It is the most Blue Jackets thing ever that this is the draft year in which we go full on train wreck.
2021 NHL Draft Thread (All draft, lottery, and prospect talk)
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It is the most Blue Jackets thing ever that this is the draft year in which we go full on train wreck.
koteka
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I’d make that trade. I don’t know how far the 27th pick moves you.
I think there is a gap somewhere before the 6th spot. I don’t know where it is though. Is is between 2 and 3 after Power and Beniers? Is it after 5 (Powers, Beniers, Edvinsson, Hughes, Guenther)?
If the draft goes something like Powers, Guenther, Edvinsson and the team at 4 is eyeing Wallstedt but thinks he’ll still be there later, they might trade back to 6 and then maybe even trade back again say if someone wants to move up to 6 to get Johnson or Clarke. Always dangerous to take a goalie so high so maybe they can trade 4 for 6 and 6 for 10.
So there are scenarios that get us Beniers for 4 and 27, but I doubt it.
Sure, if you think Beniers is going to be a #1C, and have him in a higher tier than whoever you expect to be there at #6, then trade up.
I watched about 10-20 minutes of video on each of the Michigan guys and I came to the tentative conclusion that Power is a tier ahead of everyone else, and Beniers is just okay. I can see why a lot of folks just expect him to be a #2C. In that case you'd be better off just taking whichever of Beniers, Guenther, Clarke, Edvinsson, or Hughes that make it to #6.
I currently have #6 at the end of the second tier, and being at the end of a tier is where you want to sit.
I still haven't seen all of these guys, but I like Clarke. Seems like an RH Werenski. I'd have him in the second tier.
Power LD
Edvinsson LD
Clarke RD
Hughes LD
Beniers C
Guenther W
There's also a good chance one of the goalies (Wallstedt, Cossa) or one of the next wingers (Eklund, Johnson) is taken before my second tier is all gone, so I feel pretty safe sitting at #6. It might even be Beniers at #6.
CBJ goalie
Registered User
Ottawa won last night, passing the CBJ in the standings.
I believe we're cemented in our spot... Anaheim and New Jersey are 5 points back, they're not going to catch us.
Lots of talk about this unknown draft, not many strong players, etc.
I've always felt player development is much more important than drafting. Of course it helps to pick a kid with great skills, but we've all seen many busts over the years - the draft is essentially a crapshoot. There's so many variables, you never know how a kid is going to turn out or what factors are going to affect him, etc.
It's the development where a team can make a difference in creating a great player.
It doesn't matter because if we were this bad the year Connor Bedard was going #1, no way they'd let us win the lottery.
I assume very few if any of the prospects this year will be NHL ready, which is a shame. I want Beniers, but it does suck knowing that the top center in the draft is considered to most likely be a 2C. I feel like that happens so rarely. Option 2 for me would be Power or Hughes, and then use a defenseman as a trade chip for a 1C.
LetsGOJackets!!
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Isn't Eklund a very highly rated Center? and Raty was the #1 prospect a year ago eh? Johnson from UM is a pretty creative centre too.
I don't think there's a chance they do the lotto by just overall points, it'd going to be points percentage or a combo of points and points percentage.
For example, a team like Vancouver could play 10 less games than us, with less points, but higher points percentage and still be locked into a spot ahead of us just because they played less games and had less points.
For example, a team like Vancouver could play 10 less games than us, with less points, but higher points percentage and still be locked into a spot ahead of us just because they played less games and had less points.
Eklund and Johnson are currently wingers and are expected to be wingers at the NHL level. Raty is a center but more likely to be a bottom six guy, maybe a total bust.
There is a chance that Johnson could be moved back to center but he would have a long way to go. I read that he filled in at center while Beniers was out and bombed.
CBJWerenski8
Formerly CBJWennberg10 (RIP Kivi)
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CBJWerenski8
Formerly CBJWennberg10 (RIP Kivi)
- Jun 13, 2009
- 42,291
- 24,196
Coyotes had their draft pick taken away due to breaking rules with player interviews at the combine .
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6zag
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I still think we should take Beniers from this draft. If it requires trading up a spot or two, then so be it. He's exactly the type of center who would in the long run slot between Laine and Bjork perfectly on paper. Reality can be different of course, but I'd love to see Beniers as a Blue Jacket.
NTDP
Registered User
I think Beniers go very high in this draft and would like him as well. Kid's motor is always going and he strips pucks consistently in the neutral zone and along the boards. His playmaking ability is better than some give him credit for. I've seen some people with Power as far down as 9 though I don't think he falls that far. I think the forward group in this draft is deeper than some think it is.
At the top of my draft list though I've had Eklund there since last November. I'm not trying to be trendy putting him up there I just have loved what I've seen. Can bury on hard one timers and has great escapability in the corners and cuts right to the net - was fun to see him do that in some games in the SHL against men. Just my opinion I would like to see him as a Jacket the most.
NTDP
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Chibrikov has been good even in some SKA St. Petersburg KHL games this year. Another that is having a great U-18 World's right now is Prokhor Poltapov. Was great below the dots and fights through checks, on top of that he can make plays w/ the puck. He's one of those tricky ones where I don't know exactly where I slide him in the first round.
Eklund plays very intelligent hockey. I like his approach to the game
NTDP
Registered User
I think if he was able to attend the world juniors this year people would see him a different light and he'd be a consensus #1-3.
Btw Kirsanov is interesting too. He played very good in SKA.
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I've been playing with this idea on the draft simulator. It makes a lot of sense to trade up using a late 1st if Beniers is available at 4/5 and the Jackets are picking at 6/7, and if we are not as sold on the other players available. I tend not to make the trade up though if there are some other guys I like, such as Brandt Clarke, who looks like a #1D to me. I'm sure @NTDP wouldn't trade up to 4 if we're at 6 and Eklund, Beniers, and Power are all available after pick three.
I watched a couple of Eklund game videos and came away thinking
1) smart smart player, he'll be in the league for a while.
2) not sure if he is quite elusive/quick enough to be a top tier small playmaker (e.g. Marner, Gaudreau, etc...). He got contained more than I would like for a small player. It's easier to see him becoming a Jaden Schwartz 2W type. What do you see?
NTDP
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Fair points. and those could be good comparisons. I'm not huge on comparing guys because I feel like I'm not great at it (haha) and prospects are more different now than they've ever been and have a unique range of skill sets. Like it's not an anomaly anymore for a big guy to have speed and mobility and make plays like a 5'10" guy.
I just see a guy that has lethal striking ability when the puck is on his stick. He's not afraid to shoot and has slick play making ability. Was one play vs Frolunda where he blew past a D and acted like he was tucking around the net and made a behind the back pass to Holtz who buried short side while the goalie was leaning thinking Eklund was doing a wraparound. Just little things like that. He also is defensively aware and reads where the breakout is going and uses an active stick in the neutral zone to disrupt passes. He's not in a class of his own on my list, as others have similar traits. I'm just higher on him than others I guess.
I just see a guy that has lethal striking ability when the puck is on his stick. He's not afraid to shoot and has slick play making ability. Was one play vs Frolunda where he blew past a D and acted like he was tucking around the net and made a behind the back pass to Holtz who buried short side while the goalie was leaning thinking Eklund was doing a wraparound. Just little things like that. He also is defensively aware and reads where the breakout is going and uses an active stick in the neutral zone to disrupt passes. He's not in a class of his own on my list, as others have similar traits. I'm just higher on him than others I guess.
Cowumbus
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I wonder if the Jackets would take a chance on overager Ruslan Abrosimov with a 6th or 7th rounder?
EspenK
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