2020 Draft & Undrafted Free Agent Thread: Part II

[True Blue]

NHL Draft 2020: 1st-Round Mock Predictions and Latest Order

This has us taking Mercer and Perrault with Zary and Mysak still available at each pick

Cannot see them taking Mercer. The Rangers do not really dip into the Q at all.

The 'Sens and Devils would emerge with quite a haul to add to their crop of good young prospects.

 

[Mikos87]

Liking him more and more. Not enough to overtake a Lundell, but probably on par with Holloway to me right now.

Khusnutdinov I think has a lot of value in the second round.

Schnieder seems to be dropping. Still cannot see him dropping out of the first round, but he makes for a great pick towards the last third of the first.

I don't know about some of those other guys. But based on what I've heard and seen, I think there's a distinct top 8 that's very strong, and another really good 7 players that may be solid players.

After that you have some skill guy who you might not win with and a couple of others guys that can very good role players.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

These aren't my experiences/observations when I was attending games, and the 3 times I was near the locker room. If anything, Gunler seemed to be quite comfortable and embraced by his teammates.

I really don't see the issues described here, at least not at the SHL level. I know he was coasting through SuperElit a lot, and he has even admitted that. But when he was with the senior team, in the SHL and CHL, he was never really alienated or ignored from what I've seen. I've been to the locker rooms for their games in Augsburg, Liberec, and Luleå and he is well-liked by his teammates.

Gunler by far is my most-watched 2020 prospect. By far. I kept asking myself “what am I missing?” and every next game confirmed the viewings that dated back to last year.

He was ranked 25th in June, so clearly he was once held in high regard. I don’t drop kids for no reason. Gunler was very frustrating to watch this season because things I consider very important in skill players — IQ, compete level, resilience, versatility — were simply not there.

The trend of teammates not passing him the puck was very common. He would stay static at the near boards wide open on a breakout calling for the puck to no avail. Have it all in my notes so I looked for it every game, and every game it happened.

As far as locker room behavior, I can’t speak to that. If he’s well liked, then fine. I never saw him get involved to back up teammates in scrums or leave his comfort zone on the near side to support puck battles. Lots of circling and puck gazing from 30 feet away but no fight. Talk to enough hockey people and they’ll tell you its one of the first things coaches notice and a quick route to a demotion, benching, or scratch.

Swedes leaving him off major tournament rosters is enough for me to go off of. The U19 Five Nations is usually a relegation for draft wannabes needing a stock boost.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Gunler by far is my most-watched 2020 prospect. By far. I kept asking myself “what am I missing?” and every next game confirmed the viewings that dated back to last year.

He was ranked 25th in June, so clearly he was once held in high regard. I don’t drop kids for no reason. Gunler was very frustrating to watch this season because things I consider very important in skill players — IQ, compete level, resilience, versatility — were simply not there.

The trend of teammates not passing him the puck was very common. He would stay static at the near boards wide open on a breakout calling for the puck to no avail. Have it all in my notes so I looked for it every game, and every game it happened.

As far as locker room behavior, I can’t speak to that. If he’s well liked, then fine. I never saw him get involved to back up teammates in scrums or leave his comfort zone on the near side to support puck battles. Lots of circling and puck gazing from 30 feet away but no fight. Talk to enough hockey people and they’ll tell you its one of the first things coaches notice and a quick route to a demotion, benching, or scratch.

Swedes leaving him off major tournament rosters is enough for me to go off of. The U19 Five Nations is usually a relegation for draft wannabes needing a stock boost.

So much bullshit here omg... can’t even...

 

[True Blue]

I don't know about some of those other guys. But based on what I've heard and seen, I think there's a distinct top 8 that's very strong, and another really good 7 players that may be solid players.

After that you have some skill guy who you might not win with and a couple of others guys that can very good role players.

I think for real value after that first 15 or so, there are should be players available. I look at guys like Schnieder and Mysak as examples.

 

[Edge]

https://thehockeywriters.com/2020-nhl-draft-risers-march/

For those wanting to know more about the risers....

Sanderson is a kid who has a decent shot to bump someone from the top 10. I've talked to a lot of people who are really high on him.

I'd keep an eye on where McKenzie starts placing him in the weeks leading up to the draft.

 

[bl02]

Sanderson is a kid who has a decent shot to bump someone from the top 10. I've talked to a lot of people who are really high on him.

