- Apr 27, 2005
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Yeah I am ultimately concerned about his ability to process the play fast enough to take full advantage of his incredible toolset. Similar to Lafreniere.
Post your 2023 Draft List
- Thread starter GermanSpitfire
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- Apr 27, 2005
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He's risen a lot for me since the trade - wouldn't be at all surprised if he ends up in my top 25. Really high upside guy, but sometimes overcomplicates things and is pretty weak on pucks. Reminds me a bit of Seth Jarvis, with a similarly strong finish in his draft year.
Unlike Laf( who i thought was going to be great), though, Fantilli can really skate. I do like the Taylor Hall comp, though.
95snipes
Registered User
- Dec 11, 2019
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I'm surprised, given what you tend to value in players, that you appear to be lukewarm on Will Smith. Care to explain your thought process? Or is just a case that you like others slightly more?
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
I respect your opinion and all but man this is some of the worst player comparisons Ive ever seen. Kucherov and Bedard? What the duck? Benson and Point? Reinbacher and Pesce? Zibanejad, one of the best goalscoring center in the league for a pass-heavy winger like Smith?
- Apr 27, 2005
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I think the Benson - Point comparison is pretty common, but to each their own.
I used Kucherov for Bedard because of the way they use their IQ / deception to create time and space for themselves/others. They both rely heavily on their ability to draw defenders in with the threat of a shot, and then make plays to open teammates from there. Neither guy is a burner, but they are both strong skaters with great hands/creativity and wicked wrist shots.
Smith gives me Zibanejad vibes. Zibanejad really isn't an elite ES goal scorer among centers, but he's a great PP trigger man. Smith similarly has a heavy shot (since 18-19, Z is 20th in ES goals among C's but 2nd in PP goals). But more than anything, they way they skate with the puck while they look to control the play is what is most similar. Neither guy is an elite skater, especially in the first few steps, but they've got powerful strides with a lot of control.
Reinbacher is a steady, puck moving RHS defenseman with above average offensive instincts, very similar the Pesce. Both guys have a similar build, and are good but not great skaters.
I just think the game he plays is very hard to replicate at the NHL level without elite skating. He's not going to be able to control the play at the next level like he does now, unless his skating improves significantly. I'm not saying he's a bad skater, but to dictate the play the way he likes to is very hard to do unless your Barzal / Hughes / McDavid / Mackinnon type of skater.
For the same reasons, I'm pretty low on Dragicevic. The way he plays the game is really hard to replicate at the NHL level without elite mobility.
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I don't mind these comparisons much, I use some of the same ones.
The Oliver Moore to Matt Duchene comparison is interesting. I think if you combined the skating of Duchene and the 200 ft focus and workrate of Moore then you've got a recipe for a great player. I've got Moore at least a few spots higher.
Musty I don't know who I'd compare to. I think he's an elite playmaker that has been miscast as a power forward. He doesn't currently play like Meier around the net and along the wall. Musty is terribly soft but I think has massive upside and I've got him top ten.
Will Smith to me is like Trevor Zegras but lazier and slower. I think he'll be a highlight reel but his coaches will have a problem with him.
- Apr 27, 2005
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I went back and forth on Musty, though the alternative comp I was considering was Corey Perry, who was much more of a playmaker in junior as well. He's got great vision when he decides to use it, but I've also seen him put the blinders on and start wripping wrist shots. Which works too, because its a weapon.
I think Moore has one of the highest floors in the draft. Like, worst case scenario you get a Dominic Moore type of speedy, skilled middle 6 player.
Doug Prishpreed
Registered User
Your Gulyayev ranking is far more bold than your Simashev one imo. I like it though.
Doug Prishpreed
Registered User
- Apr 27, 2005
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I have some concerns about his foot speed and ability to anticipate the play. But he's got a really nice skill set and obviously an excellent shot. Could be really good if everything comes together for him. I have Mantha as a comp but I don't love it.
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
I appreciate the answer but I really dont share your views.
Benson is a pass first player that has little power in his skating, Points two greatest strengths are his shot and skating. I understand both have great tenacity and are all-around well developed forwards but thats pretty broad. I would compare Cristall to Point a lot more than Benson, at least on the skillset side.
