2023 Draft Discussion

[Detroit Knights]

@Frk It @OgeeOgelthorpe

What do you guys think of Jay Lipinski? He is #15 in the clip below if your are unsure. He is Honzek's linemate it seems and it looks like the guy can finish? I was watching the Honzek highlights and #15 just kept showing up lol

 

[Realgud]

Jaden Lipinski is 45 on my final list. I like him a lot and used to have him a bit higher but I question his ultimate offensive upside. He's a very smart player.

 

[Detroit Knights]

Jaden Lipinski is 45 on my final list. I like him a lot and used to have him a bit higher but I question his ultimate offensive upside. He's a very smart player.

Ah, so he could be a good 2nd/3rd round pick project to see what he can do then?

 

[NickH8]

If Benson is available he's likely BPA period. It's almost eerie how similar he is to Point. Not the best skater but ultra elite IQ, very skilled, dual threat, good two way game, and plays with an edge.

 

[ZDH]

Vegas has the odds of Benson not being there when we pick at 1.3

He'll be there.

 

[Frk It]

@Frk It @OgeeOgelthorpe

What do you guys think of Jay Lipinski? He is #15 in the clip below if your are unsure. He is Honzek's linemate it seems and it looks like the guy can finish? I was watching the Honzek highlights and #15 just kept showing up lol

To be honest he was not my radar at all, but he was one of a few guys I thought was really interesting as far as their write-up in The Black Book.

Listed as a 6'3" RH center who they gave a 7/9 in skill and were pretty complimentary of in their write-up. Seems interesting to me at a surface level. Didn't really get too watch much of Honzek or the WHL this year, personally.

 

[Realgud]

Ah, so he could be a good 2nd/3rd round pick project to see what he can do then?

I hope so

 

[eojsmada]

Thoughts on Colby Barlow? Craig Button (grain of salt) has him in his mock draft being picked by you guys. To me, I feel like he is someone that Yzerman might take with 17 or use one of the 2nds to move up and grab him around 12-15.

 

[Reddwit]

If Benson is available he's likely BPA period. It's almost eerie how similar he is to Point. Not the best skater but ultra elite IQ, very skilled, dual threat, good two way game, and plays with an edge.

Agreed. Can’t be scared of the size/skating combo when the rest of the package is so good.

 

[norrisnick]

Thoughts on Colby Barlow? Craig Button (grain of salt) has him in his mock draft being picked by you guys. To me, I feel like he is someone that Yzerman might take with 17 or use one of the 2nds to move up and grab him around 12-15.

Barlow with Dvorsky on the board would be a bit upsetting. Yes we need goals. Possession centers with size are not players you pass up on.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

If Benson is available he's likely BPA period. It's almost eerie how similar he is to Point. Not the best skater but ultra elite IQ, very skilled, dual threat, good two way game, and plays with an edge.

The gripes about Benson's skating are overblown, in my opinion. He's got great mechanics, his feet are moving very fast, and he's got great edge work. I really think it's just a matter of strength for him. 10-15lbs more muscle and he very well could have Point's skating as well.

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

The gripes about Benson's skating are overblown, in my opinion. He's got great mechanics, his feet are moving very fast, and he's got great edge work. I really think it's just a matter of strength for him. 10-15lbs more muscle and he very well could have Point's skating as well.

big time. no clue where people think he’s a bad skater from

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Benson finished 3rd in WHL scoring in his draft year.

Elite Prospects - WHL Stats 2022-2023

Behind Bedard and Chase Wheatcroft, a 21 year old Dallas FA signee. I think it's even more impressive that he was a +/- 68. Cristall had a better points per game but was only a +18, and Reily Heidt was 1 point behind Benson but was a -3 for context.

 

[jkutswings]

Benson finished 3rd in WHL scoring in his draft year.

