2022 NHL Entry Draft 8

[JT3]

Long time lurker chiming in

I agree with the top 5 most people have, but would probably have this order:

Wright
Slaf/Nemec/Jiricek
Cooley

with Nazar and Savoie as the 6/7.

Wright would be my choice at 1, I know there is some talk about his compete and whatnot but I think his combination of tools is just too much to pass up. Slaf looks to be a bit of a unicorn, you don't find too many guys of his size and skill, but I do still see a little bit of bust potential there, whereas I could see either of Nemec or Jiricek becoming that top pair RD we need (Nemec a little safer, with Jiricek slightly higher upside, but I still think the sky is the limit for Nemec). Cooley I am just personally not as high on as others but would still have him comfortably at 5.

Assuming we are not picking at #1, I think there is certainly value in drafting one of Jiricek or Nemec personally. Either one would leave our defense cupboards in excellent shape and provide that #1 or #2 potential guy we need to top off the pool. You could then look at a forward with our CGY pick (Gaucher, Goyette, Ohgren, etc). While I don't think we will be as bad as we were this year, I still expect to be in the top 10 range next year. That gives you a chance at one of Bedard or Michkov, but getting one of Yager, Dvorsky, Fantili, etc would be a huge get for the team and would leave us with a future core of something like:

Suzuki - Caufield
Yager/Fantili/Dvorsky

Guhle - Nemec/Jiricek
Romanov - Barron
Harris - Mailloux

Just to further add on the Nemec/Jiricek train, and as someone mentioned a few pages back, I do think it is beneficial to get your D prospects early on in a rebuild as they can take longer to develop than forwards do. I also think having a really strong D core can make things a lot easier for your forwards anyways. We've spent the last 5+ years watching a D core that struggles to move the puck at times, so we should all know the value of having a big, strong, mobile D core that can move the puck.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Everyone can watch Cooley take on team Canada tomorrow on TSN.

Already set on the DVR record.

Question: What is the age date cut off for U18's? Wright not there and turned 18 on Jan 5th? He not eligible?

 

[glxss]

Already set on the DVR record.

Question: What is the age date cut off for U18's? Wright not there and turned 18 on Jan 5th? He not eligible?

Only players born 2004 and after are eligible, but Wright is in the OHL playoffs right now

 

[Habs Halifax]

Brady Tkachuk is about the only comparable I can see for Slaf. He skates good but not overly impressive for his size like a Barkov. He has pretty good hands and passing but nowhere close to Rantanen. He is nowhere close to as skilled or dynamic as Svechnikov. He's a less aggressive and less physical version of Brady with a better shot in my eyes.

This is a fair statement that avoid devalue or pumping up. However, we just don't know cause most of the growth and development happens from age 18-21 for most players.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Only players born 2004 and after are eligible, but Wright is in the OHL playoffs right now

So you had to be 17 before Jan 1st of this year? It's weird cause the U20's are different. Caufield played when he turned 20 on Jan 2nd. Same with Poehling... turned 20 on Jan 3rd.

 

[glxss]

So you had to be 17 before Jan 1st of this year? It's weird cause the U20's are different. Caufield played when he turned 20 on Jan 2nd. Same with Poehling... turned 20 on Jan 3rd.

pretty sure it’s only dependant on birth year and not their age at the time like the U20s, but I could be wrong

 

[le_sean]

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

How am I the one that doesn’t understand? You’re worried about a guy’s weight at the age of 18.

Now I know your argument will be “it’s not just weight, it’s height!” Then I’ll mention height and you’ll say “it’s not just height, it’s weight”

You’re going around in circles.

There’s nothing extraordinary about the size of Stamkos, Point, Cirelli and Gourde. Tampa seemed fine. Or are you going to claim that Stamkos being 6’1 changes the entire dynamic of the team?

 

[le_sean]

Or we can draft a LW whos 6’4 with little weaknesses

Or a 6’3 RHD with little weaknesses

We also drafted KK because we were trying to address the C issue.

Reaching for size is like when we drafted McCarron.

Slaf has more weaknesses than Cooley. So at that point, yes, you’re simply drafting a guy because he’s bigger.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Already set on the DVR record.

Question: What is the age date cut off for U18's? Wright not there and turned 18 on Jan 5th? He not eligible?

IIHF always works on jan 1st cutoff. Must be U16/17/18/19/20 by jan 1st of the year in which the tournament is held. Wright is eligible, he's just in the playoffs.

 

[Habs Halifax]

IIHF always works on jan 1st cutoff. Must be U16/17/18/19/20 by jan 1st of the year in which the tournament is held. Wright is eligible, he's just in the playoffs.

Ah, that makes more sense.

 

[Habs Halifax]

How am I the one that doesn’t understand? You’re worried about a guy’s weight at the age of 18.

Now I know your argument will be “it’s not just weight, it’s height!” Then I’ll mention height and you’ll say “it’s not just height, it’s weight”

You’re going around in circles.

There’s nothing extraordinary about the size of Stamkos, Point, Cirelli and Gourde. Tampa seemed fine. Or are you going to claim that Stamkos being 6’1 changes the entire dynamic of the team?

I already told you why you don't understand. I posted the context on both height and weight and you replied with height only with the Suzuki statement. Now your asking me why you are the one who don't understand again? Yeah, circles it is cause you are ignoring parts of the context in determining height/weight and how that applies to how tough a player can be.

