2024-25: Phantoms (AHL), Reading Royals (ECHL), NCAA, Jrs., Int'l, etc.

[Magua]

Curious to see what Mann could do in Mestis in a few more seasons.

 

[deadhead]

Curious to see what Mann could do in Mestis in a few more seasons.

Probably end up better than Pautov, for what it's worth.

 

[Beef Invictus]

I'll laugh at some people here if Mann turns out to be NHL material.

Betting on oversized players developing coordination is as good a gamble as betting on undersized offensive players who lack strength, IQ or special skills in the 7th round.

That is, buy your lottery ticket and forget about it for five years.

He won't. It'll be a miracle if he's ECHL material.

 

[Magua]

Probably end up better than Pautov, for what it's worth.

Pautov, who I've never commented on, probably ends up fringe KHL. Mann probably ends up in the EIHL. It's a big bucket of who gives a f***. You're the one who writes Homeric epics about every late round pick.

 

[deadhead]

Pautov, who I've never commented on, probably ends up fringe KHL. Mann probably ends up in the EIHL. It's a big bucket of who gives a f***. You're the one who writes Homeric epics about every late round pick.

I'm not the one who slobbered over Pautov.

Sotheran yes, after an outstanding D+1 season, though I think the heart thing has hurt him starting out this season, the same way mono hurt Barkey.

McDonald, we'll see. Flyers seem to be high on him, so far he's first pair with Belpedio in LHV.
Ideally he can develop into a Seeler type, more likely a more mobile version of Ginning.

Moline, Powell, MacPherson, Mann, Sulku, Gendron, Samson, McGlauthin, I expect nothing.
Hitting on Cates (2017), Ersson (2018) is a big plus.
I won't hold my breath on Lycksell, who has an outside chance at a NHL career (more likely to end up like Richard, AHL + who gets a couple NHL stints).

Looking at those drafts, after 2015, it became harder to find talent outside the top 100.
I think weaker drafts, but also easier access to video combined with analytics (encouraging teams to take closer looks at some players) improved drafting around the league.