Prospect Info: The 2014 Draft Thread!

[MoonDragn]

My top two choices would be Ho-sang and Lemieux if either one is still available when we pick at 30.

 

[MartyOwns]

I'd bet a small chunk of money ho sang will not be available to us @30

 

[SeidoN]

I'd bet a small chunk of money ho sang will not be available to us @30

ya I think someone like the Pens take a chance on him.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Ding ding ding? Isn't that exactly what you did above.

 

[MoonDragn]

I'd bet a small chunk of money ho sang will not be available to us @30

I dunno, he's a smaller player and the trend for the NHL lately has been to draft bigger players.

He might just be available if all the other teams think he could be a liability for the team.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Ho-Sang at 30 would be nice. and Hawryluk/Kamanev at 41

EDIT: Brayden Point #17 on Button and #58 on McKenzie. interesting

McKenzie specifically mentioned on twitter that Point could be the wild card kid who goes top 20 if a team really likes him. He mentioned this year's rankings were particularly difficult to make due to a lack of consensus among everyone out of the top-20.

Anyway, what's the deal with Hawryluk? It's weird to me to see a non-overager-type put up better than PPG in the CHL and get ranked below other kids with less points. I gotta go back and read what Pronman and Button said about him.

In terms of Bob's rankings, there's a LOT of guys around the 30-41 range that I'd love to see Lou pick up. That makes me feel a little better, but like Bob said, there's very little consensus, so who knows how it'll all play out in the end.

 

[MartyOwns]

I dunno, he's a smaller player and the trend for the NHL lately has been to draft bigger players.

He might just be available if all the other teams think he could be a liability for the team.

I hope you're right for our sake...lord knows Lou isn't afraid to take a chance on a small forward. but I think his skill set (from what I've read) makes him hard to pass up for teams drafting 20-29th.

 

[SeidoN]

McKenzie specifically mentioned on twitter that Point could be the wild card kid who goes top 20 if a team really likes him. He mentioned this year's rankings were particularly difficult to make due to a lack of consensus among everyone out of the top-20.

Anyway, what's the deal with Hawryluk? It's weird to me to see a non-overager-type put up better than PPG in the CHL and get ranked below other kids with less points. I gotta go back and read what Pronman and Button said about him.

In terms of Bob's rankings, there's a LOT of guys around the 30-41 range that I'd love to see Lou pick up. That makes me feel a little better, but like Bob said, there's very little consensus, so who knows how it'll all play out in the end.

I read alot about Hawryluk and everything about him sounded like a Lou type player. so I borrowed a friends Hockeystreams account and watched a bunch of his games. he really plays alot like Zajac, with maybe slightly worse defense and slightly better not-hitting-the-post

as for being ranked outside the first round, could be the surgery he had in March, could be that hes a little undersized. I considered him a late first rounder so if we got him at 41 ill be real happy

 

[MoonDragn]

I hope you're right for our sake...lord knows Lou isn't afraid to take a chance on a small forward. but I think his skill set (from what I've read) makes him hard to pass up for teams drafting 20-29th.

I might be biased on Ho-sang cause he has some Chinese Heritage in him. When was the last time anyone with Chinese blood was drafted in the 1st round?

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

I read alot about Hawryluk and everything about him sounded like a Lou type player. so I borrowed a friends Hockeystreams account and watched a bunch of his games. he really plays alot like Zajac, with maybe slightly worse defense and slightly better not-hitting-the-post

as for being ranked outside the first round, could be the surgery he had in March, could be that hes a little undersized. I considered him a late first rounder so if we got him at 41 ill be real happy

Here's some chunks from Pronman's Hawryluk blurb:
"He can make plays in open ice, but is more impressive as a passer. Hawryluk's intangibles are more of a standout quality than his skills: He has a great work ethic, and is a strong, physical player."

"He protects the puck well, pressures defensemen well, and comes back hard on the back check," said one scout."

"It's unclear whether he has enough offensive skill to be a pro scorer"

It's just weird to me to see a kid put up the points he has and be labeled as someone who might not be an effective offensive guy in the NHL. Maybe that has to do with teammate/team effects. But I'd absolutely love to take this kid if he's around at 41, and I wouldn't be upset at 30.

 

[SeidoN]

Here's some chunks from Pronman's Hawryluk blurb:
"He can make plays in open ice, but is more impressive as a passer. Hawryluk's intangibles are more of a standout quality than his skills: He has a great work ethic, and is a strong, physical player."

"He protects the puck well, pressures defensemen well, and comes back hard on the back check," said one scout."

