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

[rt]

Potential Canadiens Pick Matvei Michkov Discusses NHL Draft

The Montreal Canadiens will put their hands on a very talented player at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. It may very well end up being none other than Matvei Michkov, the skilled forward who would probably be considered the best prospect at any draft that did not include Connor Bedard. Much ink has...

montrealhockeynow.com

Interesting comments. He hasn’t thought about the combine and isn’t interested in going. Says he’ll go to the draft, though, but speaks about it in a rather…interesting…way. A lot about how little he thinks about other prospects, the draft, comparables in the NHL, on and on. You can blame it on the translation, for the most part.

Skipping the combine is real, though. Top brass has been wholly unable to scout him live this season and last due to travel and international competitive sanctions. They’re 100% reliant on video and regional scouts. Now they don’t even get a crack at him at the combine? When have they last even got official height and weight on this kid?

I’m thinking he might actually fall to Detroit or Washington for real.

 

[Nagatoarek]

Potential Canadiens Pick Matvei Michkov Discusses NHL Draft

The Montreal Canadiens will put their hands on a very talented player at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. It may very well end up being none other than Matvei Michkov, the skilled forward who would probably be considered the best prospect at any draft that did not include Connor Bedard. Much ink has...

montrealhockeynow.com

Interesting comments. He hasn’t thought about the combine and isn’t interested in going. Says he’ll go to the draft, though, but speaks about it in a rather…interesting…way. A lot about how little he thinks about other prospects, the draft, comparables in the NHL, on and on. You can blame it on the translation, for the most part.

Skipping the combine is real, though. Top brass has been wholly unable to scout him live this season and last due to travel and international competitive sanctions. They’re 100% reliant on video and regional scouts. Now they don’t even get a crack at him at the combine? When have they last even got official height and weight on this kid?

I’m thinking he might actually fall to Detroit or Washington for real.

I'm probably reading it way differently. I'm getting the vibe he hasn't been invited to it and therefor he isn't sure if he's going to it or not considering the “I haven’t heard anything about the combine".

I still wouldn't worry too much, considering he seems more sure about going to the actual draft and that his dream is to play in the NHL (haven't read the article in which that claim is coming from which is sourced in this article, currently heading out and have no time).

 

[rt]

I'm probably reading it way differently. I'm getting the vibe he hasn't been invited to it and therefor he isn't sure if he's going to it or not considering the “I haven’t heard anything about the combine".

I still wouldn't worry too much, considering he seems more sure about going to the actual draft and that his dream is to play in the NHL (haven't read the article in which that claim is coming from which is sourced in this article, currently heading out and have no time).

I would worry a great deal about him skipping the combine if I were a GM or director of amateur scouting for an nhl club and I’d never spoken to him in person of seen him play live. He’s going to fall pretty far. Past 6th. I’ll betcha a buck.

 

[rt]

Zac Urback is the Blue Jackets Director of Analytics, which is pretty awesome. Guy was basically a fan and now he’s a major part of an NHL front-office. I remember when he got the job with the Steelheads but I had no idea his career had taken off so much.

Anyway, I just watched an interview with him on bluejackets tv where he said that there will be kids available at 20, 21 and 22 in this draft that couldve gone in the later top ten of other drafts. I think that’s a touch hyperbolic, but not by much.

 

[Grimes]

Not going to lie, I'd be very happy if Michkov went to Washington. I think with everything the kid has gone through having Ovi around as a mentor would help tremendously and it would probably be the best situation to get him over here smoothly. Michkov becoming a star is good for hockey.

I just voted for him 3rd in the new thread and I still stand by it. I think he's the 2nd best talent and would be thrilled if we took him. It would make me nervous as hell though. Him not going to the combine worsens that a bit, not so much because of the uncertainty of his size but more of the unwillingness/inability to come over for an important event for a prospect.

 

[rt]

John Leonard is a free agent this summer. I was a fan of his hustle as a Shark. We’re going to have a hard time attracting FAs and will be one of the easier lineups to get a real shot at cracking. If we draft Ryan at 6th, signing John would be a good move, I think. Either for the Yotes or Runners.

I really would not mind nabbing Oliver Moore at 12th, too. He’s played with Ryan Leonard and Logan Cooley a bunch and will continue to do so next season with the Gophers and the WJCs.

 

[Jagged Ice]

I'm probably reading it way differently. I'm getting the vibe he hasn't been invited to it and therefor he isn't sure if he's going to it or not considering the “I haven’t heard anything about the combine".

It's all pretty vague but I'm sure he'd get an invite, along with Gulyayev, Simachev, Mukhanov and
But. Those four should go in the first 2 ½ rounds. There were 85 players invited last year. Who knows though, cUz pOlItIcS.

 

[hbk]

Before the draft previews start to land I thought I'd get my hopefully final draft list out there.

