Pre-Game Talk: 2019 NHL Draft, Pt. V: Got your ticket? (Mod note in pinned post)

[John Johnson]

Centre will always be the premium position as it's far easier convert a C to W instead of vice versa. I actually don't think we have have good depth at any position as an organization.

Right now it looks like our center depth is pretty good and only going to get better, but yes everywhere else we are lacking depth.

 

[y2kcanucks]

Newhook at #5 eh? What's your projection of him?

I see him as a regular top 6 forward who provides speed and skill to any lineup. He can play C or the wing. Great skater and a good puck distributor. I actually really like the Alex Tanguay comparison I've seen.

Didn't realize I'd have him as high as 5 but as I was going down the list I just like him better than everyone else who was available. I think if he played in the WHL instead of the BCHL that he would have been right there with Dach and Cozens, and has less warts in his game IMO than those two. I'm definitely giving him a bump because of his speed, and I like his situation going the college route to the program he's going to. Give him 2 years in a good hockey program in college to develop, I think you'll have a very good prospect when he comes up here.

I have Boldy high too and wouldn't be upset if we took him instead, but because of his speed I gave the nod to Newhook.

I also weighed heavily on potential and how likely I think it is for those players to reach that ceiling. That's why, a player like Soderstrom I have ranked a lot lower. I think he could become a solid second pair defenseman who is unspectacular at any one area, but not bad, but there are other players who I think have a higher potential.

 

[Love]

My final top 20 rankings:

1. Jack Hughes
2. Kappo Kakko
3. Bowen Byram
4. Alex Turcotte
5. Alex Newhook
6. Matthew Boldy
7. Trevor Zegras
8. Dylan Cozens
9. Kirby Dach
10. Cole Caufield
11. Peyton Krebs
12. Arthur Kaliyev
13. Moritz Seider
14. Vasili Podkolzin
15. Spencer Knight
16. Cam York
17. Philip Tomasino
18. Bobby Brink
19. Philip Broberg
20. Nils Hoglander

Nice, my top 5 is exactly the same as yours.

Edit: And I have Boldy, Zegras, and Cozens as my next three like you just in a different order.

 

[m9]

Anyone know the best (ie, cheapest) re-seller for tickets for Round 1?

 

[Russian_fanatic]

Really seems like Newhook won’t be available... damn... he’s one of those guys who mostly go under the radar, and in 5 years you’re like how tf didn’t he go top 5

 

[F A N]

I see him as a regular top 6 forward who provides speed and skill to any lineup. He can play C or the wing. Great skater and a good puck distributor. I actually really like the Alex Tanguay comparison I've seen.

Didn't realize I'd have him as high as 5 but as I was going down the list I just like him better than everyone else who was available. I think if he played in the WHL instead of the BCHL that he would have been right there with Dach and Cozens, and has less warts in his game IMO than those two. I'm definitely giving him a bump because of his speed, and I like his situation going the college route to the program he's going to. Give him 2 years in a good hockey program in college to develop, I think you'll have a very good prospect when he comes up here.

I have Boldy high too and wouldn't be upset if we took him instead, but because of his speed I gave the nod to Newhook.

I also weighed heavily on potential and how likely I think it is for those players to reach that ceiling. That's why, a player like Soderstrom I have ranked a lot lower. I think he could become a solid second pair defenseman who is unspectacular at any one area, but not bad, but there are other players who I think have a higher potential.

Curious. Did you move Krebs down your list due to his achilles injury?

 

[TruGr1t]

inb4 he's picked by ANA

If he's picked by the Ducks it's likely someone very good has fallen to us so I don't think anyone will complain.

I can't help but think we might end up with Boldy, actually. He's the guy I see falling a lot in the recent media mocks.

The interesting one for me from a Canucks perspective is actually Boldy vs Broberg.

 

[THE Green Man]

If he's picked by the Ducks it's likely someone very good has fallen to us so I don't think anyone will complain.

