2020 Draft & Undrafted Free Agent Thread: Part IV

[Joey Bones]

Innovation!!

 

[True Blue]

The unthinkable being the Kings take Askarov, pushing either Byfield or Stutzle down to the Wings?

I doubt that the Kings take Askarov. Blyfield has their name written all over him.

The sad thing is that on talent and probability of hitting what he should be, Askarov deserved to be a top-10 pick.

 

[eco's bones]

I think it's a factor, but not as much as Europeans actually playing hockey unlike a lot of NA prospects. I feel that will affect a lot going on in the draft.

Looking further ahead, how much will this upcoming season affect the development of prospects who are now 14-16 years old? If there is no/limited hockey in most junior leagues, will that cause their development to stagnate, and will we see a huge influx of European prospects in 2-4 years in the draft especially in the earlier rounds? Not playing competitive hockey for a full season can kill a career

If we're talking a completely lost season I expect it will hurt a lot of players but some might eventually get over it okay when all is said and done and it's not the same as losing an entire season because of an injury and rehab. If it's more than a season it's going to have a major effect. I actually think the CHL and most of the leagues in Canada are going to at least get something going though there may be intermittent shutdowns or rescheduling and/or relocations. I think in the United States though this pandemic is going to hurt USA hockey a lot.

USNTDP could try to get creative and set up in Canada for the next year or so. The issues with that is it's not just hockey it's schooling too. As is I don't know what they're going to need to do to take part in the next WJC.

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

The unthinkable being the Kings take Askarov, pushing either Byfield or Stutzle down to the Wings?

0 shot the Kings (especially since they're also a good organization) would take a goalie, even if he's projected to be a superstar like Askarov over a potential franchise superstar center or winger.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

The unthinkable being the Kings take Askarov, pushing either Byfield or Stutzle down to the Wings?

Something of that ilk, but I don't think it will be Askarov.

Sanderson is the one I'd look at potentially breaking into that top 3 and I think it would be Ottawa who would do it if they feel like he'd get snagged by Det (All the smoke there says Perfetti, but who knows?)

 

[True Blue]

But he's a potential fall guy if Sanderson, Askarov, and/or someone else goes in the top 10.

Sanderson, I believe will be gone top-10. Askarov should but will probably fall out of it.

 

[True Blue]

Criminally underrating Mercer here. I would absolutely have him in that list of players with the first pick. High intensity, aggressive puck disturber with a knack for creating turnovers. Has a great first pass and very good shot. Plays in all three zones and can transition on a dime while controlling the puck. He's fast and strong. I actually have him as one that might make it in the top 10 for a team starved for talented and skilled forecheckers. Also, he switched between two systems and had an injury. I mentioned this earlier, but if he were on a team like the 67's, he'd have an offensive explosion. In 32 games had 60 points for a PPG of 1.88. His pace is above 2 PPG had he played a full season, while a full season of Quinn on a stacked 67's team gave him 1.44 PPG (albeit 52 goals).

Were it not for the fact that he is from the Q, I would say his profile seems to fit what Gorton & Quinn are trying to build. But being from Q tends to make me believe that he will not be the choice.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Were it not for the fact that he is from the Q, I would say his profile seems to fit what Gorton & Quinn are trying to build. But being from Q tends to make me believe that he will not be the choice.

That trend has to stop sometime.

What better time than now?

 

[True Blue]

Sanderson
Perfetti
Rossi
Lundell
Drysdale

In that order.

I have Perfetti last and at this point, Sanderson and Drysdale are a toss up to me. Gun to head, would probably take Sanderson ahead of him.

That said, in that list passing on Rossi or Raymond would be hard.

 

[True Blue]

That trend has to stop sometime.

What better time than now?

Well, if they have the top overall pick, then yes.

But, and in no way do I pretend to have any inside knowledge, I have to believe that if it is to change, it would be when Clarke is not running the draft table.

 

[Joey Bones]

Were it not for the fact that he is from the Q, I would say his profile seems to fit what Gorton & Quinn are trying to build. But being from Q tends to make me believe that he will not be the choice.

I think that's a narrative that shouldn't be harped on in Mercer's case, especially since the Q had a better season in terms of goals for/against than the OHL did. But simply put, he doesn't play like he's from the Q. Plays a hard working game and earns his points, but also has the skill and smarts to score and set up others. He's an aggressive forechecker and creates a lot of havoc for defenders looking to stretch pass or move up ice.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I think that's a narrative that shouldn't be harped on in Mercer's case, especially since the Q had a better season in terms of goals for/against than the OHL did. But simply put, he doesn't play like he's from the Q. Plays a hard working game and earns his points, but also has the skill and smarts to score and set up others. He's an aggressive forechecker and creates a lot of havoc for defenders looking to stretch pass or move up ice.

TB has a point though, the Rangers have historically avoided the Q in the 1st round like drafting someone from there is going to infect the organization with a mutation of the plague and COVID-19... Plus AIDS.

