2023 Draft Discussion

[Rzombo4 prez]

His shot is really good. I think that he could be the finisher that we lack in that regard. I also really like his skating once he gets up to speed. I wish he was a bit more shifty from a stand-still. His passing seems really good too. I just don't know why he doesn't have more impact. I almost feel like whatever I didn't understand about Zadina is also a threat to Yager. I still don't quite get what that was to be honest

I think he skates much better than Zadina did at that age and also plays a bit quicker. I don't get the disconnect between what I see with Yager and his productivity. I just can't really explain it.

I could be out to lunch but I still think Yager could be the best skater out of the WHL forwards expected to go in the first (including Benson).

 

[Frk It]

I think he skates much better than Zadina did at that age and also plays a bit quicker. I don't get the disconnect between what I see with Yager and his productivity. I just can't really explain it.

What is the knock on his productivity?

I would say his Hlinka/WHL production is not concerning at all to me. He has similar production in the WHL to Kirby Dach who was a #3 pick.

I could be out to lunch but I still think Jaeger could be the best skater out of the WHL forwards expected to go in the first (including Benson).

It's Friday, this guy needs a drink.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

What is the knock on his productivity?

I would say his Hlinka/WHL production is not concerning at all to me. He has similar production in the WHL to Kirby Dach who was a #3 pick.

It's Friday, this guy needs a drink.

Too much Tank 7 last night Frkie....

 

[NickH8]

What is the knock on his productivity?

I would say his Hlinka/WHL production is not concerning at all to me. He has similar production in the WHL to Kirby Dach who was a #3 pick.

It's Friday, this guy needs a drink.

I don't think Jaeger is coachable. Always talking about freedom and keep moving forward and all this ignoring his teammates advise. Also think he went a little far with the whole rumbling thing. Don't need a goon like that on our team.

 

[lilidk]

I think he skates much better than Zadina did at that age and also plays a bit quicker. I don't get the disconnect between what I see with Yager and his productivity. I just can't really explain it.

I could be out to lunch but I still think Yager could be the best skater out of the WHL forwards expected to go in the first (including Benson).

Talking about Zadina , I think Holland ruined him. Remember how media always talking about that our prospects were overcooked, Zadina brought too early, he was not ready to play against the best

 

[wingerdinger]

Here's a reel of one of my favourite mid round prospects for this upcoming draft.

Felix Unger Sörum​

It's from today's J20 playoff game were he went 4+2. I couldnt get the last assist but this still should give you an idea about him. He's #22 in white.





Strengths
silkyness, puck hound, vision, tenacity, noise for the goal

Weakness
physically underdeveloped. needs to get stronger, plays a raw game blowing the dzone without properly supporting the play.

All in all he's got all the markings off a Hakan speacial.

 

[Run the Jewels]

Here's a reel of one of my favourite mid round prospects for this upcoming draft.

Felix Unger Sörum​

It's from today's J20 playoff game were he went 4+2. I couldnt get the last assist but this still should give you an idea about him. He's #22 in white.





Strengths
silkyness, puck hound, vision, tenacity, noise for the goal

Weakness
physically underdeveloped. needs to get stronger, plays a raw game blowing the dzone without properly supporting the play.

All in all he's got all the markings off a Hakan speacial.

And he's got three names like Liam Dower-Nilsson. Works for me.

 

[Frk It]

Here's a reel of one of my favourite mid round prospects for this upcoming draft.

Felix Unger Sörum​

It's from today's J20 playoff game were he went 4+2. I couldnt get the last assist but this still should give you an idea about him. He's #22 in white.





Strengths
silkyness, puck hound, vision, tenacity, noise for the goal

Weakness
physically underdeveloped. needs to get stronger, plays a raw game blowing the dzone without properly supporting the play.

All in all he's got all the markings off a Hakan speacial.

This is my guy.

If he was born 1 day later I think he might be looked at as a top player for next years Draft.

 

[wingerdinger]

This is my guy.

If he was born 1 day later I think he might be looked at as a top player for next years Draft.

I'm shocked he hasnt gotten more buzz. I love the flair and chippness (for a Swede) he displays.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

This is my guy.

If he was born 1 day later I think he might be looked at as a top player for next years Draft.

Sounds like the sausage king of South Milwaukee if you ask me

 

[NickH8]

Really enjoy these vids. EP is the best in the biz when it comes to free public scouting content.

 

[lilidk]

Interesting how they exited about Leonard and Moore and both ahead of Smith

Really enjoy these vids. EP is the best in the biz when it comes to free public scouting content.

 

[NickH8]

Interesting how they exited about Leonard and Moore and both ahead of Smith

I can see it. Both have more translatable games. You know you're likely getting at least 2nd line players with those two. Smith has more upside but man he does some things that make me wonder how he'll do in the NHL.

 

[Reddwit]

I can see it. Both have more translatable games. You know you're likely getting at least 2nd line players with those two. Smith has more upside but man he does some things that make me wonder how he'll do in the NHL.

Yeah I like smith but could equally see him being like a Drouin type - not a bust but underwhelming and one dimensional.

