Draft 2020 Draft & Undrafted Free Agent Thread: Part VII

[Joey Bones]

New Jersey and Ottawa are both in prime positions to take some big swings in this draft.

Could disrupt people's expectations a bit.

That Toronto pick is really interesting, too, especially if they go defense.

 

[Joey Bones]

I have serious questionmarks about both Quinn and Rossi due to the structure of their team. They are relying heavily on a handful of 20 and 21 year olds in a junior league. Rossi and Quinn are also among the oldest in their draft class. And their production seems to have sky-rocketed in an unnatural way, similar to Dylan Strome.

Not worried about Rossi, he was doing well the year before, too. Besides he's looking like a gym rat, posting videos of his workouts almost every week. He looks to be showing the drive on and off the ice to become that potential top line center.

 

[Joey Bones]

My bottom up view of our center position is that Howden and Chytil are going to get better with experience. I also have hopes for Justin Richards and Barron could be a player who goes back and forth between center and wing. Even if Chytil never gets to the point where he's a very productive 2C the 3rd and 4th lines can still stabilize if those things happen.....and then there is Henriksson too.

Regarding Richards he has bloodlines and he comes from arguably the best college hockey program going and was his conference's best defensive forward of the year two years running in which his team won two successive national championships and I believe he's a good faceoff guy too.

I don't think center is necessarily going to be as big an issue for us as some others might think.

Richards was one of the best undrafted defensive centers in the NCAA for the past two or three years. I'm really looking forward to see what he could do for NYR.

 

[Joey Bones]

I think guys like Rossi and Perfetti are going lower than most have them, and that Sanderson and Lundell will go higher.

at this moment I believe the Wings will consider Sanderson and Askarov at 4, Yzerman never shoots straight across the board in these situations. Most people didn’t expect Seider at 6, or Drouin over Jones. Perfetti pick is way too obvious imo.

How often you change your username, man?

 

[Joey Bones]

Looking back on some latest buzz and checking Bob's list to see where he has players and I'm thinking Kleven is a name that a team bites on in the late first. A lot to like on the defensive side of the puck and was listed at No. 36 on the list.

Defense is weak in this class and I think some teams that are starved for some good defensive depth would swing early on some of these guys. Names like Kleven, Wallinder, Niemela, O'Rourke, Barron, Grans, after the aforementioned (Drysdale, Sanderson, Guhle, Schneider) could all be looked at closely.

Also, I noticed Emil Andrae is listed on Bob's list in the early 3rd round. That's a steal of a pick up if he does indeed last that long. Same with Powell, there.

 

[eco's bones]

I think guys like Rossi and Perfetti are going lower than most have them, and that Sanderson and Lundell will go higher.

at this moment I believe the Wings will consider Sanderson and Askarov at 4, Yzerman never shoots straight across the board in these situations. Most people didn’t expect Seider at 6, or Drouin over Jones. Perfetti pick is way too obvious imo.

If one of Rossi or Perfetti does happen to go top 5 I think the other is probably going to be out there somewhere between 8 and 12. I voted Perfetti at 4 because that's what the buzz has been---not because he would be the guy I would take if he were the Detroit GM and you're right Yzerman might pick someone else entirely.

I actually like Askarov more than most--I actually wouldn't mind the Rangers finding a way somehow using their 22 to get at him if possible. I also like the idea of us having two No. 1 quality goaltenders.

 

[eco's bones]

Richards was one of the best undrafted defensive centers in the NCAA for the past two or three years. I'm really looking forward to see what he could do for NYR.

Scott Sandelin's U. Minn-Duluth team is arguably the best run college hockey program in the NCAA. Players don't usually put up huge numbers as far as stats but it's definitely a pro-like operation. Richards has been a standout for the last two years being the conference's best defensive forward--and recent winners of that award have been Nic Dowd (Washington Capitals), Sean Kuraly (Boston Bruins) and Dominic Toninato (Florida Panthers).

