2023-24 Senators Prospect Watch

I'm not saying Yakemchuk is going to be as good as those two.

My point is that his skillset may be better suited to transition to forward, while their skillsets were a better fit for the blueline.
Okay but im saying no matter how many times this sort of hypothetical gets thrown around..it doesn’t happen. It’s such a rarity it’s not as easy as “this guy has some skill set for forward he should go play there”. The only two good ones have been the two I mentioned. And they weren’t full time forwards but they were good forwards. And Yakemchuk is just no where near eithers level and I don’t think will be.
 
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The fellating of Dick-enson in a Sens prospect thread is such a loser move.
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The fellating of Dick-enson in a Sens prospect thread is such a loser move.

I mean, saying that Dickinson is a better prospect than Sanderson at the same age is something. Sanderson does virtually everything better than him, especially related to thinking the game.

Once again, people will not tie a future projection to Dickinson, while at the same time be totally hyperbolic about the player. It seems y'all think he is going to be an 80 point player, rivalling Quinn Hughes for D scoring title.

And what is interesting, I asked the same question pre-draft and everyone agreed Dickinson was no where as good as Sanderson as a prospect.

Pretending there wasn't panic here after Sanderson's D+1 is also something. In fact, go look at the polls and commentary in 2021. 70% of the people were selecting Drysdale over Sanderson in one poll.

Saying Yakemchuk is better as a forward is as credible as when people said Karlsson should be a forward. Yakemchuk is most effective when he is not dangling: he is best when he uses passing to move the puck. Because contrary to the popular view, he is actually a very good passer. Anyone who actually watches him, will know this.

When you watch games, you see things that go against the grain. Like, if I said, I think Yakemchuk right now is a better defensive d-man than Mynio . People would totally dismiss this as entirely crazy. Mynio was selected to the WJC, because of his solid defense. But if you actually watched the last twenty games of season and the playoffs - that claim is not crazy at all. If I said, Yakemchuk has a lot of poise in the defensive end; people, who don't watch games, would be equally dismissive of this claim.

What is happening here is mostly pure stat watching, mixed with the occasional youtube video, mixed in with a lot of hyperbole.
 
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Sanderson is significantly better, and was as a prospect, than every D in this past draft, possibly Buium about equal footing, though I still think behind.
Right and a lot of people were totally convinced that Drysdale was the better prospect at the D+1 stage, especially offensively(although some thought Drysdale was comparable defensively) and a bit of panic set in when Drysdale was putting up a better PPG rate in the AHL than Sanderson was in College. I mentioned earlier there was a poll in August 2021 on the mainboard and like 70% of respondents felt like Drysdale was the better prospect. 70%!!!!! Drysdale is a mediocre pro and will probably find his way out the league sooner rather than later. This happens all the time, where the hype just gets out of control.

Drysdale was a much better defender than Parekh was in their draft year and was far less prone to mistakes; he is also a fantastic skater. Yet he cannot defend at the NHL level very well.

I think we are probably are getting a player in Yakemchuk that is a cross between Ekholm and Bouchard. I am not saying he will be as good defensively as Ekholm or as good offensively as Bouchard, but something in-between. I think that is the way you should look at this player. My hope is that he turns himself more into an Ekholm with a dash of Bouchard. If Yakemchuk ends up being a slower Ekholm with the brain farts of Boucard, we could be in for a problem, but I don't think that will be case. I think Yakemchuk will be more on the poised and mistake-free side of the equation. Ekholm is not super athletic or explosive, but he finds a way to put up points.

Ekholm is big, solid 6'4, 225 pounds who moves around fairly well and I think Yakemchuk will be the same size when all is said and done. Yakemchuk's skating will continue to improve as he puts on the weight. It already improved quite a bit.

 
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Right and a lot of people were totally convinced that Drysdale was the better prospect at the D+1 stage, especially offensively(although some thought Drysdale was comparable defensively) and a bit of panic set in when Drysdale was putting up a better PPG rate in the AHL than Sanderson was in College. I mentioned earlier there was poll in August 2021 on the mainboard and like 70% of respondents felt like Drysdale was the better prospect. 70%!!!!! Drysdale is a mediocre pro and will probably find his way out the league sooner rather than later. This happens all the time, where the hype just gets out of control.

I think we are probably are getting a player in Yakemchuk that is a cross between Ekholm and Bouchard. I am not saying he will be as good defensively as Ekholm or as good offensively as Bouchard, but something in-between. I think that is the way you should look at this player. My hope is that he turns himself more into an Ekholm with a dash of Bouchard. If Yakemchuk ends up being a slower Ekholm with the brain farts of Boucard, we could be in for a problem, but I don't think that will be case. I think Yakemchuk will be more on the poised and mistake-free side of the equation. Ekholm is not super athletic or explosive, but he finds a way to put up points.

