Prospect Info: The 2015 NHL Draft Thread VII

[Marshal Rochambeau]

Draftsite's reviews of Barzal, Zacha, Crouse and Rantanen
W/O looking it up, guess who they are talking about.

1. A big man with an excellent size/skating package. Gets in quickly and handles the forecheck and control the play along the boards. Can control things in the crease area, and has a big time heavy shot and release. Is strong on the puck, and gets through contact, and can drive the net. Very high hockey IQ, and anticipates the play well.

2. Creative player with excellent vision who skates well with a wide base and strong stride. Responsible 200 foot player whose seeps with offensive upside. He plays with speed and has a good understanding of utilizing all his resources in the attack zone.

3. Big man who has a strong physical game, excellent hands and really good shot. Not the fastest guy at this point but very strong on his pins and well balanced, and uses his size and reach to wear down the opponents. Good in the battle areas and goes hard to the front. At this juncture prefers to hold the puck, try and deke out defenders and shoot than to look for linemates.
Plays major minutes, and despite not being a dazzling stickhandler, still manages to dominate and take opponents off the puck, with strong wall work. He plays strong on the puck and never stops working. Displays a quick release and hard heavy shot. He sees the ice, gets open and has at times, high end touch with his passes along with that vision.

4. Displays a strong game on the wall and dominance below the circles. Has excellent vision, playmaking skills, and above average feet an effort in all three zones. He is very strong on the puck and uses his size to control play, bring havoc in the front and when he gets the puck it’s tough to get it from him, whether it is in the cycle or when he moves out off the wall. Seems very in control in his carries. He has solid jump and speed and the vision to find openings. If there was a knock it would be his low scoring totals so far. One could argue he wasn’t playing with pivot able to get him the biscuit. Others might say he lacks the high end soft and quick hands, foot speed and agility when passes are sent his way. He has spent time on IR, but is a very intriguing prospect

1. Who is Zacha?
2. Barzal
3. Rantanen
4. Crouse

 

[SeidoN]

1. Who is Zacha?
2. Barzal
3. Rantanen
4. Crouse

this

 

[Devil X]

Draftsite's reviews of Barzal, Zacha, Crouse and Rantanen
W/O looking it up, guess who they are talking about.

1. A big man with an excellent size/skating package. Gets in quickly and handles the forecheck and control the play along the boards. Can control things in the crease area, and has a big time heavy shot and release. Is strong on the puck, and gets through contact, and can drive the net. Very high hockey IQ, and anticipates the play well.

2. Creative player with excellent vision who skates well with a wide base and strong stride. Responsible 200 foot player whose seeps with offensive upside. He plays with speed and has a good understanding of utilizing all his resources in the attack zone.

3. Big man who has a strong physical game, excellent hands and really good shot. Not the fastest guy at this point but very strong on his pins and well balanced, and uses his size and reach to wear down the opponents. Good in the battle areas and goes hard to the front. At this juncture prefers to hold the puck, try and deke out defenders and shoot than to look for linemates.
Plays major minutes, and despite not being a dazzling stickhandler, still manages to dominate and take opponents off the puck, with strong wall work. He plays strong on the puck and never stops working. Displays a quick release and hard heavy shot. He sees the ice, gets open and has at times, high end touch with his passes along with that vision.

4. Displays a strong game on the wall and dominance below the circles. Has excellent vision, playmaking skills, and above average feet an effort in all three zones. He is very strong on the puck and uses his size to control play, bring havoc in the front and when he gets the puck it’s tough to get it from him, whether it is in the cycle or when he moves out off the wall. Seems very in control in his carries. He has solid jump and speed and the vision to find openings. If there was a knock it would be his low scoring totals so far. One could argue he wasn’t playing with pivot able to get him the biscuit. Others might say he lacks the high end soft and quick hands, foot speed and agility when passes are sent his way. He has spent time on IR, but is a very intriguing prospect

1. Zacha - I have read in a few places his hockey IQ isnt that high. That threw me off slightly with this. I orgnially thought Rantanen was 1 and Zacha was 3.
2. Barzal
3. Rantanen
4. Crouse

Edit changed it after reading it again.

 

[nugg]

Draftsite's reviews of Barzal, Zacha, Crouse and Rantanen
W/O looking it up, guess who they are talking about.

1. A big man with an excellent size/skating package. Gets in quickly and handles the forecheck and control the play along the boards. Can control things in the crease area, and has a big time heavy shot and release. Is strong on the puck, and gets through contact, and can drive the net. Very high hockey IQ, and anticipates the play well.

2. Creative player with excellent vision who skates well with a wide base and strong stride. Responsible 200 foot player whose seeps with offensive upside. He plays with speed and has a good understanding of utilizing all his resources in the attack zone.

