2015 NHL Draft Prospect Discussion - Solidly in the top 10

[Sergei Berezin]

If they pass on Marner I will lose my ****ing mind.

I have him over Hanifin, but maybe that's because I know the Leafs won't be 3rd last. (I'll admit that I've only seen a couple games, but its highlights and reports about Hanifin).


I still think he'll end up being a center anyway. Some people believe he's still going through a growth spurt and that he's done in terms of height as well (extreeemmmmmely speculative)



Anyway, at this point, this is the guy I want and I really don't see that changing going forward.


Something about having another 93 in blue and white is appealing to say the least as well.

 

[SadLeafsFan99]

Should the leafs draft Adin Hill?

Adin Hill is leading the OHL is save percentage and he is projected to go 30th overall...should the leafs draft him with the Nashville pick? Leafs could use an elite goalie prospect

 

[Oskar The Groucho]

If we are 4th of 5th and Hanifin is on the board you take him and dont look back.. The kid is a generational talent

 

[MR4]

Adin Hill is leading the OHL is save percentage and he is projected to go 30th overall...should the leafs draft him with the Nashville pick? Leafs could use an elite goalie prospect

It's not that great of a statistic for scouting purposes.

 

[agropop]

People are free to want whoever they want of course, but I'm surprised by people who are presenting Crouse as "high risk" or a "project", or as you say, having a long development curve.

My sense of watching him and (more significantly) reading the more credible scouting reports is that he's one of the safest picks outside the top 3 and closer to NHL ready than most.

Power forwards commonly take more time to round out their game, and Crouse's less than spectacular production in junior is reasonable cause for pause.

You could characterize him as safe in terms of making the nhl sure, but it isn't necessarily safe to expect him to live up to his draft position.

 

[StuckOutHere]

Power forwards commonly take more time to round out their game, and Crouse's less than spectacular production in junior is reasonable cause for pause.

You could characterize him as safe in terms of making the nhl sure, but it isn't necessarily safe to expect him to live up to his draft position.

Drafting Crouse would deflate the hope I have in the new organization unless they are drafting 8/9. Take Strome/Marner/Werenski/Kylington instead please.

 

[Oskar The Groucho]

Drafting Crouse would deflate the hope I have in the new organization unless they are drafting 8/9. Take Strome/Marner/Werenski/Kylington instead please.

The love of Crouse is killing me .. the kid cant put up points on a crappy team... He will go 10th-20th maybe ever 2nd round

 

[StuckOutHere]

The love of Crouse is killing me .. the kid cant put up points on a crappy team... He will go 10th-20th maybe ever 2nd round

Some idiot team will draft him 7th~ overall. Enjoy Benoit Pouliot 2.0. Before detractors swoop in saying "omg he doesn't play like Pouliot!", I mean in role. I see him as an elite 3rd liner. We did that last year. Except he plays C and is regarded as the top defensive player in the CHL. Jarrett Stoll vs Kyle Clifford.

 

[Rielly4]

Some idiot team will draft him 7th~ overall. Enjoy Benoit Pouliot 2.0. Before detractors swoop in saying "omg he doesn't play like Pouliot!", I mean in role. I see him as an elite 3rd liner. We did that last year. Except he plays C and is regarded as the top defensive player in the CHL. Jarrett Stoll vs Kyle Clifford.

Crouse will be an elite player below the goal line no matter what league he is in... He is an elite player for cycling and forechecking...His two way play is also good... Even if he is not an offensive catalyst he could easily play with offensive catalysts and help there cycle game and create space for them. He could easily play a 3rd line role well, but he could also be be a guy who helps a line with more skilled players... I'd say every line needs a cycle specialist who is just unreal downlow, Crouse would be perfect for that role on a line. IMO he is a top 6er and a guy who is going to be extremely valuable to whoever drafts him.. But yeah this draft is pretty stacked not saying id take him top 10 but around 11 or 12 easily.

 

[JMcLeaf]

Adin Hill is leading the OHL is save percentage and he is projected to go 30th overall...should the leafs draft him with the Nashville pick? Leafs could use an elite goalie prospect

Adin Hill plays in the WHL.

