Prospect Info: 2022 Draft Prospects, Part II

[Eggtimer]

Smart or stupid - If Slafkovsky Jiricek ame Nemerc are fone by our pick, we trade it for a goalie. Only if it’s for someone like a Hellebuyck .
Beey unlikely we miss out on all those three a d very unlikely Hellebuyck type is available bit just curious if the remainimg prospects in the draft are worth it for us to pass on for a stud goalie. There would still be some stud prospects left amd can’t see passing up a top 5/6 pick on a goalie ? Unless the Devils think whatever goalie is offered is more of a need than whoever the hell they have next on their draft board .

 

[StevenToddIves]

2022 Draft Profile:

C/RW Hunter Haight, Barrie OHL
Hunter Haight has gotten a great deal of respect leading up to the 2022 draft -- his consensus ranking is probably around the mid-2nd round and he's even garnered a 1st round ranking (#29, Eliteprospects). He's a two-way center who skates very well and displays high intelligence and awareness in all three zones, which scouts love. But he's also under-sized at 5'10-170 and lacking elite skating or production (21 goals and 37 points in 55 games), which has other scouts still a bit skeptical.

Haight's most notable attribute has to be his extremely high hockey IQ. He plays with confidence and always wants the puck on his stick. His terrific anticipation usually gives him a jump in puck races, and his excellent edges and agility get him where he's going quickly and deftly. Once he has the puck, Haight is sneaky, elusive and always thinking several steps ahead of the play. My concern in terms of offensive ceiling is that he may be one of those players whose brain is ahead of his body. Haight is a good passer, puck handler and shooter but he's not exactly elite in any of those respects, so often the great plays he is attempting can fall a bit short of fruition.

One has to really like the way Haight sees the ice and how hard he works. But physical strength will need to be addressed, especially if he is to remain at center. Not for lack of effort, but Haight is often outmuscled for pucks. He's one of those offensive weapons who excels in space, but has difficulty producing in tighter areas. As such, we'd probably necessitate capping his ceiling as a 2nd line forward. However, his intelligence, two-way play and effort levels give him a higher floor than most offense-first, undersized forwards -- Hunter Haight can also make it on an NHL bottom six due to these fine traits.

In full candor, as much as I like this player, I cannot for the life of me understand giving him a first-round ranking. However, he is certainly an intriguing prospect worth attention on Day 2 of the draft. I'd certainly be looking at him from the late 3rd to 4th rounds, but due to some inordinately high rankings, we'd have to assume Hunter Haight will be gone by that point.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Smart or stupid - If Slafkovsky Jiricek ame Nemerc are fone by our pick, we trade it for a goalie. Only if it’s for someone like a Hellebuyck .
Beey unlikely we miss out on all those three a d very unlikely Hellebuyck type is available bit just curious if the remainimg prospects in the draft are worth it for us to pass on for a stud goalie. There would still be some stud prospects left amd can’t see passing up a top 5/6 pick on a goalie ? Unless the Devils think whatever goalie is offered is more of a need than whoever the hell they have next on their draft board .

Winnipeg wouldn't do this.

The Devils will likely have one final chance to build for the core with a top 10 pick, and as such I do not see the Devils trading it away. I think if Slafkovsky, Jiricek and Nemec are gone, the Devils take Cutter Gauthier and walk away from the podium with big smiles.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2022 Draft Profile:

LW Beau Jelsma, Barrie OHL
Beau Jelsma is the type of player who plays an old-school power forward game with every iota of his ability, except for the fact that he's a bit undersized at 5'10-170. Though this inhibits his ability to impact the game like a big-bodied player of the same style, it also makes him a terrific sleeper for the later rounds of the draft. Especially when we also factor in that Jelsma is a pretty skilled kid who can score, plays a very good two-way game and is an absolute terror on the forecheck.

Jelsma has been mostly overlooked in the skating community, probably not just because he's undersized for his particular style, but also because he lacks a singular, standout tool. It's important to add that this is mitigated by the fact Jelsma also lacks any discernible weakness. Jelsma is a pretty good skater with very good intelligence. He shoots well, knows how to find the soft spots to open himself up for a shot, and shoots the puck well without being any kind of high-end sniper. He's smart, efficient and accurate in the passing game, though lacking high-end creativity or vision. He handles the puck well.

