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

[Runner77]

Zadina and Svechnikov.

Question is, would you pay to get Svech and how far would you go in doing so?

I don't know about you, but on a team that performed like it has last year, no one should be an untouchable. And I'm not a fan of one-sided deals either -- I'm looking for a price that would be a win-win for the Habs and Canes.

 

[Mrb1p]

I don't like the downside risk at all. We have the opportunity to add an elite scoring winger who has a much higher floor than Kotkaniemi. But no, we're going to take on significant risk with a center that needs work in several critical areas. Opining that it's somehow correctable doesn't cut it for me. We need a more polished product at 3OA and speed under all its forms should be a given, not something we might think can be improved. What does skill improvement mean anyway, he's not going to turn into a much faster player in those areas where he's lacking, than he is now. There is only so much speed a player can improve upon -- if he doesn't have enough of it now, he's not a potential no. 1C. He's closer to being a winger with an upside of a no. 2C.

Give me Zadina please.

Thank god the Panthers passed on Barkov for Drouin, they mightve ended up with a bust.

Thank god the Avs drafted Crouse instead of Rantanen.

Thank god the Habs drafted Reinhart instead of Galchenyuk...

Oh wait...

 

[Mrb1p]

I know Hughes is older, but he looks young and could still have a growth spurt ahead of him.

"He looks young" because hes smaller and he has warts on his face? Will Gaudreau get his growth spurt soon?

 

[Mrb1p]

2018 is going to be the year people ear hella crow and stop being annoying

I believe

 

[Runner77]

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.

Even this. God, helps us.

What's next, he has deformed toes and bunions?

 

[Mrb1p]

Yeah but when a player has skating concerns and quickness issues, it's at the crux of where the game is at and is going. You can't that much become faster and quicker than you already are. No one is saying Dahlin has skating or quickness issues -- if he did, he wouldn't be a 1stOA candidate.

Skating is the same as size, its not a concern.

 

[MD thaivuN]

I think the smart play on this draft is to get a defenseman between Dobson, Hughes, or Boqvist. The team sucks on the blue line too. We're also still gonna suck next year. So, we're more likely to get the much needed C prospect next draft.

 

[Mrb1p]

You're proving my point with the above example. Reinhart's skating is a huge red flag and is a factor in relegating him to third line status.

Yeah, thank God we passed on a slow skater with third line upside. Where is the pro tip about how his skating can be corrected?

We passed on Griffin, not Sam, and Galchenyuk had huge skating concerns, knee injury and all.

 

[Mrb1p]

You have to be kidding me. Size has given way to smaller players who are fast and quick. It's a false equivalency.

Is there actually data that sugest that? The only one I can find is that the players are bigger than ever.

In fact we just saw the "smaller and faster" team lose to the bigger one.

 

[Genghis Keon]

Red flag for me right there. Already there are questions about the fluidity of his skating and now he needs to get faster? Don't want that kind of contingency on a player selected 3OA. It's a skating league, you can't go into it with a guy who has to improve his speed -- you want a guy who possesses that skill from the get-go. You need that answer up front.

Would you have drafted Draisaitl 3rd overall?

I think the push for Kotkaniemi is based on the assumptions that he will be a centre at the next level and has the potential to be a #1 guy. If Timmins and co don't see it that way, obviously they shouldn't pick him. If they don't see it that way, don't pick him, and he doesn't amount to much, few will ever think of this again. If they don't see it that way, don't pick him, and he does become a legit #1 centre, they're going to receive a tonne of criticism. It's why they're paid the big bucks.

 

[Runner77]

Kotkaniemi seems like a popular name in this thread Couple weeks ago we posted his profile for free on our site, that might interest some of you. A reminder you get 5$ off with this coupon code "hfboards19" at checkout if you buy the PDF version of our black book.

2018 NHL Draft Black Book Coming Soon!! - HockeyProspect.com | 2018 NHL Draft

Thanks for posting that but there is nothing about the player's quickness and speed in the several lines you posted.

There’s not one specific attribute that stands-out above the rest for Jesperi, however he does have several good to great attributes that allowed him to become one of the most promising centers in this year’s draft.

And being the most promising center at this year's draft is meaningless. Tell me where he'd rank next year, when there are several real potential no. 1Cs. This year is an aberration in terms of quality centers -- it's not an indicator that someone may be better than a weak class of contemporaries -- it's actually a non-exploit.

Habs potentially thinking about this guy as a 3OA sounds like an overreach and a blatant case of not going for the BPA. And wasting a pick on someone with a low ceiling and concerns about speed and quickness -- can't have that in a league where speed has to be part of the toolbox for a center to be considered a high pick. Just what it looks like to me from all these accounts -- I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Runner77]

Is there actually data that sugest that? The only one I can find is that the players are bigger than ever.

