2023 Draft Discussion

[Vector Cereal]

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.

With Barlow I could see him playing PP trigger man from the right as is standard for left shot or the left with his curl and drag, or even net front. That versatility shouldn’t be overlooked. Plus he can PK

 

[ZDH]

Yea surprised to see he was used on the pk.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

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.

Hey man, I also wanted Mason McTavish as a prospect and even changed my avatar for him that year. But I'm pretty happy with Edvinsson.

Barlow has risen some but it's not like it's been a meteoric rise. Also, is the rise due to there not being many forwards with physicality, size and skill this year aside from Fantilli and Leonard? That will make a difference in any ranking.

My worry with Barlow is does he become just another Virtanen or Nick Ritchie? Both of those guys fit that same player mold. And that is most definitely not what I want to select at #9. I think he's got a good shot, good motor and good straight ahead speed but I'm just not seeing sky high potential in his game. Like I said, looks like a secondary scorer to me.

 

[Frk It]

Hey man, I also wanted Mason McTavish as a prospect and even changed my avatar for him that year. But I'm pretty happy with Edvinsson.

Barlow has risen some but it's not like it's been a meteoric rise. Also, is the rise due to there not being many forwards with physicality, size and skill this year aside from Fantilli and Leonard? That will make a difference in any ranking.

My worry with Barlow is does he become just another Virtanen or Nick Ritchie? Both of those guys fit that same player mold. And that is most definitely not what I want to select at #9. I think he's got a good shot, good motor and good straight ahead speed but I'm just not seeing sky high potential in his game. Like I said, looks like a secondary scorer to me.

Yeah I just think that sometimes these guys that play a real direct but not flashy game get overlooked. With Barlow like a lot of these guys, I think you have a wide range of outcomes. If he doesn’t hit on his potential he could go the route of the guys you are worried about. You could say that kind of thing for most these kids though, in my opinion. I think his rise has more to do with scoring 40+ goals and looking like the best player from the OHL than size. Barlow doesn’t have that significant of a size advantage, he’s like 6’1 190 lbs.

Although our roster is still fluid, I think how these guys fit with our group matters. I can pretty easily see Wood or Barlow playing on the opposite wing to Raymond or Berggren. They do things that would benefit those guys.

As much as I like guys like Benson or Perreault, the fit does concern me a little with adding another guy like that into the mix.

I am kind of hoping we look at But from Russia at #17 if we take a smaller toward at #9 and some of these other guys go off the board.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Yeah I just think that sometimes these guys that play a real direct but not flashy game get overlooked. With Barlow like a lot of these guys, I think you have a wide range of outcomes. If he doesn’t hit on his potential he could go the route of the guys you are worried about. You could say that kind of thing for most these kids though, in my opinion. I think his rise has more to do with scoring 40+ goals and looking like the best player from the OHL than size. Barlow doesn’t have that significant of a size advantage, he’s like 6’1 190 lbs.

Although our roster is still fluid, I think how these guys fit with our group matters. I can pretty easily see Wood or Barlow playing on the opposite wing to Raymond or Berggren. They do things that would benefit those guys.

As much as I like guys like Benson or Perreault, the fit does concern me a little with adding another guy like that into the mix.

I am kind of hoping we look at But from Russia at #17 if we take a smaller toward at #9 and some of these other guys go off the board.

But is a pretty fascinating guy. He actually has pretty decent skating in my opinion. If you can improve his first couple of steps his potential gets very intriguing. There is some bust worry to him, but depending on who you take at #9 a swing on him could make a ton of sense.

 

[lilidk]

With Barlow I could see him playing PP trigger man from the right as is standard for left shot or the left with his curl and drag, or even net front. That versatility shouldn’t be overlooked. Plus he can PK

Good ,id take him at 17

 

[AlwaysSunnyInDetroit]

Scout: ‘Reinbacher could go as high as No. 3 for me’

 

[ZDH]

Gross. Absolutely no way.

 

[Mister Ed]

Scout: ‘Reinbacher could go as high as No. 3 for me’

Columbus is picking at 3rd overall. In the past 10 years, since Jarmo has been the GM, they've picked Werenski and Jiricek as their first pick. I'm not sure that he does it here, he might even be tempted to pick Michkov as he isn't afraid of picking Russians high (see Chinakhov in 2020).

