Draft 2020 Draft & Undrafted Free Agent Thread: Part V

[mas0764]

Honestly, if he becomes a more consistent and physical Huberdeau putting up around 90 points year in and year out, that's a home run. I'll gladly take that lol.

But Huberdeau is Patrick Kane if he keeps up the last two years of production.

It's just that Huberdeau was not that for so long.

 

[Polar Bear]

I just love all the people claiming it was fixed. I love it a lot. If it's fixed in our favor, please fix it more.

I admit it. It was me. I fixed the lottery. I had no choice, I wanted Laf too much.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

I just love all the people claiming it was fixed. I love it a lot. If it's fixed in our favor, please fix it more.

We're the most valuable team playing in the biggest media market in the world. Everything should be fixed for us.

 

[Edge]

Christ I’d be happy with Huberdeau while you guys are talking about MacKinnon and Kane lol

Is Lafreniere really that legit?

He's better than Huberdeau was at the same age, by quite a bit.

I think he's on that MacKinnon and Kane level, yes. I think he's a better player than the former at the same age as well.

I don't think people fully realize, and understandbly so, not only the difference between a prospect who is 3rd or fourth in their draft class, compared to the guys who are sometimes in that 1-2 spot. It's a whole other tier.

You go from comments like, "This kid could be the best player in his draft if X,Y, and Z happens..." or "This kid could be a star if....", to comments like, "This kid is the best player in his age group..." and "This kid should be a star...".

But as a franchise, we have no baseline for this. Yeah, we have Kravtsov, even Brendl from 21 years back, but there's a difference between someone whose toward the front of the pack, and someone who is legit out in front of the pack. And in Lefreniere's case, leading by a couple of lengths.

It's also because this isn't like picking first or second in 2011 and 2012, or even 2017. The guys we've had access to are legitimately more dangerous and better than those options.

Lefreniere is legit, even if he isn't a generational talent. And then you start factoring in Kakko, and some of the talent we've assembled. This shit is almost like a video game.

 

[Polar Bear]

He's better than Huberdeau was at the same age, by quite a bit.

I think he's on that MacKinnon and Kane level, yes. I think he's a better player than the former at the same age as well.

I don't think people fully realize, and understandbly so, not only the difference between a prospect who is 3rd or fourth in their draft class, compared to the guys who are sometimes in that 1-2 spot. It's a whole other tier.

You go from comments like, "This kid could be the best player in his draft if X,Y, and Z happens..." or "This kid could be a star if....", to comments like, "This kid is the best player in his age group..." and "This kid should be a star...".

But as a franchise, we have no baseline for this. Yeah, we have Kravtsov, even Brendl from 21 years back, but there's a difference between someone whose toward the front of the pack, and someone who is legit out in front of the pack. And in Lefreniere's case, leading by a couple of lengths.

It's also because this isn't like picking first or second in 2011 and 2012, or even 2017. The guys we've had access to are legitimately more dangerous and better than those options.

Lefreniere is legit, even if he isn't a generational talent. And then you start factoring in Kakko, and some of the talent we've assembled. This shit is almost like a video game.

I mean, I personally view him on that tier right under McDavid/Crosby, so if there was any year to win the lottery besides those, I think this would be it. Would not be stunned if during his rookie season here he ends up with 50-60 points.

 

[Edge]

I think there are some comparisons to draw but it's tough to get a clear picture of things. I don't think the Rangers drafted him with the expectation that he was going to top out as a 3rd liner who could be a leader on the team. I think they saw legitimate top-six potential in his game, plus all of those other things. Now whether or not their estimates were correct are another story, but I really don't think they were like "This guy's character is off the charts, let's take him in the top-10." Same goes for McIlrath. I think they genuinely felt like he was going to be a top-4 defensemen who could change the momentum of a game with his physical play.

That being said, my post wasn't at all about his talent. It was about how these are kids that we're selecting in the draft and you never really know how they're going to act as they turn into adults. We're talking about a kid who had an impeccable resume of character and competitiveness who quit at the first sign of adversity. That's a massive curve ball that I don't think anyone could've seen coming.

