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2023 Draft Discussion

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Frk It said:
He plays wing on the program, not sure if there are plans for him to play center in college or not.
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Aren't him Smith and Perreault all going to BC? Wouldn't be surprised if they keep the line together.
 
NickH8 said:
Aren't him Smith and Perreault all going to BC? Wouldn't be surprised if they keep the line together.
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They are, but not sure what the coach plans to do. I would probably keep them together.

If a team drafts Leonard high because they see him as a center, not sure if that could factor into that at all. I was thinking of how Gauthier played wing on the program but then plays center in college.
 
Frk It said:
They are, but not sure what the coach plans to do. I would probably keep them together.

If a team drafts Leonard high because they see him as a center, not sure if that could factor into that at all. I was thinking of how Gauthier played wing on the program but then plays center in college.
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Leonard seems like he may be one of those guys that has all the skills needed to be a center but plays the wing for so long his game as a winger develops more than his game as a center.

If you had a crystal ball and could tell me 100% that Leonard will be a winger and Smith a center in the NHL, that may bump Smith ahead of Leonard for me. But of course none of us can do that.
 
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This one is for you guys that were Noah Ostlund stans last year.

Felix Nilsson at eliteprospects.com

Another Swedish name to keep eyes on. He hasn’t been given much ice on Rogle’s men’s club but in the J20 he plays like a true center. Smart, responsible, good all around player.

Scout's Notebook: Checking in on Felix Nilsson, Tom Willander, and David Edstrom's progress in the J20 - EP Rinkside

According to the article, Nilsson is involved in creating 30% of Rogle’s J20 team’s shot attempts. That’s the best in J20 and the 2nd best is ranking around 15%.

 
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A little more on Felix Nilsson.

Sweden Stock Watch: Felix Nilsson a silent riser in the 2023 NHL Draft - EP Rinkside

Stock Rising​

Felix Nilsson, C/F, Rögle BK (2023 NHL Draft)​

Felix Nilsson has been a silent riser all season, and now looks the part of a potential second-round pick come June. The Swedish forward has generated offence at better than a point-a-game clip in the J20 and has parlayed that production into a fourth-line role with Rögle in the SHL.

Nilsson is a play-driving two-way centre who chips in with contributions at every corner of the ice. He's an option for his defencemen on the breakout, a play-connector with his linemates, and has shown an ability to move and think the game at a high pace in the offensive zone. He's a capable playmaker and has a decent enough shot. Simply put: Nilsson makes everyone around him better.

The downside to Nilsson's game is that he doesn't exactly have any separating physical skills. He's not an elite stick handler, skater, or physical player. The foundation of his game is his ability to out-think and outwork his opponents.

You can see it when he plays in the SHL, but you also get a sense for the limitations of that approach. He's a smart defensive player positionally, but he needs to leverage that sense and motor to escape more battles with possession of the puck.
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What I’ve been able to see from this kid’s clips online isn’t flashy skill, but very precise and that’s even more important. Nothing seems to wow you but it just seems to be the exactly right move or pass each time.

Definitely adding to my short list of 2nd round favorites.
 
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OgeeOgelthorpe said:
You are correct! It’s Stennberg that’s dropping. But I could have sworn I saw something negative about Fisker-Molgaard. Something about only generating on the rush.
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Not sure, I think Stennberg might be falling to round 2 territory honestly. And I would have some interest in him in that range.

I also remember being really impressed with this kid at the Hlinka: Rasmus Kumpulainen at eliteprospects.com

Curious to see how he does at the U18s, but I saw a 6'2 center with some skill.
 
Frk It said:
:(
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Maybe he meant this kind of bust?

Little-Caesars-Arena-08.jpg
 
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jkutswings said:
Maybe he meant this kind of bust?

Little-Caesars-Arena-08.jpg
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No. As big a bust as Martin Frk.

Frk It said:
Not sure, I think Stennberg might be falling to round 2 territory honestly. And I would have some interest in him in that range.

