GDT: The 2023 NHL Entry Draft - Nashville, TN - 4:00pm (AZ) - ESPN, ESPN+

[RABBIT]

Players don't know where they are going. Did you see Wright's face last year.


Boom or bust. Maybe to you and I and many others but not BA and his scouts.

yeah, I tend to agree with you. I find it hard to believe that they would take such a massive risk using two very high picks in a very deep draft on prospects they felt were too risky.

 

[Jormungandr]

Well, those are two "homerun" swings at the plate...I just wish they could have parlayed pick #6 with Michkov still on the board to scare Philly or Washington and do a trade, move down 1 or 2 spots, still get Simashev and pick up another asset.

I would’ve taken Nashville up on their Askarov offer and moved down to 15. Simashev at 12, But at 15, and a potential franchise goalie added for our troubles. Ofcourse, there are no guarantees Simashev would’ve lasted that long.

 

[GhostofTommyBolin]

I've seen Shaq skate...he is a beast.

Fun Fact: After Greg Ostertag of the Utah Jazz retired, he moved here and played in my beer league at the Ice Den. I think he was like 7'4" on skates. Good hands for a guy that size, too.

So I keep hearing about how both of these players are high risk. Does that mean high risk that they won’t come over to North America? Or higher risk because they are both just so boom or bust?

The Hockey Guy said there's a chance neither of them come over.

 

[Ace]

yep, put me down for Wahlberg or Strbak

Are you Kevyn Adams lol

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

Are you Kevyn Adams lol

apparently

 

[The Feckless Puck]

I've had the night to think it over, and I woke up with the idea that Armstrong just Billy Beane'd the league with his picks yesterday.

The NHL has a foundation built on an ever-shifting set of irrational prejudices that have at one time or another included race, nationality, zip code location in the United States, and even attitude. Consequently, people who can see past those prejudices are able to exploit market inefficiencies. This year, there was a prejudice against Russian players because of the war. Even Michkov, who everyone seems to believe would have gone 1OA in most drafts of the past decade, fell past our pick at 6.

It seems pretty clear that Armstrong and his scouts saw this happening and jumped into the gap. Really, they had nothing to lose - nobody takes the franchise seriously, so even if they showed up en masse in Belarus to scout Simashev and But, nobody was going to make much of it. Meanwhile, fans like me were wrapped up in the proclaimed greatness of the North American players and bought into the hype for them and the naysaying about the Russians. If Daniil But is a Ryan Leonard type player, but with size and skating ability, people generally either didn't know or downplayed it because of where he plays.

So Armstrong was not only able to get two guys with enormous upside and size, but he was able to get teammates who both seem absolutely thrilled with the idea of becoming Coyotes sooner rather than later. You folks know how often I harp on the fact that prospects are more than just names on paper - they're people. And I can't forget what it was like to go to Russia in 1987 with one of my best friends - having him there made the prospect of going to a country behind the Iron Curtain at the end of the Cold War a much less frightening prospect.

So, in the proper context, I actually really like our first round yesterday. Very few other people will see it that way, I think, but that's why I always call the Coyotes "Mutts." Mutts are bedraggled and pathetic on their own, but get them in a pack with a common goal and they'll strike fear into the heart of even the most vicious predator.

 

[cobra427]

I've had the night to think it over, and I woke up with the idea that Armstrong just Billy Beane'd the league with his picks yesterday.

The NHL has a foundation built on an ever-shifting set of irrational prejudices that have at one time or another included race, nationality, zip code location in the United States, and even attitude. Consequently, people who can see past those prejudices are able to exploit market inefficiencies. This year, there was a prejudice against Russian players because of the war. Even Michkov, who everyone seems to believe would have gone 1OA in most drafts of the past decade, fell past our pick at 6.

It seems pretty clear that Armstrong and his scouts saw this happening and jumped into the gap. Really, they had nothing to lose - nobody takes the franchise seriously, so even if they showed up en masse in Belarus to scout Simashev and But, nobody was going to make much of it. Meanwhile, fans like me were wrapped up in the proclaimed greatness of the North American players and bought into the hype for them and the naysaying about the Russians. If Daniil But is a Ryan Leonard type player, but with size and skating ability, people generally either didn't know or downplayed it because of where he plays.

