- Sep 30, 2016
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GDT: The 2022 NHL Entry Draft Thread
- Thread starter Daximus
- Start date
I really like Pickering as a late 1st or 2nd round kind of pick. Big kid whose really mobile and oozes offensive potential. His defensive game could use some work and I'd like to see him be more physical. The most glaring weakness is he just doesn't take over games as much as he could. He's got a tone of tools and a pretty great toolbox. I don't know if it's Swifts system or team but he just kind of disappears for long stretches. Seems like the kind of kid that, if he got a lot of time to develop could end up looking like a steal down the line.
He's one of those players that has the wow factor and if he puts it together could be a force at the NHL level. It's all there but the consistency and defensive game could use some work.
That's the major issues lot's of kids have that legitimate upside but I want a higher swing for the fences myself. I like Ostlund but I'm looking a little higher. I still have him ranked in the top 25. But there are some questions I have regarding his overall game.
You want a "higher swing for the fences" than a #1C?? What... would... that even... be?
- Sep 30, 2016
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Thanks for your opinion. I haven't seen much of him play, but that jives with a lot of things I've read elsewhere.
Hopefully he can be a faller into the 2nd round. I'd really like to grab him then.
Maybe a good option if we get NYR's 1st rounder from the Copp trade (if it happens)
I want a higher swing for the fences than a small playmaking potential 1C. Potential is the key. He's not an NHL 1C yet and he's not guaranteed to be either. There's also some questions I have about his game based on the games I've seen in the SHL that have me questioning whether he will actually get there.
You could literally say that about any draft pick. I still don't understand what would be a higher upside pick than a potential 1C... especially at 14. What has you questioning? The only clue here is the use of "small"as a pejorative. That is dinosaur mentality in hockey, my friend. Historically, over and over, "smaller" (he's 5'11) players have been underestimated and have outperformed their draft position. If you could provide more context, and evidence, for your position, it would be helpful, thank you!
Romang67
BitterSwede
Which top 20 ranked Cs don't have #1C as their ceiling?
That's not to say we shouldn't draft a Swede, as it's generally a great idea, but having first line potential is a necessary condition to be drafted in the top 20, not sufficient.
That's not to say we shouldn't draft a Swede, as it's generally a great idea, but having first line potential is a necessary condition to be drafted in the top 20, not sufficient.
- Mar 10, 2010
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James Lahey
Registered User
It's a dinosaur mentality until you have to play the same team in a best of 7 series, then it becomes pretty important. There are undersized players who play like firecrackers (Marchand, Point, etc.) but there are also others that if they aren't point producing have zero impact on the game.
Romang67
BitterSwede
Just for the record, Noah Östlund is 5'10, not 5'11. So he's Perfetti's size, except probably lighter. My guess would be that he will spend at least a couple of years in the SHL/AHL before being a viable NHL player. Obviously, there may be value in picking a player lacking size if we think he is skilled enough to overcome it.
Just for the record Perfetti is above 5'11 at the end of the NHL season and weighs around 180. Ostlund is definitely smaller and slighter. I would think a year in the SHL and then a year in the AHL and then he is ready for prime time.
- Mar 10, 2010
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Currently #43 with Hockey Prospects on their March rankings.
- Mar 10, 2010
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There are also medium and big sized players that have zero impact in the playoffs too. The scouting should be able to find out what type of player these guys are. I am not a huge fan of perimeter players no matter what size and the NHL is littered with all sizes of players that don't like the dirty areas.
Yup for how big and physical he is Mathew Tkachuk has 4 goals and 11 points in 22 playoff games.
The Lightning won back to back cups with a largely pint sized offensive forward core.
My main concerns with Ostlund was the games he played in the SHL this year. When things got more physical and he started playing against bigger and faster player he completely disappeared. Though his minutes were limited. He basically stuck to the perimiter and wasn't effective in really any way. He is a very similar player to Marner. Great edgework, very elusive, great playmaker and although his shot isn't a muffin it certainly isn't great. If he makes it to a high enough level he likely will score but he isn't going to be a major shooting threat. My biggest concern with him is although he displays a similar skill set to Marner, he doesn't have nearly the same mentality in attacking the ice and pushing play when things get tougher. Maybe he gets there. But I'm always going to air on the side of caution because not all players like this do. Marner is the exception, not the rule. He could just as easily be another Nic Petan. Who oozes offensive talent but skates around with his tail between his legs against men.
I'm not saying I wouldn't be okay with a player like him in the system but he's not someone I would take the risk on at 14.
A hugely talented and fearless pint sized forward core. The lack of fear is what serarates the Points, Gourdes, Kucherovs and Colemans from the Petans and a plethora of other undersized highly skilled players who put up great numbers in lower leagues but could never replecate that success in the NHL. That's what gives me pause about Ostlund. He looked terrified in the SHL.
- Mar 10, 2010
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Yea if he's living on the perimeter then that's not great no matter what the size.
He's looked awesome everywhere else. He's a hugely talented skater and playmaker but those games in the SHL were worrisome. Yes, it is a small sample size. And yes, his minutes were limited. But even if he didn't get a single point and showed that he was more willing to be involved I'd see some promise there. You can't teach that fear out of someone. They have to break that mental block themselves. If he does it, then there's a good chance he becomes a solid top 6 playmaker at the NHL level. If he doesn't than you wasted a 14th overall pick on another small forward who isn't willing to push the play because he's scared of getting hit.
He could either be an absolute steal or a total bust. There's just so much risk there IMO that I wouldn't touch him until the 2nd round.
- Dec 29, 2016
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Exactly -
And personally, I think it's more about "compete" than "size" - with all things skill wise, being equal.
WolfHouse
Registered User
- Oct 4, 2020
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Yeah that's really what I'm looking for in a smaller player and it's really hard to see early on if all they play against is players their age that they can usually skate circles around. What really didn't help Ostlund is plyaing in the SHL where we could actually see him against men who can not only keep up with him but contain him rather easily.
Huffer
Registered User
- Jul 16, 2010
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Thoughts on possible names for one of our 2nds?
Always hard because it's hard to guess who could be available but curious to know thoughts on the following:
Lian Bichsel - a left hand D, but in clips I have seen he was playing on the right. Looked like a very good skater and has great size.
Sam Rinzel - right hand D with good size as well. Don't know much about him but seems like he could be in our range in the 2nd.
Always hard because it's hard to guess who could be available but curious to know thoughts on the following:
Lian Bichsel - a left hand D, but in clips I have seen he was playing on the right. Looked like a very good skater and has great size.
Sam Rinzel - right hand D with good size as well. Don't know much about him but seems like he could be in our range in the 2nd.
