Draft and UDFA Thread 2018-19: Part V (Lottery 04/09 8PM EST)

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

I’ve been told that NYR really like Zegras, doesn’t mean he’s top 3 or even top 5 on their list mind you but still interesting and i’m all for it. Zegras might have the highest hockey IQ in this draft

Yes boys its happening

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I’ve been told that NYR really like Zegras, doesn’t mean he’s top 3 or even top 5 on their list mind you but still interesting and i’m all for it. Zegras might have the highest hockey IQ in this draft

To everyone, Tobbe also had the Rangers basically salivating over Kravstov before the draft last year.

Listen to this guy.

 

[Bluenote13]

[QUOTE="Bluenote13, post: 158870855, member: 650"If we end up a #6 its not the end of the world, we'll get one of the guys we've been talking upAbsolutely. One of the cluster will be available at that point.

#6 should be high enough so that we don't go off the board and make a crazy selection, though that narrative will live strong right up until the moment we pick.

The last 2 drafts the Rangers have taken my #15th ranked player in the top 10. This year I'd have Caufield, Tomasino or Lavoie around #15.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

#6 should be high enough so that we don't go off the board and make a crazy selection, though that narrative will live strong right up until the moment we pick.

The last 2 drafts the Rangers have taken my #15th ranked player in the top 10. This year I'd have Caufield, Tomasino or Lavoie around #15.

If we end up picking 9th or 10th (god forbid) I think I take Caufield and run, barring any weird drops.

 

[True Blue]

Absolutely. One of the cluster will be available at that point.

#6 should be high enough so that we don't go off the board and make a crazy selection, though that narrative will live strong right up until the moment we pick.

The last 2 drafts the Rangers have taken my #15th ranked player in the top 10. This year I'd have Caufield, Tomasino or Lavoie around #15.[/QUOTE]
Cauflied, sure. A bit too early for Tomasino for me. And Lavoie just scares me and is my "do not touch list".

If they can manage to trade into that area after their initial pick, will be interesting who drops. Players like Caufield, Newhook or Krebs would be fantastic value choices there.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

To everyone, Tobbe also had the Rangers basically salivating over Kravstov before the draft last year.

Listen to this guy.

Was mostly speculation on Kravtsov, was told we liked him a lot and then one of Bob McKenzies scouts had him top 3, think it’s been clear for a while that one of the scouts Bob poll is a NYR scout so just put 1+1 together.

Edit: Just to clarify, I have 0 first hand sources. I do have some friends that do have 1st/2nd hand sources who hear things so take it with as much salt as you wish when I say “i’ve heard” or anything like that. Don’t want to paint a picture that I have some big insight into NYR, I just have some buddies that are closer to NYR and especially in the scouting business

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

If we end up picking 9th or 10th (god forbid) I think I take Caufield and run, barring any weird drops.

I’d just go Newhook/Kaliyev at that point, swing for the highest upside

 

[True Blue]

I’d just go Newhook/Kaliyev at that point, swing for the highest upside

If it is that low, pray that Boldy dropped.

 

[Bluenote13]

If we end up picking 9th or 10th (god forbid) I think I take Caufield and run, barring any weird drops.

Hughes
Kakko
Byram
Cozens
Turcotte
Dach
Zegras
Boldy

With those 8 off the board, I'd probably go with Newhook.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

If it is that low, pray that Boldy dropped.

I got Newhook/Kaliyev (and Caufield) above Boldy

 

[Kovalev27]

I'd argue that Zegras is a more slippery skater than Turcotte, though not as fast when it comes to straight-away speed. I just don't think the not getting places concern applied to Zegras. It's more a matter of style preferences.

On the flip side of that, I will say that Turcotte's awareness might actually rank third if we were to put him head-to-head with Zegras and Cozens. Not that any of them rank low on any of those categories.

I think we’ve been on the same page that we see those 3 players as bigtime potential targets. I have it Cozens turcotte zegras I believe you may have it slightly different but I bet those are our three guys outside the top 2 guys.

 

[Edge]

Was mostly speculation on Kravtsov, was told we liked him a lot and then one of Bob McKenzies scouts had him top 3, think it’s been clear for a while that one of the scouts Bob poll is a NYR scout so just put 1+1 together.