I'd keep an eye on where McKenzie starts placing him in the weeks leading up to the draft.

I've been reading a lot that his stock is rising. Maybe even teams like the Canadiens might take a chance on him. We should be forward prospect hunting in this draft but if this kid is there with either of our two picks is he much better than what we have already with our LD prospects?

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I've been reading a lot that his stock is rising. Maybe even teams like the Canadiens might take a chance on him. We should be forward prospect hunting in this draft but if this kid is there with either of our two picks is he much better than what we have already with our LD prospects?

If they think he can turn into a McDonagh type player on the left than yeah it’s worth it

 

[Edge]

I've been reading a lot that his stock is rising. Maybe even teams like the Canadiens might take a chance on him. We should be forward prospect hunting in this draft but if this kid is there with either of our two picks is he much better than what we have already with our LD prospects?

That last part is what I'm somewhat unsure of.

I think his ceiling is higher than Robertson, but not as high as Miller. But he is more advanced than Miller at this same stage and plays a different style game.

I definitely think he's a kid where teams like the trajectory more than the altitude at the moment. In other words, he's not necessarily a kid that everyone thinks is the most advanced player on draft day, but he's the guy that some teams think is going to be the better player a year or two down the road.

Would I've taken him at 8 or 9 over some of the forwards likely to be on the board? Probably not. Is he worth considering at 13? Yeah, I think he's in that conversation.

 

[UnSandvich]

That last part is what I'm somewhat unsure of.

I think his ceiling is higher than Robertson, but not as high as Miller. But he is more advanced than Miller at this same stage and plays a different style game.

I definitely think he's a kid where teams like the trajectory more than the altitude at the moment. In other words, he's not necessarily a kid that everyone thinks is the most advanced player on draft day, but he's the guy that some teams think is going to be the better player a year or two down the road.

Would I've taken him at 8 or 9 over some of the forwards likely to be on the board? Probably not. Is he worth considering at 13? Yeah, I think he's in that conversation.

From what I've heard, he's a higher ceiling version of Lindgren. Any comment there?

 

[bl02]

I guess it's gonna come down to the forwards around at 13ish unless we hit the lottery of course. I would rather go higher upside at forward at 13 and wait until 22ish to grab a Wallinder or Guhle (if the Rangers are high on them otherwise go forward again).

 

[Edge]

From what I've heard, he's a higher ceiling version of Lindgren. Any comment there?

Very, very different players.

Sanderson, if he hits close to his ceiling, will probably bring a style somewhat similar to a prime Jay Bouwmeester. He's going to use his speed and smarts to control the puck, set the tempo, and ultimately make smart decisions to set up the play. He's not going to bang guys around out there, or necessarily be our top point producer on defenseman --- but he's a guy you'd look to for transitional play and someone who can glide back and forth between actively supporting the offense and covering his defensive responsibilities.

So the natural question is, if he's that good, why isn't he a sure-fire top 10 pick. The answer to that is somewhat nuanced. Sanderson has taken his game to a new level over the course of the season, but he didn't necessarily begin the season at that level. Likewise, there are guys who have maintained their level over the course of a season and it's hard to justify dropping them.

I think you also have a prospect who is playing in a role that doesn't necessarily result in eye-popping numbers, nor in a league/system that tends to produce those types of numbers for a lot of defenseman.

The other knock against him is that he's a prospect you're projecting, more than simply going off his track record. So there's a risk factor there --- do you believe there's even more room for growth there, or do you think he's merely closed the gap to get closer to his actual potential?

There's not a clear consensus there. Some people could have him as high as 6-8, others might have him in the late teens. But I think his most likely target range is probably in the 10-14 range.

 

[UnSandvich]

Very, very different players.

Sanderson, if he hits close to his ceiling, will probably bring a style somewhat similar to a prime Jay Bouwmeester. He's going to use his speed and smarts to control the puck, set the tempo, and ultimately make smart decisions to set up the play. He's not going to bang guys around out there, or necessarily be our top point producer on defenseman --- but he's a guy you'd look to for transitional play and someone who can glide back and forth between actively supporting the offense and covering his defensive responsibilities.

So the natural question is, if he's that good, why isn't he a sure-fire top 10 pick. The answer to that is somewhat nuanced. Sanderson has taken his game to a new level over the course of the season, but he didn't necessarily begin the season at that level. Likewise, there are guys who have maintained their level over the course of a season and it's hard to justify dropping them.

