Prospect Info: "Tank ran out of gas" - 2014 NHL draft discussion - Part II

[Boreal]

Does anybody have a thorough report on Kasperi Kapanen. That is a player that I have witnessed very little of, and I can't really place him in my personal mock order.

 

[Sweech]

Does anybody have a thorough report on Kasperi Kapanen. That is a player that I have witnessed very little of, and I can't really place him in my personal mock order.

I personally think he's overrated. He shows off some good skills, but just not enough. I've also found his lack of production worrisome and then his list of excuses for it worry me as well.

I have him rated as a 2nd rounder, but I know many have him in the first, sometimes top half of the first and other scouting services even name him the best euro prospect. I just have not seen what they're seeing.

 

[untouchable21]

Nicolaj Ehlers

The more I hear about this guy, the more I think we will take him if he is still there at #9.

He seems like that high-character, high-skill guy that may remind a lot of WPG'ers of another European with similar attributes.

Check out this very recent highlight film. I like what I see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QJW_VkoU0A&hd=1

While I have become interested in a few of the other prospects like Fleury, Tuch, Larkin and Nylander, Ehlers still sits atop my wish list. Hoping he is still there at #9.

 

[Sweech]

Barbashev is another guy who doesn't get talked about much, but I wouldn't mind taking him.

 

[Mud Turtle]

While I have become interested in a few of the other prospects like Fleury, Tuch, Larkin and Nylander, Ehlers still sits atop my wish list. Hoping he is still there at #9.

I really hope we get him as well.
Now, if we had finished 6th instead of 9th, we wouldn't be worrying at all.
But somehow I think we've already had this conversation here.

 

[Channelcat]

If Chevy ever wants to win me over, find a way to acquire more 2015 1st rounders. Especially from the likes of Sabres, Islanders (if they keep the 2015 pick), Oilers, Flames, Panthers (doubtful since they host the draft), Leafs, Canes, Capitals, Flyers, Lightning. These teams are either weak or capable of having off years.

McDavid, Eichel, Hanifin, Barzal...those are top 4 guys in 2015 who can help change a franchise quickly.

I expect that there is a strong chance Chevy ends up with a second round pick in this draft, but can't see any firsts coming our way. Its not like we a have a Ryan Miller, Kessel or Nash to dangle in front of GM's. Kane is probably the only player that they would even consider moving that would get us a first. Buff may not get us a first and they are almost certainly not moving Ladd, Wheeler, Scheif, Trouba or Enstrom.

I think the trend is for picks, especially firsts to be going up in price. The last 3 or 4 drafts have been deep and the trend looks to be continuing for the next 2 drafts at least. As a result teams may be starting to trend younger again.

 

[allan5oh]

That Ehlers highlight package is nice because it shows the completeness of his offensive game. Wristers, slapshots, snapshots, deflections, backhands its all there and it all looks near NHL calibre. He knows when to funnel and when to peel away to lose coverage. Very good at attacking the seams. Great speed.

 

[GJF]

That Ehlers highlight package is nice because it shows the completeness of his offensive game. Wristers, slapshots, snapshots, deflections, backhands its all there and it all looks near NHL calibre. He knows when to funnel and when to peel away to lose coverage. Very good at attacking the seams. Great speed.

That release for his #35th goal was jaw dropping

 

[drumzan]

Barbashev is another guy who doesn't get talked about much, but I wouldn't mind taking him.

Completely with you Sweech, I like him too. Kapanen, Larkin, Barbashev, Pastrnak, Milano, Ho-Sang... these guys are on my shortlist for 9. I know you're not high on Kapanen like I am. But I like to look past the regulars that are talked about...Virtanen, Ehlers, Tuch, McCann, and Ritchie.

 

[CaptainChef]

Completely with you Sweech, I like him too. Kapanen, Larkin, Barbashev, Pastrnak, Milano, Ho-Sang... these guys are on my shortlist for 9. I know you're not high on Kapanen like I am. But I like to look past the regulars that are talked about...Virtanen, Ehlers, Tuch, McCann, and Ritchie.

I don't have any of those 6 nor Barbashev on my short list at 9! Maybe at 15 they might be, but not at 9.

 

[Sweech]

I don't have any of those 6 nor Barbashev on my short list at 9! Maybe at 15 they might be, but not at 9.

Who's on your shortlist at 9?

 

[CaptainChef]

Nicolaj Ehlers

The more I hear about this guy, the more I think we will take him if he is still there at #9.

He seems like that high-character, high-skill guy that may remind a lot of WPG'ers of another European with similar attributes.

Check out this very recent highlight film. I like what I see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QJW_VkoU0A&hd=1

I've given up fantasizing over him -- I'd be very surprised if he is still available at 9 and VERY disappointed if we pass over him if he was.

 

[CaptainChef]

Who's on your shortlist at 9?

Ehlers
Nylander
Fleury
Fiala
Ritchie
Perlini
Virtanen

 

[BigZ65]

Eventually you can have too many picks, too many contracts. Your farm system can't sustain 11 or 12 new additions per year. You can end up losing them 3 or 4 years down the road like could potentially happen with Redmond. Sooner or later Buffalo will likely package pick(s) & prospect(s) in a trade(s)

Not 1st or 2nd round 2015 picks. Nope.

Buffalo is going full tank mode. They'll add some guys to make the floor, but they aren't trying to win anything but the draft lottery in 14-15.

 

[Mathmew Purrrr Oh]

Not 1st or 2nd round 2015 picks. Nope.

Buffalo is going full tank mode. They'll add some guys to make the floor, but they aren't trying to win anything but the draft lottery in 14-15.

