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Draft and UDFA Thread 2017-18

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The 3-10 slots are going to be a free-for-all, but the players I'd be the happiest if we got (with Dahlin and Svechnikov obviously off the board):

(Spaces denote tiers)
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Zadina


Tkachuk
Dobson


Hughes
Wahlstrom

Boqvist


Bouchard
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We have too many top-6 center prospects in the system for Kotkaniemi to fill a need. I feel like Bouchard is firmly below those other 6 guys I listed and "unfortunately" we might end up with him, but nonetheless he's still a good player. We're lucky we out-tanked the Oilers and Islanders those last couple of days because after Bouchard I see a drop off in terms of drafting for our needs. If we picked at 10/11 rather than 9, we might've ended up with Ty Smith rather than Bouchard perhaps, and Bouchard is a consensus better defenseman in all regards.
 
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Chytiljuice said:
The 3-10 slots are going to be a free-for-all, but the players I'd be the happiest if we got (with Dahlin and Svechnikov obviously off the board):

(Spaces denote tiers)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Zadina


Tkachuk
Dobson


Hughes
Wahlstrom

Boqvist


Bouchard
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

We have too many top-6 center prospects in the system for Kotkaniemi to fill a need. I feel like Bouchard is firmly below those other 6 guys I listed and "unfortunately" we might end up with him, but nonetheless he's still a good player. We're lucky we out-tanked the Oilers and Islanders those last couple of days because after Bouchard I see a drop off in terms of drafting for our needs. If we picked at 10/11 rather than 9, we might've ended up with Ty Smith rather than Bouchard perhaps, and Bouchard is a consensus better defenseman in all regards.
Click to expand...

Good chance 1 of those 9 are on the board at 11.
 
Zadina is only 2 months (well, more like 3 months) younger than Chytil. That plays into his NHL readiness (maybe why is falling a bit as well).

He said in one of the Combine media interviews that he feels he is ready for the NHL (provided he does some more cardio training). Drafting him would mean that we have 3 almost-NHL ready high-level prospects on the roster. Playing all 3 across the line-up would be highly unusual.

I would say that Chytil, whom I consider the most valuable of the 3 (scoring centreman, just the type rising late in draft speculation) but also the one most prone to playing with his head down (see the recent World Championships) could start in the AHL and still work on his skills a tiny bit.

What could be the trade? Surprisingly, it would not take a lot. 9th + 39th for 5th/6th overall is a fair trade according to the somewhat dated table here: What does it cost to trade up in the draft?

I expect better GMs and their teams to have similar but more accurate tables like that ready at hand.
 
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HatTrick Swayze said:
Gonna be exciting as hell on Friday. Could you imagine the NYR adding Zadina and Kravtsov via trade up to the pool?

Shame I will have to watch Sunday night after spending the last 36 hours with my phone on airplane mode due to my a hole friend getting married.
Click to expand...
What an ass. I at least had the decency to start my bachelor party celebrations on the Saturday afternoon after the 1st round last year.
 
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Amazing Kreiderman said:
**** yeah. Sign me up for Zadina+Kravtsov.
Click to expand...

Not only would that be fantastic, it is also eminently realistic. Trading a 9th overall plus our second rounder could get us Zadina. Trading Zucc Kravtsov. Then again, things could easily go differently. It is building up to be one of the most important drafts in our team´s history, for sure.

Gorton has said on multiple occasions that he does not want to build a team around 17-18-year-old players. Zadina would be 19 by December and ready to play. While Kravtsov would be close to 20 next season when he is available to cross the pond.

It is interesting that we had a (long) interview with Kravtsov - probably the most important topic was to really make sure he would not be signing another KHL contract with SKA or Dynamo once the one with Traktor ends.
 
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TBH, I don’t understand such discrepancy in “love/hate” ratio between Zadina and Tkachuk. Different styles / projected roles but both are equally valuable in top wingers and both had similarly good draft year performances including against a similar competition in WJC-20 (pay attention - not under-18!).

Point is I don’t see a need to move up at the cost of another asset (either a pick in such a deep draft or a roster player who could bring back another prospect/draft pick) if, anyway you cut it, they seem to wind up with one of Boqvist or either wingers.

If anything, use this asset to move into teens for a shot of another high quality prospect.
 
HatTrick Swayze said:
Kravtsov reminds me a ton of Kreider.

Wouldn’t hate him at 9 at all, but odds are will also like someone else who is available better.

Would be thrilled with trading up to the teens to take him after making a different pick at 9.
Click to expand...

