2022 NHL Entry Draft 8

[Habs Halifax]

You have to be like Tampa. Build a team with talent. If you eventually get beat up in the playoffs, turn around and trade for size. That’s what they did and they might three-peat.

You mean like drafting Drouin over Jones? Koekkoek before Vasilevskiy? Namestnikov before Kucherov?

Tampa is loaded with the right skill/size/skating and they got there with high draft power over a span of years. There are not too many undersized guys on that roster. Size at the bottom of the line-up should not be in question here. That's not hard to go after.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I don’t need to go to NHL.com for it. Our current #1 centre who just led us to four series wins in his first two seasons, never showing any type of negative in the playoffs, is 5’11. So why would I be scared about drafting someone who looks even better at the same age?

You're not getting the point. Suzuki is 5'-11 and over 200 lbs. I even pointed out both height and weight and you completely ignored it. You either are stubborn or don't understand.

You really should look at all the top centers in the game today and evaluate their height/weight. Quantify your size don't matter stance. Good luck and yes, there are exceptions. So if you think you like Cooley a lot, you are saying he is an exception. Possible yes

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

That's not really my approach though. It's not just about size. It's about going after guys with all 3... Size/Skating/Skill. With the KK pick, the skating was missing.

Suzuki and Caufield performed in the playoffs cause we had a good mix of size/skating/skill/goaltending/team D. When you add more skill/smaller types in the mix, the dynamics changes.

Do you think Cooley has enough skill to push him above the skill that the others have who also have skating/size to their games?

We can surround Suzuki, Caufield and Cooley with guys that have size and speed. We have actually a lot of guys in the org who fit the description in Anderson, Poehling, Heineman, Tuch etc

 

[Habs Halifax]

We can surround Suzuki, Caufield and Cooley with guys that have size and speed. We have actually a lot of guys in the org who fit the description in Anderson, Poehling, Heineman, Tuch etc

Think Centers first. Suzuki and Cooley? I'm fine with Suzuki cause he is 5'-11 and over 200 lbs. Do you think Cooley tops out at 190-200 range?

How many under 6'-0" / 200 lbs top centers do you think there are in the NHL?

 

[WinterLion]

People who obsess about size remind me of the dinosaur scouts in moneyball.

Size can be a great advantage, but the player has to be able to use it effectively. The bottom line is that no matter what size the player is they need to be able to use it to their advantage. Caulfield is pretty brilliant in that regard.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Let's just put it very cleanly.

We are in no position with our current status as a team and build to turn down talent.

When it comes to talent, Cooley is damn near the top of the class.

 

[McGees]

Go to NHL.com and run a filter for the last 3-5 years for top producing centers only. Then count how many 5'-10/5'-11 and under guys that are also below 200 lbs.

People can ignore size but we should not. Yes there are exceptions but the exception is not the rule. This is the point. Ignoring the general rule cause there are exceptions is hope.

KK lacked skating. Go after someone with all 3... size/skating/skill. That to me is Wright, Slaf, and Jiricek.

I'd take Cooley 4th if he is still on the board.

You flag Cooleys size but ignore Slafs skating? Jiriceks injury?
No perfect prospect.

 

[Habs Halifax]

You flag Cooleys size but ignore Slafs skating? Jiriceks injury?
No perfect prospect.

Not ignoring Slaf skating. You think his skating is bad? Please elaborate. Are you saying I should be as concerned as we should have with KK? I don't see that being the same. Do you?

Jiricek injury is a concern but are you watching him at the U18's right now? This is something to evaluate for sure in terms of the injury he had.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Size can be a great advantage, but the player has to be able to use it effectively. The bottom line is that no matter what size the player is they need to be able to use it to their advantage. Caulfield is pretty brilliant in that regard.

I'm personally not against smaller/skilled types. I just don't think you can have too many of them. Needs the right mix.

Suzuki is under 6'-0" but he is over 200 lbs. Cooley is pegged as a darn good 200' center like Suzuki but where does he top out at in weight and toughness in terms of competing against NHL players and the cream of the crop?

I can't stress this enough. Do we think Cooley is the skilled undersized center exception? Cause yes, there are exceptions but it's not the general rule or sample you see in the NHL today in terms of top centers in the game.

Cooley is my 4th ranked BPA. Behind Wright, Slaf, Jiricek.

 

[McGees]

Not ignoring Slaf skating. You think his skating is bad? Please elaborate. Are you saying I should be as concerned as we should have with KK? I don't see that being the same. Do you?

Jiricek injury is a concern but are you watching him at the U18's right now?

If your criteria is size/skating/skill then you value skating. Yes his skating concerns me.
Jiricek I plan on following up on for sure.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I'm personally not against smaller/skilled types. I just don't think you can have too many of them. Needs the right mix.

Suzuki is under 6'-0" but he is over 200 lbs. Cooley is pegged as a darn good 200' center like Suzuki but where does he top out at in weight and toughness in terms of competing against NHL players and the cream of the crop?

I can't stress this enough. Do we think Cooley is the skilled undersized center exception? Cause yes, there are exceptions but it's not the general rule or sample you see in the NHL today in terms of top centers in the game.

Cooley is my 4th ranked BPA. Behind Wright, Slaf, Jiricek.

Cooley has the ability and attributes to play the game like Point and Aho, who have done so and been some of the best centers in the league for years despite having 0 physical game.

 

[Vachon23]

Wright
Cooley
Jiricek
Slaf
Nemec

 

[jiboy]

Im having a hard time getting excited about Shane Wright , theres a lot of reports about him lacking tempo and being a bit too passive.

