2023 NHL Draft Thread

[Rick M.]

Sandman, I’ve become addicted to your great writeups!

[Sandman]

Thanks, Rick!

[genetic_phreek]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Draft thoughts, post U-18's:

-Will Smith is tied for the 2nd best points total (20) in the history of the tourney, while Perreault is 5th (18), and Leonard is 9th (17). My thoughts on the Americans, from April 23rd:

There's no doubt in my mind that Will Smith is firmly entrenched as the first pick outside the big 4, in this year's draft. He doesn't really have any weaknesses. He's an excellent skater who plays with elite pace, but his stickhandling is sublime- he could do it in a broom closet, all of which combine to make him an intimidating force to defenders. His brain is always a step ahead, which allows him to outpace opponents, and create space for himself and his teammates, and he makes high-end plays in transition and off the rush. I've heard him called a goal-scorer, but I think he's kind of equal parts scorer and playmaker. Moves seemingly effortlessly through traffic. Scouts rave about his small-area game, and he uses all kinds of deception (head fakes, jukes, eye fakes, etc) to stay unpredictable. As good as he is on the attack, he's just as good in the defensive zone.

-Gabe Perrault is not the biggest, or fastest, but his skill, vision, and IQ are all elite. His stats in this, his draft year, are pretty comparable to those of Jack Hughes'. The main difference between the 2 players, other than Hughes playing the more important C position, is the skating- Hughes has always been elite, while GP has room for improvement in that area. GP is also not as good a defensive player as he could be. He's another guy who's equally goal-scorer as he is playmaker IMO, as he shoots a lot, but he's an amazing passer-he finds the seams just as good as anybody. His shooting arsenal is vast, and he can beat goalies in a number of ways. I think he might be a riser on Draft day.

-Ryan Leonard is a player I like very much. His passing ability, vision, and IQ were on display today. I'm very impressed with his playmaking. Button said on the play-by-play that the Smith/ Perrault/ Leonard line from the USDP is the best line by far in Junior hockey anywhere in the world, and I believe him. Leonard is not huge, but he plays a power-forward style- fights hard along the boards, plays heavy, and muscles opponents off the puck. Already plays a very well-rounded, mature two-way game, with speed, and good motor. He's more of a goal-scorer, but he's no slouch in the playmaking department.

-Oliver Moore had a goal, and an assist today. This is the guy I wanted to see, as he's the USDP Player I'm least sure about. He's interesting, because he put up good numbers on the USDP Juniors squad, while playing on the second line. He's wearing an "A" for USA today. He's listed at 5'11", plays C, and might be the fastest player in this year's draft. Best part might be that he looks to have a very well-rounded game, and uses his speed to disrupt plays, and frustrate puck-carriers. Blistering speed, blistering shot, won't be outworked. Maybe a little Matt Barzal there? Excellent in transition, and zone entry.

-Danny Nelson looks like he will make a good 3rd line C. He moves fairly well, especially for a big man, has good hands, and a wicked shot with a nice release. He does a lot of the dirty work for his team, winning battles along the boards, and playing a solid two-way game. Bit of a meat-and-potatoes guy.

Bolded are the guys I'd be ecstatic to get. Don't think Ryan Leonard would ever fall that far for us but maybe we have a shot at Oliver Moore? Moore's skating is elite and his transition play is exactly what we could use.

[Royle9]

I’m not sold on Moore based on who could be available at our pick.
He has some above average attributes but he’s not a game changer by any means nor does he drive offence so a safe pick.

I’d rather take a swing on someone with more upside personally.

But having this many guys around a mid 1st makes me want to a quite more… hope the flames do it.

[Sandman]

Both of you are exactly correct, lol. There's a lot of talk in the scouting world apparently, about how many believe that Moore might be more talented than Perreault or Leonard (he's certainly the best skater of the 4 top Americans), but that he's been left out of the party due to the fact that Smith/Perreault/Leonard played very consistently as a line all year, even in the U-18's. If you believe in Moore's offensive upside being in the same ballpark as the other 3, then he might just be taken before Leonard- and he'll certainly go before Perreault.

If we could only get another 1st, the Canadian version of Ryan Leonard, Koehn Ziemmer, will be available between 20-32 methinks. Like Leonard, Ziemmer is a 6-foot power-forward with speed, and a balanced game.

