Okay, I get it, if I throw a hot take out there I should back it up.
I put Timmins over Byram because I believe that Timmins can top out along the same lines as Ryan Suter, where as Byam I see topping out around Seth Jones level. Not a bad thing, I just value a Suter-like defensive cornerstone more.
I placed Annunen so high because he is obviously having an incredible, record breaking season, and this is the first time that the Avs have had a drafted goalie prospect that seems worth a damn since.... Budaj?
I also had Kovalenko so highly ranked because of the fantastic season he is having in the second highest level professional league in the world. Plus, people may not value him much because he is a Russian playing in Russia, but the kid was born in America. He has shown considerable growth at each level he has risen to, has a professional grade shot already, and doesn't rely on any elements of his game that wouldn't translate to the NHL. This is probably the hottest take in my list, so I understand the flaming.
For whatever it's worth, Button had Annunen at 23rd on his list, while Newhook was not ranked. I feel as though that lends some credence to my ranking as well.
I actually do love Newhook as a prospect, but he is still just so raw and unpolished that he has some ways to go before he solidifies his position higher on my list. I see him becoming a 2C or even a 1st line winger if he rounds out and refines his game, but I have yet to see tangible evidence that he's there yet, or even on track to become that.
As for the rest of the list, I don't think Kaut or O'Connor will amount to much more than 3rd or 4th liners, whereas I see the utility in Bowers lending itself up and down the lineup with a bit more versatility, somewhat like Compher.
As others have alluded to in this thread, Beaucage is having a fantastic D+1 season as a very young prospect, and I can see his viability in the system developing well. To be fair though, I watch minimal CHL, so my assessment of him is largely statistic based. Still the statistics paint a quite positive picture.
I think that about sums up my thought process behind my rankings. I can go into more depth about individuals if you guys want (I actually love talking prospects). I've got spreadsheets and spreadsheets of stats, comparisons, and projections, but I doubt anyone really gives a damn.
Okay, someone else can take the soapbox now, I'm done.
