Prospect Info: The 2015 NHL Draft Thread Part VIII

[Zippy316]

I'm all about getting Zacha or Barzal barring no Marner or Strome... But I'm starting to warm to the idea of Crouse at 6. I know it's not popular but I really don't see him as a bad pick at 6

I like Crouse as a prospect, just not on this Devils team where it's at now.

 

[Burner Account]

Would prefer someone scoring > point per game in CHL.

 

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

I would rather Crouse than Zacha.

Despite being sub PPG, Crouse led his team in scoring and is one of the youngest players (still 17) in the draft.

 

[Zippy316]

I would rather Crouse than Zacha.

Despite being sub PPG, Crouse led his team in scoring and is one of the youngest players (still 17) in the draft.

Zacha or Barzal is what this team needs though.

A big winger is useless without a center to play with him.

 

[Burner Account]

Zacha or Barzal is what this team needs though.

A big winger is useless without a center to play with him.

What the team needs now may be very different than what the team needs when our pick at #6 is ready to play in the NHL.

 

[Zippy316]

What the team needs now may be very different than what the team needs when our pick at #6 is ready to play in the NHL.

There's nothing in our future that can bring what Barzal or Zacha can. There's also nothing that can bring what Crouse can.

However, I think Barzal and Zacha are much more important to a team than a guy like Crouse.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Zacha or Barzal is what this team needs though.

A big winger is useless without a center to play with him.

There is a very real chance zacha becomes a big winger.

We need both so it's not a big deal but I wouldn't just disqualify a prospect because they play wing when most likely these other guys at center are going to end up at wing anyway. (Not just zacha either.)

After the big two there are only a few kids skill sets that seem to scream center. The rest seem more likely destined for the wing.

Which is again fine because we need top 6 wings as well.

 

[Burner Account]

There's nothing in our future that can bring what Barzal or Zacha can. There's also nothing that can bring what Crouse can.

However, I think Barzal and Zacha are much more important to a team than a guy like Crouse.

Could trade for players.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Does the fact that Zacha was essentially groomed from birth by a demanding father give pause to anyone else? Such a strange story.

His work rate has never been a negative that I've seen, but it's just weird that hockey wasn't a choice for him.

 

[Burner Account]

I bet the Kings get someone great with the Anthony Brodeur pick.

 

[GhostofKenKlee]

Nick Ebert 2.0....

 

[MichaelJ]

There is a very real chance zacha becomes a big winger.

We need both so it's not a big deal but I wouldn't just disqualify a prospect because they play wing when most likely these other guys at center are going to end up at wing anyway. (Not just zacha either.)

After the big two there are only a few kids skill sets that seem to scream center. The rest seem more likely destined for the wing.

Which is again fine because we need top 6 wings as well.

If he does though, he'll be a different type of player. They'd both be big and play on the wing but have differing skillsets.

 

[R8Devs]

I would rather Crouse than Zacha.

Despite being sub PPG, Crouse led his team in scoring and is one of the youngest players (still 17) in the draft.

Crouse was fourth on his team in PPG with this being his second year in the OHL. Zacha had a similar PPG(Zacha-.92 and Crouse-.91) but this was his first year in North America and that would be 3rd on his team in PPG. And Zacha didn't have Bennett on his team even if it was just for 11 games. It's not like Zacha is a '96 birth, he was 17 for majority of his season too.

 

[Emperoreddy]

If he does though, he'll be a different type of player. They'd both be big and play on the wing but have differing skillsets.

That is true, I'm just saying don't discount a highly ranked winger because of other players play center at the moment.

Zacha playing center right now should not be the reason to take him over Crouse. There are other reasons to potentially take him over Crouse, but position isn't one I would want to make that choice on.

 

[SeidoN]

even if Barzal doesnt become a goalscorer, you can find those alot easier than great playmaking centers.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Button's final rankings. Have fun with this one boys

http://www.tsn.ca/craig-s-list-final-ranking-1.294692

Hanfin at 12, Barzal at 15, Zacha at 24 and Kyle Conner at 6.

 

[Devils Army]

Button's final rankings. Have fun with this one boys

http://www.tsn.ca/craig-s-list-final-ranking-1.294692

Hanfin at 12, Barzal at 15, Zacha at 24 and Kyle Conner at 6.

