Draft and UDFA Thread 2017-18

[Edge]

The NHL.com mocks always seem to be a bit off.

I look at them to get an idea of what they’re thinking, but I’m not sure just how much they actually pay attention to these prospects or a lot of the updates taking place as the draft nears.

 

[Edge]

As far as I am concerned, the concussion thing is still a rumor at this point.

I don’t see outlets or observers mentioning it in the lead up to draft. Under the circumstances, it would seem that two concussions in 7 months would be a fairly big story.

 

[Rangers in 7]

I think we didn't discuss the possibility of Ottawa givinf the 4th pick for Colorado, who Colorado would pick? I don't have any idea what they need in their team, if they would be open to trade back for more picks... It's a nice change of discussion.

Colorado will go zadina if he is there. Stick him next to mackinnin and you have a dynamite pair

 

[eco's bones]

As far as I am concerned, the concussion thing is still a rumor at this point.

I don’t see outlets or observers mentioning it in the lead up to draft. Under the circumstances, it would seem that two concussions in 7 months would be a fairly big story.

Very arguably Boqvist is 4 or 5 in this draft without that second rumor. The idea that he may have had a second concussion just a few months after the first is very concerning.....and kind of puts me off drafting him at least with the 9OA. You start thinking that this guy might have a short career and other things like his size start factoring more into it too.

I don't think a lot of people take concussions very seriously. Yes---after most concussions--there's a period of time until the player comes back and plays again. The cumulative effect of those injuries if they keep occurring (and quite often they do keep occurring) can be devastating to the individual. In the last several years there have been class action lawsuits and several suicides. There are former players that are absolute wrecks in their 30's, 40's and 50's. To me it's not a joke and I'd rather steer clear of players that have that kind of issue.

 

[Ghost of jas]

As far as I am concerned, the concussion thing is still a rumor at this point.

I don’t see outlets or observers mentioning it in the lead up to draft. Under the circumstances, it would seem that two concussions in 7 months would be a fairly big story.

Which, unless Zadina does drop, makes Boqvist, IMO, the best fit for the Rangers at 9.

 

[Mac n Gs]

I still don’t see Zadina dropping past Arizona or Chicago, assuming MTL takes Kotkaniemi.

Maybe Chayka goes for Quinn Hughes, but having OEL and Chychrun locking down LD might make them go for a F to add to Keller and co

 

[Edge]

Very arguably Boqvist is 4 or 5 in this draft without that second rumor. The idea that he may have had a second concussion just a few months after the first is very concerning.....and kind of puts me off drafting him at least with the 9OA. You start thinking that this guy might have a short career and other things like his size start factoring more into it too.

I don't think a lot of people take concussions very seriously. Yes---after most concussions--there's a period of time until the player comes back and plays again. The cumulative effect of those injuries if they keep occurring (and quite often they do keep occurring) can be devastating to the individual. In the last several years there have been class action lawsuits and several suicides. There are former players that are absolute wrecks in their 30's, 40's and 50's. To me it's not a joke and I'd rather steer clear of players that have that kind of issue.

I can’t vehemently disagree with any of that.

However, we honestly don’t know if it even applies here. It’s just not really out there.

In the weeks leading up to the draft, nearly every stone is uncovered about these prospects. And yet this isn’t popping up. Why?

Is everyone really ignoring it or dismissing it? Are they protecting Boqvist? Or is there really a concussion issue at all?

We’re not even hearing reports of “rumors” of a concussion concern. Right now, we’re talking about it more than anyone else.

That concerns me and raises more questions than if we actually confirmed Boqvist’s concussions in the first place.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I think Chicago is a big wild card in terms of who is available for us. They dip into the same type of guys the Rangers like to.

If Hughes is there at 8, I don't see anyway they pass on him. Kane was at the Worlds talking about how great it would be to have him on the team.

I think it'll come down to Wahlstrom or Hughes for them, and I think they lean Hughes. And then the Rangers get the guy they passed on

 

[Ghost of jas]

I still don’t see Zadina dropping past Arizona or Chicago, assuming MTL takes Kotkaniemi.

Maybe Chayka goes for Quinn Hughes, but having OEL and Chychrun locking down LD might make them go for a F to add to Keller and co

I have heard a few people connecting Hughes to AZ.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

As far as I am concerned, the concussion thing is still a rumor at this point.

I don’t see outlets or observers mentioning it in the lead up to draft. Under the circumstances, it would seem that two concussions in 7 months would be a fairly big story.

