NHL Entry Draft 2020 NHL Draft Discussion - PART IV

[RAFI BOMB]

Here is the most recent game from Blaine HS where they were eliminated from the State Championship playoffs. Players to scout:

• Carsen Richels (#17) F 6'3 209 lbs
• Cole Hansen (#18) F 6'2 201 lbs

Also here is their quarter final game from last season.

 

[RAFI BOMB]

Some intensity in this game. Live stream here: Twin Cities home for High School Sports, Prep45 | 45TV

 

[BondraTime]

You hear something? I know Brady well, and the whole family. I think they would be over the moon thrilled that he ends up with Drake in Ottawa.

Lots of teams going out of their way making trips to Saint John the 2nd half, multiple times. 4 guys all liked by scouts, and all going to be taken a different points in the draft. Should be taken around the same spot as Francis, very similar players.

 

[RAFI BOMB]

Lol

 

[ijif]

Any fans given thought to the two lottery top picks and if both will be Swedes or both will be Canadiens?

would you take at least 1 Canadian? Okay with 2 Swedes, 2 Finns, 2 Russians? A German and a Russian?

I don't care, and it isn't something I think about.

 

[RAFI BOMB]

Watch Slukynsky (#27) play live in the following link as the game starts soon:
Twin Cities home for High School Sports, Prep45 | 45TV

 

[jhutter]

What level would Minnesota high school hockey be compared to? Canadian Jr. A?

 

[MatchesMalone]

What level would Minnesota high school hockey be compared to? Canadian Jr. A?

Maybe someone can give a better answer, but it wouldn't be on the same level as AJHL or BCHL. Not even NAHL. So no, under junior A. Most of the players are what, 16, 17? When most junior A players are 18 and 19. How many players get NCAA scholarships straight out of high school hockey? I'm guessing very few.

 

[BondraTime]

What level would Minnesota high school hockey be compared to? Canadian Jr. A?

No, it’d be like a very good Midget AAA program. There are top talents at the Prep ranks, but the overall quality isn’t high tier. It’s why you see guys enter the draft with stat lines looking like 35 goals and 35 assists in 25 games.

There’s top talent, but there’s also NCAA div 3 guys, 15 year olds, and non commits.

 

[jhutter]

So it sounds like a big 'ol mix of potentially very high end talent and very average talent. Doesn't sound like there is very good comparable, as there really aren't any midget AAA players getting drafted in the first round, or any round for that matter.

 

[RAFI BOMB]

What level would Minnesota high school hockey be compared to? Canadian Jr. A?

There are a handful of future division 1 NCAA players across the entire league and only a handful of them have any real NHL upside. A player needs to dominate this league to be taken seriously and even then there will be players with strong stats that won't get any serious consideration from NHL teams.

I don't know if you are watching the live stream here: Twin Cities home for High School Sports, Prep45 | 45TV If you are it is pretty evident that most players lack poise or patience with the puck. They tend to just toss it away or throw it into the corner when they clearly have enough time and space to try to make a real play. The only players in this game that I am aware of with future NHL upside is Grant Slukysnky (#27) and Jayson Shaugabay (#17). Slukynsky is draft eligible this year and his regular season stats were 25 GP 30 G 45 A 75 PTS. Shaugabay is a freshman (born 2005) so he isn't draft eligible for 3 more years and his stats are 22 GP 19 G 32 A 51 PTS.

 

[BondraTime]

So it sounds like a big 'ol mix of potentially very high end talent and very average talent. Doesn't sound like there is very good comparable, as there really aren't any midget AAA players getting drafted in the first round, or any round for that matter.

They leave their midget programs at age 16 for the CHL, USHL and Jr. A. These US guys stay in high school until age 17/18, along with the lower level 15/16/17 year olds. Pretty much every Canadian drafted in the 1st played AAA before leaving for junior. I scouted a Telus Cup about a decade ago and the Quebec reps had a roster with 15 year old Duclair and Drouin, a 16 year old Matheson, and 13 other guys in the Q the following year or 2. I would wager that team would beat most US prep teams that season, regardless of age.

 

[RAFI BOMB]

Slukynsky goal

 

[MatchesMalone]

So Alex Holtz has five hits in his last four SHL games. This is new.

Raymond was sent down to junior for a game a couple weeks ago and didn't do anything except score in the shootout. After that he was back up for two SHL games in which he was the 13th forward and played less than five minutes. He was then returned to SuperElit and has two goals and three assists in his last two games.

Toros Neftekamsk was eliminated from VHL playoffs in game seven today, in a 3-2 loss. Amirov had an assist, played 16:00, good for fourth among team forwards, and had three shots, tied for most on the team.

Amirov's (and Mukhamadullin's) junior team, Tolpar, begins their playoffs March 9. Tolpar finished first in their conference and third place overall, so it could be a long playoff run, especially if they get their two best players back. Mukhamadullin has been mostly a healthy scratch so far for the KHL affiliate Salavat Ufa in their first round playoff matchup.

 

[beaniewong]

I think Braden Schneider is a good look with the Islanders pick if its between 14-20, surprisingly mobile, and can pinch and contribute while playing solid D minutes,

 

[ijif]

I think Braden Schneider is a good look with the Islanders pick if its between 14-20, surprisingly mobile, and can pinch and contribute while playing solid D minutes,

I'm not a fan of his breakout ability, probably won't have him in my first round.

