ATD2025 Draft Thread

[nabby12]

This is his natural range now, but I was disappointed by his stats in late-series (Game 5-7) found in this thread: Playoff scoring - late in series (Games 5-7) vs early in series (Games 1-4)

0 point in six Game 7 is particularly brutal for a player with the reputation to be clutch.

Meh, if you look hard enough you can find a negative about any player drafted.

Game 7's are generally very low-scoring defensive games, so I could care less if Kucherov has a point in them or not.

167 points in 147 playoff games makes Kucherov an elite playoff scorer. He's about as clutch as you can get.

2019-20 - 34 points in 25 playoff games
2020-21 - 32 points in 23 playoff games (after missing the entire regular season)
2021-22 - 27 points in 23 playoff games

 

[BenchBrawl]

Meh, if you look hard enough you can find a negative about any player drafted.

Game 7's are generally very low-scoring defensive games, so I could care less if Kucherov has a point in them or not.

167 points in 147 playoff games makes Kucherov an elite playoff scorer. He's about as clutch as you can get.

2019-20 - 34 points in 25 playoff games
2020-21 - 32 points in 23 playoff games (after missing the entire regular season)
2021-22 - 27 points in 23 playoff games

Yeah well, the thread I posted has other players that looks much better than Kucherov, among his contemporaries.

He's not "about as clutch as you can get", when there are other players demonstrably more clutch, and when his production takes a massive drop the longer the series go on.

 

[nabby12]

Yeah well, the thread I posted has other players that looks much better than Kucherov, among his contemporaries.

He's not "about as clutch as you can get", when there are other players demonstrably more clutch, and when his production takes a massive drop the longer the series go on.

 

[tinyzombies]

OK, but what that has to do with my post? lol

post removed. is this relevant: "- Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois confirmed on Tuesday that star forward Nikita Kucherov played in the Stanley Cup Final with a non-displaced rib fracture. Kucherov was hurt on a cross-check during Game 6 of the conference final against the New York Islanders.Jul 14, 2021"

 

[BenchBrawl]

He reminds me of you lol

All fairness Kuch is a decent pick there, but not the best RWer left IMO.

post removed

Well I didn't ask for so much lol

Sorry if I sounded blunt.

 

[tinyzombies]

He reminds me of you lol

All fairness Kuch is a decent pick there, but not the best RWer left IMO.



Well I didn't ask for so much lol

Sorry if I sounded blunt.

I get your point, you are looking for facts.

 

[BenchBrawl]

I get your point, you are looking for facts.

Just in this case, because it plays against Kuch. Otherwise I'm all emotions.

 

[Dr John Carlson]

I can't get down with an argument that Kucherov isn't a great clutch scorer. Honestly, I think I'd prefer that my star offensive players produce more early on in the series as opposed to later on, so that my team can get ahead early rather than risk an early exit.

Now, a different conversation is whether Kucherov is a good fit as the RW next to Ovechkin & McDavid...

 

[BenchBrawl]

I can't get down with an argument that Kucherov isn't a great clutch scorer. Honestly, I think I'd prefer that my star offensive players produce more early on in the series as opposed to later on, so that my team can get ahead early rather than risk an early exit.

Now, a different conversation is whether Kucherov is a good fit as the RW next to Ovechkin & McDavid...

When two strong teams face off, it will likely go to Game 5-7, and that's when you need your best players the most if you want to advance. The deciding games are in that range, and "clutch" means scoring when the stakes are highest.

 

[tinyzombies]

I can't get down with an argument that Kucherov isn't a great clutch scorer. Honestly, I think I'd prefer that my star offensive players produce more early on in the series as opposed to later on, so that my team can get ahead early rather than risk an early exit.

Now, a different conversation is whether Kucherov is a good fit as the RW next to Ovechkin & McDavid...

McDavid and Kucherov could probably be effective without a third linemate lol.

 

[jigglysquishy]

I don't think Kucherov and McDavid would gel well. I think both guys would play great with Ovechkin. Both Kuch and McDavid play best with shooters than can get in front of the net or in corners (Point/Hyman) or with smart shooters who can find space (Stamkos/Draisaitl). In terms of their success with other puck-dominant smart forwards, I just don't think the styles mesh.

The benefit of drafting those three players is you can put an A+ offensive talent on the second line.

 

[tinyzombies]

I don't think Kucherov and McDavid would gel well. I think both guys would play great with Ovechkin. Both Kuch and McDavid play best with shooters than can get in front of the net or in corners (Point/Hyman) or with smart shooters who can find space (Stamkos/Draisaitl). In terms of their success with other puck-dominant smart forwards, I just don't think the styles mesh.

The benefit of drafting those three players is you can put an A+ offensive talent on the second line.

