I feel like I've seen a lot of mocks having us take Sennecke. I'm unsure how to feel on it, because he feels like a late riser who is somewhat of a reach. Do you agree?
I will not be happy. But I can live with it. He isn't my top priority at all.
I think parts of his game are overrated. He isn't very smart player if you compare him with other players on the draft. He is shifty with the puck, but often he is holding the puck a lot, he has some kind of tunnel vision where he has one player to play with him and doesn't see other players in the situation. Still very good with the puck. His skating isn't great. Its okay but I don't see big potential for development of his skating.
I think he has big offensive potential. Especially as complimentary offensive player.
But I see Necas/Zacha type of player with less skating ability, without good positional vision to play two way center role. Even if he will pop out like Thompson did, you can see weak elements in Thompsons game. You can see why he is so productive but his team can't make a huge step. He needs specific surroundings. Even when Skinner scored and produced, they were still not play off team.
I think Jack and Nico are very talented. And they have talents around them. They were historically great when played with right players even when this players were not producing stars.
And I think Nygard, Helenius and Chernyshov are having both - offensive talent and two way vision, they are great 200 foot forwards. In the same time with high ceiling as offensive forwards too. Chernyshov is as great as puckhandler as Sennecke - its just fact. His stckhandling worked against KHLers, not only against kids, and he has more speed and skating ability to use it. Helenius is just smarter - he thinks the game three dtep forward, in every situation, not only with the puck on his stick. Nygard is way better faster skater, way better defensive forward, and his skating ability helps him to create and find space for scoring chances, where he us using great shot.
They are better prospects. They didn't play with Ritchie who was one if the best forwards in the league. They proved their skilled on the harder levels against harder competition.
So for me its not a question. I don't care about writers ratings, its not a first time when I'm not agree with them, because I trust my vision, I don't have bias against nationality that is so obvious today for some people. I like Russian, Norwegian and American player who was born in Israel. And I have Silayev outside top 10, when he is top 10 player on the most of the lists.
So I just hope Devils see players in the same way as I. They did with some players, they didn't with others. Will see what kind of preferences they have on this draft.