Prospect Info: Official 2014 NHL Draft Discussion, Suck for Sam or Play Bad For Ekblad?

[HatTrick Swayze]

Jack Eichel had a damn impressive showing today. I don't have as much time to scout prospects as I used to so I can't say how I like him relative to other kids...but that was a really good showing.

 

[Joey Bones]

Jack Eichel was tremendous today for USA. Could really push McDavid for No. 1 in 2015.

 

[BB58]

There is gonna be some fishy tanking going on for Mcdavid. Expect it.

 

[Trxjw]

Something like that. The 2015 draft is supposed to have one or two potential once in a generation players and three or four others that look like potential franchise players. The 2014 draft does not have that. I think that it might make sense for the Rangers to just take a gamble by trading away the 2014 draft pick in hope that the team you trade with for their 2015 1st round pick just has a horrible year with injuries or for some reason horribly underachieves.

You can't assume that you're going to have a shot at those players in 2015 either. Do the best you can with what you have. Even "weak" drafts turn out very good players.

John Gibson is considered to be one of the best goalies in the world not playing in the NHL, and he was taken in 2011 which leading up to draft day was panned by most as one of the weakest crops of goalies in a long time.

 

[Joey Bones]

Two Words….





Julius Honka

 

[I Eat Crow]

Two Words….





Julius Honka

Been pimping him on here for quite a while. On the small side at 5'10" and 170 pounds, but ridiculous talent and motor. Reminds me a lot of Erik Karlsson his draft year. He'll go between 15-25 overall in June. You'll have 12-22 GM's kicking themselves 2-3 years from now because they passed up on him.

 

[Trxjw]

Honka was one of those guys you just knew was going to shoot up the rankings if he had a successful tournament. Didn't put much on the board, but you can just see the hockey IQ oozing from this kid. He's been having a stellar year in the dub on both sides of the puck. I wouldn't be shocked to see a team gamble on him in the early teens.

Was hopeful he might have a rough go of it in Malmo and he might be available if we had a second 1st round pick, but I think that ship might have sailed. His style of play reminds me a lot of another Finnish defender who has had a great career in Nashville and Philly.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Canada didn't look very good in that first period. Their goalie and defense look shaky against Germany, which isn't a good sign for when they play better teams.

McDavid is the real deal though.

A lot of people are down on McDavid due to the Crosby comparisons. He's not Crosby. But he's still a heck of a prospect.

 

[Bluenote13]

Been pimping him on here for quite a while. On the small side at 5'10" and 170 pounds, but ridiculous talent and motor. Reminds me a lot of Erik Karlsson his draft year. He'll go between 15-25 overall in June. You'll have 12-22 GM's kicking themselves 2-3 years from now because they passed up on him.

Yeah I see the Karlsson comparisons, especially the skating, size and maturity at that age. Honka made subtle moves that show his smarts to go with that skill. He should be able to get to 5'11 185 at the least and thats good enough to start his career.

Honka was one of those guys you just knew was going to shoot up the rankings if he had a successful tournament. Didn't put much on the board, but you can just see the hockey IQ oozing from this kid. He's been having a stellar year in the dub on both sides of the puck. I wouldn't be shocked to see a team gamble on him in the early teens.

Was hopeful he might have a rough go of it in Malmo and he might be available if we had a second 1st round pick, but I think that ship might have sailed. His style of play reminds me a lot of another Finnish defender who has had a great career in Nashville and Philly.

Honka always made good decsions and had many opportunities playing big minutes, once he matures physically he should be a very dangerous playmaker at the Pro level.

A lot of people are down on McDavid due to the Crosby comparisons. He's not Crosby. But he's still a heck of a prospect.

Agreed. I'm not 100% on him, too early to tell. He has the tools, lets see if he keeps it up.

 

[Jacques Strap]

Just speculating after listening to this interview a while back, but I really like this kid for our pick this coming June. This is a kid who I think the Rangers might be watching since Gordie Clark was out in Calgary and my early favorite for our pick if we finish in the 10-15 spot or lower.

Jake Virtanen. This kid is big, strong, very good skater, great hands, great shot, very good scorer, tough and he likes to drop the gloves. Plays LW with a right shot. He has everything that is lacking in our current prospect system and on the Rangers. He currently plays for the Calgary Hitmen, WHL. Same team that Adam Tambellini just transfered to.

Anyway, what are your thoughts and does anybody have any inside info on this kid?

http://www.hockeyprospect.com/sirius-nhl-radios-hockey-prospects-show-new-york-rangers/

http://www.whl.ca/roster/show/id/9453

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7X9SzEwYrM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApvyQeEI_Sc

 

[surlysailor]

Ho-Sang?

