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

[The Feckless Puck]

How much do you think the draft lottery/draft impacts the rebuild timeline? I'm guessing a great deal.

I dunno. I watched the whole PHNX interview with BA and I came away thinking that he and his scouts have a plan and nothing on this earth, and especially not on social media, is going to shake it - barring an absolute miracle, that is. That miracle is probably Bedard. But BA is going along with the assumption that we won't get Bedard. It seems very clear to me in the way he talks - the way he frames it, the only way we'd get a franchise-changer like Bedard is a complete trick of fate.

Right now, BA and the scouts have their whiteboards (if you haven't seen the PHNX interview, go watch it for a discussion of whiteboards) and their targets all set up, and I'll bet you a dozen dollars that they're not going to move away from that unless something ridiculous happens (like if we pick 6th and Fantilli is somehow still there, or etc.). It's all part of "the process," and really the only things that might alter how they go about that process are within the top five picks of the draft. Everything else is a complimentary piece to their plan of attack.

 

[Bonsai Tree]

I would also think that BA is looking at possession metrics and primary scoring up and down the draft. Should we be lucky enough to get Beddard, Fantilli, Carlsson or Michkov the priority might shift to big 2 way forwards and defensmen. But what do I know, Jim? I'm a doctor, dammit, not a hockey GM!

 

[Jamieh]

If BA is half the genius we give him credit for, he will already have had serious discussions with the KHL team about buying out the latter part of Michkov's contract. As far as the geopolitical drama, we shouldn't allow anyone to force children to pay for the sins of their fathers. Not the Germans, not the Russians.

Wonder if that is allowed? I honestly have no idea??

 

[ck26]

If BA is half the genius we give him credit for, he will already have had serious discussions with the KHL team about buying out the latter part of Michkov's contract. As far as the geopolitical drama, we shouldn't allow anyone to force children to pay for the sins of their fathers. Not the Germans, not the Russians.

A cursory google search says that HC Sochi is owned by Gazprom, the state-owned natural gas company. Other than Rosoboronexport or Vladimir Putin personally, I can't think of a worse possible owner more closely tied to the Kremlin. And so I strongly suspect that Muerelo cutting them a check would violate a whole bunch of sanctions.

 

[rt]

A cursory google search says that HC Sochi is owned by Gazprom, the state-owned natural gas company. Other than Rosoboronexport or Vladimir Putin personally, I can't think of a worse possible owner more closely tied to the Kremlin. And so I strongly suspect that Muerelo cutting them a check would violate a whole bunch of sanctions.

He’s loaned to Sochi. They don’t own him. His contract is with SKA.

 

[rt]

 

[lanky]

Bill has a budget to work with. He's VERY careful with it. I can't imagine him using any part of that budget to buy-out a KHL contract.

 

[lanky]

Took me a minute to understand what he was showing there. It's just a consensus ranking as far as I can tell.

 

[rt]

Took me a minute to understand what he was showing there. It's just a consensus ranking as far as I can tell.

Yep. Of lists he handpicks. I assume mostly media scouts online. Hipster scouts is my guess.

Comparables added- Ex- Smith=Kuznetsov, Reinbacher=Pesce, Fantilli=JToews, Danielson=Cozens, Dvorsky=RStrome, Yager=Konecny.

I’ve been using Pastrnak as my comparable for Bedard.

 

[lanky]

I miss Scouch's prospect analysis videos.
I can't bring myself to watch his live streams.
I preferred the small, digestible bites of his former video format.

 

[rt]

I miss Scouch's prospect analysis videos.
I can't bring myself to watch his live streams.
I preferred the small, digestible bites of his former video format.

Yes. He’s great with the very well prepared, scripted, formulaic little videos. He’s an absolutely trainwreck when he’s wining it. Especially when he starts talking politics for no reason. Oye vey. He listened to a Rage Against the Machine album during his freshman year of college and then just pressed pause on everything from that point on. It’s embarrassing. He’s got Hot Topic politics he bought at the mall. Yuck.

