Speculation: The 2020 Draft Thread: Part 1

[Jim Bob]

I had forgotten about that rumor

I'm not down on Lundell, he looks like a fantastic prospect. His ceiling is just harder to get a handle on.

Yeah, I would expect that the response to Lundell being the pick over Raymond and/or Holtz would be that it was Botts taking a low ceiling safe pick over a dynamic guy with more top end potential.

It all depends on whether you think that Lundell can be a high end two-way center or merely Larsson 2.0.

 

[jc17]

 

[Jim Bob]

I almost want Detroit to win the lottery, if it can't be the Sabres, just to see if he does that.

 

[truthbluth]

Yeah, I would expect that the response to Lundell being the pick over Raymond and/or Holtz would be that it was Botts taking a low ceiling safe pick over a dynamic guy with more top end potential.

It all depends on whether you think that Lundell can be a high end two-way center or merely Larsson 2.0.

No way Botterill picks Lundell. If there a GM who has a bigger misunderstanding of the difference between skating fast and playing fast, I don’t know who it is.

 

[Jim Bob]

No way Botterill picks Lundell. If there a GM who has a bigger misunderstanding of the difference between skating fast and playing fast, I don’t know who it is.

NHL Mock Draft: Beat writers preview the 2020 draft lottery

I forgot to mention that Pronman isn't a fan of Lundell in the top 10.

9. Chicago Blackhawks: Anton Lundell, C, HIFK-Liiga

Scott Powers: Lundell is one of the more NHL-ready players in this draft. He may not make the jump next season, but he certainly fits in the time frame if the Blackhawks are looking to add another high-end, responsible forward to play around Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane in the near future. If you add Lundell to Kane, Toews, Kirby Dach, Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Strome, Dominik Kubalik and Brandon Saad, the Blackhawks have to like how their top nine would be shaping up in the short- and long-term. Lundell’s skating is a bit of a concern, but what he’s done in Liiga at his age is undeniably impressive. Only Jesse Puljujarvi was a better possession player this past season in Finland. Lundell plays the type of two-way game the Blackhawks can use more of in their lineup.

Pronman’s take: I hate to do this to my longtime friend, but I am not a big fan of going after Lundell at No. 9. He’s a good player, but the upside is not that of a top-line caliber player. Powers is right about his NHL projectability given what he’s shown versus men already, but I think you can get more talent at this spot. I am aware that my opinion is not the opinion of a good chunk of the industry, although the more NHL scouts I’ve talked to in the second half, the more pessimistic I get Lundell is going to be a top 10 pick.

And after that last part, it will be interesting to see where Lundell lands on Bob's final list.

 

[jc17]

Lundell sounds a lot like Reinhart. Fair comparison?

 

[Jim Bob]

Lundell sounds a lot like Reinhart. Fair comparison?

I kind of see Couturier as a better comp as his ceiling and Larsson as his basement.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

If Lundell pans out and he can reach his potential
he can develop at least passable 2nd or 3rd line center.

But unfortunately Lundell has bust ( mainly due to skating and offensive upside issues ) risk too.
So if Sabres wants player who can skate fast and score a lot points
then Raymond is that guy who Sabres should take.

As a HIFK fan i should be high on Lundell
but i'm not because he isn't nothing special ( read McDavid, Matthews or Barkov caliber center ).

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

No way Botterill picks Lundell. If there a GM who has a bigger misunderstanding of the difference between skating fast and playing fast, I don’t know who it is.

If Lundell pans out and he can reach his potential
he can develop at least passable 2nd or 3rd line center.

But unfortunately Lundell has bust ( mainly due to skating and offensive upside issues ) risk too.
So if Sabres wants player who can skate fast and score a lot points
then Raymond is that guy who Sabres should take.

As a HIFK fan i should be high on Lundell but i'm not because he isn't nothing special
^^( read McDavid, Matthews or Barkov caliber ELITE center ) as a center.

 

[truthbluth]

Lundell sounds a lot like Reinhart. Fair comparison?

I see slow Barkov. Very similar play style, but very slow feet.

 

[Der Jaeger]

If Lundell pans out and he can reach his potential
he can develop at least passable 2nd or 3rd line center.

But unfortunately Lundell has bust ( mainly due to skating and offensive upside issues ) risk too.
So if Sabres wants player who can skate fast and score a lot points
then Raymond is that guy who Sabres should take.

As a HIFK fan i should be high on Lundell
but i'm not because he isn't nothing special ( read McDavid, Matthews or Barkov caliber center ).

I see low bust potential for Lundell

 

[Jim Bob]

I see low bust potential for Lundell

It all gets back to what you define as a bust.

I think the worst case scenario with Lundell is that he turns out to be merely a good bottom 6 defensive center, ala Johan Larsson, with a few top 6 offensive forwards going after Lundell.

I still think that if the Sabres take Lundell, it will be seen as Botterill taking a safer, lower ceiling guy and not going for the guys with more offensive potential. Basically, a lot like the reaction to the Johnson pick.

