Prospect Info: 2017 NHL Draft Part II

[The Devil In I]

Can't wait for the lottery so we can narrow down our preferred choices.

 

[ghdi]

Unless we drop or the Devils are planning to trade down.

Or the Devils draft board is completely different.

This is exactly the kind of draft where there will be names no one expects taken where no one expected them to be taken.

Unless we're 1 or 2, it's hard to project who will be our pick. Its not like the past two years where the top 4 or 5 were pretty easy to project. If we're 5th, there's upwards of 7 or 8 players that could realistically be possibilities.

 

[MichaelJ]

Or the Devils draft board is completely different.

This is exactly the kind of draft where there will be names no one expects taken where no one expected them to be taken.

Unless we're 1 or 2, it's hard to project who will be our pick. Its not like the past two years where the top 4 or 5 were pretty easy to project. If we're 5th, there's upwards of 7 or 8 players that could realistically be possibilities.

Devils shock everyone...trade down, take Vesalainen

 

[Tretyak 20]

He is a skilled and big center and youngrr than Patrick.

I'm not sold on a huge upside though, but, he looks to be a good player.

I think Glass' upside is basically Jason Arnott - big, skilled 1C, but not a perennial All-Star. He would be a good pick, from what little I've seen.

 

[Alex NJD]

I think Glass' upside is basically Jason Arnott - big, skilled 1C, but not a perennial All-Star. He would be a good pick, from what little I've seen.

Not sure if you mean Vilardi who DD was talking about, Arnott is a really good comparable. Glass compares to Ryan Johansen from what I've read

 

[VoidCreature]

Grant McCagg now has the Devils taking Kristian Vesalainen at #5. Hadn't heard of him before. He played in the SHL this year, putting up 1 goal and 6 points in 26 games. Also played in SuperElite, putting up 4 goals in 10 games, and Liiga, with 1 goal in 9 games.

I imagine his rise has more to do with the U18s he just had, putting up 6 goals and 13 points in 7 games.

Don't know anything else aside from the fact he's 6'3 and can play both wings.

McCagg also has Miro Heiskanen going #1.

 

[VoidCreature]

I'm getting shades of Jaromir Jagr watching Vesalainen's highlights.

Big, long reach, great hands, phenomenal cycle work. Just highlights, but they're hella impressive.

Looks like the kind of player than can control the game from the wing. Seems a lot smarter than Tippett.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Yeah I'm not buying that mock at all. He is influenced too much by u18s and wanting to go against the grain.

Patrick isn't dropping to 3

 

[VoidCreature]

Yeah I'm not buying that mock at all. He is influenced too much by u18s and wanting to go against the grain.

Patrick isn't dropping to 3

He had McLeod #3 last year.

For me, it's about how divided scouts are on this draft. It's not a disaster if we fall a couple spots. Lots of gems to be found.

 

[MichaelJ]

We'll never know Castron's board. I trust his judgment. If we take Vesalainen (for instance) I'll embrace the pick. I don't see it being him, but I don't see a Conte-situation where we have to rationalize the choice.

 

[MichaelJ]

I'm getting shades of Jaromir Jagr watching Vesalainen's highlights.

Big, long reach, great hands, phenomenal cycle work. Just highlights, but they're hella impressive.

Looks like the kind of player than can control the game from the wing. Seems a lot smarter than Tippett.

How is his skating? Shot?

 

[Emperoreddy]

He had McLeod #3 last year.

For me, it's about how divided scouts are on this draft. It's not a disaster if we fall a couple spots. Lots of gems to be found.

All the more reason to ignore his mock. He had McLeod at 3 and he ended up going at 12.

 

[VoidCreature]

How is his skating? Shot?

I just saw his highlights, so I can't really claim to be an expert. His shot looked strong and his skating was smooth. He's not Kovalchuk fast but he didn't have any trouble roving around.

 

[Emperoreddy]

We'll never know Castron's board. I trust his judgment. If we take Vesalainen (for instance) I'll embrace the pick. I don't see it being him, but I don't see a Conte-situation where we have to rationalize the choice.

