Not sure why but im a bit surprised you are that high on Demidov. I hear hes more involved all over the ice than Michkov. He can definitely skate and add skill, I hope the KHL doesnt bury him completely knowing he likely leaves after a yearI have seen enough to have some favorites.
1. Macklin Celebrini C
2. Zeev Buium LD
3. Ivan Demidov F
4. Cayden Lindstrom F
5. Carter Yakemchuk RD
6. Sam Dickinson LD
That's my clear top 6.
I'm waiting on more video to rank the rest.
I've heard some people praise Catton's compete level but I didn't see that in the couple games I watched, so I'll wait for more. He looked like a low motor Marner to me, which is not going to work in the NHL.
Levshunov I just don't see much talent or good decision making overall. More of a Bogosian to me, probably after #10.
Silayev I see more of a Tyler Myers. He might be a great defensive play killer though, so I'm considering him around #7.
Cole Eiserman obviously does nothing except rifle pucks in the net. He's strong and will battle for his spot to shoot, so I do think it will work for him in the NHL. I'd still take him around #7-#9 just because he could be a 45 goal guy.
Konsta Helenius is a smart two-way very responsible pro already, and I'm confident he'll have a long career as a middle six center in the NHL. I don't see top line upside, and I prefer to take guys like this after #10.
Adam Jiricek's leg injury scares me off of him a bit. I haven't seen anything compelling from Iginla or Greentree yet. Connelly is DND for off ice reasons.
I hate Zayne Parekh's defense, he looks like rookie Boqvist or Brandt Clarke. But I'll admit his shot is on a whole different level even from offensive dynamos like them. He could be a 20 goal guy in the NHL, I feel like I probably have to give him his due in the top 10.
Not sure why but im a bit surprised you are that high on Demidov. I hear hes more involved all over the ice than Michkov. He can definitely skate and add skill, I hope the KHL doesnt bury him completely knowing he likely leaves after a year
With Parekh how much do you weigh his team into things? Statistically hes on an island which is pretty impressive for a defenseman. Do you think his coach gives him too much of a green light or do you think its as much a mentality issue? A higher end Ryan Merkley?
I've accepted that we're picking 8th, anything higher would be shocking to me
Between pick #2 and #10, it really is wide open. I'd be happy with most of the picks there, honestly. So I have a hard time worrying about this draft as much as last year, even though it would be slightly annoying to see them slide down to #8 after being top 5 all season.I could see 8th. With the way draft rankings have been arrayed (all over the place from 2-10) I could also see us landing a star player at #8.
Oh no, you're not wrong for wanting that. The draft is one of the few things that are left to be excited about in this season. I understand what you mean. It is annoying to see them go down in the picking order and of course right now I personally want to see two things: Columbus giving their younger players more opportunities and them picking as high as possible in the draft. But it can be reassuring to think that there seems to be a cluster of similarly ranked players in the top 10 this year, unlike last year, when there was a clear top 4.Guess I'm wrong for wanting the best possible chance at a better pick. Obviously there's no catching the bottom three, but fourth worst pre-lottery is absolutely attainable, and I would prefer a better pick so as to have the larger pool of choices. Fourth worst to finish means likely sixth overall, which means a few more players to choose from than eighth or ninth does. It also means a better second rounder, assuming they don't slide the pick to 2025.
Looks like they got the messageI'm not generally pro-tank, but today's game is as close to a must-lose as they've got the rest of the way. A win puts them just two points behind Montreal and leapfrogs Ottawa again (their games in hand notwithstanding). A good week plus more losses by Montreal, Arizona, and Ottawa means Columbus slides to 7th pick pre-draft and as bad as 9th overall after the draft. As soon as Pittsburgh slides into the top 10 and the protections on their pick to San Jose kick in, you know that pick is as good as guaranteed one of the two lottery slots.
Last time we had the 8th pick it worked out pretty well for us.I've accepted that we're picking 8th, anything higher would be shocking to me
Think on the positive side, starting at 6OA, the odds say you are more likely to end up with a pick higher than where you are slotted! AKA more likely to move up than down.Guess I'm wrong for wanting the best possible chance at a better pick. Obviously there's no catching the bottom three, but fourth worst pre-lottery is absolutely attainable, and I would prefer a better pick so as to have the larger pool of choices. Fourth worst to finish means likely sixth overall, which means a few more players to choose from than eighth or ninth does. It also means a better second rounder, assuming they don't slide the pick to 2025.
If the Jackets got say Zeev Buium or Berkly Catton at #8, which seems to be a real possibility in this draft, I would be ecstatic. Though, in Buium's case, I feel like he will be going to Anaheim. He's been described as the smartest player in the draft. That screams Pat Verbeek to me.Last time we had the 8th pick it worked out pretty well for us.
This is a guy that people have missed on largely because they think his team is propping up his scoring, but I'm seeing a guy who would set draft year records on any college team. He's a great player.
Does Cayden Lindstrom’s injury troubles this year scare anyone off of him?
I personally would pass. I can understand the hype, big, mean centerman with a good shot but not exactly a line driver. He's playing with some good players who put him in good spots.Does Cayden Lindstrom’s injury troubles this year scare anyone off of him?
I think that's too low for Buium. #13 on Bob's list is a wild miss to me, but I'd have Buium ahead of every prognosticator on this list. I had him 2nd when I made my first list earlier in the month.