Just a quick question, if the NYR get another late 1st rounder/Early 2nd is Ho-Sang (if still on the board) someone you think NYR should grab? I remember lots of talk about him a few years ago but not much about him in his this year.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Virtanen is a guy who, although his tools are great, has been very inconsistent. I find his lack of stat progression very alarming. 26 points in 31 games really isn't that great for a supposed 1st round talent. There's a lot to like about him, but I want to take a riser as opposed to someone that dropped or stayed about the same in the rankings throughout the season. I'll be bold and say we can wait out and get him in the second round, he may drop out of the 1st completely.

Ho-Sang had a lot of hype from an early age, but he didn't develop at the rate some scouts thought he would. Still, his speed and skill is undeniable. Wouldn't mind rolling the dice on him in the 2nd round.

 

[Jacques Strap]

Virtanen is a guy who, although his tools are great, has been very inconsistent. I find his lack of stat progression very alarming. 26 points in 31 games really isn't that great for a supposed 1st round talent. There's a lot to like about him, but I want to take a riser as opposed to someone that dropped or stayed about the same in the rankings throughout the season. I'll be bold and say we can wait out and get him in the second round, he may drop out of the 1st completely.

Ho-Sang had a lot of hype from an early age, but he didn't develop at the rate some scouts thought he would. Still, his speed and skill is undeniable. Wouldn't mind rolling the dice on him in the 2nd round.

Jake Virtanen currently has 39 points in 40 games. Not too bad considering he had a slow start. Unless he totally craps out the rest of the season, I don't see him dropping to the second round. I guess we'll wait and see.

More info on him?

 

[I Eat Crow]

Jake Virtanen currently has 39 points in 40 games. Not too bad considering he had a slow start. Unless he totally craps out the rest of the season, I don't see him dropping to the second round. I guess we'll wait and see.

More info on him?

My info is outdated then, my apologies.

I've only seen a couple videos. Based on what I've seen, he's a very explosive skater with a heck of a wrist shot. My worry with him would be consistency. He has a hard shot, but it's not entirely accurate.

 

[Anthony Mauro]

Jake Virtanen currently has 39 points in 40 games. Not too bad considering he had a slow start. Unless he totally craps out the rest of the season, I don't see him dropping to the second round. I guess we'll wait and see.

More info on him?

I Eat Crow's concerns point to lack of hockey sense and ability to cash in on pure skill essentially. Virtanen wasn't able to do so in 2013. He's crushing it in 2014 with 8 points in 3 GP.

Right now, you are a seeing a kid whose production is erratic and on the low side because it's dependent on matchups vs. his tools.

He's a definite 20-30 pick right now.

 

[Anthony Mauro]

Ho-Sang had a lot of hype from an early age, but he didn't develop at the rate some scouts thought he would. Still, his speed and skill is undeniable. Wouldn't mind rolling the dice on him in the 2nd round.

I don't believe this. Ho-Sang has got to have deeper personality/attitude concerns because his skill puts him in the top ten.

When you look at players and their skillsets, Ho-Sang doesn't trail the top group by much. He is extremely confident quarterbacking play, which is something I regard highly in draft picks.

He has Crosby's physique and skating style IMO. His hands are very good.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

Getting Ho-Sang is the kind of moves the Rangers need to make.

Saad was down his draft year after being really hyped and look at what he's doing with Chicago.

I don't follow prospects nearly as much as you, but Ho-Sang has been a big name and clearly has a ton of skill.

 

[Joey Bones]

I did a draft a few months ago on the mock drafts page and I had the NYR taking Ho-Sang at No. 15. Now that I see other prospects increasing/decreasing productivity and we happen to snag a late 1st (say 25-30) and Ho-Sang is available, I still would be a little weary.

Right now the Rangers would most likely be picking at No. 15 again based on the current standings and IMO they should take someone with more promise. Players that I could foresee us taking at the spot are Nick Ritchie, Julius Honka, Nikolaj Ehlers, Nikita Scherbak, and Roland McKeown. I would say Jarred McCann too, but I believe he's a top 10 pick now. Out of those if they were available would have to come down to either Ritchie or Honka IMO with NYR probably coming out with Honka because of the desperate need a right handed offensive defender in our system. The only true one that we have is Calle Andersson, who we all aren't sure if he'll get a contract (he most likely will though).

But going back to the argument on Ho-Sang, I would pretty much like a different player in the 1st and maybe see how far he goes in the 2nd. Lets say we get Anaheim's late 1st rounder and they make a good cup run. Lets say they get eliminated in the conference finals and have No. 27. There I would most likely take a stab at Alex Tuch, Dylan Larkin, Jakub Vrana, Anthony DeAngelo, and Robby Fabbri (assuming all are available). I would IMO take Tuch, but if we don't take Honka before then I would take DeAngelo. Tuch is already 6'3"/213lbs. and commited to BC, according to elite prospects. The Rangers like those big guys that are college bound and I feel can be a better player for us than what Ho-Sang has to currently offer, but that's just my two cents. As a late 1st rounder I would mostly pick Tuch, but I wouldn't be upset to select Ho-Sang early in the 2nd.