 

[Edge]

That Toronto pick is really interesting, too, especially if they go defense.

It feels like everyone expects them to go defense. But I think Askarov is also in play if he’s on the board.

 

[True Blue]

It feels like everyone expects them to go defense. But I think Askarov is also in play if he’s on the board.

As well he should be. But it also seems to be a great match for Schnieder

 

[NYSPORTS]

New Jersey and Ottawa are both in prime positions to take some big swings in this draft.

Could disrupt people's expectations a bit.

Teams rise and fall. Yeah, i think the Rangers are going to have some company. Jersey should add some significant pieces while Ottawa can add an entire team.

Rangers winning this lottery was/is huge.

 

[Edge]

Teams rise and fall. Yeah, i think the Rangers are going to have some company. Jersey should add some significant pieces while Ottawa can add an entire team.

Rangers winning this lottery was/is huge.

Agreed. Those teams are going to have a similar opportunity as the Rangers in 2018. And for us, those swings included Kravtsov, Miller and Lundkvist.

The Rangers, even as they come out of the staunch accumulation phase, are almost in an underrated spot here. They'll add another two kids from this year's top 22, including the top prospect, and four prospects overall from the top 85. That's on top of everything else they've added in recent years.

 

[Ghost of jas]

Agreed. Those teams are going to have a similar opportunity as the Rangers in 2018. And for us, those swings included Kravtsov, Miller and Lundkvist.

The Rangers, even as they come out of the staunch accumulation phase, are almost in an underrated spot here. They'll add another two kids from this year's top 22, including the top prospect, and four prospects overall from the top 85. That's on top of everything else they've added in recent years.

Plus the added bonus of getting the consensus best player from this draft, which itself is a huge plus those other teams won't have.

 

[Leetch3]

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

The Rangers whiffed big time not selling replica ping pong balls with the logo

Wonder if they'll do it when they inevitably let people go see games in person

 

[Lion Hound]

The Rangers whiffed big time not selling replica ping pong balls with the logo

Wonder if they'll do it when they inevitably let people go see games in person

They should sell replicas of McDonalds badge, and donate portion of the proceeds to organizations that help quadriplegics, like St Jude's.

 

[Leetch3]

Thoughts on the best draft guides out there?

 

[Matt Rentfree]

Thoughts on the best draft guides out there?

I like the Black Book. Their scouting reports are REALLY comprehensive and they're not afraid to part with the consensus.

 

[Ola]

They should sell replicas of McDonalds badge, and donate portion of the proceeds to organizations that help quadriplegics, like St Jude's.

Could be a legal issue there. Not that it’s impossible to get a hand on a replica badge (I recon), but its maybe not optimal to promote the spread of them... No go from legal on this one.

 

[Cag29]

Agreed. Those teams are going to have a similar opportunity as the Rangers in 2018. And for us, those swings included Kravtsov, Miller and Lundkvist.

The Rangers, even as they come out of the staunch accumulation phase, are almost in an underrated spot here. They'll add another two kids from this year's top 22, including the top prospect, and four prospects overall from the top 85. That's on top of everything else they've added in recent years.

I’ve been power watching everything available about Lafreniere and I keep coming back to the same comparison. Mark Messier. He carries himself with a quiet confidence like Mess does.
Seems to rise to whatever challenge he faces. Plays hurt. Plays tough. Maybe just so excieted having watched since age 11 (1975) and we finally get number 1 overall and this guy is waiting for us on a silver platter.

 

[Lion Hound]

Could be a legal issue there. Not that it’s impossible to get a hand on a replica badge (I recon), but its maybe not optimal to promote the spread of them... No go from legal on this one.

That’s a good point. You don’t want people Impersonating police officers. They could change it enough so that it’s painfully obvious that it’s a replica. Maybe add the NY Rangers logo on it and ,ale the case red white and blue?

