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

[Mrb1p]

Boqvist. Elite (potential) defencemen are harder to find than elite wingers. I will be happy with Boqvist, Zadina or Wahlstrom, but I think the ceiling is just so high for Boqvist.

Plus, by the time Boqvist is ready to make an impact, Weber and Petry will be dropping down in the order, if not traded.

Or if hes ready, they can trade each or one of them for more future, which would be best case scenario.

 

[The Great Weal]

Boqvist. Elite (potential) defencemen are harder to find than elite wingers. I will be happy with Boqvist, Zadina or Wahlstrom, but I think the ceiling is just so high for Boqvist.

Plus, by the time Boqvist is ready to make an impact, Weber and Petry will be dropping down in the order, if not traded.

Would have loved Boqvist if he didn't get another concussion . He is still so young.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Would have loved Boqvist if he didn't get another concussion . He is still so young.

Ya that scares me.

 

[Mrb1p]

Would have loved Boqvist if he didn't get another concussion . He is still so young.

I think youre looking too much into it. The number doesnt tell the whole story.

 

[The Great Weal]

Ya that scares me.

2 one of the year and he isn't big either. It sucks because the kid is so freaking good, and you can make a point to take him ahead of Zadina and Wahlstrom. However, is it really worth the risk? Is he far and away the better player out of those guys? I can't say yes.

 

[The Great Weal]

I think youre looking too much into it. The number doesnt tell the whole story.

I hope so, but when it's already close between the 3, not sure why you risk it. You might be regretting it in the future if Boqvist reaches his potential, but you still get an elite goalscorer. If you take Boqvist, who knows what happens with his smaller frame? Concussions are scary.

 

[LastWordArmy]

@Runner77 asked for some comparisons between Zadina and Tkachuk in another thread but I searched for advanced stats on Brady but couldn’t find anything.

I mean, my eyeball tests suggest Tkachuk maybe isn’t what Arizona would look for. They are analytics driven, so Wahlstrom and Hughes do make sense for them. That said, their whole analytics mantra hasn’t turned it around yet so maybe it’s time to look at some grit.

Yeah i haven't seen them for Tkachuk, but just watching him, you can tell they aren't going to be great.

On the other hand, we do have numbers on both Wahlstrom and Hughes which are outstanding.

I just can't imagine the analytics for Tkachuk being anywhere close to Wahlstrom and Hughes, cause I've seen all three play, and I've seen the stats on two of them.

 

[WinterLion]

So would anybody not take Svechnikov if he falls to us at 3?

 

[sandviper]

So would anybody not take Svechnikov if he falls to us at 3?

I don’t have names handy but I know we’ve had posters complain about Russians and lack of organizational success or some nonsense like that.

 

[LastWordArmy]

So would anybody not take Svechnikov if he falls to us at 3?

Only if Dahlin has somehow also fallen to 3.

If Svechnikov is there, you run to the podium and make the pick before Carolina can change their mind.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

I'd be willing to bet Svechnikov is #2 overall on every single team's list. The only way he isn't is if you're applying some sort of de facto Russian bias. That discussion has been settled for months now, it was before the season even started honestly.

 

[dinodebino]

He's part of a high scoring team. His center isn't a talented guy at the next level but he did score at the junior level.

Zadina will absolutely need a playmaking C to help him reach his full impact. He's not Svechnikov who can create on his own.

Thanks.

 

[G0bias]

Yeah watching Pori along the year all you could really do was look for signs if Kotkaniemi would be able to translate as a center at the next level.
They were there. But since they didn't play him at center much at all and his skating was still a work in progress, it was still up in the air so to speak.

The 5 nations was encouraging. And now with the WJCs over, these two tournaments provided alot of answers or atleast information on him as he was handed the 1C role. While I can't say he's a lock to become one, very few are, I'm alot more confident about it than I was back in December/January.

