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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 2, 2020 14:40:42 GMT -5
Zary is almost certainly getting picked in the 15-25 range. He is a smart, effective centre in all three zones. This kid will definitely play in the NHL. I have no problem with Montreal picking a centre at #16 if that is the best player on the board. My issue with Zary relates to the fact that his upside could be somewhat limited (not a great skater, not a super quick release or particularly heavy shot, not crazy slick with the puck). Zary plays a very polished all around game because he is skilled and really smart and disciplined. It may also to some factor be a factor of being almost the oldest player in this draft. The skating is worrisome for sure. I don’t see him being BPA at 16. I think there are at least 6 others I would pick ahead. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 2, 2020 14:43:06 GMT -5
Does anyone have a solid (free) draft primer to recommend ? I don't need all the viewpoints, just something so I have a clue who's who on draft day.... This is free and has several contributors. It does not have profiles of a lot of the non-top guys, but it is free! thehockeywriters.com/2020-nhl-draft-guide/Last word on sports does a lot of profiles. They are more factual as opposed to deep analysis, but pretty helpful. |
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Post by PTH on Oct 2, 2020 14:50:19 GMT -5
Does anyone have a solid (free) draft primer to recommend ? I don't need all the viewpoints, just something so I have a clue who's who on draft day.... This is free and has several contributors. It does not have profiles of a lot of the non-top guys, but it is free! thehockeywriters.com/2020-nhl-draft-guide/Last word on sports does a lot of profiles. They are more factual as opposed to deep analysis, but pretty helpful. Perfect, thanks ! |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 2, 2020 15:32:50 GMT -5
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Post by seventeen on Oct 2, 2020 15:56:44 GMT -5
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Post by PTH on Oct 2, 2020 17:08:59 GMT -5
Blocked. First couple of rounds would be awesome... |
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Post by seventeen on Oct 2, 2020 17:33:15 GMT -5
Here it is: formatting isn't as nice as in the article itself.
NHL Mock Draft 2020: Corey Pronman projects all seven rounds
Corey Pronman Oct 1, 2020 266
Today, I attempt the literal impossible as I try to project how the entire 2020 NHL Draft will go with a seven-round mock draft.
This will paint a picture of a group of players who can go around a given draft slot to help inform fans of a given team.
This doesn’t account for trades, of which I’m sure there will be many, as teams trade up and down. It’s possible swaps of draft picks happen immediately after this posts. Your favorite team is making the picks they have as of Tuesday. No complaints about lack of trades!
Team summaries are listed at the end.
The main question going into the draft is where does the top-ranked goaltender Yaroslav Askarov go? Depending on that move, it could shift the dominoes around a lot.
First Round
1. New York Rangers: Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rimouski-QMJHL
All indicators point to the Rangers taking the consensus No. 1 with their first pick. At the time of their lottery win, there was some speculation in the industry about whether they’d entertain a trade, but I’ve heard very little about that since.
2. Los Angeles Kings: Tim Stutzle, C, Mannheim-DEL
Team sources around the league by about a 65-to-35 split think the Kings will take Stutzle over Quinton Byfield. What’s been interesting in this debate is the passion of those who feel one way or the other. There are a lot of people in the NHL who feel Stutzle is clearly better, and a lot who feel Byfield is clearly better.
3. Ottawa Senators: Quinton Byfield, C, Sudbury-OHL
There is a defined top three in Lafreniere, Stutzle and Byfield, and Ottawa will get whomever of the three is left. The betting favorite for that right now is the Sudbury center.
4. Detroit Red Wings: Cole Perfetti, C, Saginaw-OHL
The only two names I’ve heard recently linked to Detroit by multiple sources are Perfetti and goaltender Yaroslav Askarov. One source made a good point regarding Perfetti, in that so many people seem to think that’s who Detroit is taking that it’s almost suspicious. Ultimately, I have to go with what all my information is telling me, even if my instinct says that Askarov, defenseman Jake Sanderson or forward Lucas Raymond could very well go at this spot.
5. Ottawa Senators: Jake Sanderson, D, USNTDP-USHL
Throughout the summer, I heard Lucas Raymond was the guy at No. 5 for Ottawa. The two players mentioned most recently by multiple sources for this pick are Sanderson and Askarov. The sense I’ve gotten from around the league is that Sanderson has the higher odds, but I could see any of those three at this slot.
6. Anaheim Ducks: Jamie Drysdale, D, Erie-OHL
Teams around the league have suggested Raymond and defenseman Jamie Drysdale are the likely considerations here. I’ve heard Sanderson mentioned in passing, but maybe only because of the possible Hampus Lindholm comparable. Drysdale makes arguably the most sense in terms of fit and talent.
7. New Jersey Devils: Lucas Raymond, LW, Frolunda-SHL
I’ve done a lot of asking around on New Jersey’s pick and there hasn’t been a lot to go on. Sources speculate maybe Sanderson, maybe Askarov, maybe Drysdale, maybe Jack Quinn, but the amount of hard intel to go on has been quite scarce. Raymond is the best player available, according to the industry, if the top six plays out this way, and it would be Drysdale if Raymond goes to Anaheim.
8. Buffalo Sabres: Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa-OHL
Buffalo has been hard to pin down because of the changes there in recent months, but the names I’ve heard the most are Rossi, Quinn and Raymond. The Sabres have centers coming, but a lot of NHL scouts think Rossi could end up on the wing.
9. Minnesota Wild: Alexander Holtz, RW, Djurgarden-SHL
New Wild general manager Bill Guerin has been public about the importance of adding to the team’s center depth, but if the board plays out like this, the talent doesn’t make a lot of sense to pass on a player like Holtz unless they trade down. Askarov is a candidate here; or if the goalie or Quinn/Holtz goes higher, it could create a scenario where Rossi is the pick here.
10. Winnipeg Jets: Anton Lundell, C, HIFK-Liiga
Winnipeg, like the Wild, has a need at center. And with Holtz gone, Lundell makes sense, as well as Portland center Seth Jarvis. I think if Holtz gets to No. 10, this could be a landing spot for him.
11. Nashville Predators: Yaroslav Askarov, G, SKA-KHL
Trying to figure out where Askarov lands has been the most difficult part of this mock draft and will ultimately shape how the first round unfolds. I’ve already mentioned his name four times to teams in the top 10. I slotted him at No. 11 because I think it makes sense talent-wise. I’ve heard sources mention him to Nashville as a possibility and Pekka Rinne is nearing the end of his deal. I’ve also heard Nashville is high on Seth Jarvis.
12. Florida Panthers: Seth Jarvis, C, Portland-WHL
Due to the recent and significant changes in Florida’s management, it’s hard to project this pick. Sources around the league had them taking Brandon defenseman Braden Schneider in the Dale Tallon regime. Jarvis is one of the best players available per the industry, and he makes a lot of sense in terms of fit, but I could still see this being Schneider.
13. Carolina Hurricanes: Jack Quinn, RW, Ottawa-OHL
Carolina tends to like skill and it will have options. Jack Quinn would clearly fit the bill if he got to No. 13, with other highly skilled considerations being Jarvis and Russian forward Rodion Amirov.
14. Edmonton Oilers: Dylan Holloway, C, Wisconsin-Big Ten
I’ve heard from scouts around the league that Holloway has a decent chance to go to Edmonton but also not to rule out Prince Albert defenseman Kaiden Guhle at this slot either.
15. Toronto Maple Leafs: Rodion Amirov, LW, Ufa-KHL
Toronto tends to draft skill and hockey sense, and Amirov is one of the last highly skilled players left who also grades highly in the skating department. I’ve heard some smaller, skilled forwards who aren’t great skaters speculated to Toronto but likely as trade down candidates. I would imagine this is Jarvis’ floor if he gets this far.
16. Montreal Canadiens: Kaiden Guhle, D, Prince Albert-WHL
Guhle to the Habs has been something I’ve heard from a few sources in the last few weeks. If he goes higher, which is possible, I could see Holloway at this slot or German winger Lukas Reichel.
17. Chicago Blackhawks: Dawson Mercer, C, Chicoutimi-QMJHL
I don’t feel confident on this one, but I’ve heard Mercer to Chicago mentioned by the odd source, plus speculation on Holloway and the two Western defensemen, Guhle and Schneider.
18. New Jersey Devils: Braden Schneider, D, Brandon-WHL
Schneider has a lot of fans in the NHL industry because of his well-rounded game, and there will be pressure on the Devils to get one of the consensus top-four defensemen, especially if he’s the last one remaining.
19. Calgary Flames: Hendrix Lapierre, C, Chicoutimi-QMJHL
With Lapierre playing and healthy this preseason, there seems to be more optimism about him in the NHL than when I was asking scouts about him in February. I don’t expect him to go top 10 like his preseason hype, but I think he will go in the range of No. 20.
20. New Jersey Devils: Connor Zary, C, Kamloops-WHL
Zary is a bit of a divisive player in the industry because of his so-so skating stride. But he has tremendous skill and compete level. I suspect he’ll go in the No. 18-22 range and be in New Jersey’s mix. He would add some hard skill elements to some of the flashier players the Devils have drafted in recent years.
21. Columbus Blue Jackets: Lukas Reichel, LW, Berlin-DEL
Reichel’s name has a lot of momentum right now with NHL scouts. I’ve heard him speculated to Columbus, but if he went 4-6 spots higher I wouldn’t blink. Columbus has a clear need in its system for a defenseman, but it’s hard to see the talent fit at this slot.
22. New York Rangers: Brendan Brisson, C, Chicago-USHL
Brisson and Halifax defenseman Justin Barron are two names I’ve heard speculated to the Rangers at No. 22. I’m skeptical of Brisson here because an undersized player with average skating and elite skill isn’t a typical high Rangers pick. But Barron’s recent medical procedure, which leaves him out indefinitely, might make him slide a few spots.
23. Philadelphia Flyers: Jacob Perreault, RW, Sarnia-OHL
Some teams think the Flyers will take Brandon center Ridly Greig, but that may just be connecting the fact his father scouts for the team. I’ve heard Chicago winger Sam Colangelo mentioned here, but Perreault is more of a souped-up version of Colangelo.
24. Washington Capitals: Ridly Greig, C, Brandon-WHL
I’ve been told by teams not to underestimate how high Greig could go, and yet I think No. 24 is probably a realistic range for him and have heard teams mention him around this spot. Defensemen Barron and William Wallinder would be the other players I think Washington would like.
25. Colorado Avalanche: Justin Barron, D, Halifax-QMJHL
Greig, Barron, Brisson and Swedish winger Noel Gunler are the names I’ve heard speculated to Colorado. I realize giving them a defenseman seems slightly illogical with Cale Makar, Bowen Byram and Samuel Girard in the system, but I’m more confident in Barron going around this range than Gunler.
26. St. Louis Blues: Ryan O’Rourke, D, Sault Ste. Marie-OHL
The quiet riser over the pause has been Ryan O’Rourke. Several teams think he’s going to sneak into the first round because of his high-end hockey sense and compete level and think he would make a lot of sense at the Blues pick.
