Come on now. At peewee you are trying to skate without falling down let alone not looking at the puck while you are trying to stickhandle and shoot.
Prospect Info: 2023 Draft Thread (Yotes picking #6 & #12)
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Dead Coyote
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Here's my preliminary thoughts on Hlinka. I see I'm not the only one this year 
CAN vs SUI
14-0
Great speed shown by Barlow two separate times to create goals for himself on the breakaway SH.
Allen made some fantastic passes and looked solid.
Gauthier has a wicked shot with a quick release.
Rehkopf looked fantastic, made some great plays overall.
Everyone else looked fine, but it looked more like a Double AA vs Triple AAA game than a World Juniors game.
USA vs GER
8-1
Bicker isn't currently ranked, but he was by far GER's best player. He was responsible for the only goal for GER and created plenty of chances. His skating and vision created several chances where there was nothing.
Whitelaw owned these kids. He isn't particularly big, but he powered through like it was no one's business and was always involved and using his strength. Created several chances and capitalized on a few of them. Had a penchant for throwing the puck to the net.
Pierson also stood out to me, with great speed he wasn't afraid to fight for the puck and forced his way into some chances. Currently also isn't ranked, but I thought he did pretty well.
There were a couple of other players that stood out to me, but didn't have as much of an impact on me. Connor, Lacroix, Gramer, and Brown generated most of the offense for the US. Musty also hit two crossbars.
Yet again, it looked more like a disparity between teams than anything else. Not as bad as the SUI game though.
FIN vs USA
4-1
Whitelaw didn't produce but he showed more of what a wicked shot he has, and was physical and overbearing, constantly crashing the net, creating turnovers, winning puck battles.
Musty had a wicked shot to start the scoring for the US and created a few more chances with that same shot.
Kumpulainen was buzzing this game. Was doing it all and showcasing great speed, heads up play and an excellent shot and vision.
Haltunnen was often in the right place at the right time, and ripped a few- great shot as well. Hit the post once and could have easily potted a few. Was involved in front of the net and tried to get some rebounds in a few times.
Jarventie made a few passes that lead to goals and showed some incredible vision. Kid draws pressure through his skating, leads the defenders close to him on the rush, which opens up a lane for a hell of a good pass to the other forward streaking down. Happened multiple times with Uronen and lead to two goals. This game was all his.
Vinni played really well this game. He controlled rebounds well for the most part and there was rarely a second chance, when there was he kept the puck as close to him as he could and cut his angles down. Would have been easily much closer without him.
2024 Draft Eligibles
Kiviharju looked pretty damn good for how young he is, was ripping shots left and right and played well, especially on the PP.
Eliseev looked fantastic as well, only 16 and not big but was always in the right place at the right time and had a great shot that capitalized on a few of his chances.
CZE vs GER
7-2
Quite a game. Back and forth, back and forth.
Bicker had a few chances this game and showed a lot more of what he could do with his speed. Assisted one goal at the end where he came up the boards and beat the defender clean, then made a pass to the front of the net for an easy tap in.
Sale- boy oh boy did this kid look good. He played heads up hockey and was smooth as butter, and looked good doing it. Made things look easy skating circles around the Germans. You really can't give this guy any space because he WILL make you pay for it. He's so, so smart with the puck. Forehand, backhand, pass, he can do it all and is incredibly dangerous in the offensive zone. He reminds me of Crosby when he played for Rimouski. Incredible hockey IQ.
2024 Draft Eligibles
Jakovlev, for being 16, looks like a man out there and played quite well. Outside of his size there wasn't a lot to drool over, but he did everything well and was involved in the play consistently.
Well, I was going to write more, but my cat just threw up all over my mattress so I guess I'll put a plug in this for a while
CAN vs SUI
14-0
Great speed shown by Barlow two separate times to create goals for himself on the breakaway SH.
Allen made some fantastic passes and looked solid.
Gauthier has a wicked shot with a quick release.
Rehkopf looked fantastic, made some great plays overall.