 

[MatchesMalone]

I'm not a fan of his breakout ability, probably won't have him in my first round.

100% agree. Great defensive defenseman, but he makes some really bad decisions with the puck under pressure.

 

[Crosside]

Bondra do you think we have a chance to pick Barron , with the isles pick ? And do you? I hear he is faster and bigger and he have a hell of a game last night. He was the best on the ice

 

[RAFI BOMB]

So Alex Holtz has five hits in his last four SHL games. This is new.

Raymond was sent down to junior for a game a couple weeks ago and didn't do anything except score in the shootout. After that he was back up for two SHL games in which he was the 13th forward and played less than five minutes. He was then returned to SuperElit and has two goals and three assists in his last two games.

Toros Neftekamsk was eliminated from VHL playoffs in game seven today, in a 3-2 loss. Amirov had an assist, played 16:00, good for fourth among team forwards, and had three shots, tied for most on the team.

Amirov's (and Mukhamadullin's) junior team, Tolpar, begins their playoffs March 9. Tolpar finished first in their conference and third place overall, so it could be a long playoff run, especially if they get their two best players back. Mukhamadullin has been mostly a healthy scratch so far for the KHL affiliate Salavat Ufa in their first round playoff matchup.

How were those hits by Holtz? Were they big or punishing? I checked SHL stats and it looks like the top hitters in the league are only averaging 2 or less hits per game. I guess with the extra space hit totals would be lower. Are hits a good measure of physical play in the SHL or are there a lot of physical play that isnt classified as a hit by their definition?

 

[ijif]

100% agree. Great defensive defenseman, but he makes some really bad decisions with the puck under pressure.

Schneider or Guhle?

 

[MatchesMalone]

Schneider or Guhle?

Scheider. I like Guhle a lot more.

 

[MatchesMalone]

How were those hits by Holtz? Were they big or punishing? I checked SHL stats and it looks like the top hitters in the league are only averaging 2 or less hits per game. I guess with the extra space hit totals would be lower. Are hits a good measure of physical play in the SHL or are there a lot of physical play that isnt classified as a hit by their definition?

I didn't see any of his last few games. Just stat watching and thought it was curious.

I think I see what you're getting at, and I don't actually know what exactly gets tracked as a hit in SHL, but I can say that physical play is quite limited in SHL and most European leagues compared to the NHL - that is what we here typically call physical play. Of course there is playing the body, but I feel like the majority of "hits" in North America come around boards and especially in the corners, which isn't as prominent a thing in most European leagues. There is a bit more "physicality" in Finland because of the the hybrid ice, but I feel they still lean towards a European style of game. The one thing that consistently surprises me is the level of physicality in the KHL: much higher than the other European leagues. In the KHL some teams use 85 foot ice, some use wide and some use hybrid; and they have a lot of big defensemen over there.

One thing I'll say about Holtz is, coming into this season I was concerned about his urgency and willingness to get involved in puck battles. He's stepped up a lot in that regard since turning pro. I still wouldn't say he's a puck hound, and he loses a lot of battles at the pro level, but he's at least supporting pucks better and showing more urgency to engage loose pucks.

 

[RAFI BOMB]

I didn't see any of his last few games. Just stat watching and thought it was curious.

I think I see what you're getting at, and I don't actually know what exactly gets tracked as a hit in SHL, but I can say that physical play is quite limited in SHL and most European leagues compared to the NHL - that is what we here typically call physical play. Of course there is playing the body, but I feel like the majority of "hits" in North America come around boards and especially in the corners, which isn't as prominent a thing in most European leagues. There is a bit more "physicality" in Finland because of the the hybrid ice, but I feel they still lean towards a European style of game. The one thing that consistently surprises me is the level of physicality in the KHL: much higher than the other European leagues. In the KHL some teams use 85 foot ice, some use wide and some use hybrid; and they have a lot of big defensemen over there.

One thing I'll say about Holtz is, coming into this season I was concerned about his urgency and willingness to get involved in puck battles. He's stepped up a lot in that regard since turning pro. I still wouldn't say he's a puck hound, and he loses a lot of battles at the pro level, but he's at least supporting pucks better and showing more urgency to engage loose pucks.

Well one thing I was considering is that sometimes the definition of a hit only includes when a player is separated from the puck. With the amount of space in the SHL I could see there being something like late hits because as a player goes for a hit that player likely has enough space to get rid of the puck so I dont know if those hits are counted or not.

That is an interesting point about the KHL as I have noticed a fair amount of physicality in the MHL.

That is good to hear that Holfz is upping his intensity. I think it makes sense for this organization to focus on drafting players with high intensity and compete levels. Do you see Holtz loss of puck battles as a lack of effort or a lack of strength and physical maturity?

 

[RAFI BOMB]

Kyle Mandleur LW 6'6 245 lbs OA1 had 2 goals and 2 assists today. He might be worth a late round pick.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Kyle Mandleur LW 6'6 245 lbs OA1 had 2 goals and 2 assists today. He might be worth a late round pick.

Dose measurements