1) Bedard
2) Fantilli
3) Michkov
4) Carlsson
5) Smith - He's legitimately a top line talent and top line 1C's are hard to find.
6) Dvorsky - 2 way C with good offensive upside
7) Reinbacher
8) Sandin Pellika - Not a BA style guy but anytime you compare a D to Zubov you pay attention.
9) Bensen - Top line skill. Slight downtick because of his play since returning from injury
10) Leonard - All effort all the time. Will go higher than 10th on draft day
11) Perreault - He just produces at an elite level.
12) Barlow
13) Wallinder - Top 3 D
14) Honzek - Size/skill package hard to ignore
15) Wood - if u believe he can improve skating even more he goes closer to 10
16) Yager - Loved him a year ago. Really like him now. Playoffs were good.
17) Danielsson - If you think he's more than a 2C then I have him too low
18) Moore - best skating player in the draft? offensive upside?
19) Stenberg - Great skill
20) But - size/skill upside hard to ignore
21) Ritchie
22) Sale
23) Musty
24) Simashev

 

[rt]

 

[Sinurgy]

I feel like this should go without saying. 3rd and 4th line guys are super easy to come by whether it be waivers, trades, etc. Easy to pick up, easy to trade for, easy to find in free agency, you shouldn't be happy getting one out of the draft, at least not in the early rounds. I mean I get it, everyone who drafts is hoping the player will reach their theoretical ceiling but I'm thinking what Trotz is getting at is don't get comfortable with safe players, players who have a low ceiling but predictable floor. You know those types of scouts, the ones who like to reference the NHL games played metric. That metric is fine for later round picks but you're still failing at drafting if your 1st rounders end up a 3rd and 4th line guy, even if they have a long NHL career.

 

[rt]

I feel like this should go without saying. 3rd and 4th line guys are super easy to come by whether it be waivers, trades, etc. Easy to pick up, easy to trade for, easy to find in free agency, you shouldn't be happy getting one out of the draft, at least not in the early rounds. I mean I get it, everyone who drafts is hoping the player will reach their theoretical ceiling but I'm thinking what Trotz is getting at is don't get comfortable with safe players, players who have a low ceiling but predictable floor. You know those types of scouts, the ones who like to reference the NHL games played metric. That metric is fine for later round picks but you're still failing at drafting if your 1st rounders end up a 3rd and 4th line guy, even if they have a long NHL career.

If you’re a scout building a resume, you want both.

And BA claims that you need to draft your character players because it’s the ones you draft and develop that will run through the wall for you and “bleed for you”.

I see that as part of Toronto’s failing these last few years. They have tried to import all of their grit and character and leadership at the deadline and it hasn’t worked. The mercenary approach to your playoff blood and guts may not be the way.

I see it both ways. Just providing counter points. I could be easily convinced either direction.

I will say that having your skill players also be your grit players looks to be a huge benefit. Cooley has some snarl. Crouse fits the bill. Hopefully we can get a Leonard and/or a Barlow type to further build that out. Loving how Florida has a few guys who really do it all. Tkachuk and Bennett etc.

 

[Sinurgy]

If you’re a scout building a resume, you want both.

And BA claims that you need to draft your character players because it’s the ones you draft and develop that will run through the wall for you and “bleed for you”.

I see that as part of Toronto’s failing these last few years. They have tried to import all of their grit and character and leadership at the deadline and it hasn’t worked. The mercenary approach to your playoff blood and guts may not be the way.

I see it both ways. Just providing counter points. I could be easily convinced either direction.

I will say that having your skill players also be your grit players looks to be a huge benefit. Cooley has some snarl. Crouse fits the bill. Hopefully we can get a Leonard and/or a Barlow type to further build that out. Loving how Florida has a few guys who really do it all. Tkachuk and Bennett etc.

I agree with BA but I think that applies to basically all players you draft, they're just more likely to have more f***s to give for the franchise that drafted them than other franchises.

As for drafting character players, I don't disagree but you don't target them in the first round, you can get those types throughout the draft. IMO opinion you should have one goal and one goal only when it comes to drafting in the first round...top 6 and top 4 players. Now if those players ALSO happen to have awesome character then yeah, all the better but those types tend to be top 10 for just that reason.

 

[rt]

I agree with BA but I think that applies to basically all players you draft, they're just more likely to have more f***s to give for the franchise that drafted them than other franchises.

As for drafting character players, I don't disagree but you don't target them in the first round, you can get those types throughout the draft. IMO opinion you should have one goal and one goal only when it comes to drafting in the first round...top 6 and top 4 players. Now if those players ALSO happen to have awesome character then yeah, all the better but those types tend to be top 10 for just that reason.

Agreed. And I always want to reach for those guys. I wanted Seminoff in the 2nd. And Malatesta earlier than he went. But then again, I’d have never drafted Maccelli. I think you need a good mix in mid to late rounds.

