Prospect Info: The 2015 Draft Thread

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Crouse has the look of a wasted pick.

And lucky for us, since I do think the Devils will picking close to 10 than 3, is that ISS currently has Crouse at 3 and Marner 9th. I'd be ecstatic to watch Crouse go that high and see someone fall to us. I'm not too big on Zacha either, but I'd rather him than Tyler Biggs 2.0.

 

[Missionhockey]

you are acting like its passing on Drew Doughty and getting nothing after that

what if we are passing on Drew Doughty to get a star forward instead? yes, I'd rather do that with how we are organizationally set up currently.

Would you trade Drew Doughty for Colin Wilson?

 

[MichaelJ]

And lucky for us, since I do think the Devils will picking close to 10 than 3, is that ISS currently has Crouse at 3 and Marner 9th. I'd be ecstatic to watch Crouse go that high and see someone fall to us. I'm not too big on Zacha either, but I'd rather him than Tyler Biggs 2.0.

I've got to imagine those rankings get updated...if we can steal Marner around 7-9 I'd be ecstatic.

 

[Brodeur]

I've got to imagine those rankings get updated...if we can steal Marner around 7-9 I'd be ecstatic.

ISS list seems a little too reactionary to the WJC. Ie, Strome (and others) getting dropped simply because he wasn't in the tournament.

Hopefully we'll see Bob McKenzie's midterm ranking/survey in the next couple of weeks.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Would you trade Drew Doughty for Colin Wilson?

yet another post that is ignoring what I am saying

I've said multiple times that plenty of high picks bust. you guys are acting like Hanafin is 1000000% guaranteed to be a stud and if we dont take him as BPA at 3, we are 100000% drafting a bust.

 

[MichaelJ]

If the Devils trade in the draft, it's likely going to be down and not up.

 

[MichaelJ]

ISS list seems a little too reactionary to the WJC. Ie, Strome (and others) getting dropped simply because he wasn't in the tournament.

Hopefully we'll see Bob McKenzie's midterm ranking/survey in the next couple of weeks.

Makes sense.

Plus, those rankings aren't a blueprint for the order. I'm sure teams will have their own idea of who they want based on their own scouting.

 

[devilsblood]

Would you trade Drew Doughty for Colin Wilson?

Would you trade Filip Forsberg for Koekkoek?

 

[Missionhockey]

yet another post that is ignoring what I am saying

I've said multiple times that plenty of high picks bust. you guys are acting like Hanafin is 1000000% guaranteed to be a stud and if we dont take him as BPA at 3, we are 100000% drafting a bust.

You very rarely make sense that it's hard to gather your point as it is.

Still, you ignored my point which is that if the staff likes a guy and believe he's going to be good, why would they take the next best forward prospect just so they can balance. Makes no sense. I have no feeling toward Hanafin one way or the other, but the scouting staff spends a lot more time researching these guys and picking their brains. If they like a guy then they should go with the guy they like, not just take a guy because the team needs a star forward. Unless that forward's name is McDavid, he's probably not going to be able to step right in and produce anyway.

 

[glenwo2]

Except the Devils have drafted more forwards than defensemen. Don't let rants get in the way of facts!

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr00007066.html

How about drafting forwards in the 1st round? Haven't done much of that, I don't think....

Anyway, what matters right now is what they do in this coming draft.

I feel they should draft the BEST AVAILABLE *FORWARD* if Strome/Marner are off the board, Period.

Devils need forwards with actual TALENT and not 3 to 5-year projects that may or may not turn out to be NHL material.

 

[MadDevil]

8 of our last 10 first round picks have been forwards. 13 of our last 18 total picks have been forwards. I guess we should have passed on Severson in 2012 or Santini in 2013 because we need forwards.

 

[NJDevs26]

8 of our last 10 first round picks have been forwards. 13 of our last 18 total picks have been forwards. I guess we should have passed on Severson in 2012 or Santini in 2013 because we need forwards.

In regards to the first stat...we haven't had a first-round pick every year either (it doesn't count the pick we traded for Cory for example, or the one we lost for Kovy) so it's more like eight forwards drafted in fifteen years with a first-rounder.

As far as the second stat volume doesn't equal quality. I keep citing this stat but in the last five years combined we've used exactly two first or second round picks on forwards - Matteau/Quenneville. Drafting a bunch of guys in round three and after isn't the same as using high-level assets to address the forward spot.

 

[MadDevil]

In regards to the first stat...we haven't had a first-round pick every year either (it doesn't count the pick we traded for Cory for example, or the one we lost for Kovy) so it's more like eight forwards drafted in fifteen years with a first-rounder.

As far as the second stat volume doesn't equal quality. I keep citing this stat but in the last five years combined we've used exactly two first or second round picks on forwards - Matteau/Quenneville. Drafting a bunch of guys in round three and after isn't the same as using high-level assets to address the forward spot.

That's fair, but we also had no first rounder in 2010 or 2013. Our first picks those years were Merrill and Santini. Hard to argue against either of those picks. We had no second rounder in 2011. We took Severson in the second in 2012. That's a pretty significant part of the rebuild on defense right there.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

You very rarely make sense that it's hard to gather your point as it is.

