Ohio Jones
Game on...
HFNHL Columbus Draft Recap 2018
Day 1 picks:
1/10: D Ty Smith
We were momentarily excited about all the mock drafts showing Evan Bouchard falling to us, and it looked like it might actually come to pass, but Vancouver selected him with the pick before, leaving us to pick the player we had always expected to select at 10 - Spokane defenceman Ty Smith.
Toronto offered 16th overall and their 2nd and 3rd in 2019 for this pick - we almost pulled the trigger, but balked at the last moment knowing we needed an impact D more than an extra pick or two next year. We thought they might be trading up to get Boqvist, who fell slightly, but they had their eyes on Kravtsov, who would have been my next pick after Smith as well.
In Smith, we believe we’re getting a top-pairing Duncan Keith-like player who defends bigger than his size, has superb skating, poise and hockey IQ, is equally effective at passing or skating the puck up ice, and can run the play effectively at both ends of the ice. We look forward to him earning a major role at the WJC next Christmas.
1/29: D Jett Woo
Woo is the first of five D taken in the next six picks between the first and second rounds, so he will inevitably be compared to the players taken after him: Samuelsson, Merkley, Addison and Alexeyev. While we would have been satisfied with one of Samuelsson or Alexeyev at 29, we were pleased that Woo was still on the board.
Most projections have Woo going inside the top 25, although some mocks have him dropping well into the second, presumably on injury concerns. Maintains gaps well and has the mobility to keep from getting turned by speedy forwards, but it’s his fierce physical game that is his calling card: he makes opponents pay in open ice and in the corners, without losing his positioning. Partners well, delivering a good first pass or carrying the puck up if needed. His offensive creativity has been on an upward trajectory, suggesting an intriguing upside, especially as a right-handed shot. (Having the best name in hockey has to count for something, too.)
Woo and Smith join Dante Fabbro, Nicholas Meloche and Cam Dineen to give Columbus at least a half-decent stable of blueline prospects, but it remains an area we need to improve.
2/40: LW Jakob Lauko
Surprise, surprise: Brock took our boy Liam Foudy at 39. Jerk. But we’re satisfied with Lauko as a consolation prize. Scouts are divided on the Czech winger - some don’t see the creativity - but we see a fast, hard-working 200-foot player with a playmaking touch who should be a solid contributor in a top-6 role.
Already playing against men since he was 16, Lauko’s game will develop as he gets stronger.
3/68: RW Kirill Marchenko
Was getting very nervous that Marchenko wouldn’t last, and even inquired about moving up. But didn’t like the cost with what felt like a dozen teams all trying to move up as well, so resigned ourselves that he would be gone.
Happily, patience paid off, as Marchenko was still on the board. So was goalie Lukas Dostal, and with netminders finally starting to move we had to think twice about it, but with another pick due shortly we decided to roll the dice.
We see Marchenko as a legit scoring threat with a diverse offensive toolkit whose tenacity makes him well suited to a possession style game. He just needs to lack some muscle into his long frame - and as a late birthday, he’s got time to build up his strength. Much like Lauko, he is already a fine skater, the added power should make him a force at both ends of the ice. The skills, work ethic and two-way mindset are already in place.
3/71: G Lukas Dostal
Once again we got lucky, as Dostal was still on the board at 71. We knew he wouldn’t last to our next pick, so selected the Czech international netminder - the top goaltender on our list (and on the lists of a few other GMs we heard from right after the pick as well).
Not ideal size for a modern goalie, but has the athleticism, poise and vision to keep his team in games despite seeing a ton of rubber, and his technique and competitiveness give him a strong foundation on which to build, and a decent shot at being one the of the few average-sized netminders to find a role in today’s NHL.
3/91: C Cole Fonstad
There were several approaches made to Columbus for our third round picks, including this one - but we were happy enough with the players available that we stuck to our list.
With our last pick in the third, we had to toss a coin between two players, the second of which survived the remaining picks in round three, prompting Columbus to put out a call on the trade wire for an early 4th round pick: our first day 2 selection doesn’t come until 119th overall.
Fonstad is a smooth, responsible two-way pivot with leadership qualities who reminds us of former Blue Jackets like Adam Henrique and Derek Stepan (although he stepped up to the wing on Jordy Stallard’s line in Prince Albert this season). Speed is above average, but it’s his superb anticipation and hockey sense that make him stand out, and his slight build should fill in well enough for him to compete in more physical contests. (It will need to, as time and space become more of a premium as he advances.)
We see him as a two-way third liner who could play up in the lineup and bring a lot of creativity to the table.
Our day 1 haul was therefore an entire starting lineup:
Lauko - Fonstad - Marchenko
Smith - Woo
Dostal
Bring on Day 2! (And seriously, anyone who wants to move an early 4th, hit us up!)
