Draft and UDFA Thread 2017-18

[Mac n Gs]

Zadina is the clear #3 in this draft, so thank you Montreal for potentially going for positional need at #3.

Even if it means Wahlstrom or Zadina falling to us, that’s a huge win.

 

[Fitzy]

I’ve been posting that Zadina will be a bust for over 6 months

 

[mas0764]

I’ve been posting that Zadina will be a bust for over 6 months

..... care to share why?

 

[Lion Hound]

It would be bigger than the meltdown when Vilardi wasn't selected.

Or Mittelstadt

 

[Trxjw]

Wahlstrom's goal-scoring ability is probably slightly higher, Zadina's ability as an all-around offensive player is higher. But both guys are incredibly talented.

Personally, I like Zadina better by a fairly noticeable margin and think he would arguably be more the most naturally talented forward drafted by the Rangers in 27 years --- with Cherepanov being the only real challenger to the team's post-Kovalev drafts.

Having said that, if I didn't think they were likely to go with a center, I'd even dare say that Montreal taking Wahlstrom wouldn't "shock" me from a talent, value or decision standpoint.

I can definitely see that, and I agree for the most part. The weird thing is that I'm very comfortable putting Zadina high on my list, but there's just something about him that doesn't sit right with me. I've been trying all year to figure it out, but I just get this feeling of dread when I picture him putting on a Rangers sweater.

 

[Zibanejbread]

I guess I'd be ok if we ended up with Zadina.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

I've alluded to this before, but I don't think there's as much of a gap between Zadina and Wahlstrom as the last few months of lists have led people to believe. They both have 35+ goal scoring upside and if you look at it from that perspective, which one of them has the oh-so-coveted RH shot?

Now, Zadina dropping to 9 seems a bit extreme, but someone jumping on Wahlstrom? Could possibly see that.

The gap might not be huge, but I think it’s there. My feeling is that Zadina can be more of an offense driver than Wahlstrom

 

[Lion Hound]

Zadina made Halifax forget about Nico Hischier pretty quick! I think he's closer to #2 then he is to #9.

 

[Edge]

I can definitely see that, and I agree for the most part. The weird thing is that I'm very comfortable putting Zadina high on my list, but there's just something about him that doesn't sit right with me. I've been trying all year to figure it out, but I just get this feeling of dread when I picture him putting on a Rangers sweater.

I think both Zadina and Wahlstrom kind of give off hints that there's a little more that they can be giving out there. As good as they are, they should be just a little better.

In Zadina's case, he's an older prospect playing the in the Q. I'm not sure as a fan base we're completely comfortable with that league. Maybe we almost expected to see 50 goals and 90-100 points (which he's right there in if we prorate his regular season or include the playoffs).

I think with Zadina, there's also the factor that he doesn't necessarily have that one visual attribute that makes him completely stand out.

He's not a physical speciman. He's not necessarily the guy steamrolling other players or flying past them. He's not that hard-working energy kid that everyone is attracted to. So what is he?

Well, he's an averaged sized, European forward, who generates offense. We like those guys, but they often don't quite feel like "one of us" or the guy who becomes the face of the franchise --- perhaps at least on a subconscious level.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Was listening to NHL Network Radio this morning during my 90 minute commute to work. One of the guys that Stelleck and Simmer had on was talking about Ottawa giving the 4th overall pick to Colorado. The theory is to start fresh, don't have this hanging over your head and could you really live with yourself if Ottawa wins the lottery next year and has to give up Jack Hughes?

In all honesty, if I am Pierre Dorion, I have to at least be considering it. Ottawa won't be any better next year. Matt Duchene wanted to go to a contender. He will likely be pouting through the season as Ottawa proves to be a joke of a franchise (ownership/GM wise) - I do feel bad for their fans, they deserve better. Karlsson will likely be traded. I doubt Hoffman has a good year next year with all this crap hanging over his head. Anderson is 37, he can't carry the team anymore. Ottawa will be hilariously bad, like less than 50 points bad. They will still have a top 4 pick next year. Give 2018 to Colorado.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Was listening to NHL Network Radio this morning during my 90 minute commute to work. One of the guys that Stelleck and Simmer had on was talking about Ottawa giving the 4th overall pick to Colorado. The theory is to start fresh, don't have this hanging over your head and could you really live with yourself if Ottawa wins the lottery next year and has to give up Jack Hughes?

In all honesty, if I am Pierre Dorion, I have to at least be considering it. Ottawa won't be any better next year. Matt Duchene wanted to go to a contender. He will likely be pouting through the season as Ottawa proves to be a joke of a franchise (ownership/GM wise) - I do feel bad for their fans, they deserve better. Karlsson will likely be traded. I doubt Hoffman has a good year next year with all this crap hanging over his head. Anderson is 37, he can't carry the team anymore. Ottawa will be hilariously bad, like less than 50 points bad. They will still have a top 4 pick next year. Give 2018 to Colorado.

I’ll say this from Fantasy land: if Ottawa keeps their pick this year and Colorado has a better year than last year and end up getting the 1st OA or even a top 3 pick next draft, I don’t know if there would be a team more primed at the top of the draft to trade that pick for established players

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

I’ve been posting that Zadina will be a bust for over 6 months

He won't be, he's a top 4 player in this draft and has a ridiculously good shot.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

..... care to share why?

Because he's barely seen him play and has some kind of bias against him for whatever dumb reason he comes up with.

