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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 19, 2018 12:30:40 GMT -5
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Post by seventeen on Jun 19, 2018 15:04:41 GMT -5
You will get a kick out of this....Merkley was really good in that game. He had two primary assists on the last two Canadian goals including the game winner in OT. You really cannot deny his raw talent. That's muh boy. |
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Post by Cranky on Jun 19, 2018 15:24:06 GMT -5
... another opinion ...Wagman: Kotkaniemi not a top-ten prospect (link) Great link. Pretty much what I expect. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 21, 2018 14:27:16 GMT -5
My Mock Draft, just in time!! I was reading Bobby Mac's draft list and he mentioned that there is now a perceived group between about 21 and through to the end of the second round. My amateur assessment is that he is probably pretty accurate, and that bodes quite well for the Habs with four second round picks and one early third - there should be skilled guys around for all those picks.
In all my draft research this year and looking at a number of different lists and player assessments, I do see a group of about 25 or so players who show up in almost most of the Top 31 lists or mock drafts. Their rankings vary, but there seems to be a bit more of first round stability than was expected earlier in the year. Of course, all bets are off tomorrow night as who knows where some teams will go. I expect a few will go off the board a bit, and I will actually be cheering for it. As a Habs fan, I want to see some great options on the table for those two early second round picks. That is critical prospect depth mining territory for TT and team.
Only one thing left...Bring It On!!
1. BUF – Rasmus Dahlin, D, Frolunda – Nothing to see here.
2. CAR – Andrei Svechnikov, RW, Barrie – Take a picture, do an interview, and let’s get on to the drama that will be Pick #3.
3. MTL – Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, Assat – The internet explodes (although it would break down if they pick Tkachuk). The best centre in the draft, late birthday so lots of growing to do, really took off with a great Five Nations Cup in January and the U18s in April when everyone took notice at last.
4. OTT – Filip Zadina, RW, Halifax – Thanks Habs, start the car… Yup, they get a bona fide elite sniper that will haunt their Atlantic opponents for years.
5. ARI – Brady Tkachuk, LW, Boston University – He actually has a lot more skill than given credit for, so he should be a really solid addition at power forward. Not the quickest out there and there were concerns about offence, but he was a true NCAA freshmen playing against older and more experienced guys.
6. DET – Noah Dobson, D, Acadie-Bathurst – He could very well be the second best overall defender in the draft. He really was a horse through the playoffs and in the Memorial Cup. He was a big part of their Memorial Cup win.
7. VAN – Evan Bouchard, D, London – It is not often that a defender is your go-to guy on offense, but that was the case for the Knights this past season. He is all about moving that puck into the offensive zone.
8. CHI – Quinn Hughes, D, Michigan U – The best skating defender in the draft, but goes here due to concerns about his size and how it will impact his ability to defend against bigger guys in the NHL and his weak shot. He had a solid debut for the USA at the recent Worlds.
9. NYR – Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, NTDP – Another pure sniper. He had a very impressive year in the USHL and his numbers really took off once Jack Hughes joined as his centre (duh, would never have guessed). He was very solid at the U18s, also alongside Hughes.
10. EDM – Adam Boqvist, D, Brynas Jr – Another mobile defender with good offensive skills. Suffered his second concussion at the end of the season, so this may impact him not going higher in the top 10. Still really good value at this spot, as he is talented. He was in the top five for a big chunk of this season.
11. NYI - Barret Hayton, C, SSM – Played as the second line centre behind Frost on the CHL’s top ranked team. Has been in the conversation as one of the top centres in this draft, which is a draft desperate for top end centres.
12. NYI – Ty Smith, D, Spokane – Yet another mobile defender, and this trend is not going anywhere soon. He also captained Canada at the recent U18s in Russia, although his play in the Dub was more impressive than that particular tournament.
13. DAL – Joel Farabee, LW, NTDP – The third piece of the NTDP star forwards, after Hughes and Wahlstrom. He is a good scorer, but is also a very complete forward. High energy and hard working guy who will endear himself to his new team.
