Prospect Info: NHL Entry Draft Discussion Thread - First Round Tuesday October 6th

[KMNRB]

Lapierre scored again today. Mercer with an assist on it.

A nice give and go with Mercer:

 

[Morgs]

I'm starting to wonder whether Zary might be their guy. In the past couple of years, the Leafs seem to see values in 6 feet or under players with high skill sets / hockey IQ with suspect skating. They can discern whether the skating is good enough for improvement under their development system. Both Sandin and Robertson fall into this category. Zary has been compared to Horvat in his complete game and leadership demeanor. Horvat also had skating issue when he first came into the league. Maybe the Leafs will try to trade down to draft Zary.

I wouldn't be shocked, I'm a big fan of Zary even though I know some of the guys on this website don't like him. He's a good player, skating is just average/below average.

Personally I prefer Bourque if we're grabbing a C, but that's just me.

 

[stickty111]

I'm torn between Amirov and Lapierre now.

 

[Maplebeasts]

I'm starting to wonder whether Zary might be their guy. In the past couple of years, the Leafs seem to see values in 6 feet or under players with high skill sets / hockey IQ with suspect skating. They can discern whether the skating is good enough for improvement under their development system. Both Sandin and Robertson fall into this category. Zary has been compared to Horvat in his complete game and leadership demeanor. Horvat also had skating issue when he first came into the league. Maybe the Leafs will try to trade down to draft Zary.

I doubt it. They value upside a lot and Zary is not it at 15. They'd probably draft Amirov, Lapierre, Mercer, or even trade back for Wallinder first.

 

[Minty Cowboy]

I'd probably tier my groups like:

Lafreniere
-------
Byfield
-------
Raymond
Stutzle
Askarov
Lundell
-------
Drysdale
Holtz
Perfetti
Rossi
Sanderson
-------
Gunler
Jarvis
Lapierre
Amirov
Zary
Holloway
-------
Mysak
Quinn
Guhle
Khusnutdinov
O'Rourke
Schneider
Reichel
Barron
Perreault
Walliner
Bourque
-------
Simontaival
Foerster
Peterka
Nybeck
Chromiak
Grans
and a bunch of others

for top 35

Where’s mercer

 

[Maplebeasts]

If we stay at 15 give me:

1. Jarvis
2. Amirov
3. Lapierre
4. Mercer

in that order. If we trade back to around 20 gimme Wallinder or Khusnutdinov if all of these guys are gone.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Lapierre seems like a more raw Drouin right? He's definitely piquing my interest.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Lapierre seems like a more raw Drouin right? He's definitely piquing my interest.

His offensive tools are worse but he is miles better of a two way player than Drouin was and maybe faster north south without being as shifty. If he reaches his ceiling you're probably looking at a 20 goal 60 assist 1c.

 

[RomanianLeafs]

1 Amirov 2 Lapierre 3 Mercer for me..if trade down go for Foerster or that russian defender i forgot he's name..

 

[HC7]

My only issue with Lapierre is that at some point we're going to need some guys that can battle. I don't mean draft a bunch of goons because that's idiotic. Maybe it's a development thing but Tampas guys like Point, Kuch, and Cierelli all play like grinders when they need to. Similar to Crosby who is the most skilled grinder in the game. As opposed to some guys on the Leafs that think they're the globetrotters.

Give me some players with a Jimmy Butler/Kyle Lowry mentality. Give me some f***ing dogs that will go to battle. Start looking at players like Guhle, Zary, Reichel who are all core players when it comes to international tournaments. Change the mentality from undersized wingers that can only play with the puck. Get some skilled players that can grind. Get some gym rats that aren't 160 lbs at the draft. Get some competitive guys that are already putting in the hours at the gym and showed up to the draft ready to go. Hard work beats skill when skill doesn't work hard. We need to get some skill that works hard in the 1st 2/3 rounds and then try to get skill later on when both skill and hard work isn't on the board anymore.

 

[Amadeus]

Lapierre seems like a more raw Drouin right? He's definitely piquing my interest.

He's very pass happy and hope he's changed that, really good playmaker though!

