Prospect Info: #5 OA - Barrett Hayton - Center - Back to the OHL

[Name Nameless]

"Evan Bouchard was the only other Canadian taken in the top 10 by Edmonton "


Edmonton only had one top ten pick, so it'd be surprising if they had picked more than one Canadian (or any nationality, really). He was the only anything selected by EDM in the top ten.

Do editors not exist anymore?

Obviously so surprised with Edmonton not winning the draft lottery, so they kind of subconsciously thinks the Oilers got a bunch of extra picks from 7 to 10 instead.

 

[XX]

You know I wish they had traded down, too (sort of sounded like they may have tried), but to be fair, "If ROR/Bergeron were plausible 1st rounders, why did they fall to the second? Everybody missed a 1st line center?"

The CHL puts out a ton of prospects each year, a lot of them centers. It's not really fair to use 2 of the best, going all the way back to 2003, to justify Hayton. That's two guys from over a dozen+ drafts that teams missed on. There were a whole lot more players that teams were adamant about that failed during that stretch. A pick is an educated guess. Where would Barzal go in a redo? Strome?

I don't mind the player but the logic they are using to justify the pick and to sell it just doesn't add up.

 

[Name Nameless]

...

I don't mind the player but the logic they are using to justify the pick and to sell it just doesn't add up.

The pick is in. The deal is done.

If he doesn't pan out, the Yotes are in trouble, or to be precise, even more serious trouble.

No pressure!

 

[hbk]

Just rewatched McKenzies draft special. He mentions a team ranking Hayton as a 1C and having him top 5 on their list.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/hayton-kicks-off-11-20-in-mckenzie-s-final-pre-draft-rankings~1419822

 

[XX]

Just rewatched McKenzies draft special. He mentions a team be
Ieving Hayton is a 1C and having him top 5 on their list.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/hayton-kicks-off-11-20-in-mckenzie-s-final-pre-draft-rankings~1419822

The Coyotes have telegraphed their feelings about players, going back to the Maloney days. It's not really surprising. Button just has an in with the organization somewhere.

 

[Jakey53]

After I got over the initial shock and disappointment I'm fine with the pick. More Centers is never a bad thing. Gotta hit on a C Prospect eventually right?

We ALL know, or should know that wingers are the least valuable to building a good team. Many players dropped in this draft, even D. This kid came out of no where for most on this board, but now we are hearing that Button had him at 7, someone else had him 8 and there were rumblings that Chicago wanted him. Now most are pissed because he wasn't one of the big names thrown around and are saying what a bad pick this was, but in all honestly, how many have seen this kid play or even watched any video on him before we drafted him?

 

[Jakey53]

I still like that they ignored consensus and took their guy.

Hopefully the decision-making involved more than Chayka falling in love in December.

Really? Chayka and scouts talk all the time, just like every other team.

Hayton better put up 40g and near 100pts next season...otherwise, it's time to get the torches and pitchforks

 

[Jakey53]

Or perhaps like someone who wanted to make sure the kid can consistently do the things that most NHL centers can't?

And Chayka implied just that.

 

[DoanStopBelievin]

Well after sleeping on it and watching more on the kid and hearing Button’s scouting profile and reading the NHL CSS profile, I’m feeling better. The combination of the FO and scouting staff’s talent evaluation on Keller, Chychrun, and POJ and showing so much conviction in taking Hayton in a prime slot over other prime players makes me more comfortable. Here’s to Barrett proving us wrong and being our Mark Scheifele

 

[Name Nameless]

The entire HFboards fell in love with Dahlin for, like, two years ago, so even if it is true Chayka fell in love with Hayton in December, I don't see what's wrong with singling him out early. On the contrary, as I trust Chayka, it's just good it's been awhile since he started to rate Hayton this high.

(edit: minor typo)

 

[Hammer Slammer]

Here's a shift by shift look at him from late April in the OHL playoffs. Game goes into 20 minute OT so there's about 33 minutes of icetime.

Barrett Hayton vs Kitchener | Apr 29 2018

 

[Jakey53]

I'm not insulting anyone...I just think it's quite comical that so many of you think you know what you're talking about and trust your own absent minded and uninformed opinion over a GM and his staff who have a very successful track record of making sound decisions up to this point. Quite comical indeed. I'll say again...name a team that's won a Cup in the last 10 years that's had a Winger as their best player (other than Ovie this year). I don't think anyone can. I mean hey, if some people think Zadina could win us more hockey games that's fine and everyone is entitled to their opinion...I'm not trying to crap on it. But the people freaking out and being negative about this pick from what I've read far outweigh anything positive, or even just a "lets wait and see how it pans out..."

Good post. Exactly how I feel. Posters hear about prospects from other posters and think it is gospel. Very few posters every see these kids play live, rather only videos hi-lights.

 

[Jamieh]

I'm not insulting anyone...I just think it's quite comical that so many of you think you know what you're talking about and trust your own absent minded and uninformed opinion over a GM and his staff who have a very successful track record of making sound decisions up to this point. Quite comical indeed. I'll say again...name a team that's won a Cup in the last 10 years that's had a Winger as their best player (other than Ovie this year). I don't think anyone can. I mean hey, if some people think Zadina could win us more hockey games that's fine and everyone is entitled to their opinion...I'm not trying to crap on it. But the people freaking out and being negative about this pick from what I've read far outweigh anything positive, or even just a "lets wait and see how it pans out..."