Still, you ignored my point which is that if the staff likes a guy and believe he's going to be good, why would they take the next best forward prospect just so they can balance. Makes no sense. I have no feeling toward Hanafin one way or the other, but the scouting staff spends a lot more time researching these guys and picking their brains. If they like a guy then they should go with the guy they like, not just take a guy because the team needs a star forward. Unless that forward's name is McDavid, he's probably not going to be able to step right in and produce anyway.

I rarely make sense?

I've said all along that Larsson needed to play more and would be good. I was right.
I've said all along Deboer was an AWFUL coach that went on one lucky run. I was right.


I think I make plenty of sense.

 

[MichaelJ]

I rarely make sense?

I've said all along that Larsson needed to play more and would be good. I was right.
I've said all along Deboer was an AWFUL coach that went on one lucky run. I was right.


I think I make plenty of sense.

Those were pretty popular sentiments.

 

[OmNomNom]

How about drafting forwards in the 1st round? Haven't done much of that, I don't think....

Anyway, what matters right now is what they do in this coming draft.

I feel they should draft the BEST AVAILABLE *FORWARD* if Strome/Marner are off the board, Period.

Devils need forwards with actual TALENT and not 3 to 5-year projects that may or may not turn out to be NHL material.

i predict we finish bottom 7, even with lottery. with that being said, based on ISS rankings i think we're guaranteed one of strome/marner/barzal.

assuming conte doesn't go full Pejorative Slur

 

[Brodeur]

Craig Button's updated list: http://www.tsn.ca/craig-s-list-mcdavid-eichel-still-neck-and-neck-1.177115

 

[devilsblood]

8 of our last 10 first round picks have been forwards. 13 of our last 18 total picks have been forwards. I guess we should have passed on Severson in 2012 or Santini in 2013 because we need forwards.

Very misleading stat given we have drafted a fwd in the first rnd just 4 times in the last 9 drafts.

And while Severson and Santini both look like real good picks, Merrill as well, but all 3 were seen as excellent values at the time of those picks, those guys fell for whatever reason and we were able to jump in and scoop those guys up. but we have not done as good a job of finding similar values with fwd's, a guy like Point would be an example of drafting a guy outside the first rnd who has 1st rnd talent.

And because we were able to find those values, in addition to Larsson, and Gelinas and Helg, while not finding similarly talented fwds, that only furthers our current need of focusing on fwd's in upcoming drafts.

 

[devilsblood]

Craig Button's updated list: http://www.tsn.ca/craig-s-list-mcdavid-eichel-still-neck-and-neck-1.177115

So he has Zacha at 17, and Brazal at 18. Yet guys are talking about those guys in the top 10. Whats up with that?

 

[Volchenkovs Face]

So he has Zacha at 17, and Brazal at 18. Yet guys are talking about those guys in the top 10. Whats up with that?

That list was updated today (3 hours ago). Prior to that both were ranked in the top 10.

 

[Brodeur]

So he has Zacha at 17, and Brazal at 18. Yet guys are talking about those guys in the top 10. Whats up with that?

Barzal's been hurt since November, so it's a little strange to see him dropping. Similar thing happened when Colin White fell four spots in a month while he was out with mono. Back in 2012, ISS had Alex Galchenyuk in the 15-20 range most of the year since he was injured but most figured he was still a likely top 7 pick.

Button does get out and scout, but I can't imagine he can put as much effort as a typical NHL scout who doesn't have to balance doing TV. Another poster on the prospects board asked Button why he didn't have Parker Wotherspoon ranked in his top 60 (prior to this list) and Button told him that he hadn't seen him yet this year.

This is why teams will employ scouts to patrol particular leagues/regions. The whole world is too much for one guy to cover.

 

[glenwo2]

i predict we finish bottom 7, even with lottery. with that being said, based on ISS rankings i think we're guaranteed one of strome/marner/barzal.

assuming conte doesn't go full Pejorative Slur

This is what I'm afraid of.

 

[Emperoreddy]

That's fair, but we also had no first rounder in 2010 or 2013. Our first picks those years were Merrill and Santini. Hard to argue against either of those picks. We had no second rounder in 2011. We took Severson in the second in 2012. That's a pretty significant part of the rebuild on defense right there.

State of the team was a lot different at that time too. Forward situation looked better with JJ and Tedy and still having Zach, while our defensive prospect pool was empty.

We also got stuck with two very late picks becayse of the kovy nonsense and a finals run.

Still took two forwards that more then likley will be decent NHL players at worst (again I think people are to down on Q). Not superstars, but 29 and 30 is not exactly the place to find superstars unless it's a really deep draft or your lucky.

 

[glenwo2]

I still think Matteau can turn into a solid NHL player in the mold of a USEFUL-Zubrus Clone(not the USELESS original we see now).

 

[New Jack City]

I see us being in a position to take Marner/Strome/Zacha and we end up over drafting this Colin White kid. 2 way forward from the US Development program. That Screams conte