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

[WeThreeKings]

Is it possible we've been center-starved for so long we're starting to overvalue getting the best center at the cost of not getting the BPA?

Specially when we could be getting a player who's both BPA and a top center in 2019;
Hughes
Kakko (think he's got everything to be top flight C)
Newhook
Lavoie
Dach
Turcotte
Cozens
Suzuki

Let's say both Zadina and Kotkaniemi develop accordingly. One's a consistent 30+goals 70pts winger with 40g potential in peak years. And the other is a 55-60pt 200ft center with a big frame.
Who do you take?

I'd still take the 55-60 pt center with a big frame.

Let's do a thought experiment here, and say that the players we draft this year meet their potential.

Drouin-Dach-Gallagher
Galchenyuk-Kotkaniemi-Lehkonen
Hudon-Danault-Scherbak

vs.

Zadina-Dach-Gallagher
Drouin-Danault-Lehkonen
Galchenyuk-DLR-Scherbak

Which line up is better?

 

[jaffy27]

Boqvist.

Gimme a potential top four of Brook-Boqvist and Mete-Juulsen all day.

3 righties and a lefty.....don't like it.

Gimme Zadina and I'll take a top 4 young lefty via a Pacioretty trade plus a first round pick

 

[WeThreeKings]

3 righties and a lefty.....don't like it.

Gimme Zadina and I'll take a top 4 young lefty via a Pacioretty trade plus a first round pick

No team is giving you that for a UFA to be winger.

 

[Andrei79]

Is it possible we've been center-starved for so long we're starting to overvalue getting the best center at the cost of not getting the BPA?

Specially when we could be getting a player who's both BPA and a legit center in 2019;
Hughes
Kakko (think he's got everything to be top flight C)
Newhook
Lavoie
Dach
Turcotte
Cozens
Suzuki

Let's say both Zadina(or Wahlstrom) and Kotkaniemi develop accordingly. One's a consistent 30+goals 70pts winger with 40g potential in peak years. And the other is a 55-60pt 200ft center with a big frame. Who do you take?

That's a question I keep asking myself.

Would you rather Ryan O'reilly or Tarasenko ?

The BPA there is Tarasenko and if thats your drafr philosophy you'd go with the winger.

But, I agree about 2019. Its a stacked group. When was the last time Kakko played center though ? He does have the game for it but I think hes been a winger for quite a while.

In any case, he's incredible and just another reason we should absolutelt suck next year.

 

[G0bias]

I'd still take the 55-60 pt center with a big frame.

Let's do a thought experiment here, and say that the players we draft this year meet their potential.

Drouin-Dach-Gallagher
Galchenyuk-Kotkaniemi-Lehkonen
Hudon-Danault-Scherbak

vs.

Zadina-Dach-Gallagher
Drouin-Danault-Lehkonen
Galchenyuk-DLR-Scherbak

Which line up is better?

Let's say Chucky on the first line instead of Gallagher, but 1st line up is a no-brainer.

 

[sandviper]

Is it possible we've been center-starved for so long we're starting to overvalue getting the best center at the cost of not getting the BPA?

Specially when we could be getting a player who's both BPA and a legit center in 2019;
Hughes
Kakko (think he's got everything to be top flight C)
Newhook
Lavoie
Dach
Turcotte
Cozens
Suzuki

Let's say both Zadina(or Wahlstrom) and Kotkaniemi develop accordingly. One's a consistent 30+goals 70pts winger with 40g potential in peak years. And the other is a 55-60pt 200ft center with a big frame. Who do you take?

Let’s just assume the development and potential is like you mentioned. I would probably lean towards the center under most circumstances (let’s just stick to a scenario where we trade down).

However, if there is a year to get that scoring winger between these two, it is this one. Thus, I would take Zadina or Wahlstrom because my intention would be to trade Pacioretty. If I can get a pick where I can get Kotkaniemi, great. Otherwise, I am hoping to get a center prospect with 1C potential (player isn’t a 1C yet).

 

[jaffy27]

No team is giving you that for a UFA to be winger.

I believe that it can be done.....especially if the team is allowed to negotiate with the player......I so see a Pacioretty plus a second or Mete for Matheson and their first......Pacioretty and Florida agree on a proposed 7yr extension......

 

[Andrei79]

I'd still take the 55-60 pt center with a big frame.

Let's do a thought experiment here, and say that the players we draft this year meet their potential.

Drouin-Dach-Gallagher
Galchenyuk-Kotkaniemi-Lehkonen
Hudon-Danault-Scherbak

vs.

Zadina-Dach-Gallagher
Drouin-Danault-Lehkonen
Galchenyuk-DLR-Scherbak

Which line up is better?