Jelsma is a package of pretty-good tools which all come together under the very shiny ribbon of an outstanding compete level. This kid is all over the ice every shift. He's a forechecking beast, he crashes the crease, he hits everything in sight. He's the first kid back on the back check and works his tail off defensively. He's certainly liked and relied on by his coaching staff, and his energy is infectious for his teammates.

I've seen Jelsma with one inordinately high ranking -- #57 overall by Eliteprospects. Outside of that bureau, I'd say he's seen as a 4th/5th round pick. It's important to note Jelsma is not a line-driver, but it's equally important to note he's a guy you can probably slot up the line-up to energize whatever line he plays on. Though he's more of the mucker when playing with more skilled linemates, this is a kid who can produce, as evidenced by a very impressive 26 goals in 60 OHL games. Beau Jelsma is not a player I would recommend reaching for as early as Eliteprospects suggests, but he's an outstanding, high-floor pick for the 4th round, a player with a high probability of playing an extremely effective role for an NHL bottom 6 with the potential to slot up the line-up in a pinch.

 

[Buck Dancer]

Smart or stupid - If Slafkovsky Jiricek ame Nemerc are fone by our pick, we trade it for a goalie. Only if it’s for someone like a Hellebuyck .
Beey unlikely we miss out on all those three a d very unlikely Hellebuyck type is available bit just curious if the remainimg prospects in the draft are worth it for us to pass on for a stud goalie. There would still be some stud prospects left amd can’t see passing up a top 5/6 pick on a goalie ? Unless the Devils think whatever goalie is offered is more of a need than whoever the hell they have next on their draft board .

If the name of that goalie isn’t Thatcher Demko, I’m picking a prospect with our 1st round pick. We’ve been this far in our rebuild by not doing any type of knee jerk moves and since I think we’ll be picking out of the top #10 for hopefully a long time, I wouldn’t move this pick for nothing less than a massive haul.

This idea that Mackenzie Blackwood is now a borderline bum is flawed. We need to bring in a guy who can split games 50/50 instead of moving valuable assets for a #1 goaltender in his late 20’s or early 30’s.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

13 games left (26 points)

1- MTL, -5 points
2- ARI, -5 points
3- SEA, -4 points
4- NJD
5- PHI, +1 point
6- OTT, +2 points, -1 game(68GP)
7- CHI, +5 points, +1 game(70GP)
8- BUF, +7 points, +1 game
9- DET, +7 points

One thing of note is that we probably have one of the easier if not the easiest remaining schedule of these teams. 7 of our last 13 are against these teams. We play all 3 of the bottom teams in the next 12 days. That being said if we lose those games we could drop pretty quick. It seems unlikely that we catch Buffalo or Detroit at this point unless we turn things around and finish really strong.

 

[StevenToddIves]

13 games left (26 points)

1- MTL, -5 points
2- ARI, -5 points
3- SEA, -4 points
4- NJD
5- PHI, +1 point
6- OTT, +2 points, -1 game(68GP)
7- CHI, +5 points, +1 game(70GP)
8- BUF, +7 points, +1 game
9- DET, +7 points

One thing of note is that we probably have one of the easier if not the easiest remaining schedule of these teams. 7 of our last 13 are against these teams. We play all 3 of the bottom teams in the next 12 days. That being said if we lose those games we could drop pretty quick. It seems unlikely that we catch Buffalo or Detroit at this point unless we turn things around and finish really strong.

If Hughes is injured, the Devils can lose to anyone.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2022 Draft Profile:

LD Michael Buchinger, Guelph OHL
Buchinger is a 6'0-185, offense-first blueliner who has made a sneaky climb up draft boards all season long behind some outstanding production in Guelph. The Markham, Ontario native has tallied 42 points in 57 games thus far to lead a talented Storm blueline in scoring. Buchinger lacks a singular standout skill which would see him drafted in the 1st round, but he's also pretty solid defensively and is a very likely pick in the 2nd, where most of his consensus rankings find him.

