Draft '20

[folatre]

Good insights, NW. I have been focused on quite a few of the same kids.

I do agree that Guhle and Schneider are wild cards in the sense that teams wanting to jump on a d-man may help certain forwards drop to #16.

My assumption is that Jarvis will be gone. I kind of lean toward the assumption that Mercer will be gone too.

Therefore, I believe it is likely all the following forwards will be available: Holloway, Lapierre, Reichel, Perreault, Zary, Bourque, Amirov, Gunler, and Mysak.

I really like Reichel, Perreault, Amirov and Mysak. But my pick would be Lapierre. I just see him as the most gifted hockey player on the board at #16.

[frozone]

Oct 6, 2020 13:52:16 GMT -5 folatre said:

Good insights, NW. I have been focused on quite a few of the same kids.

I do agree that Guhle and Schneider are wild cards in the sense that teams wanting to jump on a d-man may help certain forwards drop to #16.

My assumption is that Jarvis will be gone. I kind of lean toward the assumption that Mercer will be gone too.

Therefore, I believe it is likely all the following forwards will be available: Holloway, Lapierre, Reichel, Perreault, Zary, Bourque, Amirov, Gunler, and Mysak.

I really like Reichel, Perreault, Amirov and Mysak. But my pick would be Lapierre. I just see him as the most gifted hockey player on the board at #16.

I'd be happy with any of these guys except for Zary. Not that I don't like his game, but he played on a dominant line and didn't exactly outproduce his linemates.

[NWTHabsFan]

Rounds 2 to 7...it is a bit of a read.

Another draft (finally), and a whole lot of random thoughts and some players based on the types of players that I like or that could possibly be on the Habs radar. Due to me being late getting this on paper, my descriptions may be a bit lighter than usual. The players within each grouping are in no particular order.
Picking players who might be in play at each pick is always a crapshoot for us blatant amateurs. It gets far tougher as the draft progresses into the later rounds with much less known players (if you even know them at all). Nothing ventured, nothing gained…

Second Round (47, 48 and 56 – it is actually pick 57 but the ARI pick is forfeited, so I will be going with the 56th player selected in the draft for this pick and beyond)

Sam Colangelo, RW, Chicago (USHL), 6’1.5” 1205 – The big power forward on the best line in the USHL. He is a power winger with a good shot, decent skating for his size (he can get quicker though as with most big forwards) and he goes to the net. He might be gone by our picks though.

Ozzy Weisblatt, RW, Prince Albert (WHL), 5’10” 183 – An offense, high energy creative winger who also plays with a decent amount of jam.

Ty Smilanic, C, USNDP (USHL), 6’1” 175 – He was hampered by injures last season and actually played with a cast on one hand for a while…so viewings and opinions have to take that into account. He is a good skater with a heavy shot and looks to be a solid two way centre.

Theodor Niederbach, C, Frolunda (Swe Jr), 5’11” 172 – Missed his D-1 year with injuries, so he was eased back into action working his way up through the leagues. He is a smart, quick playmaking centre who finished the year as a top two centre for the national U-18 team. He is getting some SHL games in this season.

Daniel Torgersson, LW, Frolinda (Swe Jr), 6’3” 199 – Strong north-south skater with a good shot who is willing to go to the net and is solid on the forecheck.

Joni Jurmo, LD, Jokerit (Fin Jr), 6’4” 190 – A tall, good skating defender who loves to rush the puck up the ice. Still very raw and needs to firm up his play in the D zone, but has big upside due to his size and smooth skating.

Roby Jarventie, LW, Ilves (Fin), 6’2” 184 – A solid framed winger who is a good skater with a good shot. He was playing last season against men in the second division already. He does need to get more consistent.

Will Cuylle, LW, Windsor (OHL), 6’3” 204 – A big, mobile winger who has a good shot arsenal. He did plateau a bit this last season, but has more left to grow for sure. He too can be a bit inconsistent.

Luke Evangelista, RW, London (OHL), 5’11’’ 170 – A creative, playmaking winger with good skills. He really moved up the ranks as he got more exposure in a program that develops players really well.

Emil Heineman, LW, Leksands (Swe), 6’1” 185 – A good framed, mobile strong power winger with good shot and skills. A bit under the radar, but would bring a lot to the prospect pool for sure.