Assuming everyone meets their potential, Poehling would bump Danault down in that second lineup. But, I agree with the general point and I'm undecided.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I believe that it can be done.....especially if the team is allowed to negotiate with the player......I so see a Pacioretty plus a second or Mete for Matheson and their first......Pacioretty and Florida agree on a proposed 7yr extension......

I would hate that move. Giving up extra on top of Pacioretty only to get someone who's not really a sure-fire upgrade over Mete.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Assuming everyone meets their potential, Poehling would bump Danault down in that second lineup. But, I agree with the general point and I'm undecided.

Forgot Poehling and you are right there.. but I still think with our group of wingers, and keep in mind, chances are we are going to have a chance to draft one of Hallander or Berggren with our 2nd round pick.. Drouin, Gallagher, Galchenyuk, Lehkonen, Hudon and Scherbak for me is a great enough winger line up through three lines.. and a center line of Dach-Kotkaniemi-Poehling would instantly make us credible for a long time.

 

[G0bias]

That's a question I keep asking myself.

Would you rather Ryan O'reilly or Tarasenko ?

The BPA there is Tarasenko and if thats your drafr philosophy you'd go with the winger.

But, I agree about 2019. Its a stacked group. When was the last time Kakko played center though ? He does have the game for it but I think hes been a winger for quite a while.

In any case, he's incredible and just another reason we should absolutelt suck next year.

He hasn't. Atleast not that I know of. Just my own personal observation from these past tournaments.

 

[Andrei79]

Forgot Poehling and you are right there.. but I still think with our group of wingers, and keep in mind, chances are we are going to have a chance to draft one of Hallander or Berggren with our 2nd round pick.. Drouin, Gallagher, Galchenyuk, Lehkonen, Hudon and Scherbak for me is a great enough winger line up through three lines.. and a center line of Dach-Kotkaniemi-Poehling would instantly make us credible for a long time.

Yeah, this is why I'm undecided, because there's definite value in that pick. I even tend to think Kotkaniemi's offensive potential is over 60 points. Speed aside, he has the tools for it.

So, I wouldn't be against it. I just hope people don't lose their minds about it if that's what happens.

Now here's another question to further the discussion:

Knowing how deep this draft is in D's and how deep next years is in C's, do you trade Pacioretty for a top 10-15 pick this year or do you gamble on a 2019 pick, without knowing its final draft position ?

 

[NeptunesTrident]

I'd still take the 55-60 pt center with a big frame.

Let's do a thought experiment here, and say that the players we draft this year meet their potential.

Drouin-Dach-Gallagher
Galchenyuk-Kotkaniemi-Lehkonen
Hudon-Danault-Scherbak

vs.

Zadina-Dach-Gallagher
Drouin-Danault-Lehkonen
Galchenyuk-DLR-Scherbak

Which line up is better?

Very well thought out. I'd actually prefer they took a defenseman this year as the draft looks stacked with top pairing guys and took the center next year, but the 1st lineup is definitely appealing. And if Kotkaniemi was to become a #1, then Poehling moves into the #2C spot.

 

[Andrei79]

He hasn't. Atleast not that I know of. Just my own personal observation from these past tournaments.

He definitely seems suited for it. I could actually see him challenging Hughes for no.1 by the end of the year if he makes the switch.

 

[G0bias]

Right totally forgot Poehling in all this. If this scenario applies to him as well and he reaches 2C caliber, that changes things quite a bit.

Galchenyuk-Dach-Zadina
Drouin-Poehling-Gallagher

isn't terrible either and begs the question. But a Dach-Kotkaniemi-Poehling center line would trump all.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Yeah, this is why I'm undecided, because there's definite value in that pick. I even tend to think Kotkaniemi's offensive potential is over 60 points. Speed aside, he has the tools for it.

So, I wouldn't be against it. I just hope people don't lose their minds about it if that's what happens.

Now here's another question to further the discussion:

Knowing how deep this draft is in D's and how deep next years is in C's, do you trade Pacioretty for a top 10-15 pick this year or do you gamble on a 2019 pick, without knowing its final draft position ?

I'd rather have a shot at the lottery next year, with two picks. But again, that comes down to two things: The likelihood Patches is moved for futures (less than 10% IMO) and who's still gonna be on the board.

'cause by the time pick 10-15 comes around, I think the only highly rated defender who may be there is Ty Smith.

I would rather move back within the top 8-9, take Wahlstrom or Kotkaniemi then use two of our high 2nds to jump up and grab one of Alexeyev/Sandin, move Patches for an additional first round next season.. and then be happy when I can grab Dellandrea/Hallander/Berggren with our 2nd round pick.

Wahlstrom/Kotkaniemi
Alexeyev/Sandin
Dellandrea/Hallander/Berggren
1st rounder in 2019

Is a pretty good haul.