Buchinger is a very strong skater in every respect -- top speeds, acceleration and 4-way mobility. His speed plays up because he has very strong positioning and anticipation and usually finds himself with the head start of being in the right place to begin with. With the puck on his stick, he's extremely smart and efficient without being necessarily dynamic. Buchinger is a strong passer, puck handler and puck rusher. What I really like about his play with the puck is that he sort of always starts with the Plan A of making a play to generate offense. He'll start creative, looking for a window for a stretch pass or a puck rush. But unlike many young offense-first defensemen -- Buchinger doesn't press the issue. If his Plan A is not there, he is perfectly fine switching to a safer Plan B of chipping the puck up the boards or out of danger.

I found Buchinger to be a responsible defender who is good on gaps and awareness. He's steady with the puck and cerebral without it. Buchinger is not a physical defender, but he's no slouch in puck battles and board battles. I don't foresee him every being a true shut-down guy, but the potential is there for a bottom four player who produces offensively without dazzling you, while also playing good, steady defense. If there's a weakness, it's probably Buchinger's shot, which is more functional than a weapon.

I'm not sure I'd draft Michael Buchinger at the top of the 2nd round, when there are some high-end players available who slip through the 1st. But heading towards the end of the 2nd round and into the 3rd, this is a terrific pick. Buchinger's high IQ gives him a high floor, and he's impressive on both sides of the puck. This is a very good young defenseman.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2022 Draft Profile:

C/LW Jake Karabela, Guelph OHL
Karabela started the 2021-22 season on a tear which had many thinking he could work his way up to the 2nd round conversation. The local Guelph product cooled as the season wore on, and it leads to the question of why. If he's had health issues, they haven't been serious enough to miss time on the ice. Perhaps it's due to his lack of a palpable role, as his coaches use him as a bit of a Swiss-army knife, switching him from line to line and from center to wing. Karabela's overall production stands as solid, with 44 points in 62 games.

There are many things Karabela does well. He's a very good skater who shows playmaking ability and excels in the face-off circle. He is capable on the power play and the penalty kill, and he is very good in transition. He's a decent puck handler, though not a true dangler. Karabela's shot has potential but needs work -- it's heavy, but the accuracy and the release both need to be cleaned up.

There are certain frustrating inconsistencies in Karabela's game. His effort level seems to be a bit volatile -- one game he'll look like a high-motor guy, the next game he'll look like he's leaving something on the ice every shift. In the defensive zone, it's maddeningly similar. He has struck me as a forward with high defensive potential and a forward who can be a defensive liability at different points in different games.

I'd estimate Karabela's consensus ranking to be in the 4th-6th round range. He's a bit of a wishing-well pick, because if you get the Karabela from the opening month of the season, you're getting a steal that late. But the opposite side of the coin comes with some concern, so you're going to have to cross your fingers there is some ulterior reason for his inconsistencies throughout the season.

 

[Hisch13r]

 

[StevenToddIves]

Thanks for posting this. I really like Elite, especially Cam Robinson who is among the best in the business. Great video.

 

[BurntToast]

@StevenToddIves

I know you have a preference: Nemec vs Jiricek, but why? They seem interchangeable.. Nemec is might be better defensively? But Jiricek is meaner?

 

[StevenToddIves]

@StevenToddIves

I know you have a preference: Nemec vs Jiricek, but why? They seem interchangeable.. Nemec is might be better defensively? But Jiricek is meaner?

Jiricek has more upside and is more physical. Nemec is better at playmaking and with the puck. Jiricek has the best shot of any D in the draft, while Nemec's shot is just okay. But Nemec is stronger in transition. These are both outstanding young defensemen, and choosing one does not mean not being very high on the other.

I feel if they both approach their talent ceiling, Nemec will be a terrific two-way guy who is a beast in transition and piles up huge assist totals every year. He'll be an all-situations guy a coach will count on for heavy minutes, game in and game out. He'll be a player you can pair with any type of LD and Nemec will make his partner better, because he can adjust to offensive or defensive situations on the fly.

