Prospect Info: The Premature 2020 Draft Thread

[McDNicks17]

To clarify I don't think his hockey sense is bad, it's just not a standout quality of his game IMO. It's not likely to stop him from being an NHLer, but I think it might hinder him from being the type of player that I personally like on a team / would pick at the top of the draft. Again, I compare him to Hall. A great and explosive offensive player but I don't think anyone would say that he's one of the smartest players in the league or a good two-way guy. Just rather one-dimensional and doesn't offer much beyond the scoring (in which most of it is off the rush as well). That's how I see Byfield at the moment. Not really a cerebral east-west guy who picks apart defenses. It's a matter of preference I guess. I like my cerebral playmaking centers like Draisaitl, Vilardi, Dach etc. I would take any one of them over Byfield based off their junior play only.

Were you able to find any shift-by-shifts of him?

His highlight reel definitely makes him look like a Hall-type because of all the points in transition, but I think his in-zone offense is actually one of the stronger parts of his game. Stylistically, I think he's closer to a McDavid-type than a Draisaitl-type which probably makes him look less cerebral though. He's usually using his edges and quickness(and the odd Draisaitl-esque stiff arm) to create space.

I've always seen him as a guy with top-end hockey sense. He makes great decisions with the puck and he's always in the right spot offensively when he doesn't have the puck. Lafreniere is obviously on his own at the top, but I think Byfield right there in the next group as far as hockey sense goes.


Personally I find Stutzle is a guy who has been getting his hockey sense overrated. People talk about him like he's a hockey savant likely because he's so creative with the puck, but from the games I've watched of him, he was needlessly trying to do too much, skating into turnovers and throwing more blind passes than anyone else at the top of this draft I've watched. He's definitely a smart player, but I don't think his hockey sense is something that would separate him from guys like Byfield, Rossi or Raymond.

 

[McDNicks17]

Daniil Gushchin picked early in the Import Draft by Niagara.

I wonder if he plans to sign for next year. I think that would probably help his draft value.


Peterka also got picked by London. Likely just a throwaway pick though, I'd say. He and McMichael(assuming he isn't in the NHL) would destroy the league together.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Daniil Gushchin picked early in the Import Draft by Niagara.

I wonder if he plans to sign for next year. I think that would probably help his draft value.


Peterka also got picked by London. Likely just a throwaway pick though, I'd say. He and McMichael(assuming he isn't in the NHL) would destroy the league together.

Gushchin is one of the more underrated prospects in this year's draft, I'd like to see him in the OHL. He's early 2nd round material in my opinion.

 

[nally]

If I was Ottawa GM I would take 21 and add, 33, 46 to move up and snag Askarov.
Stutzle, Drysdale, Askarov

Get your top line F, top D pair and potentially franchise goalie in 1 round.

 

[orangeshinpads]

Any chance the Oilers could get in a position to draft Askarov would be great. Does anyone covet this goalie, and any somewhat plausible ideas on moves to get him?

 

[PKSpecialist]

Any chance the Oilers could get in a position to draft Askarov would be great. Does anyone covet this goalie, and any somewhat plausible ideas on moves to get him?

Is he coveted, yes. Best goalie prospect in a long while...more touted than Vasilevsky...but zero interest in trading assets to move up to draft him. We’ve wasted picks in two consecutive drafts to move up and pick goalies. If he falls to us, run to the podium. If not, there is certainly a need for a skilled forward and plenty will be available to us.

 

[Oilers in NS]

Is he coveted, yes. Best goalie prospect in a long while...more touted than Vasilevsky...but zero interest in trading assets to move up to draft him. We’ve wasted picks in two consecutive drafts to move up and pick goalies. If he falls to us, run to the podium. If not, there is certainly a need for a skilled forward and plenty will be available to us.

Very deep draft. I'd be happy with a good forward

 

[bellagiobob]

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Found some shift-by-shifts.

Seth Jarvis 5-point outing:


Hendrix Lapierre 1-point game:


Mavrik Bourque 7 (!) point night:

 

[Game 8]

Any chance the Oilers could get in a position to draft Askarov would be great. Does anyone covet this goalie, and any somewhat plausible ideas on moves to get him?

As I said before the season started, take the Goalie this team will be unbeatable.

 

[GOilers88]

I say this as light heartedly as I can.

Anyone who didn't vote for the team to beat Chicago needs to be shown the proverbial door.

 

[GOilers88]

As I said before the season started, take the Goalie this team will be unbeatable.

While very risky I think a potential franchise goalie could be a ballsy gamble. That said I have no idea how they'd move up far enough to do it

 

[Game 8]

While very risky I think a potential franchise goalie could be a ballsy gamble. That said I have no idea how they'd move up far enough to do it

Strange things always happen on draft day!

 

[Paralyzer008]

This team needs an elite forward prospect bad, anything else in round one would be disappointing.

 

[Llamamoto]

This team needs an elite forward prospect bad, anything else in round one would be disappointing.

With the exception of Askarov imo.

 

[Paralyzer008]

With the exception of Askarov imo.

Askarov is great, but we're going to need cheap forwards to rotate with McDavid and Draisaitl and it's easier to get those in the draft than anywhere else. The talent is extremely good this year in round one.

You can get your goalie in other places ultimately, only TWO teams since 2005 got their franchise goalie in round one (Price, Vasilevskiy, jury is out on Samsonov/Knight/Oettinger) - in Tampa Bay's case, they had plenty of forward prospects in the pipe. We have...Lavoie, maybe McLeod.

Also our window is now, so unless Askarov is ready RIGHT NOW, I'd rather have a forward projected to jump quicker into the league. Goalies take a while.

 

[Canovin]

Askarov is great, but we're going to need cheap forwards to rotate with McDavid and Draisaitl and it's easier to get those in the draft than anywhere else. The talent is extremely good this year in round one.

You can get your goalie in other places ultimately, only TWO teams since 2005 got their franchise goalie in round one (Price, Vasilevskiy, jury is out on Samsonov/Knight/Oettinger) - in Tampa Bay's case, they had plenty of forward prospects in the pipe. We have...Lavoie, maybe McLeod.

Also our window is now, so unless Askarov is ready RIGHT NOW, I'd rather have a forward projected to jump quicker into the league. Goalies take a while.

Same. I would only draft Askarov if he was 1-2 years away from making an impact in the NHL. Not 5-7 years.

 

[GOilers88]

This team needs an elite forward prospect bad, anything else in round one would be disappointing.

I'd have to disagree. With McDavid, Drai, RNH, and Yamo I don't think the team has a glaring need for elite offensive prospects. The depth has started to shine through, and complimentary, relatively cheap players are what the team will need to rotate in and out over the next 5 years.

I think the biggest hole in the franchise is a goalie prospect with any sort of real hype. Unfortunately trying to jump up in the first for one doesn't scream excellent move to me even though I'd love to see it.

 

[Game 8]

I'd have to disagree. With McDavid, Drai, RNH, and Yamo I don't think the team has a glaring need for elite offensive prospects. The depth has started to shine through, and complimentary, relatively cheap players are what the team will need to rotate in and out over the next 5 years.

I think the biggest hole in the franchise is a goalie prospect with any sort of real hype. Unfortunately trying to jump up in the first for one doesn't scream excellent move to me even though I'd love to see it.

I agree, championship teams are built from the back end out, just like football nobody wants to draft and offensive lineman in the first round everyone wants the flash RB or WR yet the best teams draft the OL/DL first. Hockey is no different you are only as good as your goaltending. Drai and McDavid are good enough forwards in the 2-4th rounds should be able to fill those holes. After goaltending and defence are full you can always draft wingers with every first rounder from here to eternity.

 

[Hynh]

Goalies are a waste of picks. The Oilers should stop drafting them all together and just sign European/NCAA free agents that are willing to start in the AHL.

 

[duul]

Goalies are a waste of picks. The Oilers should stop drafting them all together and just sign European/NCAA free agents that are willing to start in the AHL.

This is a bit silly considering all but 1 of the last 20-30-40-50-60 (I didn't look past 20 years) Vezina winners were drafted.

 

[Hynh]

This is a bit silly considering all but 1 of the last 20-30-40-50-60 (I didn't look past 20 years) Vezina winners were drafted.

Vezina winners are a waste of cap space.

 

[duul]

Vezina winners are a waste of cap space.

Interesting you say that. The highest paid goalie on earth is coincidentally one of the few undrafted goalies in the NHL right now.

 

[Zaddy]

Were you able to find any shift-by-shifts of him?

His highlight reel definitely makes him look like a Hall-type because of all the points in transition, but I think his in-zone offense is actually one of the stronger parts of his game. Stylistically, I think he's closer to a McDavid-type than a Draisaitl-type which probably makes him look less cerebral though. He's usually using his edges and quickness(and the odd Draisaitl-esque stiff arm) to create space.

I've always seen him as a guy with top-end hockey sense. He makes great decisions with the puck and he's always in the right spot offensively when he doesn't have the puck. Lafreniere is obviously on his own at the top, but I think Byfield right there in the next group as far as hockey sense goes.

Sorry, forgot to reply.

Yeah I did watch a shift-by-shift on him. Nothing in that game made me look at him and say "wow". If I would've solely based my opinion on him from that game I wouldn't even had him in my top10. He looks a lot better in highlights. I mean, I see the appeal, he's big, he skates quite well, good shot, above-average hockey IQ but to me he just isn't that impressive relative to how he's being talked about. I'm expecting more from someone who is a consensus top3 pick.

That doesn't mean I don't like him or don't think he's a good prospect - he is - but I'm pretty sure I'll have at least Raymond and Drysdale ahead of him (haven't taken an in-depth look at Stützle yet).

 

[Hynh]

Interesting you say that. The highest paid goalie on earth is coincidentally one of the few undrafted goalies in the NHL right now.

True but he's not with the team that signed him or the team that he won the Vezina with. Goalies have a tight window of being "worth it".