Prospect Info: The Adolescent 2019 Draft Thread

[780il]

I agree completely. I've watched a lot of both of them recently and Dach is on a completely different level. Cozens could be a good fit here because of his skating and shot (right handed, would work on left-half wall on PP), but he is pretty invisible most of the time. Not saying he won't be an NHLer one day, but I don't see any elite traits that could make him a game breaker.

Dach on the other hand is pretty amazing to watch. His skating doesn't seem like an issue at all. He is able to control the pace of the game with his vision and offensive IQ. As mentioned, I see a lot of Draisaitl in him. I've seen people worried that his numbers are a result of physical maturity, and I can tell you that is not the case at all. He is tall, but still very lanky and can add 10 more pounds quite easily. Dach is great in his own end to. He has great reach and his stick lifts are a thing of beauty. Drai and Dylan Strome seem like the two best comparables to me. And watching Strome the other night, adding a talent like that would make a huge difference on this team. He is my 3rd overall pick behind Hughes and Kakko.

Regarding the battle for 1st overall, I'm really torn. Hughes is so dynamic and electrifying, and would be so nice to have our version of Gaudreau/Petterson, but there are some red flags. Kakko reminds me so much of Rantanen. Great shot, incredible vision (one of my favourite traits in a player), nice hands, and he uses his size and rear end so well, just like Jagr used to. In all honesty he's been much more impressive this year than Hughes had. That said, I don't trust this organization's ability to develop Europeans, so that would also be a concern. Both are unreal players, and I can't say I have one firmly above the other.

I agree about Podkolzin. Not great numbers in Russia but amazing international play. Great tools, questionable IQ. Sound familiar? He reminds me of Pulju, and I would prefer not to draft him if we're picking high.

In terms of the Hughes vs Kakko debate. For me I have Hughes #1. Why, because we can't develop Euros for shit. Also, Kakko lacks that offensively electric dynamic element that Hughes has. When he has the puck, he simply makes shit happen.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

I've been flip flopping back and forth all year tbh.

I love Dach's size and vision. I love Cozens speed and shot.

Rn, I think Dach would be the better pick. The more I watch of each, Dach seems to be the smarter player and Cozens a lot of the time just ends up losing the puck into the defenders legs.

Cozens will probably be a good goal scoring rw that needs a play driving playmaking center to be successful. Dach would probably be that playdriving 2nd line center that we need behind Mcdavid. He also has a really underated shot as well that would come in handy on the left wall of the pp. He's just so much better with the puck on his stick. His skating issues also seem to be a bit overblown, his top end speed is not bad. His edges are good but he struggles with accelerating and takes a long time to get going.

X - Mcdavid - Drai
Nuge - Dach - X

Would be a killer forward core to move forward with.

Dach is clearly ahead for me. I liked Cozen's shot and speed a lot at the start of the year but the more I watch him the more I question his upside. It's the opposite for Dach. Every time I see him he looks absolutely dominant out there.

 

[Zaddy]

Ah, I see you guys are coming around re Dach vs Cozens

 

[780il]

Ah, I see you guys are coming around re Dach vs Cozens

Your posts may or may not have something to do with it

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Ah, I see you guys are coming around re Dach vs Cozens

You have made us see the light.

 

[780il]

Also, another bonus for team Dach:

He's a hometown kid. And HFOil always gets a hard on for one of those.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Ah, I see you guys are coming around re Dach vs Cozens

Next question: Cozens vs Krebs?

Also, have you seen much of Turcotte and Zegras? What are your thoughts on them?

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Also, another bonus for team Dach:

He's a hometown kid. And HFOil always gets a hard on for one of those.

Born in St. Albert, same as me.

 

[780il]

Next question: Cozens vs Krebs?

Also, have you seen much of Turcotte and Zegras? What are your thoughts on them?

I love Krebs but imo Cozens is still the better prospect.

A lot more skill and upside.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

I love Krebs but imo Cozens is still the better prospect.

A lot more skill and upside.

I agree at this point. Krebs is interesting because he plays for such a bad team.

One player I think gets overlooked a lot of HFOil is Alex Turcotte. He's as fast and almost as dynamic and Jack Hughes, has great hands, and is probably the best defensive forward in the draft. Datsyuk is being thrown around as a comparable. Prior to this year, he was seen as the consensus 3rd overall pick, but injuries have made his stock drop. I still have him top-5, and higher in terms of skill and speed.

 

[Joey Moss]

One of those right handed centers in Dach or Cozens would be massive additions. I think we probably end up somewhere in 5-7 range with the chance to take one.

 

[780il]

I agree at this point. Krebs is interesting because he plays for such a bad team.

One player I think gets overlooked a lot of HFOil is Alex Turcotte. He's as fast and almost as dynamic and Jack Hughes, has great hands, and is probably the best defensive forward in the draft. Datsyuk is being thrown around as a comparable. Prior to this year, he was seen as the consensus 3rd overall pick, but injuries have made his stock drop. I still have him top-5, and higher in terms of skill and speed.

I personally have Turcotte around 7th.

Turcotte vs Krebs is interesting. I think I'd take Turcotte over Krebs tbh.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

I personally have Turcotte around 7th.

Turcotte vs Krebs is interesting. I think I'd take Turcotte over Krebs tbh.

So would I. Blazing speed and incredible hands, could be the most dynamic player after Hughes. His defensive ability is also noteworthy.

I have him at 4-5.

 

[BoldNewLettuce]

Born in St. Albert, same as me.

Pass

 

[Joey Moss]

I had Dach over Cozens for a while but I'm starting to lean toward Cozens.. I think he might be the better fit as a shoot first player.

 

[Zaddy]

Next question: Cozens vs Krebs?

