GDT: NHL Entry Draft 6/21 8:00PM, 6/22 1:00PM (NBCSN, NHL-N)

[toomuchsauce]

I think I’ll wait and see how the kid turns out before I label it as “indefensible” I’m not a professional scout, sure I liked other players better, but I also know better

Yeah, good point. This kid is a very good skater, but he has virtually zero offensive upside. I suppose he could develop some offense because he's still only 17.

I'm upset by this pick for the same reason I defended the Cozens pick: production. It's not there. ("If he's such a good hitter, how come he doesn't hit good?") However, he's extremely young, and he can skate. So...I guess we'll see in 4 or 5 years.

At least it gives us another college player to watch.

 

[joshjull]

 

[Paxon]

Guess they really did like Turcotte

 

[Zman5778]

His target had to be Turcotte, IMO.

 

[UnleashRasmus]

I wanted Hoglander, but it is what it is. That's my thought process. I just cannot believe, you have Kaliyev, and Hoglander on the board and ....it's Ryan Johnson. Who, I'm not familiar with, so I will have to do some homework.

 

[is the answer jesus]

To us. To everyone else cozens was ahead of Zegras. While some others were rated ahead of Johnson

Everyone else? Yeah I don't agree with that. Plenty of people had Zegras ranked as the better prospect. As Chain said Johnson is the kind of guy that falls to you in the end of the 2nd round and you take because you like his tools. He was overdrafted, doesn't mean he or Cozens are busts.

 

[Zman5778]

As Chain said Johnson is the kind of guy that falls to you in the end of the 2nd round and you take because you like his tools. He was overdrafted, doesn't mean he or Cozens are busts.

Not even by that much. Plenty of places had Johnson right around 30. Even Pronman, who had him at 41, said that his ranking was likely too low -- as many people he talked to said he could sneak in to the bottom of the first.

 

[SundherDome]

Way to tell Cozens he is a consolation. I also bet that f*** wanted Byrum.

 

[UnleashRasmus]

Way to tell Cozens he is a consolation. I also bet that **** wanted Byrum.

It's not an insult, every GM, talks about trading up. It's like saying, oh I drank some water at the draft.

 

[toomuchsauce]

Beecher respecting Eichel's zone entries

That was cool.

 

[UnleashRasmus]

Even though I did defend the Cozens pick, I do think Zegras was the better overall talent. The decision making is key here, so like Jame pointed out...it's apples and oranges. I think what Botterill might see, is that we got pushed around quite a bit, and when you add speed, and the size, with the skill that Cozens has, it gives you a polarizing talent. Cozens could easily be as good as others in this class. So we'll see. Again, I prefer Zegras, and I think he's the better pick, but I don't hate Cozens. Just like Turcotte, who was so close, but so far.

 

[is the answer jesus]

Not even by that much. Plenty of places had Johnson right around 30. Even Pronman, who had him at 41, said that his ranking was likely too low -- as many people he talked to said he could sneak in to the bottom of the first.

Yeah a lot of people were higher on him than I personally was. A lot of that stemmed from all the talent we have in the system on the left side. Maybe my opinion changes a bit if a guy like McCabe is sent packing.

 

[toomuchsauce]

The thing is that the reason this was a mistake is because our forward depth is really really bad and absolutely needed to be addressed. We lucked into a situation where several real good forward prospects most people thought wouldn't be available at that spot ended up being available, and we went off the board to pass on all of them. Everything played out perfect and we tossed away that good fortune.

This is what I was going for when I said "indefensible" earlier - very well said.

 

[joshjull]

Way to tell Cozens he is a consolation. I also bet that **** wanted Byrum.

 

[SundherDome]

I'm just pissy right now. I go from creaming my jeans over the bills drafting to going full "Kyle" on my drywall with the Sabres drafts.

 

[toomuchsauce]

Johnson reminds me of Chad Rudy Ruhwedel. SoCal guy, USHL guy, fantastic skater, zero offense.

 

[joshjull]

I'm just pissy right now.

So I see.

 

[joshjull]

 

[BuffaloGooner]

I’m not sure how you can make trades when the league doesn’t even know what the cap number for the season is yet

 

[Royisgone]

im kind of glad they didnt pick Kaliyev.... Something is off about that kid

Do you mean those monster pimples? Or something else?

 

[SundherDome]

Do you mean those monster pimples? Or something else?

I mean Malkin is something out of Dr. Frankenstein's lab and he is good. Hopefully Botts can fish a second and get one of the fallen forwards.

 

[UnleashRasmus]

I hope they can find a way to move up into the second round, there is so much talent there. I agree with Sabremike who said that our forward depth is WEAK! I was so thrilled with an excellent chance to improve that, and instead its a defensemen. Yes, I do agree that you can never have too much defensive depth, but you should have been able to move down, unless EVERYONE at the top of next round wouldn't budge.

 

[AustonsNostrils]

HockeyProspect.com separates Cozens and Johnson by just 5 players. Glass half full, glass half empty.

 

[Chainshot]

Man, this feels like when I called the Pysyk pcik all over again!

I've got the Persson pick as well as the Risto/Zads tandem.

 

[sabremike]

I hope they can find a way to move up into the second round, there is so much talent there. I agree with Sabremike who said that our forward depth is WEAK! I was so thrilled with an excellent chance to improve that, and instead its a defensemen. Yes, I do agree that you can never have too much defensive depth, but you should have been able to move down, unless EVERYONE at the top of next round wouldn't budge.

More people need to listen to me as I'm friends with some of the biggest names in the entire sport: