LW Kyle Connor - Michigan, NCAA (2015, 17th, WPG)

[7even]

On the subject of Connor, what's the highest drafted player out of the USHL? I can see him inside the top 10 pretty easily.

 

[Mickey the mouse]

I think Okposo went #7 overall in 2006 to Islanders

 

[Shwaguy*]

I just see Conner as that player who, as soon as is Draft+1 year starts, his stock SKY ROCKETS (See: Dylan Larkin, Pastrnak from this past draft).

There will be teams from 10-15, maybe even 7 or 8 - 15 who will be kicking themselves.

 

[Juxtaposer]

By quoting his post and writing exactly what he wrote, you are picking on him.

By using him as an example of something that happens everywhere? Jeez.

Kinda funny to see Leafs fans getting all defensive over an observation.

 

[Shwaguy*]

By using him as an example of something that happens everywhere? Jeez.

Kinda funny to see Leafs fans getting all defensive over an observation.

IF you get offensive it only makes sense that others get defensive.

yaknow, cause and affect.

 

[AmericanDream]

lets get back on topic....

I will Say Kyle "the terminator" Connor goes 8th overall...not sure how it all plays out in draft order, but from what I have seen and who should be drafting in that area, I say Connor goes inside top 10.

agree/disagree?

 

[Wintersun]

lets get back on topic....

I will Say Kyle "the terminator" Connor goes 8th overall...not sure how it all plays out in draft order, but from what I have seen and who should be drafting in that area, I say Connor goes inside top 10.

agree/disagree?

Sure have him in my top 10 but There are a lot of guys that could be drafted in that range. Guys like zacha, rantanen, werenski, crouse, provorov, barzal and konecny are all interesting in their own rights. If he doesn't go top 13 though some teams will have made bad picks somewhere imo

 

[Juxtaposer]

lets get back on topic....

I will Say Kyle "the terminator" Connor goes 8th overall...not sure how it all plays out in draft order, but from what I have seen and who should be drafting in that area, I say Connor goes inside top 10.

agree/disagree?

I think he could go top-10 but I strongly think he'll be in the 11-15 range. I just don't see him cracking this top-10. I know we say this every year, but to me the top-10 is fairly set in stone, in terms of who will be taken in it. IMHO, McDavid, Eichel, Marner, Hanifin, Strome, Werenski, Provorov, Rantanen, Barzal, and Zacha are a pretty stationary top-10, not particularly in that order. Someone like Kylington, or Crouse, or Connor could break in, but I don't see it. After the top-10 it gets really unknown and anyone could go anywhere, but I strongly think that top-10 is penciled in.

 

[AmericanDream]

I think he could go top-10 but I strongly think he'll be in the 11-15 range. I just don't see him cracking this top-10. I know we say this every year, but to me the top-10 is fairly set in stone, in terms of who will be taken in it. IMHO, McDavid, Eichel, Marner, Hanifin, Strome, Werenski, Provorov, Rantanen, Barzal, and Zacha are a pretty stationary top-10, not particularly in that order. Someone like Kylington, or Crouse, or Connor could break in, but I don't see it. After the top-10 it gets really unknown and anyone could go anywhere, but I strongly think that top-10 is penciled in.

Zacha isn't going top 10. And for whatever reason I am not sure Barzal is as well...

the only top 10 locks I see are McDavid, Eichel, Hanifin, Marner, and Strome...that is all...anyone else can drop from 6th to 13th like you said as we have seen it before. I think Connor goes right inside the top 10 as he has been the most dynamic forward in the USHL for the past 2 plus seasons, and like Okposo in his draft never got the attention he deserved.

it will depend on what teams are drafting in that area of course, and yes he could not go top 10, but in terms of rising in scouts eyes and skill, this kid should go inside the top 10...

 

[Minty Cowboy]

I think he could go top-10 but I strongly think he'll be in the 11-15 range. I just don't see him cracking this top-10. I know we say this every year, but to me the top-10 is fairly set in stone, in terms of who will be taken in it. IMHO, McDavid, Eichel, Marner, Hanifin, Strome, Werenski, Provorov, Rantanen, Barzal, and Zacha are a pretty stationary top-10, not particularly in that order. Someone like Kylington, or Crouse, or Connor could break in, but I don't see it. After the top-10 it gets really unknown and anyone could go anywhere, but I strongly think that top-10 is penciled in.

I see him cracking top 12 personal but it could be anywhere within that range really, a lot of quality in this draft. I really like Connor.

 

[BomaLightDevils]

lets get back on topic....

I will Say Kyle "the terminator" Connor goes 8th overall...not sure how it all plays out in draft order, but from what I have seen and who should be drafting in that area, I say Connor goes inside top 10.

agree/disagree?

Agree 100% this Will be the guy David conte will announce for newjersey. Everything screams for the Devils to take him. American 2 way forward with potential to be very very good. No red flags what so ever with him, needs more size but has a decent frame to build upon. It's said that he has the same work ethic as A former number 9 for the Devils

 

[AmericanDream]

and I am a fan of Barza before anyone comes in making more to my post above...I think he has top 6-7 ability but I just doubt he goes top 10 as he seems to have more red flags or concerns than Connor does when listening to some scouts and services.

 

[Juxtaposer]

and I am a fan of Barza before anyone comes in making more to my post above...I think he has top 6-7 ability but I just doubt he goes top 10 as he seems to have more red flags or concerns than Connor does when listening to some scouts and services.