[Sandman]

Some more Draft observations, U-18 edition:

-D Jakub Dvorak is 6'5", and skates well for a guy his size. He uses his size, reach, and stick in all 3 zones. He reminds me a bit of Yan Kuznetsov, where he can blend into the background, but in a good way. Exhibits exemplary positioning, and keeps good gap control. He had 3 points (all against Germany) in 5 games in this tournament, but he won't be counted on for offense in the pros.He'll take care of his own end, and the net-front, help stifle rushes, and move the puck in transition. 2nd rounder.

-D Martin Strbak is helping his draft stock, being tied for 6th in scoring amongst D men in the U-18's, with 6 points in 7 games. His defensive game has never been in doubt, as he plays a calm, poised game, highlighted by physicality (he's 6'2"), mobility, his ability to separate man from puck, and his quick, accurate outlet passes to start transition the other way. He's not as flashy as his D counterparts that are littered throughout the second round of this year's draft, but he's a safe and dependable option. Strbak is a minute-muncher, and he can play in all situations-but his offense is still raw. His output in this tournament shows promise in that area. He put up 18 points this year in 46 USHL games- respectable, but not top-tier.[/QUOTE]

[Paulie Walnuts]

When is the lottery.

We went through that season and don't even get a shot at a reward.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

When is the lottery.

We went through that season and don't even get a shot at a reward.

Our reward is getting to watch it play out all over again in 2023/2024. Our President of Hockey Ops believes this a championship team.

But if we draft 16th overall twice in a row, that’s effectively drafting 32nd overall which means we win the Stanley cup….right?

[8sPOT]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

When is the lottery.

We went through that season and don't even get a shot at a reward.

Would it be funny, or sad, if the Flames won the lottery, only to move up to 6th or whatever. I’d say fitting lol.

[Sandman]

More Draft thoughts, post U-18's:

-LW Andrew Cristall is definitely a player I expected more from, with 6 points in 7 games, considering he amassed 95 points in only 56 WHL games for Kelowna. If he didn't suffer an injury, he would've had well over 100. Even more impressive is that he had those numbers on the team with the 16th most (out of 22) goals-for, so it's not like he had a ton of help (he led the team in points by 16). Cristall started very slowly, and looked lost for the first 3 games of the tourney, as did a few of his Team Canada teammates. I've referred to Cristall as a "poor man's Bedard". He's only 5'10", but is an offensive wizard. His hockey sense, IQ, and creativity are all elite, even if his skating is not. He's a gifted stickhandler, and like Bedard, is extremely shifty and elusive, being capable of beating opponents 1-on-1, and weaving through traffic with his elite deceptiveness, and his extensive arsenal of dekes and fancy moves, as well as his amazing puck-protection- which was on display many times. Despite owning these skills, he doesn't need to be flashy all the time, and more often than not, will keep it simple. Cristall is a good skater, but definitely not elite, and has room for improvement- he still shows great agility and balance, and can change direction quickly. He can create plays out of nothing, and sees passes available that few players can. His defensive awareness is definitely above average, but he's a bit of a work in progress- sometimes he doesn't engage enough, but it's not a negative- I would consider him a good 3-zone player. AC is not afraid to get his nose dirty, plays in traffic, and doesn't back down from the battle areas. This kid is not a "complimentary" player, he's a facilitator, and play-driver. Top-20.

-6'1" C Carey Terrance had 47 points in 67 to lead the Erie Otters, who were the 3rd-worst offensive team in the OHL. For the Americans at the U-18's, he was 9th in scoring with 6 points in 7 games. He's an excellent skater, who likes to compete along the boards, down low, and in front of the net. He's fairly creative, and has a solid base of IQ and hockey sense, but his shot is one of his main weapons- It's hard and heavy, with a quick realease, but he simply doesn't use it enough, and misses the net often. Terrance has good stickhandling skill, and is ultra-competitive in all areas. He seems to be a good defensive player, with exemplary positioning, and a good stick. He brings that competitiveness and hockey sense with him in his own zone- he blocks shots, snuffs entries, fights for pucks, and picks off passes. Although he thrives in the hard areas, he could be more physical. He might just be one of those players that does the unsung duties that a team needs, in order to win. Valuable third-liner perhaps? Third round.