 

[WaW]

I would take Reinbacher at 9 if the top centers + Michkov are all gone.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

But is a pretty fascinating guy. He actually has pretty decent skating in my opinion. If you can improve his first couple of steps his potential gets very intriguing. There is some bust worry to him, but depending on who you take at #9 a swing on him could make a ton of sense.

I think there is genuine bust potential for just about everyone being discussed at 9.

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

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

EDIT: Also, Barlow? Ranked #17.

What’s danielson Benson and perrault plz

 

[norrisnick]

Am I going to spend an hour looking up all the top names and back-dooring the EP draft guide order?

What’s danielson Benson and perrault plz

Look them up on EP and it's listed in their profile.

- Danielson

- Benson

- Perreault

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

What’s danielson Benson and perrault plz

Benson #5 - ranked as 5th best offensive forward, best two-way forward, best motor, 2nd best vision. Compared to Brayden Point
Perreault #18 - ranked 5th best vision. Compared to Clayton Keller
Danielson #26 - no top 5 grades. Compared to Filip Chytil.

Brindley was ranked #21 - 2nd best motor, 5th best transition forward, 5th best two-way forward. Very good things said about him. I'd be totally fine with him at 17.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

Benson #5 - ranked as 5th best offensive forward, best two-way forward, best motor, 2nd best vision. Compared to Brayden Point
Perreault #18 - ranked 5th best vision. Compared to Clayton Keller
Danielson #26 - no top 5 grades. Compared to Filip Chytil.

Brindley was ranked #21 - 2nd best motor, 5th best transition forward, 5th best two-way forward. Very good things said about him. I'd be totally fine with him at 17.

Do you have any information on the playing, coaching and management backgrounds of their contributing authors?

 

[Ed Ned and Leddy]

I like both players, but it’s curious to me that a 5’11 190 Ryan Leonard, who was was stapled to two of the best playmakers in the draft on a loaded and free flowing NTDP team, is a top 10 lock with little concerns about the way his game translates up. Meanwhile a 6’1 190 Barlow, scoring a shit ton as the far away best offensive talent on his team, is met with so much skepticism about his ability to translate up. Barlow scored about 20% of his team’s goals, Leonard about 13%.

Idk, generally players who are big, strong, fast, and score a lot of goals continue to do so at higher levels imo. If Barlow played for Rogle or Frolunda this board would be drooling over how pro-ready his game is and how much Hakan and Stevie would value his competitiveness.

Edit: there is always back and forth about weight measurements - wouldn’t be shocked if Leonard measures heavier now but I’ll wait to see what comes out of the combine. Regardless, NTDP lists him at 5’11 190. That doesn’t scream NHL power forward to me.

 

[Reddwit]

Columbus is picking at 3rd overall. In the past 10 years, since Jarmo has been the GM, they've picked Werenski and Jiricek as their first pick. I'm not sure that he does it here, he might even be tempted to pick Michkov as he isn't afraid of picking Russians high (see Chinakhov in 2020).

There’s zero chance Columbus takes anything other than Carlsson, Fantilli, or Smith. They’ve literally never had a legitimate franchise center and this is their best chance to land one.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

I like both players, but it’s curious to me that a 5’11 190 Ryan Leonard, who was was stapled to two of the best playmakers in the draft on a loaded and free flowing NTDP team, is a top 10 lock with little concerns about the way his game translates up. Meanwhile a 6’1 190 Barlow, scoring a shit ton as the far away best offensive talent on his team, is met with so much skepticism about his ability to translate up. Barlow scored about 20% of his team’s goals, Leonard about 13%.

Idk, generally players who are big, strong, fast, and score a lot of goals continue to do so at higher levels imo. If Barlow played for Rogle or Frolunda this board would be drooling over how pro-ready his game is and how much Hakan and Stevie would value his competitiveness.

Edit: there is always back and forth about weight measurements - wouldn’t be shocked if Leonard measures heavier now but I’ll wait to see what comes out of the combine. Regardless, NTDP lists him at 5’11 190. That doesn’t scream NHL power forward to me.

Ain't that the truth.

Honestly, there isn't a ton separating a dozen or so guys after the first five. People can take hardline stances on players, but they aren't being intellectually honest. The gap between Leonard and Danielson and Barlow is super super small if one even exists.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Do you have any information on the playing, coaching and management backgrounds of their contributing authors?

