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

[Bonsai Tree]

The Coyotes needs to get an elite level prospect on defence. Are there any coming up in 2024 or 2025? I don't see the Yotes drafting one this year based on where they'll end up likely picking.

That should be their number one goal for the free agent market. I can't believe that I'm saying this, but with Cooley and the greatly improved play of both Hayton and McBain, defense is more of a concern than center. Assuming that we get a 1st line forward with the first draft pick.

 

[Grimes]

Sale reminds me a little of Pettersson his draft year. Of that grouping of players past Reinbach I feel he has the highest ceiling but not the best floor

 

[GhostofYotesFan47]

Sale isn't it for me. I'm out of the loop and operating on old info at this point, but give me the game controlling winger in Benson if we don't select Bedard or Fantilli. If he's gone before we pick, I'm open to other players, but I think Benson is a game changer. He so f***ing good at hockey.

 

[Dead Coyote]

The Coyotes needs to get an elite level prospect on defence. Are there any coming up in 2024 or 2025? I don't see the Yotes drafting one this year based on where they'll end up likely picking.

There's this one guy called Aaron Kiviharju...

I've been a big fan of Sale, he DOES have a low floor, and that's the main criticism, but he has some of the best hands in the draft- for playmaking he might be the best passer in the draft. His vision and IQ is elite.

 

[rt]

Sale isn't it for me. I'm out of the loop and operating on old info at this point, but give me the game controlling winger in Benson if we don't select Bedard or Fantilli. If he's gone before we pick, I'm open to other players, but I think Benson is a game changer. He so f***ing good at hockey.

Love Benson’s game so much. Motor is off the charts. Such an active stick. Unreal at breaking up plays and also at making plays. Great skater and never stops moving his feet. Vision and passing and shot. Complete dual threat offensively. Plays with so much heart and grit. So consistent. Every game, every shift, he displays what he’s all about. And the mullet is top-notch. Best mullet in years.

 

[Jagged Ice]

Habs beat the Penguins. Woohoo!
Go Edmonton! (Never said that b4)

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

Yep, we're back in 5th spot...only way we stay there is if teams above us keep winning, because we're going to win more than we lose down the stretch

 

[Jagged Ice]

Yep, we're back in 5th spot...only way we stay there is if teams above us keep winning, because we're going to win more than we lose down the stretch

Ten out of the remaining 15 games are at Mullett. I bet we win most of them. Brutal opponents the rest of March but we play hard at home. Flames need to beat us tonight. They need to stay above Ottawa.

 

[Antonche]

If our choice will not top-4, I'd would pick reinbacher

 

[rt]

If our choice will not top-4, I'd would pick reinbacher

I get the appeal because of the organizational need, but I couldn’t pick him until 7th. Smith and Benson are too much to pass up for positional need, I think. But I haven’t seen any of his league play.

 

[GhostofYotesFan47]

Love Benson’s game so much. Motor is off the charts. Such an active stick. Unreal at breaking up plays and also at making plays. Great skater and never stops moving his feet. Vision and passing and shot. Complete dual threat offensively. Plays with so much heart and grit. So consistent. Every game, every shift, he displays what he’s all about. And the mullet is top-notch. Best mullet in years.

He's great man, everything I see from him is top notch. I'm absolutely drooling at the prospect of Benson joining Keller. They're smaller guys but they play the game on another level.

His motor and ability to slip in on guys to strip the puck are such huge assets. I'd love if he were 6' or taller, but I really don't think his size will deter him from being an impact player. Much like we've seen from Keller the past 2 seasons, I think he's a guy who can take control of a shift, forcing the opposing team to make mistakes and delivering scoring opportunities.

I was wrong about how good Keller would be, and I think Benson can be better. He's my clear 3, but again, I've not done jack over 3/4 weeks in watching these kids. 60-70 hour work weeks doesn't leave a lot of room for investigation.

 

[Schemp]

I get the appeal because of the organizational need, but I couldn’t pick him until 7th. Smith and Benson are too much to pass up for positional need, I think. But I haven’t seen any of his league play.

