suddeninterest
Registered User
- Aug 19, 2014
- 812
- 63
Hello,
So I thought we could discuss in general how our 2016 draft class is looking 6 months after the draft. Most of the guys are around half way through their seasons now, and with scouting services all putting out their 2017 midterm rankings I thought it would be interesting to see people's views on last year's crop as it stands. My personal opinions are based on games, highlights and stats. Some guys more on stats because its very difficult to find even highlights of them let alone full games. Mods obviously feel free to move this to the prospects discussion.
Jesse Puljujarvi - RW, Awesome that this guy came to us at #4. He has struggled a bit obviously at the NHL level, and doesn't have the totals of Matthews and Laine, although he seems to make decent use of the minutes that he gets. Seems like everyone would like to see him utilized better, whether its here playing with McD or Drai more consistently and on the PP, or in Bakersfield getting lots of minutes and confidence. I thought there may have been some hinting that he will go down after the holidays from Chia and TM but we will have to see. We have a good one here for sure, I could definitely see him having a Draisaitl-like campaign next season. He's just gonna need a little more time to learn the NA game and language. Overall a huge potential player/prospect.
Tyler Benson - LW, I recently wrote a little paragraph on what I think of Benson so I'm not gonna retype everything but basically I think he's a very high IQ excellent prospect, who would not have been available at #32 if he played a full season. Really see an NHL player here, and looks like he's getting his development back on track with currently 1.28ppg in the WHL and is playing really well as a driver for his team.
Markus Niemelainen - LD, Good pick at #63 when a few scouting services had him ranked in the mid-late second round. Not putting up numbers offensively this year although he looked quite good in prospect camp in the summer. From the few games and highlights I've watched he seems to be pretty decent in a shutdown role which apparently is the role that the coach put him in this season according to more adept followers of the Spirit. Another high IQ player and at 6'6" and a very good skater for that size, I have time for this player. I think ideally he ends up as a shutdown second pair kinda guy. Another player that I see an NHL future in based on his tools and IQ.
Matt Cairns - LD #84, A player who I can't comment a lot on due to basically only being able to look at stats. Had excellent production last year in the OJHL, but slowed down in the USHL this season I'm gonna assume because of higher level of competition among other factors. NCAA commit, so he is someone that we essentially have to wait on to see where he ends up. From what I know he has good size and skating. Interesting prospect and would love more info on him from someone who knows more and/or is able to see games.
Filip Berglund - RD #91, Overage pick, now playing in the SHL. I haven't been able to see any games, and he doesn't really make it into highlights. Tore up SuperElit last season and currently has 5 assists in 24 games in the SHL which honestly isn't too bad at all considering he doesn't turn 20 until May. Did not get an invite to the Sweden WJC team although he was probably one of the better u20 RHD available. From what I've seen and read, strengths seem to be size, passing, and overall puck skills, while his biggest weakness is skating. Also has decent shot as shown in scouting reports and 19 goals last year, but has yet to score at the pro level. Again, would like more info from someone who has access to games.
Dylan Wells - G #123, People say goalies are voodoo but man is it hard not to get excited about this guy right now. Went from 'meh, really inconsistent, had a bad year, could have some potential, who knows' to quite arguably the best goalie in the OHL and probably #3 in the entire CHL under Hart and Ingram although Ingram is also a year older. Consistently makes excellent saves and the stats truly are not lying with Wells right now. He is quite often the reason his team wins games. IMO this is looking like the best pick of our draft in terms of pure value, as I think he would probably go mid-late 2nd round in a redraft. Really hope he can keep up this level of play as it looks like we might have a truly legit goalie prospect on our hands here. Very excited to see him hopefully in the WJC next year and to get him into the AHL.
Graham McPhee LW #149, Not much to say here as I can only look at stats. 4 points in 20 games for Boston College as a freshman. Scouting reports say things like "hard worker, high compete level and IQ, needs to work on skill elements and skating." Another NCAA player so its a wait and see how he does. Apparently he's grown since he was drafted? If so then that's kinda nice i guess. Any kind of NHL player out of the later rounds is gravy so if he develops into a 4th line energy guy that would be great.
Aapeli Rasanen C #153, Now here is an intriguing prospect. Had an excellent u18 last year and all stats and reports say that he is having a very good season playing on the 2nd best team in the USHL along side top 2017 Finnish prospect Tolvanen. Strong 2-way game, RH centre, could use some work on skating in terms of speed. Assuming he's going to the NCAA next season? I think that is an excellent opportunity for him to develop. He is playing for Finland at the WJC so I hope to be able to watch his play there. There just might be an NHL player here, possibly a #3/4C would be awesome from the 6th round. Would like to hear more about him.
Vincent Deharnais RD #183, Really not much to say here. Overage pick, huge RHD, what looks like limited offense. Supposedly he was picked because of scouting done on Nick Ellis. Have to see where it goes, realistically if he makes it to the NHL its in a 7D/PK role.
Alright, so I'd love to hear other's thoughts and comments on this and on our 2016 draft class. Overall I'd say we made a lot of high IQ player type picks, which is good imo. Not including JP, I think Chia made 3 picks who are better than where they were selected (Benson, Wells and Rasanen) and the other 5 are just about right, with Nemo maybe going later although I really think his offense is suffering because of his team and role.