I think the 2017 draft is very different than 2010. Already it's looking like a draft that's a little over the place. I never felt there was a Tarasenko sitting out there, or a Ryan Getzlaf.

In this case, those guys were taken in the 1-6 spots. And that wasn't even really hindsight either. A lot of people saw that immediately.

Andersson was not the Rangers first choice. I don't even think he was their second choice. Truth be told, he might have been their 8th choice until Vilardi starting looking like a walking doctor's visit.

What they saw in him was very similar to what they saw in guys like Horvat, and ROR. At worst a third line center, and quite possibly a very valuable second line center who was about more than the points.

And, contrary to selective memory, Andersson showed a lot of that. His work in the SHL was remarkable for a kid his age, and frankly his switch to the AHL as a 19 year old was also in pretty rare company. Outside of some being boo boo faced about the pick, there was literally nothing there that was disappointing.

But we never embraced it as a board, and whether some people want to admit it or not, they wanted to be right about Andersson. In some cases, obviously not all cases, Andersson's value to the Rangers took a backseat to a lot of people's desires to say "I told you so!"

And whether some people realize it, or want to admit, that's the truth. Because for as much as we love this team, and as great as this board often is, it's also a male-dominated social club where everyone wants to stake a claim to having the biggest pecker. And one of the side effects of that, is a male stubborness and...shall we say, aggressiveness.

At the end of the day, whether Andersson makes it or doesn't, he really wasn't a bad prospect. He just wasn't the one this board wanted. And quite frankly, a lot of people have stopped throwing names out there as to who they wanted because a lot of those guys haven't exactly lit the world on fire either. So the whole pushback has become increasingly more vague as it's become almost an "anyone but Andersson" type memory.

 

[Leetch3]

I hope Kakko is better than Huberdeau frankly. Or at least reaches Huberdea level quicker.

definitely wouldn't complain about that...but some of the guys like huberdeau, barkov and mackinnon that took a few years to put it all together resulted in some pretty amazing 2nd contracts so its not all bad if the kids need a few years to put it together

 

[Heckler81]

It cannot be understated how lucky the Rangers were in moving up to 1OA and 2OA in back-to-back years. Insanely lucky.

Never want to hear that this franchise isn't lucky/doesn't have anything good happen to them for at least....15 years.

This reminds me when Orlando got lucky and drafted Shaq and Penny back to back years (Orlando traded down when C. Webber was the jewel of the draft that year).

 

[Kocur Dill]

Elite Grinder

Jersey Mike's
#13
Rosemary Parm bread
Mike's way
w/extra red pepper spread.

Elite Grinder.

 

[RangerBlues]

Dont think hes gonna be taking 400 faceoffs a season, I dont get the Mackinnon comparison. A better version of Huberdeau is accurate. Or even Jamie Benn if hes taking faceoffs, very similar. I can see him being over 200ibs in a few season. Ill be more than happy with any of that.

 

[Rangers in 7]

Dont think hes gonna be taking 400 faceoffs a season, I dont get the Mackinnon comparison. A better version of Huberdeau is accurate. Or even Jamie Benn if hes taking faceoffs, very similar. I can see him being over 200ibs in a few season. Ill be more than happy with any of that.

I don’t see the benn comps, laf is much better then him

 

[SnowFort]

Have they said anything about the draft event, by the way? Will it be 100% virtual?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Jacob Perrault is potentially just like his father.

Never scored 30 goals or 60 points, but spent a decade scoring 20-25 goals and 45-55 points.

Support player, chips in offense, maybe doesn't do a hell of a whole lot else. But if you can get 800 games, 250 goals and 500 points out a late first round pick, that's a good selection. Especially if the other guy you took in the first becomes the face of your franchise.

There are fans everywhere who expect way too much from a late 1st round pick. They look at Boeser and Pastrnak and expect every guy in the 20-range to be that top line player but Brady Skjei for instance was a good selection at 28. Ranger fans give him a lot of shit and he has his gaffes but for where we drafted him, we got some GREAT VALUE out of it.

