Prospect Info: San Jose Sharks #9 Prospect

[Lebanezer]

1. William Eklund 98%
2. Thomas Bordeleau 90.5%
3. Ozzy Wiesblatt 46.5%
4. Ryan Merkley 66.7%
5. Jonathan Dahlen 44%
6. Artemi Kniazev 34.2%
7. Daniil Gushchin 69.1%
8. Tristen Robins 41%

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[DG93]

Blichfeld

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

Gotta go with Jasper "The Body" Weatherbody because you can't teach the tantilizing mix that he posseses: you know, NHL-ready size and a great name.

 

[TheBeard]

Hatakka

 

[themelkman]

Im going Coe

 

[PacificOceanPotion]

Coe

 

[BaileyMacTavish]

Blichfeld

 

[Sharksrule04]

Went Raska, I think he's going to develop into a really good grinding forward who contributes offensively. Good 3rd liner maybe.

 

[PacificOceanPotion]

Went Raska, I think he's going to develop into a really good grinding forward who contributes offensively. Good 3rd liner maybe.

Yeup. Raskas got pesky, 3 line winger who scores the timely goal written all over him.

 

[PacificOceanPotion]

Honestly, this is just my opinion, but I feel like if we all feel as high on Hatakka as we do collectively, I think he's a better d prospect than Merkley at this point. I think Merks gets the benefit because of his draft position and skill which makes sense. Hatakka is probably the better bet to tangibly help the Sharks.

 

[Lebanezer]

Honestly, this is just my opinion, but I feel like if we all feel as high on Hatakka as we do collectively, I think he's a better d prospect than Merkley at this point. I think Merks gets the benefit because of his draft position and skill which makes sense. Hatakka is probably the better bet to tangibly help the Sharks.

This gave me pause on Hatakka. From this article https://thehockeywriters.com/sharks-prospect-pyramid-2021-22/

 

[Sharksrule04]

Honestly, this is just my opinion, but I feel like if we all feel as high on Hatakka as we do collectively, I think he's a better d prospect than Merkley at this point. I think Merks gets the benefit because of his draft position and skill which makes sense. Hatakka is probably the better bet to tangibly help the Sharks.

You still have to weigh upside at some point. If Merkley makes the NHL its likely as an offensive specialist and getting PP minutes. Hatakka is promising but he doesn't have that upside. I think his upside is that of a 2nd pairing reliable d-man. I typically weigh the upside and the probability of them achieving that upside. In the old HF ranking system I'd say Merkley is probably an 8C or D and Hatakka is a 6.5B or 7C.

 

[Hodge]

This gave me pause on Hatakka. From this article https://thehockeywriters.com/sharks-prospect-pyramid-2021-22/

View attachment 462583

Is "NxG" net expected goals? If so he was break even as a teenager playing in one of the top professional leagues in the world. That seems pretty good to me for a 6th round pick. He's probably not gonna be more than a bottom pair dman if he makes it but it's not like the other names left inspire much more confidence.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

Honestly, this is just my opinion, but I feel like if we all feel as high on Hatakka as we do collectively, I think he's a better d prospect than Merkley at this point. I think Merks gets the benefit because of his draft position and skill which makes sense. Hatakka is probably the better bet to tangibly help the Sharks.

Hatakka is pretty close to a lock of becoming a bottom pair/7th dman at some point. The knock on him is that's almost guarenteed to be it for upside as well. Merkley on the other hand is the complete opposite. The way he plays he's either top-4 or a cruddy powerplay-qb for a year or two and then they give up on him.

 

[tealzamboni]

Hatakka is pretty close to a lock of becoming a bottom pair/7th dman at some point. The knock on him is that's almost guarenteed to be it for upside as well. Merkley on the other hand is the complete opposite. The way he plays he's either top-4 or a cruddy powerplay-qb for a year or two and then they give up on him.

I think what you mean is Middleton vs. Heed?

 

[Stewie Griffin]

I think what you mean is Middleton vs. Heed?

You just ruined my entire perspective on our prospects.

 

[one2gamble]

I think this is to high for Hataaka still but we are in the any of them or none of them can become an NHL regular.

 

[OrrNumber4]

How is Hataaka different from a Doherty or Abeltshauser? I'm not saying he doesn't have a shot, but calling him a lock or anything seems really premature.

It seems to me that the only time you can start using such language is when a prospect puts up solid numbers in a top mens league (AHL, KHL, etc.) and even then there's no guarantee (like Chekhovich).

 

[sharks_dynasty]

Hataaka reminds me of Jeff Norton.

 

[Kcoyote3]

I think what you mean is Middleton vs. Heed?

Dammit.

 

[JumboJoe23]

Hatakka

 

[Gecklund]

It’s kind of wild that Melnichuk hasn’t gone yet. He was voted like number 4 last year.

 

[Kcoyote3]

It’s kind of wild that Melnichuk hasn’t gone yet. He was voted like number 4 last year.

It’s cause he blew Melnichunks this year

 

[PacificOceanPotion]

Yeah Melnichuk was not impressive at all.

 

[OrrNumber4]

It’s kind of wild that Melnichuk hasn’t gone yet. He was voted like number 4 last year.

1) Melnichuk didn't really improve his stock this season
2) Pool has gotten bigger and objectively better
3) Recency bias