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

[rt]

As of this point, I'd be thrilled to get anyone named:
Bedard, Fantilli, Yager, Carlsson, Michkov

I want Bedard dangit!!!

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

I want Bedard dangit!!!

I know you want Bedard, but quite frankly, we (Coyotes) aren't that lucky...we've proven that over and over again, so I see no reason to even think we'll end up with Bedard.

 

[rt]

I know you want Bedard, but quite frankly, we (Coyotes) aren't that lucky...we've proven that over and over again, so I see no reason to even think we'll end up with Bedard.

Fine. Then I’ll begrudgingly accept Fantilli, Yager or Carlsson.

 

[Schemp]

I know you want Bedard, but quite frankly, we (Coyotes) aren't that lucky...we've proven that over and over again, so I see no reason to even think we'll end up with Bedard.

The league won't allow it! They'll paint our balls with lead paint again.

 

[rt]

I wouldn’t be surprised if we have Fantilli at #2 on our pre-season list, right now:

“Think about it for a moment,” an NHL scout said. “Will any elite prospect who would normally be in the conversation for No. 1 overall have less live viewings by more NHL scouts and GMs than Michkov this season? It’s unprecedented.”

“Michkov may be the second-best prospect in the entire draft, maybe even the best, and given his contract status, I’m not even sure he’ll be taken in the top five picks in June,” said another NHL scout. “It’s a really talented draft class. If you’re picking in the top five, and the choice is between a gifted Russian who you have to wait on for three or more years and a gifted prospect who’s available to you right away…it’s going to be intriguing to see how it all plays out [for Michkov].”

In TSN’s survey of scouts for the rankings, Bedard got all 10 first-place votes; six scouts had Michkov at No. 2 and four had him at No. 3 while four scouts had Fantilli at No. 2 and six had him at No. 3. The trio separated themselves from the rest of the field.

'Didn't have to overthink this' - Bedard tops McKenzie's pre-season draft ranking

From the moment he was granted exceptional status in 2020 and then burst onto the scene as a “double underager” at the 2021 Under-18 World Championship, the giddy anticipation has been that the 2023 NHL Draft would be the Connor Bedard Sweepstakes.

www.tsn.ca

 

[moosemeister]

I wouldn’t be surprised if we have Fantilli at #2 on our pre-season list, right now:

'Didn't have to overthink this' - Bedard tops McKenzie's pre-season draft ranking

From the moment he was granted exceptional status in 2020 and then burst onto the scene as a “double underager” at the 2021 Under-18 World Championship, the giddy anticipation has been that the 2023 NHL Draft would be the Connor Bedard Sweepstakes.

www.tsn.ca

Fantilli is going 2. We are gonna have to make the choice between Yager or Michkov at 3. Haha

 

[rt]

Fantilli is going 2. We are gonna have to make the choice between Yager or Michkov at 3. Haha

I watched Fantilli quite a bit last season when the Steel played the US18s. He’s such a throwback. He’s the 3rd Tkachuk brother. Always stirring stuff up. Big and nasty. So skilled and so mean.

Are there any top centers left in the league that hit, fight, and piss everyone off? Kadri and Hartman, I guess. Tkachuk and Schenn when they play C. I think maybe Pierre Luc Dubois is the best comp. If PLD wasn’t a drama-queen head-case. And if he was better, maybe?

Get a big blender, and chuck Brady Tkachuk, Brayden Schenn, Nazem Kadri, Ryan Hartman, and Pierre Luc Dubois in there. Pour out the solution, and let it cure into Adam Fantilli.

 

[rt]

 

[Imaravencawcaw]

Yager is listed as 5'10.5 and 162lb on the TSN site. Is there any way Armstrong pairs him and Cooley as the top two centers coming out of this rebuild?

 

[Schemp]

It's obvious, the league will let the Coyotes win the 2nd spot. We're getting Fantilli. It's already agreed upon.

