2023 NHL Draft June 28 and 29, Nashville, TN (Selections - 13, 39, 45, 86, 109, 141, 173, 205)

[HOOats]

My dream would be to trade back to around 18, take Willander/Simashev, then use the proceeds to trade up from 39 into the mid 20s for Brindley, Musty, But, Edstrom, Stenberg. Would require things breaking a certain way, but I have a feeling it's going to be a wacky first round.

I really like Zach Benson. And if that happens, I can't wait for all the hot takes on the bird app with the Sabres taking yet another small, skilled forward early.

Benson seems like a special enough prospect to go clear BPA and grab the small skill again. But will they really be hot takes or just legitimate concerns about system balance until the FO shows a willingness to cash in developing skill for other player types? I think they will and it just isn't quite time yet, but Benson would push some of our very good prospects even further down the future depth chart.

 

[Jim Bob]

Benson seems like a special enough prospect to go clear BPA and grab the small skill again. But will they really be hot takes or just legitimate concerns about system balance until the FO shows a willingness to cash in developing skill for other player types? I think they will and it just isn't quite time yet, but Benson would push some of our very good prospects even further down the future depth chart.

I think they will be anti-RyJo & MattSam pick level hot takes.

 

[Fjordy]

Benson would be a steal and he already has chemistry with Savoie.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Mock Draft: The fun starts after No. 1 in Craig Button's NHL Draft projection | TSN

TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button has Connor Bedard as a lock to go No. 1 when the Chicago Blackhawks step up to the podium on June 28 in Nashville, but the real intrigue starts with the Anaheim Ducks.

www.tsn.ca

Button with a mostly reasonable mock............aside from Arizona taking Wood at 6

CHI -- Bedard
ANA -- Fantilli
CBJ -- Carlsson
SJ -- Michkov
MTL -- Smith
ARIZ -- Wood (yep)
PHI -- Leonard
WASH -- Reinbacher
DET -- Barlow
St. L -- ASP
VAN -- Willander
ARIZ -- Dvorsky
BUF -- Benson

ASP to the Blues just has no logic behind it -- they never draft guys like that this high. They'd take Dvorsky there with those options imo. And then the Coyotes or VAN would simply have to take Benson.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Really don’t get the ASP hate personally. Pick the best player and you have a valuable asset to trade if he doesn’t fit on your roster long-term.

 

[Ace]

Really don’t get the ASP hate personally. Pick the best player and you have a valuable asset to trade if he doesn’t fit on your roster long-term.

If I’m drafting something for trade value it’s going to be a bigger D, a Center or a giant forward

If I’m drafting something for fit it’s almost any player in the range over him.

if I’m draft BPA at 13 it’s not him

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

If I’m drafting something for trade value it’s going to be a bigger D, a Center or a giant forward

If I’m drafting something for fit it’s almost any player in the range over him.

if I’m draft BPA at 13 it’s not him

I’m not comparing him to ASP, but Cale Makar doesn’t fit this example and of course carries monstrous trade value. I trust the scouts for whomever they think is BPA, regardless of position, size, or style of play.

Having said that, I’d understand frustration if we take another undersized winger (except Benson).

 

[Fjordy]

Really don’t get the ASP hate personally. Pick the best player and you have a valuable asset to trade if he doesn’t fit on your roster long-term.

I think there are worse players on the board for me than ASP. Not a fan of this choice, but the guy has the tools.

 

[joshjull]

 

[Dirty Dog]

Don't Candyman that guy's next clone account back into existence.

Ban @Asymmetric Solution if it happens! Bad voodoo

 

[HOOats]

Here are FanDuel's odds to be a top 10 pick. Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson, Smith, and Leonard are unlisted, while Michkov and Reinbacher are -9000 and Dvorsky is -4000. Nothing too out of step, but interesting to see where predictions with actual stakes land. Perrault is "10th" and there's a real drop off between him and Wood. Do we see St. Louis taking him? Detroit?

If I had to take one of these bets based on odds, it'd be But. The eight guys from Wood to Honzek still seem to be our likely wheelhouse.

 

[mcy35]

What’s the skinny on Yager?

 

[MarkusKetterer]

What’s the skinny on Yager?

He’s not ASP or Benson.

He’s not my favourite target, but he’s someone I’m fine if they take if the players I want are gone. It’s a weird year because it’s not a top 8 pick

 

[Dingo44]

What’s the skinny on Yager?

When he lets a slapper go from the point they call it a Yager Bomb.

 

[Ace]

What’s the skinny on Yager?

A not big center who doesn’t play as hard as, have the hockey sense of, playmaking ability of, or off the puck ability of Noah Ostlund.

 

[mcy35]

Just seems like she’s lurking close enough in the rankings that he could be in play but I haven’t heard a peep about him. Don’t see Benson falling but if he did, I would sprint to the podium. I’m hoping for Simashev but would be fine with Willander.

 

[Reddawg]

Benson would be a steal and he already has chemistry with Savoie.