Where did you see 30th overall? Only one I've seen say that is Damien Cox. Other lists I've seen have him going in the later rds or not even ranked.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

C
Connor McDavid X
Jack Eichel X
Dylan Strome
Nick Merkley
Pavel Zacha
Matthew Barzal
Kyle Connor
Travis Konecny
Mitch Marner
W
Crouse
Boeser (our later 1st)
D
Werenski
Hanifan X

X Probably gone by the time we pick

I would not be unhappy if we land on Strome, Marner, or Werenski at #5. If we pick any of these 3, we would be well on our ways to restocking the retool/build.

 

[Pi]

I am so worried that the Leafs will start winning again. We need Mitchell Marner. That guy isn't going to be there at 5 guaranteed. I really hope we can finish 4th so we at least get Hanifin.

The way Marner has played so far in the season, I find it hard to believe that Arizona wouldn't take him 3rd overall.

 

[Trapper]

I am so worried that the Leafs will start winning again. We need Mitchell Marner. That guy isn't going to be there at 5 guaranteed. I really hope we can finish 4th so we at least get Hanifin.

The way Marner has played so far in the season, I find it hard to believe that Arizona wouldn't take him 3rd overall.

I really doubt Marner will be there at 5.

I see:
1/2: Buffalo/Edmonton: McEichel
3. Arizona: Marner (they have his London linemates Domi/Dvorak. With Yandle/OEL they really need top line forwards)
4. Carolina: Hanifin (repeat of Seth Jones 2013 draft)
5. Strome
Leafs will finish somewhere between 5th and 7th. If we don't finish 5th we get none of Strome/Marner/Hanifin.
That leaves Provorov or Barzal for us IMO. I take Barzal.

 

[cookie]

Crouse will be an elite player below the goal line no matter what league he is in... He is an elite player for cycling and forechecking...His two way play is also good... Even if he is not an offensive catalyst he could easily play with offensive catalysts and help there cycle game and create space for them. He could easily play a 3rd line role well, but he could also be be a guy who helps a line with more skilled players... I'd say every line needs a cycle specialist who is just unreal downlow, Crouse would be perfect for that role on a line. IMO he is a top 6er and a guy who is going to be extremely valuable to whoever drafts him.. But yeah this draft is pretty stacked not saying id take him top 10 but around 11 or 12 easily.

So would you compare him to a Kulemin/ Simmonds hybrid kind of player that can play center? Don't teams want this kind of player? I would have liked it if he was a physical specimen ala 6'6, 230 pounds at prime... only then would his placement be justified. The top 2 guys are supposedly Patty Kane tier and the guys rounding out should be first liners / pairing defensemen. Crouse seems to have a depth line / supporting upside... how does he get so high up?

Barzal, Provorov, Crouse, Rantanen, Kylington, Meier, Strome, Werenski even could be drafted at our location... doesn't necessarily speak to the strength of our position. Maybe moving the Nashville pick up with a roster player/ young player could entice someone around the top-12 to give the Leafs their pick. Seems unlikely but several of these teams are not from the East or in our division.

Plus, does anyone see Arizona "lucking" out and drafting McDavid this year and getting Auston Matthews (guy raised in Arizona) in 2016?

 

[Pi]

Crouse is a good player. I just don't see a top 10 talent. He's certainly in the 10-20 range.

I would LOVE to get Crouse by trading one of Phaneuf/Kessel and getting mid first round pick in that deal.

Crouse is going to be a good player but he just doesn't possess the high end skill that top 5-10 picks usually have.

Phaneuf for Dallas 1st+ gets us Crouse and is a deal I'd make in a heartbeat. Think about it...we aren't winning or losing more with Phaneuf out. I barely notice any difference at all.

Marner + Crouse + Roy would be the type of home run draft the Leafs need to kickstart this rebuild.

If everything goes right, I can't see why Crouse couldn't be a Jamie Benn lite.

 

[timlap]

Power forwards commonly take more time to round out their game, and Crouse's less than spectacular production in junior is reasonable cause for pause.

You could characterize him as safe in terms of making the nhl sure, but it isn't necessarily safe to expect him to live up to his draft position.

I agree his production is a good reason for caution, though I think his goal production is quite good. He doesn't look to be a playmaker, and that is reflected in his low assist totals (also a reflection of playing on a weak offensive team, i think).