It's not just Clark, it's decades worth of drafts. I don't know what it is other than short sighted. Plus our scout for that area is pretty good, they should listen to him.

 

[QJL]

Lundell was the third best Corsi player in all of Liiga. That is insane for a pre-draft player in a men’s league. I don’t care that he was #12 on the McKenzie list. Someone is going to take him top 10. One of the Swedes or Rossi will slip.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

That trend has to stop sometime.

What better time than now?

Unless there's a clear cut BPA when we are on the clock, I expect us to go the WHL/SHL/Liiga route, the areas they are most comfortable with scouting-wise. At 10-11 that would mean:

Raymond
Holtz
Lundell
Jarvis
Zary

This is just speculation based on how the scouting department changed over time, under Gorton. Adding Steve Konowalchuk really solidified their WHL scouting and it showed with Robertson last year. They were confident enough to go there in the 2nd round.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Lundell was the third best Corsi player in all of Liiga. That is insane for a pre-draft player in a men’s league. I don’t care that he was #12 on the McKenzie list. Someone is going to take him top 10. One of the Swedes or Rossi will slip.

Actually, he was the 2nd best in Liiga this season. That's 2nd best league-wide. No age range, not among draft-eligibles. The only one with a better Corsi% was Puljujärvi this season.

Among draft-eligibles, Lundell is head and shoulders above there rest. It sucks Liiga didn't track this pre-2014. I wish we could see Barkov's stats

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Lundell was the third best Corsi player in all of Liiga. That is insane for a pre-draft player in a men’s league. I don’t care that he was #12 on the McKenzie list. Someone is going to take him top 10. One of the Swedes or Rossi will slip.

He was actually #2.

If that drives someone to take him in the top 10 and slide one of those other players to us, I'm all for it.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Innovation!!

Marc Staal already at practice?

 

[NYSPORTS]

Lundell was the third best Corsi player in all of Liiga. That is insane for a pre-draft player in a men’s league. I don’t care that he was #12 on the McKenzie list. Someone is going to take him top 10. One of the Swedes or Rossi will slip.

IDK, we see these Corsi numbers “vs men” all over the map. Not sure what to believe anymore.

 

[Joey Bones]

TB has a point though, the Rangers have historically avoided the Q in the 1st round like drafting someone from there is going to infect the organization with a mutation of the plague and COVID-19... Plus AIDS.

It's not just Clark, it's decades worth of drafts. I don't know what it is other than short sighted. Plus our scout for that area is pretty good, they should listen to him.

I get that, but this season the Q was a better all around, pro-like hockey than the O was. It was closer in terms to what the W usually is. Nonetheless, they're all still junior leagues. Just saying that there are some players, in this case Mercer, who don't play a juniors like game and despite the Rangers lack of selecting from the Q, they should reconsider if it's for Mercer or Lafreniere even, lolol.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I get that, but this season the Q was a better all around, pro-like hockey than the O was. It was closer in terms to what the W usually is. Nonetheless, they're all still junior leagues. Just saying that there are some players, in this case Mercer, who don't play a juniors like game and despite the Rangers lack of selecting from the Q, they should reconsider if it's for Mercer or Lafreniere even, lolol.

I agree with you.

It's just strange to see an organization avoid a league the way the Rangers have with the Q. I mean they don't avoid it entirely (2 of their better later picks in the last 10 years came out of the Q) but they aren't hitting it up all that often.

Who was the last guy they drafted out of the Q? Was it Graves/Duclair? That was 7 years ago!

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Actually, he was the 2nd best in Liiga this season. That's 2nd best league-wide. No age range, not among draft-eligibles. The only one with a better Corsi% was Puljujärvi this season.

Among draft-eligibles, Lundell is head and shoulders above there rest. It sucks Liiga didn't track this pre-2014. I wish we could see Barkov's stats

Does Liiga track xG and xGF%?

 

[BKGooner]

TB has a point though, the Rangers have historically avoided the Q in the 1st round like drafting someone from there is going to infect the organization with a mutation of the plague and COVID-19... Plus AIDS.

It's not just Clark, it's decades worth of drafts. I don't know what it is other than short sighted. Plus our scout for that area is pretty good, they should listen to him.

hangover from taking Lucien Deblois or having Morman Rochefort turn into the Sam Bowie of Hockey.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Lundell was the third best Corsi player in all of Liiga. That is insane for a pre-draft player in a men’s league. I don’t care that he was #12 on the McKenzie list. Someone is going to take him top 10. One of the Swedes or Rossi will slip.

This is how I see it shaking out. My money is on Rossi.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Does Liiga track xG and xGF%?

Unfortunately not.

 

[Profet]

Actually, he was the 2nd best in Liiga this season. That's 2nd best league-wide. No age range, not among draft-eligibles.

Oh wow...

The only one with a better Corsi% was Puljujärvi this season.

Oh...