C Akil Thomas - Niagara IceDogs, OHL (2018, 51st, LAK)

[seafoam]

Isles please. We need another good center.

 

[cg98]

Isles please. We need another good center.

no, you guys need defense+goaltending.

 

[seafoam]

no, you guys need defense+goaltending.

At the NHL level, yes.

But the prospect pool doesn’t have one center. Thomas is a prospect

 

[cg98]

At the NHL level, yes.

But the prospect pool doesn’t have one center. Thomas is a prospect

No, you dont need any center/forward prospects as badly as you need defense/goalie prospects, even if Tavares leaves. The Isles were the 8th highest scoring team in the league, but allowed the most goals in the league.

 

[Thebesthockey]

solid player should go late 1 or early second

 

[seafoam]

No, you dont need any center/forward prospects as badly as you need defense/goalie prospects, even if Tavares leaves. The Isles were the 8th highest scoring team in the league, but allowed the most goals in the league.

They need forwards who can play at both ends of the ice too.

 

[cg98]

They need forwards who can play at both ends of the ice too.

The concern should be more the defensive end, as evident by the fact that the Isles allowed the most goals in the league. You dont erase horrible defense by drafting more forwards, regardless of their two way game. You draft and develop defensemen.

 

[seafoam]

The concern should be more the defensive end, as evident by the fact that the Isles allowed the most goals in the league. You dont erase horrible defense by drafting more forwards, regardless of their two way game. You draft and develop defensemen.

The Islanders have 4 picks in rounds 1 & 2. They could pick Thomas and still draft and develop three defenseman, I’m not really sure if you are sober...

 

[cg98]

The Islanders have 4 picks in rounds 1 & 2. They could pick Thomas and still draft and develop three defenseman, I’m not really sure if you are sober...

Im stating the facts here, your Islanders team defense is horrible. You need defensemen more than forwards. Not saying itd be bad to nab Thomas but considering how defense heavy this draft and how defensively inept the Isles back end was this season, id weigh in other options.

 

[seafoam]

Im stating the facts here, your Islanders team defense is horrible. You need defensemen more than forwards. Not saying itd be bad to nab Thomas but considering how defense heavy this draft and how defensively inept the Isles back end was this season, id weigh in other options.

I just can’t take you seriously, I’m sorry.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Im stating the facts here, your Islanders team defense is horrible. You need defensemen more than forwards. Not saying itd be bad to nab Thomas but considering how defense heavy this draft and how defensively inept the Isles back end was this season, id weigh in other options.

Did you know that forwards contribute to defense?

 

[cg98]

I just can’t take you seriously, I’m sorry.

Because im right? Okay then lol. You made a claim that the Isles need more two way forwards, and I provided the facts that say otherwise and that they need defensemen. I win

 

[cg98]

Did you know that forwards contribute to defense?

Did you know defensemen also contribute to defense?

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Did you know defensemen also contribute to defense?

Absolutely

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Because im right? Okay then lol. You made a claim that the Isles need more two way forwards, and I provided the facts that say otherwise and that they need defensemen. I win

You didn't provide any facts at all actually, your opinion isn't a fact.

 

[cg98]

You didn't provide any facts at all actually, your opinion isn't a fact.

The fact that the Islanders allowed the most goals in the league due to terrible defense from their blue line and that they need to draft and develop better defensemen isnt a fact?

 

[Tobias Kahun]

The fact that the Islanders allowed the most goals in the league due to terrible defense from their blue line and that they need to draft and develop better defensemen isnt a fact?

When you go just denying the fact that forwards have an impact on GA aswell, shows your hockey knowledge.

 

[cg98]

When you go just denying the fact that forwards have an impact on GA aswell, shows your hockey knowledge.

When did I deny that forwards dont contribute to defense or goals against? Holy f*** the incompetence is stronk.