 

[Nagatoarek]

He’s loaned to Sochi. They don’t own him. His contract is with SKA.

SKA is also owned by Gazprom I believe.

 

[ck26]

He’s loaned to Sochi. They don’t own him. His contract is with SKA.

Gazprom owns SKA as well. And like lanky said, no way BA uses his budget like this.

 

[rt]

SKA is like the Yankees of the KHL, no?

 

[ck26]

SKA is like the Yankees of the KHL, no?

CSKA / SKA = Central Sports Klub of the Army
Dynamo = law enforcement / secret police (NKVD, Stasi)
Torpedo = auto industry
Lokomotiv obviously

These hockey and soccer teams had patronage from important people and very often got whatever players they wanted from other teams. Back in the 70's CSKA Moscow basically just was the national team. More trophies, more fans ... so in the post-communist era, these teams had a huge head start. Plus St Pete is a great city. And no salary cap. East Germany, Bulgaria, Romania ... the whole Eastern Bloc was like this.

Imagine the CIA or FBI director being a petty, vindictive, meddling Yankees fan in a no-salary cap league. It's gross.

 

[hbk]

Comparables added- Ex- Smith=Kuznetsov, Reinbacher=Pesce, Fantilli=JToews, Danielson=Cozens, Dvorsky=RStrome, Yager=Konecny.

I saw Danielson live a few weeks ago. Strong two way game. Will try to catch a period or two today again. Strong draft class in WHL. Love it

 

[rt]

I saw Danielson live a few weeks ago. Strong two way game. Will try to catch a period or two today again. Strong draft class in WHL. Love it

I’ve gotta peep some more Brandon and Vancouver games (Honzek). And I guess more Tri City. I have to figure out why people
Rate Dragicevic in the 20s instead of closer to Top 10. He’s looked great every time Ive watched him over the last two seasons. I’ve been pumping his tires here for over a year. Everyone bags on him for things I’ve really never observed.

 

[Freddy Sjostrom]

Stromer puts out the Hawks Bedard hopes with stats

 

[Dead Coyote]

Gazprom owns SKA as well. And like lanky said, no way BA uses his budget like this.

I think in 2-3 years when the contract becomes an issue we might be out of the woods enough to have enough money to do that. After all it's not a ton- likely 1-300k at most. But you never know. Also quite possible we don't care at all if we've talked with him and are fine with waiting out the contract. Again, who knows?

 

[Sm00chy]

I don't think most forum40 members rebuild timeline is the same as BA. Waiting for Michkov could be part of BA's rebuild timeline.

Personally I don’t have a timeline. I think every draft has the potential to accelerate (Bedard/Fantili) a rebuild. Michkov for obvious reasons would delay a rebuild. Both are fine by me because all 3 of those players have elite star potential… however I much prefer the shorter path

 

[Matias Maccete]

Can Michkov not just leave? Like if he bails and doesn't intend to return can't we sign him here? Do we have any actual obligation to honor the Russian contract?

 

[Jamieh]

Can Michkov not just leave? Like if he bails and doesn't intend to return can't we sign him here? Do we have any actual obligation to honor the Russian contract?

There an agreement between NHL and Russian Federation to honor contracts. No sure how solid that is in today's climate??

 

[rt]

Can Michkov not just leave? Like if he bails and doesn't intend to return can't we sign him here? Do we have any actual obligation to honor the Russian contract?

It used to be like that back in the day. But I think there’s official agreements of some kind now.

 

[Nagatoarek]

It used to be like that back in the day. But I think there’s official agreements of some kind now.

NHL cut almost all ties with KHL since the start of the war, however as I understand NHL will be honoring existing player contracts. See here.

 

[ParisSaintGermain]

Can Michkov not just leave? Like if he bails and doesn't intend to return can't we sign him here? Do we have any actual obligation to honor the Russian contract?

I imagine that the current climate/situation in Russia makes it rather impossible for him to just leave without some unlikely green light from the establishment at this stage. He might not even want to leave, who knows.