NHL Entry Draft 2022 NHL Draft Thread - Part 2

[dumbdick]

I would say, its not even just this year they will stay away from Russians. They haven't drafted a Russian out of Russia in almost 20 years I think. (Sokolov had been in Canada for like 4 years when we drafted him)

I wonder if that will change now that Eug is gone?

With him being Ukranian, I feel like he probably had some not-so-warm feelings about that country even before this latest war started. And Eug seemed kooky enough to direct the GM never to draft them on principle.

 

[BondraTime]

I wonder if that will change now that Eug is gone?

With him being Ukranian, I feel like he probably had some not-so-warm feelings about that country even before this latest war started. And Eug seemed kooky enough to direct the GM never to draft them on principle.

We’ve traded for, drafted and signed 5 Russians in the past few years.

We just haven’t scouted the area, we don’t have a Russian Scout.

 

[Hale The Villain]

I think it will come down to one of the following at 7:

Kemell
Gauthier
Jiriceck

From Pronman, there is smoke that Gautheir may go top 5, which is not surprising given his combination of size and tools.

Other than a RD, Kemell just seems like the biggest win for the Sens. He is a skilled, play driving forward that may only be available at 7, because an injury impacted his play and cooled down his insane production/ He had a very Sens like injury this season with a shoulder keeping him out for a few weeks. If wasn't for the injury, he might have solidified himself as a guaranteed top 5 pick. The team needs to add another right handed skill player to the mix; Batherson (and maybe Pinto) can't be the only righty that make a play. He may also even challenge for a spot as soon next year with a successful year of pro hockey already under his belt, but most likely he will need a year in Belleville to acclimatize to NA hockey.

Jiricek probably doesn't last until 7.

​

Kemell has an elite shot but little else. Not a high-end thinker, puckhandler or playmaker. Plays on the edge but at his size it'll just lead to injury and he may be better off not trying to throw his small frame around as much as he does. Love the competitiveness though and I'm sure the Sens staff will too.

I also don't like drafting pure snipers in general because shot power is one of the easiest skills to improve, while it's far more difficult to develop the other offensive skills that make players develop into stars.

Lekkerimaki is much more impressive IMO if we're looking for a RW.

 

[bert]

I would say, its not even just this year they will stay away from Russians. They haven't drafted a Russian out of Russia in almost 20 years I think. (Sokolov had been in Canada for like 4 years when we drafted him)

Yeah they dont have anyone over there scouting lol.

 

[edguy]

I wonder if that will change now that Eug is gone?

With him being Ukranian, I feel like he probably had some not-so-warm feelings about that country even before this latest war started. And Eug seemed kooky enough to direct the GM never to draft them on principle.

I mean I'd think his daughters would probably hold similar feelings, especially given whats going on now. A new owner though and things will likely change

 

[DaveMatthew]

I'd expect teams to avoid players playing in Russia this draft. Most teams like to keep close tabs on their prospects, especially those taken in the first couple of rounds, and who knows what type of access they'll have given the situation there.

Not going to be easy, cheap, and potentially safe, for Westerners to get over to Russia in the short-term.

 

[Mingus Dew]

Are the "complications" around Yurov solely related to the war in Ukraine? Or is there something else going on there?

Seems like a market disadvantage that someone can pounce on, that.

 

[aragorn]

Not a fan of Kemell?

I have him behind Nazar on my own list, but I also think he could go ahead of where we pick. I agree with @HaleTheVillain with his report on Kemell & Lekkerimaki, above.

 

[aragorn]

From this I think you could almost narrow it down to Gauthier or Lekkerimaki . One of those will be there and you have them both over Nazar. Although I think Yurov would be a worthy pick .. I think the Sens will stay clear of drafting a comparable Russian that early this year. Jiricek is almost certainly gone imo but if not he would be the BPA.

Agreed, I really think it will come down to one of those two (Gauthier or Lekkerimaki) depending if the other guys are gone & who could drop to us.

