2022 NHL Entry Draft 8

[DramaticGloveSave]

The top 5 in this draft (Wright, Cooley, Slaf, Nemec and Jiricek) make me feel a lot better and excited than I did in 2012 and 2018. They don’t have the glaring weaknesses/limits the top of those drafts had as a whole (minus the top 2 in 2018 obviously). This was exacerbated even more by the Habs taking the two players with the biggest question marks at the time.

For instance, Nemec and Jiricek have bigger upside than Ryan Murray ever did. Cooley and Slaf at this point are just better players than KK/Tkachuk/Hayton were at the same time of their drafts.

Like how you sneak Tkachuk in there with KK and Hayton lol

 

[le_sean]

Like how you sneak Tkachuk in there with KK and Hayton lol

I mean I’m not wrong. At the time of the draft his offensive upside was seen as limited. I’m talking specifically at the draft and the feeling around it. KK, Tkachuk and Hayton were not seen as offensive catalysts.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

The 2018 usual suspects (most talked) were:
Zadina
Kotkaniemi
Tkachuk
Wahlstrom
Hughes
Boqvist

Some little love for Hayton/Dobson and Bouchard.

The consensus were KK(Center) or Zadina (Pacioretty replacement). Few wanted a defenseman and some isolated wanted Tkachuk (PF) or Wahlstrom (Sniper)

Let's not revisit the past. The players listed were all viewed as top 4 defenseman or top 6 forwards (i.e. solid prospects). The habs need for center pushed them toward KK.

I do believe it was an ok selection but a poor development decision. With hindsight obviously Tkachuk and Hughes are now the top players but they had their question marks also.

As for this year, I think the prospects are a step above but IMO few could jump in right away to the NHL. Maybe only Wright and Nemec. I like the depth of this draft way more than 2018 (not even close)

 

[RationalExpectations]

The 2018 usual suspects (most talked) were:
Zadina
Kotkaniemi
Tkachuk
Wahlstrom
Hughes
Boqvist

Some little love for Hayton/Dobson and Bouchard.

The consensus were KK(Center) or Zadina (Pacioretty replacement). Few wanted a defenseman and some isolated wanted Tkachuk (PF) or Wahlstrom (Sniper)

Let's not revisit the past. The players listed were all viewed as top 4 defenseman or top 6 forwards (i.e. solid prospects). The habs need for center pushed them toward KK.

I do believe it was an ok selection but a poor development decision. With hindsight obviously Tkachuk and Hughes are now the top players but they had their question marks also.

As for this year, I think the prospects are a step above but IMO few could jump in right away to the NHL. Maybe only Wright and Nemec. I like the depth of this draft way more than 2018 (not even close)

I agree. It's easy to rewrite the past. I myself really liked Boqvist and KK but all in all after the top 2 it was like a coin toss.
In that aspect most drafts are similar though. In 2021, 2020, 2019 you had no clear rankings after top 1,2 and I even believe that the consensus about top 2 was driven by herding rather than true meaningul différence in skills.

 

[jaffy27]

You draft the best player then worry about roster construction later.

Posters just need to realize that Habs BPA is highly likely different then their own.

Let’s just hope we don’t pull a Canuck and value a Juolevi type higher then Tkachuk type.

 

[Natey]

I'm really hoping we find a way to pick up Lian Bichsel.

 

[Kent Nilsson]

The top 5 in this draft (Wright, Cooley, Slaf, Nemec and Jiricek) make me feel a lot better and excited than I did in 2012 and 2018. They don’t have the glaring weaknesses/limits the top of those drafts had as a whole (minus the top 2 in 2018 obviously). This was exacerbated even more by the Habs taking the two players with the biggest question marks at the time.

For instance, Nemec and Jiricek have bigger upside than Ryan Murray ever did. Cooley and Slaf at this point are just better players than KK/Tkachuk/Hayton were at the same time of their drafts.

Ryan Murray was a terrific prospect, to carve out a career from all the injuries he had highlights his talent if anything.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I'm really hoping we find a way to pick up Lian Bichsel.

I'm good if we don't.

 

[FrankMTL]

I'm good if we don't.

 

[Hins77]

Posters just need to realize that Habs BPA is highly likely different then their own.

Let’s just hope we don’t pull a Canuck and value a Juolevi type higher then Tkachuk type.

He had 42 pts in 57 games in the OHL his draft year. +38, but he played for london, wich a really good team. In comparison, there is few Dman with better stats right now and they are ranked at the end of the first round….

 

[RationalExpectations]

He had 42 pts in 57 games in the OHL his draft year. +38, but he played for london, wich a really good team. In comparison, there is few Dman with better stats right now and they are ranked at the end of the first round….

I think it is hard to evaluate CHL D prospects. Euro prospects are easier to spot because they have already been chosen by local pro teams (kind of a pre draft).

 

[Hins77]

I think it is hard to evaluate CHL D prospects. Euro prospects are easier to spot because they have already been chosen by local pro teams (kind of a pre draft).

