Prospect Info: NHL Entry Draft Discussion Thread - Looking Ahead to 2020

[SeaOfBlue]

Justin Barron if he drops. Billy Constantinou is probably my favourite D prospect not rated in the first round but I wouldn't consider him big in the sense that you're talking about here.

Constantinou has the same kind of issues he had last year.

 

[LaPlante94]

Constantinou has the same kind of issues he had last year.

He's a project but has elite skills that work very well in the NHL game. Some work on his game that I'm sure our coaching/development team can help shape up.

 

[Knies iT]

If he drops, definitely. He is a 1st round caliber player.

RE O'Rourke: A Soo fan had this to say about him on the mainboards. Sounds like the perfect pick.

O'Rourke was hands down our best defender all season, playing big minutes in the top 4 and still managing our best 5v5 GF% of all our defensemen other than our most sheltered rookie D-man. The Greyhounds have a number of very offensive d-men, so O'Rourke's production is down a little bit from where it would be on any other team as often times his partner is just as eager to join the rush as he would be, so the offense is spread around somewhat. But he can still join the rush and contribute offensively when the opportunity arises.

Defensively, I would take O'Rourke over pretty much any defensemen in the league; he is that good. He is physical, but rarely takes himself out of the play by being too physical. He has good gaps and doesn't get beaten wide. But it's all the little extra stuff he does that makes him elite. Stuff between whistles. Stuff off the puck. When you play against O'Rourke you know that he is going to be in your kitchen for 60 minutes, and he rarely crosses the line where he is penalized for it. All this from a 17 year old; he plays like a veteran, long in the tooth and wily with experience.

With his production not quite as high as expected as a result of the team he was on, it's not surprising to see his draft stock soften a bit (according to some recent rankings that I have seen). But the team that drafts him will be imminently pleased that they did. I expect 2nd pairing NHL to be quite likely, with potential to be a top pairing player.

 

[acrobaticgoalie]

Was just reading up on Center Brenden Brisson. Son of player agent Pat Brisson. He already has a solid frame at 5'11, 179lbs. Plays for the Chicago Steel in the USHL.

This is what I've gathered from a few different scouting profiles. A good skater who is elusive and relentless in puck pursuit. Wins a lot of loose puck battles. Strong one timer and is for the most part a shoot first guy in the offensive zone and isn't afraid to take the puck to the net. Very good at drawing players in and making plays. Already shows a strong 200 ft, 2 way game and is good in zone exits as well as strong puck support. One of his favorite players in Jonathan Toews and he also trains with Kane and Toews.

This guy seems to check off a lot of boxes in the types of players we are drafting and is projected to go around our pick in the late 2nd. We need more Centers in the system as well as guys with strong 2 way play. Anyone here that have watched him like to chime in?

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Justin Barron if he drops. Billy Constantinou is probably my favourite D prospect not rated in the first round but I wouldn't consider him big in the sense that you're talking about here.

I like Barron as well but I doubt he falls until the mid-late 2nd round.

 

[Byron Bitz]

Would like to see us try to trade up into the early 2nd/late first area.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Would like to see us try to trade up into the early 2nd/late first area.

Why? For the most part, the quality and type of prospect you are getting is not going to be any different/better than what we'd get if we just stayed where we are. Right now we are expected to draft at 51. I expect at least half of the boom-bust skilled forwards expected to go in the 2nd/3rd round (Simontaival, Gushchin, Pashin, Bordeleau, etc.) and perhaps as many as 2 or 3 goalie prospects (besides Askarov) to be taken before we are selecting. The goalie crop is very weak this year, and while there are some promising goalies in the 2nd and 3rd tiers, I wouldn't spend a 2nd round pick on any of them (in general, and especially not from the Leafs perspective when they already have Woll and Scott). However, I expect some teams who need a new higher end goalie prospect to jump on guys like Blomqvist, Daws and Commesso before our pick.

That will leave a late 1st/early 2nd round quality prospect for us in the mid-late 2nd round... Just like it did with Robertson last year.