This is at the top of my mildly realistic hope list.

 

[Sabres]

Likely unrealistic dream scenario: trade up for Michkov

Somewhat reasonable dream scenario: Benson or Simashev at 13

Happy to pick at 13: Barlow, Moore, Wood

If those guys aren’t there I’d hope we’d trade down to get an extra asset, that we can likely use to trade back up into the end of the 1st round.

 

[Fjordy]

To be honest with what's going on right now, I won't blame Adams if he doesn't take a Russians players, even if they BPA to them. More and more risk.

 

[truthbluth]

I’m coming around on Moore, but typically, I’m wary of players whose heads are a tick behind their feet. [Edit] Not sure if I’m overthinking this, but Moore is a player that a) needs a lot of development, and b) needs to play in a system that thrives on creativity. I’m not sure Wisconsin with Mike Hastings is a good fit. Hastings is obviously a great coach, but those Mankato teams were highly structured, defensive teams. And, Hastings has, despite great collegiate success, not produced a single quality NHL talent. Teddy Blueger has had the most successful NHL career from Hastings’ Mankato teams in 293 NCAA wins. That’s an almost remarkable feat. Maybe it shouldn’t, but that fact, coupled with Hastings’ preference for exclusively playing older players in predominant roles, makes me a little more hesitant about Moore.
[Edit 2] Nevermind, lol

I’m interested in Simashev, I do wonder if there is enough offense there to justify such a high pick. If he doesn’t develop offensively, is he that much better than, say, Beau Akey? Would I rather have Barlow, Wood or Moore, and Akey, or Simashev and Zimmer, Stramel or Danny Nelson? I think it’s close, but I think going F, D is statistically safer. Now if you miss out on Akey, the shutdown D pool thins out extremely quickly.

 

[Chainshot]

All the Q&A's:



Interesting to hear that their 4-11 rankings were really tight and often debated.

ASP gave Mark flashbacks to Brannstrom.

Speaks to "playoff guys" as part of why Barlow is so high on their list.

 

[Fly Boy]

I’m coming around on Moore, but typically, I’m wary of players whose heads are a tick behind their feet. [Edit] Not sure if I’m overthinking this, but Moore is a player that a) needs a lot of development, and b) needs to play in a system that thrives on creativity. I’m not sure Wisconsin with Mike Hastings is a good fit. Hastings is obviously a great coach, but those Mankato teams were highly structured, defensive teams. And, Hastings has, despite great collegiate success, not produced a single quality NHL talent. Teddy Blueger has had the most successful NHL career from Hastings’ Mankato teams in 293 NCAA wins. That’s an almost remarkable feat. Maybe it shouldn’t, but that fact, coupled with Hastings’ preference for exclusively playing older players in predominant roles, makes me a little more hesitant about Moore.

I’m interested in Simashev, I do wonder if there is enough offense there to justify such a high pick. If he doesn’t develop offensively, is he that much better than, say, Beau Akey? Would I rather have Barlow, Wood or Moore, and Akey, or Simashev and Zimmer, Stramel or Danny Nelson? I think it’s close, but I think going F, D is statistically safer. Now if you miss out on Akey, the shutdown D pool thins out extremely quickly.

Moore is committed to playing at the University of Minnesota, not Wisconsin.

 

[truthbluth]

Moore is committed to playing at the University of Minnesota, not Wisconsin.

Lol, holy shit you’re right. Must have been UNDERthinking it

 

[Chainshot]

I’m coming around on Moore, but typically, I’m wary of players whose heads are a tick behind their feet. [Edit] Not sure if I’m overthinking this, but Moore is a player that a) needs a lot of development, and b) needs to play in a system that thrives on creativity. I’m not sure Wisconsin with Mike Hastings is a good fit. Hastings is obviously a great coach, but those Mankato teams were highly structured, defensive teams. And, Hastings has, despite great collegiate success, not produced a single quality NHL talent. Teddy Blueger has had the most successful NHL career from Hastings’ Mankato teams in 293 NCAA wins. That’s an almost remarkable feat. Maybe it shouldn’t, but that fact, coupled with Hastings’ preference for exclusively playing older players in predominant roles, makes me a little more hesitant about Moore.
[Edit 2] Nevermind, lol

I’m interested in Simashev, I do wonder if there is enough offense there to justify such a high pick. If he doesn’t develop offensively, is he that much better than, say, Beau Akey? Would I rather have Barlow, Wood or Moore, and Akey, or Simashev and Zimmer, Stramel or Danny Nelson? I think it’s close, but I think going F, D is statistically safer. Now if you miss out on Akey, the shutdown D pool thins out extremely quickly.

I would easily rather have Simashev at 13. The defense is odd in that there are a lot of 2nd and 3rd round guys who could take steps to be very good in their own zone as they develop but Simashev is already very good defensively. I've had this debate too internally - is the offensive production going to come around and I think it is, but even if it doesn't, he's going to be a very good player in his own zone regardless.