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Draft and UDFA Thread 2017-18

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Boqvist leads this tournament in points, according to EP. He's a defenseman, one of the youngest players in the next draft. I'm pretty sure he has more points than they have listed for him, anyway. I think he'd be the best defenseman in most drafts. Not his fault he's in The Young GOAT's shadow. Sweden can technically ice that as their first pairing at the WJC18 next year. Bonkers.

Really like Rasmus Kupari's game, probably will be the second highest drafted Rasmus in this draft. Incredible speed. An underrated player on Russia's team I like is Pavel Rotenberg. His family are actual billionaires, so its an intriguing story line, but he's a very good player. He's not just a big name.
 
I like Kupari's game, reminds me of Barzal.

Here's the other player at this tournament who's been a real standout. Walked a Russian defenseman today and five holed the goalie. This is a defenseman.


 
Okay, I'm back and in the mood to discuss this draft class!!

For starters, here's a list of all NCAA players that will become UFA's starting August 15th....



Lot of interesting forwards in that group, specifically Kurker, Kerfoot and Toninato, and a defenseman in Will Butcher that could become an NHL regular. Will be keeping an eye on this as this unfolds.


As for the class, it's swarming in depth and potential studs. As some already mentioned Dahlin, Svechnikov and Joey Veleno will be the contending for the 1st overall spot. All have high upsides to become franchise players for their soon-to-be organizations. Boqvist is awesome, as PB, Tobbe and others have already noted and Quinton Hughes, as well.

Here's the first draftsite, 5 round mock draft for the class. It's still early to tell, but here's the link....

https://www.draftsite.com/nhl/mock-draft/2018/

It's a bit silly because the site lists a few players being selected twice, but there are some names to look out for!!
 
Pavel Buchnevich said:
I like Kupari's game, reminds me of Barzal.

Here's the other player at this tournament who's been a real standout. Walked a Russian defenseman today and five holed the goalie. This is a defenseman.


Click to expand...


if we could get both i would be trilled. im a big fan of both, most mocks have kupari going second round i think he will rise to the 20-30 range. would love to see him in a ranger sweater, for some reason i think he would work so well on a line with chytil.

Boqvist should be a top 10 pick, so not sure how we grab him while the rangers arent in my opinion ready to compete for a cup i do think they will make the playoffs unless hank gets injured and pavalec blows. Do we trade Hayes before the draft for a top 10 pick? LOL
 
Hey Pav Buch,

Who would you use as a style of play comparison for,
Akil Thomas
Benoit Oliver Groulx
Allan Mcshane
Alexander Khovanov
Vitali Kravstov

Opinions on upside projections? Floors? how would you rank the 5?
throw in Kupari in the rankings as well
 
Unless he goes on some massive goal-scoring tear, I hope to God they trade Nash for one or two high 2018 picks. This is the draft the Rangers should address the defense and draft sure things, not these risky scrubs or overagers. There will be potential star defensemen in the middle to late 1st round, maybe beyond.

Early impressions of notable defensemen from the Hlinka:

The two legacy kids -- Zack Malik and Adam Samuelsson -- Big time pass. No thanks. Zero puck skills. Just big, clunky and careless with the puck.

I liked Zabransky's kid, who captained the Czechs but missed the final vs Canada. Runs the PP and was their No. 1. He will play in the Extraliga this season if he doesn't come over.

Finland's top defenseman is like Jokiharju but I don't think he cracks the 1st round -- Toni Utunen. Very fast and a great outlet passer.

Boqvist got a lot of attention at the Hlinka, but his partner -- Rasmus Sandin -- was very good in all three zones and was on the top PP unit. Boqvist will be a lottery pick and has a rocket, but he missed the net a ton. No fooling, either. It was very MDZ-esque. Tries to be too fine with his shots. On the PP, just get it on net if you're wristing it from 60 feet out. That's one of the many special things Leetch did -- he didn't have a great wrist shot, but he used it with a purpose and was always on net. He didn't try to put it through the goalie from the blue line.

The Americans were painful to watch, but Christian Krygier skates really well and is thick. Going to Wisconsin.

Switzerland's best defenseman was Nico Gross. Not flashy but plays like a veteran and has very good mobility in terms of catching up and attacking openings. He'll play for Oshawa this year, but he'll either be a No. 2 or 3 on a good team or a No. 1 on an average one.

And Russia had a stud blueliner that was hurt bad in the opener -- Danila Galenyuk. This kid is the real deal. Does it all and was expecting a big season this year.
 
brians1128 said:
Hey Pav Buch,

Who would you use as a style of play comparison for,
Akil Thomas
Benoit Oliver Groulx
Allan Mcshane
Alexander Khovanov
Vitali Kravstov

Opinions on upside projections? Floors? how would you rank the 5?
throw in Kupari in the rankings as well
Click to expand...

