2023 NHL Entry Draft
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Trey Augustine might fall into an area where he's not going to cost the same draft capital as Hrabal or Bjarnason and could have decent upside
GlassesJacketShirt
Registered User
I also don't get why Benson and Caufield are being compared, they are completely different players and the size issue is more from a team-wide perspective, not 1-on-1.
WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
Smaller goalie, not super athletic and not a high end skater. Augustine isn't someone I'm interested in making our first goalie pick. If we want to make him a 2nd goalie pick, sure.
But we need to get an athletic goalie with the size and skating ability to mind the net at the NHL level. Bjarnason and Hrabal are those guys. Gotta get one.
le_sean
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- Oct 21, 2006
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We don’t even have a size issue on the team moving forward. We just drafted a 6’4 power winger. We are currently witnessing a 6’3 centre breaking out. Our 5’11 captain hasn’t missed a game in his career and even raises his level of play in the physical playoffs.
Where exactly is the issue? Oh that’s right, it’s the lack of talent since I can only name 4 sure-fire top 6 forwards for the future.
SOLR
Registered User
Yes, I think Bjarn fundamentals are better.
Hrabal has more top-end potential but he's much riskier.
Gajan has jumped up huge on some lists since the WJC's - he's definitely got the size and compete level you like to see in a young netminder. What were your thoughts on the other aspects of his game, albeit a small window.
SOLR
Registered User
But I'm not talking about size alone. I'm talking about the combination of speed and size.
Slaf, Dach, Suz, Caufield == not one elite skater.
Let's add more slow and small forwards and see what is the result.
WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
Gotta watch more of his tape after the WJC.. but what he showed in the WJC, if it wasn't a hot streak, was every tool you want to see. Lateral movement, size, he was tracking pucks and super competitive in the net.
Just need to know that it can be a consistent thing and scale up levels, vs. just having a hot streak we've seen before at the WJC level that never replicated itself again.. nobody knew who he was, so how does he handle being scouted and having his weaknesses exploited.
uhhh how is Dach not an elite skater.
Seb
All we are is Dustin Byfuglien
- Jul 15, 2006
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I would definitely not call these guys slow 
SOLR
Registered User
He's a good skater, but he doesn't change the opposition's defensive deployment by his presence/speed alone like Marner / McDavid / Barzal / Hughes are doing on a daily basis.
Dach is tier 2.
We need a tier 1 (or multiple more tier 2s) is what I'm saying.
Of course who cares how fast are Bedard/Michkov - I'm talking at equal talent.
Carlsson is probably tier 2, Fantilli tier 2 (could become tier 1), Yager tier 3 going on 2 (out of 5), same for Barlow.
WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
I don't know if there is that tier of skater projected in the top 10. Bedard doesn't have that speed. Fantilli maybe but I don't feel like it matters because he doesn't have the deception or smarts of the guys you listed. Carlsson no. Smith no. Benson no.
Yager?
SOLR
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Fantilli will probably be the closest to tier 1.
Carlsson tier 2 soon.
I think Yager ends up tier 2 around 22-23 years old.
That's what I'm saying about Benson, he's tier 4, will be pro around tier 3 and small. I'd rather get Barlow, no size issue, tier 2 skating when adult etc.
Caufield (t3) - Suzuki (t3) - Barlow (t2)
Slaf (t3) - Yager (t2) - Dach (t2)
I think this competes with anyone, even if a team like NJ would be faster, we would be much bigger while not being slow either.
I guess people wouldn't want a Brad Marchand with us on the team because we've got Cole already and yes I think Benson compares to a Brad Marchand with a little less zest to his game
le_sean
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Tampa was fine in their Cup runs without any real speedster in their top 6 or real big forward other than Killorn (if you consider 6’1 big).
