2023 NHL Draft Thread

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Jesus, Honzek would be the worst case scenario in my mind.
The guy is big and can skate pretty well for his size, but he’s by no means a projected top 6 forward and likely not a flashy impact player at the NHL level just a big body who uses it to shield pucks but not a bruising forward.

Of all the lists and players available around our pick id be genuinely disappointed to use it on Honzek.

He has an nhl shot and is used in all situations by his coach ? A lot more to him than a big guy who can skate.

[Tkachukwagon]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1673290235868856320

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Fan69

He has an nhl shot and is used in all situations by his coach ? A lot more to him than a big guy who can skate.

Have you watched a lot of him? I haven't in person but from what I've watched of all the guys that could be avail at 16 he's at the bottom.

He's a lot like a guy we have on the farm in Adam Klapka.
Good hands, good with the puck, his shot is decent and his skating is decent for a big guy.

But he's not flashy, he's not "elite" his upside is not top 6 forward and he's not going to wow you with this playmaking or elite shooting. His upside is a 3rd line forward.

Now in most years this wouldn't be a bad thing, but in a draft year where you have the following guys that COULD be available at 16 you'd be hard pressed to convince me he's a better selection:

Wood
Barlow
Danielson
Perreault
Yager
Ritchie
Moore
Cristall

The offensive upside of most of these guys is top 6 and some even top 3.
Almost all of these guys have better playmaking/shooting ability and while smaller I think their upside far outweighs the "big = good" vibe.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Fan69

He has an nhl shot and is used in all situations by his coach ? A lot more to him than a big guy who can skate.

Sounds like Stromgren V2 to me. I get that the organization realize they lack size at forward but I don't like the idea of drafting for need in the 1st round over BPA.

[Jiri Hrdina]

He's a lot more than just big. He's got a lot of skills. I think he's gone before the Flames anyways but if not he's a good pick, and a lot more than just big=good.

[Royle9]

I'd wager he's not gone until the 20's
He's a low risk low reward winger.

I'd like to see where you guys are seeing elite skill here, genuinely curious.
His best potential comparable I've seen is Jamie Benn, except I don't know how much I buy it because Benn played a mean game in his prime.

There's just nothing that stands out about his game from what I've seen:

Not a hard shot (most of his goals were within the 5 feet crease type)
No elite speed
Above average play making to start the year
Average speed

I'm not sure I take that with what could be available, there's just so many higher ceiling guys out there.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

WHL Players by Points Per Game in Draft Year Since 2010:

1. Bedard 2.51
2. Cristall 1.76
3. Reinhart 1.75
4. Jarvis 1.69
5. Draisaitl 1.64
6. Nugent-Hopkins 1.54
7. Barzal 1.30
8. Point 1.26

Note that all 7 of the draft players are elite NHL forwards. Jarvis, Barzal, and Point all fell and ended up being draft steals. Cristall has better point totals than all of them.

Cristall is not a risky pick. If anything, he's one of the surest players in the entire draft.
Players with his production are near guarantees to be impact players in the NHL.

Does he have a high ceiling? Absolutely. But I disagree with the notion that he's a high risk pick. The risk is not taking him. Cristall has holes to his game. He has flaws. But so did Point and Barzal, and they were steals. What matters is results and actual impact moreso than just attributes in a vacuum.

Baertschi was drafted in 2011 and he had 1.29 ppg that year.

Turns out that he was the anomoly... also makes me worry about this team's luck. We'd draft Cristall and he'd follow Baertschi's footsteps. It just seems like this is the way.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

He's a lot more than just big. He's got a lot of skills. I think he's gone before the Flames anyways but if not he's a good pick, and a lot more than just big=good.

Seems like a good player but when I hear "middle 6 forward" I feel that's just not good enough for a 1st round pick in this draft.

[SilverKast]

I just want us to take the BPA and hopefully he turns out well. Drafting for need isn't as effective as BPA imho as needs can change by the time the player is actually ready to fit into the lineup anyhow. It appears there are a number of really good players available this year, hopefully we don't overthink it and go off the board trying to be the smartest guys in the room.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I'd wager he's not gone until the 20's
He's a low risk low reward winger.

I'd like to see where you guys are seeing elite skill here, genuinely curious.
His best potential comparable I've seen is Jamie Benn, except I don't know how much I buy it because Benn played a mean game in his prime.

There's just nothing that stands out about his game from what I've seen:

Not a hard shot (most of his goals were within the 5 feet crease type)
No elite speed
Above average play making to start the year
Average speed

I'm not sure I take that with what could be available, there's just so many higher ceiling guys out there.

He doesn’t have elite skill. But it’s possible the Flames take the safe road and take a skilled guy with size who has a very high chance of playing in the NHL. He’s an attractive prospect for a team lacking in size in its prospects. And a lot of lists have him ranked in the top 15 in a deep draft, so it’s not as though he’s just a big body.

Vancouver Giants head coach Mike Dyck on Samuel Honzek: “He has made a big, big impact on our team. Sometimes it takes import players a little longer than others to get acclimatized not only to our league but the culture. And he has jumped in and made an impact right off the jump. He’s a big guy who skates really well and has a great skill package, great sense, and a very coachable, really good teammate. He’s got pro written all over him.”

https://theathletic.com/4613677/2023...s-predictions/

Compare him to a guy that will probably be available in the same range in Matthew Wood. Good size, much better with the puck than Honzek, but with questions around skating and compete level. Higher risk/reward, sure. But that doesn’t make him the obviously better pick.

[Erick Estrada]

He would be a decent pick if they acquired another first in the 20-30 range where I expect he would be. He could offset a homerun swing on a Cristall type of player at 16. I just feel the Flames have done their best when going for the boom bust guys like Fox and Gaudreau while the character and hard work guys like Klimchuk or size guys (Hunter Smith) haven't panned out. They took Ronni last year who looks like another high floor, low ceiling guy. The organization badly needs game breakers.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I would say that Honzek's strengths are his size, work rate, and shot. He also skates well for a guy that size. So it's an attractive package overall. He also had a really bad injury that hurt some of his production.

In the mid teens you are taking guys that are not perfect. Some of the other names tossed around have more skill, but have really poor skating (as an example).

[Sandman]

I think some are being a little tough on Honzek. Unless you’re reading Last Word on Sports, it’s not his “projection” that’s middle 6/3rd line, that’s more his floor. Most think he’ll be top-6 winger, but if he can play C at the next level, he may just be a steal. And just because he isn’t flashy, doesn’t mean he’s not skilled, or able to get the job done. Iginla wasn’t a flashy player, but we liked him just fine.


There’s a few players I would rather have than Honzek too, but I wouldn’t be sad if we took him. 6’4” players don’t typically skate like him, and he has a good shot, and high offensive awareness.

[sureLoss]

Emily Kaplan saying it is very difficult to move up in the 1st round. Also saying the Ducks may not take Fantilli at 2.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1673344647714816002

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Emily Kaplan saying it is very difficult to move up in the 1st round. Also saying the Ducks may not take Fantilli at 2.

That would be shocking. With rumours that the Blue Jackets are more interested in Smith than Carlsson, the top part of the draft may be more interesting than we thought.

[TheIronMaiden]

We are happy to take 1sts for next year as well.

[topfiverecords]

Some think Michkov could go 2, or at least 3 to Columbus.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

That would be shocking. With rumours that the Blue Jackets are more interested in Smith than Carlsson, the top part of the draft may be more interesting than we thought.

Remember. GMs throw out smoke screens this time of year

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Some think Michkov could go 2, or at least 3 to Columbus.

CBJ has been very clear they are walking out with a centre. That means Smith or Carlsson.
I think Michkov goes to Philly or Washington.

[dammage79]

I'll say Ducks take Michkov. They've Got a rock solid stable of players and Michkov in California is a win for them and him.