2 years ago there was great debate for playoff MVP with many thinking it was Kessel. Patrick Kane 3 years ago. Using the lazy route of just going with Conn Smyth winners in your last 10 we have 4 centers, 2 goalies, 1 D man, and 3 wingers. I'm not sure you are as right as you think.

 

[Jakey53]

So what else do you think John Chayka does in his free time guys? Here's a hint: he took a five day honeymoon. Yeah, five. The guy lives and breathes being a GM. I doubt he plays golf on the weekends and has poker nights with the boys. He and his staff have watched hundreds of hours of video on all of these players, and you somehow think that he doesn't know exactly what he's doing. Sure sometimes things don't work out and no one is perfect at their job no matter how time they put in...but you can rest assured that he and his staff took who they felt was the BPA and made the best possible decision for the franchise they could.

Again, good post. The draft is a crap shoot, and this draft proves that as players were moving up and down like crazy.

 

[Jamieh]

I'm pretty sure I didn't say that "Kane isn't an important player for CHI." Reading is a skill, I know..we don't all have it. I said that Toews was the more important and more impactful player when it comes to their Cup wins. Which I stand by 100%.

So the year that Keith had to talk Toews down off the ledge on the penalty box as he was almost singlehandedly losing to the Wings, the same year that Kane was playoff mvp, you're saying Toews was tgeir best player???? Considering salary Toews might just be in the top 5 of nhl overrated players.

 

[Jakey53]

Keller was one of the most prolific producers to ever go through the NTDP. It wasn't like he was a huge reach. He was docked for stupid **** like his size.

In this case, we're seeing a player that doesn't have particularly great measurables and/or track record puffed up to deflect criticism.

So now you are the expert on this kid. How many games did you see him play? You are mouthing off like you have watched this kid for five years. Button has him seventh, hbk said someone had him eighth, and there was someone who said Chicago wanted him. He may have been a reach to you and most posters here, but the way it sounds it wasn't for the scouts, who have just a little bit more info on this kid than you.

 

[Jakey53]

A Conn Smythe/Hart/Art Ross winner who has been a PPG winger over the past decade isn’t the best player on their team. TIL only on HF.

We all know there are great wingers in this league, but D and C's are harder to get and are more needed to build a successful team.

 

[Jakey53]

I'd be a lot more comfortable with the Hayton pick if Ken Holland hadn't made it known how thrilled he was to have Zadina land in his lap despite a glaring needs on the blueline with Hughes staring him in the face. Saying that Zadina was 2nd on their board is just salt in the wound.

So, Detroit had Zadina ahead of Svechnikov? I believe most had Svechnikov 2nd on their board. I don't give a fiddler f--- what Detroit says, it doesn't make them right or us wrong. Just because you have heard these names for the last three months doesn't mean they will be the best player in the draft.

 

[Coyotedroppings]

Chayka said there is "no holes in his game." This is HUGE boys. I was elated that Zadina fell to us and equally shocked by our subsequent pick but this kid (by all accounts) is extremely intelligent and our (thus far) nearly flawless staff and GM had him ranked high and pulled the trigger.

Athleticism, high intelligence and no holes in his game boys. Chayka's definitely got a large ego, but he also knows he's putting himself out there with this pick, when the obvious choice was Zadina.

We're going to wonder about this one for a while, but I can tell you from experience that an intelligent player makes everyone around him better. Passing on a player that is all but a given to pot a lot of goals is tough, but in building a "team" it may be better to go the route the Yotes just went.

 

[Jakey53]

The thing that I think is important to focus on here is that there are so many under appreciated things that go into winning hockey games that aren't nearly as sexy as scoring goals. They include; compete level, commitment to excellence off ice, leadership, chemistry within the room, being positionally sound, making players around you better, winning board battles, blocking shots etc. You guys have all watched playoff hockey...I think you know what I'm talking about. My guess is that Hayton checks more of these boxes than Zadina, and he can be a fairly potent offensive threat on top of all those other intangibles. We'll see how he does next year in junior as the top line go to guy. I'm sure Zadina will be a fine player...but if I had to choose between a guy that scored 35 goals and that was pretty much his only contribution, and a guy who scored 25 but checked more of those boxes I listed above...I'll take the 25 goal guy all day long.

I have not idea, like most on this board, if Hayton will be better than Zadina but I think our scouts have earned our respect over the last few years. Time will tell.

 

[Coyotedroppings]

So, Detroit had Zadina ahead of Svechnikov? I believe most had Svechnikov 2nd on their board. I don't give a fiddler f--- what Detroit says, it doesn't make them right or us wrong. Just because you have heard these names for the last three months doesn't mean they will be the best player in the draft.

Very true, but given their positions in the draft, I'd say Detroit did better than anyone last night.

 

[Jakey53]

That's because no one was talking about him as much. No one even knew anything about the guy. If he's not on Bobby Mack's top 10 list no even knows anything about them...

Isn't that the truth.

 

[lanky]

Very true, but given their positions in the draft, I'd say Detroit did better than anyone last night.

Isles hit a grand slam. They're the winners in my mind.

 

[Jakey53]

2018 Prospect Profile: Barrett Hayton

That's a good read. I wonder how many of the experts on this forum have read this.

 

[_Del_]

Hard to argue either the Isles or Detroit. Still surprised how far V dropped given the center binge.