I think you also have a prospect who is playing in a role that doesn't necessarily result in eye-popping numbers, nor in a league/system that tends to produce those types of numbers for a lot of defenseman.

The other knock against him is that he's a prospect you're projecting, more than simply going off his track record. So there's a risk factor there --- do you believe there's even more room for growth there, or do you think he's merely closed the gap to get closer to his actual potential?

There's not a clear consensus there. Some people could have him as high as 6-8, others might have him in the late teens. But I think his most likely target range is probably in the 10-14 range.

Gotcha, thanks

 

[Mikos87]

I think for real value after that first 15 or so, there are should be players available. I look at guys like Schnieder and Mysak as examples.

Reichel for me would be a swing to take. Kid out of Germany, like what I saw at the WJCs. If the top 8 go where they are, and you get Sanderson at 14 and Reichel or Foudy at 20, that's a hell of a draft. I don't have a problem reaching for a guy like Foudy who at worst will end up as a very effective bottom six player with his skating alone.

 

[B17 Apricots]

Cool that there's 3 Germans worthy of the first round this year

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Cool that there's 3 Germans worthy of the first round this year

After Seider last year, now these 3. It's a great time for German hockey, following that Olympic cinderella run 2 years ago

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Stützle is cleary top 5 material. Reichel and Peterka being sure-fire 1st rounders ... not sure about that at all.

But I certainly agree that German hockey is gonna be blessed by these new young kids.

Although this seems to be an absolute one time situation. The German pipeline thins out big time after these three.

 

[egelband]

I keep telling you...

They're going to win the lottery, get the second pick, and draft Byfield.

No movement required.

Yes. That’s true.

 

[egelband]

Thoughts on Rodion Amirov?

Godzilla’s Gayle King.

 

[Mikos87]

I think the Rangers take Sanderson if he's there with their 1st pick. If you think about it, this is one historically weak class for the USNDP. Meaning that team does not have a single PPG player. Not one.

Usually you have a couple of guys past that, and some studs that dominate the games. So I don't look at the offense from Sanderson as something that is below par or not there, the whole team can't score. What I think the appeal is with him, is that he is a big kid, that can skate, but most importantly knows how to play the pro game.

If you look around the league, and you are looking for LHD that are top 4 defensemen that was under 26.... you do not find a whole lot of them. I posted about how weak some of the past draft classes were in terms of producing top 4 guys.... well that is catching up with the league now. What that means is that there will be a shortage, and given that is the case, this will cause teams to overpay for players that will result in cap constraints later.

The Rangers went through this with Staal, G, Smith, Shatts.... so why not backfill?

It's not too different from the Nashville model for many years.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

Are there going to be any good forwards especially C or LW in the 15 to 22 range? If not, then we should possibly trade up with our pick and trade down with 2nd pick to obtain a 2nd round pick.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Are there going to be any good forwards especially C or LW in the 15 to 22 range? If not, then we should possibly trade up with our pick and trade down with 2nd pick to obtain a 2nd round pick.

I love how people talk about "We should trade up with our pick" as if it's that easy. You have to find a team willing to trade down, which is easier said than done.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

I love how people talk about "We should trade up with our pick" as if it's that easy. You have to find a team willing to trade down, which is easier said than done.

true, it is not impossible thoug at that range, much harder to trade up when you are inside top 10, but 16 to 12 is doable, just ask Marc Staal.

 

[Mikos87]

Are there going to be any good forwards especially C or LW in the 15 to 22 range? If not, then we should possibly trade up with our pick and trade down with 2nd pick to obtain a 2nd round pick.

I like Foudy. I think he ends up as one of the better bottom six players in the league. He might be the fastest RH center in the NHL after Barzal. The hand skills, and puck skills are not there at all. But the speed, he will be one of the fastest players in the NHL, and I think that gets him into a role where he will be a very effective player.

IMO it's a pick like Foudy is one where it's a part of a winning formula when you are building a team.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

I like Foudy. I think he ends up as one of the better bottom six players in the league. He might be the fastest RH center in the NHL after Barzal. The hand skills, and puck skills are not there at all. But the speed, he will be one of the fastest players in the NHL, and I think that gets him into a role where he will be a very effective player.

IMO it's a pick like Foudy is one where it's a part of a winning formula when you are building a team.

where is he projected to be taken? If he is good, somebody might reach for him.