Prospect Info: The 2018 Draft Thread

[CycloneSweep]

I dont see how Im being hard on him by saying I dont think he's worth taking in the top 5. IMO Hughes and Dobson have separated themselves from Bouchard and Boqvist. Out of that group I have Boqvist the lowest due to his development curve. I wont mind if we take him at 10, but people need to understand he's falling for a reason. I think the group of Wahlstrom, Kotkaniemi, Boqvist is very close and one of them IMO will be an Oiler.

I don't see how they separated themselves from Bouchard

 

[Zaddy]

Im not a fan of his game, and think he's going to have a hard time translating over to the NHL. People get to defensive, Boqvist is still a good prospect, but IMO he could slide for the reasons I stated.

I only get defensive when people bring up arguments that aren't true and state their opinion as fact.

I don't see why he would have a hard time translating to the NHL. Does he need some time to bulk up? Sure, but his entire skillset is tailor-made for todays NHL.

I'll get a video up shortly from one of Boqvist's games in SHL showing some of the things he does well and this is while playing against men in one of the best leagues in the world.

 

[Raab]

I don't see how they separated themselves from Bouchard

Bouchards skating is a question mark. That why I have Hughes and Dobson ahead of him. I think theres 2 groups after Dahlin. 1st group is: Hughes, Svechnikov, Zadina, Dobson, Tkachuk. I expect in that group any of them can go in any order depending on the team.

2nd group) Bouchard, Wahlstrom, Kotkaniemi, Boqvist, Farabee, Kupari, again these guys can go in any order depending on team. Ty Smith is very close to joining this group but I kept him just outside it.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Bouchards skating is a question mark. That why I have Hughes and Dobson ahead of him. I think theres 2 groups after Dahlin. 1st group is: Hughes, Svechnikov, Zadina, Dobson, Tkachuk. I expect in that group any of them can go in any order depending on the team.

2nd group) Bouchard, Wahlstrom, Kotkaniemi, Boqvist, Farabee, Kupari, again these guys can go in any order depending on team. Ty Smith is very close to joining this group but I kept him just outside it.

Outside of Skating, Bouchard ish the better player. What he was doing in the OHL was amazing. The best offensive defender in the entire league at 17

 

[MoneyGuy]

I think all of this becomes immaterial as our first-rounder will be traded on the draft floor.

 

[Raab]

I only get defensive when people bring up arguments that aren't true and state their opinion as fact.

I don't see why he would have a hard time translating to the NHL. Does he need some time to bulk up? Sure, but his entire skillset is tailor-made for todays NHL.

I'll get a video up shortly from one of Boqvist's games in SHL showing some of the things he does well and this is while playing against men in one of the best leagues in the world.

I know what he does. The fact is his skating wont be good enough when he gets to the NHL to play the way he does now. His decision making needs to get quicker and better, and he needs to continue to show improvement. Unless youre saying he NHL ready right now? What do you think needs to happen with his game for him to become that top pairing guy? I maintain he'll be a secondary PP option similar to Sami Vatanen.

 

[Raab]

Outside of Skating, Bouchard ish the better player. What he was doing in the OHL was amazing. The best offensive defender in the entire league at 17

With the way the NHL is it wont matter how offensively talented he is, if he cant keep up with the play. He should still go high, but look at what Sergachev did in the OHL and where he was taken. Sergachev was also a far better skater when compared to Bouchard.

 

[CycloneSweep]

With the way the NHL is it wont matter how offensively talented he is, if he cant keep up with the play. He should still go high, but look at what Sergachev did in the OHL and where he was taken. Sergachev was also a far better skater when compared to Bouchard.

Sergachev put up 57 in 67 in his draft year and then 43 in 50 the year after. Bouchard put up 87 in 67. Bouchard up up 13 less points this year than Sergachev did in his draft and +1 year.

 

[rambo97]

Raab, Boqvist skating is elite. Just saying. The other points you made above are valid but your comment about his skating is off the mark.

Look they all have knocks against them:
Hughes - Muffin shot, size
Boqvist - size, ability to translate to the smaller ice
Dobson - offensive ceiling
Bouchard - skating, defensive game

They all have questions regarding how their games will translate at the NHL level. You can say "Hughes is playing well against men right now at the WHC" which is true but remember he's playing on the bigger ice. He always kills it when he plays on the bigger ice. He has more time and space (which he won't at the NHL level). He does on the smaller ice too (dominate) but so far has shown it only on the college level. So he will have to prove he can do it in the NHL as well.

It's not going to matter anyways....the Oilers are going to trade the pick. Jim Matheson just came out with his article. Just listened to Lowetide and Jameson and they seem pretty convinced the Oilers will be trading the pick. So I guess arguing about these prospects is going to prove pointless pretty soon.