There was a passing study a couple years ago that showed three playmakers on a line is actually the most effective stylistically. Those two are next level hockey sense, of course it would work.

 

[Habsfan18]

Mixed feelings on that line, personally. On one hand, it's likely to be the single most talented line in the entire draft. I don't think anyone is matching an Ovechkin - McDavid - Kucherov trio in terms of pure star power and hockey abilities. But McDavid and Kucherov on the same line just seems..redundant? That's two incredibly gifted high-IQ playmakers who rely on the puck being on their stick to help control the pace of play as often as possible. And obviously there's only one puck to go around. I suppose it could work on like an all-star game level or in a pinch if you want all hands on deck. But I'm not positive that's a line that would mesh well over a full ATD season and playoffs. Me personally, I'd drop Kucherov to RW2 which gives you an A+ offensive winger on each of your top two lines. And then maybe get a crash and bang glue guy to help create space for McDavid and Ovie.

But if nabby thinks it could work I'm all ears, especially come debate time. I can absolutely be swayed with good arguments.

 

[Professor What]

Mixed feelings on that line, personally. On one hand, it's likely to be the single most talented line in the entire draft. I don't think anyone is matching an Ovechkin - McDavid - Kucherov trio in terms of pure star power and hockey abilities. But McDavid and Kucherov on the same line just seems..redundant? That's two incredibly gifted high-IQ playmakers who rely on the puck being on their stick to help control the pace of play as often as possible. And obviously there's only one puck to go around. I suppose it could work on like an all-star game level or in a pinch if you want all hands on deck. But I'm not positive that's a line that would mesh well over a full ATD season and playoffs. Me personally, I'd drop Kucherov to RW2 which gives you an A+ offensive winger on each of your top two lines. And then maybe get a crash and bang glue guy to help create space for McDavid and Ovie.

But if nabby thinks it could work I'm all ears, especially come debate time. I can absolutely be swayed with good arguements.

Yeah, I think I'd also use Kucherov to start a new line. Get a strong goal scorer on that line and you'll be rolling in offense. If it's on the left wing, a defensive center could really allow them to do their thing without worrying about leaving the team out to dry when they go on the attack.

 

[tinyzombies]

Mixed feelings on that line, personally. On one hand, it's likely to be the single most talented line in the entire draft. I don't think anyone is matching an Ovechkin - McDavid - Kucherov trio in terms of pure star power and hockey abilities. But McDavid and Kucherov on the same line just seems..redundant? That's two incredibly gifted high-IQ playmakers who rely on the puck being on their stick to help control the pace of play as often as possible. And obviously there's only one puck to go around. I suppose it could work on like an all-star game level or in a pinch if you want all hands on deck. But I'm not positive that's a line that would mesh well over a full ATD season and playoffs. Me personally, I'd drop Kucherov to RW2 which gives you an A+ offensive winger on each of your top two lines. And then maybe get a crash and bang glue guy to help create space for McDavid and Ovie.

But if nabby thinks it could work I'm all ears, especially come debate time. I can absolutely be swayed with good arguments.

It would dominate I think but I agree there could be a large remainder as far as your second line goes. You could wring more out of them on separate lines and just double shift when needed. But seeing as this is a small draft, he might also come up with a great second line then it won’t matter.

 

[nabby12]

Thanks everyone for the input. A lot of armchair GMs on this pick lol.

I'm not married to the idea of playing the trio together on line 1. But then again, we'll see how the draft goes from here and what's available.

 

[tinyzombies]

Thanks everyone for the input. A lot of armchair GMs on this pick lol.

I'm not married to the idea of playing the trio together on line 1. But then again, we'll see how the draft goes from here and what's available.

That’s a fun line to think about. McDavid is going to have the puck most of the time and the other two can just lay in the weeds. He can play ping pong with Kuch and keep the puck all day because you can’t leave Ovi alone.

 

[BenchBrawl]

People wanted more discussions a few pages ago, lamenting the decline of commentary in the ATD Draft Thread over the years. Now we have some. It's a start.

 

[Professor What]

Thanks everyone for the input. A lot of armchair GMs on this pick lol.

I'm not married to the idea of playing the trio together on line 1. But then again, we'll see how the draft goes from here and what's available.

For the record, I don't think it's a bad pick at all. Just saying how I'd play it personally.

 

[Habsfan18]

For the record, I don't think it's a bad pick at all. Just saying how I'd play it personally.

Definitely not a bad pick. Quite the opposite actually. I'd take Kuch on my ATD team any day, though this Habs fan can't stand him as a present day player for obvious reasons lol.

For me, I just have questions regarding the stylistic fit of a Kuch-McDavid on the same line if we're talking about it meshing over the couse of a full season.

But make no mistake @nabby12 , you're building a squad lol McDavid, Ovechkin, Kucherov and Hedman. Damn.