At this point, I'd wager money at least 1 team in the top 10 is going to make a pick that's going to shock most people. I wouldn't be surprised if it was MTL, ARI, or UTAH. I wouldn't even be opposed to it if it was the Flames if they went for Hage, but I'll admit I'm bullish on him.
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Sennecke had an arm or shoulder injury early in the season and missed some time, some think he came back to soon(happens in draft years) as it took him time to get his game on track, he is a nice talent although at 5 would be a large reach.
Thanks for the info! You’re right, with the kind of game-changing talent in the top of the draft, he would be a reach at that spot, I just love the kid.
He had 55 points in 61 games in 2022-23, which is uncommonly good for a draft-minus-1 season. If anything, I'm asking why he didn't get more points this season. He's showing who he really is in the playoffs. 29 points in his last 21 regular season games too.
Plus, there's plenty of star players who hovered around a ppg in their draft season.
Was able to catch a few games in the North Bay/Oshawa playoff series, and Beckett Sennecke reminds me of a poor man's Mark Scheifele of similar size, with a worse shot and somewhat inferior skating, but with similar stickhandling style and some playmaking ability without wowing with any of his passes. From what I can glean from my limited viewings in those playoff games, he doesn't appear to be an uberly talented creator, shooter or play driver. He seems like a complementary player that doesn't utilize his size very well either. I would be surprised if he has the ability to become a point per game type player at the next level, however he has a chance to become a nice secondary offensive complementary piece. I think 5th overall will be too high to take a chance on him, although he is a draft riser.
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Do you have a full blown scouting report on him Sandman? I saw him playing in the playoffs against the 67s and he was so good, I didn’t know who he was but kept catching my eye. Finally realized he was a potential first rounder after looking him up.
Do you have a full blown scouting report on him Sandman? I saw him playing in the playoffs against the 67s and he was so good, I didn’t know who he was but kept catching my eye. Finally realized he was a potential first rounder after looking him up.
If I did it the write-up today, I would add that Sennecke finished top-5 in 4 skating categories in the on-ice testing leading up to the Top Prospects Game, and was 4th-overall. That write-up is from January, and Sennecke went on a bit of a tear to end the season. From January 19th (when I did the profile) until the end of the regular season, he put up 36 points in 26 games, which is prorated to 87 in 63 games (Sennecke missed 5 games), or 94 points in 68 games if he played all year at that pace.
Last edited by Sandman; 05-15-2024 at 09:43 AM.
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If I did it the write-up today, I would add that Sennecke finished top-5 in 4 skating categories in the on-ice testing leading up to the Top Prospects Game, and was 4th-overall. That write-up is from January, and Sennecke went on a bit of a tear to end the season. From January 19th (when I did the profile) until the end of the regular season, he put up 36 points in 26 games, which is prorated to 87 in 63 games (Sennecke missed 5 games), or 94 points in 68 games if he played all year at that pace.
I'll try and remember to add these points to his profile on next Upside update!
Latourneau definitely gives off Hunter Smith vibes, in almost all scenarios outside of Tage Thompson (and he was trending poorly for years) big guys just don’t end up impact NHL offensive threats.
There’s far more skill around where he’s ranked, I’d sooner let someone like Brad waste their pick.
Unlike most 17 year-old draft prospects from the CHL, LHC Lucas Ellinas of the Kitchener Rangers played his 2022-23 season in Junior A for North York, so he had the disadvantage of starting this season getting used to the speed of the OHL. Ellinas was originally selected by the Barrie Colts, 29th-overall in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, but was traded to Kitchener last summer. He ended up finishing the regular season with 16 goals and 33 points (to go with 75 PIM) in 67 games, but went on a bit of a hot streak just before the playoffs with 12 points in the last 16 games. The heater followed him into the post-season, where he was 5th in scoring for Kitchener with 5 goals and 8 points in 10 games, and he made the highlight reel with the OT goal over Erie that sent the Rangers to the second round, beating 2 defenders coming through the neutral one on a breakaway. The 6'1",176lb pivot is versatile, being able to play all 3 forward positions.
Ellinas is a feisty power-forward who's game is built on his energy, tenacity, and work-ethic. He's a bit of an average skater with deficiencies in his acceleration and top speed, but he makes up for this problem somewhat by pumping his feet hard, and by applying a high work-rate to his stride. He has a modicum of offensive smarts, but isn't a true playmaker, with his skill and potential only coming in flashes. He could stand to shoot more though, as he carries a pretty good shot with a deceptive release that could perhaps use more zip, with amazing accuracy that he can use to pick corners with, and the ability to score off the backhand as well. He attacks the middle of the ice, and goes to the net to pick up garbage or to pounce on rebounds using his soft hands. He forechecks hard and heavy, fights for pucks in all the greasy areas, and is able to hunt down open space in coverage. Ellinas is a physical player with a large chip on his shoulder who finishes his checks and will drop the gloves in defense of a teammate, exerting an extremely high compete level and a highly contagious work-ethic. Being a true leader and character player for his team, he drags the troops into battle, and seems like a really humble, likeable kid off the ice.
