Flames eye Tkachuk at Memorial Cup, make final preparations for combine

[sureLoss]

Here is one interview from before the 2014 draft where Kyle Woodlief ripped the Nylanders (starts around 14 mins)

https://soundcloud.com/630ched/oiler...s/oilers-now-1

[Lanny_McDonald]

Smokescreen? So far the team has been pretty vocal on certain players and almost gone out of their way not to talk about others. Is there some tire pumping going on to make sure a player or two they have interest in doesn't see the hype continue to build to crazy levels?

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by New Era

Smokescreen? So far the team has been pretty vocal on certain players and almost gone out of their way not to talk about others. Is there some tire pumping going on to make sure a player or two they have interest in doesn't see the hype continue to build to crazy levels?

The conspiracy theorist in me thinks they want Chychrun.

Conroy was asked about him once and he quickly dismissed him as not being NHL ready next season. The player, once touted as a top 3-5, has seen his stock drop for questionable reasons and I think the Flames want to jump on that and get what could be the steal of the draft.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by druetetective

My final OHL ranking would be:

Tkachuk
Sergachev
Nylander
Chychrun
Brown
Juolevi
Jones
Mcleod

Max Jones is a guy that really makes me sit up and take notice almost every time he's on the ice. Plays that black and blue game and has some finish. I would be very happy to see the Flames trade down for an extra first and take Jones and Gauthier. Everything after that would be gravy.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Toonage

The conspiracy theorist in me thinks they want Chychrun.

Conroy was asked about him once and he quickly dismissed him as not being NHL ready next season. The player, once touted as a top 3-5, has seen his stock drop for questionable reasons and I think the Flames want to jump on that and get what could be the steal of the draft.

Of all the players in this draft I think Chychrun has the highest bust potential. He's got some good skills, is a fantastic skater, but doesn't display good instincts. He could very well be that guy with all the tools but no toolbox. The only defender that makes me believe he could reach his ceiling, a number two quality defenseman, is Juolevi, and I'm not certain we have prospects in our system that don't end up being as good or better. I think this is the defender the Flames like, but they are going to have to figure out what makes sense for the team long term. I would be looking at forwards with the first two or three picks.

[N26]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Here is one interview from before the 2014 draft where Kyle Woodlief ripped the Nylanders (starts around 14 mins)

https://soundcloud.com/630ched/oiler...s/oilers-now-1

Interesting. More about William than Alex obviously but does nothing to lessen my fears about taking a Nylander.

And don't skip minute 4-5 where Woodlief raves about Bennett and says he should be the #1

[druetetective]

Originally Posted by New Era

Max Jones is a guy that really makes me sit up and take notice almost every time he's on the ice. Plays that black and blue game and has some finish. I would be very happy to see the Flames trade down for an extra first and take Jones and Gauthier. Everything after that would be gravy.

I agree, Although I'd consider some of the U.S guys over Gauthier.

Keller, Bellows, Kunin and Mcavoy all intrigue me.

Gauthier is a 97 born, While he has scoring potential, I'd like to learn more about his physical game and intangibles. I'm quite ignorant when it comes to his skill set TBQH.

Anyhow TWO top 4 D/Top 6 F > ONE 6F/4D in this case IMO.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by druetetective

I agree, Although I'd consider some of the U.S guys over Gauthier.

Keller, Bellows, Kunin and Mcavoy all intrigue me.

Gauthier is a 97 born, While he has scoring potential, I'd like to learn more about his physical game and intangibles. I'm quite ignorant when it comes to his skill set TBQH.

Anyhow TWO top 4 D/Top 6 F > ONE 6F/4D in this case IMO.

I take Gauthier. True RW with NHL size and skating ability. The knock against him is he doesn't use his team mates as well as he could. He gets the puck and goes into score mode. He's great at getting to the areas where you can score and has a good shot. Really uses his size well and has that aforementioned speed advantage a lot of big guys lack. The guy is huge, has a nose for the net, and knows how to finish. Seems like the perfect fit for Monahan and Gaudreau.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by New Era

Of all the players in this draft I think Chychrun has the highest bust potential. He's got some good skills, is a fantastic skater, but doesn't display good instincts. He could very well be that guy with all the tools but no toolbox.

Out of all the qualities out there, this is the one that always scares me the most....being hockey-stupid. It seems like the one quality that is the hardest to improve up, because it's a quality that is mostly baked-in.

Smart but slow guys adapt with good positioning. Smart but small players can beat you with skill and shiftiness. Smart but low-skill guys can bring qualities like leadership and gamesmanship to the game.

Even if they are big and full of natural talent, hockey-stupid players just keep doing the same thing, and are easily figured out once their tendencies are apparent. Players with high hockey IQs adapt. Players with low hockey IQs become Dion Phaneuf.

Ideally the guy you pick in the Top 10 has no massive deficiencies, but never ever pick a guy with low hockey IQ. Ideally you never pick that guy period, but definitely don't do it in the Top 10.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Out of all the qualities out there, this is the one that always scares me the most....being hockey-stupid. It seems like the one quality that is the hardest to improve up, because it's a quality that is mostly baked-in.

There have been a lot of quotes from scouts about whether Chychrun's occasional poor decision-making shows a lack of hockey IQ or not. Most of them come to the conclusion that it probably doesn't reveal a lack of hockey IQ. I don't believe I've seen a direct quote that Chychrun lacks hockey IQ.

A similar example is Kylington. There were widespread concerns about his decision-making in his draft year. They thought he forced the "wow" play and didn't see the correct play way too often. Yet, no one insinuated or said that he had poor hockey IQ.

Decision-making and hockey IQ are not necessarily related. If you have poor hockey IQ, you are likely to make a lot of bad decisions. But if you make bad decisions, it could be for a number of reasons: lack of confidence, trying to do too much, injury, etc. I agree that hockey IQ can't be coached, but where a player has hockey IQ but is prone to bad decisions, that can be coached out.

Plus I think Chychrun has been hyper-scrutinized and every bad decision likely blown out of proportion. Remember Brodie's ridiculously boneheaded tape to tape pass to the opposition forward who went in on a breakaway and scored late in the season? Does that mean he has low hockey IQ? No.