There is a "meet the team" section. The primary contributors are Lassi Alanen, Cam Robinson, Mitchell Brown, David St-Louis and JD Burke with comments about player X's performance in game Y. There are also several comments from unnamed "eastern/western conference scout" with each player. The guide has 400 profiles and over 1600 pages. Much more in depth than whatever THN puts out every year.

They do a very good job of breaking down terminology such as, "gap control", "small area game" and go in depth about their 1 through 9 ranking system.

In all, it's a good quality product. I think the blackbook is better by a hair. It's still worth a read though. And for $11.99 for Eliteprospects? The price is better.

 

[SantosHalper]

I just don’t get the push back to guys who could add size/scoring to our top 6.

Dvorsky and Wood adds size & scoring and Dvorsky also adds strong 2-way game, Moore adds speed & scoring and 2-way game, Danielsson adds speed & size and strong 2-way game. Yeger adds scoring & 2-way game and decent speed. 4/5 are centers, 2/5 are RH centers, all have have high compete level. All of those have higher floor than Barlow, all around they are way better prospects than Barlow.

Hard to play against offensively and defensively. Wood is the only one Barlow could challenge defensively.

 

[RedHawkDown]

I like both players, but it’s curious to me that a 5’11 190 Ryan Leonard, who was was stapled to two of the best playmakers in the draft on a loaded and free flowing NTDP team, is a top 10 lock with little concerns about the way his game translates up. Meanwhile a 6’1 190 Barlow, scoring a shit ton as the far away best offensive talent on his team, is met with so much skepticism about his ability to translate up. Barlow scored about 20% of his team’s goals, Leonard about 13%.

Idk, generally players who are big, strong, fast, and score a lot of goals continue to do so at higher levels imo. If Barlow played for Rogle or Frolunda this board would be drooling over how pro-ready his game is and how much Hakan and Stevie would value his competitiveness.

Edit: there is always back and forth about weight measurements - wouldn’t be shocked if Leonard measures heavier now but I’ll wait to see what comes out of the combine. Regardless, NTDP lists him at 5’11 190. That doesn’t scream NHL power forward to me.

I think it’s because Leonard actually plays somewhat of a skill game. I see him having a pretty good chance to be a Tkachuk type whereas Barlow (who I’d be happy with at 17 but not 9) I see more as a Perron type.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

I think it’s because Leonard actually plays somewhat of a skill game. I see him having a pretty good chance to be a Tkachuk type whereas Barlow (who I’d be happy with at 17 but not 9) I see more as a Perron type.

It's because Leonard is flat out better at everything else.

There's a minority of people that think Will Smith will be the 2nd player selected from the NTDP because they've seen that Leonard was the glue guy on that line. Without Leonard around to do the dirty work, win the corner battles, do the defensive heavy lifting, Will Smith and Perreault don't break USNTDP scoring records.

 

[Frk It]

Dvorsky and Wood adds size & scoring and Dvorsky also adds strong 2-way game, Moore adds speed & scoring and 2-way game, Danielsson adds speed & size and strong 2-way game. Yeger adds scoring & 2-way game and decent speed. 4/5 are centers, 2/5 are RH centers, all have have high compete level. All of those have higher floor than Barlow, all around they are way better prospects than Barlow.

Hard to play against offensively and defensively. Wood is the only one Barlow could challenge defensively.

Yager has a higher floor than Barlow? Break that down for me.

 

[Frk It]

I think it’s because Leonard actually plays somewhat of a skill game. I see him having a pretty good chance to be a Tkachuk type whereas Barlow (who I’d be happy with at 17 but not 9) I see more as a Perron type.

I don't think he will be as big as either of the Tkachuk brothers, and while I do appreciate the way he plays I do wonder how much of a "power forward" he will actually be at the next level.

It's because Leonard is flat out better at everything else.

There's a minority of people that think Will Smith will be the 2nd player selected from the NTDP because they've seen that Leonard was the glue guy on that line. Without Leonard around to do the dirty work, win the corner battles, do the defensive heavy lifting, Will Smith and Perreault don't break USNTDP scoring records.

Without Perreault and Smith, he doesn't score 50 goals.

I don't think anybody was a passenger on that line. I will have all 3 of those players top 15 and I think highly of each of them.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Without Perreault and Smith, he doesn't score 50 goals.

And that's probably true. But 40? I can see that. Like I've been saying for months now, Leonard is a very, very talented player. That's lost on people that only want to focus on the power forward aspects of his game. Oliver Moore looked so much better in the games he played with Leonard versus the games without.