"It's unclear whether he has enough offensive skill to be a pro scorer"

It's just weird to me to see a kid put up the points he has and be labeled as someone who might not be an effective offensive guy in the NHL. Maybe that has to do with teammate/team effects. But I'd absolutely love to take this kid if he's around at 41, and I wouldn't be upset at 30.

yeah its strange. he definitely has offensive instinct, even if more of a playmaker than a scorer. I think hes a guy we would be looking at closely imo

 

[Devils Dominion]

I might be biased on Ho-sang cause he has some Chinese Heritage in him. When was the last time anyone with Chinese blood was drafted in the 1st round?

I also think a team like Pittsburgh will take him earlier than 30.
His skills are too good for 29 teams to pass on him.

He is suspended for the first 15 games next season, not that it makes a difference on his draft positioning.

 

[MartyOwns]

I might be biased on Ho-sang cause he has some Chinese Heritage in him. When was the last time anyone with Chinese blood was drafted in the 1st round?

no idea...but trying to google it, I came across Larry Kwong....very interesting player-pioneer, and still kicking at age 91.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

I also think a team like Pittsburgh will take him earlier than 30.
His skills are too good for 29 teams to pass on him.

He is suspended for the first 15 games next season, not that it makes a difference on his draft positioning.

It wouldn't be the first time a ridiculously skilled player had a meteoric drop for reasons completely unrelated to hockey. I've read way too many things about how he's "not a team player" and "doesn't have the right attitude" and all that. I think Ho-sang's biggest issue is that the "off-ice" issues seem to manifest on the ice. He's a "do it all myself" kinda guy who seems like he doesn't have great control over his emotions. It doesn't help that he's small, too. Shinkaruk plummeted despite being known for a fantastic attitude and work ethic.

If he's on the board at 30, I hope we take him. But I won't be too surprised if he slips into the second round.

 

[SeidoN]

Ho-Sang sounds very Yak-y

 

[Unknown Caller]

Ho-Sang sounds very Yak-y

I've seen both play and I like Ho-Sang over Milano for what it's worth. Both are pretty similar players from my perspective.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Ho-Sang sounds very Yak-y

The Ho-Sang hate is beyond the usual "doesn't play the game the right way, yet" sorta stuff. He's been questioned on everything from his anger, his conditioning, his "will to win," his responsibility, his commitment to his team and teammtes...who knows how much of this stuff is even rooted in reality, but the fact that it's out there at all means someone's listening to it.

 

[SeidoN]

The Ho-Sang hate is beyond the usual "doesn't play the game the right way, yet" sorta stuff. He's been questioned on everything from his anger, his conditioning, his "will to win," his responsibility, his commitment to his team and teammtes...who knows how much of this stuff is even rooted in reality, but the fact that it's out there at all means someone's listening to it.

question is, does it scare Lou off, or do we reign him in.

 

[Devils Trap]

question is, does it scare Lou off, or do we reign him in.

Easy Answer - Scares him off

 

[MartyOwns]

Easy Answer - Scares him off

like Merrill, right?

 

[MoonDragn]

Lou always takes the best available player. If Ho-sang drops in our laps I very much doubt Lou will pass on him unless he knows something we don't.

 

[tycobb]

Lou always takes the best available player. If Ho-sang drops in our laps I very much doubt Lou will pass on him unless he knows something we don't.

Why do you think Josh Ho-Sang will be the BPA at the time? No doubt Lou takes BPA though ( I just hope it isn't a goalie).

Button has him at 39, THN 27, ISS, 18, hockeyprospect.com 61, McKeen's 33, and NHL CS 22 NAS.

Kempe is 28 on McKenzie, but Craig Button has him as a 10.
Barbashev is 23 on Mckenzie's list, but Craig Button has him at 14.

I don't watch these players play, but I like Craig buttons opinion in the past.

http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=38615 (Larsson draft)

 

[R8Devs]

Kempe would be such an awesome get, but I feel like I'm getting my hopes up for a guy who'll be picked in the top 25.

Kempe is a strong, bullish forward that has size, strength and a work ethic to match. He can be tenacious on the forecheck and never misses finishing a check. He has a heavy shot and isn't shy to drive towards the net. (August 2013)


A good skater with good size really makes it hard to believe that he'll last until 30.

 

[tycobb]

Kempe would be such an awesome get, but I feel like I'm getting my hopes up for a guy who'll be picked in the top 25.

Kempe is a strong, bullish forward that has size, strength and a work ethic to match. He can be tenacious on the forecheck and never misses finishing a check. He has a heavy shot and isn't shy to drive towards the net. (August 2013)


A good skater with good size really makes it hard to believe that he'll last until 30.

Yea I am getting my hopes up, but that seems like the perfect fit for Zajac and Jagr or any line with Pete has HC.

 

[BrodeursCups]

He's not a top-30 guy on my list.

Josefson was a a top-20 guy too, in popular opinion by Central Scouting.

LMFAO I'm sure those three YouTube videos you've seen of him really helped aid your evaluation process....hilarious.