2023 Draft Discussion

[Rzombo4 prez]

I would have zero issues taking Barlow at 9. He isn't the only one I would consider taking there, but he absolutely belongs in that conversation.

 

[dtown77]

You guys can keep bringing up Leonard, I’m not expecting him to be there at #9.

I don’t know what you think what his shot chart would look like is accurate. I would bet a guy who scored 46 goals this year put a decent amount of pucks on net in prime areas.

He looks like an old man. Give me someone who puts up that many goals and looks 15 and I'll feel a lot more comfortable about a prospect lol

 

[SantosHalper]

But I don't know that 4 points in a 6-game tournament is a red flag.

His overall game was weak and like i said 9th highest scorer in Team Canada, and he had a top-6 role. 4 games in the 1st line & 2 games in the 2nd line + PP minutes. It is a red flag.
Canada U18 at eliteprospects.com

I think guys already being physically developed at 17/18 has cut both ways as far as prospects go.

I would like to see actual statistic on this matter, i would believe that there is more failures than success stories. Where are the college researchers, when you need them?

 

[Frk It]

I would like to see actual statistic on this matter, i would believe that there is more failures than success stories. Where are the college researchers, when you need them?

Lol yeah, I don't know. I knok Crosby was a grown man physically at 17/18. I think both Tkachuk brothers were, for the most part. So it's not all cases of flops for guys already developed at that age.

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

If we roughly agree that Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson, Smith and Michkov will be gone. Then we have a tier that should have some names there for 9 but not 17:
Dvorsky, Leonard, Perreault, Benson, Reinbacher

and then another very close group: Moore, Wood, Barlow, Danielson, Yager, Willander, Sale, Sandin Pellikka, Honzek and Cristall.

What are some of your best/worst case scenario 9/17 combos?

Personally I think they're something like:
Best case: Dvorsky/Yager
Worst case: Danielson/Cristall
And I'd still be pretty happy with Danielson/Cristall

Best Danielson/Perrault

Worst Moore/Honzek

 

[newfy]

And I understand the want and agree with you there. But there's a HUGE difference between a shot generator like Barlow and a shot generator like Leonard, for example. Most of Leonard's shots are from 15 feet of the net or closer. If there was an OHL shot map I'd bet the majority of Barlow's shots are from outside of the circles. And outside of powerplay chances, shots like that don't often go even get to the net at the NHL level.

That said, I do like the player. I think he's got a good amount of skill and fairly certain NHL upside, but I don't think it's better than the other guys available at #9. I don't think he's going to score more goals in the NHL than guys like Leonard, Danielson, Dvorsky or Benson. His game isn't as greasy as a guy like Leonard or Danielson, and for a guy reported to have a power game he spends too much time shooting from outside. None of his flaws are world shattering that make me say no to him, but there isn't a single trait in his game that tops any other player at 9 for me. Shot, physicality, skating, playmaking, hockey sense, size.

Ok heres what I dont get, you dont think Barlows shot is near the top of the class right? But hes also not getting shots from inside the circles. How the hell does he go 46 goals in 59 games shooting from outside the circles with a shot that isnt near the top of the class.

I'm not even saying draft him at 9, I have probably 4 or 5 other players I would prefer there but lets get real about some of the things being said just because certain guy dont like him. If youre only shooting from the outside and scoring at that ridiculous of a pace in your draft year, your shot is in the argument for best in the class and is absolutely elite.

What the actual case is, is that Barlow does have an elite shot, maybe not best in class but extremely high end, but he also goes to garbage areas and scores that way. And no, sometimes these guys dont pan out at the next level, but sometimes they do. But Barlow plays the game in other areas besides his goal scoring at a high level and thats why hes going to be a mid first rounder

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

Lol yeah, I don't know. I knok Crosby was a grown man physically at 17/18. I think both Tkachuk brothers were, for the most part. So it's not all cases of flops for guys already developed at that age.

People need to stop acting like he is an 18-year-old Eric Lindros. The kid is 6'0"...hardly a giant.