So Armstrong was not only able to get two guys with enormous upside and size, but he was able to get teammates who both seem absolutely thrilled with the idea of becoming Coyotes sooner rather than later. You folks know how often I harp on the fact that prospects are more than just names on paper - they're people. And I can't forget what it was like to go to Russia in 1987 with one of my best friends - having him there made the prospect of going to a country behind the Iron Curtain at the end of the Cold War a much less frightening prospect.

So, in the proper context, I actually really like our first round yesterday. Very few other people will see it that way, I think, but that's why I always call the Coyotes "Mutts." Mutts are bedraggled and pathetic on their own, but get them in a pack with a common goal and they'll strike fear into the heart of even the most vicious predator.

I don't doubt that BA and his scouts did their homework and took BPA at #6 and #12, I don't have any issues with the picks, they know way more then any of us do about those players. My question is this: What about the unknowable outcome of the war and the unintended consequences on its citizens and athletes? I can speculate on potential problems, but those are all unknown at this time. Not even BA can quantify that risk.

 

[Llewzaher]

Fun Fact: After Greg Ostertag of the Utah Jazz retired, he moved here and played in my beer league at the Ice Den. I think he was like 7'4" on skates. Good hands for a guy that size, too.


The Hockey Guy said there's a chance neither of them come over.

The hockey guy also thought But was a D ...

 

[Jagged Ice]

The Hockey Guy said there's a chance neither of them come over.

Shannon has nothing to base this on. That's a lazy statement. I've read plenty of comments online in Reddit and Twitter last night by losers saying they'll never come here. So two Russian best friends that devoted their lives to the game of hockey just got drafted into the NHL by the same team. How exited must they be to have this dream come true. Both displayed a high level of surprise and excitement for this opportunity. They'll both be here for the '25/'26 season.

There's a chance Putin starts slinging nuclear weapons. When and if that happens, there's also a chance that Bedard doesn't go to Chicago.

 

[hbk]

Shannon has nothing to base this on. That's a lazy statement. I've read plenty of comments online in Reddit and Twitter last night by losers saying they'll never come here. So two Russian best friends that devoted their lives to the game of hockey just got drafted into the NHL by the same team. How exited must they be to have this dream come true. Both displayed a high level of surprise and excitement for this opportunity. They'll both be here for the '25/'26 season.

There's a chance Putin starts slinging nuclear weapons. When and if that happens, there's a chance too that Bedard doesn't go to Chicago.

They also learned how to speak english for no reason.

 

[Jormungandr]

Cant stand the hockey guy.

 

[Jagged Ice]

Cant stand the hockey guy.

He's boring. I used to listen to him when there was nothing else out there. This was years ago though, before all the podcasts and other youtubers bringing us content. His game recaps could put someone straight jacked on 10 Monsters and three lines of coke to sleep.

 

[Jakey53]

Fun Fact: After Greg Ostertag of the Utah Jazz retired, he moved here and played in my beer league at the Ice Den. I think he was like 7'4" on skates. Good hands for a guy that size, too.


The Hockey Guy said there's a chance neither of them come over.

Did you see the small clips of theirs at the draft after they were drafted.

 

[Jakey53]

All I know is that I have been pretty disappointed with the selections. They didn't pick any of my guys in the first round. I think I know what I'm doing. I watched at least two clips of all the guys I thought would be in the top ten. That right there is in depth scouting on my part. As far as I'm concerned BA and staff don't know what the hell they are doing.

 

[Bonsai Tree]

So BA is more interested in Dire wolves than Coyotes. Size. I wonder what they saw in Michkov that they didn't like. Perhaps worry that he won't translate into the small ice without either size or speed? He sure has a shot.

 

[Freddy Sjostrom]

So BA is more interested in Dire wolves than Coyotes. Size. I wonder what they saw in Michkov that they didn't like. Perhaps worry that he won't translate into the small ice without either size or speed? He sure has a shot.

More like Michkov saw something in the Coyotes he didn’t like.