That’s totally fair and I don’t disagree in principle - we ultimately don’t know.

I will say that Boqvist falling on McKenzie’s rankings from 5 in January (9/10 scouts had in top 6) to 10 in final rankings may indicate something is brewing there that we just aren’t privy to. That’s a pretty significant drop.

Other players rising has an impact, maybe even explains all of the impact, but without knowing the full story as outsiders I also don’t think you can rule out concussions playing into it.

 

[Ghost of jas]

That’s totally fair and I don’t disagree in principle - we ultimately don’t know.

I will say that Boqvist falling on McKenzie’s rankings from 5 in January (9/10 scouts had in top 6) to 10 in final rankings may indicate something is brewing there that we just aren’t privy to. That’s a pretty significant drop.

Other players rising has an impact, maybe even explains all of the impact, but without knowing the full story as outsiders I also don’t think you can rule out concussions playing into it.

Kotkaniemi and Dobson’s respective rises are a part of that...the need for centers, combined with a Dman that won’t take as much time to arrive.

Zadina also dropped...and that was out of the top 3. Should we also be concerned?

 

[Zibanejbread]

Some sleepers from scouts:
Is there a player you think is rated lower in the NHL rankings than he should be? Ie. Sleeper pick

• “Ty Emberson, D, U-18, U.S. NTDP”
• “Martin Kaut, RW, Pardubice, Czech”
• “Ryan Merkley, D, Guelph Storm, OHL, is rated low because of the obvious. If I had two picks in the first round I would take a gamble on him. He would be a top-five candidate based on his skill set.”
• “Alexander Romanov, D, CSKA, MHL”
• “Oskar Back, C, Farjestad-BK U20, SuperElit”
• “Jay O’Brien, C, Thayer Academy, High School”
• “Jesse Ylonen, RW, Espoo, Mestis”

NHL Scouts Poll: On 'generational talents', the defencemen...

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Kotkaniemi and Dobson’s respective rises are a part of that...the need for centers, combined with a Dman that won’t take as much time to arrive.

Zadina also dropped...and that was out of the top 3. Should we also be concerned?

Zadina dropped one spot...not 5. And there are concerns about Zadina being extremely under developed physically from the combine.

I said the rise of others played into it, but you pretty much made my point. Any concerns w Zadina are pretty out in the open...Boqvist much less so.

 

[Mac n Gs]

I have heard a few people connecting Hughes to AZ.

Before or after the OEL extension?

 

[Ghost of jas]

Before or after the OEL extension?

After

 

[Lion Hound]

Not sure who posted the link, but somewhere in these 431 pages of posts was a quote from the Rangers i believe Gorton actually who said were pretty sure our guy will be there with #9.


To me this screams 2 players.
1) Farabee <--BU Commit, was headed there to play with Quinn
2) Kravtsov <--Also earlier on there was a strange report that the Rangers were all over a Russian prospect this year.

Why do i think this?

I don't seem to think any of the other players in the top 10 are definates to be there at #9. Nearly every player in the top 10 including Kotkaniemi has been mentioned to a certain team already. So while i do agree with Wahlstrom, Hughes, or even Zadina as a potential faller should be the top choices i do have this feeling that they were referencing one of Farabee or Kravtsov as their guy.

 

[Edge]

That’s totally fair and I don’t disagree in principle - we ultimately don’t know.

I will say that Boqvist falling on McKenzie’s rankings from 5 in January (9/10 scouts had in top 6) to 10 in final rankings may indicate something is brewing there that we just aren’t privy to. That’s a pretty significant drop.

Other players rising has an impact, maybe even explains all of the impact, but without knowing the full story as outsiders I also don’t think you can rule out concussions playing into it.

I wouldn’t rule it out, but I’m equally hesitant to take it as a given.

If he has concussion issues, he has concussion issues. We can’t change that.

But if he doesn’t, and we’re chasing our tail on unsubstaintiated rumors, that’s a real shame.

Obviously Clark and company are going to do their homework. I just hope that if the Rangers pick Boqvist, we don’t spend an insane amount of time debating and gnashing our teeth about an issue that may not even be an issue.

 

[offdacrossbar]

in a perfect world i would hope to see this after round 1 of the draft.

wahlstrom - impact scoring forward. finisher with some size and speed. perhaps the best shot in the draft. exactly what this organization lacks. mature kid, composed and focused. fairly close to nhl ready.

merkley- top playmaker from the blue line in the entire draft. offensively, he's the best creator from the back end and he's only 17 yrs old. when this kid grows up- and he will, watch out. steal of the draft.

alexeyev- steady, heady and fundamentally sound. nice fluid stride. kid has some nasty to his game at 6'3 200 + he's minutes eater who has the high floor of a 2nd pair 2 way guy who's dependable and usually makes the right reads. great low risk value at the end of round 1.

if that happens i am beyond happy.