I think the opposite. I mean, there is no reason for a top D (top 5) to be so far that a PPG In the OHL. 42 pts in 57 games is clearly not enough imo. And then, you have guy like Nemec, already producing on a good rythm in Extraliga against man. It’s less difficult to project Nemec than OHL guys yeah, but when you aren’t producing in the OHL at least, close to be ppg, odds are against you, I believe.

 

[WeThreeKings]

What's really been nice for us is, outside of Jiricek because of the injury and Savoie.. prospects at the top end have really improved - Wright, Cooley, Slafkovsky, Nemec and Nazar.

 

[RationalExpectations]

I think the opposite. I mean, there is no reason for a top D (top 5) to be so far that a PPG In the OHL. 42 pts in 57 games is clearly not enough imo. And then, you have guy like Nemec, already producing on a good rythm in Extraliga against man. It’s less difficult to project Nemec than OHL guys yeah, but when you aren’t producing in the OHL at least, close to be ppg, odds are against you, I believe.

That s true but on the other hand points are not everything maybe it Can be used as a minimum threshold or something but then a good D in a bad team won't make the cut

 

[covfefe]

When watching a prospect, I usually focus only on the player. But while watching footage of Korchinski, another player caught my eye.

Jared Davidson #29, Seattle thunderbirds.

he's an overager, but I really liked what I saw from him.

@covfefe, do you have an opinion on that guy?

I don't have a strong opinion on him. You probably saw the same things I've seen - works hard, extremely chippy, plays all 3 FW positions, some offensive flair, not the most fleet of foot. I don't get a 'surefire NHL' vibe from him, but could see a team taking him later in the draft.

OA's I like are Mikey Milne, Ben King, and James Stefan. Ben Zloty, Eric Alarie, Jackson Berezowski should also get looks.

That s true but on the other hand points are not everything maybe it Can be used as a minimum threshold or something but then a good D in a bad team won't make the cut

(i'm just teasing, scouting is tricky)

 

[le_sean]

Ryan Murray was a terrific prospect, to carve out a career from all the injuries he had highlights his talent if anything.

Good junior player but his offensive upside was always limited. His potential was always as a toolsy solid all-around defender. He wasn’t at the same level as Nemec and Jiricek who have shown the ability to be #1 defencemen.

Remember I’m talking about glaring weaknesses too. It was pretty much set in stone that Murray would never run an NHL PP. Nemec and Jiricek have shown that next level ability in their respective men’s leagues.

 

[jaffy27]

He had 42 pts in 57 games in the OHL his draft year. +38, but he played for london, wich a really good team. In comparison, there is few Dman with better stats right now and they are ranked at the end of the first round….

I just remembered the hockey worlds jaw drop when they picked Juolevi over Tkachuk…..I still have the Flames fan base going nuts knowing they were gifted a Tkachuk.



Funny, we duplicated that mistake by selecting KK (Which I endorsed at the time) over Tkachuk lol

Moral of the story, always bet on Tkachuk’s

 

[Jesker]

I've watched a bit of Shane Wright last games. He will be the number 1 pick. I think a fair NHL comparaison for him would be prime Monahan that lasts very long (what the hell happened to this guy). Big, skilled, PPG-ish, 30G-ish, sound defensively. Would be great for us.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

I've watched a bit of Shane Wright last games. He will be the number 1 pick. I think a fair NHL comparaison for him would be prime Monahan that lasts very long (what the hell happened to this guy). Big, skilled, PPG-ish, 30G-ish, sound defensively. Would be great for us.

>Monahan
>Sound defensively

 

[Draft]

Caught up on a couple of Slafkovsky games this week. My opinion hasn't changed much on him, but I liked seeing a bit more production and implication in the games I watched (Ilves, HIFK).

If we're talking upside, improving his skating is going to put him into an elite tier. A little more power and quickness and I think he'll be able to capitalize more consistently on the space he creates using his other skills. One key scenario/sequence that comes up for him pretty consistently is creating shooting chances coming off the boards/perimeter. Couple times in games vs Ilves, you can see him create separation from the boards, attempt to drive into the middle, but just doesn't quite have the quickness to open up a lane - it's really close though. A lot of those chances can turn into great passes, but if he can add that next dimension to his game, it'll be huge. In the NHL, he's not going to have the wide-open lanes to the net he was gifted regularly at the Olympics. In transition the skating is fine and he has the skating/power combination to attack the middle. However, if he's going to be 'special'/game-breaking in the offensive zone and not just a complementary-type player, he needs to get quicker.

His ability to identify defensive breakouts, support on those breakouts, and consistently have good spacing was a bit spotty in the games I watched, but it's a small sample. Pretty strong reads defensively, no worries there. There was some talk of him potentially being a center at the start of the year, but I think we can put that idea to bed. I'm really curious to see how his game translates. We regularly talk about pond-hockey players (cough *Cooley and Nazar*) having a tricky time translating their skills to the NHL, but I'm really curious to see if Slaf can exhibit the same level of strength and puck handling at the next level. My favourite comparable for this board is still Armia - if Armia knew how to pass the puck and use his skills consistently. A really special player, but comes with a fair amount of risk. I'd be happy with him as high as 2OA.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Caught up on a couple of Slafkovsky games this week. My opinion hasn't changed much on him, but I liked seeing a bit more production and implication in the games I watched (Ilves, HIFK).

