C Samuel Honzek - Vancouver Giants, WHL (2023, 16th, CGY)

[pgfan66]

I love how every year we discuss these prospects so much that eventually it's all "there's no chance X happens", "he's guaranteed to be gone by Y" etc. Then draft day comes and it's all "THE SLOVAKS GO 1-2!? CUTTER GAUTHIER AT 5!? KORCHINSKI 7!? HOW DID HUTSON FALL TO 62?!?!?!"

Looking forward to watching this one unfold....

 

[shotvalley]

I love how every year we discuss these prospects so much that eventually it's all "there's no chance X happens", "he's guaranteed to be gone by Y" etc. Then draft day comes and it's all "THE SLOVAKS GO 1-2!? CUTTER GAUTHIER AT 5!? KORCHINSKI 7!? HOW DID HUTSON FALL TO 62?!?!?!"

Looking forward to watching this one unfold....

It's classic hfboards.

 

[Antiillafire]

Some quotes from the Athletic article today which talked about Honzek:

“One question I’ve asked people this year is exactly how much worse is he than Juraj Slafkovsky? He has less skill and goal scoring touch and everyone agrees Slafkovsky is better, but most scouts don’t push back and say there’s a wide difference between the two players.”

“Using Eliteprospects filters based on 6-3 players or bigger by points/game in their WHL draft season over the last 20 years here are the top six:

Cody Glass 1.36
Samuel Honzek 1.30
Dylan Cozens 1.24
Kirby Dach 1.18
Conor Geekie 1.11
Michael Rasmussen 1.11
“

That Slafkovsky quote is outrageous in my opinion, I like Honzek but he couldn’t crack the WC team this season on a bottom 6 that was essentially unplayable through the group stage. Slafkovsky was playing top 9 at the WC in his DY-1 season. I think a better argument is comparing Honzek and Dvorsky or the gap between those 2 and Nemec.

 

[DANOZ28]

i really hope other teams pass on him so my wild can take him at #21. i just think hes exactly who we need.

 

[S E P H]

The biggest problem I have with him is I don't think he's a centre in the pros. If you think he is, he is clearly going in the top 15, but if you see him more as a winger, then he's probably going to drop. I can see almost 5-7 teams that see him as a centre, but the problem is if any of those teams are within that top 15.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

That Slafkovsky quote is outrageous in my opinion, I like Honzek but he couldn’t crack the WC team this season on a bottom 6 that was essentially unplayable through the group stage. Slafkovsky was playing top 9 at the WC in his DY-1 season. I think a better argument is comparing Honzek and Dvorsky or the gap between those 2 and Nemec.

Yeah I agree, I wouldn't have thought to make that comparison. I don't he's as good as Slaf. The only thing I'd say is that Slafkovsky was further ahead in his development re; WC point.

The rawness & potential of Honzek is really what's so intriguimg with him.

The biggest problem I have with him is I don't think he's a centre in the pros. If you think he is, he is clearly going in the top 15, but if you see him more as a winger, then he's probably going to drop. I can see almost 5-7 teams that see him as a centre, but the problem is if any of those teams are within that top 15.

6'4 top 6 winger that skates like that, is defensively responsible & a dual threat offensively is still a pretty damn intriguing player.

 

[WeThreeKings]

He will go higher than people expect.. could sneak into the back end of the top ten, but don't think he lasts longer than the mid teens.

 

[Antiillafire]

Sounds like Vancouver will play him at C next season, according to the Province.

 

[Blueswin]

Here is the article that mentions the possibility of Honzek playing Center.

Samuel Honzek's skill and size combo have Giants winger pegged as a first-round draft pick

 

[Icebreakers]

Could see DET or STL taking him. They need a big C.

 

[Umingmak]

I keep seeing him mocked to Detroit at 9OA, and I am going to be incredibly disappointed if that happens. This guy is a 3rd liner at best.

