2015 NHL Draft

[GioforPM]

I really don't want a smallish defenceman who's weakness is defence, and who's stock is falling so dramatically. We have the smooth skating, sweet passing defenceman for the future already.

The next Karlsson? I don't think that's a good fit on this team.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I really don't want a smallish defenceman who's weakness is defence, and who's stock is falling so dramatically. We have the smooth skating, sweet passing defenceman for the future already.

The next Karlsson? I don't think that's a good fit on this team.

Yeah, Norris trophy winning and perennial Norris candidate defencemen have no place on this team.

If you think Kylington has a good chance of being EK, you take him. He also has a good shot of being Andy Delmore.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Demetric

But you also have to consider he played not only on 3 different teams but 3 different leagues.

From what I understand playing on 3 different teams and 3 different leagues were done at his request because he wasn't getting enough ice time with 2 of those teams.

He also looked horrible while playing in international tournaments playing against his own age group. Usually elite prospects excel in those situations.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

Either way, notwithstanding similar stats, I don't think you can draw much between Staal (a presumed top 10 pick going in) and Carlo (who I like quite a bit). Carlo seems to be ranked all over the place and it will be interesting to see where he goes.

It's not just similar stats, it's similar games. They're pretty much the same player. The difference, mostly, is trends. The trend these days is to draft puck-movers and rovers earlier and let stay-at-home guys fall. But that doesn't make a Robyn Regehr or a Marc Staal type a bad pick in the teens.

[neo45]

I liked what I saw from Carlo at the World Juniors. His skating isn't bad and he clears the front of the net well. I just think you look for more at #15. Marc Staal was part of a really weak first round draft class (besides Crosby obviously)

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

It's not just similar stats, it's similar games. They're pretty much the same player. The difference, mostly, is trends. The trend these days is to draft puck-movers and rovers earlier and let stay-at-home guys fall. But that doesn't make a Robyn Regehr or a Marc Staal type a bad pick in the teens.

It would make it a bad pick, if you are foregoing better players. I don't know where he lands, but if it is at #15, that means he should be ranked higher than (likely) Chabot/Roy/Kylington/Zboril for D and likely Svechnikov, Merkley, Konecny types for F. Fine if that is where you have him, but I am a little leary to pick him at that spot.

[dammage79]

Brandon Carlo is amazing. Just not pick #15 amazing. Or 1st round. Just my take on it though.

I wonder if TOR is interested in moving #24 for two of the Flames 2nds and something else. They could use them.

#15, Konecny #24 Guryanov #45 D man.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Brandon Carlo is amazing. Just not pick #15 amazing. Or 1st round. Just my take on it though.

I wonder if TOR is interested in moving #24 for two of the Flames 2nds and something else. They could use them.

#15, Konecny #24 Guryanov #45 D man.

52 + 53 + Max Reinhat is fair imo.

[Robbob]

I wonder if the Flames would reach out to Loob to see or get his two cents on Kylington considering he spent some time with Farjestads BK Karlstad.

[dammage79]

Svechnikov @ 15 is still my primary hope. There's so many variables at the pick # though.

I don't like the idea of trading down still. I like the fact you get the best pick of the litter in that area.

Two players that scare me are Merkley and Chabot. I watched some youtube highlights of players in the U-18 and Chabot got beaten terribly a couple of times by some of the other draft eligibles. Like embarassed. One was Eriksson Ek who picked off a terrible Chabot pass to J.Roy and the other was Colin White, a couple of times.

And there's just something I cannot pin point on Merkley that puts me off. Konecny just looks better.

And Guryanov looks like he can beat everyone one on one. Might be a risky pick @ 15 but the world will not end if they decide to grab a top tier talent.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Svechnikov @ 15 is still my primary hope. There's so many variables at the pick # though.

And Guryanov looks like he can beat everyone one on one. Might be a risky pick @ 15 but the world will not end if they decide to grab a top tier talent.

I'm in on the Svechnikov pick, I think it just makes too much sense for us NOT to do it should he still be available at 15.

As for Guryanov, I heard if not for the Russian factor he'd be a top 5. I forget where I saw it but he was ranked 6th and said to be the most rounded "elite" prospect available just a pure sniper however nobody is too sure if he's going to stick in N/A

Another one I'd like to take a flyer on for sure but I doubt hes there so late in the 2nd.

