2018 NHL Draft Discussion

[YotesFan47]

So here is my rankings so far, I'm feeling comfortable enough with it to post. If I weren't on my phone I'd do a quick writeup of why I put each player at their rank.

1. Dahlin
2. Zadina
3. Svechnikov
4. Wahlstrom
5. Kupari
6. Dobson
7. Bouchard
8. Tkachuk
9. Boqvist
10. Hughes
11. Smith
12. Woo
13. Wilde
14. McIssac
15. Veleno
16. Thomas
17. McLeod
18. Farabee
19. Addison
20. Hallander

This is with limited views, don't take my rankings too seriously.

 

[Mosby]

Craig Button is really high on Kupari too.

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

I'd be curious to read why you like Dobson over Bouchard. Also interested in your Kupari pick at #5. I'm with you on top 4 except switch Zadina/Svechnikov

Also, Jet Woo seems to be really high so I'd be interested in your thinking there as well.

 

[lanky]

Can Svech play in the A next year?

He'll be drafted out of the OHL, so it's OHL or NHL or KHL next year.

 

[Mosby]

Thanks. And welcome back!

 

[rt]

He'll be drafted out of the OHL, so it's OHL or NHL or KHL next year.

Depends on whether he's been loaned to the OHL from a KHL team. Look at Nylander as an SHL player loaned to an OHL team and thus eligible for the AHL prior to being 20 years old.

 

[Hogan20]

Seeing that he played in the USHL last, I'd imagine he signed a contract with Barrie at the beginning of this year so it'll be either NHL or OHL next year for him.

 

[rt]

Seeing that he played in the USHL last, I'd imagine he signed a contract with Barrie at the beginning of this year so it'll be either NHL or OHL next year for him.

Good point. I'm sure you're right. I don't think it matters too much, I'm sure he'll be in the NHL next season.

 

[YotesFan47]

I'd be curious to read why you like Dobson over Bouchard. Also interested in your Kupari pick at #5. I'm with you on top 4 except switch Zadina/Svechnikov

Also, Jet Woo seems to be really high so I'd be interested in your thinking there as well.

Going to try and keep this shot, my 4 month old isn't giving me a lot of time.

I have flipped Svech and Zadina so many times.

I think Bouchard is the better player currently but from the video I have viewed on Dobson, he seems like he will grow into a better NHL player. I have huge concerns about Dobsons skating, but its not enough for me to place him lower in my rankings. He seems to posses a lot of the tools to be a #2/#3 teams will covet. Really the 2 are pretty interchangeable, I just have a better feeling about Dobson's NHL future, and most sites I've seen have them pretty closely ranked, with Bouchard usually a few ranks higher. I'm actually more surprised that your question was between these two and not why I have Boqvist at 9.

Kupari is a G, fool should be ranked higher on a lot of lists. Kid has hands, vision, skating ability, and a good frame, he just oozes raw talent. I really feel like hes going to be a special talent for whomever drafts him.

I was kind of hoping no one would notice how high I have Woo . Jet seems to fall in that 20-30 range on a lot of lists, and this is a totally unjustified ranking, but I just get this gut feeling that hes a lot more special than hes shown thus far. Its a total gut thing with him, there is no logic or evidence involved there.

 

[Hogan20]

Good point. I'm sure you're right. I don't think it matters too much, I'm sure he'll be in the NHL next season.

If we end up drafting him, I highly doubt that he'll be sent back to the OHL

 

[YotesFan47]

Craig Button is really high on Kupari too.

I see less hockey than currently than a lot of posters, so my opinions on what prospects are good and which aren't should be taken with a grain of salt. I didn't know he was so high on him, the quick google search has him ranking Kupari at 14. I still have him ranked higher than any professional, maybe I'll get lucky and the kid becomes one of the top NHLers from his class.

 

[hbk]

Going to try and keep this shot, my 4 month old isn't giving me a lot of time.

I have flipped Svech and Zadina so many times.

I think Bouchard is the better player currently but from the video I have viewed on Dobson, he seems like he will grow into a better NHL player. I have huge concerns about Dobsons skating, but its not enough for me to place him lower in my rankings. He seems to posses a lot of the tools to be a #2/#3 teams will covet. Really the 2 are pretty interchangeable, I just have a better feeling about Dobson's NHL future, and most sites I've seen have them pretty closely ranked, with Bouchard usually a few ranks higher. I'm actually more surprised that your question was between these two and not why I have Boqvist at 9.

