Speculation: Assuming we don't get Matthews, who would you want to draft most in 2016?

[Summer Rose]

For me it's a tough call between Matthew Tkachuk and Jakob Chychrun. Defense is definitely a need. The point could be made that Tkachuk is a left hand shot but I don't put much stock into the handedness of wingers (though maybe I should). I do have a feeling that with whatever pick we get, if Tkachuk is available then GMDM will select him. Bloodlines and all. I'm not sure how I'd feel about that since I'm pretty torn. It's not like I wouldn't want him on the team.

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[Bonsai Tree]

Voted for Tkachuk because we need a heavy game to go along with the speed forwards. We need that not for the regular season, but for the playoffs where the game gets very heavy and slows down.

 

[The Feckless Puck]

I guess it all depends on BPA. If Chychrun is available somehow at our draft pick we take him, no questions asked.

Tkachuk is the logical forward choice (assuming Laine/Puljujarvi are gone by then) because of both his skillset and his family history with the franchise.

 

[Flyotes]

Chychrun. I prefer to build from the net and defense out, then centers, then wingers last. You can get a good netminder later in the draft, so defenseman first unless the forward is clearly better.

 

[Shepard]

Chyrchrun, since defense is easily our biggest area of need.

 

[JeiJeieL]

Assuming we end up somewhere between 7-12: Chychrun/Juolevi/Sergachev if one of them are still on board. Otherwise Nylander/Keller/Gauthier.

 

[ClassLessCoyote]

Jinx thread.

Hopefully a thread like this will give us the high pick we want this time around.

The thread we had last season had the end result of not getting McDavid or Eichel.

 

[Grimes]

Really the question is who would I not want.

Obviously Laine/Puljujarvi are wildly desirable. So let's just assume they are off the table too.

Imagine one of the two with Strome. All three defensemen are intriguing their own way. Juolevi because of his development in London, Chychrun cause of size and Sergachev for pure upside. Juolevi seems the safest bet but lowest ceiling. I feel other players in the 2nd round could be similar. Chychrun scares me for no reason outside of some things I read make him sound like he isn't as competitive as he should be to elevate his game. Sergachev may be my favorite out of the three as his stock keeps on rising. So out of the defensmen for me it goes:
Sergachev
Chychrun
Juolevi

Forwards gets muddier outside the Finns.
I'm pretty high on Dubois but he doesn't fill a giant need for us, unless he can slot into the 2C position. Tkachuk worries me because he is playing with two of the top 5 players in the league. How much of his production is because of that? Hard to say. But we know he has chemistry with Dvo so that gives him a slight edge in my eyes. Keller will be the steal of the draft or not really crack the NHL. Too risky and we already have small speedsters. I think Nylander is a safe pick for a top 6 player but Gauthier may have a higher ceiling. In the end I see the forwards as:
Dubois
Tkachuk
Nylander
Gauthier
Keller

I'd be happy with any of the players listed but I wouldn't pick Gauthier, Keller, Nylander and maybe even Tkachuk over any of the defensemen.

TL;DR
One of the three defensemen (not a strong preference on any) or Dubois at the 4 pick.

 

[Matias Maccete]

The only ones I've really seen are laine and puljajarvi. I prefer laine, but would be ecstatic with pulju also.

 

[rt]

The BPA at #2 is Laine.

 

[Bonsai Tree]

The BPA at #2 is Laine.

Wasn't BPA outlawed due to cancer risks?

 

[rt]

How did you pick your list, btw? Those aren't the consensus names at the top. I mean, it could go that way, sure. But the common top three D are Chychrun, Juolevi and Sergachev. Fabbro is generally mid-round, interchangeable with McAvoy and or Bean. Also, Keller is very rarely ranked above Dubois, who is often mentioned in the top five or six. It doesn't really matter, but it just seems kind of random, so I'm curious if this is a list you found somewhere or just your own list?

