Draft and UDFA Thread 2018-19

[egelband]

It's Gribbs.....lol

I took a little license there. We’re not *animale*

 

[Joey Bones]

Its a quote from one of the best movies of all time

I guess I haven't seen one of the best movies of all time....

 

[Joey Bones]

I'm totally against drafting a keeper in the 1st two rounds for the Rangers, but if there is a skillset there that shows he could be a capable elite starter, it's hard not to take him. Same goes with Oettinger when he was taken in 2017.

I mean, would anyone not take Jesper Wallstedt in the 2021 draft? It's way too early to tell, but the kid is already playing J20 as a 15 year old!! Could honestly go No. 1.

 

[Fvital92]

"Говорят, Америка, Канада – это круто. Но сейчас я не хочу туда ехать". Интервью нового русского суперталанта

Interview with Podkolzin. Said he won't come to the NHL until he is ready and won't play in juniors or the minors. Wants to mature as a man and come over with his family. He said he doesn't know English well. Currently has a 3-year deal with SKA. That might hurt his stock a bit.

But if you read the article, he seems like a very logical and humble kid. Mentioned that his favorite players are Kuznetsov and Ovechkin and that he'd rather go a year without sex than a year without hockey.

My favorite quote was this....

Date or training?
- Training. I have a girlfriend. And this does not bother me.

He will drop for sure, which could be a good thing if we overachieve this season.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Sure, you could use Vasilevsky as an example. But you could also use Brent Krahn as an example. Or Malcolm Subban. Or Tom McCollum. Or Jack Campbell. Or Mark Visentin. Or Riku Helenius.

You are missing the point.

Drafting a goalie in the first round usually doesn't make sense. Thats why you can name a lot of goalies that didn't pan out. Its a riskier position with drafting. I agree about that. It makes sense to pick one in the first round when there's a generational goalie prospect or close to it in the draft. In the last 10 drafts including 2019, the only guy better than Knight pre-draft is Vasilevskiy or at least how its looking. I guess its possible that Knight could regress or maybe he could even pass Vasilevskiy.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

considering that 15 teams picked before them you only need 1 bad pick. so really going out on a limb there

We can use picks then, not teams. I didn't initially realize that some teams had multiple picks in that range.

 

[Joey Bones]

I get where @Pavel Buchnevich is coming from, but I only agree if the goalie in question proves to show elite qualities to their game. The only goalies in the 2010's I'd say have shown those qualities on their draft year were Vasilevski (2012), Dansk (2012-at the time), Korpisalo (2012-at the time), Demko (2014-at the time), Hart (2016-looking more like it now), Oettinger (2017-remains to be seen) and now Knight.

It kinda goes back to the argument that the draft is a complete crapshoot in the end. It really only matters after the fact if the prospect (whether if it's a goalie or not) progresses nicely and develops right in their D+1/D+2/sometimes even D+3.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I get where @Pavel Buchnevich is coming from, but I only agree if the goalie in question proves to show elite qualities to their game. The only goalies in the 2010's I'd say have shown those qualities on their draft year were Vasilevski (2012), Dansk (2012-at the time), Korpisalo (2012-at the time), Demko (2014-at the time), Hart (2016-looking more like it now), Oettinger (2017-remains to be seen) and now Knight.

It kinda goes back to the argument that the draft is a complete crapshoot in the end. It really only matters after the fact if the prospect (whether if it's a goalie or not) progresses nicely and develops right in their D+1/D+2/sometimes even D+3.

You are missing Samsonov, and I'd take everyone off that list except Vasilevskiy, Oettinger and Knight.

I know Oettinger didn't start well last season, but he finished the season very well, and I think he's getting very underrated right now by fans who are blaming Dallas for that pick. He deserved to be a first round pick. It wasn't a bad pick, and I think he'll do well for them.

 

[Joey Bones]

Delete

 

[Joey Bones]

You are missing Samsonov, and I'd take everyone off that list except Vasilevskiy, Oettinger and Knight.

I know Oettinger didn't start well last season, but he finished the season very well, and I think he's getting very underrated right now by fans who are blaming Dallas for that pick. He deserved to be a first round pick. It wasn't a bad pick, and I think he'll do well for them.

I mean, I felt they were so I'll keep them on my list, thanks. I also don't feel like Samsonov is elite. I think he'll be a starter, just not an exceptional one.

I agree on Oettinger. BU wasn't as good as most years defensively. We'll see what this year brings.

 

[Edge]

I'm totally against drafting a keeper in the 1st two rounds for the Rangers, but if there is a skillset there that shows he could be a capable elite starter, it's hard not to take him. Same goes with Oettinger when he was taken in 2017.

I mean, would anyone not take Jesper Wallstedt in the 2021 draft? It's way too early to tell, but the kid is already playing J20 as a 15 year old!! Could honestly go No. 1.