14. PHI – Joe Veleno, C, Drummondville – With exceptional status as a junior comes big expectations. It is safe to say that Veleno has the size and mobility to be an effective centre, but he is unlikely to be a big points producing top centre at the NHL level. Was part of Canada’s U18 team in a top two role.
15. FLO – Isac Lundestrom, C, Lulea – The prototypical safe pick. Solid on faceoffs and he plays a very predictable two way game. He played as a second line centre in the SHL last season, so is already playing against men.
16. COL – Rasmus Kupari, C, Karpat – He has earned more ice time with his men’s team in Finland, but was known for a big breakout at last summer’s Hlinka tournament and he also had a small role as a 17 year old on Finland’s WJC team. Fast skating centre who played behind Kotkaniemi at the U18s, although he did play alongside on the PP.
17. NJ – Vitali Kravstov, RW, Chelyabinsk – He has good size and skills, and had 11 points in 16 games in the KHL playoffs as a rookie. He was named the KHL top rookie this season.
18. CBJ - Grigori Denisenko, LW, Yaroslavl Jr – Has a reputation for playing a very aggressive game that can sometimes hurt his team with penalties. He has very good skill and skating abilities and will likely mature to find that right balance in aggressiveness.
19. PHI – Serron Noel, RW, Oshawa – Still a very raw prospect but brings a rare combination of size (he is 6’5”) and skill. Had a big impact on the gold medal Hlinka team last summer and on the U18s this past April.
20. LA – Bode Wilde, D, NTDP – Has a great combination of size, skating and skill set; however, he still is a bit of a case of the tools are better than the toolbox. Still needs to get it all together and make better decisions game in and game out, but he has a very alluring package of attributes.
21. SJ – Martin Kaut, RW, Pardubice – Not exceptional in any part of the game, but definitely above average in all aspects without major glaring concerns. Had a really solid WJC for the Czech Republic. Projects as a very solid second line forward.
22. OTT – K’Andre Miller, D, NDTP – If they get both Zadina and Miller, this will be one heck of a first round for Pierre Dorion. The big mobile US defender is a converted forward so he is still learning the nuances of playing defense. He is very athletic and there is still a ton of untapped potential in him.
23. ANA – Ryan McLeod, C, Mississauga – He is Michael McLeod’s younger brother and is known for being a very fast skater, one of this draft’s best. He is most effective when he plays a simple game and does not try to be too much of a finesse guy. Big fast centres will be in demand.
24. MIN – Dominik Bokk, RW, Vaxjo Jr – The German winger got a lot more exposure this past season when he moved to Sweden to play in their junior league. He is a fast and skilled winger and showed he can play against solid competition in a better league than the one he left in Germany.
25. TOR – Rasmus Sandin, D, SSM – The Swedish import is another new age rearguard who is very mobile, has good hockey sense and a solid first pass. Got lots of exposure playing on the powerhouse Greyhounds this past season. He was Boqvist’s partner at the Hlinka last year.
26. NYR – Akil Thomas, C/RW, Niagara – A good skilled playmaking forward who plays a very solid positional game. Some scouts want to see more from him, although he did put up 81 points in 68 games this part season – so he can produce. Played for Canada at the U18s.
27. CHI – Ty Dellandrea, C, Flint – A very complete hard working forward who was the go-to guy on not a strong OHL club. He really stood out at the Top Prospects game and at the U18s for Canada when he got to play with more talented players, and against his strongest peers. I really like this kid. He will be a player.
28. NYR – Jared McIsaac, D, Halifax – He is a steady, mobile two-way defender who is hard to play against as has good hockey IQ. He has been a mainstay on the various versions of Team Canada, so they keep calling his name. With all these purely offensive defenders emerging, you still need smart guys that can play both ends of the ice. This is a big rebuild draft for the Blue Shirts with three firsts and many other picks to load up the pipeline.
29. STL – Jonatan Berggren, RW, Skelleftea Jr - Deep down I rather hope he slips to around when we pick in the early second round!! He is a fast skater who put up good numbers in the junior league and was an offensive catalyst for a bit of a listless Swedish team in April at the U18s. He often drove the play for that squad. He does not play a physical game and has yet to show if he can compete physically against men, but he will be moving up to the men’s league next season.
30. DET – Liam Foudy, C, London – If there is one skill that scouts take note of in today’s game it is speed, and Foudy is a speed demon. Once London traded a lot of its vets, Foudy vaulted into a more prominent role with the Knights and became more productive. He also played at the U18s for Canada.
31. WSH – Matthias Samuelsson, D, NTDP – He captained the USA U18 entry and logged a lot of minutes for them on their top pairing. He is a very reliable and solid guy who combines size, smarts and decent skills. A very reliable defender.
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Post by franko on Jun 21, 2018 15:41:38 GMT -5
3. MTL – Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, Assat "We're very happy, we have taken the player we had targeted all along" |
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Post by blny on Jun 21, 2018 16:35:27 GMT -5
I'm not convinced Ottawa keeps their pick. If they intend to trade Karlsson, the tank is on. They'll be even worse next year. They have to give their first this year, or next, as part of the Duchene trade, to the Avs. Better to do it this year I think. Zadina would fit in extremely well with MacKinnon and Co.
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Post by seventeen on Jun 21, 2018 17:48:01 GMT -5
I've had that line of thinking for a few days now, since the Hoffman debacle. Will the Sens have a better pick next year in the Hughes lottery than the #4? My guess is yes. Melnyk's ownership will continue to make it impossible to produce a winning group. Karlsson will want out and he'll be playing to not get hurt or force a trade. Whatever they get will include futures which won't help the team immediately. The odds keep getting better that they will be worse next year than this.
My bet is they pass the pick to the Avs. What a great trade that's working out to be for Sakic. Could be a career maker...and loaded with luck, of course.
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Post by folatre on Jun 21, 2018 19:18:37 GMT -5
I think the only way Ottawa hands that pick to Colorado on Friday is in the event the master plan is a complete tear down with not only Karlsson departing but at least one of Duchene and Stone leaving too.
One never knows, instead of saying publicly like Panarin that he does not want to talk extension this summer, maybe Duchene's agent, Pat Brisson quietly delivered that same message to Dorion.
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Post by folatre on Jun 21, 2018 19:38:10 GMT -5
NW, good insights, your first round looks pretty realistic.
The dynamic of the top ten is going to be impacted by Montreal. I think if the Habs pick the best player available (Zadina), then Ottawa grabs a d-man, probably Dobson in my view.
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Post by seventeen on Jun 21, 2018 20:00:49 GMT -5
If Colorado ends up with Jack Hughes next year, it's going to be very difficult to keep them from winning a Cup. Or several.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 22, 2018 16:08:08 GMT -5
Only a few more hours until Buffalo in on the clock and the draft officially begins. Wonder who they will pick...
I am so used to having to wait hours until the Habs pick in the mid 20's, so it will be a nice change to be picking so early this year. Still lots of possible intrigue with the draft from a Habs perspective though. You cannot tune out after pick #3. With Pacioretty being dangled and with four second round picks, the Habs have the ammo to be able to get another first round pick this year if they chose.
Every time they show Berg on the phone or talking with another GM, I will be bouncing between being very excited and very scared!! Same with when Bettman comes to the podium and states, "We have a trade to announce". I am hoping excitement wins out. Do us proud Berg.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 22, 2018 16:22:23 GMT -5
No thanks.
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Post by franko on Jun 22, 2018 16:48:29 GMT -5
I am so used to having to wait hours until the Habs pick in the mid 20's, so it will be a nice change to be picking so early this year. get the pain over with early. |
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Post by seventeen on Jun 22, 2018 18:00:36 GMT -5
Start the misery earlier than usual? (Glass half empty)
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Post by blny on Jun 22, 2018 18:06:06 GMT -5
I'm going to start a thread in the trade board about non-habs trades that happen tonight and tomorrow.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jun 22, 2018 19:03:58 GMT -5
Welcome Jesperi Kotkaniemi ...
Cheers.
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Post by blny on Jun 22, 2018 19:10:38 GMT -5
Zadina drops into Detroit's lap.
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