Just finished a rewatch of the u18s medal games. Interesting what perspective gives you.
Cooley is amazing. I think I still like Slaf (size) and Wright (head) a little better but it’s way closer than I thought it was.
I’m really not sure what I didn’t like about Gauthier’s game. I think when I saw him earlier in the season, he wasn’t playing with Cooley and he was the primary play driver on his line. In the U18s his role was to both find space for Cooley to get him the puck, or create space for Cooley and Snuggerud and he was masterful at it. Just an all around great player. People say Kreider, and I see that comp, but he also reminds me a little of Jamie Benn, and, to a lesser extent, Dylan Larkin (blessed is he). Just an absolute slam dunk for me as the sixth best prospect in this draft (at least).
Nazar is good. Howard got the goals but Nazar made them. He’s pretty slight for the type of game he plays, but I think he’ll be successful.
Snuggerud is super underrated. It’s probably just that there’s so much talent you think, “the secondary guys must just be riding coattails”. But no, Snuggerud reminds me of Matt Boldy, not really in style of play (although a little of that too), but in that everybody that year was so focused on Hughes, Zegras, Caufield that Boldy flew under the radar a bit, but Sungs is legit. Really strong power game and way better hands than I’d previously given him credit for. Decent wheels too. He’s not a burner but, he kept up with Gauthier and Cooley fine.
Chesley is such a good player. The way he plays, you just know he’ll be a 15 year NHLer. Calm, and quick thinking, good feet, just physical enough. I really hope he makes it to 28.
Seamus Casey, if he were 2 inches taller, would be a top 15 pick. Guys you say that about almost always outplay their draft position. If Chesley is gone, I’d be ok with Casey at 28, although 41 would be better.
Lane Hutson. Now, if this guy were 6 foot, he’d be a top 5 pick maybe. Insane edges. Guys with his profile almost never work out, but he’s so much fun to watch. I predict he blows the doors off the NCAA next year at BU.
Liam Ohgren. Stone cold stud. No weaknesses to his game. Not a game breaker, but he’s the kind of player that just makes everybody better. My top target at 16.
Lekkieramaki. No thanks at 9. He’s skilled but he does that thing that I think a lot of high skilled busts do where he skates himself into trouble constantly and then tries to rely on his skill to bail him out. It’s not going to work at higher levels unless you’re Patrick Kane.
Ostlund. I like him ok, but I don’t see the dynamic player that others seem to. He’s heady, sure, and he’s got some nice hands, good edges. I just don’t see anything special.
Havelid/Odelius: I like both these players, and maybe I just can’t evaluate D, but I don’t like them better than any of the top 4 US guys. They are both just so soft on the puck.
Kulich. What’s not to like? He’s not quite in that 2nd tier of players that we should be targeting at 16, but he’s not far off. Great shot. Plays hard on the puck. Wouldn’t be the worst at 16.
Sopavaliv. I really like this player. He seems like a kid that really knows what he’s supposed to be doing. A 3rd line center type with a bit of skill? Can’t go wrong with guys like that in the 2nd-3rd round.
Edit: thank god for DVR. But also, thank you to my wife for not freaking out on me that our dvr is like always at capacity with 6 month old hockey games.