 

[ZDH]

Best Danielson/Perrault

Worst Moore/Honzek

Lol I would be happier with Moore/Honzek.

 

[Reddwit]

People need to stop acting like he is an 18-year-old Eric Lindros. The kid is 6'0"...hardly a giant.

Has nothing to do with size. He could be 5’10” and the concern would still be that his physical maturity might be considerably further along than his peers, leading to advantages that disappear once you move up a level where everyone has more or less physically arrived.

Not saying that’s the case here, just that it’s not about being a big kid but a physically mature one.

 

[jfrank21]

Barlow is classic case of player who matures early, like Lafreniere and Zadina. All had adult physique at age of 18 and played against players who mostly had the physique of a teenagers.

At the U18 Worlds Barlow got to play against kids who has played against men or at least participated in men's team practices, and suddenly he didn't look so good. 3+1 in 6 games and he played 4 games in the 1st line and 2 games in the 2nd line. 9th best scorer in Team Canada and played in the top-6 role. Canada had 8-0, 8-3 and 7-3 blow out victories, Barlow had 1 goal and 1 assist in those games and both in same game against Czechia. 2 goals against Slovakia, 1 in preliminary round game and 1 in bronze medal game.

Barlow #9, would be mistake.

There was a ton of talk that he was playing through injury, fyi. Same with Ritchie, which makes things a little more impressive to me.

 

[Run the Jewels]

Lol yeah, I don't know. I knok Crosby was a grown man physically at 17/18. I think both Tkachuk brothers were, for the most part. So it's not all cases of flops for guys already developed at that age.

One game, so small sample size, but Quinn Hughes did just fine against Brady Tkachuk and Jordan Greenway in the NCAA tournament.

 

[SantosHalper]

There was a ton of talk that he was playing through injury, fyi. Same with Ritchie, which makes things a little more impressive to me.

Talk is talk. What i've seen is one bad tournament and OHL season where he was man among boys. Not enough to even consider #9.

 

[Vector Cereal]

People need to stop acting like he is an 18-year-old Eric Lindros. The kid is 6'0"...hardly a giant.

I think the kind of physical development I worry more about is the Marco Rossi’s of the world. You can only get so strong and still be a functional hockey player. Maybe I’m out of the loop on Barlow’s actual strength, but I haven’t seen anything to suggest he’s just bodying kids out there. It’s facial hair ffs - has no impact on whether he’s actually developed grown man strength yet

 

[Frk It]

Talk is talk. What i've seen is one bad tournament and OHL season where he was man among boys. Not enough to even consider #9.

Colby Barlow isnt the first guy to play in the OHL at 6’1 187 lbs or with facial hair.

He is on a pretty small list of guys to score 45+ goals in the OHL his draft year though.

Drew Doughty looked like a grown man in his draft year coming out of the O. I think LA is pretty happy to have him.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

People need to stop acting like he is an 18-year-old Eric Lindros. The kid is 6'0"...hardly a giant.

Relative to this year's draft he might as well be. There seem to be more 5'11" or shorter forwards this year than others in the top 60.

 

[SantosHalper]

Maybe I’m out of the loop on Barlow’s actual strength, but I haven’t seen anything to suggest he’s just bodying kids out there. It’s facial hair ffs - has no impact on whether he’s actually developed grown man strength yet

Other way round, Barlow uses that physique that he won't get bodied out. That trick won't help in NHL and then he gets bodied out, and scoring dries out like paint.

Colby Barlow isnt the first guy to play in the OHL at 6’1 187 lbs or with facial hair.

He is on a pretty small list of guys to score 45+ goals in the OHL his draft year though.

Drew Doughty looked like a grown man in his draft year coming out of the O. I think LA is pretty happy to have him.

No he isn't but the question is that how much that physique has helped Barlow this season? And how much he can still improve or can he even improve anymore? Zadina was what 192-195 lbs, now he's 196. Virtually nothing has happened since he was drafted.

