Draft and UDFA Thread 2018-19

[Joey Bones]

Here are some way too early mock drafts by the sites....

2019 NHL Mock Draft & Simulator | Tankathon

1 (8) C: Kirby Dach (CAN)(6'4"/185lbs., Shot: Right, Saskatoon/WHL)

2019 NHL Mock Draft | 2019 NHL Draft | NHL Draft

1 (9) C/RW: Raphael Lavoie (CAN)(6'4"/192lbs., Shot: Right, Halifax/QMJHL)

2019 NHL Mock Draft - NHL - DraftSite.com

1 (6) C: Alex Newhook (CAN)(5'11"/183lbs., Shot: Left, Victoria/BCHL) *19/20 Boston College Commit*
2 (37) D: Drew Helleson (USA)(6'2"/168lbs., Shot: Right, USNTDP/USHL) *20/21 Boston College Commit*
2 (61) LW: Matej Toman (CZE)(5'10"/168lbs., Shot: Left, Prince George/WHL)
3 (68) D: Oliver Turan (SVK)(6'5"/218lbs., Shot: Right, Drummondville/QMJHL)
4 (99) D: Chris Merisier-Ortiz (CAN)(5'11"/165lbs., Shot: Left, Baie-Comeau/QMJHL)
5 (130) D: Thomas Harley (CAN)(6'2"/170lbs., Shot: Left, Mississauga/OHL)
6 (161) C: Karl Henriksson (SWE)(5'9"/165lbs., Shot: Left, Frolunda J20/SuperElit)
7 (192) RW: Yegor Chinakhov (RUS)(5'11"/157lbs., Shot: Left, Omskie/MHL)

Most of these guys won't get drafted, but it's an early mock so there's bound to be errors. Newhook is a great pick at No. 6, IMO. I believe he is a top 10 talent who could push for top 5. Incredibly fast up the wing and his passes are perfect. He's relentless in the corners and a gamer with an edge. Can dangle around the net and pot home the puck. I think his shot could use some honing in on, but all-in-all I think he could play in the NCAA this season. Helleson is a log, but has good awareness offensively and defensively. We'll see how his season goes. Toman and Turan played in the Hlinka, but weren't incredibly noticeable. Toman has good awareness on forechecks/backchecks and got a few goals, so that's a good sign. Thought Turan was incredibly slow, physically and mentally in the Hlinka. Can't attest for the others yet.

Thoughts?

 

[Joey Bones]

 

[JimmyG89]

At this point, I don't think it makes too much sense to get worked up over a player who is Canadian that will be going high in the draft. There is probably a very slim chance that we take him, based on our drafting history of the last 10 years alone.

 

[Ola]

At this point, I don't think it makes too much sense to get worked up over a player who is Canadian that will be going high in the draft. There is probably a very slim chance that we take him, based on our drafting history of the last 10 years alone.

I don’t know, I don’t think the Canadian program have been strong at all for a while. Canada always produces NHLers and great players, but some years are a lot more leen than others. Dobson, Bouchard, Velano and the likes are players we passed on last draft. I think there were a reason for that.

I think we have a pretty thight requirement spec but if someone fit that I am sure we would pick that guy.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Here are some way too early mock drafts by the sites....

2019 NHL Mock Draft & Simulator | Tankathon

1 (8) C: Kirby Dach (CAN)(6'4"/185lbs., Shot: Right, Saskatoon/WHL)

2019 NHL Mock Draft | 2019 NHL Draft | NHL Draft

1 (9) C/RW: Raphael Lavoie (CAN)(6'4"/192lbs., Shot: Right, Halifax/QMJHL)

