Prospect Info: The 2018 Draft Thread

[suddeninterest]

It’s not even so much that we have had a surge up as that other teams have really started to out-suck us. We’ve been playing pretty much like we have all year imo. It’s that Chicago has 3 wins in their last 10, Detroit has 1 in 11, Montreal has 2 in 10, and Van has 1 in 11 as well. That’s more the problem because those teams that we were right beside or worse than for most of the year have absolutely fallen off a cliff this month.

They want a higher pick more than we do I guess. And do you know what all those teams have in common? Really shitty goaltending. We should be playing Broissoit and Montoya or one of the AHL guys instead of Talbot. That’s how we lose. Nothing we can do about McDavid and Drai, they are great players and are gonna score points.

Luckily those teams along with the NYR, NYI and Canes play some games against each other so some of that will get made up.

 

[CycloneSweep]

It’s not even so much that we have had a surge up as that other teams have really started to out-suck us. We’ve been playing pretty much like we have all year imo. It’s that Chicago has 3 wins in their last 10, Detroit has 1 in 11, Montreal has 2 in 10, and Van has 1 in 11 as well. That’s more the problem because those teams that we were right beside or worse than for most of the year have absolutely fallen off a cliff this month.

Which is unfortunate. It'll give Todd another season and we will get a long shot prospect. Just another season completely thrown away lol.
Could still win the lotto though.

 

[rambo97]

A breakdown of Evan Bouchard's game: What does he do well, where does he struggle, and when should we expect to see him in an NHL jersey?

Evan Bouchard’s Pro-Style Game Is Allowing Him to Find Great Success In His Draft Season

 

[rambo97]

 

[CycloneSweep]

Not bad. Will definitely need another 2 years in junior and maybe one in the AHL but could be a player in a few years.

 

[McDNicks17]

Anyone know off hand where Sandin fits on that list? A quick calculation gets me 0.55, ahead of Merkley, yet he seems to be getting less attention. Anyone know much about him?

Really good two-way guy.

Just isn't super dynamic offensively, isn't overly big(5'11'' 190lbs) and is only an average skater(especially for his size).

 

[McDNicks17]

I've only seen clips of Smith, but I wasn't really impressed.



Seems like half his points were tips or rebounds from floaters from the point.

 

[Zaddy]

Anyone know off hand where Sandin fits on that list? A quick calculation gets me 0.55, ahead of Merkley, yet he seems to be getting less attention. Anyone know much about him?

Very high IQ player. Great defensively. Good first pass. Has some offensive skills although probably not a high scoring player in the NHL, more likely a 20-30 pt D. Downside is his size, he's only 5'11, although he's 190 lbs so he is not skinny, and his skating. Solid early 2nd round pick IMO.

 

[CycloneSweep]

I've only seen clips of Smith, but I wasn't really impressed.



Seems like half his points were tips or rebounds from floaters from the point.

I think his point pace improved a lot when Yamamotos game got figured out again.

 

[Aerrol]

Kovy could score from the blueline with ease and often did, I don't think I can name a single forward in the last 20 years that had a slap shot at distance that was the equal of Kovy's.

Yeah, that's why I preferred the Rick Nash comparable, though I do see his point. Svechnikov's shot might be better than Jrs Rick Nash.

 

[Aerrol]

A breakdown of Evan Bouchard's game: What does he do well, where does he struggle, and when should we expect to see him in an NHL jersey?

Evan Bouchard’s Pro-Style Game Is Allowing Him to Find Great Success In His Draft Season

Loving the stream of info and links rambo. Keep it up!

 

[McDNicks17]

Very high IQ player. Great defensively. Good first pass. Has some offensive skills although probably not a high scoring player in the NHL, more likely a 20-30 pt D. Downside is his size, he's only 5'11, although he's 190 lbs so he is not skinny, and his skating. Solid early 2nd round pick IMO.

I'd be pretty pumped with him in the second.

I think he's a guy who would vastly outplay his draft position if he improves his skating.

 

[Hoverhand]

What a garbage hit.

4 games well deserved. Hope he learns from that.

Yeah, pulled his elbow up at the end and followed through. 4 games sounds right.

 

[Aerrol]

This has been one of the most fun drafts to follow in years for me, with the justifiable arguments for any of the top 10-ish players other than Dahlin. Lots of good discussion and debate combined with some tantalizing talents that fit our needs. Hope we don't somehow miss out.

