D Lukas Dragicevic - Tri-City Americans, WHL (2023, 57th, SEA)
- Thread starter GermanSpitfire
- Start date
covfefe
Zoltan Poszar's Burner
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WHL Player of the week at 16, time to get the hype train rolling. ~6'2 RHD who loves to lay the body and puts up points...I think he's going high.
Americans defenceman Dragicevic named WHL Player of the Week – WHL Network
Americans defenceman Dragicevic named WHL Player of the Week – WHL Network
GermanSpitfire
EU Video Scout for McKeen’s
This 2023 WHL class is shaping up to be something special.
covfefe
Zoltan Poszar's Burner
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Yes it is truly wild. I don't know what was in the water that year but it was clearly the good stuff.
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Dominance
99-66-4-9-87/97
It’s insane. I could see the WHL alone contributing half of the top-10 and 12-15 first rounders.
Dragicevic is fantastic and probably a top 5 D for 2023 right now. His defensive game is excellent.
I cannot see a world where the WHL places 5 of the top 10. It’s extremely unlikely that 4 from this list (Benson, Dragicevic, Heidt, Howe, Leslie, Yager) end up pushing out ridiculous talents like Carlsson, Dvorsky, Fantilli, Gulyayev, Halttunen, Michkov, Ritchie, and Sale.
I would only have Bedard and Yager in my top 10, and only Dragicevic behind that in the top 20. Deeeep draft.
I cannot see a world where the WHL places 5 of the top 10. It’s extremely unlikely that 4 from this list (Benson, Dragicevic, Heidt, Howe, Leslie, Yager) end up pushing out ridiculous talents like Carlsson, Dvorsky, Fantilli, Gulyayev, Halttunen, Michkov, Ritchie, and Sale.
I would only have Bedard and Yager in my top 10, and only Dragicevic behind that in the top 20. Deeeep draft.
covfefe
Zoltan Poszar's Burner
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Lots of time for things to shape up. Look at Lambert going from a projected top 3 pick to a mid-late 1st. Some of those names (clearly not Michkov/Bedard/Dvorsky) will slide, while some unknowns will rise. Happens every year.
I also believe Howe is a '24 eligible with a late bday.
I have no insights on how the top 5-10 shapes up as of today, but I also don't think there's much point in projecting that order when we're so far out from draft day.
One thing is for sure, this guy is legit. And GM's love big RHD who can throw the body and put up points. Look at this year, Jiricek is going to go very high with a skillset that is overall quite similar to Dragicevic's.
Bubbles
Die Hard for Bedard 2023
Someone else mentioned that was during the NHL lockout of 2004-05. By that rationale, the 2031 Draft Class (18 years from the 2012-13 lockout) should be stellar!
Bubbles
Die Hard for Bedard 2023
GermanSpitfire
EU Video Scout for McKeen’s
Was one of the few players in the U18’s for Canada that really impressed. Should hear his name called early next year.
Lavar Ball
Neva Lost
Dominance
99-66-4-9-87/97
Not really, it’s pretty baffling to me. He’s clearly among the best of this age group and showed it in the scrimmages I watched.
Him not being on the Hlinka roster is insane. I have him #5 overall right now for 2023.
Dominance
99-66-4-9-87/97
The only defenseman on his level as a prospect at this camp was Allen IMO. If Drago had a poor performance, then the omission would be fine, but he honestly looked great to me. Non-sensical.
He didn't have the greatest camp that I've ever seen. I guess he just lost his spot to Bonk and MacKinnon. Bonk had a great camp, but I wouldn't have taken MacKinnon over Dragicevic.
Still pretty ridiculous to not take arguably the best defenseman in the age group, unless he's injured or some other issue. He was one of the lone bright spots on the U-18 team as an underager, yet he's not better than the 7 guys chosen for this team? I know Bonk had a good camp, but he played Jr B most of the year, while Dragicevic stood out against the best 2022 draft eligible prospects and gained international experience.
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Brock
Registered User
Personally, I thought Dragicevic was the second worst defender at camp. I still had him on my team due to previous pedigree (similar to how Yager and Barlow were not standouts, but still listed), but I don't think it's the most shocking thing in the world if we're going purely on camp performance.
Additionally, I thought Dragicevic really struggled at the recent U18's. He was put in an unfair position, no doubt, but he was a bit of a train wreck defensively.
I actually spoke to a few Western scouts about Dragicevic about the camp (when I was making my prediction based on the two scrimmages), and both told me that they felt Dragicevic was the most overrrated/overhyped player from the WHL from this crop. Said he has some great offensive tools, but decision making and defensive play will cause him to fall. Neither was surprised that he didn't make the Hlinka squad.
That’s wild. He was electric offensively at the U18 last year, made great decisions, and was solid defensively. The story was same for his WHL season.
The whole team struggled, including some 2022 first rounders. They were awful. Personally, I thought he acquitted himself quite well considering the circumstances. I don't think any of the 7 D that made this team would've performed any better, except possibly Allen.
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Artorius Horus T
sincerety
Lavar Ball
Neva Lost
Artorius Horus T
sincerety
In his last 2 games, 2 goals and 1 assist, 3 points, +1 and 6 shots on goal.
Good start to his draft year. 3 games, 3 points.
Good start to his draft year. 3 games, 3 points.
landy92mack29
Registered User
Was very impressive vs Everett yesterday, his hockey IQ stands out so much. Scored a nice goal reading the play which he jumped up and was sprung on a breakaway which he showed off nice hands. Beat Zellweger on it and outplayed him all night. Tri-City still isn't a very good team so offense will be tough to come by but he takes his chances in the right moments. Was awesome defensively shutting down basically every attempted entry with either his stick or body. Still an absolute joke he didn't make the hlinka and where he's being ranked early on but if he plays like he did vs Everett consistently he should go top 10. One positive of not making the hlinka is extra motivation to prove everyone wrong. Should make the U18s again though as I expect Tri-City to miss the playoffs
GermanSpitfire
EU Video Scout for McKeen’s
A 3 assist first period gives him 8 points in 6 games to start the season.
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Bubbles
Die Hard for Bedard 2023
4 Assists tonight. What a game by the Americans.
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