Prospect Info: The 2015 Draft Thread

[Oneiro]

Mostly I want to see someone that talented go to a good team and not have to toil for half a decade (or more) playing meaningless games.

 

[Bologna 1]

McKeen's top 30 for November: http://www.mckeenshockey.com/uncategorized/mckeens-2015-top-30-nhl-draft-rankings-nov-2014/

Matt Barzal is also out indefinitely.

out of the bottom 10, i like yan and novak. have seen both of them play a handful of times.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Mostly I want to see someone that talented go to a good team and not have to toil for half a decade (or more) playing meaningless games.

Like the Devils.

 

[Brodeur]

out of the bottom 10, i like yan and novak. have seen both of them play a handful of times.

What were your impressions of their games/skillset? I tend to be in the dark with prospects from the Q and USHL.

 

[Bologna 1]

What were your impressions of their games/skillset? I tend to be in the dark with prospects from the Q and USHL.

novak is high skill, slick, shifty and good vision. the way he plays kinda reminds me of havlat in all honesty. with yan, i see a bit of jakub voracek i think. not the most skilled you're gonna find, but just makes plays.

 

[Emperoreddy]

These owners aren't afraid to tank (Hello 76ers 2 year tank job plan)

I can't imagine Lou would ever let that happen though.

It's a bad strategy especially with the new lottery. You can rip your fanbase to pieces which can take years to repair, make yourself a deadzone for free agents and even keeping your own talent, all for the hope that you win the lottery and this kid really becomes Crosby.

It's a lot to risk and if you end up with the second worst record and someone else wins the lottery you can be pushed to 3rd overall and miss out on both McDavid and Eichel. Ya you will still get a very good prospect but you gambled a lot and lost.

Have to really know how you plan to rebuild and still need luck.

 

[Tretyak 20]

I really like what I've heard about Merkley and Bittner. They're two kids worth watching.

 

[HobokenIrish]

It's a bad strategy especially with the new lottery. You can rip your fanbase to pieces which can take years to repair, make yourself a deadzone for free agents and even keeping your own talent, all for the hope that you win the lottery and this kid really becomes Crosby.

It's a lot to risk and if you end up with the second worst record and someone else wins the lottery you can be pushed to 3rd overall and miss out on both McDavid and Eichel. Ya you will still get a very good prospect but you gambled a lot and lost.

Have to really know how you plan to rebuild and still need luck.

Agreed. I think Lou would sooner leave than entertain not doing all he can to make the playoffs. Tanking is not in his DNA.

 

[AfroThunder396]

I saw Carlo play a couple times during a preseason tournament in September. He looked solid enough defensively and I liked how quickly he was making his reads. I didn't see a ton of offensive upside, not that there's anything wrong with a steady stay at home guy in the 2nd. We seem a little full on RH D have Santini/Jacobs in the pipeline along with Severson/Larsson.

I really like Carlo's tenacity and snarl in his own zone. Clearing the crease with punches and checks all night long. I also thought he was an excellent skater, he carried the puck quite well through the neutral zone when he didn't have passes available to him. His shot was a bullet from what I saw and he was able to get it off quickly.

I'm not sure what roles Tri City has him playing but he has 11 in 23, up from his 13 points in 71 games last year. For comparison, Severson had 17 points in 64 games his 17 year season, and then jumped to 37 in 56 his draft year. I think the offensive skill is there.

I really like this kid a lot. He plays the game the right way. Quite frankly, I was more impressed by him than I was with Hanafin or Werenski at the AAPG.

It's a bad strategy especially with the new lottery. You can rip your fanbase to pieces which can take years to repair, make yourself a deadzone for free agents and even keeping your own talent, all for the hope that you win the lottery and this kid really becomes Crosby.

It's a lot to risk and if you end up with the second worst record and someone else wins the lottery you can be pushed to 3rd overall and miss out on both McDavid and Eichel. Ya you will still get a very good prospect but you gambled a lot and lost.

Have to really know how you plan to rebuild and still need luck.

Not to mention the enormous amounts of money you lose out on. Ticket revenues go down, sponsors drop, less concession sales, etc.

 

[Brodeur]

I really like what I've heard about Merkley and Bittner. They're two kids worth watching.

Bittner looked alright when I saw him back in September. Had decent size but was more of a puck protection guy than a power forward. I thought he had good but not great offensive skills. Seemed like he was dropping on most lists, although most of the guys on Portland got off to really slow starts this year.

