HF's Team Board Mock Draft

[eco's bones]

FWIW shoulder surgery isn't a good thing but I have to say that the injuries I worry about most are ACL injuries and concussions....and that being said players get banged up. IMO knees and shoulders given time should clear up.

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

Brannstrom is superior to the rest of the players here.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

you draft the best hockey player available. period.

thats kostin. he's got the measurables, the talent, the motor and the developed 2 way game that most scorers lack. he's big and will get bigger, he's a dangerous offensive player and from all reports, a dependable kid with a great attitude and work ethic that never quits.

hes also got sick skills. he's a prospect with alot to like. i love the thought of kostin and buchy together.

you want a guy who might be an erik karlsson type player, take brannstrom.

if you want to go big and draft a kid who is a sure fire top 6 forward. thats kostin.

assuming the shoulder is 100% repaired, you take this kid everytime. he's a true blue chip offensive goal scorer.

Yes, you go for the best hockey player, that's Brännström

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Yes, you go for the best hockey player, that's Brännström

But he isn't Russian...

 

[offdacrossbar]

But he isn't Russian...

swedes work too.


assuming the shoulder checks out, and they will check it out to make sure the surgery corrected the problem, i wouldn't worry about it. he's a big guy at 6'3 and over 200 lbs. he should heal and be fine.

once you remove the shoulder- assuming healthy, and ignore the "russian factor" stuff, you are left with this:

a hulking, highly skilled, high energy and highly responsible guy with enormous upside. his combination of high puck skills, skating and the ability to play a very "north american" game is unique. this isnt a one trick pony russian scorer. this is a kid who can both create and score with dangle or with brute force in tight.

this is exactly the type of blue chip offensive difference maker we have lacked for, well..... for ever.

if not for the shoulder and the russian thing, he probably goes top 5 and certainly top 10 easy.

you get a chance to grab him at 21. you do it. no offense to brannstrom- mhos a very nice if slightly undersized prospect, but it isnt really that close.

you have to take the highest rated, best player available. kostin.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

The same can be said for Brannstrom and Liljegren. THey go top-10 easy, but if they are there, you go for it. I would go for Liljegren first, if all 3 are available and probably Brannstrom over Kostin, but not by much

 

[offdacrossbar]

No player picked outside the top-5 is a sure fire top-6 forward.

I've got a little secret.......

he was a top 5 guy before the shoulder.

same kid. same player. with a now healthy shoulder.

he's still averaging top 10-15 range now even with the shoulder.

take away the shoulder and he's right there certainly in the top 7

 

[McD37]

Looks like other fanbases are not in love with Brannstrom as much as Rangers HF...
What is Brannstrom ceiling, NHL comparision?

 

[Fugazy]

Brannstrom.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Looks like other fanbases are not in love with Brannstrom as much as Rangers HF...
What is Brannstrom ceiling, NHL comparision?

Ceiling is a top pairing D-man, more realistic is a middle pairing PP guy, floor is he busts. But i think him busting completely is pretty unlikely given his skating and hockey IQ.

Comparisons; Timonen, Gostisbehere, Krug, Campbell.

 

[Mac n Gs]

Has Kostin's shoulder been fully cleared yet? I'm not against taking him, but there are serious concerns for going after a guy that just had major shoulder surgery, especially when he game is built on being a power forward.

 

[offdacrossbar]

Has Kostin's shoulder been fully cleared yet? I'm not against taking him, but there are serious concerns for going after a guy that just had major shoulder surgery, especially when he game is built on being a power forward.

hard to get info to confirm that. he was at the combine.


"Prospect Klim Kostin completed the fitness testing Saturday, but was not made available to the media afterwards. I was told he doesn’t speak English and that a translator was not available. There are teams that have him third behind Patrick and Hischier on their list. But questions remain. Other teams have him as a mid first rounder. Which team is willing to step up and take a chance on a dynamic player?"


http://thehockeywriters.com/emptying-the-2017-nhl-combine-notebook/


hes been the top rated euro skater on many boards. if he s there at 21, theres no question he's the best player available- assuming the shoulder is good to go.

if it is, and he checks out ok, he won't be there at 21 anyway

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I've got a little secret.......

he was a top 5 guy before the shoulder.

same kid. same player. with a now healthy shoulder.

he's still averaging top 10-15 range now even with the shoulder.

take away the shoulder and he's right there certainly in the top 7

So was McColgan, Chychrun, Liljegren, and Day and I can go on.

 

[Mac n Gs]

hard to get info to confirm that. he was at the combine.