 

[Ola]

He's better than Huberdeau was at the same age, by quite a bit.

I think he's on that MacKinnon and Kane level, yes. I think he's a better player than the former at the same age as well.

I don't think people fully realize, and understandbly so, not only the difference between a prospect who is 3rd or fourth in their draft class, compared to the guys who are sometimes in that 1-2 spot. It's a whole other tier.

You go from comments like, "This kid could be the best player in his draft if X,Y, and Z happens..." or "This kid could be a star if....", to comments like, "This kid is the best player in his age group..." and "This kid should be a star...".

But as a franchise, we have no baseline for this. Yeah, we have Kravtsov, even Brendl from 21 years back, but there's a difference between someone whose toward the front of the pack, and someone who is legit out in front of the pack. And in Lefreniere's case, leading by a couple of lengths.

It's also because this isn't like picking first or second in 2011 and 2012, or even 2017. The guys we've had access to are legitimately more dangerous and better than those options.

Lefreniere is legit, even if he isn't a generational talent. And then you start factoring in Kakko, and some of the talent we've assembled. This shit is almost like a video game.

Good post!

What I think is really tricky is putting someone like Laf in relation to established stars in the NHL today. In terms of where they play, from which areas they create offense, how they go about deciding whether to shoot or pass, sitckhandling and even skating -- I wonder if Johnny Hockey in a way isn't the best comparison for Alexis Lafreniere. With the obvious difference of course being that Johnny Hockey is like 5'9 160 lbs and Laf being 6'1 195 lbs.

Just like with Johnny Hockey, you are not going to draw a credible link between a short description of raw abilities and the actual production. The production comes from what nobody can capture in a short description like that. How good exactly is Laf's hockey sense? He is stronger physically, skates better (albeit Gaudreu is darn elusive), but the key is hockey sense. Johnny just recently had 99 pts in 82 games and 84 pts in 80 games. Where will Laf's baseline be, 65, 75, 90, 100 or 110 pts?

I think its hard with any confidence to pts towards specific areas of a scale like that.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

WTF? Really?
Let the kid develop, NO reason he gets C for at least 4 years, or longer. Give it to prob 20, maybe 8, but let the high skill guys just do what they do.
And let Laf adapt, he's got enough eyeballs on him already

All depends on what kind of player he is. They all have eyeballs on them, but once in a while a player shows up that takes shit over. If Laf does so, he has to get the C imo. But you're prob. right, it's gonna be in 4 years.

Number 8, are you for real?!

 

[Ghost of jas]

What I keep coming back to with Lafreniere, and what makes him different than a lot of the other top overall selections is his competitive streak. You can compare him to other prospects talent-wise, but, it's documented that he has the ability to change a game with his willingness to do what it takes to win. You see it in Ovechkin with his willingness to throw the big hit, but, I sense more of a Messier mindset. And, that's what separates him as top end talent from other 1OA's.

 

[Ghost of jas]

All depends on what kind of player he is. They all have eyeballs on them, but once in a while a player shows up that takes shit over. If Laf does so, he has to get the C imo. But you're prob. right, it's gonna be in 4 years.

Number 8, are you for real?!

Yeah, I could see him being captain by his third year.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Looking at the numbers and stuff from early this season.
I've wanted Byfield so badly from the get go, because of his size and skill combination + he's a center.
If that dude can put it all together, I don't think the league has seen a player like that since Lindros maybe.
I wanted that Kakko Byfield juggernaut line.

But LAF man, isn't small either. Haven't found tape of his edginess and mean streak yet, but the competitive kind of player, he seems to be, is just that.
I think I'll still get that juggernaut line. Image Kakko and LAF getting into that competitive mode, where they push each other.

We don't trade shit here, pick LAF and run.

 

[Ola]

WT

 

[NYRFANMANI]

#1 = LAF

#3 + #5 = Stützle and Sanderson (?)

