NHL Entry Draft Future Draft Watch

[Bjornar Moxnes]

They get to draft 18th and 22nd overall and add to that prospect pool as well.

Wolf and Coronato will be regulars on the Flames. Parekh, Gridin, Basha, Battaglia, Honzek and Morin are in the pool and it'll only get better as long as Conroy doesn't go spending crazy. Flames had a good taste of what competitive hockey is like and they should still build their prospect base.

Correction, the Florida pick is either 31st or 32nd overall (Thanks Toronto and Carolina). The dream scenario is if the Flames and VGK (Flames have their unprotected 2026 1st rounder) finish bottom 5 in 2026. That would be the equivalent of our 2020 draft season for them.

 

[BondraTime]

I thought guys like Moore and Montgomery were great, but really raw, athletes who the scouts are hoping the hockey sense will catch up to their athletic skills as they grow into their 6'4" bodies?

They are definitely great athletes, but their hockey skills/ability don’t seem like they are top 6ish, at the bare minimum at this point in time. They will both be 20 in NCAA for the next 2+ years so here’s hoping they both keep improving.

 

[Cosmix]

Likely can't make Ullmark available, he has a full NMC

Ullmark would have to waive his NMC to be available for selection.

The NHL expanding to 36 teams by 2030 as reported is going to be tough in a lot of ways.

I don’t know if they will alter the expansion rules somewhat and offer more protection, but that is like 4 players we are going to lose for nothing in the span of like 4 years.

Team really has to stock up on depth in the coming years.

The new teams will be better than quite a few existing teams. I suppose the windfall of $$$$ will help assuage some teams' hurt!

 

[Hale The Villain]

Cole Reshny and Keaton Verhoeff leave Victoria (WHL) to go to North Dakota (NCAA)

The Royals were expected to be a WHL title contender this season, but their top two young stars jumping ship has ended that possibility.

CHL is going to be a league for 16/17/18 year olds pretty soon, and I wonder if they may let 15 year olds play or expand the exceptional status rules if the league quality is dropping.

 

[PlayOn]

I’m not sure what working out will mean for the Sens with regards to additions or improvements to the roster. The easiest thing to sign is vet guys for a million-ish bucks who can play 50/60 games a year in the bottom 6 like Cousins.

I think Yakemchuk is literally the only player in the system who has a role/potential to play top 4/top 6, and obviously his potential is extremely high.

I think it would be great for Moore or Eliasson or Ellinas to work out, but if they do, what do we have? Another Cousins, another Gilbert?

It seems as though they just aren’t even trying at drafting top 6/top 4 guys outside of Yak since 2020. He’s legitimately the only pick whom I’d say was a guy who was taken as a potential top 4/top 6 guy. 26 guys taken from 21-24, and Yak and maybe Halliday are the only guys I’d say weren’t bottom of the lineup guys, and that’s with 5 picks in the top 50.

Honestly even a middle six forward or a bottom pairing dman or two helps. I don’t think it’s impossible we can develop a few from the group we have.

We will run into issues if our existing core stagnates because we have no backups in place - but if you get the right progression from them even filling the line-up around them can have positive impact.

Ironically we need a 4C more than we need a 3C right now for example.

But yeah, they need a few big hits this year and next to get us into a more comfortable position.

 

[BondraTime]

Honestly even a middle six forward or a bottom pairing dman or two helps. I don’t think it’s impossible we can develop a few from the group we have.

We will run into issues if our existing core stagnates because we have no backups in place - but if you get the right progression from them even filling the line-up around them can have positive impact.

Ironically we need a 4C more than we need a 3C right now for example.

But yeah, they need a few big hits this year and next to get us into a more comfortable position.

I'm not worried about the 4th line whatsoever, I don't really even factor it in for prospects or take it into consideration. There are dowzens of guys each year who are brought up from the mionors, signed from the bargin bin, and claimed off the waiver wire who are prefectly capable of playing the sheltered 8 minutes needed from that line, I don;t think we need to worry about guys becoming 4th line guys, unless you're a Clutterbuck or Neil.

Kevin Rooney
Curtis Lazar
Craig Smith
Tyler Motte
Stevenm Lorentz
Colin Blackwell
Michael Eyssimont
Isac Lundestrom
etc.

I think they need to start to swing for the fences for a pick or two, and not a swing for the fences like Eliasson or Roger where it's "we are hoping these hulking men in a 17 year olds body learn how to play hockey so they casn become great 3rd pairing guys"

 

[PlayOn]

I'm not worried about the 4th line whatsoever, I don't really even factor it in for prospects or take it into consideration. There are dowzens of guys each year who are brought up from the mionors, signed from the bargin bin, and claimed off the waiver wire who are prefectly capable of playing the sheltered 8 minutes needed from that line, I don;t think we need to worry about guys becoming 4th line guys, unless you're a Clutterbuck or Neil.

Kevin Rooney
Curtis Lazar
Craig Smith
Tyler Motte
Stevenm Lorentz
Colin Blackwell
Michael Eyssimont
Isac Lundestrom
etc.

I think they need to start to swing for the fences for a pick or two, and not a swing for the fences like Eliasson or Roger where it's "we are hoping these hulking men in a 17 year olds body learn how to play hockey so they casn become great 3rd pairing guys"

I don’t think all lower line-up guys are made equally.

