TSN McKenzie's Top 15 Rankings, NHL Draft Lottery Edition

[Xirik]

I can see Blackhawks, Ducks and CBJ going D.

Montreal will take Lindstrom, Flames will take Iginla if he's there. I think Seattle, Ottawa and Buffalo prioritize defense. Eiserman goes to NJ

Jackets seem to be pretty heavy with quality D prospects,

Would be stupid for the Devils to go for a Holtz Jr, yeah Eiserman beat Caufield's record but Cole can at least skate.

 

[Sombastate]

Jackets seem to be pretty heavy with quality D prospects,

Would be stupid for the Devils to go for a Holtz Jr, yeah he beat Caufield's record but Cole can at least skate.

Yeah that's the one I'm least confident about "maybe" going D. But looks like Svozil, Cuelemons aren't really taking the next steps as quickly as I thought.

 

[majormajor]

The Top 6 is almost the same than last year

2023
1 Chicago
2 Anaheim
3 Columbus
4 San Jose
5 Montreal
6 Utah

2024
1 San Jose
2 Chicago
3 Anaheim
4 Columbus
5 Montreal
6 Utah

It's almost like tanking doesn't work.

 

[Xirik]

Yeah that's the one I'm least confident about "maybe" going D. But looks like Svozil, Cuelemons aren't really taking the next steps as quickly as I thought.

Jiricek can't really do much other then complain but He did voice frustration on not staying with the Jackets for the full season which is rare coming from such a young player.

 

[majormajor]

Yeah that's the one I'm least confident about "maybe" going D. But looks like Svozil, Cuelemons aren't really taking the next steps as quickly as I thought.

Well Ceulemans isn't really a factor, but Svozil is still progressing well, still looking like a potential middle pair guy. Then you've got Mateychuk also on the left side. Only so many spots there on top of Werenski.

On the right side they've got some big contracts along with Jiricek. I don't think the Jackets have any particular positional issue.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

It's almost like tanking doesn't work.

It doesn't work in a 1 year window, correct.

 

[majormajor]

It doesn't work in a 1 year window, correct.

Or 4 years. None of this years playoff clubs have picked in the top six since 2020.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Or 4 years. None of this years playoff clubs have picked in the top six since 2020.

Yeah, drafting 18 year olds has that effect. Takes time, even if the right picks are made.

 

[Wats]

Or 4 years. None of this years playoff clubs have picked in the top six since 2020.

And yet most of the cup winners from 2020 drafted one or more of their best players in the top 6.

 

[DJJones]

Of those six teams, 2 will be good. 3 or 4 will continue to be dumpster fires.

 

[StrawHatEklund]

No it doesn't. RW is just as vacant when it comes to top 6 prospects

I still think the priority should be a 1st line D.

 

[Grinner]

I still think the priority should be a 1st line D.

I think we should draft the best player.
We stand a much better chance of landing a top 6 RW with the 14th pick, than we do a 1c or 2c.

 

[spfan]

Yeah that's the one I'm least confident about "maybe" going D. But looks like Svozil, Cuelemons aren't really taking the next steps as quickly as I thought.

A RHD wouldn't be a bad thing. Like you said, Ceulemans not really progressing that well.

But getting Lindstrom, Catton would also be good. Fantilli is a great start. Brindley is good too. Johnson isn't a sure thing as a long term Center. and Already kinda seems like questions on if he's gonna be there long term in general. Even Eiserman might be a good pick for them.

 

[StrawHatEklund]

I think we should draft the best player.
We stand a much better chance of landing a top 6 RW with the 14th pick, than we do a 1c or 2c.

Yes, but that’s why I was hoping we trade up if none of the 2nd-5th ranked defense prospects falls to 14. All of them are likely going top 10.

 

[Grinner]

Yes, but that’s why I was hoping we trade up if none of the 2nd or 3rd ranked defense prospects falls to 14. Both are likely going top 10.

We will still have picks 33&42. I'd either see who's dropping and trade up then or just use them both on D prospects.
I'm not a big draftnik but it seems there's not a lot of separation in D prospects once you get past the top 5 or 6 Defenders.
I'm hoping for MBN or Sennecke at 14.
Scoring Celebrini and another 200 ft forward would do wonders for our overall team D

 

[JRichard]

I can see Blackhawks, Ducks and CBJ going D.

Montreal will take Lindstrom, Flames will take Iginla if he's there. I think Seattle, Ottawa and Buffalo prioritize defense. Eiserman goes to NJ

CBJ could get something from Mtl who might be way more interested in Lindstrom/Demidov than any d or Iginla.
And still get their dman at 5.

 

[57special]

Montreal will draft Lindstrom if he's available. If not, either Iginla or Sennecke imo. I don't see a scenario where Demidov falls to 5th

Sennecke? Really?

 

[Xirik]

Sennecke? Really?

Late riser cause of his play in the playoffs and people wanting to be the smartest guy in the room syndrome.

 

[majormajor]

Late riser cause of his play in the playoffs and people wanting to be the smartest guy in the room syndrome.

There's a good number of posters who stopped saying this and became believers after they started watching him.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Think Tij will be even higher in the final ranking?

 

[Oak]

View attachment 865883

Maybe if you measure defensive impact by faceoffs and blocked shots lmao

This jfresh dude needs to disappear. Idk who makes these stat nerds numbers but they are so out of touch with the actual hockey game its ridiculous that people still use them to prove anything.

 

[Oak]

You're kind of proving a point I have about this center discussion - that folks have a needless fixation on putting the best player at center.

As for Jack Hughes, he's effectively spent much of his career with Erik Haula and others doing much of the center duties for him, even though Hughes is always labeled the center. Perhaps Hughes has it figured out now though, I don't know. People are very obsessed with who is at center, but seemingly mostly obsessed with who is labeled center, and less interested in who is actually doing center things.

Thank you for having enough understanding of the game to see this. Sometimes I feel like nobody on this site actually watches hockey and recognizes what is going on.

Hughes does not play like a center even though he takes face offs. He is extremely sheltered and put into positions where he can use his skill to succeed. As major said he is like a winger who takes faceoffs.

 

[SlafySZN]

Late riser cause of his play in the playoffs and people wanting to be the smartest guy in the room syndrome.

Iginla is a riser too, in fact both Iginla and Sennecke were pretty much seen mid-teens in bob’s january list. If Iginla is seen like a guy that can go as high as 5th overall i don’t see why Sennecke wouldn’t be in the conversation also.

 

[Oak]

He's on the secret juice.

It's just Acai man.

 

[Xirik]

Iginla is a riser too, in fact both Iginla and Sennecke were pretty much seen mid-teens in bob’s january list. If Iginla is seen like a guy that can go as high as 5th overall i don’t see why Sennecke wouldn’t be in the conversation also.

Iginla is 7 months younger and right close to the weight he should be for his height.

Sennecke is a bean pole with a late growth spurt, Going to be awhile for him to hit his target weight, until then he will be easily pushed off the puck.

I guess for the Habs it's whether or not they feel like waiting a extra year or two for perhaps the better player or go for the NHL ready or one year of seasoning players.

New front office but the organization and the fanbase has never been very good about letting their 1st rounders marinate.