I haven't yet thought of good comparisons for all these players, just haven't seen enough of most of these players to figure out who exactly they play like, but I do have a few. Thomas is really speedy winger with nice skill and playmaking. McShane has a nice well-rounded skill-set, just not an ideal size and speed combo, as he's not that tall and not that good of a skater. Grouix is a big goal scoring center who is a good defensive player with good size. Kravtsov looks like a really offensively skilled Russian winger, while Khovanov is also a very skilled Russian forward, but with a chance to play center, more of a well-rounded game defensively, and more puck-carrying capabilities, but he's also sub 6'0, while Kravtsov is 6'2.

Of those players, the one I like the most right now is Khovanov. I don't see much wrong with his game. The only comparison I think I can make right now is Khovanov to Clayton Keller. I think he's that kind of player. Don't really see a ton to criticize about his game other than his size. The other four I have in a similar range to each other.

In my last rankings, I had it as Khovanov at 7, Kravtsov at 25, Grouix at 27, Thomas at 36 and McShane at 38.

Kupari I had way too low initially. I had him at 37 in my first rankings, and he was already going to move up prior to this tournament. Probably around top 20 for my next rankings. Kupari has nice size to go with excellent speed, skill and playmaking. Kind of similar to Matt Barzal.


Steve Kournianos said:
Unless he goes on some massive goal-scoring tear, I hope to God they trade Nash for one or two high 2018 picks. This is the draft the Rangers should address the defense and draft sure things, not these risky scrubs or overagers. There will be potential star defensemen in the middle to late 1st round, maybe beyond.

Early impressions of notable defensemen from the Hlinka:

The two legacy kids -- Zack Malik and Adam Samuelsson -- Big time pass. No thanks. Zero puck skills. Just big, clunky and careless with the puck.

I liked Zabransky's kid, who captained the Czechs but missed the final vs Canada. Runs the PP and was their No. 1. He will play in the Extraliga this season if he doesn't come over.

Finland's top defenseman is like Jokiharju but I don't think he cracks the 1st round -- Toni Utunen. Very fast and a great outlet passer.

Boqvist got a lot of attention at the Hlinka, but his partner -- Rasmus Sandin -- was very good in all three zones and was on the top PP unit. Boqvist will be a lottery pick and has a rocket, but he missed the net a ton. No fooling, either. It was very MDZ-esque. Tries to be too fine with his shots. On the PP, just get it on net if you're wristing it from 60 feet out. That's one of the many special things Leetch did -- he didn't have a great wrist shot, but he used it with a purpose and was always on net. He didn't try to put it through the goalie from the blue line.

The Americans were painful to watch, but Christian Krygier skates really well and is thick. Going to Wisconsin.

Switzerland's best defenseman was Nico Gross. Not flashy but plays like a veteran and has very good mobility in terms of catching up and attacking openings. He'll play for Oshawa this year, but he'll either be a No. 2 or 3 on a good team or a No. 1 on an average one.

And Russia had a stud blueliner that was hurt bad in the opener -- Danila Galenyuk. This kid is the real deal. Does it all and was expecting a big season this year.
Click to expand...

I do like what I've seen from Zabransky, Galenyuk, Gross and Krygier, I've mentioned them all before.

Not so sure about Sandin. Right now, I don't think he has the defensive game to be relied on as a defensive player at higher levels nor do I think he has the skating to be a high level offensive players. Think he might be one of those tweener types, but he has time to improve his skating and could grow some, also bulk up.
 
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A few tweaks from my first 2018 draft list, and also added an extra 17 up to two full rounds. This is my list right before the 2017-18 season starts.

1. Rasmus Dahlin
2. Andrei Svechnikov
3. Adam Boqvist
4. Joe Veleno
5. Bode Wilde
6. Alex Khovanov
7. Jared McIsaac
8. Ty Smith
9. Filip Zadina
10. Joel Farabee
11. Jett Woo
12. Jake Wise
13. Ryan Merkley
14. Jack McBain
15. Brady Tkachuk
16. Jesperi Kotkaniemi
17. Quinn Hughes
18. Rasmus Kupari
19. K'Andre Miller
20. Anderson MacDonald
21. Jacob Olofsson
22. Vitali Kravtsov
23. Isac Lundestrom
24. Grigori Denisenko
25. Evan Bouchard
26. Ryan McLeod
27. Mattias Samuelsson
28. Philipp Kurashev
29. Jakub Lauko
30. Danila Galenyuk
31. Oliver Wahlstrom
32. Benoit Olivier Groulx
33. Jesse Ylonen
34. Dominik Bokk
35. Akil Thomas
36. Jakub Skarek
37. Calen Addison
38. Nando Eggenberger
39. Dmitri Zavgorodniy
40. Allan McShane
41. Lukas Dostal
42. Milos Roman
43. Ty Emberson
44. Adam Ginning
45. Nico Gross
46. Libor Zabransky
47. Ty Dellandrea
48. Barrett Hayton
49. Samuel Fagemo
50. David Gustafsson
51. Giovanni Vallati
52. Toni Utunen
53. Jacob Ingham
54. Amir Miftakhov
55. Filip Hallander
56. Yegor Sokolov
57. Xavier Bouchard
58. Jan Jenik
59. Lukas Wermblom
60. Martin Fehervary
61. Noah Dobson
62. Filip Kral
 
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Not much news on the NCAA free agent front. Dom Toninato signed with Colorado and Connor Clifton signed an AHL deal with Providence (Bruins affiliate)....

https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/avalanche-signs-dominic-toninato/c-290682722

http://www.quinnipiacbobcats.com/ne...captain-connor-clifton-signs-with-bruins.aspx

On the rumor front....