Bedard is the greatest goalscorer since Ovechkin, a player that loves to carry the puck and is absolutely electric. Kucherov is an assassin that loves to do one touches-sneak ins and fast paced puck movement. I really dont see it. I can agree that they exploit space in similar ways, but their approach is entirely different.
Pesce has never scored more than 30 points in the NHL. Reinbacher has actual insane offensive ability in the way he plays the offensive zone. His shot is a threat and his vision and open-ice manipulation is in another stratosphere when compared to Pesce. I also think he has a much better physical game than Pesce. Hopefully hes also able to play the powerplay.
I also suscribre to the Zegras comparison for Smith. Very similar players, iMO. Maybe a little less of a hot-dog than Vanilla Zeg but end-game similar skillset and approach.
Anyway, I appreciate answer regardless.
superdeluxe
NAFO
You are really bullish on Sawchyn. What are you seeing that perhaps others might be missing?
- Apr 27, 2005
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I really like his processing speed and ability to make plays in small ice situations. Quick hands, strong on pucks, and just an overall smart player. Extremely transferable game ala Dawson Mercer.
Doug Prishpreed
Registered User
Interesting, thanks. I don't hate that comp, though there's got to be a better one.
- Apr 27, 2005
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I honestly hate 1 to 1 comps. I prefer hybridized comps but those can be more complicated to explain.
In this case I see some Svechnikov in his game as too, especially with his motor and the way he uses his body. But he's not as talented and a much weaker skater. But I like his compete level for a guy his size.
Trying to think of a good example of a PWF with mediocre foot speed and IQ, but high compete and a heavy shot. Pavel Zacha was similar, but a better overall skater as well.
Bjornar Moxnes
Registered User
I really hope Flames can snatch Reinbacher. He's definitely first on my list out of reasonable players to pick. If not him, a good forward like Moore would be nice.
Doug Prishpreed
Registered User
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
- Apr 27, 2005
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All fair points. At the end of the day 1 to 1 comps always fall short. But just to add some more clarity:
Point wasn't really a great skater in junior, and I expect Benson to continue to develop there (he's already quite agile). I also don't see a ton of "power" in Point's skating today, just waterbug speed and quickness.
Bedard will be more of a playmaker in the NHL than he is in junior IMO. He'll obviously be a great goal scorer as well, but I don't think Bedard will be a better goal scorer than Matthews, as he doesn't get around the net enough. And it's not like Kucherov isn't an all world goal scorer, he was 5th in 5v5 goals/60 from 2017-2022. On a different team (one without an elite trigger like Stamkos), he'd very likely be used much more as a PP triggerman, and would be piling up the PP goals as a result.
Pesce has averaged 34p/82gp over the last 3 years with minimal PP time. His 65 ES points in that span put him 44th among dmen, despite playing primarily in a defensive role. He's a very capable offensive player. Reinbacher has more potential there but I anticipate him being used in much the same way Pesce is today.
I can see some Zegras in Smith, but I think Zegras had an elusiveness to his game which made his skillset projectable.
Good discussion though.
While I don’t necessarily agree with most of your comparisons, I think the bolded is very valid and accurate. I don’t have Smith in my top 10 currently and this is a part of it. I don’t think he needs to be a McDavid type skater, but he certainly needs a sizeable improvement.
MichaelFarrell
Registered User
I don’t think Smith’s skating is bad at all. He can get up to a good speed. The way he plays the game makes him seem slow. He plays with a lot of patience but he doesn’t play with much motor.
When he moves his feet, he can skate for sure.
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- Sep 27, 2017
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LeProspector
AINEC
- Feb 14, 2017
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Top:10
1: Bedard
2: Michkov
3: Fantilli
4: Carlsson
5: Wahlberg
6: Yager
7: Moore
8: Smith
9: Reinbacher
10: Nilsson
1: Bedard
2: Michkov
3: Fantilli
4: Carlsson
5: Wahlberg
6: Yager
7: Moore
8: Smith
9: Reinbacher
10: Nilsson
I think you misunderstood my comment. By no means was I calling Smith a poor skater. He will require an adjustment of his style to continue playing the way he does at the NHL level.
