2023 Draft Discussion

[Rzombo4 prez]

As always, people are overstating the number of actual professional centers in this draft class. We need offensive skill and scoring ability more than anything. If it comes on the wing, so be it. Outside of the first I agree we need to be adding more players who truly project as centers.

 

[Holden Caufield]

Brian Burke used to keep it simple… Always BPA.
It’s the scouts jobs to find and draft the best talent in the world.

It’s the GM’s job to trade assets and sign free agents to fill holes and build an NHL roster.

If you think you have the next Seider or Pasternak at #8, you draft him and laugh. Doesn’t matter what the makeup of your team/prospect pool is at the time.

 

[NickH8]

As always, people are overstating the number of actual professional centers in this draft class. We need offensive skill and scoring ability more than anything. If it comes on the wing, so be it. Outside of the first I agree we need to be adding more players who truly project as centers.

Agree that I don't care where the offense is coming from. A Pastrnak as Holden Caufield said would be just as huge for us as a Jack Hughes. I do disagree that people are overestimating the pro centers, at least at the top of the draft. Bedard while small is an insane player and will play center. Fantilli, Carlsson, and Moore are probably the safest center projections you can get in the top 10. Honzek, Danielsson, and Heidt have played only center this year. Smith could go either way due to him not being fast and average defensively, but he is agile. There's plenty of centers from 1-20. The question is if there is a winger you think is better you pick them.

 

[Frk It]

Agree that I don't care where the offense is coming from. A Pastrnak as Holden Caufield said would be just as huge for us as a Jack Hughes. I do disagree that people are overestimating the pro centers, at least at the top of the draft. Bedard while small is an insane player and will play center. Fantilli, Carlsson, and Moore are probably the safest center projections you can get in the top 10. Honzek, Danielsson, and Heidt have played only center this year. Smith could go either way due to him not being fast and average defensively, but he is agile. There's plenty of centers from 1-20. The question is if there is a winger you think is better you pick them.

A lot of draft folks I have listened to have said Bedard could be a winger in the NHL. Have also heard a decent number of people question if Carlson’s skating is good enough or if he could be a Rantanen type winger as a pro.

Neither of those two even played center at the most recent WJC.

 

[NickH8]

A lot of draft folks I have listened to have said Bedard could be a winger in the NHL. Have also heard a decent number of people question if Carlson’s skating is good enough or if he could be a Rantanen type winger as a pro.

Neither of those two even played center at the most recent WJC.

Bedard's skating I think is enough to carry him to be a center in the NHL. Even if he does end up a winger who cares? He's friggin Connor Bedard.
Carlsson has been playing center with Orebro, at least the last time I watched him. He's almost the opposite of Bedard when it comes to projecting him as a center. Doesn't have the best feet but he's super smart. If I were drafting either of these guys I'd definitely give them every chance to succeed as a center.

 

[Frk It]

Bedard's skating I think is enough to carry him to be a center in the NHL. Even if he does end up a winger who cares? He's friggin Connor Bedard.
Carlsson has been playing center with Orebro, at least the last time I watched him. He's almost the opposite of Bedard when it comes to projecting him as a center. Doesn't have the best feet but he's super smart. If I were drafting either of these guys I'd definitely give them every chance to succeed as a center.

For the record didn’t say anything about bedard’s skating. I think the thinking there is just his offensive gifts can be freed up more on the wing. I also could care less if he plays center or not, just mentioning what I’ve heard.

I have always heard people say Carlsson hasn’t played center in like 2 years, so that’s good if he has moved back there recently. I personally think he could be developed down the middle, but I have heard others question it, and it’s usually because of skating.

 

[NickH8]

For the record didn’t say anything about bedard’s skating. I think the thinking there is just his offensive gifts can be freed up more on the wing. I also could care less if he plays center or not, just mentioning what I’ve heard.

I have always heard people say Carlsson hasn’t played center in like 2 years, so that’s good if he has moved back there recently. I personally think he could be developed down the middle, but I have heard others question it, and it’s usually because of skating.

Maybe I'm seeing things with Carlsson lol. Orebro has some hard number plates for me to read. For all I know I may have been scouting the wrong guy!
I will watch him next time I get the chance and pay extra attention to if he's center or not lol. I mostly pay attention to the actual play not really draws.

 

[NickH8]

@OgeeOgelthorpe you're very tuned in to the swedes. Has Carlsson been lining up at center?

 

[wingerdinger]

I've watched as many Orebro games as I can this year. Carlsson has only played wing for the sr team, which is completely normal for any offensively minded prospect in sweden.

Like Kasper didn't play center in the SHL until this year. But they both play(ed) center when they drop to play for their respective j20 side.

Carlsson reminds me of a Tavares, very cerebral center with a heavy stick, who isnt the fleetest of foot.

 

[Realgud]

@OgeeOgelthorpe you're very tuned in to the swedes. Has Carlsson been lining up at center?

I've only seen him on the wing in the SHL

edit: oops didn't see above

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

@OgeeOgelthorpe you're very tuned in to the swedes. Has Carlsson been lining up at center?

Typical SHL teenage treatment just like Kasper. He’s been playing wing but still very much projects as a center. After Bedard he’s my favorite for number 2. In my opinion he’s the best Swedish forward prospect since Backstrom or Forsberg.

I've watched as many Orebro games as I can this year. Carlsson has only played wing for the sr team, which is completely normal for any offensively minded prospect in sweden.