-D Theo Lindstein was part of the best duo on defense at the U-18's in my estimation. At one point last year, he was touted as a potential top-10 pick in this draft, but he's found himself ranked by most to be picked in the first third of the second round. Lindstein finished 7th overall in scoring for D in the tourney, with 5 points in 7 games, but had an up-and-down year back home. Only 7 points in 14 J20 games, but had an impressive amount of games for Brynas of the SHL, with 32 (2 points)- you don't get that many games if you're not doing something right. To me, Lindstein looks a lot like TJ Brodie- he's an effortless skater, with fantastic mobility in all directions, and while he's not physical, he's extremely responsible in all 3 zones, and a quiet defensive conscience. I think it may be his attention to defense that has slowed his offense a bit, but I have confidence that he will learn to put it all together. Lindstein has high IQ and hockey sense, great feet, fantastic transitional skill, and is an excellent passer and puck-mover. Nice hard wrister from the point. The only real weakness here is size (6'0"), and lack of physicality. Early 2nd round.

-LW Noel Nordh is player for Sweden who I noticed in a good way. He's 6'2", a very good skater, and plays with energy and tenacity. He always seems to be at the front of the net, or just skating through, to get tips or rebounds, or a good screen. He's a master of the screen. He's highly competitive, physical, and has a fine motor- he battles hard in the dirty areas. Has good offensive awareness, but backchecks hard, and is solid and aggressive in his own zone, winning pucks, and turning them back the other way. Very effective defensively. He owns a hard, heavy shot that he needs to use more, and has great hands for scoring and passing. I feel like this is a player that has tons of room to grow offensively, but plays a good enough all-around game to be considered a player with a high floor. 5 points in 7 games this tournament, to go with 27 points in 38 J20 games in Sweden. Third round.

-C Rasmus Kumpalainen has many of the same traits as Nordh. Kumpalainen put up 5 points in 5 games for Finland in the tournament, and displayed a solid, all-around power-forward game, with skill and some speed. Kump plays well in the hard areas, competing and battling hard, exhibiting excellent puck protection, and the stickhandling to dance around defenders. Like Nordh, he's competitive and has motor. His IQ and vision makes him a solid performer in all 3 zones, and he'a a quality defensive player, capable of killing plays and rushes. Good player without the puck, and has smart positioning in all situations. He moves ok, but his skating is a work in progress. 34 points in 41 U20 Liiga games back home in Finland.

-6'0" RW Jesse Kiiskanen is an exciting offensive player, and someone I wanted to see play. 5 points in 5 games for the disappointing Finns, but I don't think he hurt his draft stock. His numbers back home are impressive, with 43 points in just 31 games, good enough for 16th in the entire U20 Liiga, although only 4 players in the top-20 had a better ppg than his 1.39. He is first for ppg for draft-elible players coming out of the U20. His production earned him 7 games in the top men's Liiga, and it's important to note that he's one of the youngest players in this draft, with an August birthday. JK owns an impressive offensive arsenal, complete with solid speed, high IQ and vision, and a good shot. He's also an excellent playmaker, and can dish in transition, and off the rush. He's one of those players who the puck seems to follow around. He's still known to be more of a shooter, with a top-notch selection of shots to use, and a quick, deceptive release. He leads by example, with a great work ethic, and isn't afraid to do the dirty work, or to compete in the dirty areas. He's a versatile, all-situations player who strives to make a difference whenever he's on the ice, and he's the type that forechecks as hard as he backchecks. Good in all 3 zones, and helps the transition. Love this player, and i think he'll go late in the 1st.

-Kiiskanen's countryman, LW Jesse Nurmi is quite similar to him, but goes about his business a little more "quietly". Nurmi is 5'11", and isn't as hard-nosed as JK, but he carries with him his own package of offensive wizardry. 5 points in 5 U-18 games, but had 50 points in 41 U20 Liiga games, second only in ppg to Kiiskinen for draft-eligibles out of Finland. Nurmi earned himself 9 games in the top-tier men's Liiga as well. Nurmi is a great skater, and has the stickhandling, evasiveness, and east-west mobility to beat opponents 1-on-1, but he's not afraid of physical confrontation, as he fights through defenders, and finishes checks- although he's not that physical. Like JK, he forechecks with his speed and a good stick, but also backchecks with the same vigour, and both play a high-tempo, high-energy game. Nurmi is a well-balanced offensive contributor, being both playmaker and shooter. He has a quick, accurate snapshot, but can also find teammates with difficult passes, whether it's cross-ice, through traffic, or off the rush. He's a bit slight, and can be pushed off the puck at times, but he doesn't back down from the greasy areas, or from contact. He'll need to get stronger, and put a bit of work into his defensive game. 2nd/3rd round.