- It looks as though the Penguins are known to be one of a few teams reaching out to Will Butcher. Tampa, Chicago and Vancouver are the known teams that haven't reached out to his agent (at least not yet).

- As for Kerfoot, there has been some interest from NHL teams. Canucks are known to be one of the teams interested. Chicago is known to be one of the teams that haven't reached out (at least not yet).

- As for, shockingly, Blaine Byron, multiple teams are interested with the front runners being New Jersey, Ottawa, Buffalo and Vegas.


More to come....


Update

- Evan Cowley and Matt Buckles signed an AHL deal with Springfield (Panthers affiliate)....

https://catsontheprowl.com/2017/06/09/panthers-sign-buckles-cowley-four-others-to-ahl-contracts/

- Anthony Florentino signed an AHL deal with Rochester (Sabres affiliate)....

http://www.amerks.com/article/AMERKS AGREE TO TERMS WITH FLORENTINO

- Troy Josephs had signed an AHL deal with Wilkes-Barre (Penguins affiliate)....

http://www.wbspenguins.com/2017/03/17/penguins-sign-forward-troy-josephs/

- James de Haas signed an AHL deal with Lehigh Valley (Flyers affiliate)....

http://www.phantomshockey.com/phantoms-sign-d-james-de-haas-ahl-contract/

- Rhett Holland signed overseas with HC Dynamo Pardubice of Extraliga....

http://www.hcdynamo.cz/clanek.asp?i...ousce-a-podepsal-rocni-smlouvu-s-Dynamem-8898

- Teemu Kivihalme signed with Karpat of the SM-Liiga....

http://www.oulunkarpat.fi/uutiset/2...uu-teemu-kivihalme-mukaan-tryout-sopimuksella

- Zach Stepan, Robbie Baillargeon, Gage Ausmus and Colin Sullivan all have signed ECHL deals....
 
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Mac n Gs said:
PB, how come you have Wahlstrom so low?
Click to expand...

Not for me to answer, ask those who have him 5-15 range why they have him so high. Wilde, Farabee, Wise, Samuelsson were all better from what I saw last season. When you are like the 5th best player on your own team of 2018 draft eligible prospects, how can you be ranked so high in the rankings?
 
Pavel Buchnevich said:
Not for me to answer, ask those who have him 5-15 range why they have him so high. Wilde, Farabee, Wise, Samuelsson were all better from what I saw last season. When you are like the 5th best player on your own team of 2018 draft eligible prospects, how can you be ranked so high in the rankings?
Click to expand...

I was asking because I think he's between 15-20 and you had him at 31
 
Mac n Gs said:
I was asking because I think he's between 15-20 and you had him at 31
Click to expand...

I don't know, I think he's a good prospect, I just don't have him as high as some others. I know when I am low on a prospect, I don't think I'm low on Wahlstrom, I think some people are just way too high on Wahlstrom. Obviously people see something in his game to have that opinion, probably the fact that he's a very good goal scorer with size and skating, could stay at center, but the playmaking and hockey IQ parts are lacking from what I've seen. He rode shotgun with Tkachuk and Norris at the WJC-18 tournament, which definitely helped his draft stock. At the WJSS, he didn't even make the final cut roster. Not to mention, I thought there were a number of better players last season in his age group. I see a poor man's Zibanejad in his game. I think he's more potential than production right now, but if he can improve his hockey sense and playmaking, he might have 1B center upside. Could go higher than the range I listed, its a preseason list.
 
I like Wahlström in the 10-25 range, really skilled.

But really, this draft is so stacked that the ranges should be really broad on most players except for like the top 6-10 players.

Can't fault you for having Wahlström #31 here, i see the holes in his game too, just think the upside outweighs it...
We'll see how his season progresses.
 
Ty Smith is a player who's game I really like. He's a very well-rounded defenseman, not the big flashy name of Merkley or even McIsaac, Woo, but he might be the best current player of all of them. He's not going to be one of these players where you have to question if he'll only be a specialist. If there's a player who's going to slowly creep up lists for being incredibly solid and eventually find himself a top 10 lock, maybe a chance at top 5, I think its Smith.

I'm usually saying don't pick the Americans and Canadians because the NA media overrates them and the pick value would then be poor, but in this draft, I like a lot of the NA players.
 
Tkachuk and Wahlström are way to low for my liking.

I think Tkachuk is going 2nd overall,
 
Seems Butcher was seen with a Sabres bag on twitter, so I assume he went with them

Still waiting to see what happens with Kerfoot. There hasn't been any news about him other than he had a productive meeting with the Canucks
 
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