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

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Runner77 said:
Scenario: we're picking 7th. At what point does Kotkaniemi become an option?

In other words, would it be enough for you to reach for Kotkaniemi say if Dahlin, Svech, Boqvist, Washlstrom and Zadina are off the board? Or are Dobson and Hughes that much better picks over Kotkaniemi?
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I got Kotkaniemi at 7 exactly. We should really be focusing on Wahlstrom and Boqvist though.
 
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Runner77 said:
Scenario: we're picking 7th. At what point does Kotkaniemi become an option?

In other words, would it be enough for you to reach for Kotkaniemi say if Dahlin, Svech, Boqvist, Washlstrom and Zadina are off the board? Or are Dobson and Hughes that much better picks over Kotkaniemi?
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I would take Hughes or Dobson ahead of Kotkaniemi, yes.
 
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The Great Schlemko said:
Boqvist at #3 for you now?
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Yep, I've had him between 3 and 6 all year, but he's done everything I want to see from a future star D.

He controls the ice at both ends. Moreso than anyone not named Dahlin. With his progress since last years U18, its pretty much set now.

Edit: just remembered you asked me to post my top Russian forwards. Will do. Top 31 coming after the mock.
 
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Andrei79 said:
Yep, I've had him between 3 and 6 all year, but he's done everything I want to see from a future star D.

He controls the ice at both ends. Moreso than anyone not named Dahlin. With his progress since last years U18, its pretty much set now.
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You copycat. First Wahlstrom now Boqvist. :sarcasm:
 
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What more does Kotkaniemi need to do to be at least an option in the top 5/6 ? Barring that he becomes a winger of course.

He produced against men and significantly improved his speed. He has size and let's assume he'll be a center, he has the vision, the shooting, the hands and the unpredictability to be a 60+ point center.

That's as valuable an asset as you can draft.
 
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for those who know Kotkaniemi ; i am not sure if it was about him but i 've read something about a player that was just playing for his own stats , and that he wawsn't the best teammate because he was a " me,myself and i " . Someone can confirm that he was that player ?
 
goalchenyuk said:
for those who know Kotkaniemi ; i am not sure if it was about him but i 've read something about a player that was just playing for his own stats , and that he wawsn't the best teammate because he was a " me,myself and i " . Someone can confirm that he was that player ?
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Only player who fits that description is Merkley.
 
@The Great Schlemko

1. Andrei Svechnikov
2. Vitali Kravtsov
3. Bulat Shafigullin
4. Grigori Denisenko
5. Ruslan Iskhakov
6. Ivan Morozov
7. Kirill Marchenko
8. Alexander Khovanov
9. Semyon Der-Argunchintsev
10.Nikolai Kovalenko

HM: Zavgorodniy, Rozhkov, Gogolev, Sokolov, Kotkov, Nizhnikov.


1 to 5 are the first rounders. 6 to 9, I would look at in the second, with 6 on the fringe of the 1st and second. Kovalenko I have on the fringe of the second and third. I would have less doubts about his game translating in the NHL if he had a higher top end speed. But, he always seems to be able to create a play out of nothing and I love his hustle. He's short, but strong, much like his father. He's my favorite of the non 1st round worthy Russians.

That said, I hesitated between Marchenko, Morozov and Khovanov. After careful thought, I chose Morozov for that 6th spot because I feel his game translates the most to an NHL player. He has no major flaw (although the other side of this is that he has no stand out skill) and he's been the best Russian center all year. He has the size and smarts for tough center matchups and he can play in any situation.

Marchenko's skating issues are real and I couldn't look past Khovanov's illness. He was a non-factor in the playoffs as well. Still a good gamble since I think he'll fall to our first third, but he won't make it as anything but a top 6 center if he's ever to make it as a center, so I'm betting he ends up on the wing. That's also true of SDA.

Finally, for the same reason I wouldn't rank Wahlstrom as a Swede, I'm not ranking Kurashev as a Russian. No overagers, either.
 
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Andrei79 said:
@The Great Schlemko

1. Andrei Svechnikov
2. Vitali Kravtsov
3. Bulat Shafigullin
4. Grigori Denisenko
5. Ruslan Iskhakov
6. Ivan Morozov
7. Kirill Marchenko
8. Alexander Khovanov
9. Semyon Der-Argunchintsev
10.Nikolai Kovalenko

HM: Zavgorodniy, Rozhkov, Gogolev, Sokolov, Kotkov, Nizhnikov.


