2016 NHL Draft

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

After reading that, wow does Tkachuk ever have a lot of secondary assists.

Is this a new thing? Trying to devalue second assists? I've been watching hockey and the draft for 20+ years now and this year is the first I can remember where a bunch of people are trashing prospects for having secondary assists. I don't really agree with the reasoning. You'd have to look at every goal to determine whether the assists were big or not.

Tkachuk meanwhile is 2nd in OHL playoff scoring behind his line mate Marner and has 10 goals and 12 assists in 10 games. 22 points in 10 games. Pretty dang good for a 17 year old no? He's proven he can play a complimentary style with high skilled offensive players. He's helped form one of the best lines in all of junior hockey and he's looked good on Auston Matthews' wing as well.

If these secondary assists were as big of a problem as some are making them out to be I don't think Tkachuk would be a consensus top 7 pick and Nylander wouldn't be a consensus top 10 pick. Those numbers don't make me think twice at all.

From what I've seen Nylander has tremendous vision and shooting, exactly as advertised. We all knew he wasn't a banger and he's going to need to add strength, nothing shocking there. If the Flames want to add a winger with pure skill he's a good option. I'm still of the opinion that they'd rather add a winger who has size, strength and physicality to go with high skill (Tkachuk/Dubois.)

[Vulcan]

I'm still of the opinion that they'd rather add a winger who has size, strength and physicality to go with high skill (Tkachuk/Dubois.)

Yeah sure, take Dubois/Tkachuk if they are available. If not it gets a little murkier and we start to look at Nylander, McLeod and the three defencemen.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by dammage79

6'2" already, 180 lbs at the very least. How this guy slots in out of the top 6 is confusing as C is the most highly coveted spot in drafting and the only other legit C above him is Matthews. If the Flames stick at 5, BPA defaults to C by a majority of metrics. RH/C with potential to convert to RW? Bennett/McLeod 2018. Who cares who centers on that line. It'll be deadly and at the same time, responsible.

Dubois is a centre that everybody except McKeen's has quite a bit ahead of McLeod. Logan Brown is another dark horse to go top 10, big 6'6 centre.

Very much disagree that BPA defaults to C if we sit at 5. Not sure what you're talking about there. Top 3 defensemen are arguably as valuable or moreso than 2nd line centres. The BPA at 5, 6 or 7 could certainly be a winger as well, not sure why you'd discount that possibility.

With Monahan, Bennett, Backlund and Jankowski we are pretty much set at centre for a decade. McLeod projects as a centre, haven't seen a single source anywhere that talks about him shifting to the wing. I know he's the guy you are championing but it just doesn't add up at all.

What evidence is there that this guy is a top 6 worthy pick? I know you like him ahead of Nylander but that doesn't mean he's top 6 worthy, you can't ignore the other players in contention.

McLeod is ranked:

• 15th by Craig Button (http://www.tsn.ca/craig-s-list-canad...class-1.457738)
• Out of the top 10 by Redline (http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...erin/82013828/)
• 11th by Future Considerations (http://futureconsiderations.ca/top-rankings/)
• 9th by ISS (http://www.isshockey.com/iss-hockey-...-30-for-april/)
• 9th by The Draft Analyst (http://www.thedraftanalyst.com/nhl-d...16/march-2016/)
• 11th by hockeyprospect.com (http://www.hockeyprospect.com/2016-nhl-draft-rankings/)

Then we have McKeens having him at #3. Outside of them we could say that he's consensus to NOT go top 8. I don't think you'd done enough to convince us that he's the best option at #6 or #7. Most scouting services and sources wouldn't take him top 8. Add in that we're really deep at centre and it makes even less sense.

It'll be interesting to see him a bit more for myself at the U18s.

[GranteedEV]

One thing to consider about McLeod is that if we convert him to RW, his ability to take right circle draws could have serious benefits for our future PP as all top centers are left-shooting.

My reservation with him isn't hands, position, or IQ it's his shot. If he has a 22+ goal shot then I can see why people would want to take him sooner, but if he's a 14-16 goal shot then maybe not.

"Is Mike McLeod a player who will play on the power play in the NHL"?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Some jersey numbers for projected 1st rounders from Canada at the U18s

Defense
4 - Fabbro
5 - Chychrun

Forwards
7 - Jost
9 - Laberge
22 - McLeod

[Roof-Daddy]

Where would have Bennett gone if he was 17/18 still and in this draft?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Where would have Bennett gone if he was 17/18 still and in this draft?

I'm guessing in the #3-4 range.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Where would have Bennett gone if he was 17/18 still and in this draft?

Dubois and Bennett seem to be comparable as prospects, Bennett faster, Dubois bigger.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Early in this CAN-DEN game but McLeod has turned over the puck twice at his own blue line, the first one resulted in Denmark's 1st goal. :P I will provide more updates as it goes on. CAN 2-2 DEN 7 mins in.

