HFVHL 2019 Draft Report Card Part 5
Los Angeles Kings - CreativeUsername
Drafted:
119th - Domenick Fensore 153rd - Connor Dewar
Weyl: Nice and quick only two picks, Fensore was good value at 119th and could rise as Boston University has a great developmental program. Dewar as an overager had a solid season and deserved to be picked in this draft. LA is starting to run out of prospect depth something they may need to address in the future
Grade: C
Try: A big fan of this draft for LA. Only two selections, but with some younger players in the system and lots more picks to come next year these two picks were both very good. Despite the miniscule size, Fensore is one of the best offensive defensemen in the draft. If he can adapt well to the pro scene, he has a chance to do some damage and turn this into a gem selection. Connor Dewar is a double overager who is still young and has played very well this year as he transitions to pro hockey.
Grade: B
ED: LA is another competitive team with few draft picks and few high end prospects. It would have been nice for them to have the picks to restock their prospect depth a bit, but I’m a fan of Fensore. I believe he has a high ceiling, and was a solid pick for LA. Though Dewar was an overager, he was successful in the WHL, which will hopefully translate to the pro level. Still, the lack of picks hurts their depth.
Grade: C
Minnesota Wild - Paneerboy
Drafted:
2nd - Kaapo Kakko 28th - Nils Hoglander 69th - Harrison Blaisdell
78th - Alex Beaucage 100th - Sasha Mutala
Weyl: Kakko is pretty self explanatory, can’t describe how highly I think of him. Hoglander is a solid addition at 28, he ripped the combine and got plenty of experience in the SHL this year. He could be one of the better wingers to come out of this draft. Blaisdell has loads of skill but it remains to be seen if it’ll translate to the pro level. Beaucage is a great pick at 78 who tore up the QMJHL, however Mutala leaves a lot to be desired and needs to pick up his game next year to become something. Overall Minny had a strong basic draft which could get them a few great players, I think Mutala could have been a better pick but solid nonetheless
Grade: A-
Try: Big winner. They get the best player of the draft class who albeit falls into their lap, but then select some very good players later on including Nils Hoglander, a player who has serious top six potential, someone who can contribute on an NHL roster as soon as potentially next year. Blaisdell and Mutala are raw players who can develop into solid role players on their team if they grow right and are good value wise. Beaucage is a power winger who has the skill to play in the top six if he grows right.
Grade: A
ED: Minnesota gets the “consolation prize” in Kappo Kakko, which will be huge for their future. Hoglander was also a good pick with their late 1st, with potential to be a good top 6er. Blaisdell and Beaucage have potential as well to become good players at the NHL level and were good selections later in the draft.Their reluctance to draft defenseman is concerning though, as aside from Cholowski and maybe Fleury, their defensive prospects are fairly lacking. Still, Minnesota will have many more drafts to make up for that, and got a cornerstone for their franchise
Grade: B+
Montreal Canadiens - Canucklehead
Drafted:
11th - Cam York 31st - Brett Leason 42nd - Brayden Tracey
73rd - Hunter Jones 80th - Artemi Knyazev 81st - Michal Teply
104th - Semyon Chistyakov 118th - Trent Miner 125th - Dmitri Sheshin
135th - Kim Nousianinen
Weyl: York I think went way too early for a fantasy league especially with Boldy still on the board. Leason could be really good and Tracey has been huge this year. Hunter Jones is a really solid goalie and Miner adds some solid depth. Knyazev and Teply were nice picks. With Montreal’s current roster, they need multiple home runs, especially at 11 and I don’t feel like they did that.
Grade: B-
Try: Although Cam York is the type of player that should be taken slightly higher in a point league, he was a little high. His offensive style could translate well to this league. Brett Leason is an overager that could make an impact very soon, however Montreal is very far away from needing immediate help. Brayden Tracey is a player with some decent potential that is a nice pick at 42. With two goalie picks, Jones was a steal at 73 and is one of the best goalies in the draft. Trent Miner is not someone super high up my list, but a decent shot later in the draft. Sheshin, Nousianen and Teply are picks with good offensive potential payout and Knyazev and Chistyakov are good value.
Grade: B
ED: Montreal went off the board early picking York, with better players available and York probably being available if the pick was traded down. I think Leason will carve out a solid career, and Tracey has the potential to reach a top 6 position. Hunter Jones has high potential for a goaltender and could be a steal. As well, I’m a fan of Teply, who’s shot can be lethal. Nousianinen is a good gamble late in the draft. Ultimately, with 2 1sts and a high 2nd, I would have hoped for a bit better of a draft. Though not bad, it could have been a turning point for the franchise, though time will tell.
Grade: B-
Nashville Predators - CanuckSTM
Drafted:
No picks this year
Weyl: Something nobody expect was Nashville making a push for contention. While they made some great trades moving all their picks was questionable. Personally I still can’t see them making the playoffs and because of that there is only one grade I can give. If they can overcome Winnipeg, St. Louis and Chicago then I’ll eat my words however too much is being relied upon with the injury prone Matt Murray
Grade: D
Try: No one saw this quick shift coming, but props to the GM for following through and committing. Nashville acquired some good players but if their push backfires then they have nothing to rely upon.
Grade: D+
ED: Nashville threw everyone for a loop, trying to go from pretender to contender. Unfortunately, this came at the cost of many potential prospects and picks. If they can turn it around and prove everyone wrong, huge kudos to them. If they don’t though, the dark times in Nashville may become pitch black.
Grade: D