HF Habs: Goldenhands top 31 for the upcoming draft (Final list)

Whitesnake

If you rebuild, they will come.
Jan 5, 2003
89,522
36,956
For some contrast - here's my top 90 (I posted my 120 in the draft thread)
  1. Logan Cooley
  2. Shane Wright
  3. David Jiricek
  4. Juraj Slafkovsky
  5. Simon Nemec
  6. Frank Nazar
  7. Matthew Savoie
  8. Pavel Mintyukov
  9. Joakim Kemell
  10. Cutter Gauthier
  11. Danila Yurov
  12. Brad Lambert
  13. Connor Geekie
  14. Noah Ostlund
  15. Jiri Kulich
  16. Denton Mateychuk
  17. Kevin Korchinski
  18. Filip Mesar
  19. Jonathan Lekkerimakki
  20. Jagger Firkus
  21. Sam Rinzel
  22. Ryan Chesley
  23. Gleb Trikozov
  24. Marco Kasper
  25. Isaac Howard
  26. Adam Ingram
  27. Viktor Neuchev
  28. Jani Nyman
  29. Ivan Mironeschenko
  30. Calle Odelius
  31. Alexander Perevalov
  32. Mats Lindgren
  33. Kirill Dolzhenkov
  34. Liam Ohgren
  35. Owen Pickering
  36. Danny Zhilkin
  37. Ludvig Jansson
  38. Vladimir Grudinin
  39. Ludwig Persson
  40. Seamus Casey
  41. Rutger McGroarty
  42. Filip Bystedt
  43. Tristan Luneau
  44. Reid Schaefer
  45. Mattias Havelid
  46. Luca Del Bel Belluz
  47. Michael Fisher
  48. Aleksanteri Kaskimaki
  49. Cam Lund
  50. Ryan Greene
  51. Alexander Suzdalev
  52. Dmitri Buchelnikov
  53. Rieger Lorenz
  54. Lian Bichsel
  55. Tyler Brennan
  56. Nathan Gaucher
  57. Jordan Dumais
  58. Lane Hutson
  59. Jimmy Snuggerud
  60. Raul Yakupov
  61. Jack Hughes
  62. Owen Beck
  63. Servac Petrovsky
  64. Martin Johnsen
  65. Artyom Duda
  66. Isaiah George
  67. Elias Salomonsson
  68. Kasper Kulonummi
  69. Simon Forsmark
  70. Julian Lutz
  71. Tomas Hamara
  72. Matyas Sapovaliv
  73. Ilya Kvochko
  74. David Goyette
  75. Matthew Poitras
  76. Christian Kyrou
  77. Ty Nelson
  78. Owen Van Steensel
  79. Kocha Delic
  80. Nicholas Moldenhauer
  81. Fraser Minten
  82. Otto Salin
  83. Kirill Kudryavtsev
  84. Topi Ronni
  85. Matthew Seminoff
  86. Fabian Wagner
  87. Quinn Finley
  88. Jake Richard
  89. Topias Leinonen
  90. Ruslan Gazizov

Surprised by your Gautheir rank. Didn't expect you to have him top 10.
 
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Habano

Allez les Bleus, (Blancs, Rouges)
May 18, 2012
5,259
7,398
1-David Jiricek RD

Huge physical defenseman with incredible athleticisms, skills, mobility and power. Jiricek is a beast of his own, he has an agrissive controlled approach of the game combined with a high IQ, what makes him incredibly difficult to face. His size/strength/reach/mobility and gap control gives his opponents no time and space at all and makes their life miserable. He is also excellent at reading and breaking plays displaying great anticipation. Offensively, he can generate offense multiple ways displaying great stickhandling and passing skills while his shooting arsenal is absolutely elite level.

Projection: Elite defenseman



2-Juraj Slafkovsky LW

Puck possession monster and physical specimen, Slafkovsky’s package is pretty unique. The way he generates power all over the ice coupled with some of the smoothest hands in the draft and great shooting skills easily makes him one of the most attractive players in the draft.

Projection: Top line power forward



3- Joakim Kemell RW

Best pure goalscorer in the draft. Kemell has a deadly wrister with quick release, great velocity/accuracy and his slapper/one timer violent and devastating. Furthermore, Kemell is a solid skater with high motor and solid puck skills, he plays with an edge, is pretty strong for his size and his game rather well rounded.

