Prospect Info: The Adolescent 2019 Draft Thread

[lakai17]

Cozens doesn't look impressive for a top 5 at all. We are better off drafting Brett Leason and he probably only costs a late 1st

Leason would be a good selection. He wouldn't need the most ahl seasoning, if any. He has the chance to make the team out of camp.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Leason would be a good selection. He wouldn't need the most ahl seasoning, if any. He has the chance to make the team out of camp.

There are quite a few guys I'd pick over him in that range (Kaliyev, McMichael, Tomasino, etc) but Leason would still be a pretty decent pick. He's probably be ready to play in the NHL pretty soon, but I question how high his upside is compared to some other guys.

 

[HeavyHitter99]

Leason would be a good selection. He wouldn't need the most ahl seasoning, if any. He has the chance to make the team out of camp.

There are quite a few guys I'd pick over him in that range (Kaliyev, McMichael, Tomasino, etc) but Leason would still be a pretty decent pick. He's probably be ready to play in the NHL pretty soon, but I question how high his upside is compared to some other guys.

Leason has had a great development curve but his skating is a concern. He moves around decently well in the WHL for his size but it could hold him back at the pro level. He’s also not the goal scorer most people assume he is. Regardless, he has great size, hockey sense and is closer to being pro ready than most late 1st round picks. I like him as a pick for the Oilers if he’s there in the 2nd.

 

[snipes]

What do you guys think of Victor Soderstrom? He’s an intriguing RHD in this draft.

 

[Llamamoto]

What do you guys think of Victor Soderstrom? He’s an intriguing RHD in this draft.

He would be awesome. The way he carries the puck reminds me of Dahlin. Great numbers too.

He could be an absolute steal. He's projected to go 12-17, similar to Erik Karlsson, who had similar numbers and a similar style of play. Both great offensive IQ, great skating, but questionable size.

If we're in that range, I might nab him.

 

[lakai17]

Leason has had a great development curve but his skating is a concern. He moves around decently well in the WHL for his size but it could hold him back at the pro level. He’s also not the goal scorer most people assume he is. Regardless, he has great size, hockey sense and is closer to being pro ready than most late 1st round picks. I like him as a pick for the Oilers if he’s there in the 2nd.

There are quite a few guys I'd pick over him in that range (Kaliyev, McMichael, Tomasino, etc) but Leason would still be a pretty decent pick. He's probably be ready to play in the NHL pretty soon, but I question how high his upside is compared to some other guys.

Pelletier is money in the late first round boys,

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Pelletier is money in the late first round boys,

He's a guy I actually haven't watched at all. I spent the last hour reading up on him and watching shift-by-shift videos, and WOW he is impressive. He's exactly the kind of guy the Oilers should try to go after - speedy and skilled with game-breaking upside.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Does anyone know if Pelletier (our skating coach) is related to Jakub Pelletier, the 2019 draft prospect? I'd love the Oilers to get him with their 1st this year.

 

[McDNicks17]

Does anyone know if Pelletier (our skating coach) is related to Jakub Pelletier, the 2019 draft prospect? I'd love the Oilers to get him with their 1st this year.

Don't think so.

Eliteprospects is usually pretty good at listing stuff like that.

 

[AddyTheWrath]

Is Krebs what McTavish was referring to when he said cyclical nature of the business?

Get it? Krebs Cycle? Anyone?

 

[Zaddy]

What do you guys think of Victor Soderstrom? He’s an intriguing RHD in this draft.

He's pretty good. I see him as a 2nd pair puck-moving D in the NHL. He has a high floor but maybe not the highest ceiling, although he could be maybe be a #2D with the right partner. But I don't think he's a guy that's going to put up 60 points in the NHL, probably more of a steady two-way D who gets ~30 points a year.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

He's pretty good. I see him as a 2nd pair puck-moving D in the NHL. He has a high floor but maybe not the highest ceiling, although he could be maybe be a #2D with the right partner. But I don't think he's a guy that's going to put up 60 points in the NHL, probably more of a steady two-way D who gets ~30 points a year.

Yup. I like him but there are a bunch of guys I have above him in our range.

I think Sami Vatanen-esque player is a ceiling for him.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

He's a guy I actually haven't watched at all. I spent the last hour reading up on him and watching shift-by-shift videos, and WOW he is impressive. He's exactly the kind of guy the Oilers should try to go after - speedy and skilled with game-breaking upside.

As I guy who follows Moncton & the Quebec League quite closely I would mention getting Jordan Spence with the 2nd round pick/3rd round pick. Right handed offensive dman that plays like Jared Spurgeon or maybe the right handed version of Caleb Jones. We need all the good RHD we can get.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

As I guy who follows Moncton & the Quebec League quite closely I would mention getting Jordan Spence with the 2nd round pick/3rd round pick. Right handed offensive dman that plays like Jared Spurgeon or maybe the right handed version of Caleb Jones. We need all the good RHD we can get.

Interesting. Haven't heard of him, I'll read up on him.

 

[Canovin]

He's pretty good. I see him as a 2nd pair puck-moving D in the NHL. He has a high floor but maybe not the highest ceiling, although he could be maybe be a #2D with the right partner. But I don't think he's a guy that's going to put up 60 points in the NHL, probably more of a steady two-way D who gets ~30 points a year.

Would you say he's similar to Jokiharju?

 

[Zaddy]

Would you say he's similar to Jokiharju?

Not really no. There are some similarities but ultimately I think their respective styles differ a bit. I find Jokiharju to be more of a natural offensive player and he's a better skater and puck-rusher. A bit more flashy I think. For Söderström I kinda like the Vatanen comparison @ConnorMcMullet made.

