Who do you take at 9th Overall

[Machinehead]

Wahlstrom would fit a need for us that goes beyond position.

We have a lot of guys who are talented and so far have solid production. That's fine, you always need to find prospects who have skills that aren't jumping off the page just yet. Kreider, for example, has greatly out-developed his college production. Chytil and Andersson are "good for their age." Buchnevich could give us a lot more at the NHL level. Again nothing wrong with any of that.

But I would love to diversify our pool by adding a player who just sweats goals and points. Wahlstrom wakes up in the morning and pots 2 before the coffee is done.

That's also why I like Bouchard as our defenseman.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Wahlstrom would fit a need for us that goes beyond position.

We have a lot of guys who are talented and so far have solid production. That's fine, you always need to find prospects who have skills that aren't jumping off the page just yet. Kreider, for example, has greatly out-developed his college production. Chytil and Andersson are "good for their age." Buchnevich could give us a lot more at the NHL level. Again nothing wrong with any of that.

But I would love to diversify our pool by adding a player who just sweats goals and points. Wahlstrom wakes up in the morning and pots 2 before the coffee is done.

That's also why I like Bouchard as our defenseman.

Rangers draft Bouchard...

MH in September “Why did the rangers waste their highest pick in years on a player who skates worse than me!?!”

 

[Machinehead]

Rangers draft Bouchard...

MH in September “Why did the rangers waste their highest pick in years on a player who skates worse than me!?!”

I think he's going to be a better skater than people think.

 

[bl02]

Rangers draft Bouchard...

MH in September “Why did the rangers waste their highest pick in years on a player who skates worse than me!?!”

Bouchard will not be there at 9. He's going before that no doubt

 

[Machinehead]

I like Smith also. The only one I don't love is Dobson.

All the scouting reports on Dobson say to me "in his own zone all the time."

 

[Mac n Gs]

I like Smith also. The only one I don't love is Dobson.

All the scouting reports on Dobson say to me "in his own zone all the time."

You’re reading the wrong reports.

 

[Machinehead]

You’re reading the wrong reports.

I keep hearing "rock solid" and "logs big minutes." You know that can go either way.

 

[Mac n Gs]

I keep hearing "rock solid" and "logs big minutes." You know that can go either way.

Yeah that’s because he’s his team’s best defenseman, is really good defensively and knows how to manage high pressure situations. Why not just take the time to watch him? There’s plenty of video available

 

[Machinehead]

Yeah that’s because he’s his team’s best defenseman, is really good defensively and knows how to manage high pressure situations. Why not just take the time to watch him? There’s plenty of video available

I've seen him, he's talented. Not saying he isn't. But you know how awful of a sample video clips are.

I shy away from players known for their defense. I have my reasons for that given how defense is misidentified by professionals.

However, if we took Dobson, I'd be less critical of that than I have been of some other picks which I won't mention.

 

[Mac n Gs]

I've seen him, he's talented. Not saying he isn't. But you know how awful of a sample video clips are.

I shy away from players known for their defense. I have my reasons for that given how defense is misidentified by professionals.

However, if we took Dobson, I'd be less critical of that than I have been of some other picks which I won't mention.

There should be full games available since he was in the Sunday Showcase a few times, and there may be replays of old AB games. Q streams are usually ok.

Dobson was his team's second leading scorer, and he didn't have the luxury like Bouchard did with guys like Thomas, Formenton, Jones, Foudy, etc. He elevated the play of those around him, and his overall skillset should translate well. If you're alluding to Farabee, I'll cut you. You're just being stubborn on that even when you're wrong

 

[Machinehead]

There should be full games available since he was in the Sunday Showcase a few times, and there may be replays of old AB games. Q streams are usually ok.

Dobson was his team's second leading scorer, and he didn't have the luxury like Bouchard did with guys like Thomas, Formenton, Jones, Foudy, etc. He elevated the play of those around him, and his overall skillset should translate well. If you're alluding to Farabee, I'll cut you. You're just being stubborn on that even when you're wrong

Not Farabee

 

[Mac n Gs]

Not Farabee

Who?

 

[JohnC]

Machinehead having seen Dobson play is probably the least believable thing I’ve read on these boards

 

[Machinehead]

Who?

A pick we've already made that I've torn to pieces.

I would like Dobson better. Dobson is fine, I just like the other defensemen more, generally.

 

[Mac n Gs]

A pick we've already made that I've torn to pieces.

I would like Dobson better. Dobson is fine, I just like the other defensemen more, generally.

Oh yeah, you're wrong about Lias too, but hey, you do you boo thang. Historic numbers in the J20 circuit as an 18 year old, 14 points in 22 SHL games in his D+1 year, 14 points in 25 AHL games. He's scored at every level he's played on top of bringing other elements to his game. Not making this a Lias thread though because he and Farabee are gonna be the two hills I die on on these boards. Lias is my new Stepan.

 

[CasusBelli]

Zucc alone is worth a mid first round pick. I'd be targeting 10, 13 or 15...and I don't think you need to add a whole lot more to get there. Maybe Zucc and a 2nd for the 13th overall?