I also remember being really impressed with this kid at the Hlinka: Rasmus Kumpulainen at eliteprospects.com

Curious to see how he does at the U18s, but I saw a 6'2 center with some skill.
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I'm iffy on Stennberg now after being bullish on him in late summer/early fall. He's trying to play like a power forward and it's just not working for him. I think anyone taking him before the 2nd is taking a huuuuge gamble on him that I'm not confident will pay off.

In an ideal world Detroit ends up with 1 to 2 more 1st round picks and another 2nd round pick this year. I realize they're probably more likely to end up with just 2 more 2nd rounders but I'll live with it.

The players I find myself more interested in as the season progresses that are ranked in the 20 to 50 range:

Charlie Stramel
Gabe Perrault
Gavin Brindley
Calum Ritchie
Noah Dower-Nilsson
Timur Mukhanov (Seriously, if this kid were 5'10" he'd be talked about as a top 10 pick.)
David Edstrom
Felix Nilsson (May move him up the list as the season goes on. He gives me Lukas Reichel vibes.)
Lukas Dragicevic
Daniil But

Also here's an interesting mock draft from THW. They have us winning the 3rd overall pick!
2023 NHL Entry Draft: Horn's Mock Draft 1.0
 
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OgeeOgelthorpe said:
No. As big a bust as Martin Frk.



I'm iffy on Stennberg now after being bullish on him in late summer/early fall. He's trying to play like a power forward and it's just not working for him. I think anyone taking him before the 2nd is taking a huuuuge gamble on him that I'm not confident will pay off.

In an ideal world Detroit ends up with 1 to 2 more 1st round picks and another 2nd round pick this year. I realize they're probably more likely to end up with just 2 more 2nd rounders but I'll live with it.

The players I find myself more interested in as the season progresses that are ranked in the 20 to 50 range:

Charlie Stramel
Gabe Perrault
Gavin Brindley
Calum Ritchie
Noah Dower-Nilsson
Timur Mukhanov (Seriously, if this kid were 5'10" he'd be talked about as a top 10 pick.)
David Edstrom
Felix Nilsson (May move him up the list as the season goes on. He gives me Lukas Reichel vibes.)
Lukas Dragicevic
Daniil But

Also here's an interesting mock draft from THW. They have us winning the 3rd overall pick!
2023 NHL Entry Draft: Horn's Mock Draft 1.0
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I'm still really intrigued by Gulyayev. That player looked special to me and like a top 10 talent when I saw him play at the 21/22 Hlinka. I think I would take a swing on him if he is around in that 20-50 range.

I like some of the same players you listed as far as Stramel, Perrault, Dower Nilsson, Dragicevic, But. I think some of those guys might end up going top 20 though, we will see. If Heidt is available late 1st I might make an aggressive play to go get him. Or if Cristall slides.

Cataford out of the Q is interesting to me. I liked Caden Price a lot at the Hlinka, and he tested really well at the Top Prospects game.
 
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Frk It said:
I'm still really intrigued by Gulyayev. That player looked special to me and like a top 10 talent when I saw him play at the 21/22 Hlinka. I think I would take a swing on him if he is around in that 20-50 range.

I like some of the same players you listed as far as Stramel, Perrault, Dower Nilsson, Dragicevic, But. I think some of those guys might end up going top 20 though, we will see. If Heidt is available late 1st I might make an aggressive play to go get him. Or if Cristall slides.

Cataford out of the Q is interesting to me. I liked Caden Price a lot at the Hlinka, and he tested really well at the Top Prospects game.
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Some but not all. I think this draft is shaping up to look a lot like the 2015 or 2020 draft in terms of quality and surprises. There will be some teams that will make an obvious missfire where everyone is wondering what's wrong with them (like Boston in 2015) and some surprises where guys like Lundell fall out of the top 10, and the Wallinder and Peterka quality guys fall to the 2nd.