 

[rt]

I like Chris Peters list better than the other media scouts. He’s my favorite of the bunch, I think. Pronman is more valuable to me because he offers up so many tidbits from real NHL scouts and brass. So I will always listen to Pronman for that. But when it comes to their own opinions, their own work, I like Peters better than Pronman and Wheeler.

2023 NHL Draft Rankings Top 100

FloHockey's final 2023 NHL Draft Rankings feature veteran prospect analyst Chris Peters' closing look at the top 100 prospects eligible for the draft.

www.flohockey.tv

 

[lanky]

I've given my list a big shakeup. I'm embracing my biases for height and handedness, instead of adjusting to moderate them. The guys I have at 14 - 16 are absurdly low and it's really just a product of my biases - I know they're better than my ranking reflects.

1 Bedard RC (Kariya)
2 Michkov LW (Kucherov)
3 Fantilli LC (Eichel)
4 Carlsson LC (Kopitar)
5 Reinbacher RD (Dobson)
6 Dvorsky LC (Horvat)
7 Danielson RC (Wyatt Johnston)
8 Ritchie RC (Wright)
9 Dragicevic RD (Clarke)
10 But RW (Tuch)
11 Wood RW (Heatley)
12 Sale LW (Kent Johnson)
13 Honzek LW (Lee)
14 Smith RC (Zegras)
15 Benson LW (Gaudreau)
16 Leonard RW (Clutterbuck)
HM Barlow LW
HM Yager RW
HM Moore C
HM Willander RD

 

[rt]

I've given my list a big shakeup. I'm embracing my biases for height and handedness, instead of adjusting to moderate them. The guys I have at 14 - 16 are absurdly low and it's really just a product of my biases - I know they're better than my ranking reflects.

1 Bedard RC (Kariya)
2 Michkov LW (Kucherov)
3 Fantilli LC (Eichel)
4 Carlsson LC (Kopitar)
5 Reinbacher RD (Dobson)
6 Dvorsky LC (Horvat)
7 Danielson RC (Wyatt Johnston)
8 Ritchie RC (Wright)
9 Dragicevic RD (Clarke)
10 But RW (Tuch)
11 Wood RW (Heatley)
12 Sale LW (Kent Johnson)
13 Honzek LW (Lee)
14 Smith RC (Zegras)
15 Benson LW (Gaudreau)
16 Leonard RW (Clutterbuck)
HM Barlow LW
HM Yager RW
HM Moore C
HM Willander RD

*Glances at username* “Yep, checks out”
*Glances at user title* “Yep, checks out!”

 

[Prestigeworldwide]

I like Chris Peters list better than the other media scouts. He’s my favorite of the bunch, I think. Pronman is more valuable to me because he offers up so many tidbits from real NHL scouts and brass. So I will always listen to Pronman for that. But when it comes to their own opinions, their own work, I like Peters better than Pronman and Wheeler.

2023 NHL Draft Rankings Top 100

FloHockey's final 2023 NHL Draft Rankings feature veteran prospect analyst Chris Peters' closing look at the top 100 prospects eligible for the draft.

www.flohockey.tv

Thanks. Peters list is pretty solid. Good one to go off of until the combine atleast.

 

[Grimes]

What an insane top 20. How do we get another 1st?!

 

[rt]

What an insane top 20. How do we get another 1st?!

Unfortunately, the answer is probably Keller.

 

[XX]

What an insane top 20. How do we get another 1st?!

Trade Keller and Crouse. Would get you at least three more. It would also form a black hole in the locker room but deal with that later.

 

[Grimes]

Yeah don't love that.

Maybe a better exercise is which prospects in the top 5-20 range would you be happy to get as main piece for Keller?

I think for me it's Michkov, Benson, Leonard and Smith. Dvorsky gets blurry and beyond him the next best piece better be close to equal value.

 

[Jagged Ice]

Yeah don't love that.

Maybe a better exercise is which prospects in the top 5-20 range would you be happy to get as main piece for Keller?

I read the following proposal on the Blues board today.

To AZ- Kyrou, Bolduc and 3 1sts
To STL- Keller and Cooley.

 

[XX]

I read the following proposal on the Blues board today.

To AZ- Kyrou, Bolduc and 3 1sts
To STL- Keller and Cooley.

Snuggerud + 2 of the 3 1sts they have this year would do it I bet, and be fair value or close to it. This being HF they'll never agree to part with the prospect that has a name.

 

[rt]

I read the following proposal on the Blues board today.

To AZ- Kyrou, Bolduc and 3 1sts
To STL- Keller and Cooley.

Hahaha.

 

[rt]

Snuggerud + 2 of the 3 1sts they have this year would do it I bet, and be fair value or close to it. This being HF they'll never agree to part with the prospect that has a name.

How about just a Snuggerud and 10th? We’d have to eat a dump, though. And all their dumps have trade protection, I think.