 

[Nowotny]

Both are already better English speakers than Rick Tocchet.

I may not be crazy about this year draft but those are nice guys and I am looking forward seeing them (hopefully) in Arizona

 

[Bonsai Tree]

More like Michkov saw something in the Coyotes he didn’t like.

That point has been gaslighted. (gaslit?) Just because it gets repeated far and wide doesn't make it true. If one takes a more granular look at the situation, one would find that the 3 year contract is an impediment,not the kid's taste in cities. Michkov, not being a free agent, just can't pick and choose where he wants to go. The threat of giving up 4 years of NHL salary in an age-sensitive career, so as not to go to a team he dislikes, is ludicrous.

 

[Bonsai Tree]

I may not be crazy about this year draft but those are nice guys and I am looking forward seeing them (hopefully) in Arizona

I'm liking it more and more, now that we got over the shock of passing up on Michkov, who I actually wanted in my heart. We drafted our Zdeno Chara. A huge defenseman who has wheels and is physical. Don't know much about But but if he is a 200 foot player he will force match up problems on other teams. Sub - 6 defensemen will really have problems with him.

 

[The Feckless Puck]

That point has been gaslighted. (gaslit?) Just because it gets repeated far and wide doesn't make it true. If one takes a more granular look at the situation, one would find that the 3 year contract is an impediment,not the kid's taste in cities. Michkov, not being a free agent, just can't pick and choose where he wants to go. The threat of giving up 4 years of NHL salary in an age-sensitive career, so as not to go to a team he dislikes, is ludicrous.

And yet that's basically what he did, based on the evidence. From what I gather, the only team he talked to seriously was Philadelphia. His reticence to talk to other teams, combined with him essentially courting the Flyers directly, is tantamount to choosing his landing spot, because the only way he comes over to North America is if he's motivated personally to do so (and therefore negotiates out of his KHL contract and clears all the other Russia-specific hurdles there would be).

Michkov had all the leverage that a CHL or NCAA prospect wouldn't, both because of his context and his skill. The fact that he allegedly went ahead and used it is one of the reasons why a lot of teams didn't bother to draft him, his "franchise-changing talent" notwithstanding.

 

[Jagged Ice]

I'm liking it more and more, now that we got over the shock of passing up on Michkov, who I actually wanted in my heart. We drafted our Zdeno Chara. A huge defenseman who has wheels and is physical. Don't know much about But but if he is a 200 foot player he will force match up problems on other teams. Sub - 6 defensemen will really have problems with him.

Lamoureux is Zdeno Chara. Simashev is Chris Pronger.

 

[The Feckless Puck]

Lamoureux is Zdeno Chara. Simachev is Chris Pronger.

We'll call them the "Ent Line."

 

[Nowotny]

I'm liking it more and more, now that we got over the shock of passing up on Michkov, who I actually wanted in my heart. We drafted our Zdeno Chara. A huge defenseman who has wheels and is physical. Don't know much about But but if he is a 200 foot player he will force match up problems on other teams. Sub - 6 defensemen will really have problems with him.

I have nothing against those Russian players.My problem is that at both #6 and #12 there were players available who have much higher likelihood to be exceptional players.I like Hrabal at #38 (and not just because he is from a city I grew up in)

 

[GhostofTommyBolin]

Shannon has nothing to base this on. That's a lazy statement. I've read plenty of comments online in Reddit and Twitter last night by losers saying they'll never come here. So two Russian best friends that devoted their lives to the game of hockey just got drafted into the NHL by the same team. How exited must they be to have this dream come true. Both displayed a high level of surprise and excitement for this opportunity. They'll both be here for the '25/'26 season.

There's a chance Putin starts slinging nuclear weapons. When and if that happens, there's also a chance that Bedard doesn't go to Chicago.

That Russia issues might be where he was coming from; I don't think he was implying they didn't want to play here or something of that sort. As a young kid in that environment, who wouldn't want to bail out of there the first chance they got?

 

[AZviaNJ]

Coyotes have a top line forward currently on the roster and another in their pipeline. But there wasn’t a top pair potential Dman in the organization until now.

If we have a Sergachev level Dman….BA hit a home run.