 

[Zaddy]

I know what he does. The fact is his skating wont be good enough when he gets to the NHL to play the way he does now. His decision making needs to get quicker and better, and he needs to continue to show improvement. Unless youre saying he NHL ready right now? What do you think needs to happen with his game for him to become that top pairing guy? I maintain he'll be a secondary PP option similar to Sami Vatanen.

Nothing radical. Mostly the same as any other prospect. Get stronger, faster and gain more experience. I don't think Boqvist skating is bad at all but if there is one aspect of it he could stand to improve its his straight line speed and first few steps, just becoming more explosive in general. That would make his game even better. And then as I said, getting bigger and stronger, but that will come in time. The kid isn't 18 until 3 months from now.

His decision making is one of his biggest strengths and I think that's where you and I fundamentally disagree. I also think you're underrating how important it is to have a good shot in the NHL these days. That's where a guy like Boqvist shines and Hughes does not.

 

[McDNicks17]

I personally think you really overrate skating, Raab. It's obviously super important, but it seems like you think a player will be at a disadvantage unless their skating is elite.

A guy like Bouchard, for example, will not be held back by his skating. He has an above average first step, solid four-way mobility and has no problems skating backwards(second only to Dobson at the Top Prospects combine). The only knock is his top speed and he's not a guy who relies on that. His bread and butter is his outlet passing and in-zone offense where that's pretty much a non-factor.

Dobson having better skating(and basically that's it) doesn't make him a better prospect.

You get into dangerous territory when you start drafting guys because of size and skating.

 

[Raab]

Sergachev put up 57 in 67 in his draft year and then 43 in 50 the year after. Bouchard put up 87 in 67. Bouchard up up 13 less points this year than Sergachev did in his draft and +1 year.

Bouchard also plays in London...

 

[McDNicks17]

Bouchard also plays in London...

They weren't your usual Knights this season.

They traded their top five scorers(if I recall correctly) at the deadline and it was after that that Bouchard's production skyrocketed.

 

[Raab]

I personally think you really overrate skating, Raab. It's obviously super important, but it seems like you think a player will be at a disadvantage unless their skating is elite.

A guy like Bouchard, for example, will not be held back by his skating. He has an above average first step, solid four-way mobility and has no problems skating backwards(second only to Dobson at the Top Prospects combine). The only knock is his top speed and he's not a guy who relies on that. His bread and butter is his outlet passing and in-zone offense where that's pretty much a non-factor.

Dobson having better skating(and basically that's it) doesn't make him a better prospect.

You get into dangerous territory when you start drafting guys because of size and skating.

Im not just ranking guys based on size and skating. We've seen more then a few guys who had offensive skill, drop out of the league due to poor skating. Ive moved decision making speed, hockey IQ, and skating to the top for the things I look for in a prospect based on the speed of today's game. If you can't think quick and move quick youre going to have a hard time in todays NHL.

 

[McDNicks17]

Im not just ranking guys based on size and skating. We've seen more then a few guys who had offensive skill, drop out of the league due to poor skating. Ive moved decision making speed, hockey IQ, and skating to the top for the things I look for in a prospect based on the speed of today's game. If you can't think quick and move quick youre going to have a hard time in todays NHL.

I agree with that, but that's also why I would have Bouchard over Dobson.

 

[Raab]

Nothing radical. Mostly the same as any other prospect. Get stronger, faster and gain more experience. I don't think Boqvist skating is bad at all but if there is one aspect of it he could stand to improve its his straight line speed and first few steps, just becoming more explosive in general. That would make his game even better. And then as I said, getting bigger and stronger, but that will come in time. The kid isn't 18 until 3 months from now.

His decision making is one of his biggest strengths and I think that's where you and I fundamentally disagree. I also think you're underrating how important it is to have a good shot in the NHL these days. That's where a guy like Boqvist shines and Hughes does not.

This is completely wrong. You have it backwards. Watch when Hughes has the puck and how long it takes him to either skate the puck up the ice or make a quick short pass. Literally the puck is on and off his stick or he's skating fast. Very very good decision maker, and the puck is always moving up the ice when he's playing.

 

[Raab]

I agree with that, but that's also why I would have Bouchard over Dobson.

Dobson has really good skating, I just dont see it with Bouchard. I see a guy who's going to be a step behind. I could be wrong. He'll still go high but wont be surprised if he slides.

 

[PKSpecialist]

Kotkaniemi >>Tkachuk

Kotkaniemi is top tier in this draft. If he goes outside the top 9 I'd be shocked and honestly if he goes outside the top 5 I'll even be surprised.