Ekholm is big, solid 6'4, 225 pounds who moves around fairly well and I think Yakemchuk will be the same size when all is said and done. Yakemchuk's skating will continue to improve as he puts on the weight. It already improved quite a bit.

I hope you’re right and I’m wrong on him without a doubt, would be extremely glad to be proven an idiot once again
 
I mean, saying that Dickinson is a better prospect than Sanderson at the same age is something. Sanderson does virtually everything better than him, especially related to thinking the game.

Once again, people will not tie a future projection to Dickinson, while at the same time be totally hyperbolic about the player. It seems y'all think he is going to be an 80 point player, rivalling Quinn Hughes for D scoring title.

And what is interesting, I asked the same question pre-draft and everyone agreed Dickinson was no where as good as Sanderson as a prospect.

Pretending there wasn't panic here after Sanderson's D+1 is also something. In fact, go look at the polls and commentary in 2021. 70% of the people were selecting Drysdale over Sanderson in one poll.

Saying Yakemchuk is better as a forward is as credible as when people said Karlsson should be a forward. Yakemchuk is most effective when he is not dangling: he is best when he uses passing to move the puck. Because contrary to the popular view, he is actually a very good passer. Anyone who actually watches him, will know this.

When you watch games, you see things that go against the grain. Like, if I said, I think Yakemchuk right now is a better defensive d-man than Mynio . People would totally dismiss this as entirely crazy. Mynio was selected to the WJC, because of his solid defense. But if you actually watched the last twenty games of season and the playoffs - that claim is not crazy at all. If I said, Yakemchuk has a lot of poise in the defensive end; people, who don't watch games, would be equally dismissive of this claim.

What is happening here is mostly pure stat watching, mixed with the occasional youtube video, mixed in with a lot of hyperbole.
Who has said Sanderson was worse than Dickinson ?
 
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Who has said Sanderson was worse than Dickinson ?
If you believe Dickinson projects as a 70+ point player in the NHL at this stage of his development, it likely means you consider him a superior prospect to Sanderson in their respective D+1 years. Sanderson did not generate that level of hype. My point is that, despite Dickinson's impressive production, when you evaluate the player holistically, Sanderson outperforms him in almost every category(i.e hockey sense).

Many people seem to think Dickinson will be an offensive rockstar, but I disagree. I believe Dickinson will be a poor man's Sanderson, both offensively and defensively. That said, I could be wrong.

But I will not be moved by numbers and stat watching, like others, I have been massively wrong and I have learned. In the 2016 draft, I didn't even look at McAvoy because I didn't want a defensive guy in the lottery. I think McAvoy is one of the best D-men in the game. I would pick him over Hughes in a playoff series any day (just my opinion). There are many examples like this.

The 2019 draft is another example. I read every prospect guide pre-draft and had a list of 12 players I liked at 32 and not one of them was Shane Pinto. The guy I wanted is currently not playing in the league. So since then, I only look at lottery players and try to watch games.

There are two guys on the Calgary team that may be of interest to Ottawa in this year's draft. Kindel and Gorzynski. Both are very young and Kindel put up almost a hundred points. Kindel's numbers are impressive, but I am not totally sold on this player
 
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You should always draft the best player... You draft LD Quinn Hughes vs RD Evan Bouchard; LW Brady Tkachuk vs C Kotkeniemi and try to address positional need by trade or ufa signing. If you end up with Sanderson and Hughes on the left side and need to move Chabot you do it. Otherwise you miss on a Norris trophy D and end up with something less.
Not always, we often hear in drafts if they have most organizational depth met except this one that this could be the time to fill a need. We have this same argument every draft if they have two players that are similar in talent why wouldn't they fill their need? Of course, if it is obvious & one player is the much better player you select them but once we get past the first 15 players best player available kind of goes out the window as talent levels are much more difficult to determine. They are going to pick in the high teens or early twenties & there are several prospects they could go for that who knows which will become the stars & who won't. Every team also has different lists as to who is the best player when it is there turn to pick. Top 15 you can argue BPA, after that it's anyone's choice really in most drafts. Pinto should have been a first rd pick in hindsight & there are lots of examples of this.
 
Not always, we often hear in drafts if they have most organizational depth met except this one that this could be the time to fill a need. We have this same argument every draft if they have two players that are similar in talent why wouldn't they fill their need? Of course, if it is obvious & one player is the much better player you select them but once we get past the first 15 players best player available kind of goes out the window as talent levels are much more difficult to determine. They are going to pick in the high teens or early twenties & there are several prospects they could go for that who knows which will become the stars & who won't. Every team also has different lists as to who is the best player when it is there turn to pick. Top 15 you can argue BPA, after that it's anyone's choice really in most drafts. Pinto should have been a first rd pick in hindsight & there are lots of examples of this.
The problem is that it’s never really that obvious - that’s why the draft is so challenging. So scouts might convince themselves the guy that’s #5 on their list is close to the guy that’s #4, but reality may have them super far apart when it’s all said and done.