 

[McDNicks17]

What's the word on Kaedan Korczak?

I see him showing up in the 1st round in some places. Numbers aren't great, but he's a 6'3'' right-handed defenseman coming out of the defensemen factory in Kelowna.

 

[PKSpecialist]

As I guy who follows Moncton & the Quebec League quite closely I would mention getting Jordan Spence with the 2nd round pick/3rd round pick. Right handed offensive dman that plays like Jared Spurgeon or maybe the right handed version of Caleb Jones. We need all the good RHD we can get.

What's the word on Kaedan Korczak?

I see him showing up in the 1st round in some places. Numbers aren't great, but he's a 6'3'' right-handed defenseman coming out of the defensemen factory in Kelowna.

These are both solid defensive prospects, and you'll never see me talk about avoiding right-handed defenders in the draft, but I'm not as high on these guys as their current 'rankings' would have them go. I like Korczak as an early third round pick. He just doesn't do anything dynamic enough to warrant taking him much higher than that in my opinion. He is a very solid defender, one of the more polished in that aspect of the game in the draft, but he really isn't an offensive producer. Defenders like him generally don't become top 3 defenders, usually bottom 4. Nothing wrong with a third pairing right-handed defender in the third round, but I'd prefer to swing for the fences with more dynamic players early on in the draft. Spence is certainly more dynamic, and plays with a lot of poise, but he needs to add a lot of strength, and is not polished at all in his own zone. Strength would certainly go a long ways to improving that, but I'm liking him more as a late third/early fourth right now.

Drew Helleson has a chance to be a real player as well, and likely goes right around our second rounder(currently). He is a two-way defender who can play in all situations. Korczak's teammate, Lassi Thomson might offer the most flair of any of the guys rated in the second round. Martin Hugo Has is also intriguing. He is much like Korczak, but I believe his offensive game has a little more upside than Korczak. Simon Lundmark is another intriguing European option. I would like to hear Zaddy's take on him. I think he has the offensive instincts to be a real strong two-way defender, but I haven't seen him enough yet.

As far as our first rounder, I want a player who can produce offense, has speed and is highly competitive in nature. This draft is full of these players and I'd be happy with any of them in the first depending where we draft. Alex Turcotte, Trevor Zegras and Peyton Krebs fit the bill in the top 10, Connor McMichael, Phil Tomasino, Jakob Pelletier, and Matthew Boldy are solid options from 10-25, and Nils Hoglander is my wild card late first rounder where we all hope to end up drafting. I'm not real sure how high Hoglander's offensive game will tap out, but I have all kinds of time for players like him(think Brendan Gallagher). He may not have the size, but the competitiveness and drive would be a breath of fresh air to the Oilers team.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

Spence is certainly more dynamic, and plays with a lot of poise, but he needs to add a lot of strength, and is not polished at all in his own zone. Strength would certainly go a long ways to improving that, but I'm liking him more as a late third/early fourth right now.

I don't disagree with your assessment here. However, i would point out that he's putting up numbers offensively at 17 years old that on par with most 2nd and 3rd year players.

I'm not as concerned with the defensive mistakes of a player like Spence when he's already the top pairing D on a team that should be fighting for a league championship/memorial cup contender for the next couple of years.

He'll get better with time and will grow and mature physically as well

 

[aspin3]

IDK a couple of the teams around us have been turning it on and I see the 5-10 range as most likely.

My preferences are:
Top pairing D (need to possess all the skills to become one) or the Most skilled forward available.

I do like the sounds of Krebs and Turcotte right now from what I have read. But honestly would not be opposed to trying to move up if the team sees a player that they consider a driver and you can play RNH with that player in order to create two wicked combinations.

Doesnt seem to be much love for Boldy in the 8-10 range? Why is that? He seems to be aggressive on the puck, hood shot, good skater.

 

[780il]

Doesnt seem to be much love for Boldy in the 8-10 range? Why is that? He seems to be aggressive on the puck, hood shot, good skater.

I like Krebs more

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

I like Krebs more

Yup. Not a fan of Boldy. He could be a great complimentary player at the NHL level, but his upside isn't as high as most of the other guys. I wouln't draft him in the top 12.

 

[aspin3]

I like Krebs more

Krebs skating style, and posture as well as stickhandling remind me a lot of Hebig. Short neck and all.

 

[aspin3]

Yup. Not a fan of Boldy. He could be a great complimentary player at the NHL level, but his upside isn't as high as most of the other guys. I wouln't draft him in the top 12.

Can you elaborate? What is it that you do not like? He does not shy away from the traffic, is not a perimeter player, has a great shot, appears to be a good skater, etc.

 

[Zaddy]

Yup. Not a fan of Boldy. He could be a great complimentary player at the NHL level, but his upside isn't as high as most of the other guys. I wouln't draft him in the top 12.

I think that's a mistake. I don't think there are 12 players better than Boldy in this draft. You're right in that he's likely a complementary player but he could be a very good one at that. I've learned not to underestimate these players after seeing how much success the Tkachuk brothers have had. Boldy is in a similar mold, but maybe doesn't have that nastiness to him, but he's a very good player in his own right. He has incredible hands and a wicked shot along with good size, skating and playmaking. I think he'd be a great fit with the Oilers. He's just what the Oilers forward group are missing, a guy who is big, can maintain possession and also be a one-shot scorer. He'd score 30+ goals a year on the wing of McDavid or Drai. I'd take him over Cozens.



I mean look at these filthy hands: