the Matthews comparison, Jesperi certainly has the talent for it, Barkov/Matthews just came into their assets sooner. Kotkaniemi seems to be on track to that group of elite Cs to me.

Let's get real here... Kotkaniemi isn't on the same level as Barkov and Matthews. It's not that close either.

 

[ginomini]

Does anyone know where this is from?

Probably Pronman with Dobson at 20?

 

[sandviper]

Hillis they said was talented but they were worried about skating, see him more as a guy who goes between rounds 3-4 but they seemed willing to gamble.

No quotables on Fonstad.

No quotables on Iskhakov, Marchenko they said could score but those feet were problematic, one glowing quotable on Zhuravlyov just based on his talent level.

Shafigulin was mentioned and a lot of them said they just didn't see him live but what they did see, he checks all the boxes.

Other than being the same height as my teenager, I am hoping Iskhakov is considered. He has ridiculous skill.

 

[Mrb1p]

Let's get real here... Kotkaniemi isn't on the same level as Barkov and Matthews. It's not that close either.

Neither was Kuznetsov when he was drafted, neither was Scheifele... relying on absolutes isnt doing any justice to the quality of prospect Kotkaniemi is

 

[le_sean]

Does anyone know where this is from?

Ylonen is flying under the radar. He needs to be a Round 2 target.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I've never noticed skating concerns with SDA or Hillis.. I mean sure they aren't blazing fast like you want for undersized guys but also you don't need that anymore since the game opened up.

Every single game I've watched of SDA he's managed to skate laps around the opposition, and go end to end. Skating concern is the new buzzword.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Ya, I think the hope is that he can be a Monahan level player. I'd take Monahan at 3, it's just Kotkaniemi has a little work to get there. If you absolutely believe he can put it together then you take him.

 

[le_sean]

 

[Fozz]

I think a lot of this is mountains out of mole-hills. Junior players are pretty bad skaters in general. A handful or two have NHL skating already, the rest need to work on it. Yet somehow pro level skaters are unilaterally better. How many times have you read this little tidbit in a player's profile ''needs to improve lower body strength. Needs a better first few steps.'' Hmmmmmm...

There are more and more junior players that have elite skating. Here's the thing: those that don't need to significantly improve that skill or they more than likely won't make it. Some of these kids try and work real hard at it but simply can't get faster. If an 18 year old has skating issues, the team that drafts him takes a significant risk. Especially if that player has had knee injuries in the past.

 

[Mrb1p]

Ylonen is flying under the radar. He needs to be a Round 2 target.

I thought @Andrei79 was nuts when he picked him in the first round of the early mock but damn the guy is an absolute talent.