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

[hbk]

Benson is gonna be much better than Leonard. Passing on him will be stupid. Leonard Is not in the same league as benson

I have Bensen at 9 and Leonard at 10. Bensen has 1st line upside to me but his size is a bit of a concern based on his injury this year and decline in play when he returned. That being said, I ranked him ahead because i view him as a legitimate first line talent.

Leonard is a small powerforward worker B who does the heavy lifting on his line. His work ethic and scoring are both pretty appealing. I don't think there is much of a gap between the 2. I just think Leonard goes ahead because of his size. My list is different only because I watched every Ice game last year and walked away more times than not believing Bensen was the best player on the ice period.

 

[Half Clapper]

I have Bensen at 9 and Leonard at 10. Bensen has 1st line upside to me but his size is a bit of a concern based on his injury this year and decline in play when he returned. That being said, I ranked him ahead because i view him as a legitimate first line talent.

Leonard is a small powerforward worker B who does the heavy lifting on his line. His work ethic and scoring are both pretty appealing. I don't think there is much of a gap between the 2. I just think Leonard goes ahead because of his size. My list is different only because I watched every Ice game last year and walked away more times than not believing Bensen was the best player on the ice period.

You take the guy with the higher upside, and that’s benson. Being small in todays nhl isn’t a big deal like it used to be. Plus he will still bulk up more. Hockey sense is the #1 thing I view in a prospect and that’s where benson beats Leonard in spades.

 

[hbk]

You take the guy with the higher upside, and that’s benson. Being small in todays nhl isn’t a big deal like it used to be. Plus he will still bulk up more. Hockey sense is the #1 thing I view in a prospect and that’s where benson beats Leonard in spades.

i like Dvorsky better than both of them

 

[Prestigeworldwide]

How do NHL teams and their fans feel about drafting Matvei Michkov?

The Athletic's Blue Jackets, Canadiens, Flyers, Capitals, Red Wings and Blues writers answer questions on the potential Michkov selection.

theathletic.com

More interesting opinion on Michkov. No Coyotes input though. MTL says no since they already have Caufield. Doubt the Flyers taking him at 7. DC at 8 is a hell yes.

 

[hbk]

How do NHL teams and their fans feel about drafting Matvei Michkov?

The Athletic's Blue Jackets, Canadiens, Flyers, Capitals, Red Wings and Blues writers answer questions on the potential Michkov selection.

theathletic.com

More interesting opinion on Michkov. No Coyotes input though. MTL says no since they already have Caufield. Doubt the Flyers taking him at 7. DC at 8 is a hell yes.

would have been nice to have an AZ perspective. Wonder why that didn't happen?

Note: there was heavy sarcasm on this post.

 

[gorsk11]

Will be happy with Michkov,Benson, Leonard. Maybe less with Dvorsky. No on a defenseman at 6.

If michkov is picked before us. I can see us moving from 12th to 8th with Washington and adding some extra picks to them to jump up and get who we want at 8th.

 

[rt]

Benson is gonna be much better than Leonard. Passing on him will be stupid. Leonard Is not in the same league as benson

I agree. But Benson probably won’t go before 9th and I’d say there’s a 50/50 shot he’s there at 12th for us and a 50/50 shot we pass on him anyway.

I will say, if we take Reinbacher 6th and Benson 12th that would be such a roller coaster of emotions for me. Haha. Id say Reinbacher is a reach at 6 but a steal at 12. Meanwhile Benson is a steal at 6th and unfathomable at 12th.

How do NHL teams and their fans feel about drafting Matvei Michkov?

The Athletic's Blue Jackets, Canadiens, Flyers, Capitals, Red Wings and Blues writers answer questions on the potential Michkov selection.

theathletic.com

More interesting opinion on Michkov. No Coyotes input though. MTL says no since they already have Caufield. Doubt the Flyers taking him at 7. DC at 8 is a hell yes.