Third Round (77)

Evan Wierling, C, Barrie (OHL), 6’0” 165 – A smart, skilled playmaking centre. Needs to add strength.

Ronan Seeley, LD, Everett (WHL), 6’0” 176 – A fast skating, puck mover who lacked exposure due to the strong depth on D in Everett last season. Expect him to take on a much bigger role this season due to graduations on D corps.

Eamon Powell, RD, USNDP (USHL), 5’11” 165 – He was the right side pairing partner with Sanderson this year and held his own, although you tend be play in the shadows of a more dominant partner. He is very fast and smooth skater that brings a solid 2 way game. He will need to add strength to play against bigger forwards as he moves into the NCAA and pro game.

Tristin Robins, C/RW, Saskatoon (WHL), 5’10” 176 – Another player like Jarvis that really improved his draft stock with improved play as the season went on. He is a fast, quick offensive centre who can also play wing.

Ian Moore, RD, St Mark’s (USHS), 6’2” 171 – TT likes his high school defenders, and Moors is the best of the crop this season. He is a strong skater with good mobility and is very offensive minded. Like many young D coming out of high school hockey, he will have to tighten up in his own end once he moves up to more structured hockey against better competition.

Cross Hanas, LW, Portland (WHL), 6’1” 167 – A speedy and gritty 2 way winger who could add some consistency to his game. Portland is a strong developer of talent, so he is likely to keep getting better and better.

Mid Rounds (4th-97, 101 and 108; 5th-135)

James Hardie, LW, Mississauga (OHL), 5’11” 180 – A good skating goal scoring winger.

Dmitri Rashevsky, RW, Dynamo (Rus), 6’1” 165 – An overager who has really blossomed this past season. While watching his highlight videos, this kid is a wizard with the puck on his stick. He will need to get stronger as his frame is still quite slight.

Alexander Pashin, RW, UFA (Rus), 5’8” 154 – Yes, he is tiny, but he is super skilled and a very dynamic winger who just seems to make things happen every time I see him play. He will need to get bigger and stronger, but the skill is undeniable.

William Villeneuve, RD, Saint John (QMJHL), 6’1” 175 – A big point producing D in the QMJHL last season. He is offensive minded and has a good strong, low shot. He needs to improve skating and his defense play.

Brock Faber, RD, USNDP (USHL), 6’0” 194 – A solid skating good 2 way defender who plays a safe and reliable game.

Samuel Johanneson, RD, Rogle (SHL), 5’11” 176 – He is in his second year of eligibility, but he has really improved since last year. He is a strong skating offensive defender who still needs to add a bit of size if he wants to play on the smaller ice against bigger opponents.

Sam Stange, RW, Sioux Falls (USHL), 6’1” 200 – He is big and fast and was a top five goal scorer in the USHL after not being selected from high school last draft. The US also invited him to their WJC summer camp.

Oskar Magnusson, C, Malmo (Swe), 5’10” 165 – A fast and versatile offensive winger who will need to get stronger. In my limited viewings, I did like that he did drive plays at times when on the ice.

Gage Goncalves, C, Everett (WHL), 6’0” 170 – What a difference a year makes. From 1 goal last year to 33 this year in his second year of eligibility. He also improved on his skating and his hockey IQ was on display as he drove the offense for very defensive minded Everett. He is creative while generating offense in different ways.

William Dufour, RW, Drummondville (QMJHL), 6’2” 194 – A good powerful 2 way winger who plays a heavy game and is good on the forecheck. His offensive upside is likely limited at the next level, but he is good complementary value here in this range.

Artem Shlaine, C, Shattucks (USHS), 6’1” 174 – A Russian born kid who moved to the US and now is playing prep hockey. He is a skilled centre, who has good mobility and a heavy shot. He also is a good playmaker.

Kasper Puutio, RD, Everett (WHL), 5’11” 185 – For those keeping count, the Finnish import is my third player from the Tips (where Fonstad and Fairbrother played last season). Like Seeley, he is another kid that likely should be playing higher up the depth chart on a lesser team that did not have the crazy D depth. He is a mobile puck move who plays a very solid two way game.