Ellinas is a quality defensive player with superb stickwork to disrupt plays and deflect passes in all 3 zones. He's positionally sound, and highly aware with the anticipation to kill plays proactively. He's a penalty-killing specialist for the Rangers, and a good faceoff man, trusted in critical defensive scenarios by the coaching staff. I have no doubt that Ellinas has more offensive skill that he was able to show for the majority of the season, but he'll be drafted to be a defensive bottom-6 center who kills penalties, plays a robust physical game, and brings intangibles that don't show up in the boxscore. He needs plenty of work on his skating, shot, and strength for the next level, and could stand to round out his skill-set. Look for him in later rounds.
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The Moose Jaw Warriors won their first-ever WHL Championship tonight, sweeping the high-powered Portland Winterhawks in the process, and a few draft-eligibles on the losing side caught my eye- one of them being LW/C Diego Buttazzoni. The 5'9",183lb Buttazzoni had a bit of a disappointing playoff, finishing 11th on the team in post-season scoring with 3 goals and 9 points in 18 games, after a regular season where he was 6th in points with 53 in 67 games. I wouldn't say that's an indictment of his play necessarily, as the Winterhawks are a deep, veteran team, and every player ahead of him was older, with 6 of them being NHL draftees. Buttazzoni was originally drafted by Medicine Hat, 37th-overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, but was traded to Portland in the summer of 2022. He had originally spurned the WHL to go the college route, and had even played a few games with the BCHL's Coquitlam Express in 2021-22, but he changed his mind when he got the call from the Winterhawks. In his rookie year in the WHL, he played a third-line center role for the 'Hawks, putting up 15 points in 56 games, and went 56% in faceoffs. This season, he was reportedly cast mostly in a top-6 winger role, scoring 29 goals and 53 points in 67 games on a talent-laden Portland team that was 3rd-best in the league, and scored the most goals.
Buttazzoni is one of those players who seems to have the puck following him all night, he's fun to watch. He's an excellent skater with long, powerful strides who can make sharp cuts to change direction instantly to get past defenders and deke goalies out of their jockstraps. He's a nightmare for opposing defensemen with his superb footwork, and his ability to separate in open ice. He's shifty and slippery, and can spin away from checks with apparent ease. On the forecheck, he's the ultimate pest, hounding puck-carriers with an active stick, and the speed to smother them of time and space. He wins battles in the greasy areas with impeccable positioning and doggedness, and while he isn't very physical, he plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, and never shies away from the rough stuff. As a dual-threat performer, he flaunts high IQ and vision, and can find passing lanes to the middle of the ice; but it's his dazzling arsenal of hard, heavy shots that are the greater of his offensive contributions, with 29 of his 53 points being goals. He can shoot in full flight without losing speed in his stride, or power in his shot, and every blast comes with power and velocity, as well as an explosive release. His one-timer is a bomb, his wrister is a laser, and he can shoot it backhand faster than some can shoot forehand- in short, he can really rip the puck. He materializes at the right place at the right time in danger areas to unleash, sneaking in-and-out of soft spots with immaculate timing, and finds holes in coverage to beat defenders to the inside- all with the purpose of having a split-second of time and space to fire at an opportune time. He can also score the ugly ones, and is good around the net with the patience to score on tips and rebound opportunities.
In transition, Buttazzoni shows his value, as he can carry through the neutral zone with his speed, combined with deception in the form of fakes, feints, and dekes to make a clean entry. He owns quick hands and feet, and can work the give-and-go to get from one zone to the other as well. He's an expert stickhandler with high-end 1-on-1 skill, mostly relying on quick touches in carries, and doesn't often hold on to the puck for too long- but when he does, he appears confident and poised. In the defensive end, he has worked to become trustworthy defensively, and the coaches will give him defensive-zone starts and faceoffs. He's a fairly responsible two-way player, but is not quite a stalwart yet- he keeps one eye on his duties at all times, but he's still developing his own-zone game to it's fullest. While he seems to know his limitations as a smaller player, he is considered to be a character player with intangibles that won't appear on any scoresheet- he works hard in practice, hustles hard on the ice, and stays active, keeping his feet moving at all times. Buttazzoni will get an opportunity in the coming two seasons to be more of a go-to guy for the Winterhawks, and may be seen at that time as a bit of a steal, but right now- I can see him getting picked anywhere from the 5th, to the 7th round. He needs work on his strength, and his defensive game going forward, but the best upgrade he could make would be growing another few inches, sadly.
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Aside from the top 2/3 picks as clear cut picks, it sure seems like the “BPA” is weakened a little, and the players from around 5-16 are based on preference and maybe you pick on what your prospect pool is weak in. Of course, all teams’ lists and scouts will have a BPA based on their lists, but at the same time I don’t think there’s really any player in the non-playoff teams that would be considered a “reach” per se.