 

[Joey Bones]

Does anyone think that with Tambellini going to the Hitmen, the Rangers are going to look more closely at Jake Virtanen?

 

[Jacques Strap]

Does anyone think that with Tambellini going to the Hitmen, the Rangers are going to look more closely at Jake Virtanen?

From my post above.

Jake Virtanen. This kid is big, strong, very good skater, great hands, great shot, very good scorer, tough and he likes to drop the gloves. Plays LW with a right shot. He has everything that is lacking in our current prospect system and on the Rangers. He currently plays for the Calgary Hitmen, WHL. Same team that Adam Tambellini just transfered to.

Yes I do think that the Rangers will watch Jake Virtanen more closely. This is what I was insinuating. Maybe they recommended Calgary to him, since Kelly Kisio is President of Hockey Operations there.

 

[Jacques Strap]

I did a draft a few months ago on the mock drafts page and I had the NYR taking Ho-Sang at No. 15. Now that I see other prospects increasing/decreasing productivity and we happen to snag a late 1st (say 25-30) and Ho-Sang is available, I still would be a little weary.

Right now the Rangers would most likely be picking at No. 15 again based on the current standings and IMO they should take someone with more promise. Players that I could foresee us taking at the spot are Nick Ritchie, Julius Honka, Nikolaj Ehlers, Nikita Scherbak, and Roland McKeown. I would say Jarred McCann too, but I believe he's a top 10 pick now. Out of those if they were available would have to come down to either Ritchie or Honka IMO with NYR probably coming out with Honka because of the desperate need a right handed offensive defender in our system. The only true one that we have is Calle Andersson, who we all aren't sure if he'll get a contract (he most likely will though).

But going back to the argument on Ho-Sang, I would pretty much like a different player in the 1st and maybe see how far he goes in the 2nd. Lets say we get Anaheim's late 1st rounder and they make a good cup run. Lets say they get eliminated in the conference finals and have No. 27. There I would most likely take a stab at Alex Tuch, Dylan Larkin, Jakub Vrana, Anthony DeAngelo, and Robby Fabbri (assuming all are available). I would IMO take Tuch, but if we don't take Honka before then I would take DeAngelo. Tuch is already 6'3"/213lbs. and commited to BC, according to elite prospects. The Rangers like those big guys that are college bound and I feel can be a better player for us than what Ho-Sang has to currently offer, but that's just my two cents. As a late 1st rounder I would mostly pick Tuch, but I wouldn't be upset to select Ho-Sang early in the 2nd.

Nick Ritchie is definitely on my radar. I could see him being our pick this coming June. Big, tough power forward with skill. We definitely have to draft this type of player because they are hard to trade for. Alex Tuch also. Good eye Joey Bones !

Julius Honka is something that we need also. A right shooting, puck moving defenseman. Great skater, very skilled, PP quarterback. Just a bit concerned about his size. 5'11/178.

 

[Savant]

Nick Ritchie is definitely on my radar. I could see him being our pick this coming June. Big, tough power forward with skill. We definitely have to draft this type of player because they are hard to trade for. Alex Tuch also. Good eye Joey Bones !

Julius Honka is something that we need also. A right shooting, puck moving defenseman. Great skater, very skilled, PP quarterback. Just a bit concerned about his size. 5'11/178.

Definitely worried about Honka's size. Reminds me a bit of Ryan Ellis coming out. Not sure I take him unless they can find another first.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Ho-Sang is part of a hype machine. He's very skilled, but Rychel made the ridiculous comment that he's a better goal scorer than both Taylor Hall and Stamkos were when they played in the CHL.

What a joke. Hall scored 45 goals in 63 games as a 16-17. Ho-sang scored 18 in 43 as a 17-18.

He reminds me of Cliff Ronning -- a poor man's Kane. He's got ridiculous skill but I just dont see him becoming an explosive player like a Hall or Stamkos.

I really have no idea why Rychel would do that to the kid. He's his GM but there has to be a limit.

Ho-Sang is friggin tiny. The Rangers need a big center. A big, strong center with an attitude. Maybe Miller. Maybe Nieves. I think this draft, the focus should be center ice.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Adrian Kempe or Alex Tuch.

Tuch is a beast. Kempe is a little like Landeskog.

 

[I Eat Crow]

I know very little about Alex Tuch other than that he's in the USNTP and that he's huge. What's his game like? Goalscorer? Future 4th line plug?