3. Big man who has a strong physical game, excellent hands and really good shot. Not the fastest guy at this point but very strong on his pins and well balanced, and uses his size and reach to wear down the opponents. Good in the battle areas and goes hard to the front. At this juncture prefers to hold the puck, try and deke out defenders and shoot than to look for linemates.
Plays major minutes, and despite not being a dazzling stickhandler, still manages to dominate and take opponents off the puck, with strong wall work. He plays strong on the puck and never stops working. Displays a quick release and hard heavy shot. He sees the ice, gets open and has at times, high end touch with his passes along with that vision.

4. Displays a strong game on the wall and dominance below the circles. Has excellent vision, playmaking skills, and above average feet an effort in all three zones. He is very strong on the puck and uses his size to control play, bring havoc in the front and when he gets the puck it’s tough to get it from him, whether it is in the cycle or when he moves out off the wall. Seems very in control in his carries. He has solid jump and speed and the vision to find openings. If there was a knock it would be his low scoring totals so far. One could argue he wasn’t playing with pivot able to get him the biscuit. Others might say he lacks the high end soft and quick hands, foot speed and agility when passes are sent his way. He has spent time on IR, but is a very intriguing prospect

1. Crouse
2. Barzal
3. Rantanen
4. Zacha

 

[Zelmo]

The more I read about Barzal, the more I want him. There's a really good write up on him here (sorry if it's a repost):

http://pucksandpitchforks.com/2015/05/07/mathew-barzal-2015-draft-profile/

 

[Brodeur]

Is Nieto and their 9th for our 6th good for both teams?

Or would you rather see us get their 2nd rounder?

Typically teams prefer to move picks before players. San Jose doesn't have a 3rd round pick this year, so they might hesitate on moving their 2nd. But Doug Wilson is typically very aggressive at the Draft. Under his watch, they've traded up in the first round in 2003-07 and 2013 (they didn't have firsts in 2008/09/11 and they moved up for Nieto to snipe him from the Kings).

Three 2nds would be fun ammunition. As a previous poster mentioned, you could try to use a pair of them to move back into the first. Or you could use it towards a trade to bring in an established forward.

1-5: [McDavid/Eichel/Hanifin/Strome/Marner]
6. San Jose - Provorov
7. Philadelphia - Crouse
8. Columbus - Werenski (or possibly Rantanen since they were so hurting at RW they brought in Clarkson)
9. New Jersey - choice of Barzal/Zacha?

 

[LetsGoDevils30]

Typically teams prefer to move picks before players. San Jose doesn't have a 3rd round pick this year, so they might hesitate on moving their 2nd. But Doug Wilson is typically very aggressive at the Draft. Under his watch, they've traded up in the first round in 2003-07 and 2013 (they didn't have firsts in 2008/09/11 and they moved up for Nieto to snipe him from the Kings).

Three 2nds would be fun ammunition. As a previous poster mentioned, you could try to use a pair of them to move back into the first. Or you could use it towards a trade to bring in an established forward.

1-5: [McDavid/Eichel/Hanifin/Strome/Marner]
6. San Jose - Provorov
7. Philadelphia - Crouse
8. Columbus - Werenski (or possibly Rantanen since they were so hurting at RW they brought in Clarkson)
9. New Jersey - choice of Barzal/Zacha?

Take Barzal and I'd be happy

 

[MichaelJ]

Typically teams prefer to move picks before players. San Jose doesn't have a 3rd round pick this year, so they might hesitate on moving their 2nd. But Doug Wilson is typically very aggressive at the Draft. Under his watch, they've traded up in the first round in 2003-07 and 2013 (they didn't have firsts in 2008/09/11 and they moved up for Nieto to snipe him from the Kings).

Three 2nds would be fun ammunition. As a previous poster mentioned, you could try to use a pair of them to move back into the first. Or you could use it towards a trade to bring in an established forward.

1-5: [McDavid/Eichel/Hanifin/Strome/Marner]
6. San Jose - Provorov
7. Philadelphia - Crouse
8. Columbus - Werenski (or possibly Rantanen since they were so hurting at RW they brought in Clarkson)
9. New Jersey - choice of Barzal/Zacha?

If we had 3 2nds, I wonder if Gelinas + 2 2nds gets us into the teens.

 

[Devil X]

The one huge thing i like about Barzal is the effect i believe he would have on someone like Boucher.

Im still torn between the 3 (Barzal, Zacha, and Rantanen) i wish we could some how land 2 of them hahahaha.

 

[Devils1029]

Draftsite's reviews of Barzal, Zacha, Crouse and Rantanen
W/O looking it up, guess who they are talking about.

