2023 NHL Entry Draft

[Weber Fan]

2 goals for Cristall tonight. He got 26g 36a 62 pts in 35 games. He is on pace for 120 pts. I was impressed by his play at the Hlinka but i never had the chance to watch him play since. Someone can share a review of his game this year?

 

[calder candidate]

2 goals for Cristall tonight. He got 26g 36a 62 pts in 35 games. He is on pace for 120 pts. I was impressed by his play at the Hlinka but i never had the chance to watch him play since. Someone can share a review of his game this year?

I only saw a few games of him but from what I saw he can really manipulate opponents and create in multiple way, he adjust to the situation in front of him to make the most out of it and even when he make flashy play isn’t necessarily risky (I heard the opposite but didn’t see it). So he is really dynamic in offense but he doesn’t have the same bounce in is step in the defensive zone…

 

[RationalExpectations]

I don‘t get how Sale is so high in many mock drafts whereas Mesar was so low. For me they are in the same tier of player, I would have picked Mesar aeound 20 and same for Sale personnally. I think Dvorsky was over rated but there is the hope he becomes underrated and MTL can pick him later.

 

[NotProkofievian]

2 goals for Cristall tonight. He got 26g 36a 62 pts in 35 games. He is on pace for 120 pts. I was impressed by his play at the Hlinka but i never had the chance to watch him play since. Someone can share a review of his game this year?

Offensively speaking, he's a very high level player. Deadly shooter, even more deadly playmaker, creative with the puck on his stick, generates chances at a ridiculous rate.

Defensively speaking, he's not great, and he takes a lot of risks that perhaps don't need to be taken.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I see where @Goldenhands is coming from with Sale and Dvorsky. I was very dissatisfied with Sale in the WJC, and even during the Hlinka against quality competition. And while Dvorsky's skating is quite bad, I think I saw him more on the level of U20 WJC competition mentally than Sale. I'm not close to making a call between them definitively, though.

 

[HuGort]

I'm on the Will Smith at #5 train & I really don't think it's that much of a drop from Fantilli/Carlsson.

Both are more physically developed than he is, but Smith isn't small & has tremendous hands. My only concern was I didn't like his compete level last year, but he stepped that up big time.

U18 team played Michigan tonight & Smith played great. Scored 2 goals in 3rd, one off a quick wrister over goalie's shoulder, has a beautiful release & then a football style goal line scramble that he managed to push/shovel in.

You want to see players score goals in multiple ways. You can't be a one trick pony even in goal scoring.

He's not in NHL next year. I would give him 2 full years NCAA, but at the end of it, I think you get a gifted #1 NHL center.

If we draft 6th, Smith gone, who do you take?

 

[NotProkofievian]

I'm on the Will Smith at #5 train & I really don't think it's that much of a drop from Fantilli/Carlsson.

Both are more physically developed than he is, but Smith isn't small & has tremendous hands. My only concern was I didn't like his compete level last year, but he stepped that up big time.

U18 team played Michigan tonight & Smith played great. Scored 2 goals in 3rd, one off a quick wrister over goalie's shoulder, has a beautiful release & then a football style goal line scramble that he managed to push/shovel in.

You want to see players score goals in multiple ways. You can't be a one trick pony even in goal scoring.

He's not in NHL next year. I would give him 2 full years NCAA, but at the end of it, I think you get a gifted #1 NHL center.

Bonus: Will Smith's development will be handled by somebody else. Smith is my provisional 5th overall for now as well.

 

[SOLR]

I don‘t get how Sale is so high in many mock drafts whereas Mesar was so low. For me they are in the same tier of player, I would have picked Mesar aeound 20 and same for Sale personnally. I think Dvorsky was over rated but there is the hope he becomes underrated and MTL can pick him later.

Sale is more gifted than Mesar 1 v 1 and in overall playmaking. Now it's hard to see it sometimes at the WJC for a 17 years old, because they just lack the strength and skating to have the positioning to do the play.

 

[RationalExpectations]

Sale is more gifted than Mesar 1 v 1 and in overall playmaking. Now it's hard to see it sometimes at the WJC for a 17 years old, because they just lack the strength and skating to have the positioning to do the play.

I disagree on that I have seen more than a few Times (living in Europe with Friends in the Eastern and Skandinavian region I have more knowledge of Euro leagues than CHL to be honest) and I like him overall as a player, for me he has a better shot than Mesar but is not as good a puckhandler and playmaker . I wouldsay both have top 6 potential but when I see Mesar went 26OA and Sale is often projected top 10 in a supposedly better draft, I am skeptical.

 

[RandomTask26]

He has better hands than Cooley. Doesn't have Cooley's blistering pace, but he's way more elusive. I would put Smith in the Stutzle/Pettersson category. Not afraid to go one on one, slick hands, for shooting & passing, great vision, quality skating skills, but isn't defined by them, can weave through traffic effortlessly in offensive/neutral zones.

Like Stutzle/Pettersson, he isn't physically developed. Fantilli/Carlsson are bigger, and already pretty physically developed, but Smith has good size. He'll fill out, and get stronger, which should also help his overall skating strength.

