Tryamkin’s April 2018 Top 275 Draft Rankings

[Tryamkin]

Strong list! Only real issue I have is I think Veleno is too low.

Thanks! Not a fan of Veleno’s offense, but that’s just me. He was highly rated before for a reason.

 

[Tryamkin]

@Tryamkin Can you hep me understand why some people have denisenko way over kravtsov and why kravtsov isn't in everyones top 10? I notice that Denisenko is doing mediocre work in the mhl(above average scorer) while Kravtsov has 6 goals and 5 assists in 13 games in the khl playoffs right now.

Personally I haven't ever watched Kravtsov besides a few of his goals, but statistics would say he has elite talent. It's similar to Tarasenko during the 2010 draft. I'm thinking it's because of Denisenko performing at the world juniors and Kravtsov not performing well. What do you think?

a link to one of his amazing goals:

For sure. Just last month, I had Denisenko ahead of Kravtsov. I’m a big fan of Denisenko, he has good potential for sure, despite having an underwhelming year, and that’s why I originally gave him the edge over Kravtsov. Denisenko had been known for a while, however Kravtsov has been relatively unknown to most in comparison. Obviously after his end to the regular season and early playoff run, Kravtsov has emerged as the better player and showcased a glimpse of great potential.

 

[Tryamkin]

Surprised you only have Kaut at #25, I thought you were a fan? I have him at #10 at the moment lol

This draft is great, I’m a fan of everyone

 

[Tryamkin]

Great list, love the work overall! I’m only going to mention Q players in this but I think McIsaac/Groulx/Rodrigue/Fortier are too low and that Zavgorodny/MacDonald/Kurashev/Kotkov are too high.

McIsaac hasn’t had the year we all expected (or at least not what I’ve expected) but I still think he’s a 1st round talent and has potential to be a solid top 4 defence, he’s got some grit to his game, I think he’s better offensively then he gets credit for and while I don’t think he’s a star in the waiting, I think he’s a strong prospect.

Groulx’s offensive game isn’t coming along quite yet but he does the little things and is good defensively, probably is a winger at the next level and doesn’t have huge offensive upside but I think his offence will explode in the next 2 seasons and is a safe bet to be an NHLer, while his upside isn’t huge, his floor as an NHLer is enough for me to have him in round 1.

Rodrigue is all potential, and while he isn’t huge by any means he’s very athletic and I like his upside. Goalies is basically just a dart throw anyways so it’s hard to get upset about any ranking on them, I just think he deserves to be higher. Mostly just a gut feel.

Fortier is on the small side but he’s an absolute water bug on the ice. Is an explosive skater and relentless on the forecheck. Has some offensive capabilities and will be a big time Jr scorer, it probably doesn’t translate to the NHL but with his skating and relentlessness, I see a future NHLer.

Zavgorodny is a real good offensive player but for some reason I just can’t shake the feeling that it never translates to the NHL game, he didn’t have a great year for Rimouski and that’s probably due to the transition to the Q and the style that team plays. He definitely has offensive upside but I don’t like his size/how his game projects.

MacDonald has goal scoring ability but I really worry about the work ethic and ability to translate it to the next level. I expected him to take a greater step this year and isn’t a very strong skater, I think ultimately it ends up holding him back and what appears to be a lack drive will be his undoing as a legit NHL prospect.

Kurashev I’ll be completely honest, I don’t know what it is but I just never watch him and get the sense it’s going to work out for him. He’s a very good play maker, and has great puck skills but he’s just one of those guys that I can’t get behind for whatever reason.

Kotkov is a real big winger, has good offensive skills and isn’t a bad skater. I like him more in the 4th-6th round range, then I do as an early-mid 3rd but at that point a lot of guys are interchangeable anyways.

Great work and love the list, just some nitpicking more than likely on my part, just thought I’d chip in my 2 cents on a few guys in the Q!

Thanks! I won’t respond on every point, but I was a little harsh on McIssac, who should be in the first round.

I’m a Groulx fan, and I used to have him near the mid 1st range. He doesn’t have that game breaking potential as you mentioned, but he seems like he could become a middle six winger. Caught up in the rising winger hype, he’s admittedly a little low.

A goalie scout friend of mine had mentioned that he’s seen warning bells from Rodrigue as being a weaker goalie, and I’m not very good at evaluating goalie talent, as it’s very hard to predict. I kinda took his word for it.

Fortier is a good little player, but doesn’t really scream anything to me. I see him like Reid Boucher, a hard working player with some talent, but nothing more than a bottom 6 forward at most.

Anderson MacDonald is someone I’ve had near the Top 10 in the middle of summer 2017. He has the skill and raw goal scoring ability to a be a great winger, but the skating just isn’t there, nor is the drive to get better. I’m hoping he wakes up and puts in some effort when the warning bells ring.

As you hinted, the offensive potential is what’s intriguing about Zavgorodny. He really looks like he could be a top 6 scoring winger with a good pro transition.

Kurashev is quite raw, I feel like he could be a great D+1/2 developer who has the potential to become a top 6 forward. He’s got some great vision and passing skill, which is great no matter where he ends up.

I agree with the interchangeability, but I am a fan of Kotkov, so I put him pretty high. He shows some good skill and could be a nice middle six winger with some bite.

 

[bagsw]

Great list, but Kravtsov never played as C. Also his style has a lot of Svechnikov’s: not always on the puck, but fast smart passes (sometimes just touches) and quick release. I think for transition to center from the wing player must show more dominance on the puck

 

[ObscureAlien]

I've seen Merkley get 3 points in the 1st period and I've seen Merkley completely stop skating on defence multiple times in the same game, I don't agree with your ranking of him but he's got the goods and hey if someone wants to gamble higher than me, I've gotta respect that.