So I thought we could discuss in general how our 2016 draft class is looking 6 months after the draft. Most of the guys are around half way through their seasons now, and with scouting services all putting out their 2017 midterm rankings I thought it would be interesting to see people's views on last year's crop as it stands. My personal opinions are based on games, highlights and stats. Some guys more on stats because its very difficult to find even highlights of them let alone full games. Mods obviously feel free to move this to the prospects discussion.
Jesse Puljujarvi - RW, Awesome that this guy came to us at #4. He has struggled a bit obviously at the NHL level, and doesn't have the totals of Matthews and Laine, although he seems to make decent use of the minutes that he gets. Seems like everyone would like to see him utilized better, whether its here playing with McD or Drai more consistently and on the PP, or in Bakersfield getting lots of minutes and confidence. I thought there may have been some hinting that he will go down after the holidays from Chia and TM but we will have to see. We have a good one here for sure, I could definitely see him having a Draisaitl-like campaign next season. He's just gonna need a little more time to learn the NA game and language. Overall a huge potential player/prospect.
Tyler Benson - LW, I recently wrote a little paragraph on what I think of Benson so I'm not gonna retype everything but basically I think he's a very high IQ excellent prospect, who would not have been available at #32 if he played a full season. Really see an NHL player here, and looks like he's getting his development back on track with currently 1.28ppg in the WHL and is playing really well as a driver for his team.
Markus Niemelainen - LD, Good pick at #63 when a few scouting services had him ranked in the mid-late second round. Not putting up numbers offensively this year although he looked quite good in prospect camp in the summer. From the few games and highlights I've watched he seems to be pretty decent in a shutdown role which apparently is the role that the coach put him in this season according to more adept followers of the Spirit. Another high IQ player and at 6'6" and a very good skater for that size, I have time for this player. I think ideally he ends up as a shutdown second pair kinda guy. Another player that I see an NHL future in based on his tools and IQ.
Matt Cairns - LD #84, A player who I can't comment a lot on due to basically only being able to look at stats. Had excellent production last year in the OJHL, but slowed down in the USHL this season I'm gonna assume because of higher level of competition among other factors. NCAA commit, so he is someone that we essentially have to wait on to see where he ends up. From what I know he has good size and skating. Interesting prospect and would love more info on him from someone who knows more and/or is able to see games.
Filip Berglund - RD #91, Overage pick, now playing in the SHL. I haven't been able to see any games, and he doesn't really make it into highlights. Tore up SuperElit last season and currently has 5 assists in 24 games in the SHL which honestly isn't too bad at all considering he doesn't turn 20 until May. Did not get an invite to the Sweden WJC team although he was probably one of the better u20 RHD available. From what I've seen and read, strengths seem to be size, passing, and overall puck skills, while his biggest weakness is skating. Also has decent shot as shown in scouting reports and 19 goals last year, but has yet to score at the pro level. Again, would like more info from someone who has access to games.
Dylan Wells - G #123, People say goalies are voodoo but man is it hard not to get excited about this guy right now. Went from 'meh, really inconsistent, had a bad year, could have some potential, who knows' to quite arguably the best goalie in the OHL and probably #3 in the entire CHL under Hart and Ingram although Ingram is also a year older. Consistently makes excellent saves and the stats truly are not lying with Wells right now. He is quite often the reason his team wins games. IMO this is looking like the best pick of our draft in terms of pure value, as I think he would probably go mid-late 2nd round in a redraft. Really hope he can keep up this level of play as it looks like we might have a truly legit goalie prospect on our hands here. Very excited to see him hopefully in the WJC next year and to get him into the AHL.
Graham McPhee LW #149, Not much to say here as I can only look at stats. 4 points in 20 games for Boston College as a freshman. Scouting reports say things like "hard worker, high compete level and IQ, needs to work on skill elements and skating." Another NCAA player so its a wait and see how he does. Apparently he's grown since he was drafted? If so then that's kinda nice i guess. Any kind of NHL player out of the later rounds is gravy so if he develops into a 4th line energy guy that would be great.
Aapeli Rasanen C #153, Now here is an intriguing prospect. Had an excellent u18 last year and all stats and reports say that he is having a very good season playing on the 2nd best team in the USHL along side top 2017 Finnish prospect Tolvanen. Strong 2-way game, RH centre, could use some work on skating in terms of speed. Assuming he's going to the NCAA next season? I think that is an excellent opportunity for him to develop. He is playing for Finland at the WJC so I hope to be able to watch his play there. There just might be an NHL player here, possibly a #3/4C would be awesome from the 6th round. Would like to hear more about him.
Vincent Deharnais RD #183, Really not much to say here. Overage pick, huge RHD, what looks like limited offense. Supposedly he was picked because of scouting done on Nick Ellis. Have to see where it goes, realistically if he makes it to the NHL its in a 7D/PK role.
Alright, so I'd love to hear other's thoughts and comments on this and on our 2016 draft class. Overall I'd say we made a lot of high IQ player type picks, which is good imo. Not including JP, I think Chia made 3 picks who are better than where they were selected (Benson, Wells and Rasanen) and the other 5 are just about right, with Nemo maybe going later although I really think his offense is suffering because of his team and role.
