Draft and UDFA Thread 2017-18

[Steve Kournianos]

Before you were saying that context doesn't matter. Now you're saying it does.

If I'm reading this right, what you're really saying is "Context only matters when I say it does"

You're not reading it right.

 

[Lion Hound]

In "Context" this thread is going sideways!

 

[Mac n Gs]

I think @Steve Kournianos isn’t saying our picks are bad players, but rather that they’ll top out as depth guys or support pieces. He mocked us to take guys who he felt, after watching and studying them numerous times, would be more impactful players in the NHL.

He’s got a good track record, and I agree that our last few drafts have been rather poor overall due to some weird circumstances and stalls in development. I like Day, Gettinger, and Ronning, but what are they going to be? Drafting really good AHL players is good for the organization, and it’s how a team like Pitt has constantly backfilled their depth forwards with college picks that developed together in WBS. Backfilling depth is nice, but outside of Lias and Chytil, I don’t see a viable top-6 forward or top-4 dman. Goalie is great.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

I don't think that's at all what he's saying. Of the players you mention @Mac n Gs both Day and Gettinger were considered "risky" high upside picks, Ronning to some extent too because of his size. Reunanen another pick in that same mold, high upside but risky (because of injury problems in his draft year)

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Robin Kovács has 10 points in his last ~8 SHL games (Started this game at 3+6 in 14 games), another player where i wasn't allowed to add context because apparently he just sucks.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think he's a lock for 3rd behind Dahlin and Svechnikov

I agree, I've also seen some have him higher than Svechnikov, I'm thinking at worst he goes third.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

I think Boqvist can definitely drop down below that, Zadina is making a real nice case for #3, as is Hughes... Few others also having decent cases to be made, it's just a really strong draft class. Boqvist being loaned to Allsvenskan soon and him doing well there would certainly be cool though.

 

[Savant]

I think Boqvist can definitely drop down below that, Zadina is making a real nice case for #3, as is Hughes... Few others also having decent cases to be made, it's just a really strong draft class. Boqvist being loaned to Allsvenskan soon and him doing well there would certainly be cool though.

Any thoughts on Lunderstrom?

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Any thoughts on Lunderstrom?

Excellent skater, overall pretty solid game but this draft is really good, he's not in my top 15. I haven't watched a ton of him though, i'll watch more during the spring.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

Here's a profile on Wilde with a lengthy highlight package from the first half. Would be a nice transition from Shattenkirk.

 

[LaffyTaffy]

Here's a profile on Wilde with a lengthy highlight package from the first half. Would be a nice transition from Shattenkirk.

Do you think he slips to a reasonable range for us to pick him up? Seems unlikely.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

Do you think he slips to a reasonable range for us to pick him up? Seems unlikely.

Maybe, because his gambling might turn some people off. He doesn't have a low IQ. He just wants to attack all the time. Every shift, every second. He's super competitive too but at times is a bit of a puck hog.

He's not as consistent as Hughes or Smith but he's also not Sanguinetti or Del Zotto. There's a lot of Niedermayer to his game. Niedermayer was not a defensive-minded kid at all when he was in Kamloops. Breaking in with Stevens and then Lemaire definitely helped his d-zone play.

The U18 worlds will ultimately decide where he goes. I'll just go on record now and say I would do cartwheels if the Rangers drafted Wilde.

Another factor is how Merkley and Samuelsson finish the season, and if scouts view Miller as the one with higher upside because he's already solid defensively and may have untapped puck skills.

 

[LaffyTaffy]

If both are available do you go for Samuelsson or Wilde? Personally I would rather not take a Dman high but maybe it would be a safer bet, think Brady Skjei.

 

[Edge]

Personally, I like Wilde's potential significantly more than Samuelsson.

But the kid I really like is Woo.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Wilde, Samuelsson is more what I think the team needs, but I think Wilde's upside is so high compared to Samuelsson's that we can't afford to pass up on Wilde, if those are the two options.

 

[Savant]

I hope they are in position for Smith. He is the one that they really need.

I might use assets (from dealing Nash, Grabner, etc) to trade up.

 

[LaffyTaffy]

Ideally we end up with 3 1st rounder this year and run away with Wilde, Smith, and Bokk from the first round lol. Let a man dream.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Ideally we end up with 3 1st rounder this year and run away with Wilde, Smith, and Bokk from the first round lol. Let a man dream.

I think it's realistic they could end up with two 1sts for this draft

If Nash is traded he would most likely bring one back. Or maybe they move someone in the summer for one.

I think they should take a forward and defenseman depending on the picks, but I could also understand and be all for taking two defensemen.

Very deep draft for D, as @Steve Kournianos said a couple pages back. This would be the year to fill in the gaps

Love Wilde's game though, if he is in their range, I assume they'd be all over him. Played for the US Development team, going to play college hockey at Michigan. Screams Ranger type of player to me

 

[Steve Kournianos]

I think it's realistic they could end up with two 1sts for this draft

If Nash is traded he would most likely bring one back. Or maybe they move someone in the summer for one.

I think they should take a forward and defenseman depending on the picks, but I could also understand and be all for taking two defensemen.

Very deep draft for D, as @Steve Kournianos said a couple pages back. This would be the year to fill in the gaps

Love Wilde's game though, if he is in their range, I assume they'd be all over him. Played for the US Development team, going to play college hockey at Michigan. Screams Ranger type of player to me

Think most likely scenario is both Nash and Grabner stay through the season and Gorton before July 1st gets later-round picks for their UFA rights. Dolan wants at least two playoff dates at MSG and knows every year Henrik alone can push that to 4-7 or more.