The consensus is almost always:

1. Matthews
2. Laine
3. Puljujarvi

With very, very little deviation in name or rank there.

4-10, though, seems pretty wide open. More so in rank than in name.

 

[Summer Rose]

How did you pick your list, btw? Those aren't the consensus names at the top. I mean, it could go that way, sure. But the common top three D are Chychrun, Juolevi and Sergachev. Fabbro is generally mid-round, interchangeable with McAvoy and or Bean. Also, Keller is very rarely ranked above Dubois, who is often mentioned in the top five or six. It doesn't really matter, but it just seems kind of random, so I'm curious if this is a list you found somewhere or just your own list?

The consensus is almost always:

1. Matthews
2. Laine
3. Puljujarvi

With very, very little deviation in name or rank there.

4-10, though, seems pretty wide open. More so in rank than in name.

Googled a top prospects for the draft. Found out about 10 minutes after posting the thread that it was from November.

Oh well

 

[Shepard]

The BPA at #2 is Laine.

If drafting at #2 or #3 I would take a Finn, since they're the consensus BPA at that spot. But I really salivate over the idea of leaving the draft with one of the defensemen.

Granted, I've hardly see any of these kids play, so my thought process may change if I had. I know Laine and Puljujarvi are expected to be pretty special, so I'd obviously still be thrilled with either one of them.

 

[Matias Maccete]

I think more interesting question is after the top 3 who do you take? I haven't seen any of them but I like what I've heard of sergachev.

 

[rt]

I think more interesting question is after the top 3 who do you take? I haven't seen any of them but I like what I've heard of sergachev.

I agree that the fun starts at 4.

 

[rt]

So Bob McKenzie polls actual NHL scouts and GMs to come up with his list. He gets their rankings and compiles them.

Here's his list from Feb8th:
1.Matthews
2.Laine
3.Pujujarvi
4.Tkachuk
5.Chychrun
6.Nylander
7.Juolevi
8.Dubois
9.McLeod
10.Gauthier
11.Bean
12.Sergachev
13.Jost
14.McAvoy
15.Keller
16.Jones
17.Fabbro
18.Bellows
19.Kunin
20.Brown
21.Tufte
22.Stanley
23.Rubstov
24.Dube
25.Asplund
26.Laberge
27.Hajek
28.Thompson
29.Bastian
30.DeBrincat

mynhldraft.com is also a compilation of sources. They add up McKeen's, ISS, Hockey Prospect, DraftBuzz, Draft Analyst, Damien Cox, Future Considerations, TSN, Pronman, Central Scouting, THN, and Button.

This is their list from March4th:
1.Matthews
2.Laine
3.Puljujarvi
4.Tkachuk
5.Dubios
6.Nylander
7.Juolevi
8.Chychrun
9.McLeod
10.Keller
11.Jost
12.Sergachev
13.Gauthier
14.Bellows
15.Rubtsov
16.Bean
17.McAvoy
18.Fabbro
19.Tufte
20.Jones
21.Kunin
22.Brown
23.Stanley
24.Thompson
25.Asplund
26.Hajek
27.Bastian
28.Laberge
29.Benson
30.Grundstrom

Me? I put more stock in McKenzie's list. Which is a part of the MNHLD list. But I'd personally give it a higher weight. Something like:

TSN Poll+MNHLD Compiliation =
1.Matthews (1+1=2)
2.Laine (2+2=4)
3.Pujujarvi (3+3+6)
4.Tkachuk (4+4=8)
5.Chychrun (5+8=13)
6.Nylander (6+6=12)
7.Juolevi (7+7=14)
8.Dubois (8+5=13)
9.McLeod (9+9=18)
10.Gauthier (10+13=23)
11.Bean (11+16=27)
12.Sergachev (12+12=24)
13.Jost (13+11=24)
14.McAvoy (14+17=31)
15.Keller (15+10=25)
16.Jones (16+20=36)
17.Fabbro (17+18=35)
18.Bellows (18+14=32)
19.Kunin (19+21=40)
20.Brown (20+22=42)
21.Tufte (21+19=40)
22.Stanley (22+23=45)
23.Rubstov (15+23=38)
24.Dube (24+100=124)
25.Asplund (25+25=50)
26.Laberge (26+28=54)
27.Hajek (27+26=53)
28.Thompson (28+24=52)
29.Bastian (29+100=129)
30.DeBrincat (30+100=130)

^defaulting only to the BMac list for names, and adding 100pts to those not on the MNHLD list. And tie goes to the BMac player.

