Draft 2020 Draft & Undrafted Free Agent Thread: Part VI

[Barnaby]

It seems the most logical that Toronto goes defense, but I can easily see them shipping that pick in a deal for immediate defensive help. It makes too much sense.

 

[nyr2k2]

is that free with the premium subscription?

Yes, in fact I think the only way to get it is through a subscription. EP sucks, they never have any discounted sign up periods, and they put out verrrrry little free content. The Athletic had discounts all the time and was always making article free. EP, I didn't really know what I was getting. It's been a mixed bag.

 

[eco's bones]

Congrats on Lafreniere. As much as that pains me to say as a Devils fan, the offensive battles between Lafreniere and Hughes will be explosive for at least the next seven years

I look forward to the rivalry making it back to what it was in 2012. Though we came out on top then the Rangers are closer to being back there than my Devils at the moment

Just be warned - its not how fast you finish but how well you did!!

There's some luck involved in Hischier/Hughes and some luck involved in Kakko/Lafreniere so the Hockey God's have smiled on us and there's no point not being appreciative about that. There's a process involved in getting good again and we're further along that road I think but in a couple/three/four years both teams should be competitive again and maybe the Islanders not so much. These things go in cycles anyway but when you're adding studs your up cycle tends to get a lot longer.

 

[Leetch3]

Yes, in fact I think the only way to get it is through a subscription. EP sucks, they never have any discounted sign up periods, and they put out verrrrry little free content. The Athletic had discounts all the time and was always making article free. EP, I didn't really know what I was getting. It's been a mixed bag.

what do you get for the subscription besides the draft guide? like prospect articles?

and is it a yearly subscription?

 

[eco's bones]

Two WHL'ers in this draft Mark Greig (who might be a 1st rounder) and Connor McClennon to play for Karlskrona HK in Sweden this year.

 

[NYR Viper]

@Edge Any thoughts on later round guys who teams may be projecting as lower line depth energy guys? It would seem the organization as a whole has a glaring weakness for a few of those guys and moving forward, one would project that the skilled players are relatively covered. It may be useful for them to develop a few heart ad soul guys who would be cost controlled

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Two WHL'ers in this draft Mark Greig (who might be a 1st rounder) and Connor McClennon to play for Karlskrona HK in Sweden this year.

This is a big move for Greig. Think hes on the Rangers radar as it is and a strong start to the season would do him really well (perhaps even pushing him out of range.)

 

[nyr2k2]

what do you get for the subscription besides the draft guide? like prospect articles?

and is it a yearly subscription?

Yearly.

They have lots of prospect articles. Stuff you won't find elsewhere and it gets pretty in-depth. Like talk about knee bend and angles of your skates in assessing a player's skating. They also have access to some advanced stats for leagues like the CHL where you don't otherwise find it. I haven't fully explored and have only been a subscriber for a short while.

 

[Leetch3]

Two WHL'ers in this draft Mark Greig (who might be a 1st rounder) and Connor McClennon to play for Karlskrona HK in Sweden this year.

btw is Ridly Greig...Mark is his dad who is a former whaler and flyer and currently flyers' scout

 

[eco's bones]

btw is Ridly Greig...Mark is his dad who is a former whaler and flyer and currently flyers' scout

Got them mixed up. Good catch.

 

[Edge]

@Edge Any thoughts on later round guys who teams may be projecting as lower line depth energy guys? It would seem the organization as a whole has a glaring weakness for a few of those guys and moving forward, one would project that the skilled players are relatively covered. It may be useful for them to develop a few heart ad soul guys who would be cost controlled

There are a lot of names to throw out there, but some names I like as lower line options:

Reid Valade is a kid I love for later in the draft. He never stops hustling or moving his feet, and he's a damn good skater too so that makes him very projectible as a bottom six energy guy. I think he could fill a role very much in the vein of Hagelin or Fast if he keeps developing. Probably a candidate when you start getting into the fourth round and beyond.

Evan Vierling is an excellent skater, really good understanding of where to be on the ice, very good shot and ability to get the puck to the right person. Probably not the most creative guy in the world, but he's so smart I wouldn't rule out his ability to over-achieve in that area of the game. I project him as more of a Dominic Moore type. Might be more of a second or third round option though.

Daniel Ljungman has a great shot, very good hands. Average skater, but powerful and balanced. Has shown flashes of having higher-end talent, but it's never materialized consistently. He's a guy who hasn't really carved out a full identity yet, but he's a candidate for a bottom six role. Could anywhere from the second to the fourth round.

Parker Ford is another kid who could go later in the draft who projects as more of a bottom six forward who hustles and attacks for everything he gets. I could see him as a guy who plays a role on the PK, helps the team sustain pressure (even if it doesn't always result in points) and provides a spark. Like Valade, he's someone who might be more of a true late round pick.