Edit: Just to clarify, I have 0 first hand sources. I do have some friends that do have 1st/2nd hand sources who hear things so take it with as much salt as you wish when I say “i’ve heard” or anything like that. Don’t want to paint a picture that I have some big insight into NYR, I just have some buddies that are closer to NYR and especially in the scouting business

It's funny you should mention that. I've suspected for a while that one of McKenzie's sources is within the NYR. I suspect I know who it is, but I can't be 100 percent sure.

A few months back, McKenzie mentioned a scout having Zegras fourth in this draft. Admittedly, my mind immediately went to the Rangers. I just kept looking at that line and couldn't shake the feeling that it was the Rangers who had Zegras fourth.

Even now, I have a weird feeling that Zegras might be one of their targets.

 

[Edge]

I think we’ve been on the same page that we see those 3 players as bigtime potential targets. I have it Cozens turcotte zegras I believe you may have it slightly different but I bet those are our three guys outside the top 2 guys.

And I have to tell you, I really can't debate "against" any of them. They're different, but I can't really be confused by liking any one over the others.

On paper the gap between 3 and 6 is going to be noticed, because that's the nature of lists. But in reality I don't see a hell of a lot of difference. They're interchangeable for me.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

It's funny you should mention that. I've suspected for a while that one of McKenzie's sources is within the NYR. I suspect I know who it is, but I can't be 100 percent sure.

A few months back, McKenzie mentioned a scout having Zegras fourth in this draft. Admittedly, my mind immediately went to the Rangers. I just kept looking at that line and couldn't shake the feeling that it was the Rangers who had Zegras fourth.

Even now, I have a weird feeling that Zegras might be one of their targets.

Yeah, there’s quite a bit that points to one of Bobs scouts being a NYR scout. Just listen to him talking about NYRs drafting 2017, he knew at 5 that we wanted Elias Pettersson and if he was off the board we’d take Lias Andersson. He wasn’t speculating, he knew. Points to it probably being Gordie Clark aswell imo.

There’s more aswell but i’m like 90% sure ond of the scouts he’s polling is ond of our long term scouts

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I find Zegras is like a pitcher who more easily changes up his pitches and can nail his location. If Turcotte is more of a flame thrower, Zegras is more of the guy who is going to piss off batters might throwing a slider. Just different players.

As for Zegras, strength will be something he has to work on, and I'd like to see him continue to shoot more. He's got a good shot, but I'd like to see more of it. I think that's where some of his giveaway concerns came from earlier in the year, he's looking to create a play when he needed to be creating a shot.

I'm also curious to see how he plays in college. He's got a chippy side to him and he's annoying to play against. I remember one game against Jack Drury where he was giving him fits. At one point I thought Drury was going to break loose from the ref and deck Zegras.

Love the baseball analogy.

Shot volume is an issue for both Zegras and Turcotte though. More troublesome in regards to Turcotte because the vision/passing just aren't there.

 

[Edge]

Yeah, there’s quite a bit that points to one of Bobs scouts being a NYR scout. Just listen to him talking about NYRs drafting 2017, he knew at 5 that we wanted Elias Pettersson and if he was off the board we’d take Lias Andersson. He wasn’t speculating, he knew. Points to it probably being Gordie Clark aswell imo.

There’s more aswell but i’m like 90% sure ond of the scouts he’s polling is ond of our long term scouts

The only time I saw him really off about who the Rangers were going to take was 2010. Gordie supposedly loved Fowler and I think even McKenzie was surprised by that selection.

But other than that, McKenzie typically has a good read on the Rangers, and a good chunk of the draft in general. While we often hear about his 10 scout polls, I know for a fact that he talks about to anywhere from 20-30. But he also has to walk a fine line because he can't tip things off too early.

But I suspect Zegras is on a short list, I'm pretty sure Cozens is on there, and you would think Turcotte is on there. I love Byram, but have no clue how they feel about it. My gut reaction is that he's not ranked as highly as some of the forwards for them. Dach is a darkhorse for me. I know the Rangers have watched him head-to-head against Cozens more than once this season (though only the latest time got any mentions).

I don't totally discount Dach because I feel like there's always one player they have on their list that isn't as widely talked about.

 

[True Blue]

I got Newhook/Kaliyev (and Caufield) above Boldy

I understand. If Laovie is my "stay away at all costs" pick, then Kaliyev is my "stay away until he drops enough to where you cannot simply not take him" pick. Caufield's size does scare me off. Enough to keep him out of my top 10.

