Prospect Info: 2021 NHL Draft Thread Vol. 1

[Ghosts Beer]

The funny part is, he is literally the type of guy every Flyer fan whines about us not having.....every year. He's talented, will hit anything, drives the net, will actually take the puck in / not AV dumps, extremely strong forechecker/backchecker, shoots on 2 on 1's. I see him as a 2nd liner and would be a more than welcome addition to this future mix (plus Destroyer IMO is our biggest wild card prospect). I've watched him a dozen times "Destroyer" - and I really can't figure out if this guy is actually awesome, or is a fluke. If he does turn out half decent, them playing together might actually be really interesting.

He's the type of player I certainly whine about the Flyers not having.

But there are also a lot of fans on this board who don't like north/south style players. They almost always want to go with offensive flash and sparkling skating. They dream of finding the next Datsyuk with every draft pick. Good luck with that. I'm not against skill -- I raved about Matthew Barzal pre-draft harder than anyone on this board. But I don't see any future offensive virtuosos likely to be available at 13 in this draft, that's for sure. Now, guys like MacTavish and Sillinger, for example, I think they'll score in the NHL and I also would be happy with them at 13; however, again, for a certain group of fans they don't play a dynamic, fancy enough stickhandling/skating game.

 

[Magua]

Every thread holy f***.

Imagine how full of shit you must be to compare MacTavish and Sillinger. They're absolutely nothing alike. And saying Sillinger is a grinder. As if raw skill is his issue.

 

[Beef Invictus]

Nothing serious, he did get suspended like 3 or 4 times this year though.

This isn't a great trend for someone on the Flyers. By conservative estimates, once he's in Philly he'd be suspended 9-12 times a year.

 

[Magua]

For any non-contrarian who hasn't seen him, here's 3 games. Tell me if you see a Voracek, Marchand caliber player.

 

[FlyerNutter]

 

[FLYguy3911]

Every thread holy f***.

Imagine how full of shit you must be to compare MacTavish and Sillinger. They're absolutely nothing alike. And saying Sillinger is a grinder. As if raw skill is his issue.

Fantasy Sports: - Flyers Board Mock Draft 2021

It will make sense now.

 

[C0DITH]

For any non-contrarian who hasn't seen him, here's 3 games. Tell me if you see a Voracek, Marchand caliber player.

You don't see Brad Marchand style at all? I definitely did all year. Are you trying to compare him to current day Marchand levels based on his current junior ability? Marchand was a 3rd rounder remember, didn't put up PPG average + until year 3 in the Q / even after didn't light it up (29 in 26 games with Halifax.....playing on a line with Voracek). Other than his knob head father, I doubt anyone would have pegged Marchand for what Marchand is today. Not gonna argue though because it's pointless for more than one reason. My point is, there are a few guys at #13 I wouldn't be angry at, hes one of them.

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

For any non-contrarian who hasn't seen him, here's 3 games. Tell me if you see a Voracek, Marchand caliber player.

I don't see Voracek or Marchand - I see what no one else sees. You and I, we're gonna live forever.

 

[Beef Invictus]

Do I have to watch those games

 

[Magua]

Do I have to watch those games

It’s those games or tennis. Make your choice.

 

[Beef Invictus]

It’s those games or tennis. Make your choice.

ok

 

[Ghosts Beer]

LOL. Guess I rubbed a nerve. The only way I “compared” Sillinger & McTavish is that I said I think they’ll both score in the NHL, neither play a “dynamic” or “virtuoso” stickhandling/skating game, and they are among several players I’d be happy to end up with at 13.

(I guess I could add that both have lethal shots.)

 

[mr4tno]

LOL. Guess I rubbed a nerve. The only way I “compared” Sillinger & McTavish is that I said I think they’ll both score in the NHL, neither play a “dynamic” or “virtuoso” stickhandling/skating game, and they are among several players I’d be happy to end up with at 13.

(I guess I could add that both have lethal shots.)

I want dyamic/virtuoso. I'm tired of vanilla. Both their fathers were as vanilla as you get

 

[Tripod]

I want dyamic/virtuoso. I'm tired of vanilla. Both their fathers were as vanilla as you get

getting dynamic at #13 is tough, though

 

[Magua]

Sillinger's entire game is based on dynamic stick handling in the offensive end. It's a ridiculous remark to imply he's a worker and doesn't have "flash." He's pretty much the definition of flashy puck work and nothing else in the middle of the draft. That's the irony -- he's all hands. He's a weak skater. He's not terribly physical. He can float a little defensively. It screams: "Hey, but his father!" Sometimes people don't need to strut in to every discussion to sound smart.

