I'm not going to do a full mock, because this draft after the first 3 picks is just a crap shoot.
So i will just focus on a few players and our picks.
As an organization we have a few weaknesses that I would like to see us address this draft. One is an nhl caliber goalie. I do not forsee us fixing that issue this draft but we need a legit bridge to Hart, and we need to foster an environment where Hart does not feel the weight of the organization on his shoulders which i fear is beginning to happen.
The other weakness is overall speed. We look to have our top 2 centers in place for the next 10 years hopefully. But neither one is going to be confused with being a plus plus skater. Neither are slow, coots has done a remarkable job of becoming an average skater in this league and that is not an insult. Patrick i see as an above average. IF we went by Pronman's 2o-80 scale. 50 is average, 60 is above average, and 70 is top 5 percent in the league. 80 is reserved for generational. Coots would be a solid 50, patrick about a 55. Frost could be a 60 . Those are very good numbers but also below average for the nhl. Speed really is the name of the game.
So while we can't improve the speed of our centers, Lets try to improve the speed of the players around them. The forward skating prospects to me that intrigue me based solely on their speed would be denisenko, Noel, Kupari, here is a list of Pronman's best skaters in teh draft
- Quinn Hughes, D (No. 5)
- Liam Foudy, C (No. 47)
- Rasmus Kupari, C (No. 12)
- Jesse Ylonen, RW (No. 14)
- Ryan McLeod, C (No. 26)
- Sampo Ranta, LW (No. 52)
- Ryan Merkley, D (No. 10)
- Noah Dobson, D (No. 20)
- Bode Wilde, D (No. 19)
- Jakub Lauko, LW (No. 69)
This is why a guy like kupari is high on my list. He is a good sized, fast center in a draft without great centers.
Best puck handlers
- Rasmus Dahlin, D (No. 1)
- Dominik Bokk, RW (No. 8)
- Filip Zadina, LW (No. 3)
- Ruslan Iskhakov, RW (No. 16)
- Adam Boqvist, D (No. 7)
- Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C (No. 4)
- Grigori Denisenko, LW (No. 13)
- Rasmus Kupari, C (No. 12)
- Logan Hutsko, RW (No. 42)
- Kirill Marchenko, RW (No. 18)
here pronman ranks the besst puckhandlers . This is where my interest in denisenko comets from. As you also can see Kupari makes another appearance.
Now we could be safe and draft a guy like Farabee who in my opinion will play in the nhl. But i do not see a top 6 player, he really lacks speed at 160 lbs. And quite frankly if you can't beat players to the outside at 160 you're not going to beat them at 185 which should be his playing weight. Farabee represents to me a very safe pick, and for an organization that has been aggressive with taking high ceiling prospects ( Sanheim, LInblom, Frost, Ratcliffe, and Ghost) . I feel like drafting Farabee would be the antithesis of the philosphy we have successfully employed recently . INstead why not take a chance on an elite skating 6'2'' center that has great hands. To me that is a guy you gamble on all day everyday. And really i could see a coach coming in transitioning him to wing and simplyfiying his game and really evolve.
That is why at 14. THe guys i am interest is number 1. Boqvist. if he slips trade up and get him, 2 Kravstov. im a fan. after that i am ok with Denisenko, Kupari, and veleno. at 19 i am warming up to the idea of K'andre Miller. If we go with boqvist i'd prefer a forward at 19.
Who i specifically don't want. wilde, farabee at 14, and ty smith