-It's hard to judge any of the players from Canada's team in this year's U-18 tournament, as they looked very disjointed, and at times, disinterested- most especially, the defense. D Caden Price was Canada's top-scoring defenseman (5 points in 7 games), but like fellow defensemen Cam Allen and Lukas Dragicevic, he was beat often, made plenty of mistakes with the puck, and missed assignments. Normally, Price is a fine example of a "modern-day defenseman", which is one that plays a quality 2-way game, with a quick transition, good skating, and puck-distribution. Price is not a very physical player, but uses his hockey sense and speed to make plays in all 3 zones- he can lead the rush through transition with his passing game, or with his feet, and he uses those same attributes to kill plays in the D zone. Good shooter and distributor in the offensive zone, and walks the line skillfully. It should be noted that Price is another August birthday, making him one of the youngest players in the draft, and giving him a slightly longer runway than other developing prospects. 40 points in 65 games to lead Kelowna's defense is very respectable, especially considering that Kelowna's offense is fairly weak, but there's room to grow his offense, his shot, and his decision-making. I still like this player, and I still see him going in the first half of the second round. I think it's worth mentioning that Canada typically doesn't show as well in this tournament, as in the WJC- with only 4 golds in the last 24 years.

-Team Canada Captain, D Cam Allen deserves perhaps more criticism than Price for that tournament, as his mistakes seemed to be of higher quality, and quantity. 4 points in 7 games, with a minus-2, where Price was plus-2. Another prototypical "modern-day defenseman", but I think Allen is far more driven (usually) to be a clean player defensively, and has dedicated his game as such. in 2021-22, Allen had 37 points in 65 games, but dropped to 25 in 62 this year. Part of that is the fact is that Guelph has the 10th best goals-for in the OHL, another part of that is the fact he plays behind a 19yo, and a 21 yo. Personally, I would usually peg a player with 37 points in his Draft-minus 1 year, to be closer to a ppg player in his draft year, but I think Allen was cast in a more defensive role this year, and took it on vigorously. He doesn't seem to activate much from the point, despite the fact that he can shoot it hard. He'a a good skater, but not elite, and perhaps a hair below Price in this area, but I think that on a good day, Allen is the better defensive player. Both are solid, all-around D with puck skill, hockey sense, and vision in all zones. Both play well on either side of transition, but Allen is chippier, more willing to initiate contact, and more hard-nosed. Allen is 5'11", whereas Price is 6'1". There's still a lot of growth to be done in both of their games, and I think Allen has a LOT more to show offensively. 2nd half of the 2nd round.

-I was perhaps more disappointed with 6'2" D Lukas Dragicevic than I was with Price or Allen, although I was a little more prepared for LD's mistakes. Dragicevic's skating has never looked as bad as some say it is, but it was the cause of some of his mistakes and giveaways. He's a bit of an average skater, and at this stage, he can be beat by the faster kids- although he has a good top speed. Only 4 points in the tourney for him, but he's supposed to be an offensive force- after all, he was the 4th-highest scoring D in the WHL, playing kids up to 21 years old. 15 goals, and 75 points in only 68 games for Tri-City. Obviously, he has a myriad of offensive tools at his disposal, and that will be his ticket going forward. He has a fantastic shot, and sublime passing ability, combined with good stickhandling, and some 1-on-1 skill. His IQ and vision in the offensive zone are off the charts, and he's no slouch in the defensive zone, either. He often uses his size to outmuscle opponents, and knock them off the puck, but he usually relies more on smarts and positioning, than physicality. Not afraid of the rough-going though. He has a quality first-pass, and the stickhandling to carry through transition, and lead the rush. Good puck-protection, too. I still think he'll go in the last third of the 1st.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Heading into this year wasnt Allen the consensus top d available? He’s really fallen

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Heading into this year wasnt Allen the consensus top d available? He’s really fallen

Yep, he definitely didn't have a great showing at the U18's.

[Sandman]

The drop in offensive numbers will be big concern too.