Projection: Top line scoring winger



4-Danila Yurov RW

A 18 years old kid in a man body, Yurov is a big, powerful skater with a long reach and some of the best puck skills in the draft. He is pretty hard to move off the puck, has very good playmaking and shooting skills and is a constant treath in the offensive zone. Combine that with a good IQ and some nice 200 ft. work and it gives you a very high potential forward.

Projection: Top line forward



5-Pavel Mintyukov RD

Pucks skills off the chart, just a brilliant and imprevisible puckhandler who uses his long reach and smooth hands to undress opponents and break defensive structures. Great skater who has the ability to switch gear and change his pace, what adds to the imprevisibility aspect of his game. Solid frame, strongly built, Mintyukov defends very well with a physical element to his game, closes gap quickly and is nearly impossible to beat one on one. Could be more aggressive and proactive at times in his own zone and needs to bring his “A” game more consistently. His tools are high end level and the potential sky high.

Projection: Top pairing defenseman and future PP quarterback.



6-Simon Nemec RD

Fast and dynamic skater who excels in transition, doesn’t miss an opportunity to jump in the play to support the attack, has sharp accurate passing skills, a high motor and the will to be a difference maker. His shot and defensive play are legit

Projection: Top pairing defenseman and future PP quarterback



7-Logan Cooley C

Electrifying center with high end dynamic skills. Cooley is a strong stickhandler with sly moves who can dangle through traffic and isn’t effraid to cut inside and take punishment to make plays. His motor is very high, competes at both ends of the ice and there is no glaring flaw in his game outside of an undersized frame, which shouldn’t be much of an issue in this case going forward.

Projection: Dynamic top 6 center



8-Marco Kasper C/LW

Strong powerful skater with high end IQ and motor. Great positional player with strong 200 ft. workload. Has a solid frame and uses it very well to protect pucks and work the board to his advantage. Kid is a very good stickhandler who makes the high % effective plays all the time. He is strong on pucks, plays the game with an edge and the way he generates offense should translate very well to the NHL.

Projection: top 6 versatile forward



9-Filip Mesar LW

Deceptively fast and talended, Mesar plays a high paced game and can make high level plays at top speed. He is pretty shifty, has great edges and his feet always moving. Kid can turn on a dime and change direction with baffling ease, what makes him highly imprevisible and tough to defend. Has a high compete and is highly combative.

Projection top 6 forward



10-Shane Wright C



Wright is a brilliant pucks distributor, uses his linemates extremely well, is aware of his options before the puck hits his stick going for the best passing option and then jump in the play looking for the open spots. His passing is the fundamental part of the way he generates offense. Kid is a good puckhandler, but doesn’t hold on the puck very long, will look for a pass as soon as he feels some pressure instead of varying his game such as challenging opponents one on one or using his frame to protect the puck ect., what at the end makes him expectable and rather boring to watch. Most of the time, he is just not driving the play. Has good skating agility and moves well laterally, but his unability to accelerate and generate enough straight line speed is also a legit concern since its impacting his pace and dynamism. His shot hasn’t been much of a treath this year, he struggled to beat goaltenders cleanly. There is also a notable lack of grit in his game and unwillingness to accept physical challenges. Needs to work on his skating and increase his motor, which one is way too low at the moment.

Projection Top 6 two-way center



11-Viktor Neuchev RW

Huge upside player. Neuchev is a fantastic skater with great hands and shooting skills. Competes hard, high motor and has that willingness to be a difference maker. Needs to keep on filling out.

Projection: Potential top 6 scoring forward.



12-Jonathan Lekkerimaki RW

Highly talended puckhandler with great offensive awarenesses and scoring skills, has that ability to find the open spots and fire pucks from danger areas. Has very good vision, passing skills and a quick deceptive release. Needs to get stronger and would benefit from adding an extra gear to his skating.

Projection: Top 6 pure offensively minded winger



13-Lian Bichsel LD

A force of nature, incredible physical tools coupled with excellent mobility. Excels at defending, a beast in his own zone, has an heavy shot and some raw tools. When you play this kid, you know you are going to do it through pain and punishment.