 

[ProspectsFanatic]

Boqvist was my guy at #3 and I had Wahlstrom at #4. Both were very good at the WJC18 but not as dominant as I would have liked in way to could have cement my rankings, plus Boqvist got a concussion which is somewhat worrisome. So, I am still very unsure who is the right guy at #3.
Boqvist, Wahlstrom, Zadina, Hughes, Dobson, Kotkaniemi, Bouchard and Tkachuk, you can make a strong case they are the right guy for the #3 pick for all of them, but each of them also have some flaws in their game though, no surefire elite player in that group in my view. I feel like I am going to stay indecisive until the very end.

 

[Saxon]

Kotkaniemi is a good 2-way center, not a top 5 player for me

I think he has allot of potential. I'd take him ahead of a few other "top" picks personally.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Zadina was more dominant LAST YEAR at the U18s than either Wahlstrom and Boqvist were...

Zadina basically was as dominant at the U20s as Wahlstrom was at the U18s...

 

[The Great Weal]

Zadina was more dominant LAST YEAR at the U18s than either Wahlstrom and Boqvist were...

Zadina basically was as dominant at the U20s as Wahlstrom was at the U18s...

Very true.

 

[get25]

So we are going to get rid of Pacman and hope Zadina can bring 30-35 goals and 60-70 points in two or three years?

Does anyone expect a top-3 for Pacioretty?

I feel a bit depressed after missing on Schevnikov and Dahlin...

BTWm we won't know before June 24th... not June 23rd as we already know it will be Zadina.
He is ranked 3rd by almost everyone except future considerations who puts him at 4th behind Tckachuk.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Grant is Kotkaniemi focused on twitter

He's not even doing it right. Just listing point totals on twitter. He has a good argument, and he's not even making it.

 

[G0bias]

Now that the season is over for almost everyone.

1. Rasmus Dahlin
2. Andrei Svechnikov

3. Filip Zadina
4. Oliver Wahlstrom
5. Adam Boqvist
6. Quinn Hughes
7. Jesperi Kotkaniemi
8. Noah Dobson

9. Ty Smith
10. Brady Tkachuk
11. Evan Bouchard
12. Vitaly Kravtsov
13. Jonatan Berggren
14. Joel Farabee
15. Isac Lundestrom
16. Filip Hallander
17. Martin Kaut
18. Nils Lundkvist
19. Alexander Alexeyev
20. Grigori Denisenko

21. Joseph Veleno
22. Rasmus Kupari
23. Ty Dellandrea
24. Jonathan Tychonick
25. Jesse Ylonen
26. Akil Thomas
27. Barrett Hayton
28. Jacob Olofsson
29. Dominik Bokk
30. Rasmus Sandin
31. Liam Foudy

* 3 to 5 is a coin toss. Top 8 players are pretty much set for D-day - though a big finals by Dobson could bump him up. Same for 9-20, with a few players maybe switching here and there as I keep getting more tape in.

 

[Runner77]

I'll be updating with new lists in an upcoming post.

 

[NotProkofievian]

1. Dahlin
2. Svechnikov
3. Wahlstrom
4. Zadina
5. Boqvist
6. Dobson
7. Hughes
8. Kotkaniemi
9. Bouchard
10. Tkachuk
11. Kravtsov
12. Smith
13. Farabee
14. Veleno
15. Lundeström
16. Kupari
17. Lundkvist
18. Kaut
19. Berggren
20. Denisenko
21. Alexeyev
22. Olofsson
23. Hållander
24. Tychonick
25. Ylönen
26. McLeod
27. Dellandrea
28. Bokk
29. Hayton
30. Sandin
31. Gustafsson

Update:

1. Dahlin
2. Svechnikov
3. Zadina
4. Wahlstrom
5. Boqvist
6. Kotkaniemi
7. Dobson
8. Hughes
9. Bouchard
10. Tkachuk
11. Kravtsov
12. Smith
13. Farabee
14. Berggren
15. Kaut
16. Lundeström
17. Kupari
18. Alexeyev
19. Veleno
20. Denisenko
21. Lundkvist
22. Dellandrea
23. Hållander
24. Tychonick
25. Ylönen
26. Gustafsson
27. Hayton
28. Sandin
29. Bokk
30. Olofsson
31. K'AntPlay Miller

K'Antplay showed enough in the later games of the tournament, and at the 5 nations that I'm willing to roll the dice on him. He's actually a very interesting prospect. Big winners for this tournament, IMO, were Berggren, Gustafsson, and Kotkaniemi. Barry and Goose are big time players.