[Ro]

Originally Posted by Ro

My younger brother in BC has played high level minor hockey his whole life, and this would be his draft year. My Dad has been involved with his hockey career as either a coach or team doctor for almost all that time. As a result, they know this WHL draft class really, really well. Here's a very basic summary of some big name WHL kids they like and don't like, relative to their rankings and NHL potential:

I asked them again about some kids that my brother has either played with or against, and here's some less well-known names they threw out there (CSB ranking in brackets):

Not as high on/overrated:

Adam Musil (61) - Thinks he's better than he probably is, skilled guy but can play with blinders on at times. They said let somebody else draft him.

Jansen Harkins (15) - They mentioned him previously, but both reiterated that he seemed grossly overrated. Disappears for long stretches, doesn't do any one thing really well. Not much special about him.

High on/underrated relative to their ranking:

Chaz Reddekopp (82) - Big, physical, tough, smart. Not great offensively but has improved steadily with the puck since they've known him. Good kid.

Brad Morrison (124) - A bit of an enigma. Frustrates his coaches at times with the way he plays, in that he's not at his best in a regimented system/structure that doesn't allow for some creativity. Small and slight, but slippery and near impossible to check, similar to Gaudreau. The kind of centerman that linemates always need to be aware of, as he can put the puck on their stick at any time. Huge upside. In the right situation, can change a game by himself. They think he has the potential to put up 80-90 points next year with enough ice time.

Matt Bradley (126) - Hard to play against. Another smart, hard working kid that does all the little things right.

Ryan Gropp (71) - Played with Barzal so his stats might be padded slightly but has all the traits coaches love- hard worker, buzzsaw, never stops kinda player. 6-3 and growing. Was often the best player on the ice at a younger age when my brother played against him.

Others they liked:

Soy (77)
Sideroff (134)
Finlay (199)
Gawdin (59)
Wagner (35)

And just to clarify about Bittner from my previous post- they haven't seen him play other than against the Rockets in the WHL. But he stood out quite a bit they said.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Svechnikov @ 15 is still my primary hope. There's so many variables at the pick # though.

I don't like the idea of trading down still. I like the fact you get the best pick of the litter in that area.

Two players that scare me are Merkley and Chabot. I watched some youtube highlights of players in the U-18 and Chabot got beaten terribly a couple of times by some of the other draft eligibles. Like embarassed. One was Eriksson Ek who picked off a terrible Chabot pass to J.Roy and the other was Colin White, a couple of times.

And there's just something I cannot pin point on Merkley that puts me off. Konecny just looks better.

And Guryanov looks like he can beat everyone one on one. Might be a risky pick @ 15 but the world will not end if they decide to grab a top tier talent.

Merkley is growing on me. Slightly bigger and more durable than Konecky. They would both fit in with the hard-working mantra the Flames have established, and they both have great hockey smarts. For some reason I don't think either make it to us at 15 anyway. Barzal is another one I would be ecstatic to see drop to us, but it's unlikely.

Svechnikov seems like a really solid option, but I've still got a man crush on Brock Boeser. Top line RW sniper that plays a power game. At 15 he's a 'swing-for-the-fences' type pick.

[sureLoss]

Media/scout poll on the top 10 prospects in the OHL. Good Read:

http://ohlprospects.blogspot.ca/2015...-for-2015.html

[GranteedEV]

Draft year NHLe for some of the defenseman on the board:

Vande Sompel	27
Andersson	23  
Provorov	22
Roy		20
Dunn		20
Schemitsch	18
Dermott		18
Hanifin		17
Juulsen		16
Zboril		16
Meloche		16
Pilon		16
Capobianco	14
Kylington	13
Chabot		13
Wotherspoon	12
Spencer		11
Gilbert		10
Briseboise	9
Guhle		9
Carlo		8
Larsson		7
Siegenthaler	2

Everything about Schemitsch tells me this kid is a must-take in the third round. Size, defensive IQ, offensive production. His main shortcoming is skating but that's a gamble worth taking.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Everything about Schemitsch tells me this kid is a must-take in the third round.

For a guy that only moved to the blueline a couple years ago he's come a long way in his defensive game. Could easily see someone in the 2nd round taking him, seeing that the holes in his game are due to lack of time in that position and not the inability to play strong defence.

Would love to see the Flames use one of their 2nds on him, big upside there.