Sorry, size (height/weight) matters to me. I don't hate smaller skilled players but a lot of them disappoint more than them turning into the exceptions and yeah, the exception is not the rule. That's my point but you likely think size/toughness don't matter so it will go in circles

 

[le_sean]

I already told you why you don't understand. I posted the context on both height and weight and you replied with height only with the Suzuki statement. Now your asking me why you are the one who don't understand again? Yeah, circles it is cause you are ignoring parts of the context in determining height/weight and how that applies to how tough a player can be.

Sorry, size (height/weight) matters to me. I don't hate smaller skilled players but a lot of them disappoint more than them turning into the exceptions and yeah, the exception is not the rule. That's my point but you likely think size/toughness don't matter so it will go in circles

I’m not ignoring anything. You’re stuck on an 18 year old’s weight. That’s the easiest thing ever to fix. All he has to do is eat burgers and do leg presses.

And you’re also ignoring Tampa Bay’s success with small centres. You really have nothing to say about it. But I’m sure you’ll claim Stamkos being 6’1 changes everything. Ignoring the fact the rest were 5’10 or smaller. Also ignoring that it doesn’t matter if Stamkos is 5’8 or if he’s 6’5. His height/weight changes nothing about his playstyle.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I’m not ignoring anything. You’re stuck on an 18 year old’s weight. That’s the easiest thing ever to fix. All he has to do is eat burgers and do leg presses.

And you’re also ignoring Tampa Bay’s success with small centres. You really have nothing to say about it. But I’m sure you’ll claim Stamkos being 6’1 changes everything. Ignoring the fact the rest were 5’10 or smaller.

There you go with the height approach and no weight factored in again. That is your approach, not mine. I respect you too much to carry this one forward. We disagree. I'm looking at both height/weight, not only height.

 

[A55P2]

Nemec and Jiricek looks pretty good, but I think it's fair to say we would be much better picking a forward. Our D depth is just so much better than our young forwards. I know we all want to say, well we're done with our D for the future, but in reality we have lots of holes with our forward and need to pick a few in the coming years.

 

[le_sean]

There you go with the height approach and no weight factored in again. That is your approach, not mine. I respect you too much to carry this one forward. We disagree. I'm looking at both height/weight, not only height.

Okay please explain Tampa’s success then. They shouldn’t have won with these small centres if we are to believe you.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Okay please explain Tampa’s success then. They shouldn’t have won with these small centres if we are to believe you.

Have a nice weekend. You're not going to change my mind bud

 

[le_sean]

Have a nice weekend. You're not going to change my mind bud

That’s what I thought.

 

[Habs Halifax]

That’s what I thought.

You can think what you want. I'm not going back and forth talking about the same things over and over anymore. I said what I said and I stand by it. Your Tampa approach don't change my opinion even if you think it should.

Have a nice weekend.

 

[le_sean]

You can think what you want. I'm not going back and forth talking about the same things over and over anymore. I said what I said and I stand by it. Your Tampa approach don't change my opinion even if you think it should.

Have a nice weekend.

An interesting way to say “you’re right. Tampa has proven that talent trumps everything and you can win with small centres”

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

Draft Slaf
Convert him to C
Profit

 

[Seb]

I'm a Jiricek fan boy but this is impressive.

 

[Vachon23]

Draft Slaf
Convert him to C
Profit

that is a terrible idea with all respect, convert winger in Center never work and we had a really good exemple with Drouin. And Slaf doesn't really have the skill set of a center.

 

[Habricot]

That he just doesn't put it together at the NHL level. He has perhaps the biggest gap between what he looks like in highlights, and what he looks like shift to shift of all the prospects in the draft, IMO. I suspect people just aren't watching him in Liiga.

How does the level in the Liiga compares to NCAA. If you look at the stats of Katchuk when he was in the NCAA they were also very un-whelming. As mentioned earlier the total package appears very nice and for once I am not too concerned about not being able to develop our prospect.

 

[Habricot]

Slaf has more weaknesses than Cooley. So at that point, yes, you’re simply drafting a guy because he’s bigger.

I think rating players based on there weakness is not the right approach. I think you need to base them on there strength and upside. Having said that Cooley has strengths that are definitely appealing with his high pace game and how this might fit the Blueprint that Hughes and Gorton are defining for this team.

I had very little exposure to Slaf and only saw him at the Olympics and a game in the world Juniors. For a guys his size he appeared to be quick and was always at the right place at the right time. The combination he brings to the table with his size and robustness are also non negligible. It will be interesting to see what this new management will do for there first draft. I mean they got sort of burned with Kakko which could also be a good comparison for Slaf. My prediction is that we will pick FOA and claim Shane Wrigth.

 

[le_sean]

I think rating players based on there weakness is not the right approach. I think you need to base them on there strength and upside. Having said that Cooley has strengths that are definitely appealing with his high pace game and how this might fit the Blueprint that Hughes and Gorton are defining for this team.

I had very little exposure to Slaf and only saw him at the Olympics and a game in the world Juniors. For a guys his size he appeared to be quick and was always at the right place at the right time. The combination he brings to the table with his size and robustness are also non negligible. It will be interesting to see what this new management will do for there first draft. I mean they got sort of burned with Kakko which could also be a good comparison for Slaf. My prediction is that we will pick FOA and claim Shane Wrigth.

I think Slaf will be a very good player. I like him a lot. I just have a difficult time passing on a talented centre that plays at a high pace and can beat you in multiple ways. He’s like pre-injury Koivu with an elite shot.

Slaf will always be about size and shot. Cooley is pace, shot, creativity.