Prepare to be surprised?

 

[Zaddy]

This is completely wrong. You have it backwards. Watch when Hughes has the puck and how long it takes him to either skate the puck up the ice or make a quick short pass. Literally the puck is on and off his stick or he's skating fast. Very very good decision maker, and the puck is always moving up the ice when he's playing.

I was referring to his shot.

 

[PKSpecialist]

I dont see how Im being hard on him by saying I dont think he's worth taking in the top 5. IMO Hughes and Dobson have separated themselves from Bouchard and Boqvist. Out of that group I have Boqvist the lowest due to his development curve. I wont mind if we take him at 10, but people need to understand he's falling for a reason. I think the group of Wahlstrom, Kotkaniemi, Boqvist is very close and one of them IMO will be an Oiler.

He hasn’t fallen anywhere....except on Craig Button’s list. Let’s wait til the draft, or at the very least Bob’s list to come to show where the consensus has him before making a blanket statement.

I currently list the top defensemen in this order:
Dahlin
Dobson
Boqvist
Hughes
Smith
Bouchard

I’ve really soured on Bouchard’s skating, but there’s still a lot to like. I don’t dislike any of these prospects. Any one of the bunch would be a fantastic pick for the Oilers, as would any of Tkachuk, Kotkaniemi, Wahlstrom... people need to chill out a bit... we are going to get a fantastic prospect at 10, and likely another at 40. Debating most of these guys for the Oilers is getting old, because almost every guy being discussed won’t be available in our range.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Raab, Boqvist skating is elite. Just saying. The other points you made above are valid but your comment about his skating is off the mark.

Look they all have knocks against them:
Hughes - Muffin shot, size
Boqvist - size, ability to translate to the smaller ice
Dobson - offensive ceiling
Bouchard - skating, defensive game

They all have questions regarding how their games will translate at the NHL level. You can say "Hughes is playing well against men right now at the WHC" which is true but remember he's playing on the bigger ice. He always kills it when he plays on the bigger ice. He has more time and space (which he won't at the NHL level). He does on the smaller ice too (dominate) but so far has shown it only on the college level. So he will have to prove he can do it in the NHL as well.

It's not going to matter anyways....the Oilers are going to trade the pick. Jim Matheson just came out with his article. Just listened to Lowetide and Jameson and they seem pretty convinced the Oilers will be trading the pick. So I guess arguing about these prospects is going to prove pointless pretty soon.

What are Ty Smith's apparent weakness/es? Just size?

 

[Hockey Nightmare]

It's not going to matter anyways....the Oilers are going to trade the pick. Jim Matheson just came out with his article. Just listened to Lowetide and Jameson and they seem pretty convinced the Oilers will be trading the pick. So I guess arguing about these prospects is going to prove pointless pretty soon.

Knowing the oilers, they will indeed trade the pick. No matter what. Good deal or bad deal. Hamilton or Reinhart. Doesn't matter. Because that is the course they've set themselves on.

 

[McDNicks17]

What are Ty Smith's apparent weakness/es? Just size?

From my viewings and from what I've read, I think the main knock is a lack of standout skill outside his skating.

His hockey sense shines defensively, but he likely won't be an elite defender because of his size.

In the offensive zone, he's got pretty good instincts(I think his hockey sense is far more evident when he doesn't have the puck versus when he has it) and a decent shot, but he just doesn't strike me as a guy I would project to be a top-end point producer in the NHL.

 

[KarmaPolice]

From my viewings and from what I've read, I think the main knock is a lack of standout skill outside his skating.

His hockey sense shines defensively, but he likely won't be an elite defender because of his size.

In the offensive zone, he's got pretty good instincts(I think his hockey sense is far more evident when he doesn't have the puck versus when he has it) and a decent shot, but he just doesn't strike me as a guy I would project to be a top-end point producer in the NHL.

I think that's fair. I wouldn't say he has elite offensive skills. Doubtful he becomes a dangerous PP QB, for example (though you never know, I guess). I really do enjoy watching smart, swift-skating Dmen that don't make mistakes, though. I think he has a small chance of being a Vlasic type Dman -- the kind every team would love to have, solid all around and incredibly smart. Key words being "small chance" (so if he busts don't say I was 100% sure about it, as that's not the case), but I really like the entire package he brings. I think he's a very safe choice, as even if he doesn't become an elite producer he'll be an elite puck mover and should be at least competent defensively using his very smart positioning and reads on plays. He's incredibly intriguing to me.

 

[nexttothemoon]

Prepare to be surprised?

I'll probably be surprised, but I won't be shocked.