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

[Freddy Sjostrom]

I ran it 7 times and we dropped 1 spot each time...ugh! Can we get Will Smith with the 7th overall?

Not likely, he’s top 5 or 6 on most lists. He does not have the shot of Bedard or Yager, but his stick handling ability is disgusting. Right now at 7, maybe Dvorsky, Yager, or Sale?? Although Button has Sale at 4. Could you see BA drafting Benson?

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

Not likely, he’s top 5 or 6 on most lists. He does not have the shot of Bedard or Yager, but his stick handling ability is disgusting. Right now at 7, maybe Dvorsky, Yager, or Sale?? Although Button has Sale at 4. Could you see BA drafting Benson?

Nope, can't see him drafting Benson. I guess I'd be ok with Dvorsky, Yager or Sale...but I really want Smith.

 

[rt]

Nope, can't see him drafting Benson. I guess I'd be ok with Dvorsky, Yager or Sale...but I really want Smith.

This is a slightly awkward but very wholesome little interview with Smith.

Game Tape with Tony: Will Smith

Tony Ferrari chats with 2023 NHL draft prospect Will Smith, the center for the USA National Team Development Program, about his name, his game and more.

thehockeynews.com

 

[Freddy Sjostrom]

Brock’s top ten OHL consensus. Since BA has been GM, the Coyotes have not drafted a player from the O.

 

[rt]

Brock’s top ten OHL consensus. Since BA has been GM, the Coyotes have not drafted a player from the O.

I think that’s more a COVID thing than a BA thing. He’s an OHLer, himself. It’s just Ontario went bonkers and shut down hockey. Soooo…

 

[lanky]

I think that’s more a COVID thing than a BA thing. He’s an OHLer, himself. It’s just Ontario went bonkers and shut down hockey. Soooo…

Traditionally the OHL is over scouted and over drafted, meaning there's less value to be found. There's no sense in avoiding the OHL but if you can uncover some gems elsewhere (think Moser) with your all-star crew of scouts, then do that instead.

 

[Schemp]

Traditionally the OHL is over scouted and over drafted, meaning there's less value to be found. There's no sense in avoiding the OHL but if you can uncover some gems elsewhere (think Moser) with your all-star crew of scouts, then do that instead.

It's kinda like other teams have OHLers higher on their board than the Coyotes do, so they are typically "off the board" when the Coyotes get their next pick. I give credit to our scouting staff to have other draftees rated higher that other staffs don't, or aren't able to, scout!

 

[Mosby]

Also, some of BA's best hits have come from the OHL ... Binnington, Thomas, Kyrou, etc.

 

[rt]

It's kinda like other teams have OHLers higher on their board than the Coyotes do, so they are typically "off the board" when the Coyotes get their next pick. I give credit to our scouting staff to have other draftees rated higher that other staffs don't, or aren't able to, scout!

Let’s wait on credit. Haha.

 

[Heldig]

My nephew is in the circuit in Minnesota right now. He's in eighth grade and plays in what seems like weekly tournaments in addition to his school games. My sister doesn't work and is constantly on the road with this kid. It never ends.

Not just hockey. My son was a competitive soccer player. While the equipment cost is not there the travel was about the same. Tournaments every weekend, travel for select team practice 2x per week year round...

 

[Mosby]

Sam's latest

Sportsnet's 2023 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings: December Edition

With the World Junior Championship on the horizon, Sam Cosentino shares his latest rankings for the 2023 NHL Draft.

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

Geesh, how good is this draft when Cameron Allen is ranked 32nd.

 

[Freddy Sjostrom]

Sam's latest

Sportsnet's 2023 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings: December Edition

With the World Junior Championship on the horizon, Sam Cosentino shares his latest rankings for the 2023 NHL Draft.

www.sportsnet.ca

Sale #20!! No Wood, interesting. Sam taking some heat on Twitter for his list. He had Noah’s brother at #24 (who’s already been drafted). And listed Michkov with CSKA. Anyway, it’s been corrected.

Geesh, how good is this draft when Cameron Allen is ranked 32nd.

Our second rounder is gold.

 

[GhostofYotesFan47]

Sale #20!! No Wood, interesting. Sam taking some heat on Twitter for his list. He had Noah’s brother at #24 (who’s already been drafted). And listed Michkov with CSKA. Anyway, it’s been corrected.


Our second rounder is gold.

If I'm Sam, I'm asking myself how many of these sheep watch the games. Many of us are big enough fans to regularly view and post on a dedicated message board about these kids, and have never seen them. I'd wager a lot of money that most of the people dogging him have no clue.

That goes beyond the fact that people view things differently and have different opinions.

 

[lanky]

Let's assume we're picking 5 OA and that the top 4 (including Michkov) have been taken.

I think that Smith, Yager and Sale are firmly in the next tier. Is anyone else really impressing this season. Like putting up huge numbers? Even Yager and Sale have earned their spot in this tier more from past performance than from this regular season. It seems like Smith is the one player making a statement that he definitely belongs top 5.

Calum Ritchie is rated around here but his production isn't great. Not sure how Dvorsky's numbers compare.

Dragicevic and Honzek are dominating the WHL but scouts are reluctant to rate them top 32 let alone top 10 right now. I suspect that will change.