[Sandman]

Draft thoughts, U-18:

-Left-shooting RW Nick Lardis was a 6th overall pick in the OHL Draft, by Peterborough in 2021. This season, after putting up only 19 points in 36 games, he was traded to Hamilton, where he amassed 25 goals and 46 points in only 33 games (an incredible 1.39 ppg, pro-rated to 90+ points over 65 games), followed by 5 goals and 10 points in 6 playoff games- 4 more points than any other member of the Bulldogs. I think he was hopelessly buried on a deep Petes team, behind players like Tucker Robertson, Connor Lockhart, Owen Beck, and others. In the U-18's, he had 4 goals in 7 games; however, 3 of those came in one game against the Germans, and 1 came against the Czechs. Lardis is a pretty exciting offensive player- he has plenty of speed in his 5'11" frame, and a packed offensive toolkit. He's far more of a shooter than he is a playmaker, but he has the vision to make difficult passes as well. His shot is blistering, with a fine release to decieve goalies, and he has the moves in tight to deke them out as well. Nice stickhandling, and some slick 1-on-1 moves to get around, or through traffic, and can produce off the rush. Has the skills to skate it through transition. It is said that the problem with Lardis is that he doesn't play good defense, and his physical game is fairly non-existent. He has a slight build, and needs to build strength in order to play with men at the next level, and he has to build a defensive game-but the talent is there. 3rd/4th round.

-Another one of my favorite draft-eligibles is 6'1" LW Colby Barlow, but like most of Team Canada, he disappointed in the U-18's, with 3 goals, and 4 points in 6 games. His time as Captain of the OHL's Owen Sound Attack is a different story, with 46 goals, and 79 points in only 59 games- 16th in ppg, and 5th in goals as a 17-year-old. His 46 tallies represent almost 20% of Owen Sound's goals. Barlow reminds me a lot of Mason McTavish, in that they both look much bigger than they actually are, both are uncommonly strong, and both get a surprising amount of power out of their seemingly lumbering stride. Both lean more towards being pure goal-scorers, than playmakers, and both could grow caveman beards at a very young age. Barlow has one of the best shots in the draft- it's blisteringly hard, heavy, and accurate, and he has good hands in tight for outmanouvering goalies, cleaning up garbage, and tipping pucks. His hands are gifted, and he's adept at finding space in the offensive zone to unleash his shot, recieve passes, or find teammates in high danger. He plays in the trenches, wins pucks in battle, works in the danger areas, takes punishment in front of the net, and initiates contact, but he could stand to use his physicality more. One of Barlow's best traits is his commitment to defense- he's a true leader, and wants to set the example with his all-around play. He takes more pride in his defense than he does in his scoring. He will even put his body on the line to block shots, and he drags his teammates into the fight. Power-forward with top-6 potential, he will probably go top-12.

-American D Aram Minnetian seems to be a favorite among scouts, and was once considered a surefire first-rounder, but his offensive production in the USDP has been disappointing, with only 6 points in 22 games with the USNTDP Junior Team. In the U-18's, he was USA's 3rd-highest scoring D-man, with 4 points in 7 games, but was tied with Ryan Leonard for 1st in the tourney, with a whopping plus/minus of +16. There's no denying his fantastic skating ability; he's blazing fast, with silky smooth mechanics, and there's few he can't separate from. To add to this, is his effortless stickhandling. He walks the blueline with confidence, and has a hard shot. He is both capable play-maker, passer, and skilled puck-mover. Perhaps best of all is his defensive commitment, and his transitional ability. He snuffs rushes at the line, and in the neutral zone, and eliminates time and space with his speed, and an active stick. Many scouts say the reason for his lack of production is a weak USDP Draft Class, but in my opinion, he has a hitch in his hockey sense, and poor shot selection. The fact that he was a forward only 2 years ago both helps him, and hinders him, as it might have helped his skating/ stickhandling, but it can't be easy to learn to run the offense from the blueline in that time. Just my opinion. He just seems to not know when to activate, when to pass, and when to shoot- a lot of his shots were blocked, he missed the net plenty, and it seemed like his passes in the offensive zone were getting picked off with regularity. Scouts consider him a good two-way, transitional defender who could make a fine second-pairing D, if he could develop his offense- most other aspects of his game are well above average. He needs to also get stronger, as he's only 6'0". Look for him in the second round.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Draft thoughts, U-18:

-Left-shooting RW Nick Lardis was a 6th overall pick in the OHL Draft, by Peterborough in 2021. This season, after putting up only 19 points in 36 games, he was traded to Hamilton, where he amassed 25 goals and 46 points in only 33 games (an incredible 1.39 ppg, pro-rated to 90+ points over 65 games), followed by 5 goals and 10 points in 6 playoff games- 4 more points than any other member of the Bulldogs. I think he was hopelessly buried on a deep Petes team, behind players like Tucker Robertson, Connor Lockhart, Owen Beck, and others. In the U-18's, he had 4 goals in 7 games; however, 3 of those came in one game against the Germans, and 1 came against the Czechs. Lardis is a pretty exciting offensive player- he has plenty of speed in his 5'11" frame, and a packed offensive toolkit. He's far more of a shooter than he is a playmaker, but he has the vision to make difficult passes as well. His shot is blistering, with a fine release to decieve goalies, and he has the moves in tight to deke them out as well. Nice stickhandling, and some slick 1-on-1 moves to get around, or through traffic, and can produce off the rush. Has the skills to skate it through transition. It is said that the problem with Lardis is that he doesn't play good defense, and his physical game is fairly non-existent. He has a slight build, and needs to build strength in order to play with men at the next level, and he has to build a defensive game-but the talent is there. 3rd/4th round.

