Who do you take at 9th Overall

[Lays]

Wahlstrom has a chance at being there at 8th, same with Hughes
Although for the purpose of this thread, Dobson, Bouchard, then Farabee
I would be happy with Dobson or Bouchard though but Dobson is what we need more

 

[Lays]

bouchard has a different dimension to his game that is obvious when you watch him.

hes fast enough, quick enough and certainly smart enough to play defense. he's not a bruiser or a guy who is going to play defense first even but he can defend with talent and counter punch. also, he's very tough to beat one on one- almost never happens. he skates so well, pivots with ease and has excellent gap control ability. he's a cerebral defender.

offensively, what he can do it create from the blue line, score goals like a forward, man the pp point with purpose and skate pucks out of danger plus he's a terrific passer as well. he's exactly what this organization needs on the back end.

our defense has been a barren wasteland of offense. its time to change that.

Bouchard isn’t a great skater, he’s solid but nothing special. Dobson is much better at skating and defending although Bouchard is better offensively

 

[GregSirico]

Quinn Hughes, he will fall.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Assuming the draft order stays the same, I'm making a mock draft based on the fanbases preferences. Obviously it is unlikely that the draft order stays the same, but interesting nonetheless. Results so far:

1: Buffalo - Dahlin (99%)
2: Ottawa - Svechnikov (88%)
3: Arizona - Zadina (77%)
4: Montreal - Wahlstrom (48%)
5: Detroit - Boqvist (52%)
6: Vancouver - Hughes (58%)
7. Chicago - Tkachuk (62%)
8. NYR -

Really gonna start this poll at 3AM???

But I agree, Dobson for sure.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

There is zero chance Tkachuk doesn't go in the top 4.

Based on how probability works alone, there is almost zero chance you are correct.

I’ve seen some mocks where Walstrom drops. If he’s there at 8, not sure I’d pass on him.

Don't see it happening. It's possible but teams that finish this poorly love selling a goal scorer to their fanbase.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Really gonna start this poll at 3AM???

But I agree, Dobson for sure.

Time Difference. It was in the middle of the day when I posted it.

 

[offdacrossbar]

Bouchard isn’t a great skater, he’s solid but nothing special. Dobson is much better at skating and defending although Bouchard is better offensively

disagree.

bouchard is a solid skater. he doesnt have real fast feet, he isnt a fast straight ahead skater based on his stop start times, but he's fluid and his edge work is solid. his hip turn, ability to change direction and his overall skating fluidity is very good.

his skating isnt a minus at all. in fact, his intuitive play and his very good skating- albeit somewhat upright style and lacking a real top end, won't be an issue at all. he's an offensive man who can push the play and finish while also able to defense with solid technique and on ice awareness.

this organization is lacking a guy just like evan bouchard. a pp point man who can join the rush and create from the blue line while defending with smarts and the ability to counter punch.

to me, his ability to play the pp and generate points there is a huge plus. add to that his ability to join the rush and finish makes him my primary target for a dman in that 6-10 range.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

disagree.

bouchard is a solid skater. he doesnt have real fast feet, he isnt a fast straight ahead skater based on his stop start times, but he's fluid and his edge work is solid. his hip turn, ability to change direction and his overall skating fluidity is very good.

his skating isnt a minus at all. in fact, his intuitive play and his very good skating- albeit somewhat upright style and lacking a real top end, won't be an issue at all. he's an offensive man who can push the play and finish while also able to defense with solid technique and on ice awareness.

this organization is lacking a guy just like evan bouchard. a pp point man who can join the rush and create from the blue line while defending with smarts and the ability to counter punch.

to me, his ability to play the pp and generate points there is a huge plus. add to that his ability to join the rush and finish makes him my primary target for a dman in that 6-10 range.

He can always get better too regarding speed. He's still young and it isn't like he can't train to become a better skater. If he didn't have good edge work or good coordination/smoothness then I would be more scared to draft him. having dexterity in his role=very good

 

[Lays]

disagree.

bouchard is a solid skater. he doesnt have real fast feet, he isnt a fast straight ahead skater based on his stop start times, but he's fluid and his edge work is solid. his hip turn, ability to change direction and his overall skating fluidity is very good.

his skating isnt a minus at all. in fact, his intuitive play and his very good skating- albeit somewhat upright style and lacking a real top end, won't be an issue at all. he's an offensive man who can push the play and finish while also able to defense with solid technique and on ice awareness.

this organization is lacking a guy just like evan bouchard. a pp point man who can join the rush and create from the blue line while defending with smarts and the ability to counter punch.

to me, his ability to play the pp and generate points there is a huge plus. add to that his ability to join the rush and finish makes him my primary target for a dman in that 6-10 range.