 

[rt]

Yager is listed as 5'10.5 and 162lb on the TSN site. Is there any way Armstrong pairs him and Cooley as the top two centers coming out of this rebuild?

He was listed a 6’0 on the WHL site a year ago.

 

[tucknroll]

League sites will be more accurate, can't remember the company names anymore but the measurements are typically done by a 3rd party.

 

[Mosby]

League measurements are based on Central Scouting, and those first rankings should drop in the next 3 weeks or so.

 

[rt]

League measurements are based on Central Scouting, and those first rankings should drop in the next 3 weeks or so.

Nice! Thanks!

 

[rt]

It's obvious, the league will let the Coyotes win the 2nd spot. We're getting Fantilli. It's already agreed upon.

That would be nice.

 

[Mosby]

No points for Bedard last night but 10 shots in his season debut.

I think 150 points should be the over/under on him this year.

 

[rt]

No points for Bedard last night but 10 shots in his season debut.

I think 150 points should be the over/under on him this year.

Bedard lead the WHL in shots last season. G averaged 5.25/gp (as an aside, Guenther was 3rd in shots in the WHL, and averaged 5.01/gp). Also, Bedard was 4th in scoring with 100pts (and Guenther was 6th with 91pts).

Keller-Geekie-Bedard
Crouse-Cooley-Guenther

 

[Mosby]

To expand on that ...

Keller - Geekie - Bedard
Crouse - Cooley - Guenther
Maccelli - Hayton - Schmaltz?/Jenik?/Doan?
McCartney - McBain - x
Farinacci?

x - Soderstrom
Moser - Lamoureux
x - Mayo

Chychrun return in net?
x

Fun to see BA's vision coming into focus, slowly but surely.

 

[rt]

To expand on that ...

Keller - Geekie - Bedard
Crouse - Cooley - Guenther
Maccelli - Hayton - Schmaltz?/Jenik?/Doan?
McCartney - McBain - x
Farinacci?

x - Soderstrom
Moser - Lamoureux
x - Mayo

Chychrun return in net?
x

Fun to see BA's vision coming into focus, slowly but surely.

Don’t forget Duda and Lutz. Smith and Kolyachonok. Matikka.

And these guys also…



One thing is clear, we desperately need some blueline prospects. Especially on the left side (for depth) and on the high end (we’ve got zero apparent 1st pairing types).

 

[rt]

Of all the rumored teams and possible returns I feel like Zellweger is the only name out there that really helps us with that high-end D prospect problem.

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

Fellas, Duda is about as high-end offensively as anyone out there, he's exceptional offensively. The big question is whether he can handle his own Dzone. If he can own his own zone, Duda is a steal.

 

[Jagged Ice]

Fellas, Duda is about as high-end offensively as anyone out there, he's exceptional offensively. The big question is whether he can handle his own Dzone. If he can own his own zone, Duda is a steal.

After Cooley, I'm more excited about Duda than anyone from '22 because of his potential. MHL dman of the year. Top scoring dman in MHL and I seem to recall he holds an MHL scoring record for most points ever scored by an under 18 dman. A lot of offense to his game and he's got a wicked shot. Those of us that wanted Matechuk with the Geekie pick might have that player in Duda. I'm thrilled.

 

[Grimes]

As of this point, I'd be thrilled to get anyone named:
Bedard, Fantilli, Yager, Carlsson, Michkov

And there shouldn't be any way of that not happening. Future is bright

 

[hbk]

Good chance to check out Calum Ritchie tonight.

 

[Imaravencawcaw]

Don’t forget Duda and Lutz. Smith and Kolyachonok. Matikka.

And these guys also…

View attachment 587959

One thing is clear, we desperately need some blueline prospects. Especially on the left side (for depth) and on the high end (we’ve got zero apparent 1st pairing types).

I'm becoming more concerned about the lack of high-end D prospects, I guess they could always trade some forwards for D. But right now I don't see any top pair defenders in the system