Prospect Info: 2023 Draft Thread (Yotes picking #6 & #12)

[GiveAFlyingPuck]

2 weeks + 2 weeks away from the draft lottery.

 

[Bonsai Tree]

Some threw shade on BA for starting the rebuild a year to late. I think he started it a year too soon. He knew how top heavy this draft would be for some years. He should have let the team spin its wheels for one more year and then started the tank this season.

 

[rt]

I think the rebuild is going well so far. It’s true we don’t have a top three pick again in this draft (not without a lottery win) but it’s important to remember that being the 2nd or 3rd worst team doesn’t guarantee a top 3 pick anyway. You are still subject to lottery.

Some threw shade on BA for starting the rebuild a year to late. I think he started it a year too soon. He knew how top heavy this draft would be for some years. He should have let the team spin its wheels for one more year and then started the tank this season.

I wouldn’t say this is a “top heavy draft”. I’d say it’s elite at the top, but still much better than average through the middle of the first. The idea that Danielson, Barlow, Honzek, Yager caliber players are likely to be available at the Ottawa pick is very impressive and exciting.

 

[Grimes]

Some threw shade on BA for starting the rebuild a year to late. I think he started it a year too soon. He knew how top heavy this draft would be for some years. He should have let the team spin its wheels for one more year and then started the tank this season.

The 2022 draft was highly touted before that season began. People were claiming it would be similar to how deep the 2020 draft was, and it still may. I think a couple things happened that cooled down the hype.
1. These kids lost years of development from COVID. Because of it they didn't flash as much as scouts had hoped they would going into the draft. The 2021 kids just lost their draft year. The 2022 kids lost the season before their draft year and had a strange season during their draft year (no traditional WJC, missed games, etc).
2. The top bottomed out. Wright was supposed to be a Lafrieniere quality prospect but had a down year. Miroshnichenko was supposed to be the top winger but had health issues. Yurov was another top player but the Russian factor burned him and Geekie and Savoie were top five prospects going into the draft but consistency and size issues made them drop. Luckily we had risers with the Slovaks.

I look back at the 2022 draft and it feels deep. There are a good amount of 2nd rounders who held or increased their value. The defensemen in particular have really increased their stock. I think it was a great draft to have multiple picks in the 1st and 2nd.

This draft seems like the top 4 picks would all be above the top 4 from last year. Then 5-7 could all mix in with the top 4 last year. 8-15 would all sprinkle in from the 5-12 range from last season and then the draft kind of plateaus to a typically quality.

 

[Llewzaher]

I think the rebuild is going well so far. It’s true we don’t have a top three pick again in this draft (not without a lottery win) but it’s important to remember that being the 2nd or 3rd worst team doesn’t guarantee a top 3 pick anyway. You are still subject to lottery.


I wouldn’t say this is a “top heavy draft”. I’d say it’s elite at the top, but still much better than average through the middle of the first. The idea that Danielson, Barlow, Honzek, Yager caliber players are likely to be available at the Ottawa pick is very impressive and exciting.

I may have asked this before , but forgot the response .. where would Cooley and Guenther rank in the 2023 draft ?

 

[rt]

I may have asked this before , but forgot the response .. where would Cooley and Guenther rank in the 2023 draft ?

I think Cooley (in his draft year) would be ranked 5th-7th in this draft. I think Guenther (in his draft year) would be in the mix with Barlow, Danielson, Honzek, Yager, Leonard tier.

I think Benson is close to Cooley, personally. And Danielson is close to Guenther, IMO. We have a real chance to add another Cooley-ish level piece and another Guenther-ish level piece.

 

[Heldig]

I think Cooley (in his draft year) would be ranked 5th-7th in this draft. I think Guenther (in his draft year) would be in the mix with Barlow, Danielson, Honzek, Yager, Leonard tier.

I think Benson is close to Cooley, personally. And Danielson is close to Guenther, IMO. We have a real chance to add another Cooley-ish level piece and another Guenther-ish level piece.

I would rank Cooley 3rd or 4th overall in this draft. Guenther in the 10 - 14 range.

