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

[Mrb1p]

It depends on what part of the skating is an issue. Marchenko to me, has heavy feet, and I've never seen someone with heavy feet get better.

If a mechanical shift can happen, that's tough to do, but it can be corrected.

Sometimes it's a matter of a skater getting stronger physically that propels them with more force off the blocks.

I don't think Marchenko can fix his skating, that's why I have him lower than most of you guys do, not that I have him super far down, he's talented and finds a way to produce.

Marchenko's game will never be about skating, he's the type of player that can just make plays happen regardless of skating, like Galchenyuk. Marchenko is also 6'3 with an imposing frame and a great reach, these players tend to rely a lot less on skating. Or they skate like the wind and destroy every league they go through IE, Ovechkin, but he's not Ovechkin, obviously.

if someone takes Veleno at 10, I will laugh until my sides split.

It's going to happen, it happens every year.

 

[The Great Weal]

I think Veleno ends up being something close to Danault.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I thought he was Canada’s best forward against the Czech Republic.(only game I watched)

I thought the opposite. Dellendrea was much better as was Lavoie and Lafreniere. To name a couple.

He had the puck a lot in the moments pushing for a tying goal and it was clear the Czechs were not worried about him scoring and it really broke a lot of plays down. He frustrated me a lot in that game and he did that all tournament. He can skate and possess the puck, he's a good passer.. but he's not a threat to score.

 

[Mrb1p]

Simply put, I don't value Centers who aren't a threat to score as potential first line centers. I don't know of one legitimate first line center in the league that doesn't have the ability to beat a goalie from distance. I know of plenty who are reluctant to shoot or are pass first but they still possess an above average to lethal shot.

If you don't have that, I rate you lower and it hasn't failed me yet. 2nd line upside C's aren't going in my top 10. If you're gambling on a C, I would have Hayton higher simply because he can shoot the puck. But Kotkaniemi is the top guy. If Kupari wasn't so dumb I think he would be challenging for the top C in the draft.

Barzal, Kuznetsov, Backstrom, Thornton all have shit for shot, on par with the muffin that Veleno has, that's not entirely the problem with Veleno, Veleno just has limited upside and doesn't have the skills these four have.

 

[Tutu to]

I think Veleno ends up being something close to Danault.

A better version imo

 

[Yoshidas Island]

That ISS Ranking is quite terrible to be honest. Lots of players in positions that they really shouldn't be. I actually have Kaut at 13, but Noel and Ginning being that high is quite suspect. The lack of love for Smith, Kotkaniemi and Kravtsov is also very troubling.

 

[Mrb1p]

He doesn't have the puck hounding skills of Danault either. I can't think of a player like Veleno.

 

[Mrb1p]

I'm fine with someone viewing Kaut as highly as 13, he has some really interesting tool and his package is good. Especially when you compare him to other players like Hayton, Veleno, Thomas, Lundestrom, Noel, who all rank in the first round.

 

[The Great Weal]

The one compliment I can give Veleno is that he is better than Hayton

 

[Janne Niinimaa]

if someone takes Veleno at 10, I will laugh until my sides split.

I have him around 15 right now so taking him at 10 at the expense of Kotkaniemi or Smith would be very laughable.

 

[Mrb1p]

The one compliment I can give Veleno is that he is better than Hayton

That is 100% sure.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Barzal, Kuznetsov, Backstrom, Thornton all have **** for shot, on par with the muffin that Veleno has, that's not entirely the problem with Veleno, Veleno just has limited upside and doesn't have the skills these four have.

Are you serious? Kuznetsov and Backstrom can absolutely rip the puck. They don't shoot much but they are a threat to score. Barzal is a tier below but he has a good shot that he gets off at super sonic speeds. Thornton can shoot as well but he never does, obviously he's old as dirt now so his goal numbers are way down.

 

[L4br3cqu3]

I think Veleno ends up being something close to Danault.

I have a 'Niklas Sundstrom' vibe about him.

I know, blast from the past...

 

[Tutu to]

I thought the opposite. Dellendrea was much better as was Lavoie and Lafreniere. To name a couple.

He had the puck a lot in the moments pushing for a tying goal and it was clear the Czechs were not worried about him scoring and it really broke a lot of plays down. He frustrated me a lot in that game and he did that all tournament. He can skate and possess the puck, he's a good passer.. but he's not a threat to score.