I think it gets really murky between that 20 and 50 spot but that's also what really excites me about this draft. I wouldn't be shocked to see someone take Stramel as high as 12 or as low as 40. It'll be crazy.

I definitely think that Cristall is the one winger in this draft I would move to get if available after 15 by some weird chance. (I'll admit, you made me a fan despite the stripper name.) His game reminds me a ton of Matt Boldy while at the USNTDP as that dual threat, playdriving winger.

I'm not as familiar with the Q prospects thisyear so I'll have to take a look at that one.
 
OgeeOgelthorpe said:
Some but not all. I think this draft is shaping up to look a lot like the 2015 or 2020 draft in terms of quality and surprises. There will be some teams that will make an obvious missfire where everyone is wondering what's wrong with them (like Boston in 2015) and some surprises where guys like Lundell fall out of the top 10, and the Wallinder and Peterka quality guys fall to the 2nd.

I think it gets really murky between that 20 and 50 spot but that's also what really excites me about this draft. I wouldn't be shocked to see someone take Stramel as high as 12 or as low as 40. It'll be crazy.

I definitely think that Cristall is the one winger in this draft I would move to get if available after 15 by some weird chance. (I'll admit, you made me a fan despite the stripper name.) His game reminds me a ton of Matt Boldy while at the USNTDP as that dual threat, playdriving winger.

I'm not as familiar with the Q prospects thisyear so I'll have to take a look at that one.
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Overall it's (another) pretty weak draft from the Q.

But Cataford and Gauthier are interesting to me. Gauthier looked fantastic at the Hlinka for Canada. Cataford had a nice goal at the Top Prospects game and has always been productive.

BTW if you want another big/raw defenseman out of the Q, this is your guy: Matteo Mann at eliteprospects.com

I thought Dragicevic was the clear top defenseman in this draft originally, but have seen some posts on the prospect thread that point out how much work his defensive game needs. I like Caden Price out of the WHL and I like Beau Akey out of the OHL, as far defenseman in the 2nd round. I didn't like the idea of Cam Allen in the 1st round, but could get on board with him in the 2nd round.
 


Scouching talking to the Locked on Sharks podcast about the 23 draft. He mentions that the top group is really strong but doesn't see that strength in the later rounds, which I slightly disagree with. The top 12 this year looks the strongest since 2019 but I think that the late 1st to even the 3rd will provide much better depth than the 21 or 22 drafts.
 
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We need one of Bedard, Fantilli, or Carlsson more than anyone not named Arizona. Or we need to nail the wildcards cause it’s likely a couple others in the top 20 or so will be studs. This rebuild needs so much help up front, it’s scary. We just have no punch.
 
Is it safe to say this is the most important draft in the entire rebuild? Like we have to hit on a forward in this draft. It is a must, we cannot draft a bust or a mediocre player. We honestly should be selling everyone not named seider or raymond at the deadline, anything to try and get another 1st. We need to literally go all center the first 2 rounds, and if not center it has to be RD or a winger with an elite shot/goal scoring instincts.
 
Coach Reggie Dunlop said:
Is it safe to say this is the most important draft in the entire rebuild? Like we have to hit on a forward in this draft. It is a must, we cannot draft a bust or a mediocre player. We honestly should be selling everyone not named seider or raymond at the deadline, anything to try and get another 1st. We need to literally go all center the first 2 rounds, and if not center it has to be RD or a winger with an elite shot/goal scoring instincts.
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I'm 99% of the time a BPA guy but yeah. You're not wrong. We've built up so many young pieces our needs are more specific now. Helps that there's an abundance of our needs this draft.
If we can't get a center give me Leonard of But who can put pucks in the net.
 
I will have no issue if our top pick is a winger, because I think there are some really talented wingers we could possibly grab (Sale, Benson, But, etc.)

I will be pretty upset if our top pick is used on a defenseman. I don't think there are any worth drafting top 10 and I do not think it is close to our biggest need.
 
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