Elite Prospects - WHL Stats 2022-2023

Behind Bedard and Chase Wheatcroft, a 21 year old Dallas FA signee. I think it's even more impressive that he was a +/- 68. Cristall had a better points per game but was only a +18, and Reily Heidt was 1 point behind Benson but was a -3 for context.

Just doing a quick search of some of the more well known draft sites, I found multiple instances of, "floor of Zach Hyman, ceiling of Mitch Marner" and one direct comparison to Brayden Point.

5'9" is a small frame, but if the IQ and compete are both as good as advertised, I wouldn't mind the pick at all.

 

[Holden Caufield]

Vegas has the odds of Benson not being there when we pick at 1.3

He'll be there.

I’m having a lot fun betting this draft. Some of these lines are bonkers ! But they move really fast.

Danielson’s O/U is set at 10. And is a heavy favorite to the Under for some reason.

The exact pick #5 market was hilarious. Massive swings.
Yesterday Will Smith was +800 today +300
Yesterday Ryan Leonard +650 today +200

 

[Holden Caufield]

Benson finished 3rd in WHL scoring in his draft year.

Elite Prospects - WHL Stats 2022-2023

Behind Bedard and Chase Wheatcroft, a 21 year old Dallas FA signee. I think it's even more impressive that he was a +/- 68. Cristall had a better points per game but was only a +18, and Reily Heidt was 1 point behind Benson but was a -3 for context.

For some context on overall team dynamic for +\- stats.

WPG (Benson) - 325 GF to 177 GA
KEL (Cristall) - 210 GF to 256 GA

+ 68 is eye popping regardless, but +18 on a team that overall is -46 is sneaky impressive too.
Knowing that Kelowna team was bad and couldn’t score… I would have guessed Cristall was a hefty negative.

 

[TheOctopusKid]

Benson finished 3rd in WHL scoring in his draft year.

Elite Prospects - WHL Stats 2022-2023

Behind Bedard and Chase Wheatcroft, a 21 year old Dallas FA signee. I think it's even more impressive that he was a +/- 68. Cristall had a better points per game but was only a +18, and Reily Heidt was 1 point behind Benson but was a -3 for context.

How dare you make a veiled and possibly unintentional swipe at Heidt! Benson is amazing, sure and our obvious choice at 9, but he did have the added benefit of Savoie as his line mate whose not exactly chopped liver.

While Heidt has turned some middle tier prospect names Koehn Ziemmer into a 2nd Rd pick and I can't even remember the other plug he turned into a WHL stud. Sure, Heidt might be -3 for the year, but if we had saddled anyone else with that Dan Clearly level of deadweight, they would be -231. Heidt for President

edit: haha, Wheatcroft is the other plug on that line! SEE! He turned both of them into studs! All in a season's work

 

[HisNoodliness]

big time. no clue where people think he’s a bad skater from

Honestly, I used to feel this way and it's mostly that his top speed isn't so fast so I don't see him being able to pull away from defenders so much as just maneuver around them. I've decided that the maneuvering is good enough though that he'll be fine. Plus, if he develops another gear or two, he's suddenly a really good skater.

 

[Hen Kolland]

Honestly, I used to feel this way and it's mostly that his top speed isn't so fast so I don't see him being able to pull away from defenders so much as just maneuver around them. I've decided that the maneuvering is good enough though that he'll be fine. Plus, if he develops another gear or two, he's suddenly a really good skater.

Depends on play style in my eyes. I don't look at Benson to be a burner. I'm looking for acceleration in his first few strides and how efficient he is coming out of changes in directions. I'd rather him control pucks through traffic and create passing lanes with his feet. Giving him blinding speed doesn't do as much for him because he's not a transitional gunslinger. That's more of the Yager type.

Marner isn't winning races against the league's fastest skaters, but you also never look at him and say his skating is a limiting factor.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

For some context on overall team dynamic for +\- stats.

WPG (Benson) - 325 GF to 177 GA
KEL (Cristall) - 210 GF to 256 GA

+ 68 is eye popping regardless, but +18 on a team that overall is -46 is sneaky impressive too.
Knowing that Kelowna team was bad and couldn’t score… I would have guessed Cristall was a hefty negative.