Trade back with STL. See if we can pick up at least one of their other 1sts to target Stramel.
5, 37, & a 3rd for 9, 27, 29

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

We can just take Reinbacher with the Ottawa pick, no reason to waste a top 7 pick and I just don't see him as a #1 Dman, more like ceiling of #2/#3, but not a #1.

 

[rt]

We can just take Reinbacher with the Ottawa pick, no reason to waste a top 7 pick and I just don't see him as a #1 Dman, more like ceiling of #2/#3, but not a #1.

I feel like he’s going 7-9th. I wish Bob would do another poll. Three a year just isn’t enough.

 

[Dead Coyote]

No way should we trade out of the top 5. Not even for another top 10 pick. Uh uh. I like Reinbacher a lot but the D in this draft are all super similar and Reinbacher absolutely isn't heads and shoulders above the rest. He's good, for sure. But for one thing I'd much rather draft a forward at that range and for another Reinbacher isn't significantly better than Dragicevic, Simashev and ASP. I feel like I'm even missing someone there. He's arguably the best two way defenseman in the draft but Simashev is better defensively (and bigger, meaner, and more of a shut down guy) and Dragicevic is miles ahead of him offensively and IMO (which many won't agree with) roughly on par with him defensively. ASP is a pretty similar guy all around and both have been top 10/1st d-man taken in several drafts/rankings.

Either way, None of those guys are clear #1 Elite prospects. The other guys at 5? Michkov, Benson, (begrudgingly) Smith? They are.

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

We're not going to be #5, most likely we're going to be #8

 

[rt]

Yep. 7th slot now. Yikes.

OTT 11th. Though. Nice.

7-11

 

[Dead Coyote]

We're not going to be #5, most likely we're going to be #8

In which case there's a lot less likelihood of us trading back, so the point is moot anyways.

 

[rt]

I would be wary of anyone that cites his "lack of high end tools" or "offensive potential" as reasons to not draft him this high. Its evident that anyone that has actually watched Reinbacher would not say these things. His shooting tools are a 10 out of 10 for a defenseman. His play making is a solid 6.5 +. His hands are a 7.

 

[moosemeister]

I’ve started following Reinbacher. As AZ keeps climbing, I start watching players a little further down the list.

I’d take him top 10. He isn’t Uber flashy by any means, but he does so many things right.

If AZ picked him with our first pick (let’s say 7-10) I wouldn’t be upset. I think Reinbacher has a better chance at a long NHL career compared to Sale, Dvorsky, Yager, etc.

If we left this draft with Reinbacher and Honzek, I’m busting out the Vuvuzela at AZ ice Gilbert.

 

[Heldig]

I’ve started following Reinbacher. As AZ keeps climbing, I start watching players a little further down the list.

I’d take him top 10. He isn’t Uber flashy by any means, but he does so many things right.

If AZ picked him with our first pick (let’s say 7-10) I wouldn’t be upset. I think Reinbacher has a better chance at a long NHL career compared to Sale, Dvorsky, Yager, etc.

If we left this draft with Reinbacher and Honzek, I’m busting out the Vuvuzela at AZ ice Gilbert.

Isnt that the draft description for Soderstrom?

 

[moosemeister]

Isnt that the draft description for Soderstrom?

Probably. But I’m not too worried about him. He’s 22. I just about wrote Hayton off and he’s turning out just fine. I’m learning to be ultra patient with some of these guys

 

[Half Clapper]

I think Matt Wood is a guy that BA and management might be targeting. Big kid with a helluva shot who has been unreal in the NCAA this year. I think this guy is honestly being overlooked.

 

[rt]

I think Matt Wood is a guy that BA and management might be targeting. Big kid with a helluva shot who has been unreal in the NCAA this year. I think this guy is honestly being overlooked.

His skating is really bad. That’s the thing with him. You have to bank on him being able to go from very poor skater to nhl level.

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

His skating is really bad. That’s the thing with him. You have to bank on him being able to go from very poor skater to nhl level.

Yep, his skating is Strome level bad