Everyone else looked fine, but it looked more like a Double AA vs Triple AAA game than a World Juniors game.
USA vs GER
8-1
Bicker isn't currently ranked, but he was by far GER's best player. He was responsible for the only goal for GER and created plenty of chances. His skating and vision created several chances where there was nothing.
Whitelaw owned these kids. He isn't particularly big, but he powered through like it was no one's business and was always involved and using his strength. Created several chances and capitalized on a few of them. Had a penchant for throwing the puck to the net.
Pierson also stood out to me, with great speed he wasn't afraid to fight for the puck and forced his way into some chances. Currently also isn't ranked, but I thought he did pretty well.
There were a couple of other players that stood out to me, but didn't have as much of an impact on me. Connor, Lacroix, Gramer, and Brown generated most of the offense for the US. Musty also hit two crossbars.
Yet again, it looked more like a disparity between teams than anything else. Not as bad as the SUI game though.
FIN vs USA
4-1
Whitelaw didn't produce but he showed more of what a wicked shot he has, and was physical and overbearing, constantly crashing the net, creating turnovers, winning puck battles.
Musty had a wicked shot to start the scoring for the US and created a few more chances with that same shot.
Kumpulainen was buzzing this game. Was doing it all and showcasing great speed, heads up play and an excellent shot and vision.
Haltunnen was often in the right place at the right time, and ripped a few- great shot as well. Hit the post once and could have easily potted a few. Was involved in front of the net and tried to get some rebounds in a few times.
Jarventie made a few passes that lead to goals and showed some incredible vision. Kid draws pressure through his skating, leads the defenders close to him on the rush, which opens up a lane for a hell of a good pass to the other forward streaking down. Happened multiple times with Uronen and lead to two goals. This game was all his.
Vinni played really well this game. He controlled rebounds well for the most part and there was rarely a second chance, when there was he kept the puck as close to him as he could and cut his angles down. Would have been easily much closer without him.
2024 Draft Eligibles
Kiviharju looked pretty damn good for how young he is, was ripping shots left and right and played well, especially on the PP.
Eliseev looked fantastic as well, only 16 and not big but was always in the right place at the right time and had a great shot that capitalized on a few of his chances.
CZE vs GER
7-2
Quite a game. Back and forth, back and forth.
Bicker had a few chances this game and showed a lot more of what he could do with his speed. Assisted one goal at the end where he came up the boards and beat the defender clean, then made a pass to the front of the net for an easy tap in.
Sale- boy oh boy did this kid look good. He played heads up hockey and was smooth as butter, and looked good doing it. Made things look easy skating circles around the Germans. You really can't give this guy any space because he WILL make you pay for it. He's so, so smart with the puck. Forehand, backhand, pass, he can do it all and is incredibly dangerous in the offensive zone. He reminds me of Crosby when he played for Rimouski. Incredible hockey IQ.
2024 Draft Eligibles
Jakovlev, for being 16, looks like a man out there and played quite well. Outside of his size there wasn't a lot to drool over, but he did everything well and was involved in the play consistently.
Well, I was going to write more, but my cat just threw up all over my mattress so I guess I'll put a plug in this for a while
rt
Clean Hits on Substack
The long-term KHL deal AND the exploded knee makes me pretty scared of this kid. Purely as a prospect, irrespective of the other factors, he’s better than anyone in this draft other than Bedard (maybe) and anyone in the last draft, and the one before that. At least. Buuuuuuut he freaks me out. Big time.