Projection: High end shut down defenseman



14-Cutter Gauthier LW

The prototype powerfoward of this draft. Has great size, strength, reach, soft hands and a devastating shot. Use his frame greatly to protect the puck and bring it to danger ereas. Needs to keep working on the quickness of his feet and pace.

Projection: top 6 power winger



15-Jiri Kulich C/LW

Might not be one of the most purely creative players in this draft, but still has some great tools, such as his shot, strong skating and good puck poise. His IQ and 200 ft. work are high level and projects easily as a future quality NHLer.

Projection: High quality versatile middle 6 forward.



16-Brad Lambert RW

Kid has some great tools, he is a strong skater with good size and good stickhandling skills, can make great plays at top speed and looks overall pretty dynamic. But has struggled a lot to produce in Liiga, changed teams twice and has some apparent off ice issues. Very good talent coming with some risks.

Projection: Potential top 6 forward



17- Gleb Trikozov RW

Great puckhandler with high end vision and playmaking. Good skater and pocesses great offensive awarenesses. Could be more proactive without the puck.

Projection: Potential top 6 foward



18-Cale Odelius LD

Smooth skating defenseman displaying a sharp accurate passing game, good puck skills, high IQ and a well rounded game.

Projection: Top 4 puckmoving defenseman



19-Isaac Howard LW

Very good skater with great edges and speed. Howard plays the game at a really high pace and proceed the game quickly, has very good offensive instincts and goalscoring abilities. Needs to work the boards better and avoid to precipitate plays under pressure.

Projection: Potential top 6 scoring winger



20-Frank Nazar C/RW

Creative puckhandler displaying great vision, above average IQ and offensive awarenesses. Needs to get stronger and more powerful.

Projection: Potential top 6 winger



21-Matthew Savoie RW

Fast dynamic skater with nice hands and shot. Plays the game with intensity but needs to play a better positional game and not the biggest frame out there.

Projection: Potential top 6 winger



22-Noah Ostlund C

Easily one of the fastest players in the draft, is phenomenal in transition and executes plays very quickly. On the very small side though and gets pushed around rather easily, what makes him harder to project at the NHL level.

Projection: Potential top 6 forward



23-Adam Sykora LW/RW

One of my favorites in the draft. Fiesty diminutive winger, but don’t let his undersized frame fool you, that little man plays big and is extremely strong. His motor is high end and his feet extremely quick. He is a beast on the forecheck and his game away from the puck flawless. Has quick hands and make plays in tight, works the boards extremely well, is pretty hard to knock off the puck, is excellent at cycling and keeping the play alive. He brings pucks to danger zones, has a good shot and a poison around the net. Similar playing style to T.J. Oshie.



Projection: Quality middle 6 winger



24-Nathan Gaucher C

Gaucher is a big power center with an heavy 200ft. game, who doesn’t miss an opportunity to throw his size around. Kid skates very well for a big boy, distributes pucks well enough and has a powerful shot.

Projection: High end shut down center



25-Conor Geekie C

Huge kid with sweet hands and playmaking abilities. Has good top speed once he gets going, but needs to improve his footwork/agility. Filling his frame will be his biggest challenge.

Projection: Potential 2nd line center.



26-Kevin Korchinski

Fluid, gracious skater, outstanding in transition, has great passing and stickhandling skills. Prone to blunder at times and his defensive game a work in progress.

Projection: Top 4 potential



27-Tristan Luneau RD

Smooth skating defenseman with good size and a well rounded game. Pretty stable, composed and balanced defenseman who does everything well, but nothing exceptional.

Projection: top 4 potential



28-Rudger Mcgroarty

Just a strong powerful kid with good skills and a great shot. Needs to keep working on his skating.

Projection: Middle 6 forward



29-Liam Ohgren LW

Has some nice tools, but nothing really standing out except above average passing skills.

Projection: Potential middle 6 winger



30-Denton Mateychuk LD

High risk, high reward undersized offensive minded defenseman. Does a lot of goods and some bads. Will need to get better defensively.

Projection: Top 4, PP quarterbacking potential



31-Jimmy Snuggerud RW

Good size/reach, skates well, good stickhandler, distributes pucks well. Snuggerud has some interesting tools.