I think Philly would 100% take him at 7th.

 

[ParisSaintGermain]

Bob’s list is very interesting in that it’s pretty much what I expected.

As much as there’s a Top 5 narrative being pushed, it feels like we’ve got a good handle on the top 8.

Bedard
-
Fantilli
Carlsson
Smith
(^probably in that order)
-
Michkov
(^could go anywhere in group above/below)
-
Leonard
Dvorsky
Reinbacher
(^truly any order)
-
Nobody is expected to fall out of that top 8 and nobody is expected to jump into it with Benson and Perreault being the only two getting consideration there but are ultimately undersized wingers without elite separation speed, thus being more like to drop than to rise.

It is incredibly rare that the predicted list of top 8 players prior to the draft is not disrupted at the time of the draft - there is always one or two curveballs along the way that triggers a whole lot of things.
The only locks here are Bedard and Fantilli.
Michkov is already a curveball, albeit in the list of 8.
The best outcome for us would be Michkov taken before our pick and Montreal going wild.
Then we pick whoever is left between Smith or Carlsson.

 

[Kaizen]

It is incredibly rare that the predicted list of top 8 players prior to the draft is not disrupted at the time of the draft - there is always one or two curveballs along the way that triggers a whole lot of things.
The only locks here are Bedard and Fantilli.
Michkov is already a curveball, albeit in the list of 8.
The best outcome for us would be Michkov taken before our pick and Montreal going wild.
Then we pick whoever is left between Smith or Carlsson.

I'm not sure even Fantilli is a lock - I've seen/heard a few folks that have Carlsson over him.

 

[ParisSaintGermain]

I'm not sure even Fantilli is a lock - I've seen/heard a few folks that have Carlsson over him.

I don't mind him sliding to 6

 

[lanky]

It is incredibly rare that the predicted list of top 8 players prior to the draft is not disrupted at the time of the draft - there is always one or two curveballs along the way that triggers a whole lot of things.

It's getting to be more predictable.
2021 had a top 9 and they all went off the board without any reaches.
2022 had a top 6 and they all went off the board before things opened up.
I'm pretty sure we know who the first 8 guys will be in 2023.

 

[Coyotes19c]

It's getting to be more predictable.
2021 had a top 9 and they all went off the board without any reaches.
2022 had a top 6 and they all went off the board before things opened up.
I'm pretty sure we know who the first 8 guys will be in 2023.

Who are the top 8?

 

[lanky]

Who are the top 8?

Bedard
Fantilli
Carlsson
Smith
Michkov
Leonard
Dvorsky
Reinbacher

I just checked the 2020 pandemic draft and if you drew the cutoff at 12 (which is where my gut suggested it should be) then Bob's list got the top 12 right too.

 

[Jakey53]

Bedard
Fantilli
Carlsson
Smith
Michkov
Leonard
Dvorsky
Reinbacher

I just checked the 2020 pandemic draft and if you drew the cutoff at 12 (which is where my gut suggested it should be) then Bob's list got the top 12 right too.

I'll bet you a dollar to a donut there will be a surprise somewhere in the top 8

 

[rt]

It's getting to be more predictable.
2021 had a top 9 and they all went off the board without any reaches.
2022 had a top 6 and they all went off the board before things opened up.
I'm pretty sure we know who the first 8 guys will be in 2023.

I agree.

I'll bet you a dollar to a donut there will be a surprise somewhere in the top 8

There were a ton of surprises last draft. But on in the order of selection within the top tier. Not the names, just the order.

Bedard
Fantilli
Carlsson
Smith
Michkov
Leonard
Dvorsky
Reinbacher

I just checked the 2020 pandemic draft and if you drew the cutoff at 12 (which is where my gut suggested it should be) then Bob's list got the top 12 right too.

Yep. The big shocker there was McTavish going so early and Guenther so late. But it was the same names. Including Clarke, who was the only guy in that tier I didn’t want. Like Reinbacher this time.

