Prospect Info: 2018 NHL Draft

[Orthodox Caveman]

Same here, Dahlin or bust.

I just think that him being such a hyped prospect and us miraculously having #1OA pick would leave no room for Holland and Wright to muck it up.

I'm actually worried we'll somehow find a way to win ourselves back into the playoff bubble in a supposedly deep draft year. We need atleast a Top 5 pick but I don't follow or know enough about evaluating prospects like others on here.

What other defense prospects project to even come close to a #1 defenseman if we didn't pick 1st?

Adam Boqvist
Quinn Hughes
Ryan Merkley
Bode Wilde
Jared McIsaac
Ty Smith

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

I'm not going to be happy until we pick Dahlin.

Be prepared to be unhappy

 

[Frk It]

I just think that him being such a hyped prospect and us miraculously having #1OA pick would leave no room for Holland and Wright to muck it up.

I'm actually worried we'll somehow find a way to win ourselves back into the playoff bubble in a supposedly deep draft year. We need atleast a Top 5 pick but I don't follow or know enough about evaluating prospects like others on here.

What other defense prospects project to even come close to a #1 defenseman if we didn't pick 1st?

Adam Boqvist
Quinn Hughes
Ryan Merkley
Bode Wilde
Jared McIsaac
Ty Smith

Obviously, I want the highest pick possible, because that’s where the odds are.

But I’m a big fan of the defenseman this year. I think there’s a shot the 3rd, 4th, or 5 defenseman draft this year are better than the 1st and 2nd guys (d men) taken last year.

For whatever that’s worth.

 

[Orthodox Caveman]

Well I hope you're right. We need an elite #1 defenseman.

 

[Redder Winger]

Obviously, I want the highest pick possible, because that’s where the odds are.

But I’m a big fan of the defenseman this year. I think there’s a shot the 3rd, 4th, or 5 defenseman draft this year are better than the 1st and 2nd guys (d men) taken last year.

For whatever that’s worth.

I didn't think much of Liljegren, outside of the scouting reports.
But when I saw him at the WJ showcase in Plymouth, I got real sad, real fast.
He's got a lot of the Erik Karlsson vibe happening.
Interesting that he's playing for the Marlies.

 

[Debrincat93]

when you watch Hedman and how well he helps not only generate offense but also alleviate pressure and make strong defensive plays, it just goes to show you how badly we lack this and how badly we need this.

Hronek, Saarijarvi, Cholowski, Hicketts.. we have no idea if these guys will become anything more than middle pair guys. Maybe one emerges, maybe not. I'd rather them nip this issue in the ass and snag one of these top dmen this year. We definitely lack one moving forward.

 

[Frk It]

Merkley has had a couple trainwreck games, including one in Flint the Wings were at.

Wouldn't be surprised if he is way down their list, he really just doesn't seem to care too much about playing defense. It's a shame, kid is super talented offensively.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

Merkley has had a couple trainwreck games, including one in Flint the Wings were at.

Wouldn't be surprised if he is way down their list, he really just doesn't seem to care too much about playing defense. It's a shame, kid is super talented offensively.

Worry not, there is plenty of room on the Quinn Hughes bandwagon for lovers of undersized NA defensemen!

 

[Frk It]

Worry not, there is plenty of room on the Quinn Hughes bandwagon for lovers of undersized NA defensemen!

Hoping for Ty Smith or Bode Wilde, at the moment. Assuming we don't pull out a top 2 pick.

Really wish there was a center I was feeling, maybe one of these Euro's...

 

[Debrincat93]

Merkley has had a couple trainwreck games, including one in Flint the Wings were at.

Wouldn't be surprised if he is way down their list, he really just doesn't seem to care too much about playing defense. It's a shame, kid is super talented offensively.

i really hope they arent evaluating a kid based on a handful of games.

 

[gretskidoo]

 

[Martinez]

Looks like a slower Mcdavid

 

[Tatar Shots]

Merkley has had a couple trainwreck games, including one in Flint the Wings were at.

Wouldn't be surprised if he is way down their list, he really just doesn't seem to care too much about playing defense. It's a shame, kid is super talented offensively.

Merkley is also eligible for this year's draft by one day. He has 2 more years in the Q after this season. I think his defensive problems are overblown. I do think it could cause him to slip into the teens like Lijegren

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

Merkley is also eligible for this year's draft by one day. He has 2 more years in the Q after this season. I think his defensive problems are overblown. I do think it could cause him to slip into the teens like Lijegren

Have you watched the kid play? His defensive issues are most certainly not overblown. While it is early, he does not seem to be making any improvements in that area either. Mid teens will probably be about right with him if he doesn't show improvement.

 

[Reddwit]

i really hope they arent evaluating a kid based on a handful of games.

There’s an article somewhere in which a couple scouts (Hakan might’ve been one) talk about how they never scout a guy more than a few times. It’s also important to remember that no team is basing their assessment of a high-profile player on 1 scouts opinion, but a collective.

 

[Tatar Shots]

Have you watched the kid play? His defensive issues are most certainly not overblown. While it is early, he does not seem to be making any improvements in that area either. Mid teens will probably be about right with him if he doesn't show improvement.

Yes. I've also seen a 16 year old defenseman put up nearly a PPG on a crappy team without the help of any star forwards. Does he need a lot of work defensively? Yep. But he has a rare elite offensive skill set. Right now he is 3 years out from pro hockey. How much cause for concern should there be with a guy 3 years out?

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

Hoping for Ty Smith or Bode Wilde, at the moment. Assuming we don't pull out a top 2 pick.

Really wish there was a center I was feeling, maybe one of these Euro's...