Also, have you seen much of Turcotte and Zegras? What are your thoughts on them?

Based on what I've seen so far I'd quite comfortably take Krebs over Cozens. The decision becomes even easier if you factor in the organization making the pick. I have no faith in the Oilers developing a player like Cozens. On top of that Oilers need more high IQ guys, not more toolsy guys with iffy hockey sense.

I've seen a bit on Turcotte and I really like what he brings. He screams elite player to me. Elite speed and skill combined with a motor that never stops. On top of that despite only being 5'11 he is not afraid to drive to the net or play in traffic at all. The only worry with him would be that he is too eager to engage physically and might be a guy who suffers injuries because of his sometimes reckless playstyle, but yeah if that's your main worry with a guy then there's not much to complain about. At this point I'm debating putting him #3. It's basically between him and Dach for that spot and I'm currently leaning towards Turcotte.

Regarding Zegras I've seen a little of him but not enough to confidently give an accurate assessment on him. He's definitely one of the guys that's on my to-watch list in the very near future.

 

[hallhopkinseberle]

Idc who we draft as long as it is someone with higher hockey IQ, speed and a good shot.

We need to add more dynamic players. Outside the big three No1 can create anything.

 

[McDrai]

The Oilers should focus on a couple of things in this upcoming draft: 1. Speed 2. Skill . No surprise that's what the big team lacks at the moment.

 

[PKSpecialist]

I would stay far far away from Podkolzin. We won't get Hughes or Kakko so just take who you like more out of Dach and Cozens.

I'm ok with Dach over Cozens, the hockey sense is certainly better in Dach, and realistically, if his skating improves, the sky is the limit. However, do not shy away from Podkolzin. The MHL is an enigma. I'm not going to suggest that I watch a pile of the games over there, but all you have to do is go back and re-watch the early international competitions this year to see what he can do. He was a man amongst boys. And he isn't that big, so it wasn't the physical maturity, it is incredible hockey sense, offensive creativity and puck skill that set him apart. I would take this kid at 3 all day long and never look back. In my opinion, there is a debate at 1 between Hughes and Kaako(I like Kaako more, but value centers more), but there is no debate at 3, that is Podkolzin's spot. I think Dach/Turcotte compete for #4/5. It gets a little muddied from there, but in my opinion those are the clear-cut top 5 this draft.

 

[Stud Muffin]

Podkolzin is a helluva player, getting seriously underrated because of his nationality, when it comes to the MHL it’s basically impossible to just look at the numbers and rank a player, just look at Denisenko last year also under a PPG with his teams but lights it up on the international stage.

Personally I have Podkolzin #2 ahead of Kakko, I think there pretty close but I like Podkolzin’s shot better and the pace to his game is absolutely off the charts combine that with soft hands, very high hockey iq and his two way play and you have a pretty good player.

As for the Dach/Cozens debate I’d still consider myself on the Cozens side of things but it’s getting pretty close to where Dach may pass him if he keeps improving his game, especially his skating and shot.

I’m trying to be a little more stubborn with my rankings this year since last year I listened a little to much of what other people had to say and not enough in my own eyes and the traits I value in a player.

 

[780il]

Fwiw here's my top 10 rn:
(I'm hella indecisive so my list changes a gajillion times a year)

1. Hughes
2. Kakko
3. Dach
4. Byram
5/6. Cozens/Turcotte
7. Krebs
8. Soderstrom
9. Podkolzin
10. Newhook/Zegras

Ik that a lot will disagree with where I have Podkolzin but I haven't watched him enough to place him higher.

 

[PKSpecialist]

Fwiw here's my top 10 rn:
(I'm hella indecisive so my list changes a gajillion times a year)

1. Hughes
2. Kakko
3. Dach
4. Byram
5/6. Cozens/Turcotte
7. Krebs
8. Soderstrom
9. Podkolzin
10. Newhook/Zegras

I haven't posted my extended rankings yet, but I will give you my current top 10. The top 9 are unlikely to change now barring a massive playoff or international performance, but 10 to 30 is still a work in progress.

1. Kaapo Kakko - Better than Rantanen was in his draft year, and 4 months younger. Imagine if his progress is the same. Incredible talent.
2. Jack Hughes - Electrifying talent who should become a #1 C.
3. Vasili Podkolzin - Offensive creativity is off the charts.
4. Kirby Dach - Average skater, but everything else is above-average to great.
5. Alex Turcotte - Two-way threat with off the charts-offensive potential.
6. Dylan Cozens - Size, strength and skating ability, but would like to see him dominate more at the junior level given his skillset.
7. Trevor Zegras - Hands, vision, speed, creativity and engaged every shift from the center ice position.
8. Peyton Krebs - Hands, vision, speed, creativity and engaged every shift from the wing position.
9. Bowen Byram - Two-way defender controls the game from the backend.
10. Philip Broberg - Amazing skater and physical attributes, but a little raw in his decision making and positioning, but if he figures it out, sky's the limit.

 

[La Bamba]

Oh the Draft Watch thread, my old friend

The Oilers need to draft someone who you just know has high hockey IQ and can play with skilled players. If there is anyone remotely close to a Mitch Marner, that should be their target.

No more dumb players like Puljujarvi

 

[780il]

Oh the Draft Watch thread, my old friend

The Oilers need to draft someone who you just know has high hockey IQ and can play with skilled players. If there is anyone remotely close to a Mitch Marner, that should be their target.

No more dumb players like Puljujarvi

Jack Hughes is a left handed Marner clone. Just not as engaged away from the puck. Marner back checks his ass off, Hughes...doesn't.

 

[Aerrol]

Cozens reminds me a lot of Jake Virtanen. Better speed but similar tendency to skate the puck into people and powerful shot which gets him goals despite poor shot positioning.