Like Kasper didn't play center in the SHL until this year. But they both play(ed) center when they drop to play for their respective j20 side.

Carlsson reminds me of a Tavares, very cerebral center with a heavy stick, who isnt the fleetest of foot.

He’s a better skater than Tavares was at the same age. Not much faster but far more agile. I definitely see him as a future PPG+ player like Tavares though.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

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.

If it’s Reinbacher I think you’d be happy to eat those words after prospect camp.

Outside of him I don’t want any other first round D and would agree. I’m not a Sandin-Pelikka guy.

 

[NickH8]

Typical SHL teenage treatment just like Kasper. He’s been playing wing but still very much projects as a center. After Bedard he’s my favorite for number 2. In my opinion he’s the best Swedish forward prospect since Backstrom or Forsberg.



He’s a better skater than Tavares was at the same age. Not much faster but far more agile. I definitely see him as a future PPG+ player like Tavares though.

I was either seeing things or he played C for a few shifts then. Cheers!

 

[jfrank21]

Yeah, was going to say, if Wings end up picking outside top 10, I would be perfectly fine with Reinbacher. He's doing some impressive stuff this season and he looked good at the WJC on an overmatched team. Plus, he's a RHD which is still an overall system weakness. Personally, I want a high potential forward, but I will not be upset whatsoever with Reinbacher.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

Agree that I don't care where the offense is coming from. A Pastrnak as Holden Caufield said would be just as huge for us as a Jack Hughes. I do disagree that people are overestimating the pro centers, at least at the top of the draft. Bedard while small is an insane player and will play center. Fantilli, Carlsson, and Moore are probably the safest center projections you can get in the top 10. Honzek, Danielsson, and Heidt have played only center this year. Smith could go either way due to him not being fast and average defensively, but he is agile. There's plenty of centers from 1-20. The question is if there is a winger you think is better you pick them.

I agree there are centers in the top 4 for sure. Both NDTP kids could potentially play center but are still on the smaller side in NHL terms. I don't consider either a foregone conclusion. I agree on Danielsson. Honzek is a really good player but a winger, Jaeger likely a winger at the pro level (again a good player), Benson a winger for sure, Heidt could stick in the center, but I don't think it is a foregone conclusion at his size. It isn't a bad center draft but people will continue to fall into the trap of thinking every midget playing in the middle in juniors projects as a center in the pro game.

 

[Frk It]

My guy:

 

[jfrank21]

My guy:

Have to wonder if the wings are getting skittish about Czech players with how some of our more prominent ones have turned out lately....but I do love me some Sale as well!

 

[NickH8]

My guy:

What do you like about him? Would like to hear.

 

[jaster]

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.

This.

The center position gets all the attention on this forum, and for good reason, we obviously do need one. But winger gets overlooked here. Or, at least it was overlooked, until Lalonde made his comment about no 30-goal scorers and then we started a thread about it lol. So yeah. This team needs an elite winger who can pot goals just about as bad as a center, we can't pass one up and draft an inferior center prospect.

Meanwhile, as you say, there really aren't any stand-out defensemen at the top, at least not compared to the forwards, so it's extremely unlikely a D is BPA.

Draft BPA forward. Don't overthink it.

 

[Frk It]

What do you like about him? Would like to hear.

Smart/skilled forward that sees the ice very well. Like him for a lot of the reasons I liked Yurov last year.

 

[Frk It]

Have to wonder if the wings are getting skittish about Czech players with how some of our more prominent ones have turned out lately....but I do love me some Sale as well!

Would be pretty dumb. Look at how well Kulich and Jiricek are playing this year from this last draft. Hronek in thd 2nd round was big for us. Kind of a silly narrative IMO.

 

[NickH8]

Would be pretty dumb. Look at how well Kulich and Jiricek are playing this year from this last draft. Hronek in thd 2nd round was big for us. Kind of a silly narrative IMO.

Nah dude, two Czechs represent how every Czech prospect is gonna turn out.

 

[lilidk]

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.

Sale, Benson possible top 10 , But early second.

 

[jfrank21]

Nah dude, two Czechs represent how every Czech prospect is gonna turn out.

Well, it was what, like one or two high profile Russian kids who were skittish about coming to NA earlier than they wanted who created the whole "russian factor" craze that had players like Tarasenko and Kuznetsov to get passed over. Im not saying that I would have a problem with Sale, give me the next Pasta straight to my veins! Buuuut, having Frk bust, Zadina bust, Mrazek pout his way out of town, Hronek pout about Seider taking his pp time last year, and Vrana burning bridges cant exactly sit well with no nonsense people like Stevie and Draper....

 

[norrisnick]

Well, it was what, like one or two high profile Russian kids who were skittish about coming to NA earlier than they wanted who created the whole "russian factor" craze that had players like Tarasenko and Kuznetsov to get passed over. Im not saying that I would have a problem with Sale, give me the next Pasta straight to my veins! Buuuut, having Frk bust, Zadina bust, Mrazek pout his way out of town, Hronek pout about Seider taking his pp time last year, and Vrana burning bridges cant exactly sit well with no nonsense people like Stevie and Draper....

These are all different people. WTF does being Czech have to do with anything?

The Russian factor had nothing to do with nationality and everything to do with a viable domestic league kids could play in that is exponentially more financially profitable than riding buses in the AHL or Major Juniors.