Brock
Registered User
This was/is a huge draft for the Panthers as the team goes through a re-tool process after missing the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.
1st round: 7th OV - Trevor Zegras
While not always smart to draft based solely on need, one of the things that I set out to grab in this draft is a future top 6 center. This has truthfully been a weakness in Florida since Mike Richards went off the deep end, with stop gaps galore. But Zegras is a terrific playmaker and the type of guy who projects as a well rounded SIM player. He immediately jumps near the top of Florida's prospect list. The team felt the need to jump up one spot from 8th to 7th to make sure that they got their man.
1st round: 19th OV - Moritz Seider
GM Brock Otten is proud of his German heritage and what better way to celebrate than to select one of the best German prospects of this millenium. Seider has been a huge draft riser in recent months. He's the complete package who is just starting to find his stride offensively. Looks like a future top 4 defender and is another guy that Florida traded up to select.
2nd round: 38th OV - Nick Robertson
Truthfully, not necessarily someone that I entered the draft with my eyes on. But I know his game very well and few players in this draft possess the offensive potential that Robertson does. Thus, by trading down a bit from the 3rd first, I decided to really shoot for the stars in terms of upside. Long term play here.
2nd round: 53rd OV - Nikita Alexandrov
Really enjoyed watching Alexandrov in the few QMJHL games that I caught of him televised this year. Plays with a lot of heart and a lot of energy. Charlottetown wasn't terrific this year so I think that held his numbers down a bit. Really happy to grab him here.
3rd round: 80th OV - Aliaksei Protas
Humongous forward who played with Prince Albert this year. Trended up in the second half, including a terrific playoff performance where he nearly led the WHL in postseason goals. Protas is definitely raw and his skating will need work, but he possesses a lot of potential as he grows into his body and continues to adjust to the North American game.
3rd round: 86th OV - Trey Fix Wolansky
A little ball of energy who was among the WHL's leading scorers this year. I thought about waiting until the 4th round to grab him, but why risk waiting and not end up with someone you really wanted to grab. I've had some luck rolling the dice on smaller players in recent years and I think Fix-Wolansky has the necessary skill set to overcome it.
3rd round: 89th OV - Marshall Warren
Again, not necessarily someone I came into the draft targeting. But I felt like he presented the best value in this range. I expected him to be drafted much earlier as he's a second round player on a lot of scouting agency rankings. I thought he showed a lot of potential offensively at the U18's and is a player with some upside who I can be patient with as he attends Boston College (with fellow Panthers pick Jack McBain).
The Panthers will continue to add players in the list portion of the draft, rounds 4-7. This includes the 94th and 96th overall picks and 18 in total from that point on.
Review to be continued with those picks.
1st round: 7th OV - Trevor Zegras
While not always smart to draft based solely on need, one of the things that I set out to grab in this draft is a future top 6 center. This has truthfully been a weakness in Florida since Mike Richards went off the deep end, with stop gaps galore. But Zegras is a terrific playmaker and the type of guy who projects as a well rounded SIM player. He immediately jumps near the top of Florida's prospect list. The team felt the need to jump up one spot from 8th to 7th to make sure that they got their man.
1st round: 19th OV - Moritz Seider
GM Brock Otten is proud of his German heritage and what better way to celebrate than to select one of the best German prospects of this millenium. Seider has been a huge draft riser in recent months. He's the complete package who is just starting to find his stride offensively. Looks like a future top 4 defender and is another guy that Florida traded up to select.
2nd round: 38th OV - Nick Robertson
Truthfully, not necessarily someone that I entered the draft with my eyes on. But I know his game very well and few players in this draft possess the offensive potential that Robertson does. Thus, by trading down a bit from the 3rd first, I decided to really shoot for the stars in terms of upside. Long term play here.
2nd round: 53rd OV - Nikita Alexandrov
Really enjoyed watching Alexandrov in the few QMJHL games that I caught of him televised this year. Plays with a lot of heart and a lot of energy. Charlottetown wasn't terrific this year so I think that held his numbers down a bit. Really happy to grab him here.
3rd round: 80th OV - Aliaksei Protas
Humongous forward who played with Prince Albert this year. Trended up in the second half, including a terrific playoff performance where he nearly led the WHL in postseason goals. Protas is definitely raw and his skating will need work, but he possesses a lot of potential as he grows into his body and continues to adjust to the North American game.
3rd round: 86th OV - Trey Fix Wolansky
A little ball of energy who was among the WHL's leading scorers this year. I thought about waiting until the 4th round to grab him, but why risk waiting and not end up with someone you really wanted to grab. I've had some luck rolling the dice on smaller players in recent years and I think Fix-Wolansky has the necessary skill set to overcome it.
3rd round: 89th OV - Marshall Warren
Again, not necessarily someone I came into the draft targeting. But I felt like he presented the best value in this range. I expected him to be drafted much earlier as he's a second round player on a lot of scouting agency rankings. I thought he showed a lot of potential offensively at the U18's and is a player with some upside who I can be patient with as he attends Boston College (with fellow Panthers pick Jack McBain).
The Panthers will continue to add players in the list portion of the draft, rounds 4-7. This includes the 94th and 96th overall picks and 18 in total from that point on.
Review to be continued with those picks.