Pavs would be so perfect for them

 

[ps241]

Can you imagine if Buffalo got both 1st and 2nd overall picks in 2015.

Eichel and McDavid together

 

[Sweech]

Ehlers
Nylander
Fleury
Fiala
Ritchie
Perlini
Virtanen

So why is someone like Perlini or Virtanen over Barbashev for example?

Also where's Goldobin? I think he has the same pluses and same flaws as Nylander. Amazing offensive potential, shows limited defensive skills. Although I think he's better defensively than he gets a rep for.

 

[Joe Hallenback]

Barbashev has been real inconsistent this season although Moncton wasn't a great team this year. He is more of a play making winger and less a goal scorer then Virtanen or Perlini.

Goldobin is a late 1st rounder right now at best

 

[Sweech]

Barbashev has been real inconsistent this season although Moncton wasn't a great team this year. He is more of a play making winger and less a goal scorer then Virtanen or Perlini.

Goldobin is a late 1st rounder right now at best

I think that's crazy. Goldobin has been electric almost every single time I saw him.

I also don't really rank goal scorers over playmakers personally. Plus I think Barbashev's early season inconsistencies are a little overplayed. I found Perlini to be a far less consistent player than Barbashev although each player got hot at almost opposite times.

If Goldobin or Barbashev were North American or Scandinavian they'd be getting talked about for the top half of the draft. Both are excellent players.

Will they get picked lower? Maybe, but getting picked lower hasn't hurt guys like Tarasenko or Hertl. Who I also thought were severely underrated in their draft year. Especially Hertl, who I was pimping hard pre-draft.

If someone like Tuch actually becomes better than Goldobin or Barbashev consider my mind blown.

 

[allan5oh]

In my extremely limited viewings and knowledge, I'd love to get fleury or ehlers. I haven't watched enough games or even youtube videos to really have a strong enough opinion.

 

[Joe Hallenback]

I think that's crazy. Goldobin has been electric almost every single time I saw him.

I also don't really rank goal scorers over playmakers personally. Plus I think Barbashev's early season inconsistencies are a little overplayed. I found Perlini to be a far less consistent player than Barbashev although each player got hot at almost opposite times.

If Goldobin or Barbashev were North American or Scandinavian they'd be getting talked about for the top half of the draft. Both are excellent players.

Will they get picked lower? Maybe, but getting picked lower hasn't hurt guys like Tarasenko or Hertl. Who I also thought were severely underrated in their draft year. Especially Hertl, who I was pimping hard pre-draft.

If someone like Tuch actually becomes better than Goldobin or Barbashev consider my mind blown.

I don't think Perlini was that inconsistent till the end of the year. He plays a high puck possession game in all 3 zones of the ice. He most assuredly will be a NHL player some day and it remains to see what his top end will be.

I can't say the same thing about Barbashev, Great playmaker and great skill but the play can die on his stick and I think he tries to do too much and be too fancy a player. Now if I am sitting at 15/16/17 and I am in the playoffs with a young team maybe a take a shot at him. Even knowing that he can and I think probably ends up back in Russian at some point. If I had to compare him to another russian player he reminds me a bit of a smaller version of Malkin

Goldobin is a great skilled player. Loves to pass and loves to have the puck. He can be neutralized though by playing hard on him 5v5. He really needs to work on that part of his game and maybe he gets stronger but right now he would get mauled by NHL level D men. Great powerplay specialist though. Too me he is a bigger flight risk to head back to Russia. I don't know if he is even returning to Sarnia next year. It would be too easy for him to play back home on the big ice and make a good check there.

I don't buy that there is a bias against euro skaters. The only problem is that Russians have a very competitive league wage wise to go back too. The Jets have had 2 prospects go back to Russian because of that. It will influence teams when they draft.

 

[truck]

I think that's crazy. Goldobin has been electric almost every single time I saw him.

I also don't really rank goal scorers over playmakers personally. Plus I think Barbashev's early season inconsistencies are a little overplayed. I found Perlini to be a far less consistent player than Barbashev although each player got hot at almost opposite times.

If Goldobin or Barbashev were North American or Scandinavian they'd be getting talked about for the top half of the draft. Both are excellent players.

Will they get picked lower? Maybe, but getting picked lower hasn't hurt guys like Tarasenko or Hertl. Who I also thought were severely underrated in their draft year. Especially Hertl, who I was pimping hard pre-draft.

If someone like Tuch actually becomes better than Goldobin or Barbashev consider my mind blown.

Perlini scares me. ISS didn't even have him in their top 30 until his ridiculous October (24 points in 11 games). People commented about how he came out of nowhere. After that he wasn't near as special (41 points in 43 games). Not saying a point per game is bad, but home boy had one elite looking month and everything I've seen, read talks about inconsistency. What if that month was a complete aberration? Where would he be ranked without it?

 

[Sweech]

Real question Joe, how much OHL do you watch?

 

[Joe Hallenback]

Real question Joe, how much OHL do you watch?

I watch a fair bit of games. Not live of course. I would say 3 to 4 games a week. I also have access to several scouts and talk to a lot of NHL scouts at Brandon games when I can.

 

[Huffer]

Perlini scares me. ISS didn't even have him in their top 30 until his ridiculous October (24 points in 11 games). People commented about how he came out of nowhere. After that he wasn't near as special (41 points in 43 games). Not saying a point per game is bad, but home boy had one elite looking month and everything I've seen, read talks about inconsistency. What if that month was a complete aberration? Where would he be ranked without it?

Agreed. He also didn't stand out to me at all in the U18's games I watched. No where close to Virtanen, Fiala, Vrana, Nylander, etc. Never mind guys like Fabbri, Ehlers, etc.