1. A big man with an excellent size/skating package. Gets in quickly and handles the forecheck and control the play along the boards. Can control things in the crease area, and has a big time heavy shot and release. Is strong on the puck, and gets through contact, and can drive the net. Very high hockey IQ, and anticipates the play well.

2. Creative player with excellent vision who skates well with a wide base and strong stride. Responsible 200 foot player whose seeps with offensive upside. He plays with speed and has a good understanding of utilizing all his resources in the attack zone.

3. Big man who has a strong physical game, excellent hands and really good shot. Not the fastest guy at this point but very strong on his pins and well balanced, and uses his size and reach to wear down the opponents. Good in the battle areas and goes hard to the front. At this juncture prefers to hold the puck, try and deke out defenders and shoot than to look for linemates.
Plays major minutes, and despite not being a dazzling stickhandler, still manages to dominate and take opponents off the puck, with strong wall work. He plays strong on the puck and never stops working. Displays a quick release and hard heavy shot. He sees the ice, gets open and has at times, high end touch with his passes along with that vision.

4. Displays a strong game on the wall and dominance below the circles. Has excellent vision, playmaking skills, and above average feet an effort in all three zones. He is very strong on the puck and uses his size to control play, bring havoc in the front and when he gets the puck it’s tough to get it from him, whether it is in the cycle or when he moves out off the wall. Seems very in control in his carries. He has solid jump and speed and the vision to find openings. If there was a knock it would be his low scoring totals so far. One could argue he wasn’t playing with pivot able to get him the biscuit. Others might say he lacks the high end soft and quick hands, foot speed and agility when passes are sent his way. He has spent time on IR, but is a very intriguing prospect

Crouse
Barzal
Zacha
Rantannen

...but the fact they have Columbus passing on both Werenski and Provorov and Philly passing on Crouse - and goaliesgoing at picks 31 and 32 - I have to discount the judgement of this mock! Hate it actually....

 

[Cheddabombs]

Crouse
Barzal
Zacha
Rantannen

...but the fact they have Columbus passing on both Werenski and Provorov and Philly passing on Crouse - and goaliesgoing at picks 31 and 32 - I have to discount the judgement of this mock! Hate it actually....

Pretty sure Rantanen is 3 and Zacha is 4. They're somewhat similar descriptions but Rantanen hasn't spent time on the IR as far as I know.

The waiting is going to kill me up until the draft. If we don't walk away with one of the 3 in Rantanen, Barzal, or Zacha (assuming Marner doesn't fall) it'll be disappointing. Luckily we're in prime position to land one of them, it's just a matter of who.

 

[Alex NJD]

How NHL ready is Barzal? Could he be playing next year or does he need another year before he can come up?

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Option 1 - Marner
Opition 2 - Barzal
Opition 3 - Trade down

 

[Devil X]

How NHL ready is Barzal? Could he be playing next year or does he need another year before he can come up?

Lots of people believe he will need to be sent back to Jrs.

I do too but hey you never know.

I think Zacha and Rantanen have the better shots at making the club right away.

 

[Devil X]

Option 1 - Marner
Opition 2 - Barzal
Opition 3 - Trade down

One of those 2 will be there at 6 without question.

 

[Tretyak 20]

Draftsite's reviews of Barzal, Zacha, Crouse and Rantanen
W/O looking it up, guess who they are talking about.

1. A big man with an excellent size/skating package. Gets in quickly and handles the forecheck and control the play along the boards. Can control things in the crease area, and has a big time heavy shot and release. Is strong on the puck, and gets through contact, and can drive the net. Very high hockey IQ, and anticipates the play well.

2. Creative player with excellent vision who skates well with a wide base and strong stride. Responsible 200 foot player whose seeps with offensive upside. He plays with speed and has a good understanding of utilizing all his resources in the attack zone.

3. Big man who has a strong physical game, excellent hands and really good shot. Not the fastest guy at this point but very strong on his pins and well balanced, and uses his size and reach to wear down the opponents. Good in the battle areas and goes hard to the front. At this juncture prefers to hold the puck, try and deke out defenders and shoot than to look for linemates.
Plays major minutes, and despite not being a dazzling stickhandler, still manages to dominate and take opponents off the puck, with strong wall work. He plays strong on the puck and never stops working. Displays a quick release and hard heavy shot. He sees the ice, gets open and has at times, high end touch with his passes along with that vision.