Are the "complications" around Yurov solely related to the war in Ukraine? Or is there something else going on there?

Seems like a market disadvantage that someone can pounce on, that.

I think so, I'm not sure if that will make a difference or not regarding drafting Russians, IMO it will probably come down to who they like best. There are plenty of Russians in the NHL, AHL & CHL.

 

[Sens in Process]

Kemell has an elite shot but little else. Not a high-end thinker, puckhandler or playmaker. Plays on the edge but at his size it'll just lead to injury and he may be better off not trying to throw his small frame around as much as he does. Love the competitiveness though and I'm sure the Sens staff will too.

I also don't like drafting pure snipers in general because shot power is one of the easiest skills to improve, while it's far more difficult to develop the other offensive skills that make players develop into stars.

Lekkerimaki is much more impressive IMO if we're looking for a RW.

I actually think Lekkerimaki is the less dynamic player, having less facets to his game than Kemell. Kemell is shooter, but he has some adept hands and passing skills. He often was focal point of the PP, as an 18 year old, on his Finnish Pro team, getting a lot of touches and moving the puck around. Kemell has a tenacity to his game as well and even gets to the front of the net. Lekkermaki strikes me as more of of one dimensional player, with everything revolving around his tendency toward perimeter shooting. He doesn't work his way into the high danger scoring areas. He is a good passer, but not super creative.

Kemell for me, I probably like Kaspar more than Lekkermaki.

 

[GCK]

It would be prudent not to get too attached to any of the names who could be had at 7.

 

[Micklebot]

It would be prudent not to get too attached to any of the names who could be had at 7.

Learned that lesson with 10OA...

I didn't think there was any chance I'd be disappointed with the available names at 10. When we picked Boucher it just came out of nowhere for me.

 

[GCK]

Learned that lesson with 10OA...

I didn't think there was any chance I'd be disappointed with the available names at 10. When we picked Boucher it just came out of nowhere for me.

Dorion pretty much telegraphed he is using the pick in a trade.

 

[Micklebot]

Dorion pretty much telegraphed he is using the pick in a trade.

Well, another team has to be willing, we've seen some telegraphing of a potential trade in the past too that never materialized, but yeah, there's a good chance we trade it which I'm fine with.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I actually think Lekkerimaki is the less dynamic player, having less facets to his game than Kemell. Kemell is shooter, but he has some adept hands and passing skills. He often was focal point of the PP, as an 18 year old, on his Finnish Pro team, getting a lot of touches and moving the puck around. Kemell has a tenacity to his game as well and even gets to the front of the net. Lekkermaki strikes me as more of of one dimensional player, with everything revolving around his tendency toward perimeter shooting. He doesn't work his way into the high danger scoring areas. He is a good passer, but not super creative.

Kemell for me, I probably like Kaspar than Lekkermaki.

I like Lekkerimaki. I disagreee on the one dimensional comment. He has shown a lot of growth. The U18s are a good example and he doesn't turn 18 until July and he is a riser in the draft.
I like Kemell and Kaspar as well. I'd be happy with any of them but I would take Lekkerimaki and Kasper over Kemell gun to my head but they are all close to me.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Dorion pretty much telegraphed he is using the pick in a trade.

7OA will be in play. Can he make a deal that makes it worth moving while not subtracting good pieces from your roster?

 

[GCK]

7OA will be in play. Can he make a deal that makes it worth moving while not subtracting good pieces from your roster?

I have no doubt 7OA is going out, I am concerned what goes with it and what comes back. I really don’t want Fiala.

 

[edguy]

I have no doubt 7OA is going out, I am concerned what goes with it and what comes back. I really don’t want Fiala.