Jiricek has rarer upside, though he's further from it. I'm not sure who to compare him to, but he has some Byfuglien-esque elements to his game. He'll be a physical shut-down beast who will keep softer forwards on the perimeter. And he will also accumulate points, while his howitzer shot is a constant concern for opposing defenses. He can be the trigger-man on the PP and he has the smarts and mobility to play on the PK.

Essentially, I think Nemec can be an all-star -- a 50+ point D who is very good in his own zone, as well. But I prefer Jiricek because his ceiling is simply extraordinary -- just a thunderbolt of a defenseman in both the offensive and defensive zones. The idea of pairing a player of his skill set alongside Luke Hughes (for a decade!) has to be terrifying for the opposition. Whereas Nemec is smooth and skilled and efficient, Jiricek is downright scary. My biggest fear come draft day is actually that he goes to Philadelphia, because this is not the type of player you want on your rival.

 

[Guttersniped]

Jiricek has more upside and is more physical. Nemec is better at playmaking and with the puck. Jiricek has the best shot of any D in the draft, while Nemec's shot is just okay. But Nemec is stronger in transition. These are both outstanding young defensemen, and choosing one does not mean not being very high on the other.

I feel if they both approach their talent ceiling, Nemec will be a terrific two-way guy who is a beast in transition and piles up huge assist totals every year. He'll be an all-situations guy a coach will count on for heavy minutes, game in and game out. He'll be a player you can pair with any type of LD and Nemec will make his partner better, because he can adjust to offensive or defensive situations on the fly.

Jiricek has rarer upside, though he's further from it. I'm not sure who to compare him to, but he has some Byfuglien-esque elements to his game. He'll be a physical shut-down beast who will keep softer forwards on the perimeter. And he will also accumulate points, while his howitzer shot is a constant concern for opposing defenses. He can be the trigger-man on the PP and he has the smarts and mobility to play on the PK.

Essentially, I think Nemec can be an all-star -- a 50+ point D who is very good in his own zone, as well. But I prefer Jiricek because his ceiling is simply extraordinary -- just a thunderbolt of a defenseman in both the offensive and defensive zones. The idea of pairing a player of his skill set alongside Luke Hughes (for a decade!) has to be terrifying for the opposition. Whereas Nemec is smooth and skilled and efficient, Jiricek is downright scary. My biggest fear come draft day is actually that he goes to Philadelphia, because this is not the type of player you want on your rival.

I think Philly might take a center, it seems like a bigger need after their recent pick-up and picks. (I’m bad at mock drafts though, so there’s that.)

 

[Hisch13r]

I think Philly might take a center, it seems like a bigger need after their recent pick-up and picks. (I’m bad at mock drafts though, so there’s that.)

Hopefully things stay the way they are right now and we don’t even have to worry. I’d feel pretty confident in a top 3 of Wright to Montreal, Cooley to Arizona, and Slafkovsky to Seattle which leaves Jiricek for us. Then Philly can go with Geekie lol

 

[StevenToddIves]

I think Philly might take a center, it seems like a bigger need after their recent pick-up and picks. (I’m bad at mock drafts though, so there’s that.)

The Flyers current management looooves big, physical D-men. They are extremely thin organizationally at RD right now -- maybe the thinnest in the entire NHL -- with just Ristolainen at the NHL level and only one legit prospect in Ronnie Attard (whom I like, but his upside is mid-pairing).

Philadelphia also certainly needs to draft for center, as their only prospect of note is Elliot Desnoyers (whom you might recall my writing up as one of the best sleepers for the 2020 draft and a guy we passed on for *cough cough* Artem Shlaine). Desnoyers is a very nice prospect with middle six upside and a high floor as a bottom six stud (which is just above Shlaine's upside). But at the professional level, they have both Couturier and Hayes signed for the foreseeable future, so there is less desperation there. We also need to keep in mind that, once Wright and Cooley are gone, the next best center is going to be considered wide open, with many questions to be asked. Is Savoie strong enough to stay up the middle? Is Geekie a top 10 pick? Is Lambert a RW? Is McGroarty a good enough skater? Will Kasper produce enough offense?