Dorion was talking about the 2018 draft earlier this season in an interview and if I remember correctly, they really liked Dahlin, Svech, Brady, Hughes, Kotkaniemi, Dobson, Bouchard and Zadina. The gap between the top end of these players and the bottom is astronomical - like bust to superstar. Yet in their rankings only a few spots separated them.

Having said that, no team follows the BPA rule, it’s obvious. Anaheim needed a RW and they took Sennecke. CBJ was ripe with wingers and wanted centres so they took Lindstrom. We needed a RD and there was Yak. It’s a common thing.

But you’re right in that the reality is if you hit on your player it doesn’t really matter all that much if a better player goes after you. Detroit doesn’t care that they missed out on Sanderson because they have Raymond, and they’re already well-positioned on defense. We don’t care that we don’t have Hughes because Brady is one of a kind and we have Sanderson anyway. You only really feel the sting when the player you got doesn’t wind up an impact player.
 
The problem is that it’s never really that obvious - that’s why the draft is so challenging. So scouts might convince themselves the guy that’s #5 on their list is close to the guy that’s #4, but reality may have them super far apart when it’s all said and done.

Dorion was talking about the 2018 draft earlier this season in an interview and if I remember correctly, they really liked Dahlin, Svech, Brady, Hughes, Kotkaniemi, Dobson, Bouchard and Zadina. The gap between the top end of these players and the bottom is astronomical - like bust to superstar. Yet in their rankings only a few spots separated them.

Having said that, no team follows the BPA rule, it’s obvious. Anaheim needed a RW and they took Sennecke. CBJ was ripe with wingers and wanted centres so they took Lindstrom. We needed a RD and there was Yak. It’s a common thing.

But you’re right in that the reality is if you hit on your player it doesn’t really matter all that much if a better player goes after you. Detroit doesn’t care that they missed out on Sanderson because they have Raymond, and they’re already well-positioned on defense. We don’t care that we don’t have Hughes because Brady is one of a kind and we have Sanderson anyway. You only really feel the sting when the player you got doesn’t wind up an impact player.
Agreed, good post. It would be preferable for the Sens if they could make the decision on the spot. If everyone they wanted at the time they go to make the pick are all gone than yea, give up the pick. But if there are still a few guys on the board they like than by all means pick the guy you want. The penalty is bad enough for a stupid error by a stupid GM, but they should get to choose when they want to give it up & it should be at their discretion. BTW who do you like in this upcoming draft based on where they seem ranked to pick?
 
Agreed, good post. It would be preferable for the Sens if they could make the decision on the spot. If everyone they wanted at the time they go to make the pick are all gone than yea, give up the pick. But if there are still a few guys on the board they like than by all means pick the guy you want. The penalty is bad enough for a stupid error by a stupid GM, but they should get to choose when they want to give it up & it should be at their discretion. BTW who do you like in this upcoming draft based on where they seem ranked to pick?
I haven’t followed this draft at all, I don’t even really know who the prospects are.

If they do keep the pick though I hope they take a forward with upside. It seems like we’ve really prioritized defence over the past few years which is fine as it takes them longer to develop, but I think if the Sens can add a talented forward to the line-up in 2-3 years it will be a nice boost at a time we should theoretically be peaking.

I noticed all of the F4 teams had a young forward contributing last year (Holloway, Laf, Johnston and Lundell).
 
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I haven’t followed this draft at all, I don’t even really know who the prospects are.

If they do keep the pick though I hope they take a forward with upside. It seems like we’ve really prioritized defence over the past few years which is fine as it takes them longer to develop, but I think if the Sens can add a talented forward to the line-up in 2-3 years it will be a nice boost at a time we should theoretically be peaking.

I noticed all of the F4 teams had a young forward contributing last year (Holloway, Laf, Johnston and Lundell).
IMO the Sens could have a shot at half a dozen prospects that could fall to them or be available when they get to draft that could be roster players in a few yrs & fill a niche. I also think we have a player in Halliday, but would like to see him in an NHL game soon to see where he is at in his development.
 
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Regardless of how Dickinson is performing, it would indeed be a very bold prediction to think he can be better than Sanderson, someone who even conservatively is among the top 10 defensemen in the NHL.
 
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If you believe Dickinson projects as a 70+ point player in the NHL at this stage of his development, it likely means you consider him a superior prospect to Sanderson in their respective D+1 years. Sanderson did not generate that level of hype. My point is that, despite Dickinson's impressive production, when you evaluate the player holistically, Sanderson outperforms him in almost every category(i.e hockey sense).

Many people seem to think Dickinson will be an offensive rockstar, but I disagree. I believe Dickinson will be a poor man's Sanderson, both offensively and defensively. That said, I could be wrong.