Here's a list, who do you think is a good comparison? Arthur Kaliyev? 6'2'' 190 lbs and 51 goals in his draft year. Maybe a 20 goal guy in NHL one day, 2nd round pick
Elite Prospects - OHL Stats All-time season

Barlow ain't projected to be in top-3, like Doughty was.

 

[Frk It]

Other way round, Barlow uses that physique that he won't get bodied out. That trick won't help in NHL and then he gets bodied out, and scoring dries out like paint.

No he isn't but the question is that how much that physique has helped Barlow this season? And how much he can still improve or can he even improve anymore? Zadina was what 192-195 lbs, now he's 196. Virtually nothing has happened since he was drafted.

Here's a list, who do you think is a good comparison? Arthur Kaliyev? 6'2'' 190 lbs and 51 goals in his draft year. Maybe a 20 goal guy in NHL one day, 2nd round pick
Elite Prospects - OHL Stats All-time season

Barlow ain't projected to be in top-3, like Doughty was.

I think Barlow is a lot more interested in defensive play and getting pucks out of corners than Kaliyev was.

Kaliyev has some known/unique flaws. He is actually kind of like Musty in some ways.

 

[jkutswings]

I was unaware just how many professional scouts we had on this board. And yet such strong disagreements.

Nothing whatsoever in preferring some players over others, or targeting a particular skill set or trait(s). But several posters are taking far too definitive stances on teenagers that have yet to even be drafted, let alone gone through any NHL development.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

I think the kind of physical development I worry more about is the Marco Rossi’s of the world. You can only get so strong and still be a functional hockey player. Maybe I’m out of the loop on Barlow’s actual strength, but I haven’t seen anything to suggest he’s just bodying kids out there. It’s facial hair ffs - has no impact on whether he’s actually developed grown man strength yet

It is an extraordinarily cliché critique in my judgment. If you want to critique him, critique his skills or how he plays the game. The posters who want to paint the walls over undersized "skilled" wingers ask us to look past the undersized nature of players all the time.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Oh hey guys, eliteprospects draft guide came out today. You should get it. It's pretty good.

EDIT: Also, Barlow? Ranked #17.

 

[Frk It]

Oh hey guys, eliteprospects draft guide came out today. You should get it. It's pretty good.

EDIT: Also, Barlow? Ranked #17.

Talk to me when Bob’s final list comes out or hockeyprospect.com gives us an updated ranking.

I mean we reached on Kasper last year according to where EP had him, you didn’t seem to mind.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Talk to me when Bob’s final list comes out or hockeyprospect.com gives us an updated ranking.

I mean we reached on Kasper last year according to where EP had him, you didn’t seem to mind.

EP had him at #10. Also I was pulling for a Detroit-Kasper marriage from October when Kasper was only ranked in the 20s because I thought he was one of those guys that would shoot up the rankings after people watched him closer. And I was right.
#teamkasperbeforeitwascool

 

[Frk It]

EP had him at #10. Also I was pulling for a Detroit-Kasper marriage from October when Kasper was only ranked in the 20s because I thought he was one of those guys that would shoot up the rankings after people watched him closer. And I was right.
#teamkasperbeforeitwascool

Barlow has been steadily rising all year as well. I just don’t get the push back to guys who could add size/scoring to our top 6.

Everybody on here wants Brady Tkachuk the NHL player but a small % of people on here wanted Brady Tkachuk the prospect. Same thing with Timo Meier. Similar story with Mactavish.

Eventually you think people would be more open-minded to these kinds of players.

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

Oh hey guys, eliteprospects draft guide came out today. You should get it. It's pretty good.

EDIT: Also, Barlow? Ranked #17.

Can't afford it.

 

[Detroit Knights]

EP had him at #10. Also I was pulling for a Detroit-Kasper marriage from October when Kasper was only ranked in the 20s because I thought he was one of those guys that would shoot up the rankings after people watched him closer. And I was right.
#teamkasperbeforeitwascool

damn, i think that is going to start trending.