Prospect Info: The Adolescent 2019 Draft Thread

[PKSpecialist]

I see us finishing 6th last and one team about us winning a lotto spot.
So say the season ends today or similar except Rangers drop below us and Vancouver wins the lotto for 3rd pick. Picks end up as follows

1. Colorado- Hughes
2. LA- Kakko
3. Vancouver - Turcotte
4. Detroit - Podkolzin
5. New Jersey - Byram
6. Rangers - Dach

Who do you pick at 7? And why

I would take Zegras. I've stated it before, but I think the Oilers need to take the best player available, and my board(although evolving a lot at this point) currently has Zegras at 7 behind those other 6. Zegras is a pure offensive talent. One of the best in the draft. When he adds strength to his currently slender frame he could become a huge offensive contributor.

Cozens and Krebs are close for me, but Zegras would be the pick.

 

[ImmuneEH]

Sometimes I feel like this board is exaggerating when it comes to Cozens. So much so that I wonder if it justifies Krebs and Zagreb being taken ahead of him.

 

[780il]

I see us finishing 6th last and one team about us winning a lotto spot.
So say the season ends today or similar except Rangers drop below us and Vancouver wins the lotto for 3rd pick. Picks end up as follows

1. Colorado- Hughes
2. LA- Kakko
3. Vancouver - Turcotte
4. Detroit - Podkolzin
5. New Jersey - Byram
6. Rangers - Dach

Who do you pick at 7? And why

I would take Cozens easily.

Even with the concerns around his game, he is still a much better prospect than anyone that is still left on the board imo. I like both Krebs and Boldy as well, but Cozens is just flat out better than them both and has the higher ceiling and floor.

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

What is it that people don't like about Cozens?

 

[780il]

What is it that people don't like about Cozens?

He has a tendency to sometimes over stick handle and just lose the puck into the defenders feet. Concerns that he might be a rw at the NHL level not a c (this doesn't really matter to us). Some people have seem some problems with his decision making/utilization of teammates.

But, he is still (imo) the best player on the board if Hughes, Kakko, Turcotte, Byram, and Dach are all gone. I'd take him at #6 and maybe even over Dach at #5.

 

[dustrock]

I think the Oilers have to take the best forward available and there will be a good one. Not taking Byram unless there's no other choice.

Some doubt on Krebs because he plays on a terrible team.

 

[McDNicks17]

What is it that people don't like about Cozens?

His lack of hockey sense really shows when he isn't able to create space with his size/speed.

 

[CycloneSweep]

His lack of hockey sense really shows when he isn't able to create space with his size/speed.

That honestly sounds like how Puljujarvi is now.

 

[smokersarejokers]

I have concerns with Cozens becoming a top line centre. He's big, he can skate, he has a good shot and he works his ass off. However, his lack of hockey sense is very evident and concerning.

I don't see him busting, but I see him somewhere between an average 2nd line winger and really good 3rd line winger.

He'd help the Oilers for sure, but I see way more potential in Dach and Turcotte. Haven't seen enough of Zegras to form an opinion in him.

I know I'm in the minority, but I actually prefer Krebs to Cozens as a compliment to McDavid or Draisaitl.

Byram is very interesting. I've seen him maybe 4 times and each game he's made a play that gets everyone out of their seat, but he also gets caught way out of position a lot. I think he can become an Erik Karlsson ifcoached properly, but I'm not sure that would ever happen here.

 

[McDNicks17]

That honestly sounds like how Puljujarvi is now.

I've always looked for that in prospects, but Jesse has made me hyper-focused on it now. I might be over-correcting at this point, but I guess we'll see.

There's just too many red flags with Cozens for me.

Every scouting report is size/skating/shot. His highlights are breakaway, driving wide, wide open shot on the PP...rinse and repeat. When you watch him in games, players are rarely able to defend him because of his physical tools, but when they are able to defend him stride-for-stride, you can see his brain just blue screens and he turns it over.

I'm not even sure I would have him ranked in my top 10.

He likely won't be able to play the way he does in the NHL because his physical advantage will be so much less and I really don't think he has the hockey sense to adapt and change.

 

[CycloneSweep]

I've always looked for that in prospects, but Jesse has made me hyper-focused on it now. I might be over-correcting at this point, but I guess we'll see.

There's just too many red flags with Cozens for me.

Every scouting report is size/skating/shot. His highlights are breakaway, driving wide, wide open shot on the PP...rinse and repeat. When you watch him in games, players are rarely able to defend him because of his physical tools, but when they are able to defend him stride-for-stride, you can see his brain just blue screen and he turns it over.

I'm not even sure I would have him ranked in my top 10.

He likely won't be able to play the way he does in the NHL because his physical advantage will be so much less and I really don't think he has the hockey sense to adapt and change.

It's what makes the Tkachucks so good. They are big physical guys but they are super smart

 

[BB88]

2 goal game for Kakko.