Late Rounds (6th-170; 7th-187)

Dmitri Ovchinnikov, LW, Sibir (Rus), 5’11” 165 – A quick and skilled offensive winger that would be really great value at this point of the draft. Swing for the fences with these kind of players that you can sit on for a few years.

Yegor Chinankov, R Omsk (Rus), 6’0” 175 – Another second year eligible guy, although he was ranked pretty decently in many lists last year. He has definitely beefed up and improved his game since missing out last year. He is a solid two way winger who protects the puck well and has good speed. He has already started getting some decent points this season.

Zach Uens, LD, Merrimack (NCAA), 6’1” 180 – He was passed over last year while playing in the OJHL tier two league, but should get picked this year as the mobile, puck moving D has had a good freshman campaign in the NCAA.

Patrick Guay, C, Sherbrooke (QMJHL), 5’9” 170 – The diminutive speedster definitely has offensive potential and likely would be ranked higher if not for his size.

Carsen Richels, LW, Blaine (USHS), 6’3” 223 – TT tends to really like multi sport athletes who are physical specimens and gym rats. He ticks all the boxes lol. A raw power winger who is quite solid in all 3 zones. He has decent mobility, but could improve with a quicker first few steps.

Albert Lyckasen, RD, Linkopings (Swe), 5’10 180 – Another second year guy who improved a fair bit since being passed over last draft. I had him on my list last year too, so I am sticking with him! He is a good skating mobile puck mover.

Billy Contantinou, RD, SSM (OHL), 6’1” 185 – My final guy on my list (with more time I would have more across the board…trust me!!) who also is back for his second shot at the draft. The big knock last year was his decision making, which has improved over the season. He is a smooth skating defender who can effectively move the puck. He also comes in with decent size compared to other mobile puck movers.

Edit: I want a goalie this draft...I will post goalie thoughts in yet another separate post. Kinda forgot to add it to this post...oops.

[folatre]

NW, thanks again. That is a lot of good info to digest.

Those second round picks are important and I would advocate going for home run swings with two of them and perhaps playing it safer with one.

I guess I will wait on making my picks until I see some names come off the board tonight. I know that will not clarify everything because there will be a bunch of names tomorrow (#32-46) who the Habs will also lose access to.

[NWTHabsFan]

Oct 6, 2020 17:44:31 GMT -5 folatre said:

NW, thanks again. That is a lot of good info to digest.

Those second round picks are important and I would advocate going for home run swings with two of them and perhaps playing it safer with one.

I guess I will wait on making my picks until I see some names come off the board tonight. I know that will not clarify everything because there will be a bunch of names tomorrow (#32-46) who the Habs will also lose access to.

Yeah, there are a bunch of guys I really like in that range, but did not include because I did not think Habs would get a shot at them. That is why mine is not a complete draft board. I guess Habs are now down to 10 picks, still lots of chances to swing a few big swings.

[PTH]

Oct 6, 2020 17:44:31 GMT -5 folatre said:

NW, thanks again. That is a lot of good info to digest.

Those second round picks are important and I would advocate going for home run swings with two of them and perhaps playing it safer with one.

I guess I will wait on making my picks until I see some names come off the board tonight. I know that will not clarify everything because there will be a bunch of names tomorrow (#32-46) who the Habs will also lose access to.

I've given up on projecting who we will pick, or who we should pick, I don't see the kids play, and going off what others think is of limited value.

I've found I'd rather just read up on the guys we picked afterwards. Less work.

But I've read a lot on the drafting process, and the way teams go into the draft with a list of 30-50 names they've scouted well, which is why sometimes in the 7th round one team is out of ideas and trades its pick for a 7th next year (and vice versa). What I find scary is how teams essentially don't scout in depth a lot of guys - in know our 1993 list was of about 8 centers, that's it, so if Paul Kariya slipped, we weren't picking him even at 21. Then again, when guys do slip, it's risky since too often it's because other teams did their homework and there's something off... (see Ward, Jason)

All that to say, I'm curious to see who we pick.

I do agree we should be going for the fences. Given how we just gave up on some high skill to get some grit, we need to make sure to get back some skill in the draft.