2019 NHL Mock Draft - NHL - DraftSite.com

1 (6) C: Alex Newhook (CAN)(5'11"/183lbs., Shot: Left, Victoria/BCHL) *19/20 Boston College Commit*
2 (37) D: Drew Helleson (USA)(6'2"/168lbs., Shot: Right, USNTDP/USHL) *20/21 Boston College Commit*
2 (61) LW: Matej Toman (CZE)(5'10"/168lbs., Shot: Left, Prince George/WHL)
3 (68) D: Oliver Turan (SVK)(6'5"/218lbs., Shot: Right, Drummondville/QMJHL)
4 (99) D: Chris Merisier-Ortiz (CAN)(5'11"/165lbs., Shot: Left, Baie-Comeau/QMJHL)
5 (130) D: Thomas Harley (CAN)(6'2"/170lbs., Shot: Left, Mississauga/OHL)
6 (161) C: Karl Henriksson (SWE)(5'9"/165lbs., Shot: Left, Frolunda J20/SuperElit)
7 (192) RW: Yegor Chinakhov (RUS)(5'11"/157lbs., Shot: Left, Omskie/MHL)

Most of these guys won't get drafted, but it's an early mock so there's bound to be errors. Newhook is a great pick at No. 6, IMO. I believe he is a top 10 talent who could push for top 5. Incredibly fast up the wing and his passes are perfect. He's relentless in the corners and a gamer with an edge. Can dangle around the net and pot home the puck. I think his shot could use some honing in on, but all-in-all I think he could play in the NCAA this season. Helleson is a log, but has good awareness offensively and defensively. We'll see how his season goes. Toman and Turan played in the Hlinka, but weren't incredibly noticeable. Toman has good awareness on forechecks/backchecks and got a few goals, so that's a good sign. Thought Turan was incredibly slow, physically and mentally in the Hlinka. Can't attest for the others yet.

Thoughts?

I think the Rangers really picked a good time to be drafting towards the top of and more than once in the first round, it feels like every draft’s strength has lined up perfectly with pieces that are missing from the prospect pool. I’d absolutely love to get a high end center out of this year’s draft and as long as they have a top 5ish pick come draft time I think they’ll be in position to get that done. It also wouldn’t surprise me if Newhook ends up being their #2-3 guy this year just by virtue of seeing him a lot thanks to Hughes going to play with him (not that I think they wouldn’t go watch Newhook regardless)

 

[JimmyG89]

I don’t know, I don’t think the Canadian program have been strong at all for a while. Canada always produces NHLers and great players, but some years are a lot more leen than others. Dobson, Bouchard, Velano and the likes are players we passed on last draft. I think there were a reason for that.

I think we have a pretty thight requirement spec but if someone fit that I am sure we would pick that guy.

I think our team is putting an emphasis on playing in men's leagues instead of juniors for our top picks. Going before that, we took NCAA kids. Our only 1st rounders that played in the CHL in the past 10 years was Miller (who de-committed from North Dakota) and McIlrath. I don't think they like that route.

Look at the guys that they traded for. Each one is leaving the CHL, based on age, but they'll be in the AHL. They must not view the CHL in high regard at all, at least for the top prospects. They want control over the player and the CHL doesn't allow that control.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Henriksson might get himself drafted because he was lucky enough to be placed on a line during the Hlinka with two elite prospects.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

I think our team is putting an emphasis on playing in men's leagues instead of juniors for our top picks. Going before that, we took NCAA kids. Our only 1st rounders that played in the CHL in the past 10 years was Miller (who de-committed from North Dakota) and McIlrath. I don't think they like that route.

Look at the guys that they traded for. Each one is leaving the CHL, based on age, but they'll be in the AHL. They must not view the CHL in high regard at all, at least for the top prospects. They want control over the player and the CHL doesn't allow that control.

I think they retooled their CHL scouting staff within the past few years, so the past 2 drafts might just be coincidence or just more confidence in more senior scouting staff memebers. I’d probably lean toward the latter since it feels like Bobrov is next in line for Gordie’s job, but I don’t believe it’s necessarily a control thing

 

[Synergy27]

I think they retooled their CHL scouting staff within the past few years, so the past 2 drafts might just be coincidence or just more confidence in more senior scouting staff memebers. I’d probably lean toward the latter since it feels like Bobrov is next in line for Gordie’s job, but I don’t believe it’s necessarily a control thing

I think it's also an uncertainty thing. There's a ton of uncertainty surrounding every 18 year old prospect, but the ones that have already proved their ability to play against men minimize that uncertainty to an extent.