Kupari is a G, fool should be ranked higher on a lot of lists. Kid has hands, vision, skating ability, and a good frame, he just oozes raw talent. I really feel like hes going to be a special talent for whomever drafts him.

I was kind of hoping no one would notice how high I have Woo . Jet seems to fall in that 20-30 range on a lot of lists, and this is a totally unjustified ranking, but I just get this gut feeling that hes a lot more special than hes shown thus far. Its a total gut thing with him, there is no logic or evidence involved there.

I'm a big fan of Jett. Moose Jaw has a great program. I think he s going in that 20-30 range as well.

 

[YotesFan47]

I'm a big fan of Jett. Moose Jaw has a great program. I think he s going in that 20-30 range as well.

You get to see him play significantly more than I do, where do you predict his upside?

 

[hbk]

You get to see him play significantly more than I do, where do you predict his upside?

Top 4 puck moving D with chance to be a top 2/3.

 

[Prarievarg]

I'm actually more surprised that your question was between these two and not why I have Boqvist at 9

What I was gonna ask. Most seem to have him at 4-5, as the second best D. I mostly just read others rankings and rarely watch any games involving prospects outside WJC and those who play in the SHL. So out of curiosity, what makes you place him lower than Dobson and Bouchard?

 

[Alberta Yote]

Keep winning, get the 6th pick, take Wahlstrom, done.

 

[ClassLessCoyote]

More like get the 7th pick and then trade the pick for another sticky player. Hockey the stupid way!

 

[rt]

Keep winning, get the 6th pick, take Wahlstrom, done.

Fine by me.

 

[BigDoaner]

I really like Hughes (if we’re picking defense). “Best skater in the draft” and is almost a PPG in college.

 

[rt]

I really like Hughes (if we’re picking defense). “Best skater in the draft” and is almost a PPG in college.

That'd be great too.

I really don't have preference on Tkachuk, Boqvist, Bouchard, Hughes, Dobson, Wahlstrom, and Ty Smith. Though I do feel like in the event of a true tie breaker, I'm taking the RHS player over the LHS player or the LHS that plays their off-side (either RW or RD) over the LW or LD.

 

[BigDoaner]

I personally think hughes is the 2nd best D in this draft. I wish he were right handed; I think we have to take BPA though

 

[Heldig]

That'd be great too.

I really don't have preference on Tkachuk, Boqvist, Bouchard, Hughes, Dobson, Wahlstrom, and Ty Smith. Though I do feel like in the event of a true tie breaker, I'm taking the RHS player over the LHS player or the LHS that plays their off-side (either RW or RD) over the LW or LD.

Obviously, Dahlin is the dream. Lots of very good prospects at the top end.

 

[rt]

This is a good video IMO.


It really articulates why I rank Svechnikov over Zadina. The vlogger compares the two based on:

1. Skating
2. Shooting
3. Passing
4. Puck Handeling
5. Defensive Game
6. Physicality
7. Hockey IQ
8. Temperment
9. Intensity
10. Age
11. Clutch
12. League Production
13. Health

I disagree with him on a couple of items (specifically Hockey IQ) but I still give the edge to Svechnikov as he does.

One thing it really made me think about is how Brady Tkachuk would stand up to these two given the same criteria. I think he'd got 2-11 against either. I think Zadina easily whips his butt on at least 10/13 of those categories. I think Walhstrom probably blows Tkachuk out of the water on raw category win count, too.

 

[lanky]

I think Kotkaniemi is the top C in the draft and will be a top 10 pick. Probably 5th on my list right now.

A couple Liiga players to benchmark against
Puljujarvi 0.56 pts/gm at 18.15 years old
Rantanen 0.50 pts/gm at 18.67 years old
Aho 0.43 pts/gm at 17.93 years old [r]
Kotkaniemi 0.51 pts/gm at 17.98 years old [r]

(age at Jun30 of draft year) [r] means Liiga rookie

 

[rt]

I think Kotkaniemi is the top C in the draft and will be a top 10 pick. Probably 5th on my list right now.

A couple Liiga players to benchmark against
Puljujarvi 0.56 pts/gm at 18.15 years old
Rantanen 0.50 pts/gm at 18.67 years old
Aho 0.43 pts/gm at 17.93 years old [r]
Kotkaniemi 0.51 pts/gm at 17.98 years old [r]

(age at Jun30 of draft year) [r] means Liiga rookie

I could see it.