[1qqaaz]

Would McLeod be classified as a safe pick or a risky pick?

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Would McLeod be classified as a safe pick or a risky pick?

Safe pick. May not be ranked highly but a lot of folks think he'll at least be an NHL'er. Just as with all things though, you want that elite top end with a high pick. What is elite about McLeod just doesn't seem to be accepted as top pick material save one or two publications. His offense output seems to scare a lot of folks. But in two seasons in the OHL he has doubled his numbers in less GP.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Would McLeod be classified as a safe pick or a risky pick?

Safe pick for sure. NHL size and skating. He excels in work ethic, two-way play, playmaking and face-offs. Biggest question mark on him is his shot and scoring. Most scouts don't seem to think he has 1st line potential and his 21 goals this year would probably concur.

He's a great prospect but I think the Flames will be taking someone they like even more if I had to guess.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Is this a new thing? Trying to devalue second assists? I've been watching hockey and the draft for 20+ years now and this year is the first I can remember where a bunch of people are trashing prospects for having secondary assists. I don't really agree with the reasoning. You'd have to look at every goal to determine whether the assists were big or not.

Tkachuk meanwhile is 2nd in OHL playoff scoring behind his line mate Marner and has 10 goals and 12 assists in 10 games. 22 points in 10 games. Pretty dang good for a 17 year old no? He's proven he can play a complimentary style with high skilled offensive players. He's helped form one of the best lines in all of junior hockey and he's looked good on Auston Matthews' wing as well.

If these secondary assists were as big of a problem as some are making them out to be I don't think Tkachuk would be a consensus top 7 pick and Nylander wouldn't be a consensus top 10 pick. Those numbers don't make me think twice at all.

From what I've seen Nylander has tremendous vision and shooting, exactly as advertised. We all knew he wasn't a banger and he's going to need to add strength, nothing shocking there. If the Flames want to add a winger with pure skill he's a good option. I'm still of the opinion that they'd rather add a winger who has size, strength and physicality to go with high skill (Tkachuk/Dubois.)

The article was talking about secondary assists and putting down Nylander. I was being facetious.

[dammage79]

Still a power outage in ND. Canada still waiting to play the 3rd period.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Would McLeod be classified as a safe pick or a risky pick?

Safe pick. Elite skater and elite engine. At worst he'll be a Matthew Lombardi.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

The article was talking about secondary assists and putting down Nylander. I was being facetious.

Yeah I didn't assume you bought into it. But I've seen people dismissing Tkachuk because of secondary assists. Doesn't make much sense to me. I'd be fine with him getting secondary assists off Monahan and Gaudreau goals all day long.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Still a power outage in ND. Canada still waiting to play the 3rd period.

Game is back on. I missed a lot of the 2nd cause I switched over to the 3rd period of the NHL games. 3rd period is just starting

[greentree]

Chychrun has not had a great night vs. Denmark. Skates well for sure but defensively a bit suspect imho. Fair to say no one will be raving about his performance. Not writing him off but disappointed, he's a better player than he's shown tonight.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by greentree

Chychrun has not had a great night vs. Denmark. Skates well for sure but defensively a bit suspect imho. Fair to say no one will be raving about his performance. Not writing him off but disappointed, he's a better player than he's shown tonight.

Final was 10-2.

I didn't think he looked poor although I did miss a chunk of the 2nd. Great skater, loves to jump up, doesn't hesitate to shoot, gets off a quick one time slapshot. He did lose his man occasionally. Like how he uses his stick and reach as the rush is coming to him. Be nice to see him vs tougher competition.

Jost was the guy who stood out the most to me out of the 1st rounders. Hadn't seen him before. Excellent patience and poise with the puck. Holds on to the puck that extra second or two while the play develops and then makes his move. Excellent puck handling and shooting instincts.

Fabbro has a big long reach. RH defensemen who moves the puck well and looks at home on the power play.

McLeod was meh. Made a few poor plays exiting his zone. Showed his speed. Certainly didn't show that much offence.

Kyrou obviously had the biggest game with 4 goals. Think he's rated in the 2nd round range. Nice selection of goals including a tip and a top corner snipe.

They showed Treliving at the game.

[bucksmasher]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Yeah I didn't assume you bought into it. But I've seen people dismissing Tkachuk because of secondary assists. Doesn't make much sense to me. I'd be fine with him getting secondary assists off Monahan and Gaudreau goals all day long.

I don't get why you think the next forward drafted is going to play with Jonny and mony. That line is good, it's scoring. The team needs line #2 to start performing. Hopefully Bennett or backlund and the next skilled forward can do that job.