I’ve got my fingers crossed for Bedard, Fantilli or Yager. I like Stramel but wait and see on him. Wait and see on Ritchie, too. And the Euros have time to grow on me; Sale, Hulttunen, Dvorsky, Carlsson etc.
moosemeister
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I want nothing to do with Michkov because of his KHL contract and because of the ongoing uncertainty in Russia. I want Bedard if we can get 1OA - Fantilli would make a great consolation prize. Sale, Yager, Benson, Wood, and Danielson are also intriguing up front. If we're looking defense, there are some good options there as well (Cameron Allen, Hunter Brzustewicz). I think there are plenty of options in the upcoming draft that make it less imperative that we even consider Michkov and all the baggage he represents.
rt
Clean Hits on Substack
I’m not sure I’m going to end up with Dvorsky that high. It’s insanely early but right now I’d take Yager ahead of him. And I’m not sure I could pass on Michkov at #2.
rt
Clean Hits on Substack
Don’t sleep on Lukas Dragicevic. He’s my top rated blueliner right now. But I’m not sure we’ll see one in the Top 5. And I can’t imagine we pick later than that.
Vinny Boombatz
formerly ctwin22
I could easily pass on Michkov at #2...look, I know he's a generational talent, but the "risk" is far too high to go after him and then find out later he:
A) doesn't want to play for the Coyotes
B) doesn't want to come to the NHL at all
C) decides after 3yr entry level deal with the Coyotes he gets a better deal back in Russia and leaves
D) decides after 3yr entry level deal that he no longer wants to be on the team and requests out
Just too much "grey area" for me to even consider him. I'd take Fantilli/Dvorsky/Yager if we didn't win first overall.
I've got Sale moving up, if he plays as well as he has in Hlinka, then he'll be in the 6-8 range. I just don't see anyone passing up Bedard/Michkov/Fantilli/Dvorsky as the the top 4 with Yager just a smidge behind Dvorsky at the moment, but not much.
This draft is going to be something else, man-o-man do I wish we had 2 top 10 picks in this draft.
A) doesn't want to play for the Coyotes
B) doesn't want to come to the NHL at all
C) decides after 3yr entry level deal with the Coyotes he gets a better deal back in Russia and leaves
D) decides after 3yr entry level deal that he no longer wants to be on the team and requests out
Just too much "grey area" for me to even consider him. I'd take Fantilli/Dvorsky/Yager if we didn't win first overall.
I've got Sale moving up, if he plays as well as he has in Hlinka, then he'll be in the 6-8 range. I just don't see anyone passing up Bedard/Michkov/Fantilli/Dvorsky as the the top 4 with Yager just a smidge behind Dvorsky at the moment, but not much.
This draft is going to be something else, man-o-man do I wish we had 2 top 10 picks in this draft.
rt
Clean Hits on Substack
Salaries in Russia are really bad these days. He’s definitely coming over (unless the political situation gets even worse and he’s afraid for his family or something). B & C aren’t options, IMO. But A&D are way too realistic for me. And super scary.
The only option for us to avoid this mess is to pick 1st overall. And I’ve finally reached a point where I can say we’ve earned that. We deserve that. Coyotes fans deserve Bedard. We just do. This has gone on long enough.
JasonDemersWasOkay
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Michkov right now is like Lambert to me. Had Lambert had the season that was expected he was gonna go top 5, but it didn't work out that way. I could see Michkov falling out of the top 5 in the next year for various reasons.
moosemeister
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rt
Clean Hits on Substack
He's the best player in the history of the MHL and he doesn't turn 18 until December. He's closer to a 5'9 Ilya Kovalchuk than he is to Brad Lambert. I think over the last 10 years, the only prospects that would be considered better would be McDavid, Eichel, Matthews, and Bedard. He might be a better prospect than Bedard. It's very close. If his name was Matthew Michaels and he played for Moose Jaw, he might be ranked #1.
moosemeister
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JasonDemersWasOkay
Awaiting the return of my beloved team
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I think the Russia factor will cause issues is all. Plus there's so many amazing prospects that have a little less Russia-ish problems that I could see him getting passed up just because of all the other talent at the top. I guess you could say that's my hot take for this draft.
I'm pretty confident I'll be wrong lol
rt
Clean Hits on Substack
I’m afraid of him too. I don’t want to pick 2nd overall at all. 1st or 3rd for me. We need a team to pick 2nd that will have no issues with drafting him. Like Chicago or Detroit.