Sounds like a great option after the top 4. Will have to watch him, hopefully he lights up the U18s

 

[SOLR]

I disagree on that I have seen more than a few Times (living in Europe with Friends in the while Eastern and Skandinavian region I have more knowledge of Euro leagues than CHL to be honest) and I like him overall as a player, for me he has a better shot than Mesar but is not as good a puckhandler and playmaker . I wouldsay both have top 6 potential but when I see Mesar went 26OA and Sale is often projected top 10 in a supposedly better draft, I am skeptical.

Fair enough - I just saw this development curve often enough to plot it a bit.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I'd say he moves better than Big Mac did and his tools are a tad above, although probably not by a ton . Certainly not enough to pick him anywhere near the Florida pick, that's for sure.

I think McCarron is a somewhat disingenuous comparison meant to manipulate opinion by exploiting the negative connotation associated with that name on this board.

I think comparing Stramel to a hybrid of Crouse and Coyle would be a better and less loaded attempt at comparing his projection model to a current NHLer.

Fair enough - I just saw this development curve often enough to plot it a bit.

I would say that Sale impressed me more than others on this board.

 

[le_sean]

2 goals for Cristall tonight. He got 26g 36a 62 pts in 35 games. He is on pace for 120 pts. I was impressed by his play at the Hlinka but i never had the chance to watch him play since. Someone can share a review of his game this year?

Even more ridiculous when you look at the production of his teammates. He’ll easily be the lead on his team by double by the end of the season.

 

[Playmaker09]

I disagree on that I have seen more than a few Times (living in Europe with Friends in the Eastern and Skandinavian region I have more knowledge of Euro leagues than CHL to be honest) and I like him overall as a player, for me he has a better shot than Mesar but is not as good a puckhandler and playmaker . I wouldsay both have top 6 potential but when I see Mesar went 26OA and Sale is often projected top 10 in a supposedly better draft, I am skeptical.

I can't agree with this at all. Every single tool of Sale's is better than Mesar, except maybe skating where they're both very strong.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I can't agree with this at all. Every single tool of Sale's is better than Mesar, except maybe skating where they're both very strong.

I didn't watch Sale, but one is a projected top 10 pick in a deep draft and one was a late 1st in an OK draft.


On a different boat.

Lukas Dragicevic ? Putting up points in the W and has size. Would be a nice add to the d pool early in the draft ?

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Lukas Dragicevic ? Putting up points in the W and has size. Would be a nice add to the d pool early in the draft ?

I'm still unsure about Dragicevic, on paper he looks great but from an eye-test perspective I don't know if I love him as a defensive prospect. Does have good puck protection skills and offensive instincts.

 

[montreal]

Will Smith (#2 blue) - 2 goals, 4 shots,+1
Gabe Perreault (#4 blue) - 3 assists, 5 shots, +1
Ryan Leonard (#9 blue) - 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 shots, +1
Zeev Buium (#28 blue) - 1 goal, 1 shot, 2 pims, -3

 

[Riggins]

McCagg went from ranking Fantilli over Bedard a couple months ago to this, his latest travesty:

1 Connor Bedard
2 Dalibor Dvorsky
3 Adam Fantilli
4 Matvei Michkov
5 Leo Carlsson

 

[jiboy]

Thats clickbait stuff

 

[le_sean]

Thats clickbait stuff

Yep. There’s no possible way someone could have watched Carlsson and Dvorsky and seriously say they’d rather have Dvorsky.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

McCagg went from ranking Fantilli over Bedard a couple months ago to this, his latest travesty:

Dalibor Dvorsky at 2nd overall arguably more out there than Michael McLeod at #3.

 

[SOLR]

Yep. There’s no possible way someone could have watched Carlsson and Dvorsky and seriously say they’d rather have Dvorsky.

I wouldn't say that. Dvorsky is 6 months younger and played a pretty convincing tournament. I think there are a few things he does better that could scale when the athleticism with be at a higher level. Dvorsky is more of a pure center than Carlsson for example.

 

[le_sean]

I wouldn't say that. Dvorsky is 6 months younger and played a pretty convincing tournament. I think there are a few things he does better that could scale when the athleticism with be at a higher level. Dvorsky is more of a pure center than Carlsson for example.

6 months difference doesn’t change a thing. Carlsson is far more talented and far more implicated. He showed a lot more in that tournament and has shown a lot more in a league that is a tier above the one Dvorsky is in. Grant is trying to get clicks.

 

[calder candidate]

6 months difference doesn’t change a thing. Carlsson is far more talented and far more implicated. He showed a lot more in that tournament and has shown a lot more in a league that is a tier above the one Dvorsky is in. Grant is trying to get clicks.

Having Dvorsky over Carlson is one thing but if you had Fantilli above Bedard how can he now be behind Dvorsky…

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I'm still unsure about Dragicevic, on paper he looks great but from an eye-test perspective I don't know if I love him as a defensive prospect. Does have good puck protection skills and offensive instincts.

Serious skating issues