 

[Ghost of jas]

There are a lot of names to throw out there, but some names I like as lower line options:

Reid Valade is a kid I love for later in the draft. He never stops hustling or moving his feet, and he's a damn good skater too so that makes him very projectible as a bottom six energy guy. I think he could fill a role very much in the vein of Hagelin or Fast if he keeps developing. Probably a candidate when you start getting into the fourth round and beyond.

Even Vierling is an excellent skater, really good understanding of where to be on the ice, very good shot and ability to get the puck to the right person. Probably not the most creative guy in the world, but he's so smart I wouldn't rule out his ability to over-achieve in that area of the game. I project him as more of a Dominic Moore type. Might be more of a second or third round option though.

Daniel Ljungman has a great shot, very good hands. Average skater, but powerful and balanced. Has shown flashes of having higher-end talent, but it's never materialized consistently. He's a guy who hasn't really carved out a full identity yet, but he's a candidate for a bottom six role. Could anywhere from the second to the fourth round.

Parker Ford is another kid who could go later in the draft who projects as more of a bottom six forward who hustles and attacks for everything he gets. I could see him as a guy who plays a role on the PK, helps the team sustain pressure (even if it doesn't always result in points) and provides a spark. Like Valade, he's someone who might be more of a true late round pick.

All names familiar to people using the draftsim app.

 

[Edge]

All names familiar to people using the draftsim app.

Frankly, I try to grab Valade every time.

 

[Matt Rentfree]

Frankly, I try to grab Valade every time.

It's also hard to pass on Blomqvist with the lower 3rd round pick and Robins in the 4th.

 

[Polar Bear]

@Edge Updated odds we keep the pick and take Laf?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

It's also hard to pass on Blomqvist with the lower 3rd round pick and Robins in the 4th.

Joel Blomqvist in the 3rd is a quality pick. 9/10 I end up with Blomqvist and Powell in the 3rd

 

[Edge]

@Edge Updated odds we keep the pick and take Laf?

Still around 80/20 to keep the pick.

And 99/1 they take Laf.

 

[Edge]

Joel Blomqvist in the 3rd is a quality pick. 9/10 I end up with Blomqvist and Powell in the 3rd

Blomqvist is only on the board about half the time I am picking in the third. Otherwise I'd take him more often.

 

[TheBPA]

Still around 80/20 to keep the pick.

And 99/1 they take Laf.

You really think there’s a 20% chance they trade the #1 pick? I gotta think it’s about a 2% chance.

 

[Edge]

You really think there’s a 20% chance they trade the #1 pick? I gotta think it’s about a 2% chance.

I think there are going to be a lot of interesting offers on the table. I don't think any of them will get to the level of crazy it would take to budge the Rangers, but I can't rule it out either.

 

[TheBPA]

I think there are going to be a lot of interesting offers on the table. I don't think any of them will get to the level of crazy it would take to budge the Rangers, but I can't rule it out either.

Other than the Senators I just can’t see who can offer enough value to be worth trading a surefire #1 pick who is on an entry level deal for 3 years. That’s basically the most valuable asset in the league to have. Even the Senators would only be able to trade a few question marks, besides the fact that Melnyk has said they’re not trading 3 and 5 (and even if that’s just posturing, I can’t see him swapping 2 cost controlled assets for 1).

 

[Joey Bones]

Two WHL'ers in this draft Mark Greig (who might be a 1st rounder) and Connor McClennon to play for Karlskrona HK in Sweden this year.

Do you mean Ridly?

I would prefer if they stayed in the CHL rather than Division 1, but it's pro experience nonetheless.

 

[Thirty One]

Got them mixed up. Good catch.

Don't lie. You wanted the dad.

 

[Ola]

It seems the most logical that Toronto goes defense, but I can easily see them shipping that pick in a deal for immediate defensive help. It makes too much sense.

If I am Toronto I would definitely look at the cap remaining flat for the coming 3 years and how much depth is paying off around the league. In addition, it’s very obvious that it’s a peak-age-player’s league if that makes any sense. Sure there is the odd young players out there and a couple of real vets. But overall almost all damage is done by players peak age. You can’t expect many 19-21 y/o’s to do much damage nor guys north of 30. To build a roster with that depth of players in their peak — you must have cap space.

And I think the fact that they are clearing capspace between the pipes makes sense, you can get lucky there. But even if it seems like Dubas really like Nylander I wouldn’t rule out that he is moved. No matter what I think they will try to scale back on the bigger names and try to add players that just are solid enough up front and beef up the blueline more.

 

[Edge]

Other than the Senators I just can’t see who can offer enough value to be worth trading a surefire #1 pick who is on an entry level deal for 3 years. That’s basically the most valuable asset in the league to have. Even the Senators would only be able to trade a few question marks, besides the fact that Melnyk has said they’re not trading 3 and 5 (and even if that’s just posturing, I can’t see him swapping 2 cost controlled assets for 1).

I would expect Buffalo, LA, and Ottawa to pick up the phone. And I'll throw a dark horse out there that I've heard --- Colorado.

Now again, I don't think anything comes of it, but I can't rule it out completely right now.