Prospect Info: 2021 NHL Draft Thread Vol. 1

[FLYguy3911]

Could he realistically fall to the Flyers?

Doubt it unless the injury or character questions are worse than some lead on.

 

[IronMarshal]

Lottery night. What if the Flyers win the lottery? Who do they take? Who would you take?
I'd be torn between a defenseman and a center. A center, like Beniers would replace Patrick if necessary and be a major building block to join youngsters like Farabee, Foerster, and Allison. But the team has the need of a number one defenseman, so is Powers, Hughes or te righthander Brandt a number 1? Do we take one of them?

 

[Rebels57]

Lottery night. What if the Flyers win the lottery? Who do they take? Who would you take?
I'd be torn between a defenseman and a center. A center, like Beniers would replace Patrick if necessary and be a major building block to join youngsters like Farabee, Foerster, and Allison. But the team has the need of a number one defenseman, so is Powers, Hughes or te righthander Brandt a number 1? Do we take one of them?

Well, we aren't going to win the Lottery, so I wouldn't stress too much over it. Realistically, whoever we end up drafting at 13 could end up better than whoever goes 1st overall anyway. This is possible in ever draft but especially so in this one one. Very odd draft.

 

[IronMarshal]

Well, we aren't going to win the Lottery, so I wouldn't stress too much over it. Realistically, whoever we end up drafting at 13 could end up better than whoever goes 1st overall anyway. This is possible in ever draft but especially so in this one one. Very odd draft.

Since there is no consensus "superstar" number one pick this year, the Flyers may very well win it, and pick a player who ends up being mediocre to solid and maybe the 6th best player or worse (remember JVR and Patrick). LOL

 

[FLYguy3911]

This is definitely the year the Flyers would win the lottery. No one is truly ready to play in the NHL next year but I'm sure Beniers and Power will if they go #1. Trade back is the easiest choice if a team falls in love with Power.

I have no interest in Power at the top. He's a top 10 player for me in this class because of his passing and overall skill package for a player his size, but I have serious reservations about his defensive game and impact off the puck.

Ironically, Beniers in an AV system kind of takes away one of his best attributes as a player and he's not the most naturally skilled player otherwise. I could be underrating his skill level and he's as safe as anyone in the draft, but he's just such an underwhelming 1-1 choice. I don't even think he was the most skilled player on his line (Kent Johnson was imo) but he's a much better all-around player. He was the only underager on that loaded '01 age group for the US, but he only played a depth role and didn't exactly light up his age group last year. USA didn't even think enough to put him on the PP at the WJCs as a top 6 player. I just have a hard time seeing a player with his profile becoming a true star. It's also hard to see him being much less than a plug-and-play 2C though in his prime which is a great outcome in this draft.

Clarke fits the organizational need better than anyone, but not sure he's a better prospect than Hughes. I can't get a good feel on his wheels and that bothers me. As smart and as skilled as anyone though. The track record is nearly flawless though and in a draft like this that cannot be understated. He's at least a year away from the NHL and historically defensemen taken high in the draft underperform their forward counterparts. Gun to my head he's probably my choice for the Flyers, but I can't definitively say he is the best.

Maybe Eklund is the most logical choice if you think he can play center. Even if you don't, he probably has to be in the running. Maybe he's this class' Pettersson - older, undersized prospect with huge production in his draft year against men (Pettersson played in the second tier). His production is right there with Backstrom (high end) and Lindholm (low end). Possession numbers were average this year fwiw. 52.5% on a team that was 52%. I don't think we are talking about a transcendent player here, but he may be the most skilled.

 

[Rebels57]

Since there is no consensus "superstar" number one pick this year, the Flyers may very well win it, and pick a player who ends up being mediocre to solid and maybe the 6th best player or worse (remember JVR and Patrick). LOL

I'd love it if Patrick were the 6th best player from the 2017 Draft. I'm not sure he's even Top 15 at this point. Might not be Top 20 when all is said and done.

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

Lottery night. What if the Flyers win the lottery? Who do they take? Who would you take?
I'd be torn between a defenseman and a center. A center, like Beniers would replace Patrick if necessary and be a major building block to join youngsters like Farabee, Foerster, and Allison. But the team has the need of a number one defenseman, so is Powers, Hughes or te righthander Brandt a number 1? Do we take one of them?

Thank God you finally got an avatar.

 

[IronMarshal]

Thank God you finally got an avatar.