They might also continue to miss out on those top flight talents, which is frustrating for sure, but I understand the strategy at least.

 

[Joey Bones]

 

[Joey Bones]

 

[Edge]

Not going to lie, if it isn't going to be Hughes, I'd love to come away with Turcotte or Newhook.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Not going to lie, if it isn't going to be Hughes, I'd love to come away with Turcotte or Newhook.

I think at this point in time I like all 3 as 1,2,3 for 2019

 

[Mac n Gs]

Turcotte will be interesting to follow this year because he’ll always be in Hughes’ shadow. Same goes for Zegras.

He and Turcotte were both very impressive at the U17s, but were obviously overshadowed by Hughes going bananas that tournament. Both still had ppg performances IIRC.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Turcotte will be interesting to follow this year because he’ll always be in Hughes’ shadow. Same goes for Zegras.

He and Turcotte were both very impressive at the U17s, but were obviously overshadowed by Hughes going bananas that tournament. Both still had ppg performances IIRC.

I hadn’t thought about it, but it is really interesting that a few of the guys projected to go high aren’t going to be in situations where it’ll be easy to get a read on exactly how good they are/project to be

 

[Ghost of jas]

Not going to lie, if it isn't going to be Hughes, I'd love to come away with Turcotte or Newhook.

And it seems neither player is getting the fanfare yet that others like Cozens are. Right now, finish bottom and the Rangers should got a top line center prospect.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

And it seems neither player is getting the fanfare yet that others like Cozens are. Right now, finish bottom and the Rangers should got a top line center prospect.

Can't wait to finish 11th in the East and miss out.

 

[Ghost of jas]

Can't wait to finish 11th in the East and miss out.

I’m not worried about that happening. Then again, I seem to have a much lower opinion of this team than the rest of the board.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I’m not worried about that happening. Then again, I seem to have a much lower opinion of this team than the rest of the board.

Well, the thing is, I also think this team blows and Hank is getting old.

But hockey's different here.

 

[Mac n Gs]

And it seems neither player is getting the fanfare yet that others like Cozens are. Right now, finish bottom and the Rangers should got a top line center prospect.

Hlinka recency bias.

 

[Edge]

And it seems neither player is getting the fanfare yet that others like Cozens are. Right now, finish bottom and the Rangers should got a top line center prospect.

Some of it is also the league and level of competition.

Cozens played in the WHL and has enjoyed an opportunity to showcase his talent to a broader audience.

When you start getting into the USHL and BCHL, it's a much smaller audience.

The truth of the matter is that while coverage of hockey prospects has grown by leaps and bounds over the last 20 years, the lower leagues are still off the radar for most people (and understandably so).

 

[Mac n Gs]

Huh, Bode Wilde will be with the Saginaw Spirit this season. I didn’t expect that.

I hadn’t thought about it, but it is really interesting that a few of the guys projected to go high aren’t going to be in situations where it’ll be easy to get a read on exactly how good they are/project to be

Yeah, and it’ll be important to factor this in when we try to keep tabs on these kids this year. A guy like Zegras may get really underrated because he’ll be playiny in a 3C role for the USDP, but he’s a guy that’s shown flashes of being a high-end center. The center depth on this US team is ridiculous this year.

 

[Fvital92]

We should get a good prospect this draft, the top 10 propects are really good. Any of Hughes, Turcotte, Newhook, Cozens, Dach, Krebs, Byram, Poldkolzin would be great, we need more forwards with 1st line potential.

 

[Matz03]

Can't wait to finish 11th in the East and miss out.

11th seems to be the sweet spot to winning the lottery and getting into top 3

 

[Joey Bones]