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Player Position Average
1 M Celebrini C 1.00
2 Ivan Demidov RW 2.79
3 A Levshunov D 4.42
4 Sam Dickinson D 6.26
5 C Lindstrom C 7.26
6 Berkly Catton C 7.26
7 Zeev Buium D 7.53
8 Anton Silayev D 7.84
9 Zayne Parekh D 9.32
10 Cole Eiserman LW 10.21
11 Konsta Helenius C 10.47
12 Tij Iginla C 11.89
13 C Yakemchuk D 12.58
14 Liam Greentree RW 14.17
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The Moose Jaw Warriors won their first-ever WHL Championship tonight, sweeping the high-powered Portland Winterhawks in the process, and a few draft-eligibles on the losing side caught my eye- one of them being LW/C Diego Buttazzoni. The 5'9",183lb Buttazzoni had a bit of a disappointing playoff, finishing 11th on the team in post-season scoring with 3 goals and 9 points in 18 games, after a regular season where he was 6th in points with 53 in 67 games. I wouldn't say that's an indictment of his play necessarily, as the Winterhawks are a deep, veteran team, and every player ahead of him was older, with 6 of them being NHL draftees. Buttazzoni was originally drafted by Medicine Hat, 37th-overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, but was traded to Portland in the summer of 2022. He had originally spurned the WHL to go the college route, and had even played a few games with the BCHL's Coquitlam Express in 2021-22, but he changed his mind when he got the call from the Winterhawks. In his rookie year in the WHL, he played a third-line center role for the 'Hawks, putting up 15 points in 56 games, and went 56% in faceoffs. This season, he was reportedly cast mostly in a top-6 winger role, scoring 29 goals and 53 points in 67 games on a talent-laden Portland team that was 3rd-best in the league, and scored the most goals.
Buttazzoni is one of those players who seems to have the puck following him all night, he's fun to watch. He's an excellent skater with long, powerful strides who can make sharp cuts to change direction instantly to get past defenders and deke goalies out of their jockstraps. He's a nightmare for opposing defensemen with his superb footwork, and his ability to separate in open ice. He's shifty and slippery, and can spin away from checks with apparent ease. On the forecheck, he's the ultimate pest, hounding puck-carriers with an active stick, and the speed to smother them of time and space. He wins battles in the greasy areas with impeccable positioning and doggedness, and while he isn't very physical, he plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, and never shies away from the rough stuff. As a dual-threat performer, he flaunts high IQ and vision, and can find passing lanes to the middle of the ice; but it's his dazzling arsenal of hard, heavy shots that are the greater of his offensive contributions, with 29 of his 53 points being goals. He can shoot in full flight without losing speed in his stride, or power in his shot, and every blast comes with power and velocity, as well as an explosive release. His one-timer is a bomb, his wrister is a laser, and he can shoot it backhand faster than some can shoot forehand- in short, he can really rip the puck. He materializes at the right place at the right time in danger areas to unleash, sneaking in-and-out of soft spots with immaculate timing, and finds holes in coverage to beat defenders to the inside- all with the purpose of having a split-second of time and space to fire at an opportune time. He can also score the ugly ones, and is good around the net with the patience to score on tips and rebound opportunities.
In transition, Buttazzoni shows his value, as he can carry through the neutral zone with his speed, combined with deception in the form of fakes, feints, and dekes to make a clean entry. He owns quick hands and feet, and can work the give-and-go to get from one zone to the other as well. He's an expert stickhandler with high-end 1-on-1 skill, mostly relying on quick touches in carries, and doesn't often hold on to the puck for too long- but when he does, he appears confident and poised. In the defensive end, he has worked to become trustworthy defensively, and the coaches will give him defensive-zone starts and faceoffs. He's a fairly responsible two-way player, but is not quite a stalwart yet- he keeps one eye on his duties at all times, but he's still developing his own-zone game to it's fullest. While he seems to know his limitations as a smaller player, he is considered to be a character player with intangibles that won't appear on any scoresheet- he works hard in practice, hustles hard on the ice, and stays active, keeping his feet moving at all times. Buttazzoni will get an opportunity in the coming two seasons to be more of a go-to guy for the Winterhawks, and may be seen at that time as a bit of a steal, but right now- I can see him getting picked anywhere from the 5th, to the 7th round. He needs work on his strength, and his defensive game going forward, but the best upgrade he could make would be growing another few inches, sadly.
I wouldn't have a problem with his size. 5.9 183, will probably play between 190 200. on a 5.9 frame 190 195 is pretty solid.
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Have to wonder if it was a discussion about Iginla.
You can take any soundbite clip from any of a number of prospects but have to wonder if because of the family connection that the organization public relations group would not want to use conversations about him. Even though nobody will ever know who they are talking about.
The comments would seem to fit a discussion about him.
__________________ 'Skank' Marden: I play hockey and I fornicate, 'cause those are the two most fun things to do in cold weather. - Mystery Alaska
Upside Hockey up to 183 profiles total! This is wild (I just gotta add their respective link to the rankings spreadsheet shortly as applicable)
Quick link reminders:
Rankings Mega Spreadsheet page: https://bit.ly/upside2024nhldraft
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