 

[Gardner McKay]

I’ll say this from Fantasy land: if Ottawa keeps their pick this year and Colorado has a better year than last year and end up getting the 1st OA or even a top 3 pick next draft, I don’t know if there would be a team more primed at the top of the draft to trade that pick for established players

I can't remember who it was, but they have this person on their show a lot. I don't know that it is fantasy land. I've seen people say Jack Hughes is going to be anywhere from Matthews to McDavid.

This year has been a disaster for the Sens. Move on from this year. Give Colorado the pick. Tank next year for Hughes.

If Colorado gets Hughes, they won't be trading that pick. If it is another top-5 pick then yes, likely will be traded.

 

[Sarge13]

Zadina, ridiculously good shot.

That's all I have on him.

Nothing outside his shot is worth mentioning.

One trick pony, but one nice trick that every team could use. But again, red flags allover with a one trick pony in the top ten.

 

[Irishguy42]

Can't wait for the Rangers to select Bode Wilde at 9.

 

[Edge]

It's mind-blowing when you think about just how badly that Ottawa-Colorado trade is shaping up to be.

If you're Ottawa, and you give up the fourth pick, you had an awful season and you don't even have your original first and second round picks to show for it.

And that's before you even have to sort out the Karlsson-Hoffman drama.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

I can't remember who it was, but they have this person on their show a lot. I don't know that it is fantasy land. I've seen people say Jack Hughes is going to be anywhere from Matthews to McDavid.

This year has been a disaster for the Sens. Move on from this year. Give Colorado the pick. Tank next year for Hughes.

If Colorado gets Hughes, they won't be trading that pick. If it is another top-5 pick then yes, likely will be traded.

Either way, I just realized Ottawa doesn’t have a second or third round pick this year, so I feel like they’re more than likely going to keep this year’s pick and do what they can in the next year or so to try to trade to get the pick back

 

[Edge]

Zadina, ridiculously good shot.

That's all I have on him.

Nothing outside his shot is worth mentioning.

One trick pony, but one nice trick that every team could use. But again, red flags allover with a one trick pony in the top ten.

I'll respectively disagree on this one --- big time.

Zadina is unique in the sense that he plays all three zones and is much better defensively than you'd expect an offensive forward to be.

He's surprisingly a three zone, pretty darn complete player. I'm almost surprised it isn't mentioned more often that it is. If he were a center, people would be really hyping the two-way play.

I'm also curious to see how he performs with better talent around him. Because I don't know if he was necessarily surrounded by talent that completely maximized his abilities.

If I were being nitpicky, I'd probably argue that Wahlstrom is more of the one trick pony of this top ten.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Zadina, ridiculously good shot.

That's all I have on him.

Nothing outside his shot is worth mentioning.

One trick pony, but one nice trick that every team could use. But again, red flags allover with a one trick pony in the top ten.

I definitely disagree with all of this

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

I'll respectively disagree on this one --- big time.

Zadina is unique in the sense that he plays all three zones and is much better defensively than you'd expect an offensive forward to be.

He's surprisingly a three zone, pretty darn complete player. I'm almost surprised it isn't mentioned more often that it is. If he were a center, people would be really hyping the two-way play.

I'm also curious to see how he performs with better talent around him. Because I don't know if he was necessarily surrounded by talent that completely maximized his abilities.

If I were being nitpicky, I'd probably argue that Wahlstrom is more of the one trick pony of this top ten.

I really like the Hossa comparison I see out there every now and then

 

[Sarge13]

It's not just the trade that's mine blowing Edge, it's the fact that that franchise was heading in the right direction while adding to their core, and on a dime they're going south faster than anyone.

Back in the day teams could recover from making a few bad moves over a few years and maybe not even blink, but nowadays is a whole new ballgame , you make a couple of bad player personnel decisions and your whole franchise can end up with lottery picks for the next half decade.

 

[Sarge13]

I definitely disagree with all of this

Back it up with substance.

He doesn't have the speed he doesn't drive the play when he doesn't have the puck if he doesn't find the right places to go he looks clueless. That didn't happen this much watching him this year because he was afforded a lot of space and a lot of time and I think that has to do with the competition when he gets into the pros he's going to have to take it up a notch.

And I'm not saying he will never be able to do it I agree with the Filip Forsberg comparisons if he hits his ceiling. And what I'm saying is the same thing they said about forsberg back then that's why he dropped out of the top 10.

Again I'm not saying I wouldn't take him I'm just saying there is red flags, I'm putting this to words so that people don't have revisionist history on this draft. Facts always seem to change a couple years down the road from a draft....

 

[Savant]

Zadina, ridiculously good shot.

That's all I have on him.

Nothing outside his shot is worth mentioning.

One trick pony, but one nice trick that every team could use. But again, red flags allover with a one trick pony in the top ten.

Sounds like Eeli Tolvanen going into his draft

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Zadina chatter is getting my hopes up too much.

His game screams pro. He’s got a pretty good motor, great hands, and a lethal shot. Probably second only to Wahlstrom in that category but his complete game is just flat out better. And this is from someone who loves OW.

Another fun little comparison to think about is with Drouin. Top picks from Halifax. It’s not hard to see how much more transferable Zadina’s game looks. Easy to say now, perhaps. But I will stand by the observation no matter how things go in the future.

Add in the Chytil connection...HF needs a heart eyes emoji.