1 to 5 are the first rounders. 6 to 9, I would look at in the second, with 6 on the fringe of the 1st and second. Kovalenko I have on the fringe of the second and third. I would have less doubts about his game translating in the NHL if he had a higher top end speed. But, he always seems to be able to create a play out of nothing and I love his hustle. He's short, but strong, much like his father. He's my favorite of the non 1st round worthy Russians.

That said, I hesitated between Marchenko, Morozov and Khovanov. After careful thought, I chose Morozov for that 6th spot because I feel his game translates the most to an NHL player. He has no major flaw (although the other side of this is that he has no stand out skill) and he's been the best Russian center all year. He has the size and smarts for tough center matchups and he can play in any situation.

Marchenko's skating issues are real and I couldn't look past Khovanov's illness. He was a non-factor in the playoffs as well. Still a good gamble since I think he'll fall to our first third, but he won't make it as anything but a top 6 center if he's ever to make it as a center, so I'm betting he ends up on the wing. That's also true of SDA.

Finally, for the same reason I wouldn't rank Wahlstrom as a Swede, I'm not ranking Kurashev as a Russian. No overagers, either.
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I find Shafigullin a very intriguing prospect. When would you pull the trigger? Our late seconds? He's exactly the type of prospect we should be rolling the dice with..... Unless another Connor Crisp is available....:huh:
 
Picking one-dimensional wingers that can't take over a game or make teammates better is not what I would want from a top-10 pick. Call me crazy, but I haven't seen anything exceptional from Wahlstrom outside of finding space and shooting - if he was a center that could half-assed play defence I'd be all over him, but he's neither of this things. Wahlstrom is an exceptionally talented shooter, he's going to be an impact player in the NHL, and I hate agreeing with Grant - but I'd pretty confidently go with Dobson, Boqvist, or Bouchard ahead of him.

Given his ability to control a game, there should be a lot more love for Bouchard. His skating concerns are way overblown on this board and they aren't going to keep him from being an NHL player. His ability to create offence consistently and with low-risk plays is NHL calibre and something that will likely transition well. He's easily one of the most intelligent players in this draft - he doesn't depend on outstanding skating or size to control a game as it's almost all from strong decision making and good reads. He should be right up there with Dobson as a #4 OA consideration IMO.

1) Dahlin
2) Svechnikov
3) Boqvist
4) Bouchard/Dobson
5) Bouchard/Dobson
6) Zadina
7) Wahlstrom

FWIW
 
Draft said:
Picking one-dimensional wingers that can't take over a game or make teammates better is not what I would want from a top-10 pick. Call me crazy, but I haven't seen anything exceptional from Wahlstrom outside of finding space and shooting - if he was a center that could half-assed play defence I'd be all over him, but he's neither of this things. Wahlstrom is an exceptionally talented shooter, he's going to be an impact player in the NHL, and I hate agreeing with Grant - but I'd pretty confidently go with Dobson, Boqvist, or Bouchard ahead of him.

Given his ability to control a game, there should be a lot more love for Bouchard. His skating concerns are way overblown on this board and they aren't going to keep him from being an NHL player. His ability to create offence consistently and with low-risk plays is NHL calibre and something that will likely transition well. He's easily one of the most intelligent players in this draft - he doesn't depend on outstanding skating or size to control a game as it's almost all from strong decision making and good reads. He should be right up there with Dobson as a #4 OA consideration IMO.

1) Dahlin
2) Svechnikov
3) Boqvist
4) Bouchard/Dobson
5) Bouchard/Dobson
6) Zadina
7) Wahlstrom

FWIW
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Bouchard has way more than just a skating flaw.

First of all, lets remember that this was his 3rd junior season. Don't get me wrong, his 87 points is impressive, but just take into account that he did so while being deployed 30 minutes per game in his 3rd junior season.

His defensive play is absolutely dreadful at times. Complete lack of effort and no willingness to use his size.

And finally, the skating. His skating is not good enough to what he's doing in juniors in the NHL. Meaning that you have to project him to change his game up. Also meaning that those type of pint totals won't happen. So I don't see him becoming much of an offensive force in the NHL and his defensive game sure as hell isn't his selling point.

He's not in my top 10.
 
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Janne Niinimaa said:
Bouchard has way more than just a skating flaw.

First of all, lets remember that this was his 3rd junior season. Don't get me wrong, his 87 points is impressive, but just take into account that he did so while being deployed 30 minutes per game in his 3rd junior season.

His defensive play is absolutely dreadful at times. Complete lack of effort and no willingness to use his size.

And finally, the skating. His skating is not good enough to what he's doing in juniors in the NHL. Meaning that you have to project him to change his game up. Also meaning that those type of pint totals won't happen. So I don't see him becoming much of an offensive force in the NHL and his defensive game sure as hell isn't his selling point.

He's not in my top 10.
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He reminds me of John Slaney

3rd all-time leading scorer amongst AHL defensemen
 
I don't think the odds of Bouchard busting are higher than any other of the top D prospects in this draft.

Actually I see him as a safe bet to become a decent contributor in the NHL because he's smart and has this uncanny ability to get shots through on net.

But how probable is this that he's nothing more than a Zach Bogosian type or a Ryan Whitney type from his Ducks and Oilers days? To me it's very plausible.
 
Didn't notice Bob McKenzie's top 15 list that appeared on TSN yesterday, based on the 10 scouts he surveyed:

1. Rasmus Dahlin D SHL
2. Andrei Svechnikov RW/LW OHL
3. Filip Zadina LW QMJHL
4. Brady Tkachuk LW NCAA
5. Evan Bouchard D OHL
6. Adam Boqvist D SHL
7. Oliver Wahlstrom C/RW
8. Noah Dobson D QMJHL
9. Quinton Hughes D NCAA
10. Jesper Kotkaniemi C FEL
11. Joe Veleno C QMJHL
12. Barrett Hayton C OHL
13. Ty Smith D WHL
14. Joel Farabee LW USHL
T-15. Grigori Denisenko LW KHL
T-15. Vitali Kravtsov RW KHL

It's actually a top 16 list as he has a 15th place tie.

https://www.tsn.ca/the-big-four-solidify-spots-in-tsn-draft-ranking-1.1066345

Interesting TSN points:

There was almost nothing separating Boqvist, Wahlstrom and Dobson in the spots between six and eight. They appear to virtually interchangeable, based on voting results.

And while there was a little bit of separation between those three and Hughes at No. 9, understand one thing about this year’s draft: Based on our survey, there is a huge drop off in consensus after No. 9.

Kotkaniemi, though he was just one spot below Hughes, didn’t receive anywhere close to the same support.

Kotkaniemi is closer to being an interchangeable part with the next three prospects, ranked Nos. 11 through 13. That group, in order, includes Drummondville Voltigeurs centre Joe Veleno, Soo Greyhound centre Barrett Hayton and Spokane Chiefs defenceman Ty Smith.
 
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For the ones who are still unsure how dumb Wilde is, take a look at this game, thats a comedy of successive mistakes everytime he is on the ice...
:popcorn: :biglaugh:
 
Janne Niinimaa said:
Bouchard has way more than just a skating flaw.

First of all, lets remember that this was his 3rd junior season. Don't get me wrong, his 87 points is impressive, but just take into account that he did so while being deployed 30 minutes per game in his 3rd junior season.

His defensive play is absolutely dreadful at times. Complete lack of effort and no willingness to use his size.

And finally, the skating. His skating is not good enough to what he's doing in juniors in the NHL. Meaning that you have to project him to change his game up. Also meaning that those type of pint totals won't happen. So I don't see him becoming much of an offensive force in the NHL and his defensive game sure as hell isn't his selling point.

He's not in my top 10.
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Third year, but just as impressive if it were a draft+1 season for him. There's been pretty impressive growth over those seasons and last year was a solid season as well considering his usage. The fact that he can still be effective playing 30mins a night is impressive and says something about his conditioning and work ethic. Look at the production from the rest of the team and he's even more of a stand out.

Don't agree about unwillingness to use his size - won't deny the defensive lapses.

The skating is not an issue IMO. He doesn't play like Hughes or Smith - he's not leading the rush or compensating for bad positioning with good skating. The mechanics are there and he doesn't play that risky of a game - very much Markov-esque. With fewer minutes I also think you'd see a difference. Compared to the other defenceman in the top-10 his skating is weaker, but not the rest of the draft.

Not another defenceman after Dahlin has a similar ability to read the play in the offensive zone. His playmaking and passing ability is top-notch. I think he's a player that will make a huge impact individually and as a part of a team.
 
Seeing Bob's top 15 list, I've turned the page on hoping for Kravtsov with a late 1st. :/

Oh well, Berggren and Nils are my trade up guys now.
 
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