Although, at least Lundell is a center...

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

I see slow Barkov. Very similar play style, but very slow feet.

Where that Barkov comparison comes ?
Lundell is not next Barkov but he might be next Mikko Koivu / Ryan O'Reilly if / when he pans out.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

It all gets back to what you define as a bust.

I think the worst case scenario with Lundell is that he turns out to be merely a good bottom 6 defensive center, ala Johan Larsson, with a few top 6 offensive forwards going after Lundell.

I still think that if the Sabres take Lundell, it will be seen as Botterill taking a safer, lower ceiling guy and not going for the guys with more offensive potential. Basically, a lot like the reaction to the Johnson pick.

Although, at least Lundell is a center...

I understand that Sabres needs new number 2 center because Mittelstadt has been disappointment.
But if / when Sabres are lucky in lottery they can have chance to get one of Byfield, Rossi, Perfetti, Stutzle.
Those guys can all be good 2nd line centers and they have also higher offensive upside than Lundell.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

I see low bust potential for Lundell

That's your opinion and i have mine.
But still i'm not high on Lundell and if Sabres drafts him then so be it.

 

[Jim Bob]

I understand that Sabres needs new number 2 center because Mittelstadt has been disappointment.
But if / when Sabres are lucky in lottery they can have chance to get one of Byfield, Rossi, Perfetti, Stutzle.
Those guys can all be good 2nd line centers and they have also higher offensive upside than Lundell.

If the Sabres have a shot at Stutzle or Byfield, it will be because they jumped up into the top 3.

And if the Sabres take Lundell in the top 3....



I am expecting the Lundell conversation to be in play if the Sabres end up in the 7-9 OV range.

 

[Jim Bob]

Wheeler: A guide to scouting and evaluating NHL draft...

This is a really good article on how Scott Wheeler looks at draft prospects. If you have an Athletic subscription, it is well worth reading.

 

[Reddawg]

Three different experts on NHL.com have Perfetti slipping to us at #7 and us taking him, I’d be thrilled with that result which was unanimous.

Mock 2020 NHL Draft: Drysdale, Sanderson among top defensemen

 

[Jim Bob]

Three different experts on NHL.com have Perfetti slipping to us at #7 and us taking him, I’d be thrilled with that result which was unanimous.

View attachment 341830

Mock 2020 NHL Draft: Drysdale, Sanderson among top defensemen

It would be nice if things broke that way.

Prospect Need to Know: Cole Perfetti is the kid you want on your line - TheHockeyNews

Perfetti making his mark among 2020 Draft prospects

Cole Perfetti | Cole Perfetti Profile | Cole Perfetti Scouting Report 2020

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[jc17]

Wasnt the Q the highest for a while?

I'd be interested to see the breakdown between 5v5 and PP

 

[flashsabre]

Three different experts on NHL.com have Perfetti slipping to us at #7 and us taking him, I’d be thrilled with that result which was unanimous.

View attachment 341830

Mock 2020 NHL Draft: Drysdale, Sanderson among top defensemen

The positives of drafting Perfetti: he is from my hometown, deadly offensive skills

The negatives of drafting Perfetti: this board complaining that he isn’t big or he doesn’t skate really fast.

After Lafreniere, Byfield and Stutzle there seems to be no consensus as to where the next group falls. Rossi, Raymond, Perfetti, Drysdale, Holtz, Lundell, Sanderson all seem to have different fans and detractors among the various scouting outlets.

If we end up staying at #7 I have no idea who will be there or who they will lean towards. Sanderson is the one that would give me pause because they have spent a lot of picks on LHD.

 

[m0pe]

In 2 of those mocks, Raymond is still there and we pick Perfetti. Would drive me nuts. Raymond has similar offensive skills while being the much better skater and much better defensively IMO.

As for the Sanderson discussion, given our situation I wouldn't like that pick. However, I feel he has more upside then some think. There are higher priorities, but I have little doubt he would be a great fit behind Dahlin and is a fringe top-10 pick for me.

 

[jc17]

Raymond seems to be a wild card. I've seen him as high as 2 somewhere and then out of the top ten. I could swear in a bunch of rankings he was ahead of holtz, but now he's behind.

Back to the CHL scoring, it makes Jarvis' numbers that much more impressive. It will be fun to see where he ends up.

 

[Der Jaeger]

It all gets back to what you define as a bust.

I think the worst case scenario with Lundell is that he turns out to be merely a good bottom 6 defensive center, ala Johan Larsson, with a few top 6 offensive forwards going after Lundell.

I still think that if the Sabres take Lundell, it will be seen as Botterill taking a safer, lower ceiling guy and not going for the guys with more offensive potential. Basically, a lot like the reaction to the Johnson pick.

Although, at least Lundell is a center...

I see his floor as a poor man’s Barkov in the 3C role. Reliable, smart two way center.