 

[Joey Moss]

2 goal game for Kakko.

Very Matthews like.

Getting the 2nd pick would be massive.

 

[BB88]

Very Matthews like.

Getting the 2nd pick would be massive.

He's gotten Matthews comparisons quite a bit.

 

[Debbie Mathers]

If we draft in the 8th to 12th range, I would like us to take the best defender available. I just see more value in a top-end D prospect, even if development might take around two years longer. We already have two of the most talented centers in the league, and finding complementary players to have success alongside those two shouldn't really be that difficult now that Chia is gone. Any GM that is at least half-decent should be able to find guys who can effectively support McD and Drai.

Trading for a high-end D is a different animal. Those are hard to come by. And looking at our D-corps, by the time a drafted prospect would be ready to make an impact, Russell and Sekera will most likely be gone, Larsson will be an UFA and might not want to re-sign, and Benning, Petrovic and Gravel might not be here and/or are not top4-material anyway. That basically leaves you with Klefbom, Nurse, Jones and Bouchard from the current D-corps from the summer of 2021 onwards. There may be other prospects like Lagesson or Samorukov who could end up being legit NHLers, but how many of those six that I've mentioned project to be top-pairing D-man? Klefbom - if he can stay reasonably healthy. Bouchard - we'll have to wait and see. Nurse - I'm not convinced. Jones - maybe middle pairing.

I can't help but think having a Cam York in the pipeline would be sweet in two years' time.

 

[PKSpecialist]

If we draft in the 8th to 12th range, I would like us to take the best defender available. I just see more value in a top-end D prospect, even if development might take around two years longer. We already have two of the most talented centers in the league, and finding complementary players to have success alongside those two shouldn't really be that difficult now that Chia is gone. Any GM that is at least half-decent should be able to find guys who can effectively support McD and Drai.

Trading for a high-end D is a different animal. Those are hard to come by. And looking at our D-corps, by the time a drafted prospect would be ready to make an impact, Russell and Sekera will most likely be gone, Larsson will be an UFA and might not want to re-sign, and Benning, Petrovic and Gravel might not be here and/or are not top4-material anyway. That basically leaves you with Klefbom, Nurse, Jones and Bouchard from the current D-corps from the summer of 2021 onwards. There may be other prospects like Lagesson or Samorukov who could end up being legit NHLers, but how many of those six that I've mentioned project to be top-pairing D-man? Klefbom - if he can stay reasonably healthy. Bouchard - we'll have to wait and see. Nurse - I'm not convinced. Jones - maybe middle pairing.

I can't help but think having a Cam York in the pipeline would be sweet in two years' time.

Nothing wrong with this line of thinking. That said, this isn't a great draft for top pairing d-prospects. In the 8-12 range there are really only a few to look at, Philip Broberg, Victor Soderstrom, Cam York and Thomas Harley. All of these players have some warts. Soderstrom is likely the best of the bunch, but I'm not sure he projects as a #1 guy, although he is starting to win me over as the #2 defenseman in this draft. That said, this team needs to add talent at every position, so BPA needs to be the pick. Compile your board and stick to it for the first two rounds. As you get later in the draft you can look at diversifying your picks by position as realistically there is little difference between most of the players at that point.

 

[McSuper]

I have today this is the first time in years I have not followed any of these prospects . Reading this thread it seems like there is good depth in this draft . I thought this was a weak draft and next year was a deep one .

Can anyone fill me in on this draft ? Don't need details on players just wanted to know if it is a strong draft .

 

[Aerchon]

I've always looked for that in prospects, but Jesse has made me hyper-focused on it now. I might be over-correcting at this point, but I guess we'll see.

There's just too many red flags with Cozens for me.

Every scouting report is size/skating/shot. His highlights are breakaway, driving wide, wide open shot on the PP...rinse and repeat. When you watch him in games, players are rarely able to defend him because of his physical tools, but when they are able to defend him stride-for-stride, you can see his brain just blue screens and he turns it over.

I'm not even sure I would have him ranked in my top 10.

He likely won't be able to play the way he does in the NHL because his physical advantage will be so much less and I really don't think he has the hockey sense to adapt and change.

Jessie Puljujärvi is what I would label a can't miss prospect in his draft year. Guaranteed to be a top 9 positive impact player.

I honestly don't know how the Oilers f***ed it up so badly with him but I hope the may have at least learned something along the way.

I still look at his skillset and even his current play and think this is a guy that will be a good nhler.

Yamamoto and Benson are guys I would have stayed clear of but Jessie... I take that type of player 10 out of 10 times still.

Right now I think all 3 are more likely to bust than help the Oilers win games.

So frustrating.

My point being you can't get 3 more different tyes of prospects than those guys and focusing on any one type of player seems useless.