But then, I am probably more of a Boldy fan that some others. To me his upside is somewhere between a more physical Kreider and a more physical Nash.

 

[True Blue]

Hughes
Kakko
Byram
Cozens
Turcotte
Dach
Zegras
Boldy

With those 8 off the board, I'd probably go with Newhook.

Could not simply pass on Podkolzin that point. Even with the long wait.

 

[Edge]

Love the baseball analogy.

Shot volume is an issue for both Zegras and Turcotte though. More troublesome in regards to Turcotte because the vision/passing just aren't there.

I was somewhat surprised by Turcotte this season.

I know heading into the year he wanted to focus on shooting more and felt he was capable of scoring more goals. Due to variety of circumstances, including playing on the wings, he definitely had more of a focus on that area of the game this season. Frankly, he showed he's a better goal scorer than people gave him credit for in the past.

But there was one slight "concern" that popped up for me --- with an emphasis on "slight."

Turcotte changed his style a little bit this season, and as a result I didn't quite feel like he always made the best use of his linemates or as sound of decisions as he had in prior viewings. While not nearly as dramatic, it reminded me a little of Ty Ronning's last season in the WHL. He focused more on the goals and as a result, I felt like the other areas of his game dipped a little.

That's not to say that Turcotte's game was dramatically altered, but I don't know if they quite grew as much as I'd hoped. Obviously there was progress, and Turcotte is a top prospect. But maybe it wasn't quite what I envisioned.

 

[Bluenote13]

Could not simply pass on Podkolzin that point. Even with the long wait.

I think he could Tarasenko. I could also see us being the only willing team to take on that timeframe. But I just have a hard time seeing failing/flailing GM's taking a guy that could be 4 years away from coming over.

 

[Lays]

I’ve been told that NYR really like Zegras, doesn’t mean he’s top 3 or even top 5 on their list mind you but still interesting and i’m all for it. Zegras might have the highest hockey IQ in this draft

Turcotte has the highest IQ. Zegras has good IQ but it’s not in contention for top of the draft. His passing is easily the best though and yes, better than Hughes. Hughes is a better playmaker but Zegras’ passing is unreal. His shot has come a long way as well. He can be our Barzal. We just need some finishers though, Chytil and Kravtsov are pass first guys. I’m all for any of the top NTDP guys with our own pick though (Hughes, Turcotte, Zegras, or Boldy)

Zegras is my #1 realistic target though

 

[True Blue]

I think he could Tarasenko. I could also see us being the only willing team to take on that timeframe. But I just have a hard time seeing failing/flailing GM's taking a guy that could be 4 years away from coming over.

4 years may be too long. I thought the word around town was 2 more? I would have thought that in a few more years, he would want to come to the NHL.

Anyway, I cannot speak for Gorton and Clark, but in the scenario described, I still take him at 9. Caufield is a dynamo, but the size is a concern. Who else is there? Newhook? Krebs? Can't take them ahead of Podkolzin's talent.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

4 years may be too long. I thought the word around town was 2 more? I would have thought that in a few more years, he would want to come to the NHL.

Anyway, I cannot speak for Gorton and Clark, but in the scenario described, I still take him at 9. Caufield is a dynamo, but the size is a concern. Who else is there? Newhook? Krebs? Can't take them ahead of Podkolzin's talent.

He's signed for 2 more seasons but the scuttlebutt is that he intends to stay longer than that.

We're as wired into Russia as anyone, our guys will know whats up. I hope its true and we can snag him with a later pick.

 

[pblawr]

It's funny you should mention that. I've suspected for a while that one of McKenzie's sources is within the NYR. I suspect I know who it is, but I can't be 100 percent sure.

A few months back, McKenzie mentioned a scout having Zegras fourth in this draft. Admittedly, my mind immediately went to the Rangers. I just kept looking at that line and couldn't shake the feeling that it was the Rangers who had Zegras fourth.

Even now, I have a weird feeling that Zegras might be one of their targets.

I thought they might be the ones that had Broberg 5th. I've posted this before, but he lines up pretty closely with a type of player they've historically been high on.

 

[FireGerardGallant]

If we end up picking 9th or 10th (god forbid) I think I take Caufield and run, barring any weird drops.

Him or Kaliyev are my choices at 9 or 10.