 

[Byron Bitz]

Why? For the most part, the quality and type of prospect you are getting is not going to be any different/better than what we'd get if we just stayed where we are. Right now we are expected to draft at 51. I expect at least half of the boom-bust skilled forwards expected to go in the 2nd/3rd round (Simontaival, Gushchin, Pashin, Bordeleau, etc.) and perhaps as many as 2 or 3 goalie prospects (besides Askarov) to be taken before we are selecting. The goalie crop is very weak this year, and while there are some promising goalies in the 2nd and 3rd tiers, I wouldn't spend a 2nd round pick on any of them (in general, and especially not from the Leafs perspective when they already have Woll and Scott). However, I expect some teams who need a new higher end goalie prospect to jump on guys like Blomqvist, Daws and Commesso before our pick.

That will leave a late 1st/early 2nd round quality prospect for us in the mid-late 2nd round... Just like it did with Robertson last year.

that’s a good point, I think your probably right. I trust our scouting staff to find us a good player at 51

 

[ChazzMichaelMichaels]

Why? For the most part, the quality and type of prospect you are getting is not going to be any different/better than what we'd get if we just stayed where we are. Right now we are expected to draft at 51. I expect at least half of the boom-bust skilled forwards expected to go in the 2nd/3rd round (Simontaival, Gushchin, Pashin, Bordeleau, etc.) and perhaps as many as 2 or 3 goalie prospects (besides Askarov) to be taken before we are selecting. The goalie crop is very weak this year, and while there are some promising goalies in the 2nd and 3rd tiers, I wouldn't spend a 2nd round pick on any of them (in general, and especially not from the Leafs perspective when they already have Woll and Scott). However, I expect some teams who need a new higher end goalie prospect to jump on guys like Blomqvist, Daws and Commesso before our pick.

That will leave a late 1st/early 2nd round quality prospect for us in the mid-late 2nd round... Just like it did with Robertson last year.

Yup, just sit and pick whoever we got next on the list. My only exception is if Hendrix Lapierre drops if it really was neck/back problems and not concussions. Having said that, it all depends on price.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Yup, just sit and pick whoever we got next on the list. My only exception is if Hendrix Lapierre drops if it really was neck/back problems and not concussions. Having said that, it all depends on price.

They are concussions I am pretty sure. I'd take him depending on the alternatives but I would not trade up for him.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Would anybody here be okay with taking a shot at Xavier Simoneau as a D+1 guy with one of our late picks if he's still around? I've always liked his game depite his size.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Would anybody here be okay with taking a shot at Xavier Simoneau as a D+1 guy with one of our late picks if he's still around? I've always liked his game depite his size.

Not a good enough skater for someone his size, I do not think he will ever be good enough to be a defensive specialist in the pros, and I think as he gets into leagues where the vast majority of his competition is 200+lbs, I do not think his abrasive style is going to keep him healthy, nor be overly effective. The QMJHL is more of a smaller, skill-based league than the OHL and WHL. Maybe as a D+2, if he really blows the roof off offensively and improved his skating, he can be worth a pick but right now I think he is in the tweener of not quite good enough offensively to be a top 9 type guy, but not giving enough defensively nor big enough to really be effective as a bottom 6 role guy either.

I would take a chance on him on an AHL deal down the line, but not a draft pick.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Not a good enough skater for someone his size, I do not think he will ever be good enough to be a defensive specialist in the pros, and I think as he gets into leagues where the vast majority of his competition is 200+lbs, I do not think his abrasive style is going to keep him healthy, nor be overly effective. The QMJHL is more of a smaller, skill-based league than the OHL and WHL. Maybe as a D+2, if he really blows the roof off offensively and improved his skating, he can be worth a pick but right now I think he is in the tweener of not quite good enough offensively to be a top 9 type guy, but not giving enough defensively nor big enough to really be effective as a bottom 6 role guy either.

I would take a chance on him on an AHL deal down the line, but not a draft pick.

I didn't think his skating was that bad from what I've seen, but I have had limited viewings.

Agree with everything you say here, I would probably only take a swing with a 7th and Bergman didn't have anybody there, I just wanted to know what people thought.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I didn't think his skating was that bad from what I've seen, but I have had limited viewings.

Agree with everything you say here, I would probably only take a swing with a 7th and Bergman didn't have anybody there, I just wanted to know what people thought.