 

[rt]

I would rank Cooley 3rd or 4th overall in this draft. Guenther in the 10 - 14 range.

I would also rank Cooley that early if I was taking into account the last year. But if I was ranking just his draft year against these draft eligibles, he’s probably a bit later.

 

[PHX FireBirds18]

Knowing what we know about Cooley, I really think the best possible thing for his development is us winning one of the two lotteries and him setting his sights on outperforming Fantilli or Bedard. I really believe this kid will work as hard as humanly possible, with zero distraction in an effort to keep up with or surpass either. I probably won’t be able to do it, but he’s got the world’s largest shoulder chip. I think going head to head with those two would make him a better player than he otherwise might have become.

Let’s draft Bedard and see if that gives us our own version of Sakic and Forsberg. If they can push eachother like that. And elevate eachother like that.

If we got Fantilli somehow. Our top two would be disgustingly irritating to play against. You just know BA is gonna fill out the bottoms 6 with plenty of sandpaper and McBain centering one of the other two. We could end up being one of the most disliked teams in the league.

 

[rt]

If we got Fantilli somehow. Our top two would be disgustingly irritating to play against. You just know BA is gonna fill out the bottoms 6 with plenty of sandpaper and McBain centering one of the other two. We could end up being one of the most disliked teams in the league.

Geekie also has a tendency to really piss off the opposition.

 

[hbk]

I may have asked this before , but forgot the response .. where would Cooley and Guenther rank in the 2023 draft ?

Cooley Top 5. Guenther Top 10ish.

 

[rt]

Cooley Top 5. Guenther Top 10ish.

Do you think draft year Cooley goes ahead of draft year Smith? I’m not so sure. I think Bedard, Fantilli, and Carlsson would go ahead. Maybe Michkov but the Russia stuff. And probably Smith.

Guenther is probably in the Benson/Barlow zone. But it’s hard to say because Guenther only played the bizarre WHL bubble season.

 

[hbk]

Do you think draft year Cooley goes ahead of draft year Smith? I’m not so sure. I think Bedard, Fantilli, and Carlsson would go ahead. Maybe Michkov but the Russia stuff. And probably Smith.

Guenther is probably in the Benson/Barlow zone. But it’s hard to say because Guenther only played the bizarre WHL bubble season.

Cooley goes ahead of Smith. I'm not a fan of Smith though.

I really liked Guenther his draft year. Can't remember where I had him (and am too lazy to look up) but I do think he could go in that 7-12 range in this draft.

 

[rt]

Cooley goes ahead of Smith. I'm not a fan of Smith though.

I really liked Guenther his draft year. Can't remember where I had him (and am too lazy to look up) but I do think he could go in that 7-12 range in this draft.

Cooley did 1.5ppg while Smith did a full 2ppg. I think Smith’s draft year production is just so eye-popping. And he’s not smaller than Cooley or anything. I obviously like Cooley a lot better. But draft year to draft year, I’m not convinced Cooley goes ahead at the draft.

Guenther is tough to say. They had kids sleeping in the arenas and playing the same teams over and over again. So bizarre in retrospect. But based on his prior year and his international play, he’d definitely be up around Benson/Barlow tier at least. If we throw Honzek and Danielson, etc in there. I still think he’s near or at the top of the list.

I guess we could say it’s 5th for Cooley (+/- 1) and 9th for Guenther (+/-2) ?

 

[hbk]

Cooley did 1.5ppg while Smith did a full 2ppg. I think Smith’s draft year production is just so eye-popping. And he’s not smaller than Cooley or anything. I obviously like Cooley a lot better. But draft year to draft year, I’m not convinced Cooley goes ahead at the draft.

Guenther is tough to say. They had kids sleeping in the arenas and playing the same teams over and over again. So bizarre in retrospect. But based on his prior year and his international play, he’d definitely be up around Benson/Barlow tier at least. If we throw Honzek and Danielson, etc in there. I still think he’s near or at the top of the list.