[NWTHabsFan]

Oct 6, 2020 17:53:54 GMT -5 PTH said:

Oct 6, 2020 17:44:31 GMT -5 folatre said:

NW, thanks again. That is a lot of good info to digest.

Those second round picks are important and I would advocate going for home run swings with two of them and perhaps playing it safer with one.

I guess I will wait on making my picks until I see some names come off the board tonight. I know that will not clarify everything because there will be a bunch of names tomorrow (#32-46) who the Habs will also lose access to.

I've given up on projecting who we will pick, or who we should pick, I don't see the kids play, and going off what others think is of limited value.

I've found I'd rather just read up on the guys we picked afterwards. Less work.

But I've read a lot on the drafting process, and the way teams go into the draft with a list of 30-50 names they've scouted well, which is why sometimes in the 7th round one team is out of ideas and trades its pick for a 7th next year (and vice versa). What I find scary is how teams essentially don't scout in depth a lot of guys - in know our 1993 list was of about 8 centers, that's it, so if Paul Kariya slipped, we weren't picking him even at 21. Then again, when guys do slip, it's risky since too often it's because other teams did their homework and there's something off... (see Ward, Jason)

All that to say, I'm curious to see who we pick.

I do agree we should be going for the fences. Given how we just gave up on some high skill to get some grit, we need to make sure to get back some skill in the draft.

I want skill this draft for sure. It is there. Of course, I value skill, skating and hockey IQ every draft.

[drkcloud]

NHL making sure the two biggest American markets get the top two players. Gotta keep competitive teams in NY and LA

[NWTHabsFan]

I thought Stützle would go #2. Oh well, lucky Sens. He comes to the Habs conference.

[Tankdriver]

Well time to throw out my pick. I would go with Mercer.

[NWTHabsFan]

These European picks are missing out on a good night’s sleep!!

[folatre]

A bit of a surprise. I guess the idea that the proximity of Saginaw to Detroit would predispose the Red Wings to pick Perfetti was wrong. Raymond is supposed to be a Marner type winger who drives offense.

[NWTHabsFan]

Sens have to go D here.

I want a big run on D before our pick!!

Edit: I really like Sanderson here. Nice pick for them, this team is getting a lot better with picks.

Edit 2: son of a guy born in the NWT..just saying!

[folatre]

I am four of five thus far, jeje I'm sure it will go downhill from here.

[NWTHabsFan]

Oct 6, 2020 18:50:54 GMT -5 folatre said:

I am four of five thus far, jeje I'm sure it will go downhill from here.

The names are quite predictable, the order less so.

[seventeen]

Rossi and Perfetti still not picked.

[NWTHabsFan]

Oct 6, 2020 18:56:27 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Rossi and Perfetti still not picked.

Now that Drysdale is gone, it is time. Perfetti first methinks. Maybe next.

[Tankdriver]

So who do you see dropping the most?

[seventeen]

Is there a big Question Mark on Perfetti? I may be in a minority. I had him at 4.

[Skilly]

So far this draft is going pretty much the order most thought it would

[NWTHabsFan]

I wanted Holtz...oh yeah, we are not picking 9th any more lol. I would have hated this pick.

So we would have had the choice of whomever is left between Rossi and Perfetti. Old news now!

[seventeen]

Those few games of playoff experience have become very expensive.

[NWTHabsFan]

Oct 6, 2020 19:02:57 GMT -5 Tankdriver said:

So who do you see dropping the most?

5’9” centres.

[Tankdriver]

I think Perferetti slips a bit more.

[folatre]

Yeah, probably Rossi is most likely to suffer the 'too small' bias that drops him a bit lower than he should have gone.

[seventeen]

The Jets will have a shot at 1 of those guys! Replacement for Laine who can give them a haul.

[seventeen]

Rossi might just make the Wild next year.

[Willie Dog]

The wild take Rossi

[NWTHabsFan]

If Perfetti goes next, then the top 10 all will go with the top ten picks (maybe in different order for some). It gets fun at 11 IMO.

[folatre]

Good for the Wild. A team looking for a 2C should definitely pick Rossi. The added benefit is that Rossi may well be the second most physically mature prospect (after Lafreniere) in the entire draft. He is old for his draft class and he has already played with men in Switzerland, so it would not shock me to see him playing 15 minutes a night in the NHL next season.