With Byfield in the fold,where do the wolves go with the 2nd and 3rd pick. Wish we had a forth.
First pick will be Byfield. But some other forwards in the top ten had a very good OHL Cup including Cuylle, Vierling, Robinson and Halliday. Some decent size too. However the consensus is Byfield. So lets hope he hasn't flattened out and those mentioned players continue to develop and surpass him. Cuylle is a very good player and has been climbing the last month since coming back from injury.
For the second and third pick the Wolves need to take defence. So many possibilities. I think Sudbury takes one good puck moving guy such as Bianconi, Bar, Renwick, O'Rourke, Gucciardi, Terry. (left Moore and Drysdale off likely top ten picks) For more defensive guys, Schlueting, Murray, Spearing, Maunder, Dillingham-Morelli Porter and Jack Thompson to name a few. (left Power off the list as he will go top ten. Also left underage Chayka off the list unsure if he will be eligible) So the Wolves can easily find two solid guys with their 2nd and 3rd pick. But considering the amount of good quality defence outside the first round I think that would be in the best interest of the Wolves to draft two of them after Byfield.
After the 3rd round the Wolves don't pick until the 5th and I think thats where they should select a goalie.
Lipanov has not done enough for me in his time in Sudbury, I would rather select a young emerging 17 year old forward in the import draft. Sudbury has some really big decisions on this. I also don't like surrendering a 3rd round pick for Lipanov returning. We have a lot of forwards returning and Murray needs the lions share of ice up the middle as does Byfield. So Lipanov will only hamper that development IMO.
One thing is for certain is that the Sudbury brass needs to get their crap together in a hurry and decide what direction they are going with their overagers, imports and then the extra bodies up front. I expect some player movement and some surprise moves in the off season. But the plan needs to be put in motion before the draft and when the trade window opens to make deals in late summer the Wolves need to make those moves then to clear up room for training camp and bring some excitement and motivation to the room. Time will tell but they cannot make mistakes this time around.
WJ