Have been away from the internet for a bit, but watched a lot more in depth video today, here's what I got for y'all....
The Good
- Dawson Mercer - Every time I watch this kid, the more impressed I get. He's relentless on the puck. He wants it on his stick, but also has a keen eye for the pass. He pressures puck carriers endlessly and takes the puck away for chances on net every time. I think a lot are underrating him because of the QMJHL, but I think that is incredibly misleading. Kid has it!! He's tough, gritty, speedy and has the hands of a wizard. Shot is beautiful too!! Definitely should be a target with NYR's 1st pick.
- Tim Stutzle - Easily the best skater of the draft. Can get around pro players at ease already. Hands and playmaking ability is on point. Possession freak, too!! For not being that strong, he does an incredible job of keeping the puck in his control while pressured. Could get a little stronger, but with the way he plays that'll come with development. Deserving of being a top 3 selection.
- Jake Sanderson - Can definitely see why people are hyping this kid up. Very good skater with great edge-work, will shut down the corners/crease then hop in the play offensively on the breakout. Very mobile defender with great instincts defensively. I question how good offensively he'll be in the pros, but he is very smart with the defensive side of hockey. I think he will go into the top 10, but I don't think NYR should take him because one of those stud centers will drop. **Side note, a friend of mine mentioned to me the other day that a scouting service (think it was NHL Central Scouting) ran a mock combine with video and data analysis they had along with interviews with the kids, coaching/training staff. Turns out that with the information they had Sanderson ranked in the top 3 of all testing categories. Take that as you will.**
- Dylan Holloway - Like Mercer, it's hard not to get excited when one watches him play. Very fast skater with an edge and good 200-foot instincts. Is, also, a shit to play against. He's always getting under the skin of opponents, especially in big game scenarios. I think he has fan favorite potential!! The more I see him play the more he looks like a Tom Wilson-type. I know a lot of posters on here have been dying for the Rangers to get a player like him. The main question I have still presents itself, though. Will he be more of a good bottom-6 center or a good top-6 center? I think he will play in the NHL and should be a target for NYR with their 1st pick.
- Marco Rossi - Elite playmaker. That's what he'll be in the pros. He does everything right offensively and is not a slouch defensively, either. High IQ, sets up everyone at ease. Skating is very good and could be better as he develops. He digs in the corners defensively and helps out the defense when needed/necessary. Honestly think he is a Panarin-type with more grit. Definitely a top 5 talent, with the potential to be higher on a redraft someday.
- Jamie Drysdale - Easily the best defender of this draft. Skates incredibly well, forward and back. He's also very strong and can control the puck when pressured. Has a bomb of a shot and can set up the pass when teammates are open. Defensively his positioning is on point and not many opponents get past him. Is very good on all sides of the ice and think he will a top defender for any team lucky enough to draft him. Top 5 talent for sure.
- Seth Jarvis - Was pleasantly surprised when watching him. Kid is incredibly fast and offensively talented. Wants the puck on his stick and will dig to get it. Loves to take away the puck from the opponent. Big riser for me. I wouldn't mind taking him with NYR's 1st pick!! He will be a problem out there. I can see him as an underrated Mitch Marner-type.
- Jack Quinn - I would like to apologize to everyone on here as I was wrong about my information on him midseason. A lot speculated, including me, that Marco Rossi was the one that was helping Quinn's offense seeing the massive PPG Rossi had, automatically assuming a similar Barzal/Gropp situation going on in Ottawa. While some of that is true, it is completely not the case at all. Out of Quinn's 52 goals scored this year, Rossi only assisted on 13 of them meaning that Quinn had 39 goals either assisted by other players or unassisted. That is a very good sign. Also, seeing the fact that he fully committed to hockey a year or two ago (forgot how long ago exactly) is incredibly encouraging of a late bloomer (even though this is his first year eligible). He has good speed and puck possession, but his best asset is obviously his scoring ability. Although he has good awareness offensively/defensively, he sometimes does get lost in the neutral zone and forgets his man. IQ passing wise isn't dominant and is more of a one-man-show or PP specialist. IMO, think he is a big boom/bust player still, but definitely changed my mind on him a bit. I previously had him as a 2nd round talent, but I wouldn't mind NYR grabbing him with their 2nd 1st rounder.
- Quinton Byfield - Big, fast, physical, strong, great shooter and, also, really young. Already is dominant on the ice and is a great passer. Hopefully he reaches his full potential because when watching he also seems like he'd be the type to get a lot of shots on net, but not much quality. With that said, he's about a month away from being in next years draft with an August birthday. Skating and size combo will bring him to the NHL no doubt. Deserving on a top 3 talent with tons of potential.