Day 1 picks:
1/10: D Ty Smith
We were momentarily excited about all the mock drafts showing Evan Bouchard falling to us, and it looked like it might actually come to pass, but Vancouver selected him with the pick before, leaving us to pick the player we had always expected to select at 10 - Spokane defenceman Ty Smith.
Toronto offered 16th overall and their 2nd and 3rd in 2019 for this pick - we almost pulled the trigger, but balked at the last moment knowing we needed an impact D more than an extra pick or two next year. We thought they might be trading up to get Boqvist, who fell slightly, but they had their eyes on Kravtsov, who would have been my next pick after Smith as well.
In Smith, we believe we’re getting a top-pairing Duncan Keith-like player who defends bigger than his size, has superb skating, poise and hockey IQ, is equally effective at passing or skating the puck up ice, and can run the play effectively at both ends of the ice. We look forward to him earning a major role at the WJC next Christmas.
1/29: D Jett Woo
Woo is the first of five D taken in the next six picks between the first and second rounds, so he will inevitably be compared to the players taken after him: Samuelsson, Merkley, Addison and Alexeyev. While we would have been satisfied with one of Samuelsson or Alexeyev at 29, we were pleased that Woo was still on the board.
Most projections have Woo going inside the top 25, although some mocks have him dropping well into the second, presumably on injury concerns. Maintains gaps well and has the mobility to keep from getting turned by speedy forwards, but it’s his fierce physical game that is his calling card: he makes opponents pay in open ice and in the corners, without losing his positioning. Partners well, delivering a good first pass or carrying the puck up if needed. His offensive creativity has been on an upward trajectory, suggesting an intriguing upside, especially as a right-handed shot. (Having the best name in hockey has to count for something, too.)
Woo and Smith join Dante Fabbro, Nicholas Meloche and Cam Dineen to give Columbus at least a half-decent stable of blueline prospects, but it remains an area we need to improve.
2/40: LW Jakob Lauko
Surprise, surprise: Brock took our boy Liam Foudy at 39. Jerk. But we’re satisfied with Lauko as a consolation prize. Scouts are divided on the Czech winger - some don’t see the creativity - but we see a fast, hard-working 200-foot player with a playmaking touch who should be a solid contributor in a top-6 role.
Already playing against men since he was 16, Lauko’s game will develop as he gets stronger.
3/68: RW Kirill Marchenko
Was getting very nervous that Marchenko wouldn’t last, and even inquired about moving up. But didn’t like the cost with what felt like a dozen teams all trying to move up as well, so resigned ourselves that he would be gone.
Happily, patience paid off, as Marchenko was still on the board. So was goalie Lukas Dostal, and with netminders finally starting to move we had to think twice about it, but with another pick due shortly we decided to roll the dice.
We see Marchenko as a legit scoring threat with a diverse offensive toolkit whose tenacity makes him well suited to a possession style game. He just needs to lack some muscle into his long frame - and as a late birthday, he’s got time to build up his strength. Much like Lauko, he is already a fine skater, the added power should make him a force at both ends of the ice. The skills, work ethic and two-way mindset are already in place.
3/71: G Lukas Dostal
Once again we got lucky, as Dostal was still on the board at 71. We knew he wouldn’t last to our next pick, so selected the Czech international netminder - the top goaltender on our list (and on the lists of a few other GMs we heard from right after the pick as well).
Not ideal size for a modern goalie, but has the athleticism, poise and vision to keep his team in games despite seeing a ton of rubber, and his technique and competitiveness give him a strong foundation on which to build, and a decent shot at being one the of the few average-sized netminders to find a role in today’s NHL.
3/91: C Cole Fonstad
There were several approaches made to Columbus for our third round picks, including this one - but we were happy enough with the players available that we stuck to our list.
With our last pick in the third, we had to toss a coin between two players, the second of which survived the remaining picks in round three, prompting Columbus to put out a call on the trade wire for an early 4th round pick: our first day 2 selection doesn’t come until 119th overall.
Fonstad is a smooth, responsible two-way pivot with leadership qualities who reminds us of former Blue Jackets like Adam Henrique and Derek Stepan (although he stepped up to the wing on Jordy Stallard’s line in Prince Albert this season). Speed is above average, but it’s his superb anticipation and hockey sense that make him stand out, and his slight build should fill in well enough for him to compete in more physical contests. (It will need to, as time and space become more of a premium as he advances.)
We see him as a two-way third liner who could play up in the lineup and bring a lot of creativity to the table.
Our day 1 haul was therefore an entire starting lineup:
Lauko - Fonstad - Marchenko
Smith - Woo
Dostal
Bring on Day 2! (And seriously, anyone who wants to move an early 4th, hit us up!)