 

[Runner77]

For future reference, updated ranking lists that posters have offered in the current version of this thread:

So tough to choose after the top 2. The other players all have big positives, but some small negatives too.

Dahlin
Svechnikov

Boqvist
Wahlstrom (don't know what order for these 3 yet)
Zadina

Hughes
Dobson

Tkachuk
Smith
Bouchard
Kotkaniemi

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

With the draft lottery tonight, it seems like a good time to update and expand my rankings.

1	Rasmus Dahlin
2	Andrei Svechnikov
3	Adam Boqvist
4	Oliver Wahlstrom
5	Filip Zadina
6	Noah Dobson
7	Quinn Hughes
8	Jesperi Kotkaniemi
9	Evan Bouchard
10	Ty Smith
11	Brady Tkachuk
12	Vitali Kravtsov
13	Joel Farabee
14	Grigori Denisenko
15	Isac Lundestrom
16	Martin Kaut
17	Barrett Hayton
18	Joseph Veleno
19	Akil Thomas
20	Bulat Shafigullin
21	Jake Wise
22	Jonatan Berggren
23	Rasmus Sandin
24	Jared McIsaac
25	Ryan Merkley
26	Bode Wilde
27	Dominik Bokk
28	Ty Dellandrea
29	Rasmus Kupari
30	Serron Noel
31	Nils Lundkvist
32	Jacob Olofsson
33	Jonny Tychonick
34	David Gustafsson
35	Filip Hallander
36	Ruslan Ishkakov
37	Cam Hillis
38	Jett Woo
39	Jack Drury
40	Alexander Alexeyev
41	Calen Addison
42	Nicolas Beaudin
43	Danila Zhuravylov
44	Ryan McLeod
45	Liam Foudy
46	Ivan Morozov
47	Johnny Gruden
48	Alexander Khovanov
49	Cole Fonstad
50	Kevin Bahl
51	K'Andre Miller
52	Kirill Marchenko

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

I'm a bit higher on Wilde than I maybe should be, especially when I prefer to look for hockey IQ above all else, but you can't ignore the tools, and I think he can be coached to be at least pretty good defensively at the NHL level.

My new list:

1 - Dahlin
2 - Svechnikov
3 - Zadina
4 - Hughes
5 - Boqvist
6 - Kotkaniemi
7 - Wahlstrom
8 - Dobson
9 - Bouchard
10 - Kravtsov
11- Tkachuk
12 - Farabee
13 - Smith
14 - Sandin
15 - Kupari

Dahlin
Tier
Svechnikov
Tier
Wahlstrom & Boqvist
Tier
Zadina & Hughes & Dobson

Still a work in progress as the ability to raise your game in the next two games in the U-18, CHL play-offs and Memorial Cup will factor in.