I really like Carlo's tenacity and snarl in his own zone. Clearing the crease with punches and checks all night long. I also thought he was an excellent skater, he carried the puck quite well through the neutral zone when he didn't have passes available to him. His shot was a bullet from what I saw and he was able to get it off quickly.

I'm not sure what roles Tri City has him playing but he has 11 in 23, up from his 13 points in 71 games last year. For comparison, Severson had 17 points in 64 games his 17 year season, and then jumped to 37 in 56 his draft year. I think the offensive skill is there.

I really like this kid a lot. He plays the game the right way. Quite frankly, I was more impressed by him than I was with Hanafin or Werenski at the AAPG.

Hanifin hasn't wowed me in the couple of BC games I've seen, but all of the USNTDP watchers on the prospect board still vouch for him. Werenski looked fantastic in the game I saw on TV a couple weeks ago.

I'd have to imagine that Carlo is getting big minutes alongside fellow 2015 prospect Parker Wotherspoon (14 points in 21 games). Just from the games I saw, Wotherspoon seemed to jump in the play more often than Carlo.

---------------------------

Should be interesting to see how Strome does without McDavid. I think they tended to play on different lines, but the coach would have their lines overlap and have them on the same time for bits (that plus PP time).

w/McDavid: 18 games, 13 goals, 28 assists, 41 points [16-1 record]
w/o McDavid: 2 games, 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points [0-2 record]

 

[Bologna 1]

Bittner looked alright when I saw him back in September. Had decent size but was more of a puck protection guy than a power forward. I thought he had good but not great offensive skills. Seemed like he was dropping on most lists, although most of the guys on Portland got off to really slow starts this year.



Hanifin hasn't wowed me in the couple of BC games I've seen, but all of the USNTDP watchers on the prospect board still vouch for him. Werenski looked fantastic in the game I saw on TV a couple weeks ago.

I'd have to imagine that Carlo is getting big minutes alongside fellow 2015 prospect Parker Wotherspoon (14 points in 21 games). Just from the games I saw, Wotherspoon seemed to jump in the play more often than Carlo.

---------------------------

Should be interesting to see how Strome does without McDavid. I think they tended to play on different lines, but the coach would have their lines overlap and have them on the same time for bits (that plus PP time).

w/McDavid: 18 games, 13 goals, 28 assists, 41 points [16-1 record]
w/o McDavid: 2 games, 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points [0-2 record]

IMO bittner has been slowly dropping over the past year. saw him play in the USA Hockey Select 17 Festival in 2013 and was pretty wow'd by him. scouts were drooling over him too and he was thought of as top 10 easily. now it seems maybe closer to 20.

 

[Brodeur]

Forgot that Adam Musil is Bobby Holik's nephew. Craig Button has him #24 and Future Considerations has him at #26 (they just released a top 100: http://futureconsiderations.ca/fc-releases-november-ranking-2015-nhl-draft/)

Part of that joy stems also from the fact both boys are such different players.

David, who skates for the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings and was drafted by the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, is a stay-at-home defenceman like his father.

Adam, 15, is a centre, more along the lines of his grandfather, Czech hockey legend Jaroslav Holik, and uncle, former NHLer Bobby Holik.

“Completely different personalities,” said Frank, who scouts for the Oilers, of his two sons. “David’s more level headed.

“I compare David to a diesel engine. You start the engine and it will run for 500,000 kilometres.

“That engine might not excite you as much, but you know it’ll work and go as long as you want.

“Adam, he’s more of a Ferrari. He can fly 250 miles per hour or break on the starting line.

 

[Brodeur]

Matt Barzal out until at least January with a broken kneecap.

 

[Brodeur]

Updated Sportsnet list: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/top-30-nhl-draft-prospects-list/

Curious ranking for Werenski.

 

[glenwo2]

We're going to end up with Colin White...THE FORWARD VERSION(w/Two Eyes instead of one).

It's Destiny.

 

[Brodeur]

TSN Draft podcast with Craig Button and Matt Cade: http://iphone.tsn.ca/tsnpodcasts/DC_Episode2_Nov18.mp3

- Beginning is a little sidetracked as they talk about the new members of the HOF. In particular, they talk about Hasek and Button admits that he (and many) people were too dismissive of Hasek's style when he first came over. Button also mentions how Hasek was left unprotected by Buffalo for the 1993 Expansion Draft. Craig Ramsay had been an assistant coach for Buffalo but joined Florida before that Draft. Ramsay pleaded with Bobby Clarke to take Hasek but was overruled.

- Quick portion on Nick Merkley and Jansen Harkins who were the big risers on his most recent list.