It's part the player, part development, and part voodoo. Many prospects I wouldn't think would make the show do and visa versa. No consistent rhyme or reason for success.

 

[Debbie Mathers]

Nothing wrong with this line of thinking. That said, this isn't a great draft for top pairing d-prospects. In the 8-12 range there are really only a few to look at, Philip Broberg, Victor Soderstrom, Cam York and Thomas Harley. All of these players have some warts. Soderstrom is likely the best of the bunch, but I'm not sure he projects as a #1 guy, although he is starting to win me over as the #2 defenseman in this draft. That said, this team needs to add talent at every position, so BPA needs to be the pick. Compile your board and stick to it for the first two rounds. As you get later in the draft you can look at diversifying your picks by position as realistically there is little difference between most of the players at that point.

Fair enough. What wart does Cam York have in your opinion? Or Broberg for that matter?

And would you pick Bowen Byram at No 6 or 7? Just curious.

 

[PKSpecialist]

Fair enough. What wart does Cam York have in your opinion? Or Broberg for that matter?

And would you pick Bowen Byram at No 6 or 7? Just curious.

I would absolutely pick Byram there. He is number 6 on my board right now.

York is size and defensive ability. He seems to play with good gaps, but he tends to wander and be out of position in his own zone, almost as if he is cheating for offense. Could certainly grow out of it in time. I haven't watched him against University competition, but have been told that he has struggled or at least doesn't make the impact there that he does against his peers. Not uncommon, but certainly something to pay attention to. He makes great passes, he carries the puck well and his offensive IQ is good.

Broberg is his overall hockey IQ. He is a raw defensive prospect in his decision making. Has amazing physical attributes and could become a one of a kind defender if his IQ catches up...kind of like a young Darnell Nurse, but without the physicality.

edit.. these are great prospects. I wouldn't shy away from drafting any of them, but like every year, after the top 10 especially, each player either has a red flag of some kind...skating, hockey IQ, physicality, size, good overall but lack the elite skill....The key to these players is quite often the development. Either develop the red flag, or find ways to get around it.

 

[ImmuneEH]

Jessie Puljujärvi is what I would label a can't miss prospect in his draft year. Guaranteed to be a top 9 positive impact player.

I honestly don't know how the Oilers ****ed it up so badly with him but I hope the may have at least learned something along the way.

I still look at his skillset and even his current play and think this is a guy that will be a good nhler.

Yamamoto and Benson are guys I would have stayed clear of but Jessie... I take that type of player 10 out of 10 times still.

Right now I think all 3 are more likely to bust than help the Oilers win games.

So frustrating.

My point being you can't get 3 more different tyes of prospects than those guys and focusing on any one type of player seems useless.

It's part the player, part development, and part voodoo. Many prospects I wouldn't think would make the show do and visa versa. No consistent rhyme or reason for success.

That's the thing... at the time JP was the clear cut #3. When CBJ passed on him the fanbase was f***ing hyped, there was no question that we should have picked him.

 

[Pass the Saitl Sauce]

That's the thing... at the time JP was the clear cut #3. When CBJ passed on him the fanbase was ****ing hyped, there was no question that we should have picked him.

Pulu was pretty much seen as Matthews and laines equals at the time of the draft, not much seperating them all hype wise.

 

[nafrelio]

We have a softer schedule to close out the year and the teams around us are floundering and some making the decision to sell (tank). Here's how I see it play out now that the deadline has passed:

9. Oilers
8. Canucks
7. Florida
6. NYR
5. ANA
4. NJD
3. LAK
2. DET
1. OTT

I think we can kiss Hughes and Kakko good-bye and I think talk of a higher pick has been too "optimistic" as I see us quickly climbing the standings with just a few more wins than the teams around us. Who do we take in that range (8-10)?

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

We have a softer schedule to close out the year and the teams around us are floundering and some making the decision to sell (tank). Here's how I see it play out now that the deadline has passed:

9. Oilers
8. Canucks
7. Florida
6. NYR
5. ANA
4. NJD
3. LAK
2. DET
1. OTT

I think we can kiss Hughes and Kakko good-bye and I think talk of a higher pick has been too "optimistic" as I see us quickly climbing the standings with just a few more wins than the teams around us. Who do we take in that range (8-10)?

Hey hey, correct that, it's Colorado at 1

 

[Stud Muffin]

We have a softer schedule to close out the year and the teams around us are floundering and some making the decision to sell (tank). Here's how I see it play out now that the deadline has passed:

9. Oilers
8. Canucks
7. Florida
6. NYR
5. ANA
4. NJD
3. LAK
2. DET
1. OTT

I think we can kiss Hughes and Kakko good-bye and I think talk of a higher pick has been too "optimistic" as I see us quickly climbing the standings with just a few more wins than the teams around us. Who do we take in that range (8-10)?

Really? I looked at our schedule and think it’s really thought the rest of the way, especially the last 6 games to end the year.