 

[Tryamkin]

Great list, but Kravtsov never played as C. Also his style has a lot of Svechnikov’s: not always on the puck, but fast smart passes (sometimes just touches) and quick release. I think for transition to center from the wing player must show more dominance on the puck

My bad. Looking back in my notes, I’m not sure why I listed him as a center.

 

[Tryamkin]

I've seen Merkley get 3 points in the 1st period and I've seen Merkley completely stop skating on defence multiple times in the same game, I don't agree with your ranking of him but he's got the goods and hey if someone wants to gamble higher than me, I've gotta respect that.

That’s exactly what I mean. With a renewed passion for the game and the coaching help of professionals, I think he can really come a long way. He sure ain’t making it close to the NHL with his current state of defense so he’ll get the message, it’s up to him to deliver.

 

[JK2K]

I wonder if Merkley will get the call for U18’s if available. That will say a lot.
I am hearing they (hockey Canada) is looking to make the team as close to the Hlinka team as possible.
We’ll see shortly.

 

[Tryamkin]

I wonder if Merkley will get the call for U18’s if available. That will say a lot.
I am hearing they (hockey Canada) is looking to make the team as close to the Hlinka team as possible.
We’ll see shortly.

I hope so. He has the skill.

 

[PKSpecialist]

Nice list.... I have some questions for you about the guys you have out of the top 100.... these are not meant to be confrontational, just would like your rationale:

1. What is it that you see in Jordan Kooy to rank him ahead of Olivier Rodrigue?
2. What don't you like about Ryan Savage who you currently rank as an Not Drafted while Emil Oksanen would be drafted?
3. Dennis Busby over Nic Beaudin?
4. Austin Wong ahead of Ryan Chyzowski?
5. Gilian Kohler ahead of Riley Damiani?

 

[johum7]

Very good list once again.

What are your thoughts on Der-Arguchintsev. He’s had a very underrated season on a poor Peterborough team. I have him top 75 at the moment.

 

[JK2K]

Merkley and Hillis out of playoffs, available for Team Canada u18

 

[hawkeerox]

I explained above, but I think Merkley is someone who’s easy to label as a “bust” without reading too much into it. I have faith that he can turn it around.

The teenaged brain is a lot different from the same brain in the early 20s. I'm in agreement that he's trainable.

 

[Tryamkin]

Nice list.... I have some questions for you about the guys you have out of the top 100.... these are not meant to be confrontational, just would like your rationale:

1. What is it that you see in Jordan Kooy to rank him ahead of Olivier Rodrigue?
2. What don't you like about Ryan Savage who you currently rank as an Not Drafted while Emil Oksanen would be drafted?
3. Dennis Busby over Nic Beaudin?
4. Austin Wong ahead of Ryan Chyzowski?
5. Gilian Kohler ahead of Riley Damiani?

1. I have a friend who usually advises me on goaltenders, as I’m not very good at evaluating goalie talent, he really likes Jordan Kooy, sees a lot of potential in him, and sees some alarm bells go off with Rodrigue.

2. Oskanen deserves to be drafted last year in my opinion, and he’s played very well this year, with potential to grow lots more. His skill and hands are elite skills to his game. Ryan Savage, (son of Brian Savage, 60 point scorer in the NHL) is a talented player, but only has a 0.33 PPG in the USHL. Savage was higher on my list last month, but I didn’t watch him in March, so he should move up again next month. He deserves to be drafted.

3. I’m a big fan of Busby. He’s been injured all year with a fractured collarbone, which he then refractured. He’s got talent and will be overlooked due to the injury. Beaudin is alright, but not someone I would grab until later.

4. Austin Wong has racked up the penalty minutes, with 235 this year, leading the league, which can be a blessing and a curse. He’s also scored at a PPG pace, with a good potential. Chyzowski doesn’t bring too much aside from hisnscpring. I’d like to see him develop some special teams or other talent to help out the team he plays on, he seems quite one dimensional to me.

5. Gillian Kohler shows a lot of potential to me, and I really like his style of play. Damiani is a very good player that I’ve been sleeping on a lot, he should probably be in the top 100 the way he’s been playing.

 

[Tryamkin]

Very good list once again.

What are your thoughts on Der-Arguchintsev. He’s had a very underrated season on a poor Peterborough team. I have him top 75 at the moment.

Thanks again,
Der-Arguchtintsev is a very good player, I agree on his importance to Peterborough, he’s been very good. Skill wise, he could be a 2nd rounder.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

According to hockey DB Akil Thomas is a center

 

[37 others]

Any reason why Stotts and Wouters are low?

 

[TLP]

Zadina -3 in a big loss in playoffs.
Halifax on the brink down 3-0

 

[DANOZ28]

if your rankings are accurate and i was the wild's gm, my wild should pick around #20. IF due to russian factor kravtsov drops to 20 i'd pick him. assuming hes gone i'd trade my 1st for 2-2nds and pick jacob olofsson & ryan mcleod. just my one cent cheers!

 

[Sid82]

bokk so high? i have him at the end of 1st...

 

[Tryamkin]

According to hockey DB Akil Thomas is a center

He won’t be a center at the NHL level.

 

[Tryamkin]

Any reason why Stotts and Wouters are low?

Not particularly, just have been moved down due to me watching other players and liking them more.

 

[Tryamkin]

if your rankings are accurate and i was the wild's gm, my wild should pick around #20. IF due to russian factor kravtsov drops to 20 i'd pick him. assuming hes gone i'd trade my 1st for 2-2nds and pick jacob olofsson & ryan mcleod. just my one cent cheers!

Thanks!

 

[Tryamkin]

bokk so high? i have him at the end of 1st...

His skating is a little iffy, but he’s got a very high potential.