 

[CycloneSweep]

This will make some of you happy.

The guy we just traded for plays with Hughes. So that tells me the Oilers must be leaning towards drafting him and have seen Marody a few times and liked him.

 

[HeavyHitter99]

I think his point pace improved a lot when Yamamotos game got figured out again.

Incorrect. His numbers stayed essentially the same all season. He was close to ppg before Yamamoto returned to Spokane, was over ppg by the end of Decemeber and stayed that way for the rest of the season once Yamamoto started to light in up in January.

Smith’s game has never been flashy offensively. He has produced at every level but his defensive game is what has always been strong. He’s undersized with excellent numbers this season but if people are thinking he’s like Hughes or Merkley (big numbers, flashy offensively but struggle defensively) then they are mistaken.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Incorrect. His numbers stayed essentially the same all season. He was close to ppg before Yamamoto returned to Spokane, was over ppg by the end of Decemeber and stayed that way for the rest of the season once Yamamoto started to light in up in January.

Smith’s game has never been flashy offensively. He has produced at every level but his defensive game is what has always been strong. He’s undersized with excellent numbers this season but if people are thinking he’s like Hughes or Merkley (big numbers, flashy offensively but struggle defensively) then they are mistaken.

Thats really good to hear.

 

[Aerrol]

This will make some of you happy.

The guy we just traded for plays with Hughes. So that tells me the Oilers must be leaning towards drafting him and have seen Marody a few times and liked him.

Eh, not necessarily. Possible, but I'd be shocked if they weren't scouting all of the guys we're talking about - Bouchard, Boqvist, Hughes, Dobson, Smith - pretty heavily.

Though...it IS the Oilers... Maybe I should just limit that to the NA players.

 

[Ninety7]

I want boqvist

 

[Skolman]

Incorrect. His numbers stayed essentially the same all season. He was close to ppg before Yamamoto returned to Spokane, was over ppg by the end of Decemeber and stayed that way for the rest of the season once Yamamoto started to light in up in January.

Smith’s game has never been flashy offensively. He has produced at every level but his defensive game is what has always been strong. He’s undersized with excellent numbers this season but if people are thinking he’s like Hughes or Merkley (big numbers, flashy offensively but struggle defensively) then they are mistaken.

Isn't Hughes fairly solid defensively?

 

[MessierII]

Isn't Hughes fairly solid defensively?

Not really no. Sounds like the most pure offensive guy available in the draft.

 

[McShogun99]

I'm really rooting for Calgary to win the lottery this year just for the lolz. It's the only scenario that would bring me great joy other then us winning it.

 

[Burnt Biscuits]

if we finish in the 8-10 position
Walhstrom and Ty Smith should be the targets

I don't dislike Wahlstrom by any means and certainly doesn't look like a bad pick, but this year has a 2008 or 2012 kind of draft vibe to me, where I think the D prospects on average are a bit more intriguing than the forwards and I think there is likely a superstar D beyond Dahlin in our proximity or below (possibly much below), just a matter of separating the turds from the gems and hope our scouting staff don't do the equivalent of taking a Colten Teubert instead of an Erik Karlsson

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

How would you guys rank the defensemen in this draft? For me it's

Dahlin
Boqvist
Bouchard
Dobson
Hughes
Smith

IMO we're probably going to get one of Bouchard or Dobson (which I would love). I could see them getting NHL time as soon as next year. They would definetely help out with our PP, especially Bouchard.

 

[rambo97]

Dahlin
--
--
Bouchard
Boqvist
Dobson
Hughes
Smith

I know Boqvist is ranked higher by everyone and I understand it is due to his potential but he may never reach his full potential and Bouchard is as skilled but just lacks the speed component Boqvist possesses. If Bouchard can improve his speed and clean up a few areas (which can easily be fixed) then his potential is sky high as well (franchise dman potential). So for that reason I'm ranking him #2.

Honestly all the dmen have sky high potential. A few them will turn out to be franchise dmen. Some will bust. It's just hard to say which ones will turn out best.

2012 is a good reference point. The dmen selections were
#2 Murray
#4 Reinhart
#5 Rielly
#6 Lindholm
#7 Dumba
#8 Pouliot
#9 Trouba
#10 Koekkoek
#15 Ceci
#22 Maata
#23 Matheson
#25 Schmaltz
#28 Skjei

In a re-draft knowing what we know now those selections would be completely different.