- Alexander Holtz - Best shot in the draft, IMO. Kid is a sniper!! Very good skater and has very good pressure on opponents without the puck. Can, also, snipe while on the move which is super dope to do in the NHL. His skating is very consistent, didn't see a shift that he took off. Is also very physical!! Definitely a top 5 talent and think NYR should snag him with their 1st pick (trade up or not).
- Anton Lundell - He has incredibly good positioning, which will shatter most who think that he won't be a center in the NHL. He is without a doubt a true center and will be one in the NHL. I'll eat my shoe if he isn't. He is, also, a very powerful skater, meaning on tape he has the right strides, but doesn't look like he is going fast. In other words, his base speed is good. He could work on that next gear, though. His possession game is also on point. Very hard to knock him off the puck. His shot is low and powerful, it'll go past a goalie if it hits the net clean. I think he has a very good defensive center capability in a top 6 role with the potential to be a solid defensive 1C possibly like Mikko Koivu (no that is not a Finnish comparison, truly think stylistically it is correct).
The Meh
- Lucas Raymond - Not really fair to put him in this group because I do think he is a better player than what this season did for him, but still had a very mediocre year. When seeing him, he likes to shoot and set up the play (more so pass than shoot). He has very good puck protection and speed, but hope it gets better as he develops. It's not a bad thing, just could use some work. Will be a key component for a PP someday, but think he needs a lot of time to develop first. I could see him bouncing back in similar fashion to that of Filip Forsberg out in Nashville.
- Connor Zary - Love everything about his play, except his skating. He has to have probably the best hands in the draft. Can deke out an AI Unit, he's that good. He also has a great shot and first pass. Also defensively responsible. The only knock I have is his skating. He is not a good skater and needs work on his stride. Very choppy and it could affect his development. Otherwise he is very complete, but he needs to get a lot done with base speed, edge-work, etc.
- Kaiden Guhle - Very good defensive defender and has a booming shot. Makes a lot of "Big Hits" and can raise the crowd to their feet when doing so. Is also very mobile for someone as big and physical as he is. Apparently is also a very good teammate in the locker-room and a favorite of the coaches. The only things that keep me from wanting him is that he'll go for the big hit and forget about the play in front of him. Reminds me a lot like Brendan Smith, will take a silly penalty for no reason. Puck possession is not the greatest and I think he will have a lot more giveaways than big hits in the pros. I would be hesitant if NYR grabs him with their 2nd 1st, but the tools are there for a bottom-4 defensive defender in the NHL.
- Roni Hirvonen - Another kid, like Zary, who is strong on every aspect of the game, but skating is an issue. When watching him, he swings his arms side to side when accelerating. If anyone knows anything about power skating is that your arms need to swing up and down with the opposite pushing leg. This generates power and helps bring an extra gear to the body. Otherwise, he likes to grind and get that dirty goal in front of the net. Could be a solid middle-6 option or bust. Skating needs work. I have him as a 2nd round talent, ATM.
- Cole Perfetti - Very good skater, with hands of a sorcerer. Has a very good and accurate shot. The thing that makes him a top 10 talent instead of a top 5 is the consistency to his games. He will take shifts off time-to-time and that is not okay in the NHL. Needs 110% every shift, every time. His defensive instincts could also use some honing. I still think, though, that if he falls to NYR at their 1st pick they should pull the trigger because the potential game changing ability is there, just needs to get his head out of his ass. Not sure if he is a center or wing in the NHL, still.
The Bad/STAY AWAY
- Hendrix Lapierre - Very decent playmaker. He has good speed and good passing ability, not much of a scorer. Isn't overly physical and keeps his head down a lot of the time which is why he's had 3 concussions in a two year span (not sure if that's fully correct). Is one more head hit away from not playing hockey permanently. Stay away in the 1st round.
- Mavrik Bourque - Very good offensively. He has a heavy and accurate shot for a smaller kid and his passing ability is crisp and clean. He also is quite physical and is puck possession is average or slightly above. He is a slow decision maker, though, and will have trouble with that in the pros. Also, is not that fast and for a smaller kid trying to make it in the NHL you need to have a few extra gears in the arsenal. My main quirk with him is that he is a complete liability defensively. Lack of interest or whatever he'll let anyone get past him and that's not okay. This will get you benched. Needs a lot of work on the defensive side of the puck and skating. This will make or break his career. Stay away in the 1st round.