 

[landy92mack29]

Shift by shift of one of if not the most underrated players in this years draft

 

[Bob Barker]

Some team is going to get a steal if he goes where some rankings have him. ISS has him at 27. Would love to see the Leafs get Thomas if he is still on the board for their pick. I know some other rankings have him higher so it will be interesting to see where he ends up.

 

[S E P H]

My thoughts on Akil,

Thomas is good; I like that he battles hard and he has some slick hands, but his lack of frame is quite prevalent. Another aspect I am not a fan of is his consistency. I know that all young players his age go through bouts of consistent issues, but Akil takes it a step further. There are bipolar shifts by him in games where he looks totally invisible like a 6th round prospect and there are other shifts where he looks like a legit top 6 prospect. It's so hard to tell what type of player he will become because of that, so that's why I have him dropping a tad to the early 20's as of now. He also gets a LOT of points on the PP and I am not a huge fan of those type of players. I am not against picking Thomas because I think Avs definitely need a power-play specialist, just commenting that I personally prefer players who do most of their damage 5v5.

 

[Frk It]

He also gets a LOT of points on the PP and I am not a huge fan of those type of players. I am not against picking Thomas because I think Avs definitely need a power-play specialist, just commenting that I personally prefer players who do most of their damage 5v5.

Non-PP pts (subtracted PPG and PPA from pt totals per the OHL site)

Thomas: 49 pts
McShane: 44 pts
Dellandrea: 40 pts
Hillis: 39 pts
Hayton: 39 pts

So while he had a good chunk of pts on the PP, if you take PP pts out of the picture he still produced the most there as well.

 

[S E P H]

Non-PP pts (subtracted PPG and PPA from pt totals per the OHL site)

Thomas: 49 pts
McShane: 44 pts
Dellandrea: 40 pts
Hillis: 39 pts
Hayton: 39 pts

So while he had a good chunk of pts on the PP, if you take PP pts out of the picture he still produced the most there as well.

Thomas: 0.72 [Even Strength Points]
McShane: 0.66
Hillis: 0.65
Hayton: 0.65
Dellandrea: 0.60

So technically you are correct that he still put up a lot of points which comes down to the eye-test. I don't know if you've watched him, but as I mentioned in my post, I didn't really say he didn't have talent issues. More in regards to what type of player will he become in the NHL because I can see him being PA Parenteau 2.0, a legit 2nd liner, or even 1st liner. There is no doubt in my mind if there is a player who has 1st line potential that might be taken past 15th overall it is Thomas. Furthermore, there were times where he looked like a certain top 6-8 prospect for this draft, but didn't do it enough consistently. Funny list though because out of those five Hayton is easily my favourite, Hillis is one of the most underrated players in this draft, and McShane is more average than vanilla for me.

 

[Frk It]

Thomas: 0.72 [Even Strength Points]
McShane: 0.66
Hillis: 0.65
Hayton: 0.65
Dellandrea: 0.60

So technically you are correct that he still put up a lot of points which comes down to the eye-test. I don't know if you've watched him, but as I mentioned in my post, I didn't really say he didn't have talent issues. More in regards to what type of player will he become in the NHL because I can see him being PA Parenteau 2.0, a legit 2nd liner, or even 1st liner. There is no doubt in my mind if there is a player who has 1st line potential that might be taken past 15th overall it is Thomas. Furthermore, there were times where he looked like a certain top 6-8 prospect for this draft, but didn't do it enough consistently. Funny list though because out of those five Hayton is easily my favourite, Hillis is one of the most underrated players in this draft, and McShane is more average than vanilla for me.

I think that's fair, just pointing out his production was pretty good overall (in addition to the PP pts).

I like both Hillis and McShane as well. McShane really stood out at the U18's, maybe the bigger ice helped him there. If he can improve his skating he could be a big steal.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I expected more from him at the WC-U18 . I preferred Foudy and Dellandrea in that tournament, recognizing Thomas was injured at some point.