Barzal does have some red flags (size, injuries, goal-scoring), his upside is significantly higher than Connor. Connor, IMO, doesn't really have any outstanding weaknesses. But his upside is not as high as Barzal. Some team will take Barzal in the top-10 based on that alone.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

This isn't picking on you specifically, but I'm so sick of Leafs fans posting in every single prospect's thread saying "Man, I hope <insert prospect> falls to the Nashville pick. Walking out of the draft with Hanifin/Marner/Strome and <insert prospect> would be a great start to the rebuild."

Happens in literally every thread.

No, it literally doesn't happen in every thread. Maybe in several, maybe even in most but not "literally every thread". I read the threads around here to and have observed people from many fanbases saying these types of things, and I did not see Leaf fans saying those things in "literally every thread". You may see them do it a lot but A) it is not something only Leaf fans do and B) it's is not a "fact" that Leaf fans exclusively make these types of posts in literally every thread...because that is a claim that can easily be falsified the second you find one thread that doesn't include Leaf fans doing this.

 

[Dodospice]

Zacha isn't going top 10. And for whatever reason I am not sure Barzal is as well...

the only top 10 locks I see are McDavid, Eichel, Hanifin, Marner, and Strome...that is all...anyone else can drop from 6th to 13th like you said as we have seen it before. I think Connor goes right inside the top 10 as he has been the most dynamic forward in the USHL for the past 2 plus seasons, and like Okposo in his draft never got the attention he deserved.

it will depend on what teams are drafting in that area of course, and yes he could not go top 10, but in terms of rising in scouts eyes and skill, this kid should go inside the top 10...

I did my rankings and a mock draft the other day, my top 10 was:

1- McDavid
2- Eichel
3- Hanifin
4- Strome
5- Marner
6- Provorov
7- Crouse
8- Werenski
9- Barzal
10- Connor

My mock draft played out like this:

1- Buffalo- McDavid
2- Arizona- Eichel
3- Edmonton- Hanifin
4- Toronto- Marner
5- Carolina- Strome
6- Columbus- Provorov
7- New Jersey- Connor
8- Philadelphia- Crouse
9- Dallas- Rantanen
10- San Jose- Barzal

I would have no problem ranking Connor in the 6-8 range either, it's very possible that in my next rankings he jumps up. He started the year at 16 for me and I would have no issues with him being ranked just outside the top 5.

 

[Minty Cowboy]

How was it ignorant? It was literally stating a fact.



Barzal does have some red flags (size, injuries, goal-scoring), his upside is significantly higher than Connor. Connor, IMO, doesn't really have any outstanding weaknesses. But his upside is not as high as Barzal. Some team will take Barzal in the top-10 based on that alone.

It was ignorant because 1) He literally didn't do what you were calling him (and other Leafs fans) for. And 2) Because you act like the small percent of people being excited about prospects is a bad thing. Grow up. "People are excited about a prospect and would like to have him? No now I have to be a pessimist and take it out on every leafs fan " Honestly I'd be embarrassed to have a negative outlook on harmless things. Bigger problems in the world guy.

I agree with you on Barzal, I really like him as a prospect and think next year will be one where he will prove himself. This draft is the most exciting one since I've started getting really into them.

 

[arsmaster*]

Does Connor project as a C at the Pro level? Or will he slide over to the Wing?

 

[HeavyHitter99]

Who do you guys think he compares to?

 

[R S]

Who do you guys think he compares to?

Said it a few times in this thread but he reminds me of a better skating Ryan O'Reilly. A lot of similarities to their game including their hustle, smarts and ability to make great little defensive plays that sometimes go unnoticed.

 

[Roo Mad Bro]

If the Flyers picked at 7 and they took Connor, what would you think?

I really like his all around offensive package/skill set.

 

[Pi]

If the Flyers picked at 7 and they took Connor, what would you think?

I really like his all around offensive package/skill set.

I think Flyers should go for a D like Provorov. Looks NHL ready but should likely hold him back another year. Very dynamic player...could easily be better than Hanifin.

 

[Juxtaposer]

If the Flyers picked at 7 and they took Connor, what would you think?

I really like his all around offensive package/skill set.

It would be a slight reach but I wouldn't blink at it.

 

[Diatomic]

This isn't picking on you specifically, but I'm so sick of Leafs fans posting in every single prospect's thread saying "Man, I hope <insert prospect> falls to the Nashville pick. Walking out of the draft with Hanifin/Marner/Strome and <insert prospect> would be a great start to the rebuild."

Happens in literally every thread.

Put every leafs fan on ignore

Problem solved

 

[wishman]

I think this is someone Sharks would look at in the 11/12 range.

But is there any concern with his basically flat scoring totals compared to his '13-14 season?

 

[Tripod]

Zacha isn't going top 10. And for whatever reason I am not sure Barzal is as well...

the only top 10 locks I see are McDavid, Eichel, Hanifin, Marner, and Strome...that is all...anyone else can drop from 6th to 13th like you said as we have seen it before. I think Connor goes right inside the top 10 as he has been the most dynamic forward in the USHL for the past 2 plus seasons, and like Okposo in his draft never got the attention he deserved.

it will depend on what teams are drafting in that area of course, and yes he could not go top 10, but in terms of rising in scouts eyes and skill, this kid should go inside the top 10...

Here is the thing with the Okposo comparison....it took Okposo until age 25 to really break out. Before that, you could see the potential but he often disappointed. I think that there are other guys that are closer to NHL ready that GM's will jump on earlier instead. I think he goes outside the top 10.

There is just so much talent this year.