 

[lilidk]

Yeah I like smith but could equally see him being like a Drouin type - not a bust but underwhelming and one dimensional.

And he probably will be taking before our pick

 

[heyfolks]

The Yzertank is in full effect. A few bumps in the road of late, beating the Blues should motivate the trainer to have Mo and Larkin hit the IR to take care of a few nagging injuries.


This team is going to win the Lotto. BEDARD to the rescue.

 

[NickH8]

Yeah I like smith but could equally see him being like a Drouin type - not a bust but underwhelming and one dimensional.

He's wicked skilled and a great playmaker, but his skating is average and his two-way game is mediocre and his shot is nothing to write home about. There's NHL skill there for sure so I think it'd be galaxy brained to not at least have him top 10, but that Drouin projection is not something that's improbable with him.

That being said I have Smith right above Leonard. I'd rather take the swing if having to choose between those two, and as likely as Smith is to be a Drouin Leonard could end up a Sundqvist. Moore is leagues above anyone on that team though in my opinion. Give him better linemates and his production is right on par with Smith imo.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Interesting how they exited about Leonard and Moore and both ahead of Smith

There’s a reason for that. Smith has some flash to his game but I think he’s more a product of his linemates the same way Turcotte was in 2019 with Caulfield and Boldy.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Yeah I like smith but could equally see him being like a Drouin type - not a bust but underwhelming and one dimensional.

That’s a bit of what I see with Smith. Maybe more Tim Connolly because of position, but same kind of empty points player. Top 6 guy on a bad team. I can see a team like Montreal or Arizona selecting him.

 

[Frk It]

Smith is the best American player in this draft and it’s not close.

 

[Frk It]

He's wicked skilled and a great playmaker, but his skating is average and his two-way game is mediocre and his shot is nothing to write home about. There's NHL skill there for sure so I think it'd be galaxy brained to not at least have him top 10, but that Drouin projection is not something that's improbable with him.

That being said I have Smith right above Leonard. I'd rather take the swing if having to choose between those two, and as likely as Smith is to be a Drouin Leonard could end up a Sundqvist. Moore is leagues above anyone on that team though in my opinion. Give him better linemates and his production is right on par with Smith imo.

Disagree on average skater. Not sure why this board tries to nitpick Smith and Dvorsky so much.

I don’t remember where I saw it, but I saw Kuznetsov as a comp for Smith, and I think that is very much how he plays.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Smith is the best American player in this draft and it’s not close.

I would argue he’s not. Every time I catch an NTDP game it’s Moore, Perrealt and Leonard that catch the eye. Some Coke Eiserman too. He might get get selected before the others but I have my doubts about him being as successful as the others.

I forget which game it was, but Smith had 5 points. Almost all of which came after his team was up by 5 already after the other team basically gave up. That kind of sums him up for me. Leonard and Moore were the guys skating hard and fast early and creating turnovers and locking the other team in their zone early in the match.

 

[Frk It]

I would argue he’s not. Every time I catch an NTDP game it’s Moore, Perrealt and Leonard that catch the eye. Some Coke Eiserman too. He might get get selected before the others but I have my doubts about him being as successful as the others.

I forget which game it was, but Smith had 5 points. Almost all of which came after his team was up by 5 already after the other team basically gave up. That kind of sums him up for me. Leonard and Moore were the guys skating hard and fast early and creating turnovers and locking the other team in their zone early in the match.

Ok well literally every single scouting service has him as the top ranked player so maybe ask yourself what your eyes are seeing.

And if you talk about empty points one more time I might scream…

I think Smith is pretty easily/obviously more talented than Leonard or Moore, and I really like Moore. Moore and Leonard are good athletes and compete so yeah I could see how they could stand out.

But this team needs f***ing talent and an offensive difference maker.

 

[GoBoltz56]

Leonard is an Yzerman type of player.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Ok well literally every single scouting service has him as the top ranked player so maybe ask yourself what your eyes are seeing.

And if you talk about empty points one more time I might scream…

EMPTY POINTS!

I don’t care if a guy has as many points as Smith if they’re coming in garbage time after the other team throws in the towel. The points blind people to the flaws in his game.

His skating is greatly overrated. His elusiveness comes from his stickhandling and not his skating agility. When he can’t stickhandle through an opponent he gets creamed. He can stickhandle realgud though.

Smith is also charmin soft. If I had a nickel for the many times I’ve seen him skate by loose pucks or not finish a check I’d have like, a jar filled with nickels. His defensive play leaves a lot to be desired. It involves mostly circling near the blue line waiting for Leonard or a defenseman to get him the puck to skate out.

His shot is OK for USHL but he’ll have to learn to score from in close at the next level. His playmaking is realgud and I think that’s the part of his game that translates easiest.

The Will Smith scenario really reminds me of Alex Turcotte and how apoplectic some wings fans were that he went at 5 and we got that German Andreas Lilja/Brandon Carlo clone. I thought Boldy, Zegras and Caulfield were far better but Turcotte was the 1C and went ahead of them. Position plays a part in where he’s ranked.