Never said it was a minus but it's certainly not a positive. His skating won't hold him back though, it's nothing to be worried about just saying he isn't some great or even really good skater. He's solid. I've seen a lot of Bouchard games and his skating never struck me as a strength, just something that's average. He's money offensively, but defensively he has some work to do although he has the tools. Dobson on the other hand has literally every tool you need in a defenseman and he is good offensively as well although not as good as Bouchard. Dobson is also one of the best skaters in this draft and one of the best defensively. That is something we need, not another offensive dman but a TWD who can skate the puck. He has legit Pietro upside and I don't see any flaws in his game. His shot is very good and he can skate the puck up the ice very well but also knows when to. We don't need more PMD/OFD. They're very close though and I have Bouchard 1 spot lower than Dobson. I used to have Bouchard like 2-3 spots higher but after watching him more something just isn't there which makes me weary of drafting him over Dobson. Bouchard has all the tools and a very high hockey IQ but something seems off to me

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Never said it was a minus but it's certainly not a positive. His skating won't hold him back though, it's nothing to be worried about just saying he isn't some great or even really good skater. He's solid. I've seen a lot of Bouchard games and his skating never struck me as a strength, just something that's average. He's money offensively, but defensively he has some work to do although he has the tools. Dobson on the other hand has literally every tool you need in a defenseman and he is good offensively as well although not as good as Bouchard. Dobson is also one of the best skaters in this draft and one of the best defensively. That is something we need, not another offensive dman but a TWD who can skate the puck. He has legit Pietro upside and I don't see any flaws in his game. His shot is very good and he can skate the puck up the ice very well but also knows when to. We don't need more PMD/OFD. They're very close though and I have Bouchard 1 spot lower than Dobson. I used to have Bouchard like 2-3 spots higher but after watching him more something just isn't there which makes me weary of drafting him over Dobson. Bouchard has all the tools and a very high hockey IQ but something seems off to me

He's stiff.

 

[Inferno]

I'd love tkahcuk at 8...would be disappointed if he was taken at 7th

 

[True Blue]

I'd love tkahcuk at 8...would be disappointed if he was taken at 7th

Me too, but realistically there is no way him or Wahlstrom drop. And if not, then Dobson it is.

 

[Calad]

Poll is closed unfortunately but id have selected Bouchard. From what I've read he's been absolutely dominating this season in the OHL and we'd be lucky to have him fall to us at 8

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Why was the poll closed so fast? Bouchard could have easily won this still. Another vote here for him.

3AM - 11:43AM lol. Should be redone.

 

[Good Intentions]

Wahlstrom falls to 8.

 

[haveandare]

Can’t honestly say I know enough about Bouchard and Dobson to say which, but I’d go with either first then Farabee. Would love to trade up with the late picks to get Farabee if he’s still there in the teens. Seems like a real puck hound which we could use.

 

[Machinehead]

Bouchard > Dobson

 

[Machinehead]

Wahlstrom falls to 8.

Even if he does, we need a defenseman.

 

[Good Intentions]

Even if he does, we need a defenseman.

You're passing on Wahlstrom at 8 in favor of (insert dman) ?

 

[FireGerardGallant]

Even if he does, we need a defenseman.

Drafting for position is dumb, especially in a sport like hockey where the players could take a year or two to develop

 

[Joey Bones]

Couldn't vote, but I would vote Kotkaniemi. Seems like the next Kopitar. I would also see either Bouchard or Dobson, too.

 

[eco's bones]

Couldn't vote, but I would vote Kotkaniemi. Seems like the next Kopitar. I would also see either Bouchard or Dobson, too.

Very good numbers in the Finnish league for one of the younger players in the draft. Good size.

 

[Good Intentions]

Very good numbers in the Finnish league for one of the younger players in the draft. Good size.

I had said watch for NYR to go "off the board" with Kotkaniemi at 8. After all the debate and deliberation over the same eight names, just feels like a NYR selection.

Worthwhile read: 2018 NHL Draft Profile: Jesperi Kotkaniemi

 

[bl02]

Drafting for position is dumb, especially in a sport like hockey where the players could take a year or two to develop

Absolutely but what if need and BPA align very closely? Don't both Bouchard and Dobson have first pairing d potential?
Not saying its a slam dunk but rather a very tough call between Wahlstrom, Bouchard and Dobson. Obviously one of them won't be there at 8 possibly 2 of them. I guess that makes the decision easier?!

 

[trilobyte]

Missed the poll but would want Bouchard.