Projection: Potential middle 6 forward



32-Ivan Miroshnichenko

Huge talent for the upcoming draft, we wish him good luck and a speedy recovery.
Great job dude, love the outside the box picks. I won't post mine because I know I'll get pummelled by our fanbase. Just to give you an idea, I have Lambert ranked 2nd :D
 

Goldenhands

Slaf_The_Great
Sponsor
Aug 21, 2016
10,181
13,257
Great job dude, love the outside the box picks. I won't post mine because I know I'll get pummelled by our fanbase. Just to give you an idea, I have Lambert ranked 2nd :D
Its ok, all rankings are appreciated and open the discussion. Feel free to post it.
 
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SimGrindcore

Registered User
Mar 16, 2021
452
274
www.facebook.com
For some contrast - here's my top 90 (I posted my 120 in the draft thread)
  1. Logan Cooley
  2. Shane Wright
  3. David Jiricek
  4. Juraj Slafkovsky
  5. Simon Nemec
  6. Frank Nazar
  7. Matthew Savoie
  8. Pavel Mintyukov
  9. Joakim Kemell
  10. Cutter Gauthier
  11. Danila Yurov
  12. Brad Lambert
  13. Connor Geekie
  14. Noah Ostlund
  15. Jiri Kulich
  16. Denton Mateychuk
  17. Kevin Korchinski
  18. Filip Mesar
  19. Jonathan Lekkerimakki
  20. Jagger Firkus
  21. Sam Rinzel
  22. Ryan Chesley
  23. Gleb Trikozov
  24. Marco Kasper
  25. Isaac Howard
  26. Adam Ingram
  27. Viktor Neuchev
  28. Jani Nyman
  29. Ivan Mironeschenko
  30. Calle Odelius
  31. Alexander Perevalov
  32. Mats Lindgren
  33. Kirill Dolzhenkov
  34. Liam Ohgren
  35. Owen Pickering
  36. Danny Zhilkin
  37. Ludvig Jansson
  38. Vladimir Grudinin
  39. Ludwig Persson
  40. Seamus Casey
  41. Rutger McGroarty
  42. Filip Bystedt
  43. Tristan Luneau
  44. Reid Schaefer
  45. Mattias Havelid
  46. Luca Del Bel Belluz
  47. Michael Fisher
  48. Aleksanteri Kaskimaki
  49. Cam Lund
  50. Ryan Greene
  51. Alexander Suzdalev
  52. Dmitri Buchelnikov
  53. Rieger Lorenz
  54. Lian Bichsel
  55. Tyler Brennan
  56. Nathan Gaucher
  57. Jordan Dumais
  58. Lane Hutson
  59. Jimmy Snuggerud
  60. Raul Yakupov
  61. Jack Hughes
  62. Owen Beck
  63. Servac Petrovsky
  64. Martin Johnsen
  65. Artyom Duda
  66. Isaiah George
  67. Elias Salomonsson
  68. Kasper Kulonummi
  69. Simon Forsmark
  70. Julian Lutz
  71. Tomas Hamara
  72. Matyas Sapovaliv
  73. Ilya Kvochko
  74. David Goyette
  75. Matthew Poitras
  76. Christian Kyrou
  77. Ty Nelson
  78. Owen Van Steensel
  79. Kocha Delic
  80. Nicholas Moldenhauer
  81. Fraser Minten
  82. Otto Salin
  83. Kirill Kudryavtsev
  84. Topi Ronni
  85. Matthew Seminoff
  86. Fabian Wagner
  87. Quinn Finley
  88. Jake Richard
  89. Topias Leinonen
  90. Ruslan Gazizov
Link please? Couldn't find it!
 

WeThreeKings

Habs cup - its in the BAG
Sep 19, 2006
92,065
95,045
Halifax
Link please? Couldn't find it!