I can't help but think we might end up with Boldy, actually. He's the guy I see falling a lot in the recent media mocks.

The interesting one for me from a Canucks perspective is actually Boldy vs Broberg.

I will flip out if we take Broberg over Boldy.

 

[StreetHawk]

If he's picked by the Ducks it's likely someone very good has fallen to us so I don't think anyone will complain.

I can't help but think we might end up with Boldy, actually. He's the guy I see falling a lot in the recent media mocks.

The interesting one for me from a Canucks perspective is actually Boldy vs Broberg.

If Detroit does go for podkolzin then it changes the draft.

Leaves Zegras to Buffalo. Edm, they would have options. Do they take a C who can replace the Nuge when his dealnisnup in 2 years? Or do they take the best winger in Boldy? Or take a D. Broberg per Burke interviewed very well at the combine.

If a good C is at 9, the ducks take him to replace Getz down the line.

That’s the path that would open up Boldy to Vancouver. He’s the guy I like. Ok with Zegras too.

 

[thefeebster]

What do you not like about Cozens?

I did explain it a bit before and i am wondering if i am punishing him too hard for the U18s. But i thought he was atrocious for 6 of 7 games. In those games, he reminded me of that Brendan Gaunce quote about there being guys who skate around a ton but accomplish nothing. I just found him a whole lotta ineffective, Krebs won many of his board battles for him. Rarely created play for others, limited playmaking ability, might even rate it lower than Caufield among the top forwards discussed. And rarely got in good position to utilize his shot, many shots were blocked.

Maybe my expectations were too high. I expected him to be a top player this tourney and top player for Canada. Beyond that one game, he was a passenger, not a difference maker at all. Whole lotta yuck was what we got.

Feebs, in my viewings of Boldy I found his decision making with the puck lacking in his own zone and the neutral zone - several ill advised passes to the other team. I like his board play, skating style on the half walls, ability to handle the puck with defenders present and offensive zone IQ but am I the only one concerned with the turnovers?

I see the potential and yes I would draft him (prefer newhook/krebs/cozens) but I think he is not as flawless as people seem to think.

Newhook honestly seems like the best package of tools for our team. With Peterson, Horvat, Virtanen, Hughes all being high end skaters I like the idea of stacking pace-setting skaters and being a team based on skill. Newhook is the most dynamic skater. I see no glaring flaws in his game and the tournament helped assuage competition concerns.

Krebs is a very good skater and I somewhat agree with the idea that he is behind a newhook or zegras in terms of skill... at the moment. He's a cerebral hard-nosed team-first player and when that type of player is asked to carry a team they accept the responsibility and make the reliable plays. He understands the play better than a lot of the top guys and so doesn't have to establish the play as much. He can go with the flow a bit more. His puck handling is similar to Peterson in some ways (particularly driving wide left while protecting the puck and circling) and I think he's a guy whose skill expands as he needs it to in the nhl. Pre-injury I had him neck and neck with newhook...

I love zegras' hockey IQ but I greatly question his physical ability at the NHL level. To me he's a boom or bust pick. If he can get a bit sturdier on his skates he has the stick skill and mind to be a high end playmaker but can he keep NHL physicality from making him a perimeter player? I really don't know... and that question mark would make me hesitate taking him at 10.

Cozens is a bit of a straight line player but a highly intelligent one. His positioning IQ and physical ability to get there are both fantastic. He's a guy that will finish plays at the net for you after making a passing lane with his speed and body. He doesn't have the line-driving, playmaking IQ of a Newhook, Krebs or Dach (who I assume won't be available) but on a line that already has someone like that, he could be the better player.

Broberg reminds me of a young Morgan Reilly a bit with the physical skating ability to put someone on your hip and skate around them. He has some areas to smooth out but I see the upside. Probably not the player I would jump at (largely because I could see him busting entirely and I'm not comfortable with the degree of boom/bust) but I can understand picking him.

I like Soderstrom quite a bit. He already knows how to defend positionally and he's got more physical talent than he gets credited with. I also think his puck handling and offensive upside is underrated. I see a chance of him becoming a Roman Josi level d-man and I'd be shocked if he doesn't become a top 4 D.

I don't know, for me Boldy surprised me with some of his Def zone breakouts, sometimes even better than their defenders. He caught Caufield a couple times with 100ft passes behind the opposing defensemen. I would say, i have more issue with Boldy's intercepted passes on the PP. He would try the cross ice pass to Brink and that would get deflected a few times. But the same thing happened to Hughes/Zegras as well. For Americans, I think Turcotte's blind pass to the slot from below the goal line is probably more annoying to me because it so rarely works. But Cozens has a much bigger turnover rate. I saw 3 consecutive zone entry turnovers on one PP shift.

 

[TruGr1t]

If Detroit does go for podkolzin then it changes the draft.

Leaves Zegras to Buffalo. Edm, they would have options. Do they take a C who can replace the Nuge when his dealnisnup in 2 years? Or do they take the best winger in Boldy? Or take a D. Broberg per Burke interviewed very well at the combine.

If a good C is at 9, the ducks take him to replace Getz down the line.

That’s the path that would open up Boldy to Vancouver. He’s the guy I like. Ok with Zegras too.

I've seen the bold a lot, but I simply can't see Detroit not taking a centre. Would shock me, frankly. They could seriously use one, there's a bunch of good one's available, and you could easily argue BPA at their pick will be a centre. Like I said, the only winger I think has an actual shot at the top 10 is Boldy. The Caufield stuff also seems nuts to me when there will be centres with size and offense on the board. Coincidentally, the only centre I see falling outside the top 10 before the Suzuki/Tomasino/Lavoie group is Krebs, and only because of injury. Newhook could, but I think we take him if he's there.

And yeah, my comment was more geared toward Newhook being gone by the Canucks pick. That would definitely open up Boldy, I'd think. Unless all the smoke around Broberg is just smoke, and he's outside the top 10. A bunch of the mocks have him around 11/12 now.

So my top ten will always have (outside of Hughes, Kakko, Byram, and Turcotte): Zegras, Dach, Cozens, Newhook, and Broberg. Due to NHL positional bias. The final player could be Boldy, Caufield, Krebs, Podkolzin, or someone we don't expect.

 

[StreetHawk]

I've seen the bold a lot, but I simply can't see Detroit not taking a centre. Would shock me, frankly. They could seriously use one, there's a bunch of good one's available, and you could easily argue BPA at their pick will be a centre. Like I said, the only winger I think has an actual shot at the top 10 is Boldy. The Caufield stuff also seems nuts to me when there will be centres with size and offense on the board. Coincidentally, the only centre I see falling outside the top 10 before the Suzuki/Tomasino/Lavoie group is Krebs, and only because of injury. Newhook could, but I think we take him if he's there.

And yeah, my comment was more geared toward Newhook being gone by the Canucks pick. That would definitely open up Boldy, I'd think. Unless all the smoke around Broberg is just smoke, and he's outside the top 10. A bunch of the mocks have him around 11/12 now.

So my top ten will always have (outside of Hughes, Kakko, Byram, and Turcotte): Zegras, Dach, Cozens, Newhook, and Broberg. Due to NHL positional bias. The final player could be Boldy, Caufield, Krebs, Podkolzin, or someone we don't expect.

Think we had close to the same mock a couple weeks ago.

Turcotte, Byram and Dach go first.

Thus expect Zegras to land in Detroit. Boldy to buffalo. Edm and Ana maybe Cozens and Broberg.

Yzerman and Detroit both have no issues taking Russians. So that’s the only team ahead of us who I think would take him.