27. Anaheim Ducks: William Wallinder, D, MODO-Allsvenskan
Wallinder is the type of defenseman Anaheim tends to like and develop well; one who is a great skater and athlete. He’s a bit of a divisive player in the scouting community, but in a first round thin on defensemen, he’s going to be a candidate for a team like the Ducks that is thin on defensive depth. I could see O’Rourke here too.
28. Ottawa Senators: John-Jason Peterka, LW, Munich-DEL
I thought in February Peterka could go around No. 20, but teams have soured on him a bit after digging in over the course of the pause, and I now think he’ll likely go closer to No. 30. Teams still see a good skill/speed combination, but his size and lack of elite, elite skill will get him more around this range.
29. Vegas Golden Knights: Mavrik Bourque, C, Shawinigan-QMJHL
Bourque and Brisson are two of the more divisive prospects in this range, both being undersized, average-skating forwards with tremendous skill. Some teams have both in the teens, and others outside the first round. Bourque could go closer to where I have Brisson, for example. Vegas tends to highly value skill and hockey sense, and Bourque has those in bunches.
30. Dallas Stars: Jake Neighbours, LW, Edmonton-WHL
Dallas tends to target guys with great skating ability with its high picks, but there isn’t a lot of top talent left that fits that bill, unless the Stars go for Russian Marat Khusnutdinov or for Ozzy Wiesblatt. I still think Neighbours brings a lot of attractive pro elements to the table, aside from his skating.
31. San Jose Sharks: Noel Gunler, RW, Lulea-SHL
San Jose has little true top offensive talent in its system up front, thus it could use someone like Gunler, a player with true top goal-scoring ability. Bourque and Khusnutdinov would make a lot of sense, as well.
Second Round
Detroit: Marat Khusnutdinov, C, SKA-MHL
Ottawa: Tyson Foerster, RW, Ottawa-OHL
San Jose: Ozzy Wiesblatt, RW, Prince Albert-WHL
Los Angeles: Helge Grans, D, Malmo-SHL
Anaheim: Topi Niemela, D, Karpat-Liiga
Nashville: Jan Mysak, C, Hamilton-OHL
Buffalo: Sam Colangelo, RW, Chicago-USHL
Minnesota: Thomas Bordeleau, C, USNTDP-USHL
Winnipeg: Tyler Kleven, D, USNTDP-USHL
Carolina: Jeremie Poirier, D, Saint John-QMJHL
Nashville: Shakhir Mukhamadullin, D, Ufa-KHL
Florida: Justin Sourdif, RW, Vancouver-WHL
Toronto: Lukas Cormier, D, Charlottetown-QMJHL
Detroit: Daemon Hunt, D, Moose Jaw-WHL
Chicago: Jean-Luc Foudy, RW, Windsor-OHL
Montreal: Ty Smilanic, C, USNTDP-USHL
Montreal: Will Cuylle, LW, Windsor-OHL
Arizona: Forfeited
Calgary: Yan Kuznetsov, D, Connecticut-Hockey East
Los Angeles: Maxim Groshev, RW, Nizhnekamsk-KHL
Ottawa: Luke Tuch, LW, USNTDP-USHL
Carolina: Vasili Ponomaryev, C, Shawinigan-QMJHL
Philadelphia: Brock Faber, D, USNTDP-USHL
Detroit: Emil Andrae, D, HV71-SHL
San Jose: Eemil Viro, D, TPS-Liiga
Montreal: Roby Jarventie, LW, Koovee-Mestis
Boston: Dylan Peterson, C, USNTDP-USHL
Ottawa: Jack Finley, C, Spokane-WHL
Los Angeles: Roni Hirvonen, C, Assat-Liiga
Ottawa: Donovan Sebrango, D, Kitchener-OHL
Tampa Bay: Joni Jurmo, D, Jokerit- Jr. A. Liiga
Third Round
Detroit: Zayde Wisdom, RW, Kingston-OHL
Ottawa: Brandon Coe, RW, North Bay-OHL
Detroit: Wyatt Kaiser, D, Andover-US High School
Los Angeles: Luke Evangelista, RW, London-OHL
Anaheim: Daniel Torgersson, LW, Frolunda-J20 SuperElit
Vegas: Jan Bednar, G, Acadie-Bathurst-QMJHL
Carolina: Daniil Guschin, LW, Muskegon-USHL
Nashville: Theodor Niederbach, C, Frolunda-J20 SuperElit
Ottawa: Nico Daws, G, Guelph-OHL
New York Rangers: Ian Moore, D, St. Mark’s-US High School
Nashville: Thimo Nickl, D, Drummondville-QMJHL
Florida: Emil Heineman, LW, Leksands-SHL
Colorado: Drew Commesso, G, USNTDP-USHL
Edmonton: Martin Chromiak, RW, Kingston-OHL
Pittsburgh: Eamon Powell, D, USNTDP-USHL
Montreal: Brett Berard, LW, USNTDP-USHL
Chicago: Kasper Simontaival, RW, Karpat-Jr. A. Liiga
Washington: Jaromir Pytlik, C, Sault Ste. Marie-OHL
Chicago: Kasper Puutio, D, Everett-WHL
Vancouver: Tyler Tullio, RW, Oshawa-OHL
Los Angeles: William Villeneuve, D, Saint John-QMJHL
New Jersey: Calle Clang, G, Rogle-J20 SuperElit
Tampa Bay: Ryan Francis, RW, Cape Breton-QMJHL
St. Louis: Evan Vierling, C, Barrie-OHL
Florida: Sean Farrell, LW, Chicago-USHL
St. Louis: Michael Krutil, D, Sparta Praha-Czech
Boston: Egor Sokolov, LW, Cape Breton-QMJHL
New York Islanders: Antonio Stranges, LW, London-OHL
Vegas: Zion Nybeck, LW, HV71-SHL
New York Rangers: Joel Blomqvist, G, Karpat-Jr. A. Liiga
Tampa Bay: Dmitry Zlodeev, C, Dynamo Moscow-MHL
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Post by folatre on Oct 2, 2020 18:16:00 GMT -5
Thanks, seventeen.