I also agree that power forwards often take a long time to develop. I think part of what makes Crouse unique is that he is reported to already have a developed hockey IQ that not typical for players of his size and skill set. The term "power forward" doesn't quite capture his set of skills. While I think he can play a power forward game, he is also a good two way player smart enough and mobile enough to play in all situations. I don't think there's been a prospect like him recently, so he's hard to categorize.

I'm not saying we should draft him (though at a certain point I would love to get him). I just think he's one of the most misunderstood prospects in this year's draft.

 

[Face Of Bear]

I think I've gotten to the point where I will be happy with whoever we pick.

Any of McDavid/Eichle/Hanifin/Marner/Strome/Barzal would be the most highly touted prospect we've drafted in decades, and even if we end up with a Crouse/Werenski/Provorov, they will still easily be top prospects for us and a part of the face of this franchise going forwards.

Really, its a crap-shoot when trying to decide who has the higher ceilings and who is the most likely to reach them. We'll be getting a great prospect no matter what.

 

[timlap]

I think I've gotten to the point where I will be happy with whoever we pick.

Any of McDavid/Eichle/Hanifin/Marner/Strome/Barzal would be the most highly touted prospect we've drafted in decades, and even if we end up with a Crouse/Werenski/Provorov, they will still easily be top prospects for us and a part of the face of this franchise going forwards.

Really, its a crap-shoot when trying to decide who has the higher ceilings and who is the most likely to reach them. We'll be getting a great prospect no matter what.

I feel similarly. I'll be happy on draft day, but what I really need to see is how our guy develops over the next two years (and beyond). I think we have unusually high odds of getting an NHLer, but it will take some luck for him to be a star. And sometimes you do better when you don't get the guy you wanted.

 

[silentbob37*]

I think I've gotten to the point where I will be happy with whoever we pick.

Any of McDavid/Eichle/Hanifin/Marner/Strome/Barzal would be the most highly touted prospect we've drafted in decades, and even if we end up with a Crouse/Werenski/Provorov, they will still easily be top prospects for us and a part of the face of this franchise going forwards.

Really, its a crap-shoot when trying to decide who has the higher ceilings and who is the most likely to reach them. We'll be getting a great prospect no matter what.

I'm just dreading the "we have Barzal, rebuid over" comments that will start the day after the draft........

 

[Menzinger]

The love of Crouse is killing me .. the kid cant put up points on a crappy team... He will go 10th-20th maybe ever 2nd round

Yep, I can see him falling very far down.

Expecting prospects who can't score in junior to suddenly start scoring in the NHL is a recipe for disaster.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

For our 2nd pick, on my radar. HARKINS, JANSEN. A center with some size and skill.

If he falls. Put him in there with Brock Boeser as ones of interest.

 

[Drew311]

The love of Crouse is killing me .. the kid cant put up points on a crappy team... He will go 10th-20th maybe ever 2nd round

Could this be the reason why his point totals aren't all that high?

I know he's not on the same talent level, but guys like Marner and Strome are on very offensive teams which inflate their goal and assist totals. If Crouse had some better linemates then he would get more opportunities to score and his assists would be higher due to having better finishers on the ice with him.

 

[Pi]

For our 2nd pick, on my radar. HARKINS, JANSEN. A center with some size and skill.

If he falls. Put him in there with Brock Boeser as ones of interest.

Don't have a 2nd round pick. Leafs gonna Leaf. I think one of LA/Chicago has our 2nd round pick...or Anaheim. I am confused but I know we don't have it.

Edit: Columbus Blue Jackets have our 2nd round pick because they got it in the Marian Gaborik trade.

 

[selltrade]

Don't have a 2nd round pick. Leafs gonna Leaf. I think one of LA/Chicago has our 2nd round pick...or Anaheim. I am confused but I know we don't have it.

Edit: Columbus Blue Jackets have our 2nd round pick because they got it in the Marian Gaborik trade.

I think by 2nd pick he means 2nd 1st round pick aka Nashville 1st

 

[silentbob37*]

The love of Crouse is killing me .. the kid cant put up points on a crappy team... He will go 10th-20th maybe ever 2nd round

Last year, until he joined Sodertalje, Nylander wasn't putting up points either......