 

[DonnyNucker]

I've seen the bold a lot, but I simply can't see Detroit not taking a centre. Would shock me, frankly. They could seriously use one, there's a bunch of good one's available, and you could easily argue BPA at their pick will be a centre. Like I said, the only winger I think has an actual shot at the top 10 is Boldy. The Caufield stuff also seems nuts to me when there will be centres with size and offense on the board. Coincidentally, the only centre I see falling outside the top 10 before the Suzuki/Tomasino/Lavoie group is Krebs, and only because of injury. Newhook could, but I think we take him if he's there.

And yeah, my comment was more geared toward Newhook being gone by the Canucks pick. That would definitely open up Boldy, I'd think. Unless all the smoke around Broberg is just smoke, and he's outside the top 10. A bunch of the mocks have him around 11/12 now.

So my top ten will always have (outside of Hughes, Kakko, Byram, and Turcotte): Zegras, Dach, Cozens, Newhook, and Broberg. Due to NHL positional bias. The final player could be Boldy, Caufield, Krebs, Podkolzin, or someone we don't expect.

Agreed. The whole DET/ Yzerman speculation about picking Podkolzin because he is Russian is a pretty lazy analysis. I’d be incredibly surprised (and ecstatic) if he goes top 10

 

[Jack Burton]

My preferred forward choice would be Boldy.

I personally would avoid Pod and Krebs the most

 

[Jack Burton]

My final top 20 rankings:

1. Jack Hughes
2. Kappo Kakko
3. Bowen Byram
4. Alex Turcotte
5. Alex Newhook
6. Matthew Boldy
7. Trevor Zegras
8. Dylan Cozens
9. Kirby Dach
10. Cole Caufield
11. Peyton Krebs
12. Arthur Kaliyev
13. Moritz Seider
14. Vasili Podkolzin
15. Spencer Knight
16. Cam York
17. Philip Tomasino
18. Bobby Brink
19. Philip Broberg
20. Nils Hoglander

Like the fact you have Newhook ranked so hi and Seider as the 2nd best Dman behind Byram.

Good job. I like it

 

[y2kcanucks]

Curious. Did you move Krebs down your list due to his achilles injury?

Partially, though in recent months I pretty much had him at the back end of the top 10 anyway. I've bumped Caufield ahead of him because I'm very intrigued by his goal scoring potential, though there are red flags that I'm not sure he'll be able to over come. If he were 4 inches taller he's probably the number 1 pick in the draft.

 

[Bleach Clean]

I feel like I don't have a type per se for forwards, defenders moreso yes. I mean, Ehlers was my choice, I also advocated hard for Tkachuk and Pettersson/Vilardi. My most favourite junior player to watch was Marner.

For this draft, as an example, I really like Tomasino (skill) and Rees (two way energy).

The only one I might say is out of character is Caufield because of size and I do like to stay in the range of 5'10-6'3. I did discount Debrincat for many of the same flaws ppl assign to Caufield. But it's hard to argue against all the record breaking. Don't want to make the same mistake.

I recall us having opposite preferences in what we prioritize in a player. I shifted from the rounded, versatile player type to focus on skill, whereas you stayed with the former. Am I recalling that wrong?

Haha, O.K. maybe not "nuts" to take Podkolzin there, but I think there's enough issues surrounding his consistency and development route to drop him outside the top 10. This is also based on the narrative building around media who attended the combine. I suppose teams could be throwing up smokescreens, but when guys like Button and Pronman go from ranking him top 3 to ranking outside the top 10 it's probably because they heard something.

I could see it going either way on Cozens. He's big, he's fast and he's got a great two-way game, but there are questions surrounding whether he'll translate to centre at the NHL level and around his offensive upside. If a team believes he's going to be a big, strong top-six centre I can see him going in the top 5. For Zegras I just don't see him falling outside the top 6 ... skill level's just too high. I think it's more likely Dach or Cozens fall.

I actually think there will be some organizations projecting Newhook and Krebs at centre. Both play centre naturally ... Newhook switched over for the tournament. I don't really get where some of the winger stuff is coming from as both guys skill set seems to project centre to me. Is it their size?