-Another one of my favorite draft-eligibles is 6'1" LW Colby Barlow, but like most of Team Canada, he disappointed in the U-18's, with 3 goals, and 4 points in 6 games. His time as Captain of the OHL's Owen Sound Attack is a different story, with 46 goals, and 79 points in only 59 games- 16th in ppg, and 5th in goals as a 17-year-old. His 46 tallies represent almost 20% of Owen Sound's goals. Barlow reminds me a lot of Mason McTavish, in that they both look much bigger than they actually are, both are uncommonly strong, and both get a surprising amount of power out of their seemingly lumbering stride. Both lean more towards being pure goal-scorers, than playmakers, and both could grow caveman beards at a very young age. Barlow has one of the best shots in the draft- it's blisteringly hard, heavy, and accurate, and he has good hands in tight for outmanouvering goalies, cleaning up garbage, and tipping pucks. His hands are gifted, and he's adept at finding space in the offensive zone to unleash his shot, recieve passes, or find teammates in high danger. He plays in the trenches, wins pucks in battle, works in the danger areas, takes punishment in front of the net, and initiates contact, but he could stand to use his physicality more. One of Barlow's best traits is his commitment to defense- he's a true leader, and wants to set the example with his all-around play. He takes more pride in his defense than he does in his scoring. He will even put his body on the line to block shots, and he drags his teammates into the fight. Power-forward with top-6 potential, he will probably go top-12.

-American D Aram Minnetian seems to be a favorite among scouts, and was once considered a surefire first-rounder, but his offensive production in the USDP has been disappointing, with only 6 points in 22 games with the USNTDP Junior Team. In the U-18's, he was USA's 3rd-highest scoring D-man, with 4 points in 7 games, but was tied with Ryan Leonard for 1st in the tourney, with a whopping plus/minus of +16. There's no denying his fantastic skating ability; he's blazing fast, with silky smooth mechanics, and there's few he can't separate from. To add to this, is his effortless stickhandling. He walks the blueline with confidence, and has a hard shot. He is both capable play-maker, passer, and skilled puck-mover. Perhaps best of all is his defensive commitment, and his transitional ability. He snuffs rushes at the line, and in the neutral zone, and eliminates time and space with his speed, and an active stick. Many scouts say the reason for his lack of production is a weak USDP Draft Class, but in my opinion, he has a hitch in his hockey sense, and poor shot selection. The fact that he was a forward only 2 years ago both helps him, and hinders him, as it might have helped his skating/ stickhandling, but it can't be easy to learn to run the offense from the blueline in that time. Just my opinion. He just seems to not know when to activate, when to pass, and when to shoot- a lot of his shots were blocked, he missed the net plenty, and it seemed like his passes in the offensive zone were getting picked off with regularity. Scouts consider him a good two-way, transitional defender who could make a fine second-pairing D, if he could develop his offense- most other aspects of his game are well above average. He needs to also get stronger, as he's only 6'0". Look for him in the second round.

I shudder to think what Cali would do to Nick Lardis’ last name if we draft him.

[cral12]

Steven Ellis. DFO - his latest Top 75:
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/nh...lottery-top-75

(jeez, I gotta update 2nd post of this thread at some point; Upside's latest rankings also done that I need to get published to our website soon)

[Jiri Hrdina]

Bob's latest ranking is out too.
Big move is Smith into #3.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/plenty-of-int...king-1.1956585

[Sandman]

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Michkov slide further than number 5, due to the concerns outlined by Bob in that article.

[Monahammer]

If we could win the 0.5% chance lottery and move up to 6th, and have a chance at Michkov... well that would soothe a lot of the pain we've all dealt with.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Bob's latest ranking is out too.
Big move is Smith into #3.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/plenty-of-int...king-1.1956585

Without even trying to, I read this in my head in Bobs voice.