Is there reasons to worry or are these reports overblown ? He should have been a slam dunk pump fist 1st overall after his D-2 and now hes kind of meh

 

[Habs Halifax]

Cooley has the ability and attributes to play the game like Point and Aho, who have done so and been some of the best centers in the league for years despite having 0 physical game.

I know you feel that way. So you do think he is the exception. With me, I'm taking Cooley 4th. Not dead set against him... just rather pick Wright, Slaf, or Jiricek ahead of him.

There are only so many exceptions to go around in terms of top producing centers in the game who are both under 6'-0" and under 200 lbs.

How does Cooley's skating measure up to Point and Aho? I don't recall too much talk around Cooley's skating? In order for him to do what you think he can do, he will need top end skating like Point and Aho.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Im having a hard time getting excited about Shane Wright , theres a lot of reports about him lacking tempo and being a bit too passive.

Is there reasons to worry or are these reports overblown ? He should have been a slam dunk pump fist 1st overall after his D-2 and now hes kind of meh

He had a broken foot at the end of the U-18s and didn't play any hockey except that last year. His pace since January has been much improved and we'll see if he takes it to the next level in the play-offs.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I know you feel that way. So you do think he is the exception. With me, I'm taking Cooley 4th. Not dead set against him... just rather pick Wright, Slaf, or Jiricek ahead of him.

There are only so many exceptions to go around in terms of top producing centers in the game who are both under 6'-0" and under 200 lbs.

How does Cooley's skating measure up to Point and Aho? I don't recall too much talk around Cooley's skating?

He has some of the best skating in the draft. He's a water bug, he's a speed demon, and he weaponizes it. He doesn't go balls to the wall all the time, he will change gears to catch defenders.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Im having a hard time getting excited about Shane Wright , theres a lot of reports about him lacking tempo and being a bit too passive.

Is there reasons to worry or are these reports overblown ? He should have been a slam dunk pump fist 1st overall after his D-2 and now hes kind of meh

The concerns are there but you just can't pass up on Wright. The reports are not overblown cause at #1OA, you expect zero concerns. But Wright has been rated high for a while now... You just don't pass up on him and you live with it.

 

[Vachon23]

He had a broken foot at the end of the U-18s and didn't play any hockey except that last year. His pace since January has been much improved and we'll see if he takes it to the next level in the play-offs.

And it’s a critic that player with really high IQ have often, I heard the same thing with Suzuki and Kucherov (even if they are different):

 

[WeThreeKings]

And it’s a critic that player with really high IQ have often, I heard the same thing with Suzuki and Kucherov (even if they are different):

I had the same pace concerns but then watched the top prospects game and he just burned by everyone to score. So he definitely can do it, he just hasn't done it with regularity this year.. obviously the biggest thing is you'd like for him to have a bit more of an attack mindset and push defenders into being uncomfortable vs. always using the brain.

 

[Habs Halifax]

He has some of the best skating in the draft. He's a water bug, he's a speed demon, and he weaponizes it. He doesn't go balls to the wall all the time, he will change gears to catch defenders.

Thanks because when I see scouting reports, I'm not seeing too many skating reports.

Where do you think he tops out in weight? 180-200 range? How's his toughness?

 

[jiboy]

He had a broken foot at the end of the U-18s and didn't play any hockey except that last year. His pace since January has been much improved and we'll see if he takes it to the next level in the play-offs.

In your opinion would a bad playoff showing drop him in your rankings or hes surefire 1st no matter what considering his pedigree ?

 

[Vachon23]

I had the same pace concerns but then watched the top prospects game and he just burned by everyone to score. So he definitely can do it, he just hasn't done it with regularity this year.. obviously the biggest thing is you'd like for him to have a bit more of an attack mindset and push defenders into being uncomfortable vs. always using the brain.

Agree, but that's something that you can work with him because he does have the tools to do it. That's why I'm not to concern with that

 

[Habs Halifax]

I had the same pace concerns but then watched the top prospects game and he just burned by everyone to score. So he definitely can do it, he just hasn't done it with regularity this year.. obviously the biggest thing is you'd like for him to have a bit more of an attack mindset and push defenders into being uncomfortable vs. always using the brain.

That last part is the key. Attack mindset and pushing defenders to scramble. It's a little nit picking on his game for sure but hey, it is #1OA after all.

We just can't pass up on Wright. Nobody will.

 

[Vachon23]

Thanks because when I see scouting reports, I'm not seeing too many skating reports.

Where do you think he tops out in weight? 180-200 range? How's his toughness?

His toughness his an underrated attribute for Cooley. Il a du chien like we say in french and that's why his size doesn't worry me to much.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Thanks because when I see scouting reports, I'm not seeing too many skating reports.

Where do you think he tops out in weight? 180-200 range? How's his toughness?

It's hard to tell on the weight, I think he probably plays at Aho's weight. His toughness is fine, he's competitive, he cuts to the net, he battles. He is not a perimeter player by any means and he doesn't disengage from board battles.

In your opinion would a bad playoff showing drop him in your rankings or hes surefire 1st no matter what considering his pedigree ?

I have Cooley #1 but I don't think a poor playoff showing could do anything for him but potentially knock him below Cooley in the consensus rankings but even that I doubt.

Agree, but that's something that you can work with him because he does have the tools to do it. That's why I'm not to concern with that

We'll see, I do find it hard to change a persons personality. But if it's just kind of "too cool for school" thing, that's fine. We'll see now that the chips are down.

That last part is the key. Attack mindset and pushing defenders to scramble. It's a little nit picking on his game for sure but hey, it is #1OA after all.

We just can't pass up on Wright. Nobody will.

I would but my job isn't on the line.