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

[Tim Wallach]

I liked Tychonick and Foudy at the U18s. Foudy I see as basically a guaranteed NHLer. He's futuristically fast, and not stupid (so he avoids the Beaulieu-itis). Tychonick was better than Smith at the U18s.

I will go on record as saying I think someone grabs Foudy late 1st round.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I will go on record and say that Tychonick won't amount to much more than a 3rd pairing guy. I can't really realistically define a strength that he has.

 

[Habs_46]

He does need to get faster. In Liiga I've seen him have a clear gap to either get out of his zone, or gain the opponents zone, and have to peel back because he just wasn't going to win the race. I think he can do it though.

I see a lot of puck protection while going wide or setting himself up for a shot that just won`t work in the NHL, quicker feet and a quicker release to go with the deadly accuracy would be a killer combo he already places himself well and I like the play anticipation, but the question is how confident are you that he can improve those skills and is it worth the gamble in the first 10 picks of the draft?

look at the NHL finals, those players had little to no time to setup their shots and very little space to work in, the most visible players where the ones able to make plays at high speeds and the players with ELITE hockey sense, many really good NHLers looked like the game was just too fast for them (Tuch, Karlsson, Berokovsky even found Orlov didn`t look as good in the last 3 games)..... the dominating players were OVI, Backstrom, Kuznetsov. And I just don`t see Kotka being one of those go to guys...

I think best case he becomes a 2nd line center, or maby even a second line winger.....

 

[Habs_46]

I will go on record and say that Tychonick won't amount to much more than a 3rd pairing guy. I can't really realistically define a strength that he has.

I think he could be a bit more than that.... I`m having trouble with him and McIsaac... both seem to be solid, not real glaring flaws but no exceptional skill that sets them apart from other players... not slow but not elite fast, not the hardest shots but acceptable by NHL standards and I`ve found over the years that you need at least 1 exceptional skill to have a long NHL career. I did really like Tychonick at the u18s though... thought he was solid in his own zone with a nice first pass, but again, not much offensively and nothing exceptional...

 

[NotProkofievian]

I will go on record and say that Tychonick won't amount to much more than a 3rd pairing guy. I can't really realistically define a strength that he has.

hattitude.

 

[S Bah]

I guess I don't agree on a number of levels regarding the package of skills he brings to the table. You should remember that in some of these clips, he's 15 or 16 years old. So, yeah, what you saw in that video ''wont transfer'' to the NHL. Because it's a 15 year old kid not named McDavid. Here's why I think Jesperi's offensive game will transfer.

First, he's able to pick corners with a variety of shots. He actually has a wider variety of shots than Zadina does. Zadina essentially has the one shot: classic wrist shot with weight transfer. Look at all of his goals this year, and they're almost all released off his outside foot, using body rotation to generate power. I can show you video of Jesperi beating pro goaltenders off his inside foot, and outside foot, and in terms of one timers, Jesperi actually has Zadina beat. Filip's one timer is actually pretty awful. It's more like he tries to surprise the goaltender than he blows it past him.

As for his passing game, in that video alone we see him deliver cross-ice saucer passes on the tape. I've seen him do this without looking across the seam of a pro defence. I actually rewound the tape to be sure of what I was seeing. Now, the recipient bobbled the pass, so it didn't make the highlight reel, but in case you're curious it was September 26th against IFK in the 3rd period.

And finally, as you say, he's a puck protection player. He's a beast against his age group, and capable of winning battles ahead of his age group. You can knock him down, and he can still win the puck battle. And if you have him completely cut off, with the flick of his wrist he can find an open player.

I agree he's not a future top 10 centerman. That sort of projection is, as of today, out of reach for him. However, the kind of centerman he is, you don't get the opportunity to draft every day. You either take your opportunities and get lucky, or you ***** and moan about having Danault and Byron playing center for you.

I try never to underestimate players with talent and desire/passion, which Kotkaneimi has in spades. Look no further than Winnipeg's Mark Schiefele's draft year & career path, Jesperi could very well be the surprise prospect of the deep 2018 Entry Draft. I'm no scout but this kid has made huge strides this year, no signs of relenting as they won their last tournament in large part to his role at #1 center.

 

[Fozz]

He does need to get faster. In Liiga I've seen him have a clear gap to either get out of his zone, or gain the opponents zone, and have to peel back because he just wasn't going to win the race. I think he can do it though.

From what I've seen, his agility, balance and explosiveness need even more work than his straight away speed.

 

[NotProkofievian]

From what I've seen, his agility, balance and explosiveness need even more work than his straight away speed.

Depends on the agility you're talking about. Lateral agility he has in spades. But his stop-start agility is turrrrible. Balance and explosiveness, though, I agree, and so does Jesperi seemingly. In the scenarios I was referring to it was mostly his explosiveness that was lacking. In order to get around the forechecker, he needed a quick few steps. He seemed to know that he didn't have it, so he'd choose to peel back and make a pass to another player.

 

[Fozz]

Depends on the agility you're talking about. Lateral agility he has in spades. But his stop-start agility is turrrrible. Balance and explosiveness, though, I agree, and so does Jesperi seemingly. In the scenarios I was referring to it was mostly his explosiveness that was lacking. In order to get around the forechecker, he needed a quick few steps. He seemed to know that he didn't have it, so he'd choose to peel back and make a pass to another player.

Which is fine if and when he has the puck. I will never question his skills in possession and in finding teamates. He does have a Getzlaf-like ability to put the puck in the right spots at the right time. That is an instinctive talent that can't be taught.

I find it takes him way too long to get going and I'm mostly worried about his the ability to keep up with the play to make things happen at the pro level. Yes, skating can and should be improved. However, that doesn't always happen with some players. There's risk there is all I'm trying to communicate.