LOL, I had to have my son make it. Years ago I had one or two that were basically "stolen" or one of the Stanley Cup group avatars we used to have. I wanted something to go with the IronMarshal name, so why not the real IronMarshal (which is where I picked the name from, based on a strong interests in all things Napoleon) with the Flyers emblem. My eldest son made it and added the crossed hockey sticks. My son does sports production so the avatar was easy for him to make. Being old, I am pretty feeble with this stuff. I spend a lot of time making school lesson on slides these days and that and running a spreadsheet is about it for me.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

Interesting guy here. Never looked up anything about him until this video.

 

[Rebels57]

Interesting guy here. Never looked up anything about him until this video.

I only like prospects if they don't have boring names. This is Jay O'Brien Part 2 and I don't want it.

 

[IronMarshal]

This is definitely the year the Flyers would win the lottery. No one is truly ready to play in the NHL next year but I'm sure Beniers and Power will if they go #1. Trade back is the easiest choice if a team falls in love with Power.

I have no interest in Power at the top. He's a top 10 player for me in this class because of his passing and overall skill package for a player his size, but I have serious reservations about his defensive game and impact off the puck.

Ironically, Beniers in an AV system kind of takes away one of his best attributes as a player and he's not the most naturally skilled player otherwise. I could be underrating his skill level and he's as safe as anyone in the draft, but he's just such an underwhelming 1-1 choice. I don't even think he was the most skilled player on his line (Kent Johnson was imo) but he's a much better all-around player. He was the only underager on that loaded '01 age group, but he only played a depth role and didn't exactly light up his age group last year. USA didn't even think enough to put him on the PP at the WJCs as a top 6 player. I just have a hard time seeing a player with his profile become a true star. It's also hard to see him being much less than a plug-and-play 2C though in his prime which is a great outcome in this draft.

Clarke fits the organizational need better than anyone, but not sure he's a better prospect than Hughes. I can't get a good feel on his wheels and that bothers me. As smart and as skilled as anyone though. The track record is nearly flawless though and in a draft like this that cannot be understated. He's at least a year away from the NHL and historically defensemen taken high in the draft underperform their forward counterparts. Gun to my head he's probably my choice for the Flyers, but I can't definitively say he is the best.

Maybe Eklund is the most logical choice if you think he can play center. Even if you don't, he probably has to be in the running. Maybe he's this class' Pettersson - older, undersized prospect with huge production in his draft year against men (Pettersson played in the second tier). His production is right there with Backstrom (high end) and Lindholm (low end). Possession numbers were average this year fwiw. 52.5% on a team that was 52%. I don't think we are talking about a transcendent player here, but he may be the most skilled.

Personally I lean towards Clarke for the need, and because he has a great deal of skill and smarts. I am not as concerned as I used to be about his skating. I think he looks awkward but seems pretty nimble and quick despite the awkwardness. I like his game, size, and smarts.
I like Hughes about the same as Clarke. His skating is beautiful, and we could use him on the backend. I think he will be a much better player than Provorov is now. I ma not sure how much offense he has, certainly not like Quinn, but he is probably far better defensively than Quinn, and his offense should be pretty good with room to grow. I understand the infatuation with Powers, but really am of the same mind as you are regarding him. He is probably a first pair guy, but probably not elite like say, Hedman.

I really like Beniers. I know he is a safe pick, but I like his upside. I think he is no worse than a good number two, certainly better than Hayes (who despite his rough injury induced year and puck hogging is a pretty useful player, probably a low second line, high third line guy), with the upside of a solid number 1. I know he doesn't flash, but he seems hyper competitive, very good on his sates and smart.

 

[TheKingPin]

This draft seems like a lot of mediocre. Nothing special. I hope they get a # 1 center type. Sounds like that could mean going off the board.

 

[TheKingPin]

Well, we aren't going to win the Lottery, so I wouldn't stress too much over it. Realistically, whoever we end up drafting at 13 could end up better than whoever goes 1st overall anyway. This is possible in ever draft but especially so in this one one. Very odd draft.

Literally, probably not. But when the worst team also probably will not win and only has 16% chance to win it makes you feel better.

But yea this seems like the biggest crap shoot of a draft. Maybe we stay put and get a undervalued EP type.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Personally I lean towards Clarke for the need, and because he has a great deal of skill and smarts. I am not as concerned as I used to be about his skating. I think he looks awkward but seems pretty nimble and quick despite the awkwardness. I like his game, size, and smarts.
I like Hughes about the same as Clarke. His skating is beautiful, and we could use him on the backend. I think he will be a much better player than Provorov is now. I ma not sure how much offense he has, certainly not like Quinn, but he is probably far better defensively than Quinn, and his offense should be pretty good with room to grow. I understand the infatuation with Powers, but really am of the same mind as you are regarding him. He is probably a first pair guy, but probably not elite like say, Hedman.