Interesting. But having two top-nine picks would be too ambitious / costly?

 

[CasusBelli]

I think it will cost more than that...Zucc and the Tampa/Boston pick..especially for 10-12.

MZA is, for me, tricky to value. He bleeds Blue, and other teams know how important he is to us, so it's hard for me to imagine us "winning" a trade with him involved. By the same token, as he ages, his trade value diminishes. It looks like a "now or never" (but still undesirable) situation if we're looking at MZA in a vacuum. Adding in a late-round pick, however, would give a top-ten (or better) drafting team a "character guy" as well as a first-round selection. Maybe that's what it takes.

At least that's my perspective after reading your guys' responses.

 

[Hockeyplayer99]

We should trade the Boston and T.B first round picks to get into the top 10, maybe for the number 9 pick, We trade with ourselves to get that pick. Its a joke, before people start saying things.

 

[SML2]

I don't think we should be trading up. How many years have we gone with no first? Too many. We can't lump them all together and put all eggs in one basket. This is too important. If a team wants to give us a pick for a player, fine. But I'm a no go on packaging the draft picks for higher draft picks. Stock the system with the depth to have young ELC players in bunches. It's essential for competing teams to have that pipeline running.

 

[Edge]

The problem with mock drafts is that guessing the approach of one team is difficult enough, let alone 31. Inevitably, one’s lack of in-depth knowledge about every team comes into play — even if you’re particularly knowledgeable about the league. It’s one reason I’ve never particularly enjoyed doing them.

It’s also hard to avoid your own bias — either when making picks on behalf of teams in front of yours, or when making your team’s pick.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I keep hearing "rock solid" and "logs big minutes." You know that can go either way.

Those are also words to describe defensemen who are actually good.- I would tag Hedman, Doughty, Karlsson with those descriptions too.

Dobson is a beast.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

It’s also hard to avoid your own bias — either when making picks on behalf of teams in front of yours, or when making your team’s pick.

Honestly, I can’t say that me hating Montreal and wanting to see it burn has NOTHING to do with me mocking Tkachuk to them. So you’re definitely right in this regard.

 

[BBKers]

I think We Should:

• Trade Zucc for a mid 1st. A 2019 one if necessary - but then we should get something more
• Use Spooner and/or a 2nd or 3rd rounder to move up if the right opportunity presents itself
• Use one of our late 1st rounders plus to acquire a more developed 20-22 y.o. player that is already drafted that has high potential but has maybe not progressed as thought yet.
• Look seriously at a UFA defensemen in Europe. There has to be some serviceavable gem there.
• Sign Jenssen on a cheap one or Two year deal
• Trade B Smith for Matt Martin retaining a bit
• Sign Kovy, JVR (If price/term is reasonable) and Roussel.
• Let Georgiv get the backup role. Resign the vet Czech goalie in Maine that played well.

This will balance out the rebuild a bit. We cannot only have a bunch of 19 or 20 year olds in the pipeline or on the ice like Gorton said. They will have to earn their spots in camp. If so, more trades can be made freeing roster space

 

[Alluckks]

I think he's going to be a better skater than people think.

I think it was more a joke on your posting tendencies rather than your player assessment abilities

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

oh there are plenty of guys here that watch these kids way more than I do. Kreiderman for instance who I don't necessarily agree with most of the time he's a little to emotionally attached to certain guys is literally at the Sweden tourney right now. that's dedication so kudos to him!

but I definitely watch and read plenty (the Athletic is a must for any big hockey fan these days and when they do the 50% off offer its a nobrainer) especially on the US/Canada/Swedish kids. Really should tune into the Under 18 tourney on NHL network just dvr it like I do catch it when you're free. really get a great look at a lot of these top kids and it being so close to the draft its really fun to analyze them.

Thanks K. With my current job, I am in a position where I get to travel a lot. With datacenters in Switzerland, Finland and Sweden, I can combine my trips with hockey games. I live in Vienna, which is so close to the Czech Republic, that it's easy to see all these prospects play. The Carlson games were in Pardubice last week. 3 hours by train! The Sweden games I didn't get to go to, because I was in Budapest for the Division 1 Group A world championships haha. Switzerland vs Sweden at the Worlds in Copenhagen will probably be my last hockey game of the season to attend.

It's been a wild ride this whole season, following prospects and it is very exciting to see where these kids will be picked. CHL games in Zurich, Vienna, Klagenfurt, Brno, Liberec, SHL games in Stockholm and Goteborg, Liiga games in Helsinki, Lahti, Turku, Tampere, KHL games in Helsinki and Bratislava. Hell, I even traveled to Kladno (4 hours by train) to see Jagr when he came back to Europe.

I don't really talk about NA prospects because aside from the WHL (as a Thunderbirds fan) I don't watch any prospects in major juniors. European prospects, yes. I've seen my fair share of guys like Kupari, Dahlin, Boqvist, Kotkaniemi, Kaut, Kravtsov, Bokk, Ylonen, Dostal, Annunen, Lauko, Jenik.