Who do you take at 9th Overall

[GoAwayPanarin]

For Bouchard, I have seen a few poster compare him to Jason Garrison, which would not be what I wanted at 9. Semenov had a 103MPH slap shot, but who the hell cares? From point position, slow deflected shots in this era are much more important. Hard shots are only useful from the half wall, if you can hit them first time, with accuracy. That's not many NHL players. The difference between 96MPH and 101 MPH shot isn't that big.

Boqvist is about value and risk. There are a lot of players at 9 who should be close to surefire NHLers. If we're going to gamble on another offensive defenseman, I'd rather do it in the 2nd round with Merkley than at 9 with Boqvist. That he can't skate backwards at an NHL level is very concerning. Inability to separate forwards from the puck in the D zone is one of the things that DeAngelo and Shattenkirk struggle with too, so that's very salient in my considerations right now.

I'm with you on Bouchard.

I don't agree on Boqvist. The overall upside is way to high with the player for lack of being able to separate a player from the puck in the d zone to be a major factor. They have other guys who are capable of doing that.

 

[RangerBlues]

If any player at this level is incapable of creating separation I don’t care how good his other qualities are. I pass.

 

[Savant]

Most experts and scouts who have been watching these kids all year disagree.

I could swap Dobson and Tkachuk without losing sleep, but I don't think Tkachuk has the upside of the people ahead of him. I also think Dobson has the better chance of being a first pairing dman that can carry a pairing, than Tkachuk has at carrying a first line. Scouts may be inflating him due to intangibles like bloodlines, and I'm not saying he is a bad player, I stand by what I posted though.

 

[Harbour Dog]

If Tkachuk comes down to us at 9, that's a steal of a pick.

If we spend assets to move up to 5 or 7 so that we can grab him, I cry myself to sleep.

Does there seem to be an indication now that Boqvist may drop due to his concussions, or is that more just the result of him being under the microscope for us fans?

 

[Harbour Dog]

I've read that too. But I've also seen quite a few opinions to the contrary. And the fact that he is listed as the 5th or 6th overall prospect in many of the key rankings suggests he has a great shot of making that transition.

What makes Bouchard so appealing is that he plays a style that can easily be transitioned to the pro game. He is big, has a right-handed shot and eats up a lot of ice time. That's the kind of player old-school scouts love. Add that to the fact that he is a smart player that produces at an elite level and you’ve got a prospect that is bound to be selected incredibly high on draft day.

No doubt there are a lot of positive assessments of him. He's not ranked so highly by accident.

But he is going to have to discover new areas of the o-zone ice to be effective from at the pro level. Playing against much stronger competition and not being a great skater is going to make that transition even more difficult.

 

[Polar Bear]

I do ultimately wonder if we actually use all 3 1st round selections.

 

[eco's bones]

1. Dahlin
2. Svechnikov
3. Zadina
4. Hughes
5. Tkachuk
6. Wahlstrom
7. Dobson
8. Boqvist
9. Bouchard
10. Kotkaniemi

I have concerns about Boqvist because of the concussions. Hughes and Dobson are better all around defensemen than he is though. Bouchard very slightly ahead of Kotkaniemi. IMO it's pretty much because I'd prefer a defenseman at 9 and not a forward.

11. Ty Smith
12. Joel Farabee
13. Joseph Veleno
14. Vitali Kravtsov
15. Bode Wilde
16. Barrett Hayton
17. Dominik Bokk
18. Grigori Denisenko
19. Akil Thomas
20. Alexander Alexeeyev

 

[RangerBlues]

The Lias Anderson safe pick will be Smith or Farabee

 

[True Blue]

I have concerns about Boqvist because of the concussions.

Huge concerns about the concussions. And beginning to get bad feelings about Bouchard. Which is why I expect one to be there and for the Rangers to pick them. Dobson has always been my choice but beginning to think that Kotkaniemi would be the choice if draft goes as you lay out and Dobson is gone. The other thing about Kotkaniemi is that he has size and Gorton seems to like that. At least based on what he did in Boston.

 

[True Blue]

The Lias Anderson safe pick will be Smith or Farabee

Farabee may not be a poor choice. Safer may not be worse.

 

[UnSandvich]

Huge concerns about the concussions. And beginning to get bad feelings about Bouchard. Which is why I expect one to be there and for the Rangers to pick them. Dobson has always been my choice but beginning to think that Kotkaniemi would be the choice if draft goes as you lay out and Dobson is gone. The other thing about Kotkaniemi is that he has size and Gorton seems to like that. At least based on what he did in Boston.

If Dobson is gone, that's almost certainly good for us. I keep hearing people saying that the Wings are in love with Bouchard, so imo it'll be one of Wahlstrom, Boqvist or Hughes that falls to us. Which would be nuts, and I'd be exuberant

 

[bl02]

Wanted Noah in feb/march still want him now. Unfortunately, seems like some of the teams in front of us may want him as well.

 

[bl02]

If Dobson is gone, that's almost certainly good for us. I keep hearing people saying that the Wings are in love with Bouchard, so imo it'll be one of Wahlstrom, Boqvist or Hughes that falls to us. Which would be nuts, and I'd be exuberant

That would be the only positive. I just don't see Wahlstrom dropping to us. I hope i'm wrong. Also hope i'm wrong about Hughes not dropping.
As I type this Dobson destroying Regina and its 4-1 Titan now.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

If Dobson is gone, that's almost certainly good for us. I keep hearing people saying that the Wings are in love with Bouchard, so imo it'll be one of Wahlstrom, Boqvist or Hughes that falls to us. Which would be nuts, and I'd be exuberant

I would like Bouchard over Boqvist or Hughes.

 

[Harbour Dog]

I would like Bouchard over Boqvist or Hughes.

Maybe you could fire some emails off to Jim Benning.

 

[AKA Chief]

I do ultimately wonder if we actually use all 3 1st round selections.

Use some in a deal for E. Karlsson.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Use some in a deal for E. Karlsson.

No.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I would like Bouchard over Boqvist or Hughes.

Because he’s bigger?

He’s easily the worst of the 3 and has the lowest floor.

 

[Kupo]

Use some in a deal for E. Karlsson.

Absolutely Terrible idea.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

For real.

If EK wants to come here that’s awesome. I’d be happy to give him a fat contract on July 1 2019 and keep the assets.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

Because he’s bigger?

He’s easily the worst of the 3 and has the lowest floor.

I don't feel comfortable with undersized Dmen.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I don't feel comfortable with undersized Dmen.

Do you feel comfortable with offesnive dmen who are stiff and have poor agility?

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

Do you feel comfortable with offesnive dmen who are stiff and have poor agility?

no, I like agile physical 2 way dmen

 

[Gospel of Prospal]

Which scenario would you prefer:

A)

9. Noah Dobson
26. Serron Noel or Denisenko


B)


9. Oliver Wahlstrom
26. Bode Wilde or Nils Lundkvist (just because I love his name)

 

[Harbour Dog]

no, I like agile physical 2 way dmen

Bouchard is literally neither of those three descriptors.