 

[hbk]

Let's assume we're picking 5 OA and that the top 4 (including Michkov) have been taken.

I think that Smith, Yager and Sale are firmly in the next tier. Is anyone else really impressing this season. Like putting up huge numbers? Even Yager and Sale have earned their spot in this tier more from past performance than from this regular season. It seems like Smith is the one player making a statement that he definitely belongs top 5.

Calum Ritchie is rated around here but his production isn't great. Not sure how Dvorsky's numbers compare.

Dragicevic and Honzek are dominating the WHL but scouts are reluctant to rate them top 32 let alone top 10 right now. I suspect that will change.

Bensen

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

Let's assume we're picking 5 OA and that the top 4 (including Michkov) have been taken.

I think that Smith, Yager and Sale are firmly in the next tier. Is anyone else really impressing this season. Like putting up huge numbers? Even Yager and Sale have earned their spot in this tier more from past performance than from this regular season. It seems like Smith is the one player making a statement that he definitely belongs top 5.

Calum Ritchie is rated around here but his production isn't great. Not sure how Dvorsky's numbers compare.

Dragicevic and Honzek are dominating the WHL but scouts are reluctant to rate them top 32 let alone top 10 right now. I suspect that will change.

Yeah, Dvorsky and Sale are not having "expected" seasons while guys like Riley Heidt who were in the 20-30 range have excelled, I fully expect Heidt to be within the top 20 given his production this season.

I would love it that Sale continues to lower his value and we can get him with our 2nd round pick, that would be a steal.

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

If we're picking 5th, I'm taking Will Smith all day long.

Bedard
Fantilli
Carlsson
Michkov
Smith
Yager

at the moment and even if Michkov were to come straight over rather than spending another 4yrs in the KHL, I would still have the 3 other players ahead of him.

If push came to shove, I'd probably take Smith over him right now as well.

 

[rt]

I’m a huge Yager fan. But Smith has probably earned that 5 spot at this point.

 

[GhostofYotesFan47]

Bensen

He's my 5th overall today. We'll see if that sticks or not, I suspect it will. If we end up outside the top 3, I'm kinda thinking Benson and Barlow would be great targets

 

[lanky]

Kinda crazy how kids are taking over the WHL this season.

7 of the top 10 top scorers were too young for the last NHL draft.

 

[Jakey53]

Bensen

Homer?

Sam's latest

Sportsnet's 2023 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings: December Edition

With the World Junior Championship on the horizon, Sam Cosentino shares his latest rankings for the 2023 NHL Draft.

www.sportsnet.ca

They were talking about a scenario if the Yote's picked first and Bedard not wanting to come to Phoenix.

 

[rt]

Benson is interesting. I watched a lot of ICE games last season, and I’m not sure I watched even one game where he wasn’t better than at least one of Savoie or Geekie and many nights it was both. Despite being a year younger. He’s probably a better prospect than both of them, which makes him a legit top prospect. He’s deserving of Top 5 status. I can totally understand anyone ranking him there.

Buuuuuuut boy he’s small. And a winger. Now, he’s an elite dual threat offensive contributor, great two way player, and a hard worker. So the size and positional issues are mitigates to some degree by his actual game and approach. Buuuuuuut he’s small. And a winger.

 

[hbk]

They were talking about a scenario if the Yote's picked first and Bedard not wanting to come to Phoenix.

Winnipeg Ice is a great team and Bensen is their best player most nights.

 

[Grimes]

Yeah, Dvorsky and Sale are not having "expected" seasons while guys like Riley Heidt who were in the 20-30 range have excelled, I fully expect Heidt to be within the top 20 given his production this season.

I would love it that Sale continues to lower his value and we can get him with our 2nd round pick, that would be a steal.

Man would I love for Dvorsky to really crank it up at WJC and beyond. Kind of like Slaf did with the Olympics.

If Yager, Benson, Will Smith and Dvorsky makes that second tier look as good as the top tier last year I will feel much better about how this season is going. I think two of those players are already close to doing that.

If we're picking 5th, I'm taking Will Smith all day long.

Bedard
Fantilli
Carlsson
Michkov
Smith
Yager

at the moment and even if Michkov were to come straight over rather than spending another 4yrs in the KHL, I would still have the 3 other players ahead of him.

If push came to shove, I'd probably take Smith over him right now as well.

I still think Michkov could end up being the best player in the draft. If he were guaranteed to come over I think he'd still be the undisputed 2nd pick, even with the current slump. I do think a bad WJC could make his stock free fall though.

Benson is interesting. I watched a lot of ICE games last season, and I’m not sure I watched even one game where he wasn’t better than at least one of Savoie or Geekie and many nights it was both. Despite being a year younger. He’s probably a better prospect than both of them, which makes him a legit top prospect. He’s deserving of Top 5 status. I can totally understand anyone ranking him there.

Buuuuuuut boy he’s small. And a winger. Now, he’s an elite dual threat offensive contributor, great two way player, and a hard worker. So the size and positional issues are mitigates to some degree by his actual game and approach. Buuuuuuut he’s small. And a winger.

Keller-Cooley-Guenther
Maccelli-Geekie-Benson

Yeah that's a pretty small top 6 of it all pans out but boy is it skilled.