You don't see Brad Marchand style at all? I definitely did all year. Are you trying to compare him to current day Marchand levels based on his current junior ability? Marchand was a 3rd rounder remember, didn't put up PPG average + until year 3 in the Q / even after didn't light it up (29 in 26 games with Halifax.....playing on a line with Voracek). Other than his knob head father, I doubt anyone would have pegged Marchand for what Marchand is today. Not gonna argue though because it's pointless for more than one reason. My point is, there are a few guys at #13 I wouldn't be angry at, hes one of them.

I'm sorry, my guy, I don't. Besides Marchand being one of the elite players in the game -- and I know it took time to emerge -- he is pure dynamism with his hands and feet. L'Heureux has "fine" talent. A lot of his game to me is just on/off puck intelligence; none of his tools really pop. I dislike so many players this draft. I actually like L'Heureux! More than some guys bandied about in this range. I stress that. I just think he'd make more sense as a nice, floor, Swiss Army knife pick at #23 than #13. The Flyers aren't exactly overflowing with young, high potential skill. I trust you've seen him 20x over than me, but he seems an easy evaluation. Not all guys I find so easy to judge.

 

[Ghosts Beer]

I want dyamic/virtuoso. I'm tired of vanilla. Both their fathers were as vanilla as you get

And that’s your prerogative. Many posters here agree with you & prefer to swing for players with the slickest offensive styles & skating.

I don’t think there are any future Barzals likely to be available at 13 in this draft, though. Certainly not any you can predict with any level of certainty.

 

[Ghosts Beer]

If you question someone’s ability to create offense at the NHL level, then I don’t think you are defining him as offensively dynamic. Perhaps we have different definitions of dynamic.

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

I guess Anton Lundell (2020 12OA Fla.) has been killing it in his D+1. I think I had him in the WJC draft or something.

 

[FLYguy3911]

I guess Anton Lundell (2020 12OA Fla.) has been killing it in his D+1. I think I had him in the WJC draft or something.

He only had the best Corsi in Liiga as an 18 year old. One for the stat geeks.

 

[Tripod]

I wish we had some prospects who were great skaters

 

[BigToe]

A lot of his game to me is just on/off puck intelligence; none of his tools really pop.

Would you rather draft a guy with IQ and not many tools or the guy with tons of tools and meh IQ?

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

He only had the best Corsi in Liiga as an 18 year old. One for the stat geeks.

That's me, I'm a total weeb. I simp.

 

[Ghosts Beer]

I drafted Lundell at 10th overall in last year's mock. Was very high on him.

 

[Magua]

Would you rather draft a guy with IQ and not many tools or the guy with tons of tools and meh IQ?

I'm a hockey sense first guy -- you're rarely seeing me rave about someone if I don't like their mental game. But it doesn't have to be a dichotomy. Look at Farabee, in case his name gets brought up -- totally average athleticism, not a guy who beats you over the head with FLASH. But he was not a vanilla skilled prospect. He had/has outstanding puck skills and deception and ability to create in tight spaces. He also looked the part of a natural scorer. Maybe the confusion is in what I label "tools." I imagine most people go right to size+skating.

 

[FLYguy3911]

I don't know how tough he is, but Ayrton Martino looks like a slam dunk first rounder in this draft to me. VIRTUOSO.

On the older side of the class but looks to be a bit of a late bloomer (late round OHL pick, Clarkson commit). Top scorer in the OJHL as a young 17 year old (one of the most productive u18 seasons in years in that league), carried his team to OT in the GMG at the WJAC last year, missed 15 games this year and still led his club in scoring. One of the best draft year seasons ever in the USHL - assist per game, nearly 40% ES involvement and ~46% overall. That's big time in that league and it was his first year.

Super smart, skilled, and moves well. Puck just follows him around out there. Clarkson hasn't produced a star since Randy Jones, but I think I'd bet on this kid.

Buium: weirdly left-handed RD, accommodating his much smaller partner. Quite good defensively up and down the ice. Surprising playmaking when activated. Flat skating though, no loud tool

Not usually my type, but I kinda like this kid. The skating is awkward, but he gets around the ice well and has a lot of range. Probably going to go higher than I'd take him though (The BIG defensemen narrative is only going to get louder as the season undwinds). For a guy who was playing 2nd (3rd?4th?) fiddle to Morrow at SSM, he put up quite the offensive season (just outside of the top 10 league-wide) after joining the team mid-season. Had a lot on the PP and I doubt he's a PP guy at the next level, but his ES production is pretty good also. The numbers back up his defensive impact also so that is nice to see.