I'm generally of the mindset to start looking in the third, with rare exceptions.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I mean, I felt they were so I'll keep them on my list, thanks. I also don't feel like Samsonov is elite. I think he'll be a starter, just not an exceptional one.

I agree on Oettinger. BU wasn't as good as most years defensively. We'll see what this year brings.

Samsonov has such great athleticism. He is a little wild with his positioning, but other than Vasilevskiy, there hasn't been a more athletic goalie with above-average size to come around in a long time. They are the two most athletic at that size since Price.

If Samsonov could ever refine his positioning, he'll be really good, but he's very Hasek-style. He makes movements that look like they'd get exposed against NHL players, so we'll have to see.

 

[Kovalev27]

If I get another first rounder in the 20 to 28 range I’m using it on Knight if he’s there. He’s that good. And for once it would be nice to have a goalie with some NHL elite size.

 

[LORDE]

I guess I haven't seen one of the best movies of all time....

Apparently not.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

So what do we think in here, Lafreniere to break 2 PPG? I'm thinking he will honestly, he's a special player and he's on a pretty strong team. Lafreniere + Zavgorodniy on the PP should be fun, both LW though so unlikely to play together 5v5.

 

[Mac n Gs]

So what do we think in here, Lafreniere to break 2 PPG? I'm thinking he will honestly, he's a special player and he's on a pretty strong team. Lafreniere + Zavgorodniy on the PP should be fun, both LW though so unlikely to play together 5v5.

Has that been done recently? I think the last 2+ppg player in a D-1 season from the Q was either Drouin or MacK when they were destroying the league on Halifax together.

I'd say it's probable for Lafreniere.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

No, it hasn't been done lately. But Lafreniere is on the Crosby-McDavid calibre of prospect out of the CHL so it seems very doable, especially since he's on a pretty good team too.

 

[Joey Bones]

If I get another first rounder in the 20 to 28 range I’m using it on Knight if he’s there. He’s that good. And for once it would be nice to have a goalie with some NHL elite size.

Honestly, I could agree. After the supposed top 15, it could be a complete hit or miss rest of the draft. Knight looks like an NHL keeper now, which is incredibly impressive. Just got to see how he progresses further.

 

[Joey Bones]

So what do we think in here, Lafreniere to break 2 PPG? I'm thinking he will honestly, he's a special player and he's on a pretty strong team. Lafreniere + Zavgorodniy on the PP should be fun, both LW though so unlikely to play together 5v5.

Focused primarily on the 2019 draft class, ATM, but yeah I could see that. Would be tough, but Lafreniere is a crazy skilled forward.

 

[darko]

If I get another first rounder in the 20 to 28 range I’m using it on Knight if he’s there. He’s that good. And for once it would be nice to have a goalie with some NHL elite size.

Zucca should get us a late 1st easily. A contender will want someone like him.

 

[Ola]

He will drop for sure, which could be a good thing if we overachieve this season.

The kid will be massaged over the coming 9 months and who knows what might change and which promises might be made. But -- going by that info alone, who would be comfortable taking that kid after those quotes about his future plans even in the top 20?

Could be a perfect target to trade up for with a later 1st if we feel we have the patience for him and maybe that our current Russian population could persuade him to come over early...

 

[Ola]

Zucca should get us a late 1st easily. A contender will want someone like him.

Yeah, and for once, can't we rent him at the deadline and then bring him back? He compliments the kids well and so forth. Character guy.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Yeah, and for once, can't we rent him at the deadline and then bring him back? He compliments the kids well and so forth. Character guy.

Sure. Arizona did with Vermette. It's not unheard of. It was a win-win in that case.

Arizona traded Vermette to Chicago for a 1st, Vermette won a Cup, and signed with Arizona for the exact same AAV that summer

 

[Ola]

If I get another first rounder in the 20 to 28 range I’m using it on Knight if he’s there. He’s that good. And for once it would be nice to have a goalie with some NHL elite size.

I agree on Knight.

The only 'downside' with him is salary. Get a kid with a pedigree like that, it will take 4-5 years before he is ready and then in no time he will make top money. First a few years when he gets like what is equal to 5-6m per today and then up towards 8-9m. If he pans out that is. Or, am I overly afraid of this?

Its hard, with goalies you can get a top performance from a kid that is cheap. Gives you a big edge if you can.

 

[Ori]

Yes rent him to Tampa to make sure they win that cup - win win situation for us also related to our conditional pick in 2019 draft.

There are about 5 teams who can win the cup now Sharks, Leafs, Pens, Caps, and Tampa are among my favorite teams to win it this year, but question is if they can create cap space for such a rent move. Maybe leafs with the best rent option since they have some cap available even if they should sign W Nylander. But there are other teams like Jets, Oilers, or Vegas who can surprise me, and Vegas did exactly that last season.