 

[LeafChief]

My only issue with Lapierre is that at some point we're going to need some guys that can battle. I don't mean draft a bunch of goons because that's idiotic. Maybe it's a development thing but Tampas guys like Point, Kuch, and Cierelli all play like grinders when they need to. Similar to Crosby who is the most skilled grinder in the game. As opposed to some guys on the Leafs that think they're the globetrotters.

Give me some players with a Jimmy Butler/Kyle Lowry mentality. Give me some f***ing dogs that will go to battle. Start looking at players like Guhle, Zary, Reichel who are all core players when it comes to international tournaments. Change the mentality from undersized wingers that can only play with the puck. Get some skilled players that can grind. Get some gym rats that aren't 160 lbs at the draft. Get some competitive guys that are already putting in the hours at the gym and showed up to the draft ready to go. Hard work beats skill when skill doesn't work hard. We need to get some skill that works hard in the 1st 2/3 rounds and then try to get skill later on when both skill and hard work isn't on the board anymore.

I agree with you. We do need that - badly. What we shouldn't do is try to shoehorn that into our first round selection. If it all aligns, perfect. If not, choose BPA regardless if they are simply a skill guy.

 

[hockeynorth]

Where’s mercer

Forgot him

 

[Minty Cowboy]

Forgot him

Figured where would you rank him tier wise

 

[hockeynorth]

Figured where would you rank him tier wise

With Holloway

 

[Maplebeasts]

He's very pass happy and hope he's changed that, really good playmaker though!

He's been shooting more pucks so far this season and his shot looks quite a bit improved. It was a complete muffin last season but looks closer to average now

 

[HC7]

I agree with you. We do need that - badly. What we shouldn't do is try to shoehorn that into our first round selection. If it all aligns, perfect. If not, choose BPA regardless if they are simply a skill guy.

If you can't find a guy that works hard and has skill in the 1st round then you need a new scouting staff.

Guhle, Zary, Reichel, Foerster are all guys that fit the bill.

 

[LeafChief]

If you can't find a guy that works hard and has skill in the 1st round then you need a new scouting staff.

Guhle, Zary, Reichel, Foerster are all guys that fit the bill.

And they're all rated in the later half of the first round. You'd be pretty bad at your job if you used the 15th overal pick on those players other than maybe Guhle but even still it's a reach.

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

Am I the only one not super high on Lapierre? Granted I haven't seen him this year, but I have others above him. The concussions alone have to worry you.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Am I the only one not super high on Lapierre? Granted I haven't seen him this year, but I have others above him. The concussions alone have to worry you.

Teams just have to do their homework and investigate. His agent has said that it was a neck related injury he was dealing with last year and not concussion related symptoms. If that's the case his health becomes, much much less of a concern. Though I am not in the loop I would be inclined to believe him because Lapierre looks night and day better than last year. He's been Chicoutimi's best skater by a lot (even better than Mercer) and looks good to go. The shot has been improved a great deal and he's been playing like a top 5 talent in preseason and into today's game

 

[Nineteen67]

At the prospect level Center is our biggest positional weakness.

That’s another area they need to work on. Goaltending, hopefully, is the least concerning level.

 

[Northernguy10]

The beauty about the Q starting up early is that could possibly create fallers based on small sample sized hot streaks to start the season. If Lapierre goes before the Leafs pick, that will push someone down.

This is true. It's almost unfair that some leagues have started while others haven't but as the kids say "It is what it is" and this is an unusual year in life never mind sports. I always find the draft interesting and this year maybe even more so.

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

Teams just have to do their homework and investigate. His agent has said that it was a neck related injury he was dealing with last year and not concussion related symptoms. If that's the case his health becomes, much much less of a concern. Though I am not in the loop I would be inclined to believe him because Lapierre looks night and day better than last year. He's been Chicoutimi's best skater by a lot (even better than Mercer) and looks good to go. The shot has been improved a great deal and he's been playing like a top 5 talent in preseason and into today's game

It's tough without running him through medicals or the combine.

Good to hear his shot is improved. That and his willingness to use it were also issues I had.

 

[TheFloater]

I don't think I've seen him mentioned too often, but would Noel Gunler be a realistic option for us at 15?

 

[TimeZone]

Zary doesn't seem to have the kind of upside Amirov, Mercer and Lapierre have.

If he's the target, trade back.

Would much, much rather walk out with the three I mentioned though.