It wouldn't be bad if he was a little bit bigger, but the expectations are greater when you are 5'7" and 175 lbs. You have to be a great, if not almost elite, skater if you want to make the NHL as a player that small and his skating is merely good at best right now.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Justin Barron if he drops. Billy Constantinou is probably my favourite D prospect not rated in the first round but I wouldn't consider him big in the sense that you're talking about here.

passed over last year, hasn't improved enough defensively to warrant anything beyond a late round pick.

I'd be pretty happy if we got Donovan Sebrango with one of our 4ths or 5th.

 

[Legion34]

Bob mckenzie has reported that the NHL is still talking about holding the draft in June with changed lottery rankings.


The NHL just wants money. And having the cup/UFA/draft all in a month might be too much. They are looking at it.

wild times.

 

[Canada4Gold]

Bob mckenzie has reported that the NHL is still talking about holding the draft in June with changed lottery rankings.


The NHL just wants money. And having the cup/UFA/draft all in a month might be too much. They are looking at it.

wild times.

That just seems strange. The lottery, and draft is something you can do in a week between seasons if they play the playoffs into August. It also normally depends on the results to determine the order. Some team is going to pick 16th and then win the cup? or worse, some team is going to win a lottery if everyone is included and win the cup after? Or win a normal lottery because they're on the outside now, and then we finish the regular season(unlikely) and they get into the playoffs and win the cup?

Free agency if the bigger issue in my mind depending on how much time there'd be between seasons. If it's a week between the cup and training camp squeezing all of free agency into a week is pushing the negotiations. It could clearly work, but it's also not dependant on season results so it could theoretically be done in the meantime outside of someone not wanting to sign someone for next season who still could be hurt in games to be played for a different team to finish the playoffs.

 

[Legion34]

That just seems strange. The lottery, and draft is something you can do in a week between seasons if they play the playoffs into August. It also normally depends on the results to determine the order. Some team is going to pick 16th and then win the cup? or worse, some team is going to win a lottery if everyone is included and win the cup after? Or win a normal lottery because they're on the outside now, and then we finish the regular season(unlikely) and they get into the playoffs and win the cup?

Free agency if the bigger issue in my mind depending on how much time there'd be between seasons. If it's a week between the cup and training camp squeezing all of free agency into a week is pushing the negotiations. It could clearly work, but it's also not dependant on season results so it could theoretically be done in the meantime outside of someone not wanting to sign someone for next season who still could be hurt in games to be played for a different team to finish the playoffs.

my guess is they are talking about holding a league wide lottery and a league wide playoff.

At this point it’s all about getting as much money as they can. Claw it back penny by penny.


every team is in. The playoffs and has a chance to win. Every team is in the lottery and has a chance to win.


if they can make a huge TV deal in June they will. That’s my bet.

 

[Fogelhund]

So let's imagine that it's July 1st, and the world returns back to normal. After nearly four months stuck inside, and at home, with summer in it's full glory, the NHL expects people to stay inside, and watch the playoffs?

 

[ACC1224]

So let's imagine that it's July 1st, and the world returns back to normal. After nearly four months stuck inside, and at home, with summer in it's full glory, the NHL expects people to stay inside, and watch the playoffs?

I’ll be watching from the pool

 

[darrylsittler27]

This season is over and there is no champ. As such everyone should get a lottery pick.

 

[Legion34]

So let's imagine that it's July 1st, and the world returns back to normal. After nearly four months stuck inside, and at home, with summer in it's full glory, the NHL expects people to stay inside, and watch the playoffs?

people stay home and watch sports they don’t care about at any other time when people wear a shirt with a flag on it.

they would.

Regardless. It’s unlikely that the world is just completely back to normal.

 

[Maplebeasts]

This season is over and there is no champ. As such everyone should get a lottery pick.

As a biased fellow playoff team fan I agree. It's not fair to not give the good teams a shot at a cup and then not give them any chance in the draft lottery.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

people stay home and watch sports they don’t care about at any other time when people wear a shirt with a flag on it.

they would.

Regardless. It’s unlikely that the world is just completely back to normal.

Especially when these games are at night when it is less likely people are doing anything anyways. Or they'll incorporate it into their plans.

 

[Legion34]

Especially when these games are at night when it is less likely people are doing anything anyways. Or they'll incorporate it into their plans.

yep. No concerts. Bars. Wonderland etc. Maybe. No organized sports to take kids to