"Prospect Klim Kostin completed the fitness testing Saturday, but was not made available to the media afterwards. I was told he doesn’t speak English and that a translator was not available. There are teams that have him third behind Patrick and Hischier on their list. But questions remain. Other teams have him as a mid first rounder. Which team is willing to step up and take a chance on a dynamic player?"


http://thehockeywriters.com/emptying-the-2017-nhl-combine-notebook/


hes been the top rated euro skater on many boards. if he s there at 21, theres no question he's the best player available- assuming the shoulder is good to go.

if it is, and he checks out ok, he won't be there at 21 anyway

I mean if the shoulder checks out and he is medically cleared for the future, then I have no problem taking him. Talent is talent and we need it throughout the entire organization. I'd prefer a C or D, but talent like Kostin has is hard to say no to.

 

[offdacrossbar]

I mean if the shoulder checks out and he is medically cleared for the future, then I have no problem taking him. Talent is talent and we need it throughout the entire organization. I'd prefer a C or D, but talent like Kostin has is hard to say no to.

steves take is legit. i agree that kostin is an unusual blend of size, speed, snarl and talent. the boom potential here is off the charts.


http://www.thedraftanalyst.com/2017-nhl-draft-headquarters/2017-draft-profiles/rw-klim-kostin/

safe is death. assuming shoulder is good, how do you pass on this kid if he's there at 21 ?

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

steves take is legit. i agree that kostin is an unusual blend of size, speed, snarl and talent. the boom potential here is off the charts.


http://www.thedraftanalyst.com/2017-nhl-draft-headquarters/2017-draft-profiles/rw-klim-kostin/

safe is death. assuming shoulder is good, how do you pass on this kid if he's there at 21 ?

Because there might be even better players with even higher upside available? Or atleast about the same upside with less risk.

Haven't seen anyone argue against Kostin by saying he's too risky and we should go safer.

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

This draft is going to be very interesting.. theres a couple guys that could drop to us. but i hope we take a Dman, if theres a good one there. if not go BPA

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

This draft is going to be very interesting.. theres a couple guys that could drop to us. but i hope we take a Dman, if theres a good one there. if not go BPA

There will be, no way all of Liljegren, Välimäki, Vaakanainen, Hague, Brännström, Jokiharju, Foote or Timmins are gone. I probably forgot someone aswell.

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

There will be, no way all of Liljegren, Välimäki, Vaakanainen, Hague, Brännström, Jokiharju, Foote or Timmins are gone. I probably forgot someone aswell.

Im in on liljegren and Brannstrom.
Not crazy about Hague.
havent done much research on the others

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Hague looks good stat wise, much better then i expected when i started doing some research into him.

I forgot Salo too, he's very good.

Vaakanainen is very very good, drives play like a boss (I love Liiga for tracking shot attempts), Salo also drives play.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

There will be, no way all of Liljegren, Välimäki, Vaakanainen, Hague, Brännström, Jokiharju, Foote or Timmins are gone. I probably forgot someone aswell.

Out of those, my top-3 are definitely Liljegren, Brannstrom and Jokiharju.

Robin Salo might be a guy to pick if we somehow acquire a 2nd rounder. He is one of the "under-the-radar" D-men in this draft, in my opinion

 

[Bluenote13]

There will be, no way all of Liljegren, Välimäki, Vaakanainen, Hague, Brännström, Jokiharju, Foote or Timmins are gone. I probably forgot someone aswell.

I think its almost a given that we take a Dman, seems they are the best bets at #21. Kostin and Vesalainen could drop and make it interesting.

 

[CommaSynapse]

Im in on liljegren and Brannstrom.
Not crazy about Hague.
havent done much research on the others

This.

If KK is available, I consider it, but I don't think he'll still be there.

 

[Bluenote13]

Out of those, my top-3 are definitely Liljegren, Brannstrom and Jokiharju.

Robin Salo might be a guy to pick if we somehow acquire a 2nd rounder. He is one of the "under-the-radar" D-men in this draft, in my opinion

Lots of folks on the prospects boards have mentioned Salo as one of the underrated dmen in the whole draft, he's not so underrated, rising as the draft gets closer. My guess is he's a top or middle 2nd round pick.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Out of those, my top-3 are definitely Liljegren, Brannstrom and Jokiharju.

Robin Salo might be a guy to pick if we somehow acquire a 2nd rounder. He is one of the "under-the-radar" D-men in this draft, in my opinion

Välimäki is my #3 but honestly i don't really see him dropping, my #4 is Vaakanainen, i'm higher on him then most.

I love Salo, if we get a 2nd he's one of my targets instantly, especially if we didn't take a LHD with our 1st rounder.