Not Kravtsov, but Shafigulin is very similar to Kreider!!
 
I’d love Zadina too. Everyone needs to pump the brakes though. Gorton, Drury and Quinn have each mentioned character and grit almost every time they’ve been interviewed. I think Tkachuk and Farabee are the likely targets. With Hughes as well
 
Phoicon said:
Zadina is only 2 months (well, more like 3 months) younger than Chytil. That plays into his NHL readiness (maybe why is falling a bit as well).

He said in one of the Combine media interviews that he feels he is ready for the NHL (provided he does some more cardio training). Drafting him would mean that we have 3 almost-NHL ready high-level prospects on the roster. Playing all 3 across the line-up would be highly unusual.

I would say that Chytil, whom I consider the most valuable of the 3 (scoring centreman, just the type rising late in draft speculation) but also the one most prone to playing with his head down (see the recent World Championships) could start in the AHL and still work on his skills a tiny bit.

What could be the trade? Surprisingly, it would not take a lot. 9th + 39th for 5th/6th overall is a fair trade according to the somewhat dated table here: What does it cost to trade up in the draft?

I expect better GMs and their teams to have similar but more accurate tables like that ready at hand.
Click to expand...






 
There's a reason why Zadina was not included for the Worlds in Denmark. He isn't ready physically. That's not a dealbreaker for me, but some teams might fel others are better options at 3, 4 and 5. I feel Zadina is getting the same bad reviews close to the draft as Barzal at the time.
 
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The Rangers passed on Mittetstadt last year for apparently similar reasons, I don't see them trading up for Zadina.

I haven't seen either play but from video Zadina appears more impressive than Svechnikov from a goal scoring point of view. Not saying he is better or will be but his pure goal scoring ability is evident.

I'll be happy with Tkachuk, Walhstrom, Farabee of the forwards with our 1st pick, if somehow Zadina slips to us then sure but don't think the Rangers will target him.
 
kovazub94 said:
TBH, I don’t understand such discrepancy in “love/hate” ratio between Zadina and Tkachuk. Different styles / projected roles but both are equally valuable in top wingers and both had similarly good draft year performances including against a similar competition in WJC-20 (pay attention - not under-18!).

Point is I don’t see a need to move up at the cost of another asset (either a pick in such a deep draft or a roster player who could bring back another prospect/draft pick) if, anyway you cut it, they seem to wind up with one of Boqvist or either wingers.

If anything, use this asset to move into teens for a shot of another high quality prospect.
Click to expand...

Let´s ignore that WJC is not the most important metric in the world and discuss this topic.

Nothing really remarkable about them playing in the WJC-20. As I said above they are both in the same age range as Chytil or Brännström for that matter. Tkachuk showed good hands and passing skills with great positioning and on-ice awareness. However, Zadina was just as good in all of the categories that Tkachuk excelled in and then you have to add to that just insane shot generation combined with just lethal sniper-like accuracy.

You can compare their shots by going to 2:26 in this clip:

and around the 50-second mark in the following for Tkachuk:

Zadina´s shot speed, placement, accuracy just shines.

That being said, both Tkachuk and Zadina benefited from playing on the top 6 on teams that had their top centre drawing defenders on another line (Mittelstadt, Chytil). Spreading of the offense seemed to be a common strategy for coaches in that tournament. Chytil struggled a bit with it while Mittelstadt thrived (don´t worry about it, Mittelstadt is almost a year older than Chytil).

(the Czech coaches then moved Kaut to play with Chytil IIRC and Tkachuk did play on PP1 with Mittelstadt).

I think the NHL draft screws our perspective when comparing prospects - we should compare them in terms of the birth year, not the draft year. All-in-all, in terms of 1999-born players, I would easily rank Zadina over Tkachuk. I would place Chytil above both as well when it comes down to it.
 
TheKingsCourt said:
I would trade down from one of those picks just to add Gruden
Click to expand...

No thanks. He's like if Jimmy Vesey got to play on the Caps/Penguins, and ride shotgun with elite forwards, which inflated his stats.

I don't like Gruden's skill, IQ or defense. He's really not good at anything other than skating or working hard.
 
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Pavel Buchnevich said:
No thanks. He's like if Jimmy Vesey got to play on the Caps/Penguins, and ride shotgun with elite forwards, which inflated his stats.

I don't like Gruden's skill, IQ or defense. He's really not good at anything other than skating or working hard.
Click to expand...

Vesey is a very accurate description. I like him as a late 3rd / early 4th rounder - there are better options even early in the 3rd round.
 
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