I guess we could say it’s 5th for Cooley (+/- 1) and 9th for Guenther (+/-2) ?

personally I don't think it's close between Cooley and Smith. Cooley incredibly involved and dynamic. Smith's MO is to wait at the opponents blueline waiting for a breakaway pass. Smith has skill but he's going to drive you nuts as you have to turn off his selfish game to a more team oriented one. Cooley is already there on that and has been for awhile.

I am going to struggle with where I rank Smith because you have to acknowledge he has top line skills. Otherwise I wouldn't rank him in my top 10.

 

[Jagged Ice]

I remember Guenther rated by some as high as #3 in the 2021 draft, but like rt said, that was a bizarre season. I know some, including me were shocked he fell to #9.

 

[rt]

personally I don't think it's close between Cooley and Smith. Cooley incredibly involved and dynamic. Smith's MO is to wait at the opponents blueline waiting for a breakaway pass. Smith has skill but he's going to drive you nuts as you have to turn off his selfish game to a more team oriented one. Cooley is already there on that and has been for awhile.

I am going to struggle with where I rank Smith because you have to acknowledge he has top line skills. Otherwise I wouldn't rank him in my top 10.

I just want to reiterate I’m ONLY talking about Cooley’s draft year and prior.

If neither puck wins the lottery I feel like our non-NHL prospect depth gets some major filling in.

Right now:

1. Cooley
BIG GAP
2. Guenther
BIG GAP
3. Geekie

After Draft
1. Cooely
2. 23 AZ pick
3. Guenther
4. 23 OTT pick
5. Guenther

^ and they’re all bunched up closely to the guy above and below.

I remember Guenther rated by some as high as #3 in the 2021 draft, but like rt said, that was a bizarre season. I know some, including me were shocked he fell to #9.

Pronman’s list I think had him 2nd.

 

[hbk]

I just want to reiterate I’m ONLY talking about Cooley’s draft year and prior.

If neither puck wins the lottery I feel like our non-NHL prospect depth gets some major filling in.

Right now:

1. Cooley
BIG GAP
2. Guenther
BIG GAP
3. Geekie

After Draft
1. Cooely
2. 23 AZ pick
3. Guenther
4. 23 OTT pick
5. Guenther

^ and they’re all bunched up closely to the guy above and below.


Pronman’s list I think had him 2nd.

I had Cooley at 2OV ahead of Slafkovsky last year because I didn't think we could pass on that dynamic of a center at 3 OV.

I think you mean Geekie at 5 and that's a list that i think is likely. If we do draft Smith then I think I would put Guenther ahead of Smith. honestly, beyond Benson I may be tempted to put Guenther as 2 on that list. Depends on my list and who we take.

 

[Jagged Ice]

Pronman’s list I think had him 2nd.

Personally I only had Power, McTavish and Beniers higher than him.

My list was:
Power
McTavish
Beniers
Guenther
Hughes

 

[Jakey53]

Some threw shade on BA for starting the rebuild a year to late. I think he started it a year too soon. He knew how top heavy this draft would be for some years. He should have let the team spin its wheels for one more year and then started the tank this season.

You are not the one paying the bills.

 

[rt]

I had Cooley at 2OV ahead of Slafkovsky last year because I didn't think we could pass on that dynamic of a center at 3 OV.

I think you mean Geekie at 5 and that's a list that i think is likely. If we do draft Smith then I think I would put Guenther ahead of Smith. honestly, beyond Benson I may be tempted to put Guenther as 2 on that list. Depends on my list and who we take.

Yes. I meant Geekie at 5th there.

I’m hoping against hope we get Benson and Danielson.

1. Cooley
2. Benson
3. Guenther
4. Danielson
5. Geekie

 

[lanky]

1. Michkov
2. Cooley
3. Guenther
4. Dragicevic
5. Geekie

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

Bedard's season is pretty much over - losing to Sask 4-1

 

[lanky]

I guess he could play in the U18s but there's precedent for guys that went to the WJC to skip the U18s.

 

[hbk]

I guess he could play in the U18s but there's precedent for guys that went to the WJC to skip the U18s.

He has nothing to prove playing against 18 year olds at this point after dominating against 20 year olds at the WJC.