C Gabriel Vilardi (2017, 11th, LAK)

[Elias Pettersson]

I remember wanting Vilardi at #5 in the draft. I mean, I'm pretty happy with Petterson at this point, but I do think Gabe is going to walk into the NHL and become a premier two-way center. His puck possession and board play, combined with the skill, simply unreal.

I think Vilardi will be the best out of: Mittlestadt, Glass, Suzuki, Andersson, and yes, Nolan Patrick.

 

[lawrence]

wtf does Pettersson and Nolan patrick have to do with anything? GTFO Devils fans.

 

[bossram]

I think Vilardi will be the best out of: Mittlestadt, Glass, Suzuki, Andersson, and yes, Nolan Patrick.

I'm inclined to agree there, though I have a soft spot for Suzuki for no particular reason.

 

[Rob Brown]

Is he expected to make the NHL next season?

 

[Gargyn]

Is he expected to make the NHL next season?

Yes I believe he is, if he is healthy, he will at minimum start in the nhl. Depending on how he does, he may go back after 9 games but I doubt it. He looks ready.

 

[Our Lady Peace]

I suspect he will work even harder to perfect his skating this summer and step into the NHL almost seamlessly next year.

 

[elitepete]

playing in the nhl @ 19> ripping up a lesser league @ 19

Hischier and Patrick look like the worst #1 and #2 overall picks in quite some time.

 

[AngelDuck]

Hischier and Patrick look like the worst #1 and #2 overall picks in quite some time.

You do realize that Yakupov and Ryan Murray happened not long ago, right?

 

[elitepete]

You do realize that Yakupov and Ryan Murray happened not long ago, right?

Worst since 2012 then

 

[AngelDuck]

Worst since 2012 then

That's more reasonable but I think they have a chance to be better than Ekblad and Reinhart

 

[Frk It]

Delete - nvm thread is off topic enough

 

[93LEAFS]

Hischier and Patrick look like the worst #1 and #2 overall picks in quite some time.

Better than 2014 and 2012. How the rest of the draft does remains to be seen.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I suspect he will work even harder to perfect his skating this summer and step into the NHL almost seamlessly next year.

Knock on wood, I'm excited to see how he does with a full summer of training and recovery rather than a 6-month layoff due to injury. Guy is ripping up juniors having not played hockey in half a year. I'm sure he'll work on his skating, but just coming in fresh and strong alone will be amazing.

 

[kings11]

Knock on wood, I'm excited to see how he does with a full summer of training and recovery rather than a 6-month layoff due to injury. Guy is ripping up juniors having not played hockey in half a year. I'm sure he'll work on his skating, but just coming in fresh and strong alone will be amazing.

Hopefully he slots into that RW spot on Kopitars line

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Hopefully he slots into that RW spot on Kopitars line

With his vision, he strikes me as the kind of player whose game elevates with the flow of the NHL and support of other high-level pros.

 

[M C D A V I D]

The only forwards I was excited for in this draft were Pettersen and Vilardi. Sucks he fell to LA of all teams lol. He reminds me of Draisaitl but without the vision/passing.

 

[kings11]

The only forwards I was excited for in this draft were Pettersen and Vilardi. Sucks he fell to LA of all teams lol. He reminds me of Draisaitl but without the vision/passing.

I think this season Vilardi looks much more like a Draisaitl type player than last considering his jump in production, overall improvement and just like our other prospect JAD, he's a youngin' who has a tad more upside than most from that draft class.... His vision/passing are getting up there, but his ability to score and the quality of his shot are on par with Drai IMO..

 

[King'sPawn]

Is he expected to make the NHL next season?

Yes. In fact, his previous GM traded Vilardi from Windsor to Kingston and stated he only did so because he thought Vilardi will be in the NHL next year.

“I’m 99 per cent sure he’s an NHL player next year,” Rychel said. “That’s what made this deal possible.

“Obviously, if he’s back next year, we never move him. There are no guarantees in life, but we’ve got some pretty good friends in L.A. and, with his development, I think he’ll be an NHLer next year.”

Updated: GM Rychel says deal ‘Had to be done’ as Spitfires send Vilardi and Day to Kingston for Morgan and picks

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

The only forwards I was excited for in this draft were Pettersen and Vilardi. Sucks he fell to LA of all teams lol. He reminds me of Draisaitl but without the vision/passing.

Without the passing? I would highly recommend checking out the highlights of all his assists this year.

 

[LordNeverLose]

Vilardi is a much better defensive player than Drai

 

[M C D A V I D]

Without the passing? I would highly recommend checking out the highlights of all his assists this year.

It's not an insult lol Drai's passing and vision is elite of the elite. Try watching him play? His passing is up there with Mcdavid. I think Vilardi will be a better goal scorer but play making is Drai's bread and butter.

Just because i think he won't be as good as drai in this one aspect does not mean i think he sucks at it. He could still be above average but drai is in the top couple tiers when it comes to passing.

 

[kings11]

It's not an insult lol Drai's passing and vision is elite of the elite. Try watching him play? His passing is up there with Mcdavid. I think Vilardi will be a better goal scorer but play making is Drai's bread and butter.

Just because i think he won't be as good as drai in this one aspect does not mean i think he sucks at it. He could still be above average but drai is in the top couple tiers when it comes to passing.

Here let me clear it up;
Drai is an elite passer/playmaker ala Adam Oates..
Vilardi is going to be a John Tavares type scorer..

 

[M C D A V I D]

Here let me clear it up;
Drai is an elite passer/palymaker ala Adam Oates..
Vilardi is a going to be a John Tavares type scorer..

Yeah thats what I meant! Huge fan of him and think he'll be a 30-30 2way C.

 

[elitepete]

Vilardi is a much better defensive player than Drai

Draisaitl is an excellent defensive player, so saying Vilardi’s defense is better than his means he’s like Bergeron level.

Don’t agree with that.

 

[Twinsmagic]

I really like Vilardi, I really wanted the Canucks to pick him at 5 last year