 

[rt]

i like Dvorsky better than both of them

And I like both better than Dvorsky! Haha. But they’re all rated pretty close for me. I’ve got Benson at 4th, Leonard 6th and Dvorsky 7th. I’m not ranking Michkov.

Everyone needs to listen to the Bob McKenzie PHNX interview. The Bob Father does not miss. And he was very dismissive of the concept of Arizona taking Michkov. Poured cold water all over Steve Puppy Dog Peters who was all hopeful about Michkov and got bitch slapped by Bobby Mac’s cold dose of reality. Haha.

Bob seems to think Michkov is going 5th or 7th. Of course, trades could change things.

 

[rt]

You take the guy with the higher upside, and that’s benson. Being small in todays nhl isn’t a big deal like it used to be. Plus he will still bulk up more. Hockey sense is the #1 thing I view in a prospect and that’s where benson beats Leonard in spades.

I like Benson more than Leonard AND more than Smith. But I don’t know that there are any NHL teams that would agree with me.

 

[rt]

McKenzie on PHNX : 13:15 mark



Everyone is trying to handicap where Michkov is going to go. Because the top four are rated so highly, he’s not likely to go in the top four. Maybe San Jose. But he presumes he won’t go 4th. It comes down to what Montreal will do. Or Arizona. But with Arizona he doesn’t think they are in a position to have a great degree of uncertainty with really good players on the table.



The other thing about Arizona is that Bill Armstrong would be the first to tell you that they’re predisposed to try to make the Coyotes a much bigger team. Michkov would not do that. He’d make them a better team but if there’s ANY element of doubt of whether you’re going to get him or not, and also the timetable. Maybe the Coyotes don’t want to wait three years or more.



I don’t think anybody is saying yeah I think Michkov is gonna end up in Arizona at 6th overall.

 

[Prestigeworldwide]

Much like last year with Cooley. This scouting dept is probably already locked in. Like Shane Wright dropping to them last year and them not even flinching.
Leonard, Reinbacher, Dvorsky at 6 in some order...unless Smith or Leonard fall for some bizarre reason.
I could see us dropping one or two spots if Michkov is there at 6 however and still taking the guy they want.

 

[IrishFin]

You take the guy with the higher upside, and that’s benson. Being small in todays nhl isn’t a big deal like it used to be. Plus he will still bulk up more. Hockey sense is the #1 thing I view in a prospect and that’s where benson beats Leonard in spades.

Being small might not necessarily be an issue for individual players, but stacking small player on top of small player likely isn’t the best idea either in terms of roster building. If we have 3 or 4 guys like Benson/Michkov with Keller and Maccelli on the wing in our top 6, we likely aren’t going to have much success in the postseason. That team would still be fun to watch on most nights though.

 

[Mosby]

Bob also said Michkov will be talking to teams in the days ahead of the draft.

Also, not scrolling through this whole thread, but I could see Oliver Moore being our guy at 12. Seems very much like a BA type.

 

[Mosby]

A couple guys that I hope we land in the 3rd / 4th

RD Andrew Gibson 6'3
C Jaden Lipinski 6'4

Plus Lipinski is a Scottsdale product and a Yotes fan

 

[Llewzaher]

I just don’t want Reinbacher at 6th.

This should be tattooed on BA and team's custom tuxedos on draft day

 

[Llewzaher]

I think Michkov falls to us and we then make a trade to St Louis or for 2 of their 3 picks and Neighbors

 

[Llewzaher]

Being small might not necessarily be an issue for individual players, but stacking small player on top of small player likely isn’t the best idea either in terms of roster building. If we have 3 or 4 guys like Benson/Michkov with Keller and Maccelli on the wing in our top 6, we likely aren’t going to have much success in the postseason. That team would still be fun to watch on most nights though.

I Still think you grab BPA and trade for need or size later..