In fact we just saw the "smaller and faster" team lose to the bigger one.

I don't think I've ever seen so many small players be ranked so highly in drafts. Looks to me like teams are willing to sacrifice size if it means they're getting the smarter, higher IQ and faster player.

As for who won the Cup and how, Vegas proved a point beyond the Cup finals -- they beat several teams that featured size and toughness to get there and did so by being an expansion team, without owning the best players at several positions. There is no Ovechkin or Tarasenko quality player with Vegas. The Caps winning doesn diminish what Vegas did, nor what they might do if they'd be in a position to add a couple of truly elite players up front.

 

[Runner77]

And it's not like if he doesn't end up a center, everything he's accomplished and projected to be is suddenly ****. This team lacks dynamic playmakers just as badly as they do goal scorers, if not more so. Everyone's well aware by now of the impact a player like Radulov had even on the wings.

Maybe we should just avoid drafting centers entirely because "tons of junior centers end up on the wings at the pro level".

Just suggesting that maybe we should be drafting potential no. 1Cs where they are most plentiful -- and that's not at this year's draft. We're trying to do too much with one draft and the quest for a no. 1C is probably causing this management group to try and make up for 6 years of ineptitude. Another draft year is needed and trades can be made to secure enough picks next year so we we have some real no. 1C choices in the first round rather than projecting how many correctables a given player should be afforded.

 

[Draft]

Question is, would you pay to get Svech and how far would you go in doing so?

I don't know about you, but on a team that performed like it has last year, no one should be an untouchable. And I'm not a fan of one-sided deals either -- I'm looking for a price that would be a win-win for the Habs and Canes.

I wouldn't pay a significant amount - wing still isn't a need for this organization and I don't think it would make sense to spend our assets there. He's going to be a great player, but I think there are several other great players in this draft that can bring a similar contribution that the team won't need to lose assets for.

Hard to evaluate the cost to move up. I'd do 3rd + 38th + 56th for 2nd? I don't think Svechnikov is miles ahead of the rest of the top ten though.

 

[Andrei79]

That skating can't improve significantly has already been disproven with multiple examples in this thread. Its actually become common place.


Btw, Kotkaniemi didn't just have a good season, he was amongst the highest producing players for his age, ever. His floor isn't low. Zadina certainly isn't quick off the blocks himself.

 

[JeromeHP]

Thanks for posting that but there is nothing about the player's quickness and speed in the several lines you posted.

I only posted half of the profil, click the link and you’ll see more notes (skating included).

 

[theghost1]

I suppose it's a good thing that Zadina is guaranteed to be better than someone like Kravtsov, or Wahlstrom, or Farabee, or Berggren. Why didn't anyone just say this in the first place?

No guarantees in the draft no matter who you pick.

 

[Runner77]

I only posted half of the profil, click the link and you’ll see more notes (skating included).

Thanks for posting the full profile. Much appreciated.

 

[The Great Weal]

HF habs with a 3 round mock, feel free to join

 

[Runner77]

Things are getting serious. 2 more weeks guys, we can make it. Or maybe we don't make it idk.

In BobbyMac we (or most of us) trust.

 

[Andrei79]

Even this. God, helps us.

What's next, he has deformed toes and bunions?

How about this: he's already improved significantly in the span of 12 months. If he didn't I'd tend to agree with you, but to me, that shows a commitment to improving but also the tools to see that commitment succeed with tangible results.

For yet another example: Datsyuk had skating issues when he was drafted. He ended up a pretty fast player, with the best cutbacks in the league.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

Mark Stone was a terrible skater when he was drafted, it definitely can be improved.

 

[Maffew]

Zadina isn't a clear cut above the rest player. That's why the debate rages.

Going to have to agree to disagree then. I haven't seen a draft ranking that says otherwise by anyone reputable. Zadina is clear-cut #3 for me.

If anyone's even close, it's between Bouchard and Tkachuk, but despite no one ranking him higher, it seems that HF values Dobson over Bouchard, so that's a red flag to me, and I'm not interested in gambling on Tkachuk, since Zadina's better at the same position anyway.

And to touch on Kotkaniemi...I'd only be okay drafting him if we traded down, got a really good asset in the trade, and picking him. But again, back to my original point: gambling. MTL is in a bad way right now, and need proven talent. Zadina is proven talent (within reason, I mean. I know anyone can bust or not live up to expectations, that goes without saying). No gambling with this opportunity.

 

[Andrei79]

Mark Stone was a terrible skater when he was drafted, it definitely can be improved.

True. He's pretty average now, but his skating was just brutal.

 

[NotProkofievian]

No guarantees in the draft no matter who you pick.

Then why do you bring it up at all, as if it's relevant to any particular prospect?