 

[jaffy27]

I would hate that move. Giving up extra on top of Pacioretty only to get someone who's not really a sure-fire upgrade over Mete.

Matheson not a sure fire upgrade over Mete?....

Plus a #15 pick which will surely allow you to select one of Valeno, Kotkaniemi, Hayton or Kupari.......I'm in......

 

[admiralcadillac]

I'd still take the 55-60 pt center with a big frame.

Let's do a thought experiment here, and say that the players we draft this year meet their potential.

Drouin-Dach-Gallagher
Galchenyuk-Kotkaniemi-Lehkonen
Hudon-Danault-Scherbak

vs.

Zadina-Dach-Gallagher
Drouin-Danault-Lehkonen
Galchenyuk-DLR-Scherbak

Which line up is better?

We also have poehling and evans as center propects for the second and third lines, not sure what 18 year olds are doing in your roster

 

[WeThreeKings]

We also have poehling and evans as center propects for the second and third lines, not sure what 18 year olds are doing in your roster

It's a projection in a perfect world where everything worked out. A thought experiment based on the scenario presented.

 

[jaffy27]

If Martin Kaut is still there in the 25 range, would anyone be willing to part with 2 seconds (the first two) for the opportunity to draft him?

 

[Andrei79]

I'd rather have a shot at the lottery next year, with two picks. But again, that comes down to two things: The likelihood Patches is moved for futures (less than 10% IMO) and who's still gonna be on the board.

'cause by the time pick 10-15 comes around, I think the only highly rated defender who may be there is Ty Smith.

I would rather move back within the top 8-9, take Wahlstrom or Kotkaniemi then use two of our high 2nds to jump up and grab one of Alexeyev/Sandin, move Patches for an additional first round next season.. and then be happy when I can grab Dellandrea/Hallander/Berggren with our 2nd round pick.

Wahlstrom/Kotkaniemi
Alexeyev/Sandin
Dellandrea/Hallander/Berggren
1st rounder in 2019

Is a pretty good haul.

Yes that would be a great haul actually. Especially considering how well positioned some of our competition are. All of Detroit, New York and Ottawa have picks in that "low" separation group if we can call it that. But, they also have an extra first rounder (or two) and high 2nds. So we do need to keep that in mind and maximize value as much as possible.

I mentioned 10-15, because I don't see any teams trading their pick for Pacioretty before that. At that point, you'll be hoping one or two of the Ds drops. Its a big gamble because there's a drop off from those Ds to the wingers available there.

That's why I'd try to get a deal in place: if one of Bouchard, Smith, Dobson, Hughes or Boqvist drops to a team interested in Pacioretty, go for it. If not, trade for a 2019 first.

I'd also tend to trade down to pick one of Wahlstrom and Kotkaniemi and I was thinking just that earlier: that we could use the 2nd high 2nd to jump up. Ideally, Id use the two low seconds, though.

If any team shows interest in Petry, Byron or Shaw, Id pull the trigger there, assuming its legal to do so (injury related). Id pull the trigger for a bad contract as well.

 

[Andrei79]

Its funny, because all these discussions on picking wingers or defensemen would likely not happen to this degree if MB didn't stupidly trade away Sergachev for a generational headcase. That move really hurt the farm.

Or even the Shaw trade, for that matter.

 

[The Great Weal]

we already have Mete has a small D.. worst case we could attempt to get Jordan Subban who knows he might be a later bloomer and most likely for quite cheap. we need bigger players for sure.

Im starting to see loads of potential in Zadina and his face reminds me of a future leader dont know why but I had same feeling with Filip Forsberg prior to the draft.

So you trade Mete if it's an issue. Don't pass up on elite players.

 

[Mrb1p]

Is it possible we've been center-starved for so long we're starting to overvalue getting the best center at the cost of not getting the BPA?

Specially when we could be getting a player who's both BPA and a legit center in 2019;
Hughes
Kakko (think he's got everything to be top flight C)
Newhook
Lavoie
Dach
Turcotte
Cozens
Suzuki

Let's say both Zadina(or Wahlstrom) and Kotkaniemi develop accordingly. One's a consistent 30+goals 70pts winger with 40g potential in peak years. And the other is a 55-60pt 200ft center with a big frame. Who do you take?

Why would Kotkaniemi not develop into a PPG 2way beast while Wahle becomes an unidimensional 20g scorer?

 

[G0bias]

I'm not a fan of Drouin so I might be biased in these scenarios lol. But it's hard to pass up a beastly center line.

The idea of targeting a 19' 1st with Pacioretty is something I've also been advocating for a while. Though sadly about close to null are the chances of it happening.