 

[Ace]

Some quotes from the Athletic article today which talked about Honzek:

“One question I’ve asked people this year is exactly how much worse is he than Juraj Slafkovsky? He has less skill and goal scoring touch and everyone agrees Slafkovsky is better, but most scouts don’t push back and say there’s a wide difference between the two players.”

“Using Eliteprospects filters based on 6-3 players or bigger by points/game in their WHL draft season over the last 20 years here are the top six:

Cody Glass 1.36
Samuel Honzek 1.30
Dylan Cozens 1.24
Kirby Dach 1.18
Conor Geekie 1.11
Michael Rasmussen 1.11
“

That Slafkovsky quote is outrageous in my opinion, I like Honzek but he couldn’t crack the WC team this season on a bottom 6 that was essentially unplayable through the group stage. Slafkovsky was playing top 9 at the WC in his DY-1 season. I think a better argument is comparing Honzek and Dvorsky or the gap between those 2 and Nemec.

Wasn’t he injured in the WJC?

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

I keep seeing him mocked to Detroit at 9OA, and I am going to be incredibly disappointed if that happens. This guy is a 3rd liner at best.

I would not take him at 9 but he has clear 2nd line skills and upside in my view.

 

[Umingmak]

I would not take him at 9 but he has clear 2nd line skills and upside in my view.

He strikes me as a guy who's being hyped purely for his size.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

He strikes me as a guy who's being hyped purely for his size.

He has a lot of finesse in his game. He has good hockey IQ too. This is not some huge dude dominating kids due to his size in my view.

 

[Hale The Villain]

He strikes me as a guy who's being hyped purely for his size.

This isn't a player who produced numbers in junior because he was bigger and more physically-developed.

Honzek may be 6'3-6'4 but he needs to put on weight badly. Has not been able to utilize his size to full advantage yet because he's way too lanky right now.

 

[Hinterland]

He has a lot of finesse in his game. He has good hockey IQ too. This is not some huge dude dominating kids due to his size in my view.

He played well vs pros a year ago so I don't think anybody would ever suggest this.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

I oddly feel like we're gonna be saying "Welcome to Detroit" in three days.

... I just hope it's 17 and not 9.

 

[Antiillafire]

Could see DET or STL taking him. They need a big C.

I think Chicago will trade with Pittsburgh for pick 14, and take him. That scoring staff seems to be pretty plugged into the WHL as much as any team

 

[Icebreakers]

Det fans still don't trust Yzerman after Seider and Kasper and Edvinsson?

 

[Antiillafire]

I oddly feel like we're gonna be saying "Welcome to Detroit" in three days.

... I just hope it's 17 and not 9.

I mean there will be a very good player on the table at 9, at a disputable number of levels better than Honzek so you take them. But I find it unlikely that he makes it back around to the at 17 based on what people connected to the league are saying.

The funny thing is that people online seem to think Detroit will 100% take a benson or danielson there and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was like Willander actually

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

Sounds like Vancouver will play him at C next season, according to the Province.

Nah that's going to be Danielson.

 

[Hinterland]

Nah that's going to be Danielson.

Interesting. You can see the future? What other trades are gonna happen?

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

Interesting. You can see the future? What other trades are gonna happen?

Um, ill go out on a limb and say PLD to the Kings - you heard it here first!

I'd prefer Honzek, believe me, I just have a feeling the Canucks are going to pass on Simashev & him to take Danielson. But maybe its just typical Canuck fan cynicism. (Prove me wrong Ruthervin, prove me wrong!)

 

[pgfan66]

Interesting. You can see the future? What other trades are gonna happen?

Um, ill go out on a limb and say PLD to the Kings - you heard it here first!

I'd prefer Honzek, believe me, I just have a feeling the Canucks are going to pass on Simashev & him to take Danielson. But maybe its just typical Canuck fan cynicism. (Prove me wrong Ruthervin, prove me wrong!)

Huh? The “Vancouver will play him at center next season” comment was referring to the Giants, not the Canucks.