Speculation: The 2020 Draft Thread: Part 1

[Old Navy Goat]

Lafreniere can drive a line but plays LW. We have Skinner and Olofsson on LW. If we are lucky enough to draft him do we look to trade down for a C and a good piece?

I'd offer the 1ov to Ottawa for either Tkachuk + highest 1st or Tierney + both 1sts

 

[Gabrielor]

mostly just styles of play.

Lafreniere is the kind of player who does the hard ozone work, that compliments his scoring skill set well and makes players around him better... not wanting to make a Crosby-lite comparison I went with a winger who does similar in zone heavy lifting to compliment his offensive skills...

My comp has been Stone. When someone wants to see constant, permanent high IQ hockey, at least in the ozone, I'll show them McDavid, and Laf.

 

[flashsabre]

Lafreniere can drive a line but plays LW. We have Skinner and Olofsson on LW. If we are lucky enough to draft him do we look to trade down for a C and a good piece?

No, take the best player. VO can switch to RW and be very dangerous on his off wing.

 

[Der Jaeger]

If Rossi were 6 foot tall, he’d be the 2nd overall pick. He’s a bulldog like Marchand on the puck without the d-baggery. He has some Briere to his game: small center who will go to the net and play big on the boards.

if he’s on the board when the Sabres are up, it’s a no brainer.

 

[Fjordy]

If Botterill remains, he can take a defender, because we need more depth in defense.

 

[Reddawg]

If Rossi were 6 foot tall, he’d be the 2nd overall pick. He’s a bulldog like Marchand on the puck without the d-baggery. He has some Briere to his game: small center who will go to the net and play big on the boards.

if he’s on the board when the Sabres are up, it’s a no brainer.

He might be 2nd overall anyway.

 

[Jim Bob]

Prospect Need to Know: Scouts are flocking to see James Hardie - TheHockeyNews

 

[Gabrielor]

If Rossi were 6 foot tall, he’d be the 2nd overall pick. He’s a bulldog like Marchand on the puck without the d-baggery. He has some Briere to his game: small center who will go to the net and play big on the boards.

if he’s on the board when the Sabres are up, it’s a no brainer.

For sure. Rossi is a top 5 lock, and trending higher.

 

[jfb392]

Prospect Need to Know: Scouts are flocking to see James Hardie - TheHockeyNews

This kid and Evan Vierling are two kids that I think will be really good value picks from the OHL.
They were both high picks coming into the league and have come on strong, albeit on bad teams.

Mercuri, who is also mentioned in that article, is interesting too.
He was a dominant kid coming up in Quebec that fell due to his interest in going to school.
His boots are heavy, but he can play.
It will be interesting to see if he actually ends up at Vermont now that Sneddon is out.

 

[flashsabre]

Rossi and Lundell are on the board at the Sabres pick, who are you taking?

I think Lundell will be a very good two way centre.

I just think something about Rossi could be special. He is my pick.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Rossi and Lundell are on the board at the Sabres pick, who are you taking?

I think Lundell will be a very good two way centre.

I just think something about Rossi could be special. He is my pick.

I definitely go with Rossi. I like Lundell but he's someone I look at around pick 10

 

[Fjordy]

Rossi and Lundell are on the board at the Sabres pick, who are you taking?

I think Lundell will be a very good two way centre.

I just think something about Rossi could be special. He is my pick.

I would also take Rossi. I’m to take a dilemma if Byfield, Rossi and Stutzle are on the table, and then I would already choose between Raymond and Lundell if we choose fifth or sixth.

 

[Chainshot]

Rossi and Lundell are on the board at the Sabres pick, who are you taking?

I think Lundell will be a very good two way centre.

I just think something about Rossi could be special. He is my pick.

Rossi without question.

 

[hizzoner]

If Rossi were 6 foot tall, he’d be the 2nd overall pick. He’s a bulldog like Marchand on the puck without the d-baggery. He has some Briere to his game: small center who will go to the net and play big on the boards.

if he’s on the board when the Sabres are up, it’s a no brainer.

Somehow I missed seeing him live so far this year so I have not got the eye test to help me out with his skating. I have to admit that watching John Tavares in junior he amazed me with his point production for a mediocre junior skater--but he did improve a lot.

 

[Reddawg]

Rossi and Lundell are on the board at the Sabres pick, who are you taking?

I think Lundell will be a very good two way centre.

I just think something about Rossi could be special. He is my pick.

There’s absolutely no doubt you take Rossi if he’s there. He’s a franchise player.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Rossi and Lundell are on the board at the Sabres pick, who are you taking?

I think Lundell will be a very good two way centre.

I just think something about Rossi could be special. He is my pick.

Rossi

 

[Chainshot]

 

[OkimLom]

Rossi and Lundell are on the board at the Sabres pick, who are you taking?

I think Lundell will be a very good two way centre.

I just think something about Rossi could be special. He is my pick.

Rossi is my pick before everybody but Lafreniere. Honestly, I'd put Lundell Stutzle ahead of Byfield as well.

 

[flashsabre]

Stutzle is such an electric player to watch. I think he will be a centre at the NHL level and be a huge impact player with his skating, skill and brain.

I think a lot of people are down on Byfield because he wasn’t prominent at the WJCs but he is basically a developmental year behind a lot of these guys with his birthday. If he falls to 4th or so someone is getting an Elias Petersen-like steal.

 

[Chainshot]

Stutzle is such an electric player to watch. I think he will be a centre at the NHL level and be a huge impact player with his skating, skill and brain.

I think a lot of people are down on Byfield because he wasn’t prominent at the WJCs but he is basically a developmental year behind a lot of these guys with his birthday. If he falls to 4th or so someone is getting an Elias Petersen-like steal.

Agree on Stutzle. He's the guy I find most entertaining of the top end of the draft class. His edgework and ability to thread the puck through tiny openings is too much fun. Someone's going to have a damn good player.

Byfield is so very young for his draft class. If people are going purely off a 19-year old dominated tournament for a 17-year old in his draft year, they are probably the same ones who thought Mitts was a better prospect than Pettersson.

 

[Chainshot]

Having not spent a lot of time digging into some of the later picks, there won't be U18's and CHL playoffs to get a longer look at some. Ah well.

 

[Chainshot]

 

[Chainshot]

I still have fears that Botterill's preference for "big" over skilled leads them to take someone like Holloway who reminds me more of Rasmussen than anyone else ranked highly in this draft.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I still have fears that Botterill's preference for "big" over skilled leads them to take someone like Holloway who reminds me more of Rasmussen than anyone else ranked highly in this draft.

i have a fear Botts opinion will even matter

 

[Chainshot]

i have a fear Botts opinion will even matter

At the moment, I'm going operate like he and his staff are still going to be making the calls come draft day, since even if they replace him, their scouting book will mostly be already written and used by any potential replacement, especially in later rounds.

He has prioritized size over skill and IQ with some regularity, so I could see them being higher on Holloway than I am.