Hmmm, a LHD who projects limited offensive impact? That seems kind of odd for a club with a deep prospect pool. Why not swing for the fences, eh? If Pronman's first fifteen kids there come off the board, I would be focusing in on Lapierre, Reichel, Mercer, Mysak, and Perreault.
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Draft '20
Oct 2, 2020 18:39:49 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by seventeen on Oct 2, 2020 18:39:49 GMT -5
The latest I read on Reichel, from Max Lapierre a teammate of Reichel’s, was quite interesting. I’d give him serious consideration. I’ll try to find that.
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Draft '20
Oct 2, 2020 18:39:51 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by seventeen on Oct 2, 2020 18:39:51 GMT -5
The latest I read on Reichel, from Max Lapierre a teammate of Reichel’s, was quite interesting. I’d give him serious consideration. I’ll try to find that.
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Post by seventeen on Oct 2, 2020 20:42:22 GMT -5
I haven't found it so far and it was more informative than other articles I've read because Lapierre contradicted some of the 'weaknesses' a few scouts have made. I wish I could recall them all....rats. There was one complaint about Reichel not going to the right spots on face-offs and not identifying where he should be in those circumanstances. Lapierre and Reichel were on the same line and Max said he never noticed anything like that and that he would have pointed it out to Lukas if he had. I found this really interesting because it shows how you have to watch out for the source when taking in scouting comments. There was one article on the Athletic where scouts were asked about certain players and it was very funny how one scout's opinion could vary so much from another's. One scout would take a chance on a guy and another wouldn't touch him with the 200th pick. Anyway, Lapierre was pretty high on him. I did find an interview on NHL.com that Guillaume Lepage had with Lapierre. Here's the link and below that a translation of one part of the interview where Reichel is discussed. www.nhl.com/fr/news/cinq-questions-avec-maxim-lapierre/c-316852608
You just wrapped up your first season in LED after three campaigns in Switzerland. How can you compare the two leagues?
It's still similar when it comes to caliber of play. It's a little different in Germany because there are more imported players - teams are entitled to nine, unlike four in Switzerland. It is an open game, which is based on attack. It's a bit more physical in Germany because there are more players from North America who are used to hitting and playing that way. In Switzerland, it's really more based on pure talent and speed.
I've seen a few games where teams from both leagues go head to head and it has always been close, competitive and fun to watch. It is very similar. There is a little North American side to the German League as well when it comes to arenas. For example, in Berlin, the owner is the same as the Los Angeles Kings, so the arena is similar to what was done at Staples Center. The Mercedes-Benz Arena would be one of the finest in the NHL.
We see several young Germans appearing on the radar of the NHL lately. Is there something happening in terms of youth development in Germany?
All year long, I've been fortunate enough to play on the same line as Lukas Reichel, who has long been seen as a potential first-round pick in the next draft. These are young people who are framed in a man's world quite quickly. At 17, playing with a 35-year-old man who played in the NHL is pretty special. You still have to be advanced on the hockey side, the physical side to be able to play with men in a caliber like this.Personally, I don't think that at 17 I would have been able to play there. Of course, it is perhaps less recognized as a League around the world, but if you take a youngster like Reichel and bring him to a junior league in Canada, he would have had some pretty exceptional statistics. I hope that the young Germans are not devalued in terms of statistics when it comes to the draft because at 17, you are definitely not going to score a point per game when you face men.
You speak of Lukas Reichel. How was the dynamic with him, did you take him under your wing?
Absolutely, that was my # 1 project. Whether it was in the gym or in the locker room, where he was always sitting next to me, we were talking to each other. I was so excited about it this year because I had the chance to share my experience in the NHL and I saw the passion of the kid, who was trying to climb as high as possible in the draft rankings.
It was fun to see his face when you say something to him that seems really simple to you, and you realize he hadn't thought about it. Helping her was an honor and something I really appreciated. He's a guy with so much talent that he helped me in my career too (laughs). He made me look good, so I thought it was really cool. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 2, 2020 23:34:19 GMT -5
The latest I read on Reichel, from Max Lapierre a teammate of Reichel’s, was quite interesting. I’d give him serious consideration. I’ll try to find that. He is one the options I like. |
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Draft '20
Oct 3, 2020 6:51:20 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by GNick99 on Oct 3, 2020 6:51:20 GMT -5
Berard 3rd round pick I like.
Which there was going to Rookie camp now
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Post by folatre on Oct 5, 2020 19:17:49 GMT -5
I am not a huge proponent of trading down when an organization's prospect pool is rather quite full while simultaneously a bit short on can't miss difference makers. But I was chatting a bit with a coach (a good old Kitchener lad and lifelong Habs fan and his son scouts BC for an Eastern Conference club) after my son's practice and he said in his view after the first 12-13 kids come off the board, the next three dozen are more or less comparable when you bring risk and reward into the equation.