For some reason i have a feeling we'll take Connor but I remembered Shero is our GM so hopefully not

 

[Emperoreddy]

For some reason i have a feeling we'll take Connor but I remembered Shero is our GM so hopefully not

Well Button would think we made the right pick

 

[Zippy316]

There is a very real chance zacha becomes a big winger.

We need both so it's not a big deal but I wouldn't just disqualify a prospect because they play wing when most likely these other guys at center are going to end up at wing anyway. (Not just zacha either.)

After the big two there are only a few kids skill sets that seem to scream center. The rest seem more likely destined for the wing.

Which is again fine because we need top 6 wings as well.

From what I've read, Zacha and Barzal -- to an extent Rantanen -- seem like game-changers for me. They are the guys that have the skill to create for the guys around them. I've always seen guys like Crouse as more of the beneficiaries of the talent around them. For an example, if you put Lucic alongside Krejci, he's a very good player. If you put him alongside Zajac, I don't think he's the same player. I hate to use this terminology but I feel like players like Crouse are more of complimentary players while the Devils need more of the foundation-type players that the other guys seem to be.

It's more of a difference in opinion than anything. I just see a bigger need for Barzal and Zacha then Crouse. It's more of my personal opinion on how the Devils should build this team in the future. I'm solely basing this off what I've read, so I can be way off-base but that's my idea.

 

[Emperoreddy]

From what I've read, Zacha and Barzal -- to an extent Rantanen -- seem like game-changers for me. They are the guys that have the skill to create for the guys around them. I've always seen guys like Crouse as more of the beneficiaries of the talent around them. For an example, if you put Lucic alongside Krejci, he's a very good player. If you put him alongside Zajac, I don't think he's the same player. I hate to use this terminology but I feel like players like Crouse are more of complimentary players while the Devils need more of the foundation-type players that the other guys seem to be.

It's more of a difference in opinion than anything. I just see a bigger need for Barzal and Zacha then Crouse. It's more of my personal opinion on how the Devils should build this team in the future. I'm solely basing this off what I've read, so I can be way off-base but that's my idea.

That makes more sense to me. Like I said I just wouldn't use Crouse playing wing and Zacha playing center as a reason to pick one over the other.

Game changing skill is definitely a reason to pick him.

As we just saw Button has no love for Zacha putting way back at 24.

 

[Zippy316]

That makes more sense to me. Like I said I just wouldn't use Crouse playing wing and Zacha playing center as a reason to pick one over the other.

Game changing skill is definitely a reason to pick him.

As we just saw Button has no love for Zacha putting way back at 24.

It doesn't mean Crouse is any less of a prospect, it just means I think he should go to a team that has the players that can create for him. He has game-changing skill, but just not in the area of creating for other teammates.

Philly seems like the perfect destination. They have their young D, they have a great center group in Giroux-Schenn-Couturier and he can slide right in on one of their wings. With the Devils, they don't have anywhere close to the caliber of centers to play with.

I know it's hard to predict the future, but this team is absolutely loaded with left handed prospects that either play center, left wing, or will likely shift from center to left wing. I know when drafting this high it's a stupid thing to consider, but it's just another reason for me to want to pick Barzal.

 

[Devils Dominion]

There is a reason why Button is no longer an active NHL GM.

I find his insight informative at times and quite entertaining.

But I also take most of what he says with grains of salt.

 

[Devils Dominion]

For some reason i have a feeling we'll take Connor but I remembered Shero is our GM so hopefully not

I'm also getting that feeling lately.

 

[MichaelJ]

That makes more sense to me. Like I said I just wouldn't use Crouse playing wing and Zacha playing center as a reason to pick one over the other.

Game changing skill is definitely a reason to pick him.

As we just saw Button has no love for Zacha putting way back at 24.

Great, we can still trade back a few spots and still draft him.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

even if Barzal doesnt become a goalscorer, you can find those alot easier than great playmaking centers.

I believe the kid is a year away. He just needs to add muscle. His hockey IQ is off the charts, at least that's what I read and he's a guy who may help make Boucher a NHL goal scorer one day.