4. Displays a strong game on the wall and dominance below the circles. Has excellent vision, playmaking skills, and above average feet an effort in all three zones. He is very strong on the puck and uses his size to control play, bring havoc in the front and when he gets the puck it’s tough to get it from him, whether it is in the cycle or when he moves out off the wall. Seems very in control in his carries. He has solid jump and speed and the vision to find openings. If there was a knock it would be his low scoring totals so far. One could argue he wasn’t playing with pivot able to get him the biscuit. Others might say he lacks the high end soft and quick hands, foot speed and agility when passes are sent his way. He has spent time on IR, but is a very intriguing prospect

1- Rantanen
2 - Barzal
3 - Crouse
4 - Zacha

 

[ghoti]

Crouse
Barzal
Rantanen
Zacha

 

[Tretyak 20]

The more I read about Barzal, the more I want him. There's a really good write up on him here (sorry if it's a repost):

http://pucksandpitchforks.com/2015/05/07/mathew-barzal-2015-draft-profile/

That's just some kid's write up made from watching highlight reels. There are much better write ups elsewhere.

 

[SeidoN]

it would be awesome if we could get a Sean Monahan this year

 

[Devils Trap]

it would be awesome if we could get a Sean Monahan this year

Sorry to tell you but there is no one in this draft named Sean Monahan

 

[BulletTheBlueSky]

One thing alone would satisfy me in this offseason. .....if Shero trades a package around one of our defensemen for another pick into the top ten...one thing that is clear with this team. We have few scoring talents coming through the pipeline. I actually believe this is a strong possibility.

 

[SeidoN]

Sorry to tell you but there is no one in this draft named Sean Monahan

were drafting Sean Monahan and Calgary's just going to have to deal with it.

 

[Devil X]

One thing alone would satisfy me in this offseason. .....if Shero trades a package around one of our defensemen for another pick into the top ten...one thing that is clear with this team. We have few scoring talents coming through the pipeline. I actually believe this is a strong possibility.

Unless your willing to move Larrson or Severson trading back into the top-10 is highly HIGHLY unlikely. So if thats your only wish then perpare to be upset.

 

[ghdi]

One thing alone would satisfy me in this offseason. .....if Shero trades a package around one of our defensemen for another pick into the top ten...one thing that is clear with this team. We have few scoring talents coming through the pipeline. I actually believe this is a strong possibility.

We have literally 2 potential scoring talents. Quenneville and Boucher, and neither of them are ready for top six duty.

The trade you mention is not happening. The only player that would get us into the top ten is Larsson and no one wants to see that done.

I can see us moving up into the late first around a Gelinas-centric package, but nothing bar someone key being moved is going to get us another top ten.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Draftsite's reviews of Barzal, Zacha, Crouse and Rantanen
W/O looking it up, guess who they are talking about.

1. A big man with an excellent size/skating package. Gets in quickly and handles the forecheck and control the play along the boards. Can control things in the crease area, and has a big time heavy shot and release. Is strong on the puck, and gets through contact, and can drive the net. Very high hockey IQ, and anticipates the play well.

2. Creative player with excellent vision who skates well with a wide base and strong stride. Responsible 200 foot player whose seeps with offensive upside. He plays with speed and has a good understanding of utilizing all his resources in the attack zone.

3. Big man who has a strong physical game, excellent hands and really good shot. Not the fastest guy at this point but very strong on his pins and well balanced, and uses his size and reach to wear down the opponents. Good in the battle areas and goes hard to the front. At this juncture prefers to hold the puck, try and deke out defenders and shoot than to look for linemates.
Plays major minutes, and despite not being a dazzling stickhandler, still manages to dominate and take opponents off the puck, with strong wall work. He plays strong on the puck and never stops working. Displays a quick release and hard heavy shot. He sees the ice, gets open and has at times, high end touch with his passes along with that vision.

4. Displays a strong game on the wall and dominance below the circles. Has excellent vision, playmaking skills, and above average feet an effort in all three zones. He is very strong on the puck and uses his size to control play, bring havoc in the front and when he gets the puck it’s tough to get it from him, whether it is in the cycle or when he moves out off the wall. Seems very in control in his carries. He has solid jump and speed and the vision to find openings. If there was a knock it would be his low scoring totals so far. One could argue he wasn’t playing with pivot able to get him the biscuit. Others might say he lacks the high end soft and quick hands, foot speed and agility when passes are sent his way. He has spent time on IR, but is a very intriguing prospect

Damn...that's kinda hilarious. I thought I had it too, but then upon posting I immediately changed my mind. Now I'm not sure.

EDIT: I originally thought Zacha, Barzal, Rantanen, and Crouse. But the IR comment is throwing me off, since that seems to fit Zacha more than Crouse, though the latter missed 12 games this season. But Zacha's been a center...so 4 can't be him, right?

So I think Rantanen might actually be #1, which might explain the much shorter write-ups on 1 and 2, since they're not in the OHL. Barzal is 2, but then 3 mentions "not the fastest guy," which makes me think Crouse even though Crouse is a great skater (but Zacha is a burner).

Alright, final answer: Rantanen, Barzal, Zacha, Crouse.