My question was well what is the scenario in which that could make sense? He said Ottawa (#28 and #33) and Anaheim (#27 and #36) could be angling to move up.
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Post by PTH on Oct 6, 2020 0:10:21 GMT -5
I am not a huge proponent of trading down when an organization's prospect pool is rather quite full while simultaneously a bit short on can't miss difference makers. But I was chatting a bit with a coach (a good old Kitchener lad and lifelong Habs fan and his son scouts BC for an Eastern Conference club) after my son's practice and he said in his view after the first 12-13 kids come off the board, the next three dozen are more or less comparable when you bring risk and reward into the equation. My question was well what is the scenario in which that could make sense? He said Ottawa (#28 and #33) and Anaheim (#27 and #36) could be angling to move up. I'd say it mostly makes sense if we're already dealing a 2nd for some short-term help, and maybe already plan on moving another second to next year (ie, spreading out our picks a bit), since we already have a lot of 2nd rounders. But if a couple of them are gone, then trading trading down to get more shots can make sense, though it kind of means your scouts are really enamored by anyone at that point: if you've got all kind of guys you're lukewarm about, you move down, if you've got a particular liking for a given kid, even if it's a reach, it's better to take him early than to miss out. (see Forsberg and Teravainen in 2012) |
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Draft '20
Oct 6, 2020 5:47:59 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by GNick99 on Oct 6, 2020 5:47:59 GMT -5
I am not a huge proponent of trading down when an organization's prospect pool is rather quite full while simultaneously a bit short on can't miss difference makers. But I was chatting a bit with a coach (a good old Kitchener lad and lifelong Habs fan and his son scouts BC for an Eastern Conference club) after my son's practice and he said in his view after the first 12-13 kids come off the board, the next three dozen are more or less comparable when you bring risk and reward into the equation. My question was well what is the scenario in which that could make sense? He said Ottawa (#28 and #33) and Anaheim (#27 and #36) could be angling to move up. not this year. I hope we keep our picks. 16th get a Caufield, Newhook, Krebs type player. 2nd round very deep. More skill there than average year. If he doesn't trade any picks be good draft. |
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Post by GNick99 on Oct 6, 2020 6:37:43 GMT -5
Does anyone have a solid (free) draft primer to recommend ? I don't need all the viewpoints, just something so I have a clue who's who on draft day.... This is free and has several contributors. It does not have profiles of a lot of the non-top guys, but it is free! thehockeywriters.com/2020-nhl-draft-guide/Last word on sports does a lot of profiles. They are more factual as opposed to deep analysis, but pretty helpful. Good to look back upon to read up on who we drafted. Hope we do well this draft. Timmins is responsible for his own work. Most drafts he has missed the boat |
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Post by BadCompany on Oct 6, 2020 8:43:42 GMT -5
After getting the fan-favorite Caufield last year, do Timmins and Bergevin make everybody mad and draft Dylan Holloway this year?
Everybody keeps saying the offensive potential isn't there, but that's largely based on his first year in Wisconsin. A year in which he was one of only two junior-aged players in the NCAA Division 1. Caufield, as a comparison, was still with the USNDT at the same age. He played mostly third line as the Badgers had a lot of other offensive players in front of him (like Caufield and 5th overall pick Alex Turcotte) and likely didn't get a lot of power-play time. Still managed 8 goals though (which unbelievably tied him for 5th most on the team). He finished the season with 9 points in 10 games.
He's not overly tall (6'1-ish), but he's solid and by all accounts super-strong in a Romanov/Struble kind of way. He skates very well, and is one of the very few physical players at the top of this draft. From Scott Wheeler, in the Athletic:
The more I watched Holloway, the more of an appreciation I gained for the way he imposes himself physically while he’s on the ice. You can forget, when you’re watching him, that he’s half a decade younger than some of the players on the other side at the college level. He doesn’t look it. He’s already 6-foot-0.5 and 203 pounds. And he certainly doesn’t play like it. There were games this year where Holloway was the most physically dominant player on the ice in a college game. You can’t often say that about teenagers at that level, let alone draft-eligible ones.
Also from Wheeler:
Ultimately, the natural instinct when you watch a player like Holloway play is that while his peers at the top of the 2020 class may project into top-six roles, he may become a third-line player. We can pigeonhole players like him as the Dirty Work Guy. I think he’s got more upside than that, though, and it’s not hard to imagine him putting these skills together as the third-best player on a first line. And third-best players on NHL first lines ought to be high picks.
Holloway is the kind of prospect that is missing from our current pool - a forward with size and strength. He's not slow (actually, he's fast), so that isn't an issue, but there are concerns about his offensive upside. As mentioned, if he develops that he could be a Kris Kreider type, which would be a nice compliment to our ever-growing list of mighty-mites. He would be a safe pick in the sense that he seems pretty certain to reach the NHL in some capacity, but he might not be the homerun pick everybody is hoping for. But the thing with swinging for the fences is that you strike out a lot more often than not. Taking Holloway would probably anger a lot of people for a lot of different reasons, but maybe it would be the right pick?
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Post by folatre on Oct 6, 2020 9:09:27 GMT -5
The scoring issue may not be an issue. Who knows, really. NCAA hockey is definitely system heavy (and probably even more so than it was 10 years ago) and teams do a good job neutralizing individual talent with structure.
I remember thinking well this Poehling kid was just so young as a freshman at St. Cloud State and it is tough to put up points in college hockey. But then his following two years he scored at an acceptable clip, though he was never tearing it up per se.
Is Holloway another Poehling? Time will say. I rather take swings at higher ceiling kids at 16, 47, and 48. Having said that, I prefer to select Holloway over Zary, Guhle, or Schneider.