... all I know, if I was Ottawa, I'd keep my picks and lick my chops for the coming decade.
They have 7 picks in the first two rounds .. lel, that some EA NHL shit.

 

[Ola]

Re. the Atheltics source, its:
'They've got to listen' – Could the Kings trade up for the No. 1 pick?

If anything is worth citing its probably this:
"“If you’re (Rangers GM) Jeff Gorton: A. It’s a good day for your franchise, as flawed as the process might be, from my standpoint,” Burke said. “But B. you’ve got to listen (to offers). The speculation up here is that Ottawa is going to offer 3 and 5 for No. 1. But I wouldn’t do that.
“This is a good draft. You’ll get a forward and a defenseman if you keep those picks. It’s a curious draft because there’s all positions available. There’s a high-ranked goalie — which is not always the case. There’s a couple of good defensemen. There’s good wingers and there’s good centers.”"

Its a good article its not that, they talk with Burke who made two big trades with top draft picks (for the Sedins and for Pronger). But its 100% speculation.

 

[Ola]

When Gorton repeatedly is saying that its great to get a 1st overall pick -- especially this season. What is he referring to there? That the top end of the draft is special? The trials everyone gone through with the pandemic? What?

 

[aufheben]

Re. the Atheltics source, its:
'They've got to listen' – Could the Kings trade up for the No. 1 pick?

If anything is worth citing its probably this:
"“If you’re (Rangers GM) Jeff Gorton: A. It’s a good day for your franchise, as flawed as the process might be, from my standpoint,” Burke said. “But B. you’ve got to listen (to offers). The speculation up here is that Ottawa is going to offer 3 and 5 for No. 1. But I wouldn’t do that.
“This is a good draft. You’ll get a forward and a defenseman if you keep those picks. It’s a curious draft because there’s all positions available. There’s a high-ranked goalie — which is not always the case. There’s a couple of good defensemen. There’s good wingers and there’s good centers.”"

Its a good article its not that, they talk with Burke who made two big trades with top draft picks (for the Sedins and for Pronger). But its 100% speculation.

“The answer is: They’ve got to listen,” said former NHL general manager Brian Burke. “If someone is going to come after that pick hard, you generally get some offers.”
Burke paused and added, “They’re generally garbage.”

“If you’re (Rangers GM) Jeff Gorton: A. It’s a good day for your franchise, as flawed as the process might be, from my standpoint,” Burke said. “But B. you’ve got to listen (to offers). The speculation up here is that Ottawa is going to offer 3 and 5 for No. 1. But I wouldn’t do that.

 

[Ghost of jas]

Re. the Atheltics source, its:
'They've got to listen' – Could the Kings trade up for the No. 1 pick?

If anything is worth citing its probably this:
"“If you’re (Rangers GM) Jeff Gorton: A. It’s a good day for your franchise, as flawed as the process might be, from my standpoint,” Burke said. “But B. you’ve got to listen (to offers). The speculation up here is that Ottawa is going to offer 3 and 5 for No. 1. But I wouldn’t do that.
“This is a good draft. You’ll get a forward and a defenseman if you keep those picks. It’s a curious draft because there’s all positions available. There’s a high-ranked goalie — which is not always the case. There’s a couple of good defensemen. There’s good wingers and there’s good centers.”"

Its a good article its not that, they talk with Burke who made two big trades with top draft picks (for the Sedins and for Pronger). But its 100% speculation.

And, Gorton will. But, he would absolutely have to be floored to move the pick, and those offers just don't come, despite the fantasy fans have. Burke is saying he wouldn't move #3 and #5 for 1OA. I've got news for you, Burkie, it most likely will take a lot more than that for Gorton to move the pick.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

I dunno if he got a stick on it after he popped it off the net but it counts just the same.

The biggest takeaway from that video is how far his skating has already come. The clips are spread out over a few years and hes made some great strides there already.

Noticed the same thing. Also, how much bigger he got. The skill has always been there, but the physical attributes have all improved markedly over the lady two years.