[sureLoss]

hockeyprospect.com 's final top 30

http://www.hockeyprospect.com/2015-nhl-draft-rankings/

[CanucksWorstNightmare]

A guy the Flames should really look at in the 3rd or 4th round. Connor Hobbs
Defense -- shoots R
Born Jan 4 1997 -- Saskatoon, SASK
[18 yrs. ago]
Height 6.02 -- Weight 191 [188 cm/87 kg]. Connor Hobbs is a personal favourite of mine for the draft. He’s definitely raw, but has all the tools you look for in today’s defenceman. He’s got size, plays an aggressive style in all zones, passes the puck hard, has a big shot and is a killer physically. His skating remains a major work in progress but that’s proven to be an area players can work on. I have him rated as a 3rd round type of guy personally, even though I doubt he goes that high.
He does a lot of things really well. He’s big, he’s got good skills, he moves good on the ice. He’s everything we hoped for. For somebody who shoots the puck like him, you hope there’s going to be more offence. I think there will be. More than anything, he’s 17. Last year he was playing midget hockey. When he’s 18 and 19 years old, he’s going to be a really high-end defenceman.
RANKINGS Ranked #83 by Future Considerations
Ranked #72 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)

[CanucksWorstNightmare]

Connor Hobbs Videos https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NAvbyCJLPr0 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=E1U9ennQ8-k

[CanucksWorstNightmare]

#18 Connor Hobbs

Team: Regina Pats
Position: D
Shoots: R
Height: 6’0.5
Weight: 187
GP: 45
Goals: 2
Assists: 16
Points: 18
Pts/Gm: 0.40
PIM: 36

Player Analysis: Connor Hobbs is a toolsy and abrasive two-way defender for the Regina Pats…possesses a rather knock-kneed skating stride…despite his rough-looking stride he gets around the ice well for the junior level…has explosive top speed and can change direction quickly and with fluidity…first few backwards cuts have power and allow him to transition to defence quickly…footwork defensively isn’t always perfect but has shown improvement this season…edges, footwork and hip angles on defence will need to show more improvement to play at the next level…has a tall, long and rather skinny look to his frame despite being listed at just a hair over 6’0… passes the puck extremely hard…really whips the biscuit around his own zone and isn’t afraid to attempt frequent stretch passes with somewhat inconsistent results…passing is fairly accurate for the most part…does have a tendency to force pucks into tight spots at times, rather than letting the play develop…like with his physical play (more on this in a second), he will need to improve his decision making with the puck as he gets more experience…pass reception and general puck handling skill exist but are somewhat inconsistent…have seen him bobble some routine passes…he shoots the puck extremely hard…owns a good one-timer, although the accuracy of his shot needs work…gets his feet in proper position to fire and seems to have the tools to score more than he did this year…wrist shot is good, release is quick…could stand to be a tad more aggressive jumping into the play at times but does make some solid aggressive plays when it comes to keeping pucks in the offensive zone…is punishing in the way he plays defence…is extremely aggressive with his body contact and often hits to hurt…is not shy to step up into the neutral zone and bury opposing players…will be a human missile if he can get up to 6’1.5 and closer to 210 pounds…picks his spots quite well regarding when he goes to lay hits but it would be an area that could use slight improvement with more experience…really works hard in his own zone playing an abrasive and up-tempo style of defence…not afraid to play a bit chippy and be somewhat of an agitator…while his length and decent mobility allows him to maintain tight gaps, he has shown some brain cramps defensively regarding simple and rather basic blown coverage plays…lack of overall experience shows itself at times regarding his basic defensive instincts, but I remain confident he doesn’t have any major hockey sense issues… would definitely classify him as a rather raw player (just over 50 regular season WHL games under his belt) with a bit of a wild stallion vibe to his game…with that being said, a lot of things he does have a “pro style” to them…showed me very good signs of improvement each time I saw him during the season…was used as a top pairing defenceman ever since being acquired by Regina mid-way through this season, really going through a “trial by fire” process due to a lack of general WHL experience before that trade… along with playing top minutes alongside Colby Williams he also was featured on both the main powerplay and penalty killing units…his PPG rate was T-10th best among all first-year draft-eligible WHL defenders this season…his even-strength PPG rate of 0.27 was T-9th among that same class of skaters…was originally a 4th round pick, 67th overall, by the Prince Albert Raiders at the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft…was traded to Medicine Hat during the 2013-14 season…early in the 2014-15 season he requested a trade from the Tigers after playing 12 games in a depth role…while he awaited a trade he spent time with the SJHL’s Nipawin Hawks…was acquired by Regina as part of a massive trade, culminating with him landing on the Pats top defensive pairing for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs…his game overall leaves me with some general questions about what kind of defender he wants to be…despite that concern I see a lot of tools and a rather moldable player…while I see him as a raw player with some skating issues, he has all the tools, size and the aggressive mindset that teams covet…if all things go well I think he projects as a top 4 NHL defender who can play special teams while not necessarily being a true anchor on the PP…I would rank him as roughly a mid-4th round type of prospect and feel that he will come off the board sometime starting in the back half of that round come draft day…