Here's the rest - it's all buried now haha.
90-120
  1. Paul Ludwinski
  2. Arseni Koromsylov
  3. Alex Bump
  4. Dans Locmelis
  5. Liam Steele
  6. Joel Jonsson
  7. Jordan Gustafson
  8. Beau Jelsma
  9. Zam Plante
  10. Cedrick Guindon
  11. Pano Fimis
  12. Nikita Blednov
  13. Josh Filmon
  14. Rostlislav Elias
  15. Niks Fenenko
  16. Daniil Orlov
  17. Matthew Morden
  18. Axel Mangbo
  19. Tucker Robertson
  20. Hobie Hedquist
  21. Samuel Savoie
  22. Mike Milne
  23. Jake Furlong
  24. Devin Kaplan
  25. Ian Blomquist
  26. Justin Cote
  27. Niklas Kokko
  28. Otto Hokkanen
  29. Marcus Limpar Lantz
  30. Erik Pahlsson
 
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dgeezus

Registered User
Aug 26, 2011
203
83
No it isn't. Sure he's mobile but his skating is not a strength. THAT is just straight up false. I never said his skating was bad (not that you said I did), I just don't think it's elite. And I don't think it ever will be. He skates decently but name me one elite defenseman in the new generation who's skating isn't elite. It's pretty much a prerequisite.
Hedman
 

themilosh

Registered User
Sponsor
Apr 27, 2015
2,728
2,196
Oakville, ON
He's a regular in the draft thread. You don't have to click the thread if you're not interested in his draft list.
yup- otherwise known as freedom of speech.. So many people (recently) want to "shut down" opposing views instead of simply not clicking. for the rest of us, it's a fun read --- but Wright at #10 really takes all credibility away as it is just impossible to select that many ahead of him regardless of team or need. at worst Wright will become a dependable high end 2C which is still a huge need for any contending team.
 

Mrb1p

PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
Dec 10, 2011
89,087
55,409
Citizen of the world
yup- otherwise known as freedom of speech.. So many people (recently) want to "shut down" opposing views instead of simply not clicking. for the rest of us, it's a fun read --- but Wright at #10 really takes all credibility away as it is just impossible to select that many ahead of him regardless of team or need. at worst Wright will become a dependable high end 2C which is still a huge need for any contending team.
At worst Wright ends up selling cars in the GTA.

Also its a prediction of overall value, its not impossible for a 2way 2C to be around 10th in career value in a good draft year.
 

HuGo Burner Acc

Registered User
Mar 30, 2016
4,385
4,868
Did we just become best friends?


Not a star but Bouchard used to be very bad at skating.
You get my point tho, the exceptions prove the rule. Elite skating is pretty much a prerequisite 95% of the time for becoming an elite D. If you want to take your chances on the other 5%, then you're bolder than most
 

Mrb1p

PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
Dec 10, 2011
89,087
55,409
Citizen of the world
You get my point tho, the exceptions prove the rule. Elite skating is pretty much a prerequisite 95% of the time for becoming an elite D. If you want to take your chances on the other 5%, then you're bolder than most
Skating overall is very important, not necessarily blinding speed but one of blinding speed or superior edges.
 

HuGo Burner Acc

Registered User
Mar 30, 2016
4,385
4,868
Skating overall is very important, not necessarily blinding speed but one of blinding speed or superior edges.
Right and in both regards I think Nemec is superior to jiricek. Nemec is a better passer. I like how Nemec defends better, and assists the transition better.

BUT I like Jiricek's shot more, his physicality, his offensive instincts, his aggressiveness (offensively, not on D)

Like I said in another thread, to me picking Nemec vs jiricek is like picking prime Markov (better skating) vs prime Subban
 
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Mrb1p

PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
Dec 10, 2011
89,087
55,409
Citizen of the world
Right and in both regards I think Nemec is superior to jiricek. Nemec is a better passer. I like how Nemec defends better, and assists the transition better.

BUT I like Jiricek's shot more, his physicality, his offensive instincts, his aggressiveness (offensively, not on D)

Like I said in another thread, to me picking Nemec vs jiricek is like picking prime Markov (better skating) vs prime Subban
Im still unable to choose between Jiricek and Nemec. I dont buy the low upside on Nemecs part, but I recognize Jiriceks overall assertiveness.

Id have Jiricek 1st OA by a landslide if his edges were elite, but to me, theyre below average.

What made PK so effective was his edges where he coule just flat out fly and move 360° without losing speed. Jiricek doesnt have that, in fact, hell never have that. Nemec is good at walking the line and his 360° skating is a plus, but not elite.

Nemec is too damn passive though, but I remember Markov was pretty passive too and hes a f***ing legend.
 

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