But I will not be moved by numbers and stat watching, like others, I have been massively wrong and I have learned. In the 2016 draft, I didn't even look at McAvoy because I didn't want a defensive guy in the lottery. I think McAvoy is one of the best D-men in the game. I would pick him over Hughes in a playoff series any day (just my opinion). There are many examples like this.

The 2019 draft is another example. I read every prospect guide pre-draft and had a list of 12 players I liked at 32 and not one of them was Shane Pinto. The guy I wanted is currently not playing in the league. So since then, I only look at lottery players and try to watch games.

There are two guys on the Calgary team that may be of interest to Ottawa in this year's draft. Kindel and Gorzynski. Both are very young and Kindel put up almost a hundred points. Kindel's numbers are impressive, but I am not totally sold on this player
We won’t take kindel.


Points are not be all end all.

But when they’re so lopsided…

Dickinson is better than Yakemchuk defensively and doubled his point Buium is better than Yakemchuk defensively and is better offensively.

Parekh I actually understand picking Yakemchuk over. He can be lethargic like Yakemchuk which is terrible at his size.

But I mean…the points are crazy.

We can say oh Yakemchuk tried at defence this year so that’s why he didn’t score more. But I mean. He’s older bigger and alledegly more talented than the kids he plays against so he should be able to play defense and bully players 5v5 offensively. That’s the year I was personally expecting at 7th overall. Maybe that’s my fault
 
We won’t take kindel.


Points are not be all end all.

But when they’re so lopsided…

Dickinson is better than Yakemchuk defensively and doubled his point Buium is better than Yakemchuk defensively and is better offensively.

Parekh I actually understand picking Yakemchuk over. He can be lethargic like Yakemchuk which is terrible at his size.

But I mean…the points are crazy.

We can say oh Yakemchuk tried at defence this year so that’s why he didn’t score more. But I mean. He’s older bigger and alledegly more talented than the kids he plays against so he should be able to play defense and bully players 5v5 offensively. That’s the year I was personally expecting at 7th overall. Maybe that’s my fault
Yak was always considered raw and a bit of a project. Dickinson was basically the opposite, where people felt he was the most NHL ready of the bunch. The questions with Dickinson were true NHL upside, with Yak it was whether he could put it all together. I get that the comparisons are inevitable but I’m not sure they mean much. It’s probably best to assume that even if Yak does become what we hope, it isn’t going to happen all that quickly. Maybe pre-season skewed that perception.

When we took Zib he didn’t pop for awhile, and he too was quite raw. That’s just the nature of drafting someone like that.
 
We won’t take kindel.


Points are not be all end all.

But when they’re so lopsided…

Dickinson is better than Yakemchuk defensively and doubled his point Buium is better than Yakemchuk defensively and is better offensively.

Parekh I actually understand picking Yakemchuk over. He can be lethargic like Yakemchuk which is terrible at his size.

But I mean…the points are crazy.

We can say oh Yakemchuk tried at defence this year so that’s why he didn’t score more. But I mean. He’s older bigger and alledegly more talented than the kids he plays against so he should be able to play defense and bully players 5v5 offensively. That’s the year I was personally expecting at 7th overall. Maybe that’s my fault
We could always just wait and see as well though….
 
Yak was always considered raw and a bit of a project. Dickinson was basically the opposite, where people felt he was the most NHL ready of the bunch. The questions with Dickinson were true NHL upside, with Yak it was whether he could put it all together. I get that the comparisons are inevitable but I’m not sure they mean much. It’s probably best to assume that even if Yak does become what we hope, it isn’t going to happen all that quickly. Maybe pre-season skewed that perception.

When we took Zib he didn’t pop for awhile, and he too was quite raw. That’s just the nature of drafting someone like that.
Ok. But yak should “pop” in junior. He’s playing against kids some half his size.

NHL is a different beast altogether.

And it’s pro sports. And life in general. Comparisons are everything
 
We could always just wait and see as well though….
But that’s what we are doing anyway?

Buy A little silly for people to wait 5 years to mention a guy on a discussion board

I have no choice but to wait and see just like I had no power on who to draft. I have to wait and see. But comparisons are inevitable and warranted
 
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Ok. But yak should “pop” in junior. He’s playing against kids some half his size.

NHL is a different beast altogether.

And it’s pro sports. And life in general. Comparisons are everything
I’m watching his game tonight and he does pop. Basically every shift.

It doesn’t always work (I think @Senator Stanley made a good point about that, he does sort of over dangle or make plays that don’t amount to much) but he’s making things happen. He makes crisp passes, good breakouts under pressure, plays the body. And he knows where to go in the offensive zone. I can’t really speak to why his production hasn’t been great other than the aforementioned piece as I didn’t watch him much before but he is very noticeable every shift.
 
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