- Chats with Brandon coach/GM Kelly McCrimmon. Most of the discussion is on 2015 Draft eligible D Ivan Provorov. Mentions how he's been in North America since he's been 14; Provorov came and played for a Russian coach in Pennsylvania then moved to the USHL last year before joining the WHL this year. Quick blip with another 2015 Draft D on their team in Ryan Pilon. Don't recall any mentions of John Quenneville, but the line of questioning was more about the upcoming draft(s).

- Last segment is with BC head coach Jerry York. Don't recall anything too noteworthy about that conversation, although I did laugh in my head when he started naming off the successful NHL D which came through BC which included Mike Mottau. Then I remembered that Mottau won a Hobey Baker.

 

[glenwo2]

TSN Draft podcast with Craig Button and Matt Cade: http://iphone.tsn.ca/tsnpodcasts/DC_Episode2_Nov18.mp3

- Beginning is a little sidetracked as they talk about the new members of the HOF. In particular, they talk about Hasek and Button admits that he (and many) people were too dismissive of Hasek's style when he first came over. Button also mentions how Hasek was left unprotected by Buffalo for the 1993 Expansion Draft. Craig Ramsay had been an assistant coach for Buffalo but joined Florida before that Draft. Ramsay pleaded with Bobby Clarke to take Hasek but was overruled.

- Quick portion on Nick Merkley and Jansen Harkins who were the big risers on his most recent list.

- Chats with Brandon coach/GM Kelly McCrimmon. Most of the discussion is on 2015 Draft eligible D Ivan Provorov. Mentions how he's been in North America since he's been 14; Provorov came and played for a Russian coach in Pennsylvania then moved to the USHL last year before joining the WHL this year. Quick blip with another 2015 Draft D on their team in Ryan Pilon. Don't recall any mentions of John Quenneville, but the line of questioning was more about the upcoming draft(s).

- Last segment is with BC head coach Jerry York. Don't recall anything too noteworthy about that conversation, although I did laugh in my head when he started naming off the successful NHL D which came through BC which included Mike Mottau. Then I remembered that Mottau won a Hobey Baker.

Truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

 

[Cheddabombs]

http://www.mceichel.com/tank-tracker/

Sitting decently at 6%, but we can do better

 

[HobokenIrish]

http://www.mceichel.com/tank-tracker/

Sitting decently at 6%, but we can do better

Once Sal is healthy those numbers will jump up

 

[Brodeur]

Central Scouting preliminary list: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=739668

They didn't assign a ranking yet, but a letter grade to group guys into tiers.

 

[SeidoN]

Central Scouting preliminary list: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=739668

They didn't assign a ranking yet, but a letter grade to group guys into tiers.

Who wants to bet Lou misreads and drafts Zajc with our first

 

[Brodeur]

Who wants to bet Lou misreads and drafts Zajc with our first

1995 first rounder Terry Ryan had an interesting story from his draft year:

"I was in the elevator on the way to my seat with my dad and a couple of more, and Doug Robinson, who was the head scout for Montreal. Montreal was one of the only teams that didn't interview me at all. Nothing. So, I didn't really expect to talk to them. San Jose was picking twelfth and they told me they were picking me," Ryan remembers.

"So, anyway, in the elevator, the draft was just starting and I was actually late to my seat. Doug Robinson said "Congrats on a good year. Western Hockey League power forward. I like to see that."

I said, "Thanks Mr.Robinson. I think a lot of your organization." And on the way off the elevator he said, "Congrats on a good Memorial Cup."

And I said, "Jeez, I didn't play in the Memorial Cup." So, I went a little closer to try and get a read on him, and I said, "Okay, Mr.Robinson, I'll see you."

And he said, "Okay, thanks Shane." So, fifteen minutes before they drafted me, the Canadiens thought I was Shane Doan, by appearance."

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Updated Sportsnet list: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/top-30-nhl-draft-prospects-list/

Curious ranking for Werenski.

Werenski's 8th overall in Pronman's most recent rankings.

And Sprong's been dropping on a lot of lists due to some "Ho-Sang"-esque qualities and somewhat underwhelming production. I'd love to see a guy as skilled as him fall to the Devils (assuming we're not picking too too early ).

 

[Brodeur]

Werenski's 8th overall in Pronman's most recent rankings.

Yeah, that's the weird thing with Sportsnet's list. Most have Werenski trending up while Sportsnet has it the other way.

 

[Devils Trap]

For the sake of the Lolz... I want Colin White