Pre-Game Talk: 2023 Draft

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Sea is calm around the Borg's house right now.

It's day of draft, it's 9AM and we still have our pick(s) for tonight.

i want to watch it but I dont know that i want to watch 4.5 hours of Bedard and other top 4 highlights because of all the moves that will likely happen and Bettman asking all teams to take near their time limit to maximize commercial time

 

[Bub]

i want to watch it but I dont know that i want to watch 4.5 hours of Bedard and other top 4 highlights because of all the moves that will likely happen and Bettman asking all teams to take near their time limit to maximize commercial time

I'll watch even though it's going to be like the old war metaphor: hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

I'll watch even though it's going to be like the old war metaphor: hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror.

we wont even experience our own terror. They will go to commercial after our pick and then come back and do an interview with the TML pick. Its the story as old as time.

 

[Bub]

we wont even experience our own terror. They will go to commercial after our pick and then come back and do an interview with the TML pick. Its the story as old as time.

That, or it'll be time for "Canada's Favorite Hockey Comedian!" or some such foolery.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

We could trade Jordan Martinook for Connor Bedard, and then deal our #30 overall pick for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and they would still go to a commercial break immediately the f*** thereafter.

 

[Stickpucker]

Okay, what Finn/Russian will be available for us?

How do you lads feel about Honzek?

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Okay, what Finn/Russian will be available for us?

Halttunen is likely to be there. I don’t think But makes it to our pick, unfortunately

 

[Chan790]

Halttunen is likely to be there. I don’t think But makes it to our pick, unfortunately

I really like him...#30 is slightly high, but I'd go off-consensus and take him if we can't trade down a few spots.

He started the year as a better spec than a lot of the other bigger forwards and fell after a bad year in Liiga that a lot of analysts say was simply the result of him being promoted to the adult league too fast.

But...big physical power F without skating questions and a bullet of a shot. And...he's a Finn. Yeah...I want that guy for us.

 

[HisIceness]

We will trade down and not pick tonight. You're welcome in advance

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

We will trade down and not pick tonight. You're welcome in advance

We will trade up and pick Michkov tonight. You're welcome in advance

 

[A Star is Burns]

We will trade down and not pick tonight. You're welcome in advance

Luckily, I've spent years as a Patriots fan, so I'm used to this type of outcome. I wouldn't be surprised at all if we do.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

We will trade down and not pick tonight. You're welcome in advance

Crap so im going to spend 4 hours waiting for our pick and its for nothing? Crap that has never happened before.

 

[LakeLivin]

Oliver Bonk. Everyone says we need to get tougher, what's tougher than a d-man with the name "Bonk"?

 

[AD Skinner]

Is he kin to Radek Bonk? Got to be an all time hockey name

 

[Chan790]

Oliver Bonk. Everyone says we need to get tougher, what's tougher than a d-man with the name "Bonk"?

If we end up moving Pesce tonight for help upfront, taking Bonk would be at-least somewhat amusing as one of his more common NHL comparisons in play style and upside is...Brett Pesce.

It'd be like that scene in Beerfest where Landfill (Phil) dies...and is replaced his secret identical brother Gil.

Is he kin to Radek Bonk? Got to be an all time hockey name

His son.

 

[DaveG]

Halttunen is likely to be there. I don’t think But makes it to our pick, unfortunately

heh heh, you said Butt

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

heh heh, you said Butt

at least I didnt say Halttunen, Musty, But etc are options for our pick. hehe.

 

[DaveG]

but yeah in all seriousness if But is there at #30 I'm all for it. I figure we're going Euro and he or Sale would make the most sense. Would love Simashev but no chance he gets to us. Slavin-Nikishin-Simashev would be an utter war crime on that side of the defense long-term.

 

[NotOpie]

My thoughts on our draft (and who knows if any of these guys will be available when our pick comes around):

Pick #30

I like the two big Swedes - Anton Wahlberg or David Edstrom, failing that I agree on Halttunen and would also consider either of Nick Lardis or Bradly Nadeau.

Pick #62

Ethan Gauthier, Jayden Perron, Carson Rehkopf - guessing that none of these guys will actually be available which leaves Jesse Kiiskinen, or perhaps Trista Bertucci, Tanner Ludtke or Beau Akey

Pick #71

Arttu Karki, Carey Terrance, Mathieu Cataford or Coulson Pitre. I also really like Jakub Dvorak, but don't think he'll be there with this pick

Pick # 126

Rasmus Kumpulainen or Jesse Nurmi would be my 1st choices. Failing that, then Cole Burbidge, Beckett Hendrickson or Jake Fisher.

Pick #139

Hannes Hellberg would be my pick here. Others include Daniil Karpovich, Yegor Zavragin (1st Goalie), Mazden Leslie or Andrei Loshko

Pick #158

Zaccharya Wisdom, Michael DeAngelo or Hudson Malinoski

Pick #163

Jonathan Castagna, Ryan Conmy, Paul Fischer or Nikita Ishimnikov

Pick #190

Hunter Anderson, Aron Jessli, Spencer Sova or Emil Pieniniemi

Pick #222

Teddy Townsend, Gavyn Thoreson, Hampton Slukynsky, Owen Beckner or Norwin Panocha

So even after all of that, if I were a betting man (which I am), I'd wager we'll trade this pick with a player and/or prospect to get the scoring help we need.

 

[Unsustainable]

Trade all of the picks, acquire the players

 

[Unsustainable]

Simashev if hes there in the 1st or trade for EK

 

[zman77]

Is he kin to Radek Bonk? Got to be an all time hockey name

ya ya Oliver Bonk is Radek's Boy. London Knight.
Oliver is a smart Right Shot D-Man. He had a good season. @ 40 Pts.
Halttunen: looks like he'll be playing for the London Knights this season. Big Boy!!
2 other London Knights who are very good.
Ethan Cowan & Denver Barkey
They'll be drafted in the Top 100.
Ethan Cowan: Excellent wheels & shot. Perhaps the most improved Knight this season.
Denver Barkey: Excellent Vision & Play Maker. Can play Center or Wing.
Both play with high energy and aggressiveness. Excellent POs.

London Knights at eliteprospects.com

London Knights hockey team page with roster, stats, transactions at Eliteprospects.com

www.eliteprospects.com

 

[Lucky Lindy]

Lets go tonight.

Will be fun watching three hours draft, just to watch them trade the pick. Just like 2021.

 

[AD Skinner]

man it won’t be long before over half the league is kids whose dads I watched play

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I'm not entirely sure, of course, but I expect that the Canes will trade their 1st this draft. Considering just how deep this draft is thought to be for forwards, there should be many fruitful opportunities in the 2nd and 3rd rounds for decent-chance lottery tickets.