Your probably right about his offensive upside. I don’t think he will be an elite scorer in the NHL either. But he is a very safe pick in this draft. I see him as a good 2nd line center in the league and a 50 point scorer. Lafrenierre didnt have a great game against the Czechs imo.

 

[The Great Weal]

Where do you guys got Lundestrom?

 

[NotProkofievian]

16.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Your probably right about his offensive upside. I don’t think he will be an elite scorer in the NHL either. But he is a very safe pick in this draft. I see him as a good 2nd line center in the league and a 50 point scorer. Lafrenierre didnt have a great game against the Czechs imo.

I also have him topping out as a 2nd line center at best, I wouldn't take that in the top 10.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Where do you guys got Lundestrom?

I've got him at 13, he's the Swedish Veleno, but I think his tools are all a bit better than Veleno's.

 

[ProspectsFanatic]

I am the only one on this board who have Noel ranked very highly (around 15). I believe he raised his stock in the WJC18, he showed he isn't just a big body and showed some offensive ability, the combo of speed and size he has can be very deadly, I have been impressed with his ability to carry to puck to the offensive zone (much better than McCarron for example). There a lot of untapped potential to be exploited imo, considering the tools he has I can see him bringing his game to an entirely different level as he develop, his late birthday makes me hopeful it can happen. I guess I am often high on those type of players, size and speed like I just said is a deadly combo, last year is was very high on Vesalainen and Safin and it seems to be panning out well, so I am sticking with projecting highly those type of player.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I am the only one on this board who have Noel ranked very highly (around 15). I believe he raised his stock in the WJC18, he showed he isn't just a big body and showed some offensive ability, the combo of speed and size he has can be very deadly, I have been impressed with his ability to carry to puck to the offensive zone (much better than McCarron for example). There a lot of untapped potential to be exploited imo, considering the tools he has I can see him bringing his game to an entirely different level as he develop, his late birthday makes me hopeful it can happen. I guess I am often high on those type of players, size and speed like I just said is a deadly combo, last year is was very high on Vesalainen and Safin and it seems to be panning out well, so I am sticking with projecting highly those type of player.

I think @TT1 also really likes him.. while @Mrb1p hates him a lot.

I'm luke-warm on him. He's tantalizing some games and other games he's absolute garbage. He's toolsy but I don't know if he ever puts them all in a box. If he hits, you're gonna be happy. He's someone I'm okay with gambling on in the 2nd because we have a few picks there, I wouldn't trade up to nab him, though.

 

[Mrb1p]

I am the only one on this board who have Noel ranked very highly (around 15). I believe he raised his stock in the WJC18, he showed he isn't just a big body and showed some offensive ability, the combo of speed and size he has can be very deadly, I have been impressed with his ability to carry to puck to the offensive zone (much better than McCarron for example). There a lot of untapped potential to be exploited imo, considering the tools he has I can see him bringing his game to an entirely different level as he develop, his late birthday makes me hopeful it can happen. I guess I am often high on those type of players, size and speed like I just said is a deadly combo, last year is was very high on Vesalainen and Safin and it seems to be panning out well, so I am sticking with projecting highly those type of player.

Who's the last 6'5 forward project to be drafted and be succesful ?

Safin went in the 4th round, it's fine to gamble there, gambling on an uber project at 20ish is bad.

Anyway what is Noel going to be at the next level ? A 2nd liner that can put in 20ish dirty goals ? Wow.

 

[Janne Niinimaa]

I keep going back and forth on my ranking of Olofsson, Lundestrom and Hallander.

 

[Tutu to]

I also have him topping out as a 2nd line center at best, I wouldn't take that in the top 10.

I’m sure with good wingers who can shoot the puck he will be fine. A player like Kotkaniemi has higher upside but is more likely to bust as well.

 

[G0bias]

Who's the last 6'5 forward project to be drafted and be succesful ?

Safin went in the 4th round, it's fine to gamble there, gambling on an uber project at 20ish is bad.

Anyway what is Noel going to be at the next level ? A 2nd liner that can put in 20ish dirty goals ? Wow.

I'm not as high on Noel, though I thought he had a fairly good tournament, but a 20-goals 6'5 2nd liner is a valuable piece for any team.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I keep going back and forth on my ranking of Olofsson, Lundestrom and Hallander.

I waffled for a bit between Olofsson and Hållander recently, but Filip's just better IMO. Jacob has a tendency to do f*** all. He's like Akil Thomas that way.