I get that Cristall's team wasn't as good, but part of that is Cristall not being very strong defensively on his own.

Also, the times that I saw Winnipeg Ice and Benson this year he looked lightyears better than Savoie and Geekie.

 

[HisNoodliness]

Depends on play style in my eyes. I don't look at Benson to be a burner. I'm looking for acceleration in his first few strides and how efficient he is coming out of changes in directions. I'd rather him control pucks through traffic and create passing lanes with his feet. Giving him blinding speed doesn't do as much for him because he's not a transitional gunslinger. That's more of the Yager type.

Marner isn't winning races against the league's fastest skaters, but you also never look at him and say his skating is a limiting factor.

That's kind of my point. I think his skating gets criticized because you watch him and say "small and not a pocket rocket." You have to watch a bit more before you say "well, he's not a burner, but he actually does a really good job evading pressure with his feet," and then you don't feel so worried about his speed.

I still think it would be great if he can learn to do both. If he wants to consistently carry the puck through neutral ice against big fast NHL defenseman, he's going to have to have a faster top gear. I think he'll be awesome in the offensive zone where he can rapidly change direction or lanes and use his hands, smarts and passing to maintain possession. I just think that there is fair criticism of his skating, but no one is perfect and the good more than outweighs the bad there.

 

[Roomba With a Bauer]

My primary concern with Benson is that he hasn't been a true center since he was 12. Also, since he just turned 18 he is stuck in the WHL for another two full seasons before he can leave, and then will likely spend a year in the AHL, and unless Savoie makes the jump to the NHL next year he will still be Benson's center. Benson is probably a full 3 years away and likely ends up a sub-6 foot LW.

Not sure Benson fits our needs. I'm kind of hoping we get Dvorsky. Dvorsky will likely get a full SHL season next year and be in the AHL or NHL in 2024-2025. He is already 6'1'' and 200 pounds and has played against men in the Allsvenkan the last two years.

The more I read, the more there are concerns he might drop to the mid 1st, so if Yzerman doesn't trade 17 for a current NHLer we could maybe land him there.

 

[HisNoodliness]

My primary concern with Benson is that he hasn't been a true center since he was 12. Also, since he just turned 18 he is stuck in the WHL for another two full seasons before he can leave, and then will likely spend a year in the AHL, and unless Savoie makes the jump to the NHL next year he will still be Benson's center. Benson is probably a full 3 years away and likely ends up a sub-6 foot LW.

Not sure Benson fits our needs. I'm kind of hoping we get Dvorsky. Dvorsky will likely get a full SHL season next year and be in the AHL or NHL in 2024-2025. He is already 6'1'' and 200 pounds and has played against men in the Allsvenkan the last two years.

I really couldn't care less about Benson being a center vs winger if we think he has the best offensive potential among our options.

 

[Roomba With a Bauer]

I really couldn't care less about Benson being a center vs winger if we think he has the best offensive potential among our options.

I would be concerned about adding another undersized wing to a team where most of our young wingers are undersized.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

My primary concern with Benson is that he hasn't been a true center since he was 12. Also, since he just turned 18 he is stuck in the WHL for another two full seasons before he can leave, and then will likely spend a year in the AHL, and unless Savoie makes the jump to the NHL next year he will still be Benson's center. Benson is probably a full 3 years away and likely ends up a sub-6 foot LW.

Not sure Benson fits our needs. I'm kind of hoping we get Dvorsky. Dvorsky will likely get a full SHL season next year and be in the AHL or NHL in 2024-2025. He is already 6'1'' and 200 pounds and has played against men in the Allsvenkan the last two years.

Who cares that he's not a center? And how does he not fit our need? GOOD HOCKEY PLAYER is the Red Wings need. And if he's available at #9 there's no better forward available, even if Dvorsky is on the board.