Ideally, we don’t have to worry about it because we are picking 1st.
If Michkov isn't excited about being a future Coyote then it'll come up in the interviews. It's likely to come up even prior to that. The thing is we won't ever get to know.
I don't see it as an unknown risk on draft day. Bill will know.
We common folk can adjust our own lists all we want based on the character that we project onto these kids but we just don't know.
Michkov will be top 2 on my list, and I know Bill will pass him over if the kid doesn't want to come here. I'm good with that.
I don't see it as an unknown risk on draft day. Bill will know.
We common folk can adjust our own lists all we want based on the character that we project onto these kids but we just don't know.
Michkov will be top 2 on my list, and I know Bill will pass him over if the kid doesn't want to come here. I'm good with that.
- Oct 26, 2006
- 18,751
- 12,006
Oh, I'm not sleeping on him... I'd say he's a close third behind my current two favorites. I agree, though - the embarrassment of riches in forwards will probably keep the defensemen out until around pick 8-10. And considering that I'd probably rank Allen, and maybe Brzustewicz and Dragicevic, over Nemec and Jiricek at this point, that's saying something.
A lot can change over the course of a year, though, so who knows right now. But I wouldn't be surprised to see BA try to trade up and get some more first-round selections by next spring.
- Oct 26, 2006
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I think the only way we might be in the mix to pick Michkov is if we're at 2OA. If that case presents itself, if I were BA I'd trade down a spot or two and rack in some additional assets and capitalize on some other team's desperation to get him.
Thing is, I know he might be generational in terms of skill. But if it came down to a decision of drafting a high-risk Russian right winger who wouldn't even be available for training camp for at least two years, or picking a slightly less impressive prospect and getting either more draft assets or more quality prospects or players in the bargain, I do the latter deal every day of the week. I still have faith that Dylan Guenther could be a star player on the right side, and having Fantilli+ would be almost as good as Bedard for my money.
This is a very good point. But I don't know how you can go past four. It doesn't make sense to trade from 3 to 2 because that means you know we aren't taking Michkov and you could let him fall.
Obviously it's way to early to speculate these types of things but I would need a big jam of prospects in the 4-6 range to move from 2, even if we don't want to take Michkov because of the risk. But I'm firmly in the boat of passing Michkov of it comes to it and not looking back. There are maybe three franchises that can do this because of what the franchise is and not be overly criticized for passing on the better talent.
AZ and WPG are two orgs that probably shouldn't take the risk. There may be a couple more.
rt
Clean Hits on Substack
Thinking about comps for Bedard. It’s tough to come up with one. Like Skinner without the injuries (but smarter and more skilled). Like Marchand without the nastiness (but smarter). I think maybe David Pastrnak is closest? Pastrnak seems about right. I’m bad at these. I know everyone believes Bedard is a center and maybe he is. But he sure looks like a winger to me.
Who can you guys think of that’s a better comp for Bedard than Pastrnak? Can you think of any centers that work?
Who can you guys think of that’s a better comp for Bedard than Pastrnak? Can you think of any centers that work?
Jagged Ice
Registered User
Gretzky. I know that sounds outlandish but Bedard and Wayne put pucks in net with ease. They glide and smack puck and they just somehow go in. All. The. Time.
I absolutely do not think Bedard will hit Gretzky levels, but I just don't think I've seen a anyone with such an effortless ability to score since Gretzky.
If you are rolling your eyes then I'd compare him to peak Alex Semin if he was a more complete player that played center.
Goals #4 and #3 best highlight his absolutely dumb release. These shouldn't go in and it's not just that he is playing in the CHL.that they do.
JasonDemersWasOkay
Awaiting the return of my beloved team
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This draft has 2 generational talents, 5 talented centers with size and a sprinkling of wingers and defenseman that could push some of those big C's out of the top 10.
We're going to get a great player, whether the team over-achieves or not.
I'll be cheering for wins this season.
We're going to get a great player, whether the team over-achieves or not.
I'll be cheering for wins this season.
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