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

[The Feckless Puck]

I'd much rather have Michkov for 1 year after 4 years than have Cristall or anyone else in that range for 4 years after 4 years, as it is now.

Well, I disagree, and it's here where we're at an impasse. If we don't draft Michkov, I hope you don't feel too badly for too long. I won't lose an ounce of sleep over it. It's for the same reason I don't lose sleep over drafting Strome over Marner - we drafted for need, and it didn't work out. I don't have a TARDIS and neither does the team, so we just move on.

 

[BUX7PHX]

If he’s an arch-evil autocrat, who’s controlling everything and busy doing war crimes and mass murdering his own citizens all day and night, 365 as the US State Sponsored media very very very much wants all of us to believe deeply and be terrified of, then don’t you think he’s a little too busy to get a rats ass about some 17 year old hockey player?

There are only so many hours in the day and the man must sleep sometimes.

He has people who will do that for him.

To put it another way - do you think Putin really cares about Brittany Griner? Yet, she was jailed and if being an athlete in a country means anything, then very little would have been done in most locations. Not Russia.

They will look to make an example of anyone and everyone they can. If anything, the high status of these types of figures speaks more to the idea that a government in Russia has no issue in trying to control figures with name value.

 

[rt]

He has people who will do that for him.

To put it another way - do you think Putin really cares about Brittany Griner? Yet, she was jailed and if being an athlete in a country means anything, then very little would have been done in most locations. Not Russia.

They will look to make an example of anyone and everyone they can. If anything, the high status of these types of figures speaks more to the idea that a government in Russia has no issue in trying to control figures with name value.

Sorry. Best one I could find with my hands shaking so violently with fear. Hiding under my bed right now.

EDIT: I think that might be anti soviet Nazi propaganda. Lol. I was attempting to do anti soviet “European” propaganda but I made a whoopsie.

 

[Grimes]

Well we know we have had a lot of eyes on Benson with our scouts keeping up with Geekie. If we pass on him we know it won't be due to lack of scouting. That makes me feel a bit more assured both for the prospect of drafting him and if we do pass on him.

 

[rt]

Well we know we have had a lot of eyes on Benson with our scouts keeping up with Geekie. If we pass on him we know it won't be due to lack of scouting. That makes me feel a bit more assured both for the prospect of drafting him and if we do pass on him.

I say we go ahead and win a lottery and then we won’t have to worry about it!

 

[Dead Coyote]

What does that have to do with him having a KHL contract and not being able to break it? He is representing Russia in this event.

Nothing, it has to do with the multitudes of people who say that he won't be allowed out of the country at all.

Well, I disagree, and it's here where we're at an impasse. If we don't draft Michkov, I hope you don't feel too badly for too long. I won't lose an ounce of sleep over it. It's for the same reason I don't lose sleep over drafting Strome over Marner - we drafted for need, and it didn't work out. I don't have a TARDIS and neither does the team, so we just move on.

I probably won't feel bad at all as I've said multiple times over the year that this might be the best top 10 I've ever seen, and could be the best draft ever, or at least up there. But I do think it would be best to draft Michkov if we have the opportunity. I trust our scouts though and they probably know a lot more than we do.

 

[Freddy Sjostrom]

How would you feel about Barlow and Honzek?

 

[hbk]

How would you feel about Barlow and Honzek?

Fits BA desired body types.

 

[Bonsai Tree]

For the first time that I can remember, we have a lot of scouts and don't have to rely upon scouting companies to do the work for us. I am hoping for quality drafts year after year.

 

[rt]

How would you feel about Barlow and Honzek?

Love both wingers. They are my 9th and 10th rated players for the draft. But two LWs is kind of intense. Especially with Guenther ready and Keller and Maccelli and Crouse on the roster. We need to stack players and I’d ultimately be ok with it. But might be good to grab a defender or center.

I’d have done Benson and then Danielson.

 

[lanky]

I think Grav has made a pretty good guess at what Bill might do. I think Barlow at 7 OA to AZ is very plausible.

I wonder if Barlow even makes it to 7 OA, though.

 

[rt]

I think Grav has made a pretty good guess at what Bill might do. I think Barlow at 7 OA to AZ is very plausible.

I wonder if Barlow even makes it to 7 OA, though.

I agree that Barlow to AZ at 7OA seems pretty likely. I could definitely see it. I’d just want to go for Danielson at 12th, then. Get a center. Mix it up a little.

 

[Dead Coyote]

At 7 I want Moore, Benson, Michkov, Sale, Cristall, Perron or Leonard. I'd be okay with Honzek since it's BA drafting. At 12 I want Dragicevic, Barlow, Danielson, Honzek or any of the previous names. Realistically I don't see us drafting Perron or Benson due to size and probably Cristall due to laziness so I'll hope for 2 of Michkov/Moore/Leonard/Dragicevic/Danielson/Honzek/Barlow/Sale. Would also throw Yager into that list and probably Reinbacher. In short: I'll be happy with whatever.

 

[moosemeister]

First spin. lol

 

[PHX FireBirds18]

I agree that Barlow to AZ at 7OA seems pretty likely. I could definitely see it. I’d just want to go for Danielson at 12th, then. Get a center. Mix it up a little.

What’s the deal with Danielson? I saw one of the criticisms of him was that maybe the upside isn’t there. Seems like he winds up like MacKinnon in the neutral zone and handles the puck like Tim Connolly. Scouting report seems to indicate he’s a good defensively as well. Victim of the deep draft?