So...Re-Ranked:

1. Matthews
2. Laine
3. Pujujarvi
4. Tkachuk
5. Nylander
6. Chychrun
7. Dubois
8. Juolevi
9. McLeod
10.Gauthier
11.Sergachev
12.Jost
13.Keller
14.Bean
15.McAvoy
16.Bellows
17.Fabbro
18.Jones
19.Rubtsov
20.Kunin
21.Tufte
22.Brown
23.Stanley
24.Asplund
25.Thompson
26.Hajek
27.Laberg
28.Dube
29.Bastian
30.DeBrincat

 

[Sinurgy]

How did you pick your list, btw? Those aren't the consensus names at the top. I mean, it could go that way, sure. But the common top three D are Chychrun, Juolevi and Sergachev. Fabbro is generally mid-round, interchangeable with McAvoy and or Bean. Also, Keller is very rarely ranked above Dubois, who is often mentioned in the top five or six. It doesn't really matter, but it just seems kind of random, so I'm curious if this is a list you found somewhere or just your own list?

The consensus is almost always:

1. Matthews
2. Laine
3. Puljujarvi

With very, very little deviation in name or rank there.

4-10, though, seems pretty wide open. More so in rank than in name.

Which is why it's a little weird the poll currently has Laine and Chychrun tied? Those of you who chose Chychrun over Laine...why?!

 

[rt]

If I'm going to take those same 30 names, and mix them all up based on almost no information of any kid, other than gut feelings and 2nd hand reports, I might make an rt list that looks something like this:

1. Matthews
2. Laine
3. Pujujarvi
4. Chychrun
5. Dubois
6. Tkachuk
7. Sergachev
8. Juolevi
9. Gauthier
10. Nylander
11. McLeod
12. Keller
13. Bellows
14. McAvoy
15. Fabbro
16. Jost
17. Bean
18. Jones
19. Kunin
20. Thompson
21. Hajek
22. DeBrincat
23. Stanley
24. Brown
25. Rubtsov
26. Tufte
27. Asplund
28. Laberg
29. Dube
30. Bastian

...but again, that's based on nonsense and will probably change WILDLY by draft day.

 

[rt]

Which is why it's a little weird the poll currently has Laine and Chychrun tied?

Most of our posters seem to want a D regardless of BPA.

 

[zerekstar]

I pick Sergachev, I just do not expect to be drafting in the top 8 or whatever so I hope he is still around by the time our pick is there. Obviously if we were picking top 4 I would hope for a Fin.

 

[rt]

I'm going to use that same BMac+MNHLD formula once Bob's final list comes out before the draft. I'm willing to bet money that it mirrors the actual top 30 closer than anything out there. Again, that bet is based on gut feeling nonsense and zero facts.

 

[rt]

I pick Sergachev, I just do not expect to be drafting in the top 8 or whatever so I hope he is still around by the time our pick is there. Obviously if we were picking top 4 I would hope for a Fin.

Sergachev is #2 on your list?

1. Matthews
2. Sergachev
3-30. Everyone else

???

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

Most of our posters seem to want a D regardless of BPA.

I think folks have 'zero' confidence we will be a part of the lottery for 1, 2 or 3. So they are taking the "D" prospect who will more than likely be somewhere between 4 and 10. Everyone knows there is a clear favorite for 1 & 2.

 

[rt]

I'm off plot, it seems.