Yeah, Montreal needs more heavy wingers like Holloway but the Habs really need that element literally right now so I think getting a couple guys like Fogele and Virtanen would make a lot of sense.
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Post by PTH on Oct 6, 2020 9:38:40 GMT -5
La Presse has a nice write-up of the first round. You can assume most fans will have read this and little else. www.lapresse.ca/sports/hockey/2020-10-06/repechage-de-la-lnh/quelques-suggestions-pour-le-ch.phpIf we're swinging for the fences, I'd go for Lapierre, the health issues be damned... we aren't getting a top 5 talent at 16 without taking risk somewhere. Their analysis assumes that Alexis Lafrenière, Tim Stützle, Quinton Byfield, Jamie Drysdale, Jake Sanderson, Marco Rossi, Cole Perfetti, Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz are gone when we pick. |
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Draft '20
Oct 6, 2020 10:09:55 GMT -5
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Post by GNick99 on Oct 6, 2020 10:09:55 GMT -5
After getting the fan-favorite Caufield last year, do Timmins and Bergevin make everybody mad and draft Dylan Holloway this year? Everybody keeps saying the offensive potential isn't there, but that's largely based on his first year in Wisconsin. A year in which he was one of only two junior-aged players in the NCAA Division 1. Caufield, as a comparison, was still with the USNDT at the same age. He played mostly third line as the Badgers had a lot of other offensive players in front of him (like Caufield and 5th overall pick Alex Turcotte) and likely didn't get a lot of power-play time. Still managed 8 goals though (which unbelievably tied him for 5th most on the team). He finished the season with 9 points in 10 games. He's not overly tall (6'1-ish), but he's solid and by all accounts super-strong in a Romanov/Struble kind of way. He skates very well, and is one of the very few physical players at the top of this draft. From Scott Wheeler, in the Athletic: The more I watched Holloway, the more of an appreciation I gained for the way he imposes himself physically while he’s on the ice. You can forget, when you’re watching him, that he’s half a decade younger than some of the players on the other side at the college level. He doesn’t look it. He’s already 6-foot-0.5 and 203 pounds. And he certainly doesn’t play like it. There were games this year where Holloway was the most physically dominant player on the ice in a college game. You can’t often say that about teenagers at that level, let alone draft-eligible ones.Also from Wheeler: Ultimately, the natural instinct when you watch a player like Holloway play is that while his peers at the top of the 2020 class may project into top-six roles, he may become a third-line player. We can pigeonhole players like him as the Dirty Work Guy. I think he’s got more upside than that, though, and it’s not hard to imagine him putting these skills together as the third-best player on a first line. And third-best players on NHL first lines ought to be high picks.
Holloway is the kind of prospect that is missing from our current pool - a forward with size and strength. He's not slow (actually, he's fast), so that isn't an issue, but there are concerns about his offensive upside. As mentioned, if he develops that he could be a Kris Kreider type, which would be a nice compliment to our ever-growing list of mighty-mites. He would be a safe pick in the sense that he seems pretty certain to reach the NHL in some capacity, but he might not be the homerun pick everybody is hoping for. But the thing with swinging for the fences is that you strike out a lot more often than not. Taking Holloway would probably anger a lot of people for a lot of different reasons, but maybe it would be the right pick? Holloway can't score. His numbers in NCAA half of Poehling. Holloway already 19, comparable to Poehling at 19. Poehling future 3rd liner |
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Draft '20
Oct 6, 2020 10:17:01 GMT -5
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Post by GNick99 on Oct 6, 2020 10:17:01 GMT -5
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Draft '20
Oct 6, 2020 10:20:03 GMT -5
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Post by GNick99 on Oct 6, 2020 10:20:03 GMT -5
La Presse has a nice write-up of the first round. You can assume most fans will have read this and little else. www.lapresse.ca/sports/hockey/2020-10-06/repechage-de-la-lnh/quelques-suggestions-pour-le-ch.phpIf we're swinging for the fences, I'd go for Lapierre, the health issues be damned... we aren't getting a top 5 talent at 16 without taking risk somewhere. Their analysis assumes that Alexis Lafrenière, Tim Stützle, Quinton Byfield, Jamie Drysdale, Jake Sanderson, Marco Rossi, Cole Perfetti, Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz are gone when we pick. LaPierre appears to be in the mix. As much as I hate it. Bourque they like. Jarvis they hoping slides. Like Caufield last year. They like Riechel also McCagg was just on Marinaro. He said Montreal talking with Jets about Laine Sam Cosentino's mock draft has us taking Jarvis at 16. He has Oilers and Leafs taking defensemen. He has LaPierre going to Devils at 21. Hope he is right |
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Post by Gogie on Oct 6, 2020 11:16:08 GMT -5
La Presse has a nice write-up of the first round. You can assume most fans will have read this and little else. www.lapresse.ca/sports/hockey/2020-10-06/repechage-de-la-lnh/quelques-suggestions-pour-le-ch.phpIf we're swinging for the fences, I'd go for Lapierre, the health issues be damned... we aren't getting a top 5 talent at 16 without taking risk somewhere. Their analysis assumes that Alexis Lafrenière, Tim Stützle, Quinton Byfield, Jamie Drysdale, Jake Sanderson, Marco Rossi, Cole Perfetti, Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz are gone when we pick. Last time I recall "swinging for the fences, .... health issues be damned", the Habs drafted Andrei Kostitsyn at number 10 overall (ahead of guys like Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown, Brent Seabrook, and Zach Parise to name a few). I don't think his health issues ever became a factor in his success, but I believe he had other issues off the ice that impacted his success. In my view (and I watched him a lot when he played in Hamilton) he had some real talent but never lived up to his potential. In hindsight that was a pretty deep draft and taking Kostitsyn at 10 wasn't the best of decisions. |