 

[Edge]

Not sure who posted the link, but somewhere in these 431 pages of posts was a quote from the Rangers i believe Gorton actually who said were pretty sure our guy will be there with #9.


To me this screams 2 players.
1) Farabee <--BU Commit, was headed there to play with Quinn
2) Kravtsov <--Also earlier on there was a strange report that the Rangers were all over a Russian prospect this year.

Why do i think this?

I don't seem to think any of the other players in the top 10 are definates to be there at #9. Nearly every player in the top 10 including Kotkaniemi has been mentioned to a certain team already. So while i do agree with Wahlstrom, Hughes, or even Zadina as a potential faller should be the top choices i do have this feeling that they were referencing one of Farabee or Kravtsov as their guy.

It’s very plausible.

I think they’ve also been linked to hopes that someone from the top 8 drops and that they think it might happen.

I’ve heard of guys they really like, but it remains to be seen at what price.

 

[TheBPA]

I wouldn’t rule it out, but I’m equally hesitant to take it as a given.

If he has concussion issues, he has concussion issues. We can’t change that.

But if he doesn’t, and we’re chasing our tail on unsubstaintiated rumors, that’s a real shame.

Obviously Clark and company are going to do their homework. I just hope that if the Rangers pick Boqvist, we don’t spend an insane amount of time debating and gnashing our teeth about an issue that may not even be an issue.

Have you met HF Boards?

 

[Ghost of jas]

Not sure who posted the link, but somewhere in these 431 pages of posts was a quote from the Rangers i believe Gorton actually who said were pretty sure our guy will be there with #9.


To me this screams 2 players.
1) Farabee <--BU Commit, was headed there to play with Quinn
2) Kravtsov <--Also earlier on there was a strange report that the Rangers were all over a Russian prospect this year.

Why do i think this?

I don't seem to think any of the other players in the top 10 are definates to be there at #9. Nearly every player in the top 10 including Kotkaniemi has been mentioned to a certain team already. So while i do agree with Wahlstrom, Hughes, or even Zadina as a potential faller should be the top choices i do have this feeling that they were referencing one of Farabee or Kravtsov as their guy.

I think you’re misconstruing what was said. I believe what was said was that the Rangers believe a player they like in their top ten will fall to them, meaning someone they have ranked higher than 9 will be there, such as Wahlström or Hughes.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Some sleepers from scouts:
Is there a player you think is rated lower in the NHL rankings than he should be? Ie. Sleeper pick

• “Ty Emberson, D, U-18, U.S. NTDP”
• “Martin Kaut, RW, Pardubice, Czech”
• “Ryan Merkley, D, Guelph Storm, OHL, is rated low because of the obvious. If I had two picks in the first round I would take a gamble on him. He would be a top-five candidate based on his skill set.”
• “Alexander Romanov, D, CSKA, MHL”
• “Oskar Back, C, Farjestad-BK U20, SuperElit”
• “Jay O’Brien, C, Thayer Academy, High School”
• “Jesse Ylonen, RW, Espoo, Mestis”

NHL Scouts Poll: On 'generational talents', the defencemen...

Love Emberson, absolutely love him. He has risen a bit the last couple weeks. He was projected to go somewhere in the 4th round a couple weeks ago, now it looks like he may go in the 3rd.

RHD, US NTDP player, Going to Wisconsin. Everything the Rangers look for in guys.

If he develops he could turn into a solid bottom 4 guy

 

[Edge]

Have you met HF Boards?

We keep bumping into each other. Over and over and...

 

[Ghost of jas]

I wouldn’t rule it out, but I’m equally hesitant to take it as a given.

If he has concussion issues, he has concussion issues. We can’t change that.

But if he doesn’t, and we’re chasing our tail on unsubstaintiated rumors, that’s a real shame.

Obviously Clark and company are going to do their homework. I just hope that if the Rangers pick Boqvist, we don’t spend an insane amount of time debating and gnashing our teeth about an issue that may not even be an issue.

Exactly. The only place I’ve seen reference ‘concussions ‘ is this board. Concerns like Hughes’ size have been discussed at large.

 

[Trxjw]

Seeing too much Jay O'Brien in here the last few pages. Stop upsetting the universe, folks.