Anyway, the top 10's going to be crazy after the first 5 guys.

Coincidentally, the Athletic had a mock draft where all the beat writers selected for their teams: NHL mock draft: Beat writers project the 2019 first round

1. Hughes
2. Kakko
3. Turcotte
4. Cozens
5. Byram
6. Zegras
7. Caufield
8. Dach
9. Krebs
10. Boldy

Note: Apparently this was put together prior to Kreb's injury. Podkolzin went 12 to Minnesota.

I would be waiting for Bob McKenzie's final mock draft before we attempt to conclude where Podkolzin is going to go. It's around the corner.

I realize that you cannot see Zegras falling out of the top6. You could be right, but I will say that this assurance is likely not to bear out because of his pure skill. Purely skilled players need not be picked at the top. Hughes and Boqvist went 7th and 8th last year. Mittlestadt went 8th in 2017. Nylander went 8th the year before and so on... Zegras has definite holes in his game. Pure skill matters most to those teams that prioritize it. To others, it's just a part of the mix.

Its the size of both Newhook and Krebs, yes. If they were bigger, they would be long-term C locks. For Newhook, it may also be that his skill level can better shine at wing, where a large portion of the defensive work is taken away from him.

 

[Bleach Clean]

...
Newhook honestly seems like the best package of tools for our team. With Peterson, Horvat, Virtanen, Hughes all being high end skaters I like the idea of stacking pace-setting skaters and being a team based on skill. Newhook is the most dynamic skater. I see no glaring flaws in his game and the tournament helped assuage competition concerns.
...
I love zegras' hockey IQ but I greatly question his physical ability at the NHL level. To me he's a boom or bust pick. If he can get a bit sturdier on his skates he has the stick skill and mind to be a high end playmaker but can he keep NHL physicality from making him a perimeter player? I really don't know... and that question mark would make me hesitate taking him at 10.

Was not addressed to me, but I agree with your assessment of Zegras. Boom or bust pick. However, I would not hesitate to take him at 10th. With that level of skill, you take the chance. Hope he can get stronger and become more pragmatic on the ice. The upside is immense.

The flaw for Newhook is his height and the likelihood that he is relegated to the wing in the pros. He can be a centre in the NHL, but you're not shifting a Bo Horvat to give him that position. It's far more likely that he shifts instead.

 

[ProstheticConscience]

I honestly have zero interest in the draft this year. Just...none. The Benning years are really wearing me down.

 

[DFAC]

If Detroit does go for podkolzin then it changes the draft.

Leaves Zegras to Buffalo. Edm, they would have options. Do they take a C who can replace the Nuge when his dealnisnup in 2 years? Or do they take the best winger in Boldy? Or take a D. Broberg per Burke interviewed very well at the combine.

If a good C is at 9, the ducks take him to replace Getz down the line.

That’s the path that would open up Boldy to Vancouver. He’s the guy I like. Ok with Zegras too.

I actually think if the Oilers want to go D, they should pick Cam York. Good puck moving D who can make that first pass out to their fwds

A York-Bouchard pairing would be a great pairing in the future

If we didn’t pick Hughes last year, I would be all for picking York at 10 this year

 

[ChilliBilly]

Anyone know the best (ie, cheapest) re-seller for tickets for Round 1?

I have one ticket if you are interested

 

[m9]

I have one ticket if you are interested

I need 2 - but thanks.

 

[ChilliBilly]

I need 2 - but thanks.

If you want to save money, buy 1 decent ticket and I'll take it, and you can have my 2 for my cost, namely $26. I am on the 4th row above the railing, so something that level or better.

 

[DonnyNucker]

I honestly have zero interest in the draft this year. Just...none. The Benning years are really wearing me down.

Then Why are you commenting on a draft message board?

 

[Cupless44]

Newhook or Boldy at 10 please.