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Post by Andrew on Oct 6, 2020 11:36:40 GMT -5
La Presse has a nice write-up of the first round. You can assume most fans will have read this and little else. www.lapresse.ca/sports/hockey/2020-10-06/repechage-de-la-lnh/quelques-suggestions-pour-le-ch.phpIf we're swinging for the fences, I'd go for Lapierre, the health issues be damned... we aren't getting a top 5 talent at 16 without taking risk somewhere. Their analysis assumes that Alexis Lafrenière, Tim Stützle, Quinton Byfield, Jamie Drysdale, Jake Sanderson, Marco Rossi, Cole Perfetti, Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz are gone when we pick. Last time I recall "swinging for the fences, .... health issues be damned", the Habs drafted Andrei Kostitsyn at number 10 overall (ahead of guys like Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown, Brent Seabrook, and Zach Parise to name a few). I don't think his health issues ever became a factor in his success, but I believe he had other issues off the ice that impacted his success. In my view (and I watched him a lot when he played in Hamilton) he had some real talent but never lived up to his potential. In hindsight that was a pretty deep draft and taking Kostitsyn at 10 wasn't the best of decisions. Don't forget Getzlaf, Richards, Burns, Kesler and Perry  |
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Post by frozone on Oct 6, 2020 11:49:43 GMT -5
After getting the fan-favorite Caufield last year, do Timmins and Bergevin make everybody mad and draft Dylan Holloway this year? Everybody keeps saying the offensive potential isn't there, but that's largely based on his first year in Wisconsin. A year in which he was one of only two junior-aged players in the NCAA Division 1. Caufield, as a comparison, was still with the USNDT at the same age. He played mostly third line as the Badgers had a lot of other offensive players in front of him (like Caufield and 5th overall pick Alex Turcotte) and likely didn't get a lot of power-play time. Still managed 8 goals though (which unbelievably tied him for 5th most on the team). He finished the season with 9 points in 10 games. He's not overly tall (6'1-ish), but he's solid and by all accounts super-strong in a Romanov/Struble kind of way. He skates very well, and is one of the very few physical players at the top of this draft. From Scott Wheeler, in the Athletic: The more I watched Holloway, the more of an appreciation I gained for the way he imposes himself physically while he’s on the ice. You can forget, when you’re watching him, that he’s half a decade younger than some of the players on the other side at the college level. He doesn’t look it. He’s already 6-foot-0.5 and 203 pounds. And he certainly doesn’t play like it. There were games this year where Holloway was the most physically dominant player on the ice in a college game. You can’t often say that about teenagers at that level, let alone draft-eligible ones.Also from Wheeler: Ultimately, the natural instinct when you watch a player like Holloway play is that while his peers at the top of the 2020 class may project into top-six roles, he may become a third-line player. We can pigeonhole players like him as the Dirty Work Guy. I think he’s got more upside than that, though, and it’s not hard to imagine him putting these skills together as the third-best player on a first line. And third-best players on NHL first lines ought to be high picks.
Holloway is the kind of prospect that is missing from our current pool - a forward with size and strength. He's not slow (actually, he's fast), so that isn't an issue, but there are concerns about his offensive upside. As mentioned, if he develops that he could be a Kris Kreider type, which would be a nice compliment to our ever-growing list of mighty-mites. He would be a safe pick in the sense that he seems pretty certain to reach the NHL in some capacity, but he might not be the homerun pick everybody is hoping for. But the thing with swinging for the fences is that you strike out a lot more often than not. Taking Holloway would probably anger a lot of people for a lot of different reasons, but maybe it would be the right pick? His numbers in NCAA half of Poehling. Holloway already 19, comparable to Poehling at 19. Poehling future 3rd liner I think that this is exactly what people get wrong about Holloway. His offensive upside is high imo. If Holloway was playing in the CHL he would be torching it. Skates like Barzal, hits like Clutterbuck. Soft hands, vision... Players as complete as Holloway don't come around very often. If we have the chance to pick him at 16, it's only because playing on Wisconsin's 3rd line have lowered expectations. Had he played in the top 6, he easily would have notched 25+ points and would get drafted before we're up to call. |
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Post by PTH on Oct 6, 2020 12:00:31 GMT -5
Last time I recall "swinging for the fences, .... health issues be damned", the Habs drafted Andrei Kostitsyn at number 10 overall (ahead of guys like Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown, Brent Seabrook, and Zach Parise to name a few). I don't think his health issues ever became a factor in his success, but I believe he had other issues off the ice that impacted his success. In my view (and I watched him a lot when he played in Hamilton) he had some real talent but never lived up to his potential. In hindsight that was a pretty deep draft and taking Kostitsyn at 10 wasn't the best of decisions. Don't forget Getzlaf, Richards, Burns, Kesler and Perry Given his health issues weren't the problem, I fail to see the relevancy of the comparison... A better one might have been Galchenyuk; it's possible he got overrated because he never had to face the kind of adversity he should have in his draft year. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 6, 2020 12:13:23 GMT -5
Okay, some thoughts on the first round. I will follow up with my much bigger board on the rest of the picks...if I get enough time to get it down online as I have it only in rough note form right now!
Who do I see in the mix at 16 if Berg does not flip this pick for instant, young forward relief today/tonight?