I really like Beniers. I know he is a safe pick, but I like his upside. I think he is no worse than a good number two, certainly better than Hayes (who despite his rough injury induced year and puck hogging is a pretty useful player, probably a low second line, high third line guy), with the upside of a solid number 1. I know he doesn't flash, but he seems hyper competitive, very good on his sates and smart.

Clarke's skating is good enough and should improve as he matures, even if I get over the awkwardness, it feels like he only has one gear. I rarely see an explosive burst and it feels like he's not as always threatening as a puck carrier as he could be. I'm nitpicking because he's a top prospect, but Hughes does have that second and third gear and if he turns out to be the better player, that is probably the reason why.

I actually think Hughes is much better offensively than he is defensively at this stage. He doesn't have the give-and-go game in his bag like Quinn does but maybe that comes with playing with better players at the pro level. He can just make so many plays with his feet though. He had a point on almost 20% of the NTDP's ES goals playing mostly on his off side.

Shares pretty good company too:

York played on a powerhouse team. If you adjust for teammates, Hughes had the better offensive season. And he was 8 months younger.

 

[Angry Hockey Dad]

Lottery night! Let’s hope they can weasel their way to a top 10 pick. Lord knows we need some draft karma

 

[Magua]

Luke Hughes reminds me of Sanheim in his skating and stickhandling. If that wasn’t bad enough, we need defensemen who can actually play defense. York and Provy have the offense handled.

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

Hayes (who despite his rough injury induced year and puck hogging is a pretty useful player, probably a low second line, high third line guy)

No.

 

[Larry44]

LOL, I had to have my son make it. Years ago I had one or two that were basically "stolen" or one of the Stanley Cup group avatars we used to have. I wanted something to go with the IronMarshal name, so why not the real IronMarshal (which is where I picked the name from, based on a strong interests in all things Napoleon) with the Flyers emblem. My eldest son made it and added the crossed hockey sticks. My son does sports production so the avatar was easy for him to make. Being old, I am pretty feeble with this stuff. I spend a lot of time making school lesson on slides these days and that and running a spreadsheet is about it for me.

My son, 13, made mine too after seeing the previous one I'd done. He even thought up the 'Sad since 1975' tag. Frickin' Lightning fans...

 

[Larry44]

Clarke's skating is good enough and should improve as he matures, even if I get over the awkwardness, it feels like he only has one gear. I rarely see an explosive burst and it feels like he's not as always threatening as a puck carrier as he could be. I'm nitpicking because he's a top prospect, but Hughes does have that second and third gear and if he turns out to be the better player, that is probably the reason why.

I actually think Hughes is much better offensively than he is defensively at this stage. He doesn't have the give-and-go game in his bag like Quinn does but maybe that comes with playing with better players at the pro level. He can just make so many plays with his feet though. He had a point on almost 20% of the NTDP's ES goals playing mostly on his off side.

Shares pretty good company too:

View attachment 442272

York played on a powerhouse team. If you adjust for teammates, Hughes had the better offensive season. And he was 8 months younger.

I prefer to think that York was the reason it was a powerhouse team!

 

[TheKingPin]

I prefer to think that York was the reason it was a powerhouse team!

He will be broken, no worries. His smooth transitions will be hammered out of him before the season hopefully.

 

[FLYguy3911]

I prefer to think that York was the reason it was a powerhouse team!

Ha. Didn't mean it like that. I'm a York fan. Just providing context. He was the best defensemen on that team by a mile and was skilled enough to keep up with Jack Hughes and Caufield on the PP.

 

[Ghosts Beer]

There are some guys with absolutely lethal quick-release shots in this draft, particularly McTavish & Sillinger, with Lucius right there as well.

I think Brandt Clarke is the best player in the draft, with Luke Hughes 2nd.

 

[wasup]

Luke Hughes reminds me of Sanheim in his skating and stickhandling. If that wasn’t bad enough, we need defensemen who can actually play defense. York and Provy have the offense handled.

What is your opinion on Carson Lambos . He has dropped cause he had to leave Finland come home and get an operation for an health related problem .

 

[CapnZin]

Who are some late round targets that may not have had much hype or exposure due to the hockey environment this year?

 

[Prongo]

I hope we win #1 overall then trade it immediately to Buffalo.