It is for those reasons I feel Philadelphia will certainly have great interest in Jiricek or Nemec, especially Jiricek.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Hopefully things stay the way they are right now and we don’t even have to worry. I’d feel pretty confident in a top 3 of Wright to Montreal, Cooley to Arizona, and Slafkovsky to Seattle which leaves Jiricek for us. Then Philly can go with Geekie lol

Yup, that's what I've got.

But for reasons I've explained above, I think Philly takes Jiricek over Geekie 100 times out of 100. The team which can surprise with a Geekie pick (and if I recall we've discussed this and essentially agreed upon it) is Ottawa.

As you know, I study all the team's draft tendencies and organizational needs. This does not make my sort of wild speculating 100% accurate of course, but it's better than throwing darts. I think we can all agree that, as much as Ottawa needs a center before any other position in the 2022 draft, they're not taking Savoie in the top 7.

 

[Hisch13r]

Yup, that's what I've got.

But for reasons I've explained above, I think Philly takes Jiricek over Geekie 100 times out of 100. The team which can surprise with a Geekie pick (and if I recall we've discussed this and essentially agreed upon it) is Ottawa.

As you know, I study all the team's draft tendencies and organizational needs. This does not make my sort of wild speculating 100% accurate of course, but it's better than throwing darts. I think we can all agree that, as much as Ottawa needs a center before any other position in the 2022 draft, they're not taking Savoie in the top 7.

I don’t really think Ottawa needs a center high. I believe they’ve had Stutzle at center all year and he’s been far better than he was at wing. Stutzle/Norris as your top 2 centers is really good

 

[StevenToddIves]

I don’t really think Ottawa needs a center high. I believe they’ve had Stutzle at center all year and he’s been far better than he was at wing. Stutzle/Norris as your top 2 centers is really good

That's a good point. Ottawa could also use some more depth at RD. But I'm skeptical at pointing them towards Jiricek, because there is no more jingoistic front office in the NHL and this is not a team which trusts high picks to Eastern Europeans. Maybe they'll trade us their top 10 pick straight up for Chase Stillman.

 

[BurntToast]

@StevenToddIves

Jiricek sounds like a lot like Scott Stevens..

1982 NHL Entry Draft -- Scott Stevens

www.hockeydraftcentral.com

 

[Oneiro]

Steven's read on Nemec and Jiricek is essentially my takeaway from viewing those same highlight videos as everyone else. Almost feels like a Clarke vs. L. Hughes thing again.

Less volatility vs. absurd potential.

 

[Hisch13r]

Steven's read on Nemec and Jiricek is essentially my takeaway from viewing those same highlight videos as everyone else. Almost feels like a Clarke vs. L. Hughes thing again.

Less volatility vs. absurd potential.

I’ve heard people say Jiricek has the higher ceiling and higher floor.

 

[Oneiro]

I’ve heard people say Jiricek has the higher ceiling and higher floor.

I don't know...I guess his skating is good for his size but still needs work. His edgework is a little suspect to me. I'd also say he's a very reactive, high energy player, which I respect but seems tougher to get away with at the next level. If Jiricek puts it all together, that's a unique beast.

Nemec looks like a guy that might get me to trade Severson this summer. But I'm partial to a more patient game.

 

[StevenToddIves]

@StevenToddIves

Jiricek sounds like a lot like Scott Stevens..

1982 NHL Entry Draft -- Scott Stevens

www.hockeydraftcentral.com

I'm old enough to remember Stevens, and he was completely a rare player. Just ask Lindros. I'd say Byfuglien would be a comparable I'm more comfortable with, although Byfuglien might have been the strongest NHLer I'd seen since Pronger and Stevens in their primes.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I’ve heard people say Jiricek has the higher ceiling and higher floor.

As I keep saying, I have a definitive preference for Jiricek. But if Jiricek is gone, Nemec has to be seen as a great pick for NJ -- he'd immediately become the most talented RD ever drafted by the Devils organization in their 40-year history.