Im not as convinced it is. I think they are gonna fall in love with a prospect and have to have them at 7oa

We can use 2nds and prospects like Kleven/Jarventie to grab an established forward (obviously not gonna be a bonafide top 6 guy, but a middle six guy like Connor Brown)

 

[GCK]

Im not as convinced it is. I think they are gonna fall in love with a prospect and have to have them at 7oa

We can use 2nds and prospects like Kleven/Jarventie to grab an established forward (obviously not gonna be a bonafide top 6 guy, but a middle six guy like Connor Brown)

Dorion knows he’s on death row, he’s going to make moves.

 

[R2010]

Learned that lesson with 10OA...

I didn't think there was any chance I'd be disappointed with the available names at 10. When we picked Boucher it just came out of nowhere for me.

Very clearly was the year we should have traded the pick. This year we'll trade the pick when we should keep it. We probably could have had Seattle Pick a player of our choosing from our team and send us a decent player for that pick.

 

[Samsquanch]

I have no doubt 7OA is going out, I am concerned what goes with it and what comes back. I really don’t want Fiala.

An extended Fiala is a grand-slam if its even slightly possible for the Senators to pull off.

I understand that this would be the Sens "all in" move akin to the Tavares signing in TO when we consider who else needs to be signed still- but Fiala isnt a UFA, he is just peaking now. He was a 23yr old who lead his team in scoring 2 years ago. The Sens wont be paying for a plateaued 28/29yr old thats starting on the back nine of their career.

Hes good to go now, and still will be for at least another 4 or 5 seasons. Probably even more.

Think about it, what other star winger in his young prime is available for the Senators to add now or anytime in the foreseeable future? How many will extended in Ottawa if traded there as an RFA?

This is a damn unique situation the Sens need to jump on (assuming its not even a pure fantasy). Fiala doesnt come with the usual warts and question marks that come along with a player of his age/caliber hat comes available. Theres no baggage at all, pure cap move for the Wild.

And if he works wonders with Kaprizov, then its not hard to imagine it working well with Stutzle either.

 

[GCK]

An extended Fiala is a grand-slam if its even slightly possible for the Senators to pull off.

I understand that this would be the Sens "all in" move akin to the Tavares signing in TO when we consider who else needs to be signed still- but Fiala isnt a UFA, he is just peaking now. He was a 23yr old who lead his team in scoring 2 years ago. The Sens wont be paying for a plateaued 28/29yr old thats starting on the back nine of their career.

Hes good to go now, and still will be for at least another 4 or 5 seasons. Probably even more.

Think about it, what other star winger in his young prime is available for the Senators to add now or anytime in the foreseeable future? How many will extended in Ottawa if traded there as an RFA?

This is a damn unique situation the Sens need to jump on (assuming its not even a pure fantasy). Fiala doesnt come with the usual warts and question marks that come along with a player of his age/caliber hat comes available. Theres no baggage at all, pure cap move for the Wild.

And if he works wonders with Kaprizov, then its not hard to imagine it working well with Stutzle either.

Use 7OA and a young D to get Chykrun while dumping Zaitsev and get in order of preference Giroux, Palat, Smith to fill the 2nd line winger spot.

 

[H2O]

We can’t afford Fiala’s new contract. I think we can safely rule that possibility out. Norris is due for a big extension, and then Stützle, then likely Sandy.

If Chychrun can play on the right side, 7th and Branny would be a good price for him.

 

[BondraTime]

Sens have drafted 78 players since 2010, only 6 were shorter than 6ft (Prince, Pageau, Dahlen, Dunn, Crookshank, Grieg (now listed at 6ft)). Smallest D drafted was Tychonik at 6ft 180. For a comparison, the Leafs since 2019 have drafted 21 players, 6 of them 6ft or bigger, 7 were 5'9 or smaller. Just an insanely bad drafting strategy from the Leafs.

If we're hoping for a "smaller" player, Sens tend to stay away from them for the most part. Size is absolutely a trait at the very least valued more than the average scouting staff.

 

[Qward]

You can Nazar go wrong with Frank Nazar.