 

[hbk]

What’s the deal with Danielson? I saw one of the criticisms of him was that maybe the upside isn’t there. Seems like he winds up like MacKinnon in the neutral zone and handles the puck like Tim Connolly. Scouting report seems to indicate he’s a good defensively as well. Victim of the deep draft?

He’s a two way C who lacks true 1C upside.

 

[rt]

What’s the deal with Danielson? I saw one of the criticisms of him was that maybe the upside isn’t there. Seems like he winds up like MacKinnon in the neutral zone and handles the puck like Tim Connolly. Scouting report seems to indicate he’s a good defensively as well. Victim of the deep draft?

I have him 8th. Only Bedard, Fantilli, Benson, Carlsson, Michkov, Smith and Reinbacher ahead of him.

He’s a two way C who lacks true 1C upside.

I’m a huge fan.

 

[hbk]

I have him 8th. Only Bedard, Fantilli, Benson, Carlsson, Michkov, Smith and Reinbacher ahead of him.


I’m a huge fan.

I like him. He’s Hayton and the majority hated Hayton at 5 when it happened. Would we be similarly upset if we drafted Danielson at 6-8? I haven’t made my list yet but my preference is to draft a top line player with that pick. That being said I don’t like Smith and he has top line skill so i’m all over the map here.

 

[rt]

I think the majority of scouting reports on Danielson are laughably incorrect. I feel like half the social media scouts commenting on his game haven’t seen him play. I don’t see any connection to what I’ve seen when I read about him. I’ve honestly only seen two decent scouting reports on him; Pronman and Tessler.

View attachment 683999
View attachment 684001
^ Pronman

Scouting Report: Nate Danielson - Smaht Scouting

Smaht Scouting's Josh Tessler takes an in-depth look at 2023 NHL Draft prospect Nate Danielson (C, Brandon).

smahtscouting.com

^ Tessler

Here ya go… @PHX FireBirds18

I like him. He’s Hayton and the majority hated Hayton at 5 when it happened. Would we be similarly upset if we drafted Danielson at 6-8? I haven’t made my list yet but my preference is to draft a top line player with that pick. That being said I don’t like Smith and he has top line skill so i’m all over the map here.

I think he looks MUCH better than Hayton when he’s carrying the puck.

Nate Danielson looks fantastic in transition. Great controlled zone exits and entries. Good size, picture perfect skater, head up player. Neutral zone hound, good defensively, and great on the PK. Big, strong RHS C, is already a captain for the wheat kings (old for his draft year). He really does look the part when he’s flying down the middle, controlling the puck.



I’ll say this, I was shocked to see Pronman rank Danielson 5th overall. Not because of Danielson but because of what I know about Pronman and his preferences. But now having watched Danielson in isolation a few more times, I totally get how he’s checking those Pronman boxes. His skating with the puck, his transitions, and his plays at top speed. All very classic Pronman. And now his mature, pro game and big pro build/frame is very in line with the “new” Pronman who tries to think like an NHL scout now.



Danielson looks like the real deal. Size, speed, skill, smarts, passing, shooting, two way play, and works hard. Plus he’s a captain in his draft year. I think he’s going to be an early pick. Controls the pace and makes really smart plays. Toolsy too.



He's a quintessential center, he's big, he skates so well, he's such a heads up player, so smart, makes plays, willing to be direct and creative, great on the PK and forecheck/backcheck, wins faceoffs and is a captain. Who doesn't want an all situations, do everything, RHS C with size and skill?

@PHX FireBirds18

 

[lanky]

I'm watching more Danielson highlights now and he reminds me of Dylan Cozens. Not as big and not as fast but still decently big and decently fast. Very North-South. When I say North-South I don't mean power forward and I don't mean lacking in skill or vision. He's just focused on carrying the puck to the net. If he gets it there he might, shoot or deke or pass - not entirely predictable - but he really doesn't care about gaining the zone and finding the next wave of attack. He's all about the first wave.

I'm getting the impression that a lot of his production comes from the PP. Pretty much the same point totals as Geekie's D+1, but Geekie is really just 4.5 months older and doesn't get as much PP time.

Anyways, I think I like him a lot. If he's our pick at 12, I'm thrilled. If he's our pick at 7, I'm apprehensive but intrigued.

If we managed to get Barlow and Danielson, as rt suggested that Bill might want, we'd be adding two CHL captains with big bodies and big production. Both of whom can skate really well. That would be sweet.

 

[lanky]

I really hope that Dvorsky and Sale and Ritchie and Dragicevic show off at the U18s and make it clear they're worth a top 10 pick. We know that Bill has a bias for size. The blue chips with size (Fantilli, Carlsson, Reinbacher and maybe even Barlow) are out of reach for us at 7 OA. I want to be excited about these other guys with big frames.

 

[TheLegend]

Central Scouting's final lists.
(pdfs at the bottom of the page.)

https://media.nhl.com/public/news/16970

 

[lanky]

CSS likes Wood much more than most other scouts.

 

[Bonsai Tree]

There is usually a mildly surprising pick in the top 5. If a team goes off the public draft order we can get a guy listed higher than 7 on the mock drafts.

 

[rt]

Central Scoutings lists are usually extremely far off how the draft plays out. Always interesting to read their lists and listen to them on their Draft Class podcast. But I don’t use them to level-set my expectations on how the draft will play out or predict who might be available at what pick. They’re in the Wheeler/Pronman zone for me.

McKenzie’s poll is still the only list that matters.