Getting guys that excel in their roles, whatever that role is, is always helpful imo - no matter where they play. That being said I don’t know how much of that we have in our system, time will tell. And obviously it’s important that we look for upside moving forward, but if we can produce some solid role players from 2021-2024 I’ll certainly take it. Depth is critical. Every year I watch Toronto in the playoffs and I’m reminded how useless their bottom six is. Colorado had to fix theirs this season. NJ couldn’t buy a goal out of theirs.

The higher parts of our line-up are going to have to come down to our existing players and internal growth + trades and pro-scouting in the next few years. Hopefully we add some prospects in the meantime that can augment those areas down the road.

 

[aragorn]

I don’t think all lower line-up guys are made equally.

Getting guys that excel in their roles, whatever that role is, is always helpful imo - no matter where they play. That being said I don’t know how much of that we have in our system, time will tell. And obviously it’s important that we look for upside moving forward, but if we can produce some solid role players from 2021-2024 I’ll certainly take it. Depth is critical. Every year I watch Toronto in the playoffs and I’m reminded how useless their bottom six is. Colorado had to fix theirs this season. NJ couldn’t buy a goal out of theirs.

The higher parts of our line-up are going to have to come down to our existing players and internal growth + trades and pro-scouting in the next few years. Hopefully we add some prospects in the meantime that can augment those areas down the road.

This is where we are drafting now can help immensely, when drafting in the twenties the chances of getting elite players drops dramatically, but where it can help is by drafting the best players who would make sense to improve the bottom six. Especially on a team like Ott who has difficulty attracting players to come here we draft them & they have no choice for a few controlled yrs.

Both Pinto & Greig were drafted late first early second & have turned into exceptional bottom six forwards & now seem to be breaking out where they can move up the lineup & where we are drafting this yr is another opportunity to improve the future bottom six. I hope that Staois is able to trade back & acquire a 2nd rd pick to further add to the potential prospect pool that can improve the bottom six. This is where we can find those good big tough 3rd pairing D as well, this draft is an opportunity.

 

[bicboi64]

Generals' Simon Wang named OHL Rookie of the Week - Ontario Hockey League

Draft eligible Oshawa Generals defenceman Simon Wang is the OHL Rookie of the Week.

chl.ca

If Simon Wang falls to the 3rd round, I hope we grab him. 6ft6 kid who plays D without being a meat head.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

The NHL expanding to 36 teams by 2030 as reported is going to be tough in a lot of ways.

I don’t know if they will alter the expansion rules somewhat and offer more protection, but that is like 4 players we are going to lose for nothing in the span of like 4 years.

Team really has to stock up on depth in the coming years.

That's an insane level of expansion in such a short time. It really feels like the talent pool can't support it at all.

Not to mention you have the possibility of teams getting one hell of an advantage of they strip down and rebuild now through the draft, as most of those kids (and new core if done right) would be exempt from being on an expansion availability list. Unless the expansion draft rules are changed dramatically, of course.

 

[Masked]

That's an insane level of expansion in such a short time. It really feels like the talent pool can't support it at all.

No different than the turn of the century when they added four teams. Or the early 90's when they added five teams.

The talent pool always rises to accommodate the number of teams. Especially with the US developing so many players now.

I hate the thought of expansion because it makes the odds that much lower than my team will win a Cup in my lifetime.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Cole Reshny and Keaton Verhoeff leave Victoria (WHL) to go to North Dakota (NCAA)

The Royals were expected to be a WHL title contender this season, but their top two young stars jumping ship has ended that possibility.

CHL is going to be a league for 16/17/18 year olds pretty soon, and I wonder if they may let 15 year olds play or expand the exceptional status rules if the league quality is dropping.

Can’t understand Verhoeff, he’s 16 for a few more weeks, so likely finishing grade 10, grade 11 if he skipped a grade.

How does that get him in UND.

 

[BondraTime]

Can’t understand Verhoeff, he’s 16 for a few more weeks, so likely finishing grade 10, grade 11 if he skipped a grade.

How does that get him in UND.

He's finishing grade 11, no skipping a grade, you enter the CHL in grade 11, first year midget is grade 10.

Same as Toews and Celebrini, fast tracked their grade 12 year in their first 2 years of high school to enter the NCAA in their 17 year old seasons

 

[Golden_Jet]

He's finishing grade 11, no skipping a grade

Same as Toews and Celebrini, fast tracked their grade 12 year in their first 2 years of high school.

Thanks, but how does grade 11 get you in University

 

[BondraTime]

Thanks, but how does grade 11 get you in University

He would be in grade 12 next year under normal circumstances, he fast tracked to have the courses needed to enter university a year early

He will be one of, if not the only, guy who enter at 17

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Is Simon Wang a high ceiling prospect?

Reading about this draft, and he caught my eye because of his unconventional background. Played hockey in China until the age of 12. He joined the OHL only because of the recent NCAA rule changes and seems to be a riser.

 

[BondraTime]

Is Simon Wang a high ceiling prospect?

Reading about this draft, and he caught my eye because of his unconventional background. Played hockey in China until the age of 12. He joined the OHL only because of the recent NCAA rule changes and seems to be a riser.

Depends, really.

He's the type of guy we love. He's a different version of Eliasson and Ben Roger, same type of pick.

Tools, size, and the hope for development in the coming years

He's going to be a guy where you say "not sure how we got him there", or "not sure what they were thinking taking him there" when he goes in the 27-45 range. No in between.

 

[zenator]

What about Cole Reschny? Centre , Victoria WHL, going to UND this fall.

92 points in 62 games. 25 points in 11 playoff games. 5'11 183 lbs. Born in April. From Saskatchewan.

Other players I like... Kindel, Fiddler.