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

[Grimes]

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) ?

Feels about right, especially with the context of a redraft. I probably had Guenther 5th in a draft year I spent very little time paying attention to because of COVID and no pick. He was one of the few kids if had heard/read about and watched a bit of. But in a redraft I'm not so sure he goes much higher than where we got him. The value of defenders is a real thing. Seems like they just need incremental steps in development to make waves in lists, where wingers need to make gigantic strides to stay "on target" with development.

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.

In Cooley's draft year I would have wanted Smith more than him, simply because there is just so much upside to Smith's game compared to draft year Cooley. Im not sure if it because Cooley was a late bloomer, or just a prospect that wasn't discussed much. Or because the scouting reports had him so wrong, he was regarded as a two-way smart center for about half of his draft year. The lack of WJC in the winter really hurt him too (lucky is). But Smith has a top end offensive skillset that would be hard to pass if 18 year old Cooley was also in this draft.

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.

Didn't even consider getting him that year. I believe I was running out to grab some beers to zoom in and watch with @rt and didn't care that I was going to miss a couple picks because I hadn't done a ton of research. I kind of figured he was just gone when we were picking.

How would you rerank that top 10? Mine would be:
Beniers
Luke Hughes
Wyatt Johnson
Power
McTavish
Edvinsson
Clarke
Kent Johnson
Guenther
Zellweger

So don't have higher or lower than where we got him. And only Wyatt would have been an option us out of those names.

 

[Grimes]

When are we opening at 2024 draft thread?

Scott Wheeler's early 2024 NHL Draft ranking: Celebrini, Eiserman top the list

It's still early, but the 2024 NHL Draft looks like it could be defined by a strong crop of defensemen who make up half of this list.

theathletic.com

 

[rt]

Fantilli+Honzek is my dream.
Benson+Danielson is my hope.
Reinbacher+Honzek is my expectation.
Moore+Daniil But is my apprehension(?).
Ottawa winning a lottery is my nightmare.

 

[Magonus1703]

Fantilli+Honzek is my dream.
Benson+Danielson is my hope.
Reinbacher+Honzek is my expectation.
Moore+Daniil But is my apprehension(?).
Ottawa winning a lottery is my nightmare.

Bedard+Michkov is my dream. It's already happened in my mind.

 

[lanky]

My early top 12

Bedard RC
Michkov LW
Fantilli LC
Carlsson LC / LW
Reinbacher RD
Benson LW
Smith RC
Sale LW
Dragicevic RD
Dvorsky LW / LC
Honzek LW
Barlow LW

 

[rt]

My early top 12

Bedard RC
Michkov LW
Fantilli LC
Carlsson LC / LW
Reinbacher RD
Benson LW
Smith RC
Sale LW
Dragicevic RD
Dvorsky LW / LC
Honzek LW
Barlow LW

Bedard
Fantilli
Michkov
Benson
Carlsson
Smith
Reinbacher
Danielson
Barlow
Honzek
Yager
Ritchie
Moore

My next group is probably something like this…

Leonard
Dvorksy
Wood
Sale
Dragicevic
Heidt

^ but it’s all very interchangeable now. I’ll move it a ton, I’m sure.

 

[Dead Coyote]

Ya'll are sleeping on Moore. I view Moore as just as good as Benson is, and better defensively.

 

[hbk]

Ya'll are sleeping on Moore. I view Moore as just as good as Benson is, and better defensively.

Agreed. I like him better than Smith.

 

[Dead Coyote]

Agreed. I like him better than Smith.

Absolutely. Even if Smith hits his upside and fixes his skating he'll probably never be engaged as Moore and Moore is a much safer pick to hit that upside, with his upside not being all that much less than Smith. Definitely the best player on that roster for me.

 

[lanky]

I get why you like Moore better than Smith. His game is complete and he's tenacious. But Smith's got a very elite level of skill. A lot like Michkov... I don't really WANT to like him. I don't really WANT him to be our guy. But there's no denying the skill and the results. There's a reason why Smith and Perreault are dominating the score sheet in historic fashion, and I think it has more to do with Smith than Perreault. Smith is just so dang skilled that I can't bet against him and I can't drop him down my list.

I'm open to moving Moore into my top 12. I'm gonna have a hard time dropping one of my other guys down though.

 

[0point1]

Coyotes now cannot fall to 7th worst. If Montreal wins and Coyotes lose we drop to 5th worst but I wouldn't count on it.

As it stands now, Coyotes pick with either be 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th, or 8th.

 

[Jagged Ice]

Ya'll are sleeping on Moore. I view Moore as just as good as Benson is, and better defensively.

Not me. I love Moore. I would take him at six but not before Benson. I'm taking Benson and Moore b4 Smith though.

 

[rt]

I might have Benson 3rd.

 

[Llewzaher]

Coyotes now cannot fall to 7th worst. If Montreal wins and Coyotes lose we drop to 5th worst but I wouldn't count on it.

As it stands now, Coyotes pick with either be 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th, or 8th.

I don’t think we can finishn7th.. it’s only 5th or 6th or lottery results

 

[lanky]

I don’t think we can finishn7th.. it’s only 5th or 6th or lottery results

Lottery results include 7th and 8th.

 

[Llewzaher]

Lottery results include 7th and 8th.

I thought the poster was talking about where we finish in the standings

 

[gorsk11]

Anyone want to meet up and watch the draft lottery and then some playoff hockey again at gilbert az ice? Like we did for deaft night?

 

[Antonche]

Fell i bet Armstrong will draft Reinbacher and one of Barlow/Leonard/Sale.

 

[moosemeister]

Anyone want to meet up and watch the draft lottery and then some playoff hockey again at gilbert az ice? Like we did for deaft night?

Normally I'd say yes. But we're expecting a baby and I think the wife will shoot me in the face if I leave the house for the lottery. I got the green light for the draft though. lol

 

[MIGs Dog]

Normally I'd say yes. But we're expecting a baby and I think the wife will shoot me in the face if I leave the house for the lottery. I got the green light for the draft though. lol

Take the baby with you. Get them started early on experiencing disappointment.

 

[rt]

Fell i bet Armstrong will draft Reinbacher and one of Barlow/Leonard/Sale.

I think Reinbacher if we end up lower in the standings than Montreal. I don’t think Barlow will be there for that Ottawa pick. I’m hoping for Danielson. If not, then I could see Honzek, for sure.

 

[Antonche]

I think Reinbacher if we end up lower in the standings than Montreal. I don’t think Barlow will be there for that Ottawa pick. I’m hoping for Danielson. If not, then I could see Honzek, for sure.

Danielson would be a good pick too. Honzek too inconsistent. Bill looking for a big frame, big bodies with shot. Sale is some another type of player - smart, could be either passer or finisher. Intelligent player. I very doubt that Armstrong can views on Benson or Smith.

 

[hbk]

I may go to a game in Moose Jaw to see the Ice play Yager this round.

 

[rt]

Danielson would be a good pick too. Honzek too inconsistent. Bill looking for a big frame, big bodies with shot. Sale is some another type of player - smart, could be either passer or finisher. Intelligent player. I very doubt that Armstrong can views on Benson or Smith.

I think Honzek has been on a steady upward swing. But injuries.

 

[lanky]

I may go to a game in Moose Jaw to see the Ice play Yager this round.

I'll be watching the series but I don't plan on grabbing any tickets. I've read speculation on this site that Benson will play. Not sure if there's any credibility to that.