 

[Lion Hound]

Thoughts on the best draft guides out there?

Currently I think Redline and Blackbook. ISS is done. I used to speak with Dennis MacInnes there year after year. He was a great resource but I guess the company went a different direction.

Redline is a much more condensed version. He doesn’t follow the crowds or consensus picks as much. He definitively has multiple sources. Back in the day I was introduced to Woodlief by Don Maloney when he was with the NY Rangers. He still has an eye for this, and his team still covers all the respective leagues to give the insight needed.

Blackbook is packed with info. It’s much more detailed. Like they really take a deep dive into each player. They too do not follow the consensus rankings as much.

Steve K over the past few seasons really took it to another level. I think he has a guide out now, I’m not sure. He does an excellent job.

I can’t get enough of Scouching now. He too is taking it to another level. I watch one almost daily

 

[CaptTennille]

Currently I think Redline and Blackbook. ISS is done. I used to speak with Dennis MacInnes there year after year. He was a great resource but I guess the company went a different direction.

Redline is a much more condensed version. He doesn’t follow the crowds or consensus picks as much. He definitively has multiple sources. Back in the day I was introduced to Woodlief by Don Maloney when he was with the NY Rangers. He still has an eye for this, and his team still covers all the respective leagues to give the insight needed.

Blackbook is packed with info. It’s much more detailed. Like they really take a deep dive into each player. They too do not follow the consensus rankings as much.

Steve K over the past few seasons really took it to another level. I think he has a guide out now, I’m not sure. He does an excellent job.

I can’t get enough of Scouching now. He too is taking it to another level. I watch one almost daily

Can’t say it any better than this!
We are definitely spoiled for choice at the moment and it comes down to what you personally value in your analysis.

I have purchased Steve K’s draft guide in the past and can confirm it is comprehensive and thoughtfully laid out. He has done a great job expanding his coverage of European prospects in the last few years - specifically the MHL, VHL and KHL which can obviously be underscouted/valued by other services.

Will Scouch’s content is also excellent. I’m not a McKeen’s subscriber but I am a member of his Patreon which grants you access to his data tracker and a discord server to talk about prospects with others. Will is very receptive and willing to answer questions you may have, so I would consider it if I was someone who likes prospect analysis with more consideration than just the eye test.

 

[Mikos87]

How often you change your username, man?

I don't even know who he is anymore. Honestly I don't.

 

[Mikos87]

Thoughts on the best draft guides out there?

IMO- the best ranking is Hockey Prospect and McKenzie. Hands down. The best information, I would say, is EliteProspects. If you ignore the rankings, read up on the guy, and watch some videos where you can find them, you get a very very good set of aggregated content that drives meaningful information.

If you make the calls yourself, that's a great way to go. If you want to read up on someone's opinions, I would say Hockey Prospect and McKenzie are the most plugged in. Warts of picks and all.

 

[Mikos87]

Scott Sandelin's U. Minn-Duluth team is arguably the best run college hockey program in the NCAA. Players don't usually put up huge numbers as far as stats but it's definitely a pro-like operation. Richards has been a standout for the last two years being the conference's best defensive forward--and recent winners of that award have been Nic Dowd (Washington Capitals), Sean Kuraly (Boston Bruins) and Dominic Toninato (Florida Panthers).

Yeah exactly, there's some surprisingly good pedigree there. Now this is a program that also produced Neal Pionk... so not every player is a defensive gem. They've got Samberg coming who is a poor man's McDonagh. Plays a game in that vein, and has an Adam Pelech like upside. He'll be a top 4 shutdown guy next year next to Travis Hamonic in WPG.

It's still college hockey, you still see things like different lines playing different schemes and getting away with it. You still see puck pressure in areas of the ice where and when your own team can get caught flat footed, and some games don't have any entertainment value. But... it's a very competitive league, and they have a lot of guys who can skate at a faster pace than you would think so I have some optimism.