If we're talking upside, improving his skating is going to put him into an elite tier. A little more power and quickness and I think he'll be able to capitalize more consistently on the space he creates using his other skills. One key scenario/sequence that comes up for him pretty consistently is creating shooting chances coming off the boards/perimeter. Couple times in games vs Ilves, you can see him create separation from the boards, attempt to drive into the middle, but just doesn't quite have the quickness to open up a lane - it's really close though. A lot of those chances can turn into great passes, but if he can add that next dimension to his game, it'll be huge. In the NHL, he's not going to have the wide-open lanes to the net he was gifted regularly at the Olympics. In transition the skating is fine and he has the skating/power combination to attack the middle. However, if he's going to be 'special'/game-breaking in the offensive zone and not just a complementary-type player, he needs to get quicker.

His ability to identify defensive breakouts, support on those breakouts, and consistently have good spacing was a bit spotty in the games I watched, but it's a small sample. Pretty strong reads defensively, no worries there. There was some talk of him potentially being a center at the start of the year, but I think we can put that idea to bed. I'm really curious to see how his game translates. We regularly talk about pond-hockey players (cough *Cooley and Nazar*) having a tricky time translating their skills to the NHL, but I'm really curious to see if Slaf can exhibit the same level of strength and puck handling at the next level. My favourite comparable for this board is still Armia - if Armia knew how to pass the puck and use his skills consistently. A really special player, but comes with a fair amount of risk. I'd be happy with him as high as 2OA.

Honestly, if Armia was the sum of his parts he'd be a top player in the league. A consistant version of Armia is a pretty enticing proposition indeed.

 

[The Great Weal]

Caught up on a couple of Slafkovsky games this week. My opinion hasn't changed much on him, but I liked seeing a bit more production and implication in the games I watched (Ilves, HIFK).

If we're talking upside, improving his skating is going to put him into an elite tier. A little more power and quickness and I think he'll be able to capitalize more consistently on the space he creates using his other skills. One key scenario/sequence that comes up for him pretty consistently is creating shooting chances coming off the boards/perimeter. Couple times in games vs Ilves, you can see him create separation from the boards, attempt to drive into the middle, but just doesn't quite have the quickness to open up a lane - it's really close though. A lot of those chances can turn into great passes, but if he can add that next dimension to his game, it'll be huge. In the NHL, he's not going to have the wide-open lanes to the net he was gifted regularly at the Olympics. In transition the skating is fine and he has the skating/power combination to attack the middle. However, if he's going to be 'special'/game-breaking in the offensive zone and not just a complementary-type player, he needs to get quicker.

His ability to identify defensive breakouts, support on those breakouts, and consistently have good spacing was a bit spotty in the games I watched, but it's a small sample. Pretty strong reads defensively, no worries there. There was some talk of him potentially being a center at the start of the year, but I think we can put that idea to bed. I'm really curious to see how his game translates. We regularly talk about pond-hockey players (cough *Cooley and Nazar*) having a tricky time translating their skills to the NHL, but I'm really curious to see if Slaf can exhibit the same level of strength and puck handling at the next level. My favourite comparable for this board is still Armia - if Armia knew how to pass the puck and use his skills consistently. A really special player, but comes with a fair amount of risk. I'd be happy with him as high as 2OA.

When Armia is on he takes over the game, the problem is he is on for 10 games a year, has no work ethic, and has injury issues.

 

[bopeep]

The top 5 in this draft (Wright, Cooley, Slaf, Nemec and Jiricek) make me feel a lot better and excited than I did in 2012 and 2018. They don’t have the glaring weaknesses/limits the top of those drafts had as a whole (minus the top 2 in 2018 obviously). This was exacerbated even more by the Habs taking the two players with the biggest question marks at the time.

For instance, Nemec and Jiricek have bigger upside than Ryan Murray ever did. Cooley and Slaf at this point are just better players than KK/Tkachuk/Hayton were at the same time of their drafts.

Nemec with an assist on the PP today; 2-2 after two and the series is knotted up at 1 each. Even in the playoffs he hasn't been moved from the top pairing and his production has been increasing steadily from 0.67 ppg to 0.90ppg and counting. Goals during the regular season: 1 in 39 games playoffs: 4 in 9 games. That's impressive...

 

[Playmaker09]

If we were to draft Nemec, I would absolutely also sign his teammte Samuel Bucek and bring both to Laval next year. 23 y/o 6'3 wing with good skating/hands/shot. Best player in the Slovakian league from what I've seen.

 

[Antiillafire]

If we were to draft Nemec, I would absolutely also sign his teammte Samuel Bucek and bring both to Laval next year. 23 y/o 6'3 wing with good skating/hands/shot. Best player in the Slovakian league from what I've seen.

I’m not sure he has the speed of play to be suited to the North American game but who knows, I remember thinking the same with Kubailk watching him in Czech league. And Kubalik has become a pretty decent NHLer, same could happen with bucek.