Seth Jarvis, RW, Portland (WHL), 5'10" 175lbs: TT mentioned yesterday that he hopes for some "helps" from some team to allow some of their targets to drop. Jarvis is no doubt one of those scenarios. He is a play driver who really exploded in the second half of the season. He brings great speed and skill to the table. He projects to be a top six winger who can play on the PP. He does need to get a bit stronger and further develop his defensive game, but he is a dynamic pick in this range.
Lukas Reichel, LW, Berlin (DEL), 6'0" 170lbs: Reichel was part of the great young German trio who exploded onto the scene at the WJC last December. We know who will go #1 of the three, but always a lingering question as to who projects better between Reichel and Peterka. If you read Max Lapierre's comments about this young man, he raves about his compete level and skills. He can play the game at a very fast pace and be effective, and can make decisions when the game is moving fast. If he was in the CHL, he would be a slamdunk at this point IMO. He is doing well against men, which is even more impressive even if it dilutes the numbers a bit. He is akin to a left wing version of Jarvis in terms of dynamic upside. He can definitely fill out a bit, but he does not play soft or shy away from tough spots on the ice.
Hendrix Lapierre, C, Chicoutimi (QMJHL), 5'11.5" 179lbs: If any player can benefit from an early return to play, it is Lapierre. From a season last year when he was superb at the Hlinka, but that was way back last August...ages ago. He was a huge question mark due to his injuries this past season. Concussions or neck injuries? That is the big wildcard for Hendrix going forward and whatever teams picks him. He has great IQ, vision, competitiveness and is a great playmaker. Other than the health question, the biggest knock is his really weak shot. It is weak and he has really bad mechanics. He has scored 3 times in his first 2 games this season (although one was an ENG), but it shows he has been working on his shot. If he improves his shot, then he will be even harder to defend and defenders will not be able to cheat towards his great passing skills. If his health is fine...he is great value at this spot.
Rodion Amirov, LW, UFA (KHL), 6'0" 167lbs: He has good skill and speed, but he is still quite light and does not get the visibility that NA players do, and he bounced a ton between different levels of play last season typical of younger Russian players (MHL, VHL, KHL, etc.). He will need to add weight to adjust to the NA game, but the skill is there and he has already started to put up points in the early Russian season. I have watched this guy in international play for a while, and he has always stood out to me. Not sure how high he projects, but he has intriguing upside.
Dawson Mercer, C/RW, Chicoutimi (QMJHL), 6'0" 180lbs: If there is a guy who shows up on a lot of mock drafts for the Habs, it is Newfoundland born Mercer. He is a smart, energetic player with a big compete level. He shows good skills, but the big question is just what his offensive upside is. When you also see more average skating compared to the more dynamic guys in this list, he comes up a bit shorter than they do on the projection model. He would be a fine pick, but not if those others are also available.
Mavrik Bourque, C, Shawinigan (QMJHL), 5'10.25" 178lbs: Another example of just how great this draft is for the Q this year...and it has been a long time coming. He is seen as one of the smartest players in terms of hockey IQ, and can shoot and pass. He is competitive and makes others around him better. The knock is his skating is not as good as some of the faster forwards at this point. He also played a ton on a poor team, so he likely has more offense in him with a better team and linemates. He should be in the conversation at this point, but he has some heady competition for the 16th spot.
There are also a few guys that all have good traits, but I just don't see picking them here for a few reasons:
Zary is all about his lack of footspeed. He drops for me because of it. Perreault brings hockey lineage, a top end shot, and good speed (when he decides to use it), so this sure sounds like a slam dunk here. The problem is he counters it with really bad defensive play and effort/consistency red flags...which would drive a guy like Julien bonkers (as it does a lot of scouts who would have him much higher). The #3 and 4 projected D are WHLers Guhle and Schneider, but I don't see the offensive upside (both project to be good minute eating defensive first guys) that some of their forward counterparts offer at this pick. I actually hope there is a bit of run on defenders just before the Habs pick as the first round is super light on D and it would enable some of TT's "helps" to happen and have some skilled forwards drop into their lao. We can only wish! Tonight will tell.
Cheers!
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Post by seventeen on Oct 6, 2020 12:28:20 GMT -5
I like your list a lot, NWT. For some reason (maybe because he's considered a 'safe' pick), I'm not keen on Mercer. The times I have seen him, he hasn't done anything to impress me and I like to see at least one example that makes me go "What the hell happened there?". The other 5 guys are all intriguing and I'd be content with any of them. They're all risky of course, or they'd have been picked by the time #16 rolled around. For that reason, I'm guessing we go for Mercer.  And now for something completely different: |
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Draft '20
Oct 6, 2020 13:07:24 GMT -5
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Post by GNick99 on Oct 6, 2020 13:07:24 GMT -5
Holloway can't score. His numbers in NCAA half of Poehling. Holloway already 19, comparable to Poehling at 19. Poehling future 3rd liner I think that this is exactly what people get wrong about Holloway. His offensive upside is high imo. If Holloway was playing in the CHL he would be torching it. Skates like Barzal, hits like Clutterbuck. Soft hands, vision... Players as complete as Holloway don't come around very often. If we have the chance to pick him at 16, it's only because playing on Wisconsin's 3rd line have lowered expectations. Had he played in the top 6, he easily would have notched 25+ points and would get drafted before we're up to call. Done that many times before and rarely works out. Got to learn thru your mistakes. Guys who skate like the wind and hit, Collberg, JLR, but can't score, etc... hard to teach hands. Not worth passing on a Jarvis, Bourque or LaPierre. |
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