Skating is not everything. Young Gally was not a great skater, but tenacious as hell. Benson seems to have that fire + he's gifted Don't think size is a big issue. We need offensive talent first of all. We drafted a big winger last year first overall. We have Dach who's big. I would go for the small Benson over the bigger Barlow at 7-8ov. We can take some size with the Panthers pick.
WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
Oh I'd much prefer a lesser skater with the processing speed of Benson over a better skater in Barlow without the rest of the requisite tools to be impactful at the NHL level.
MasterMatt25
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We should trade Florida's 1st to Anaheim for their 1st. Like if you agree
Team_Spirit
95% Elliotte
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If not top 5 I'm officially team Barlow.
Bjarnason was supposed to be FLA pick but it's looking like we might have a shot at Dvorsky/Honzek to complete the Slovak line.
Gotta acquire another 1st. See ya Monahan
Bjarnason was supposed to be FLA pick but it's looking like we might have a shot at Dvorsky/Honzek to complete the Slovak line.
Gotta acquire another 1st. See ya Monahan
SOLR
Registered User
I'm not suggesting picking Barlow over Benson based on these criterias haha.
If it's Benson/Dvorsky/Yager available for our pick, the output is clear, it's Yager over Benson.
And
Barlow/Woods/Ritchie... available for Florida's pick, personally I'm picking Barlow right now, but I'm still looking at Woods.
SOLR
Registered User
Yep, but they also have a lot of tier 2 (above average) players in the lineup. And most importantly in the playoffs, their 2 key players at 5v5 are tier 2 (Kucherov and Point).
SOLR
Registered User
A combination of speed and size, that's the argument.
Benson is not Gallagher in any way. Benson is tricky, he reads the play, and he's a great counter-attacker, probably an elite one. I did NOT argue for Barlow over Benson. I'm talking about Yager vs. Benson. Yager is a concrete addition of speed with a lot of the same abilities as Benson. At Hlinka, it was very evident who was the best player, and that was Yager. Not at everything, but the overall impact of Yager was greater.
I think people are underrating Caufield's speed. He's not McDavid but he can fly.
Benson, on the other hand, is a below average skater. There was a shift last night where he was rushing through the neutral zone with the puck and the backchecker easily caught up to him because he can't generate enough speed with his wide skating stride.
Once Benson's in the offensive zone, he's incredible. I agree with WTK, his processing speed is elite. He knows exactly where to position himself, who to pass to, etc. He makes his decisions incredibly fast and is able to repeatedly generate great scoring chances. The question is whether he'll have the necessary speed to get to the areas where he's the most effective. If he reads the play and can't get where he wants to quickly enough, it won't matter that he has the insane processing speed. Also, his lack of speed will limit the offence he can generate in transition.
I think his skating stride can be coached (I know we've said this before and regretted it). I'd be willing to bet on someone with an IQ that high.
Benson, on the other hand, is a below average skater. There was a shift last night where he was rushing through the neutral zone with the puck and the backchecker easily caught up to him because he can't generate enough speed with his wide skating stride.
Once Benson's in the offensive zone, he's incredible. I agree with WTK, his processing speed is elite. He knows exactly where to position himself, who to pass to, etc. He makes his decisions incredibly fast and is able to repeatedly generate great scoring chances. The question is whether he'll have the necessary speed to get to the areas where he's the most effective. If he reads the play and can't get where he wants to quickly enough, it won't matter that he has the insane processing speed. Also, his lack of speed will limit the offence he can generate in transition.
I think his skating stride can be coached (I know we've said this before and regretted it). I'd be willing to bet on someone with an IQ that high.
McGees
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- Jun 15, 2016
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I’d take Barlow and Benson over Dvorsky or Sale from my limited viewings.
Benson is more like a smol Suzuki than a larger Caufield.
Benson is more like a smol Suzuki than a larger Caufield.
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WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
Gotcha.
I'm hoping we can get Reinbacher with Florida's pick but I'd prefer Wood over Barlow. I know it's riskier but I'm a sucker for upside.
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