We aren't taking Vesalainen and leaving Mitt on the board.

Grant is basically doing a power rankings gimmick and needs to keep his mock changing daily to get views.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Vesalainen is not someone devils should be targetting unless they trade way back.

 

[MichaelJ]

We aren't taking Vesalainen and leaving Mitt on the board.

Grant is basically doing a power rankings gimmick and needs to keep his mock changing daily to get views.

I would hope not. If the Devils stay at 5 and Mittelstadt is still there I expect a sprint to the podium to grab him.

 

[thethinglonger]

We aren't taking Vesalainen and leaving Mitt on the board.

Grant is basically doing a power rankings gimmick and needs to keep his mock changing daily to get views.

I really like Grant's insight and opinions, it just seems that he is a very "what have you done for me lately?" type scout with his rankings.

 

[devilsblood]

Grant McCagg now has the Devils taking Kristian Vesalainen at #5. Hadn't heard of him before. He played in the SHL this year, putting up 1 goal and 6 points in 26 games. Also played in SuperElite, putting up 4 goals in 10 games, and Liiga, with 1 goal in 9 games.

I imagine his rise has more to do with the U18s he just had, putting up 6 goals and 13 points in 7 games.

Don't know anything else aside from the fact he's 6'3 and can play both wings.

McCagg also has Miro Heiskanen going #1.

I had not at all considered him, really didn't know his stats, but his resume is more then just a one year thing.

Yes he did lead all scorers at the U-18's this year, but he was solid last year as well posting 6 points in 7 games. And had 4-4-8 in 5 in last years U-17, which was 2nd on the team behind Tolvanen's 9 goals and 1 assist.

His over all U 20 #'s 4-3-7 in 12 pale in comparison to Tolvanen's 7-9-16 in 15.

His pro #'s this year do not stand out, but he is still 17(turns 18 in June). Great size.

Sounds like he could be great pick in the teens, but at 5? Can't see that happening.

 

[Holtz My Bahls]

Where is the lottery being televised? Optimum doesn't seem to have it listed anywhere

 

[Devils Dominion]

I really like Grant's insight and opinions, it just seems that he is a very "what have you done for me lately?" type scout with his rankings.

Grant does get critiqued for that but, he does correctly point out that fans should not judge a player a year later but rather 4 to 5 seasons later.

Looking back, a lot of times the best players in drafts are not selected in the Top-5 or even Top-10.

I think we are all guilty of wanting instant gratification and sometimes judge a player to quickly, me included with PZ vs Ivan and others.
However, sometimes it's quite obvious that a player was a mistake rather quickly too (not saying that about PZ).

 

[snwbdgislife]

Because it is Grant's first year for the site it's hard to know if he is overreacting to news, making changes to keep people checking, or if it is just a reflection of how unpredictable this particular draft is. For months we've read that 3-15 would be very unpredictable, it seems (per Grant and Bob McKenzie) as if this has crept to #1 and 2 as well.

 

[Zippy316]

We aren't taking Vesalainen and leaving Mitt on the board.

Grant is basically doing a power rankings gimmick and needs to keep his mock changing daily to get views.

His rankings are interesting but need to be taken with a grant of salt.

It is nice to look at them though because you can have an idea of who is rising up on the draft boards with recent performances. He just happens to overreact often.

I think if you balance McCagg (or Button's draft boards) with the consensus rankings you could probably get a draft board that resembles an actual NHL team.

 

[The Devil In I]

Where is the lottery being televised? Optimum doesn't seem to have it listed anywhere

It'll be on during of one of the two games on Saturday, I'd guess first intermission.

 

[Holtz My Bahls]

It'll be on during of one of the two games on Saturday, I'd guess first intermission.

Ok I figured they'd do that just surprised because the last couple of years they've had a dedicated hour to a special program for it.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

McKenzie's Top 15....

http://www.tsn.ca/patrick-hischier-i...nking-1.736258