1. Rasmus Dahlin D SHL
2. Andrei Svechnikov RW/LW OHL
3. Adam Boqvist D SHL
4. Oliver Wahlstrom C/RW
5. Noah Dobson D QMJHL
6. Filip Zadina LW QMJHL
7. Quinton Hughes D NCAA
8. Jesper Kotkaniemi C FEL
9. Ty Smith D WHL
10. Evan Bouchard D OHL
11. Vitali Kravtsov RW KHL
12. Brady Tkachuk LW NCAA
13. Isaac Lundestrom C SHL
14. Filip Hallander LW Allsvenskan
15. Jonathan Berggren C/RW SHL
16. Joel Farabee LW USHL
17. Akil Thomas C OHL
18. Jacob Olofsson C Allsvenskan
19. Rasmus Sandin D OHL
20. Alexander Alexeyev D WHL
21. Bulat Shaffigullin F KHL
22. Nils Lundkvist D SHL
23. Rasmus Kupari C FEL
24. Barrett Hayton C OHL
25. Ruslan Iskhakov F MHL
26. Ty Dellandrea C OHL
27. Blake McLaughlin C USHL
28. Bode Wilde D USHL
29. Joe Veleno C QMJHL
30. Grigori Denisenko LW KHL
31. Ivan Morozov C MHL
32. Martin Kaut RW Cze
33. Liam Foudy C OHL
34. Danila Zhuravlyov D MHL
35. Ryan Merkley D OHL
36. Jared McIsaac D QMJHL
37. Cameron Hillis C OHL
38. Dominik Bokk RW SEL
39. Philipp Kurashev C QMJHL
40. Johnny Tychonick D BCHL
41. Jett Woo D WHL
42. Jesse Ylonen RW FEL
43. Alexander Khovanov C QMJHL
44. Cole Fonstad C WHL
45. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev C OHL
46. Jake Wise C USHL
47. Calen Addison D WHL
48. Jacob Ragnarsson D Allsvenskan
49. Jacob Bernard-Docker D BCHL
50. Niklas Nordgren RW FEL

Now that the season is over for almost everyone.

1. Rasmus Dahlin
2. Andrei Svechnikov

3. Filip Zadina
4. Oliver Wahlstrom
5. Adam Boqvist
6. Quinn Hughes
7. Jesperi Kotkaniemi
8. Noah Dobson

9. Ty Smith
10. Brady Tkachuk
11. Evan Bouchard
12. Vitaly Kravtsov
13. Jonatan Berggren
14. Joel Farabee
15. Isac Lundestrom
16. Filip Hallander
17. Martin Kaut
18. Nils Lundkvist
19. Alexander Alexeyev
20. Grigori Denisenko

21. Joseph Veleno
22. Rasmus Kupari
23. Ty Dellandrea
24. Jonathan Tychonick
25. Jesse Ylonen
26. Akil Thomas
27. Barrett Hayton
28. Jacob Olofsson
29. Dominik Bokk
30. Rasmus Sandin
31. Liam Foudy

* 3 to 5 is a coin toss. Top 8 players are pretty much set for D-day - though a big finals by Dobson could bump him up. Same for 9-20, with a few players maybe switching here and there as I keep getting more tape in.

Update:

1. Dahlin
2. Svechnikov
3. Zadina
4. Wahlstrom
5. Boqvist
6. Kotkaniemi
7. Dobson
8. Hughes
9. Bouchard
10. Tkachuk
11. Kravtsov
12. Smith
13. Farabee
14. Berggren
15. Kaut
16. Lundeström
17. Kupari
18. Alexeyev
19. Veleno
20. Denisenko
21. Lundkvist
22. Dellandrea
23. Hållander
24. Tychonick
25. Ylönen
26. Gustafsson
27. Hayton
28. Sandin
29. Bokk
30. Olofsson
31. K'AntPlay Miller

K'Antplay showed enough in the later games of the tournament, and at the 5 nations that I'm willing to roll the dice on him. He's actually a very interesting prospect. Big winners for this tournament, IMO, were Berggren, Gustafsson, and Kotkaniemi. Barry and Goose are big time players.

 

[G0bias]

He's not even doing it right. Just listing point totals on twitter. He has a good argument, and he's not even making it.

And then you have the two schlemiels Wilde and Todd retweeting everything.

I don't even

 

[NotProkofievian]

And then you have the two schlemiels Wilde and Todd parroting whatever he tweets.

I don't even

He's not a lot like Tkachuk, but Tkachuk did lead Boston university in shots on net this year. It's just that that resulted in a grand total of 8 goals.

....8 goals. Shooting percentage of 6%. They're so much alike, Brady and Wahl-e.