I'll take Wilde.

Also, those Finnish centers ain't to shabby.

Also, I'm a fan of Dellandrea.

 

[FireBird71]

I'll take Wilde.

Also, those Finnish centers ain't to shabby.

Also, I'm a fan of Dellandrea.

Would love Dellandrea and Busby with our 2 2nd's and Hunter Holmes later on

 

[Frk It]

Have you watched the kid play? His defensive issues are most certainly not overblown. While it is early, he does not seem to be making any improvements in that area either. Mid teens will probably be about right with him if he doesn't show improvement.

I really wanted to believe they were overblown, now not so sure.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

Yes. I've also seen a 16 year old defenseman put up nearly a PPG on a crappy team without the help of any star forwards. Does he need a lot of work defensively? Yep. But he has a rare elite offensive skill set. Right now he is 3 years out from pro hockey. How much cause for concern should there be with a guy 3 years out?

I don't know, why don't you ask Ryan Sproul how long it took him to become defensively competent or maybe Ryan Murphy. I have no issues with people who genuinely try to play defense but fail to be effective due to size, mobility, technique, etc. If you aren't even willing to put forth a half-ass effort you might as well skate onto the ice with giant red flags. No team is going to give a shit about his age if he isn't self aware enough to know what he needs to do to improve as a player. The lack of year-over-year development in his defensive game is shocking.

Anyways, you can have him if you want to draft him in the top half of the first round.

 

[Debrincat93]

There’s an article somewhere in which a couple scouts (Hakan might’ve been one) talk about how they never scout a guy more than a few times. It’s also important to remember that no team is basing their assessment of a high-profile player on 1 scouts opinion, but a collective.

but thats probably later round picks versus top of the draft picks.
I wouldnt be able to fathom the notion that holland and co drafted Rasmussen on 4 or less viewings. Obviously that should also include video. I mean, if you see the kid in person 4-5 times, but wath 10 game clips of him, that's basically the same thing IMO. You just wont see the little, little things.

 

[Tatar Shots]

I don't know, why don't you ask Ryan Sproul how long it took him to become defensively competent or maybe Ryan Murphy. I have no issues with people who genuinely try to play defense but fail to be effective due to size, mobility, technique, etc. If you aren't even willing to put forth a half-ass effort you might as well skate onto the ice with giant red flags. No team is going to give a **** about his age if he isn't self aware enough to know what he needs to do to improve as a player. The lack of year-over-year development in his defensive game is shocking.

Anyways, you can have him if you want to draft him in the top half of the first round.

At comparable ages, Sproul put up 3 points in 15 OJHL games while Merkley put up nearly a PPG in the OHL. That's not a fair comparison to try to make for Merkley at all. And just because one player failed to make the necessary improvements needed, doesn't mean another will fail as well. I'm not saying Merkley will for sure make the necessary adjustments, I'm just saying he is so young that I don't think it is cause for concern with him being 5 years or so away from NHL hockey.

 

[Frk It]

At comparable ages, Sproul put up 3 points in 15 OJHL games while Merkley put up nearly a PPG in the OHL. That's not a fair comparison to try to make for Merkley at all. And just because one player failed to make the necessary improvements needed, doesn't mean another will fail as well. I'm not saying Merkley will for sure make the necessary adjustments, I'm just saying he is so young that I don't think it is cause for concern with him being 5 years or so away from NHL hockey.

He's probably the biggest risk/reward pick you could make in this draft. Holland's far too conservative for a pick like this, IMO.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

He's probably the biggest risk/reward pick you could make in this draft. Holland's far too conservative for a pick like this, IMO.

Someone just needs to tell me why his defensive game/awareness is going to materially improve. TS argues that it will improve simply because he is young. No other reason is given. I would buy that sort of argument for attributes such as strength or even skating but defensive play is a totally different ball of wax. If you don't really want to improve, you aren't going to improve. I need to see something that shows that he wants to improve before I am willing to invest a high pick in him. Lack of year-over-year improvement is a massive red flag for me. While I hate hearing the organization throw around the term "character" I do want them taking kids who are self-aware enough to know what their weaknesses are and what they need to do to improve. Worst of all the kid doesn't even need to turn into an above average defensive player to be effective at the NHL level.

In other news, someone mentioned Dellandrea earlier. I think he is perfect for a late first-round pick if we can move Green for one.

 

[Frk It]

Someone just needs to tell me why his defensive game/awareness is going to materially improve. TS argues that it will improve simply because he is young. No other reason is given. I would buy that sort of argument for attributes such as strength or even skating but defensive play is a totally different ball of wax. If you don't really want to improve, you aren't going to improve. I need to see something that shows that he wants to improve before I am willing to invest a high pick in him. Lack of year-over-year improvement is a massive red flag for me. While I hate hearing the organization throw around the term "character" I do want them taking kids who are self-aware enough to know what their weaknesses are and what they need to do to improve. Worst of all the kid doesn't even need to turn into an above average defensive player to be effective at the NHL level.

In other news, someone mentioned Dellandrea earlier. I think he is perfect for a late first-round pick if we can move Green for one.

I hear you. The offensive package and the skating is not something you are going to come across often, though. I think it would take a coach "getting through" to this kid, but he has played for 2 different coaches in Guelph and the same problems are still there.

Realistically, I could see him being someone like Yandle or Barrie. A pure offensive specialist type. But even to get to that he is going to have to improve quite a bit. What I could see happening is he gets a reality check at maybe the AHL level, and then puts in some work because then he realizes that's the only way he will make it. I'm not sure he is going to work on it until he gets knocked on his ass a bit.