 

[Edge]

This draft would be great to pick up some extra picks. I just don't see it happening right now.

If Lundqvist plays the way he has for the past month, this team makes the playoffs. It doesn't have the depth or dynamics to go deep, but it likely makes the playoffs.

Unfortunately, we're right at that point that we can change the trajectory of this team significantly based on what we do at this deadline.

The trade value for guys like Nash and Grabner are pretty close to as good as they're going to be, but I don't know if this team is prepared to make those moves.

 

[Mac n Gs]

This draft would be great to pick up some extra picks. I just don't see it happening right now.

If Lundqvist plays the way he has for the past month, this team makes the playoffs. It doesn't have the depth or dynamics to go deep, but it likely makes the playoffs.

Unfortunately, we're right at that point that we can change the trajectory of this team significantly based on what we do at this deadline.

The trade value for guys like Nash and Grabner are pretty close to as good as they're going to be, but I don't know if this team is prepared to make those moves.

Agreed, and it's an incredibly difficult decision. I think we have to make at least a Nash trade regardless of where we are just because we need to add assets, especially in a deep draft like this year. I guess we have to see how we progress without Mika down the middle. We need to keep in mind how difficult our schedule is going to become when it becomes road-game heavy

 

[Lion Hound]

ISS Nov Rankings. Seeing some very different top 30's by different sources. Bokk who has been mentioned a few times in this thread already not in their Nov top 31.

1	Dahlin, Rasmus	LD	4/13/2000	L	6.02	181	Vastra Frolunda	SweE	1
2	Svechnikov, Andrei	RW/C	3/26/2000	L	6.02*	186	Barrie	OHL	2
3	Tkachuk, Brady	C	9/16/1999	L	6.03.25*	196	Boston University	H. E	4
4	Zadina, Filip	RW	11/27/1999	L	6.00*	196	Halifax	QMJHL	5
5	Wahlstrom, Oliver	C	6/13/2000	R	6.00.75*	205	USA U18	NTDP	11
6	Hughes, Quinn	LD	10/14/1999	L	5.09.5*	170	University of Michigan	Big Ten	7
7	Veleno, Joseph	C	1/13/2000	L	6.01*	195	Saint John	QMJHL	3
8	Boqvist, Adam	LD	8/15/2000	R	5.11	170	Brynas IF Jr.	SweJE	8
9	McLeod, Ryan	C	9/21/1999	L	6.02*	200	Mississauga	OHL	6
10	Kupari, Rasmus	C	3/15/2000	R	6.01.25	183	Karpat Oulu	FinE	9
11	Smith, Ty	LD	3/24/2000	L	5.10.25*	176	Spokane	WHL	10
12	Wilde, Bode	RD	1/24/2000	R	6.02.25*	195	USA U18	NTDP	12
13	Farabee, Joel	LW	2/25/2000	L	5.11.5*	164	USA U18	NTDP	18
14	Thomas, Akil	C	1/2/2000	R	5.11*	169	Niagara	OHL	13
15	McIsaac, Jared	LD	3/27/2000	L	6.01*	195	Halifax	QMJHL	14
16	Bouchard, Evan	RD	10/20/1999	R	6.01.75*	193	London	OHL	15
17	Sutter, Riley	RW	10/25/1999	R	6.03*	205	Everett	WHL	16
18	Denisenko, Grigori	LW	6/24/2000	R	5.11	165	Yaroslavl Loko	RusJr	17
19	Groulx. Benoit-Olivier	C	2/6/2000	L	6.00.75*	192	Halifax	QMJHL	19
20	Woo, Jett	RD	7/27/2000	R	5.11.75*	205	Moose Jaw	WHL	23
21	Lundestrom, Isac	C	11/6/1999	L	6.00.5	185	Lulea HF	SweE	20
22	Alexeyev, Alexander	RD	11/15/1999	R	6.03*	200	Red Deer	WHL	21
23	McBain, Jack	LW	1/6/2000	L	6.03	194	Toronto	OJHL	26
24	Samuelsson, Adam	LD	6/21/2000	L	6.05.75*	240	USA U18	NTDP	NR
25	Hayton, Barrett	C	6/9/2000	L	6.00.75*	191	Sault Ste. Marie	OHL	24
26	Olofsson, Jacob	C	2/8/2000	L	6.02	192	Timra IK	SweAl	27
27	Merkley, Ryan	RD	8/14/2000	R	5.11.25*	170	Guelph	OHL	29
28	Johansson, Filip	RD	3/23/2000	R	6.01	180	Leksand	SweJE	NR
29	Ginning, Adam	RD	1/13/2000	L	6.03	196	Linkoping HC	SweE	25
30	Tychonick, Jonathan	LD	3/3/2000	L	5.11.25	166	Penticton	BCHL	31
31	Dobson, Noah	RD	1/7/2000	R	6.02.75*	180	Acadie-Bathurst	QMJHL	NR

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Boqvist 8th and listed as a LHD, Adam Samuelsson ahead of Noah Dobson. Yikes.

 

[LaffyTaffy]

I predict us picking somewhere between 12-18, which is lookin' real good. I'd be happy with Smith/Wilde/Denisenko/Groulx/Woo in no particular order. If its a Dman i'd want Wilde, if its a forward i want Groulx.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

That list is a train wreck.