 

[Mrb1p]

Which is fine if and when he has the puck. I will never question his skills in possession and in finding teamates. He does have a Getzlaf-like ability to put the puck in the right spots at the right time. That is an instinctive talent that can't be taught.

I find it takes him way too long to get going and I'm mostly worried about his the ability to keep up with the play to make things happen at the pro level. Yes, skating can and should be improved. However, that doesn't always happen with some players. There's risk there is all I'm trying to communicate.

Hes skating in a pro league and doing good.

AT 17.

 

[G0bias]

Tychonick didn't play the same role with the U18s he had with the Vees, I think he said so after the tournament. He really likes to jump in offensively and while he did on a few occasions, you still didn't see it as much. He's a much better playmaker than McIsaac, there's no question there.

 

[Mrb1p]

Tychonick didn't play the same role with the U18s he had with the Vees, I think he said so after the tournament. He really likes to jump in offensively and while he did on a few occasions, you still didn't see it as much. He's a much better playmaker than McIsaac, there's no question there.

Yup, and he controls the play a lot better than he did at the U18s too. He actually didnt do much at the u18.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Of course he controlled the play better in the BCHL, the league is full of plugs.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Tychonik not doing much at the U18 isn't exactly a great sign, with him playing junior A and all. The tools are there though so I wouldn't put too much weight on it. It's not like Makar where he was slated to go top 10, we're talking about a late first/early second rounder here.

 

[Mrb1p]

Tychonik not doing much at the U18 isn't exactly a great sign, with him playing junior A and all. The tools are there though so I wouldn't put too much weight on it. It's not like Makar where he was slated to go top 10, we're talking about a late first/early second rounder here.

Meh. Thats moving the goalposts from the "7 games tournament isnt important" usual belief. He didnt play up to par with his ability or with a similar playstyle, plus its not like he did bad, and plusplus, its not like, as you said, hes not a top 10 prospect, so hes going to have warts somewhere.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Meh. Thats moving the goalposts from the "7 games tournament isnt important" usual belief. He didnt play up to par with his ability or with a similar playstyle, plus its not like he did bad, and plusplus, its not like, as you said, hes not a top 10 prospect, so hes going to have warts somewhere.

Those tournaments are more important for guys playing in weaker leagues. It's natural to slide Tychonick and McBain back.

 

[Mrb1p]

Those tournaments are more important for guys playing in weaker leagues. It's natural to slide Tychonick and McBain back.

I say its a pretty blatant intellectual fallacy. Youre putting more weight on tournaments because their every day games are easier.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I say its a pretty blatant intellectual fallacy. Youre putting more weight on tournaments because their every day games are easier.

I'm putting more weight on a guy playing against competition that is tougher than a league full of nobodies. Jost dramatically raised his stock by taking the reins at the U-18s. When you have a guy in a league like that you need to see them outside that context.

Everything a player does in their development years has to be properly put in perspective and weighted. As we know 10 goals in the FEL is weighted more strongly than 10 goals in the BCHL. Is that an intellectual fallacy as well?

Tychonick played up to better competition and looked weak and bland. If he didn't play his game well that's on him and it's certainly acceptable to lower him in rankings.

 

[Omar]

If you read my other posts that`s exactly what I`ve been saying. I re-took the will not translate to has work to do... needs to get much faster if we wants to continue that style of play against first pairing D in the NHL. I like the kid, just don`t see 1st line potential and don`t think he`s the 3rd best prospect in the draft.

Not the third best prospect “currently”. That’s the point. If they were all the same age, it’s different. This is an exercise in projection.

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

Which prospects clearly demonstrate the trait of being hard to knock off the puck?

 

[G0bias]

Which prospects clearly demonstrate the trait of being hard to knock off the puck?

Svechnikov ainec

 

[Draft]

Which prospects clearly demonstrate the trait of being hard to knock off the puck?

Zadina and Svechnikov.

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

Zadina and Svechnikov.

It's not hard to build a case for one of the D men at 3OA. It's just much harder to do with Zadina (likely) available.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I see a lot of puck protection while going wide or setting himself up for a shot that just won`t work in the NHL, quicker feet and a quicker release to go with the deadly accuracy would be a killer combo he already places himself well and I like the play anticipation, but the question is how confident are you that he can improve those skills and is it worth the gamble in the first 10 picks of the draft?

look at the NHL finals, those players had little to no time to setup their shots and very little space to work in, the most visible players where the ones able to make plays at high speeds and the players with ELITE hockey sense, many really good NHLers looked like the game was just too fast for them (Tuch, Karlsson, Berokovsky even found Orlov didn`t look as good in the last 3 games)..... the dominating players were OVI, Backstrom, Kuznetsov. And I just don`t see Kotka being one of those go to guys...

I think best case he becomes a 2nd line center, or maby even a second line winger.....

In the first 10 picks of the draft? Absolutely. Please try to apply all of this reasoning to every prospect except Svechnikov and Dahlin. As for best case scenario, this is really selling Kotkaniemi short. Unless you have some sort of a wildly unrealistic notion of a 2nd line center.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Which is fine if and when he has the puck. I will never question his skills in possession and in finding teamates. He does have a Getzlaf-like ability to put the puck in the right spots at the right time. That is an instinctive talent that can't be taught.

I find it takes him way too long to get going and I'm mostly worried about his the ability to keep up with the play to make things happen at the pro level. Yes, skating can and should be improved. However, that doesn't always happen with some players. There's risk there is all I'm trying to communicate.

You're correct in your assessment: he's sluggish off the blocks. There is risk, sure. I think everyone in this thread has acknowledged this fact.