2016 NHL Draft

[Flamescuprun2018]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Dunno how you can say that. Puljujarvi had 17 points in World Juniors, 12 assists, the best individual "results" in that tourney since Jagr 26 years ago.

I think he's going to put up Taylor Hall type numbers in the NHL, but with better awareness, size, team play. And like Hall, he'll never be a "sniper" but he'll score his share of goals every year just via his ability to generate shots.

It is remarkable how high Puljujarvi ranks amongst 17 year olds at WJC. Gretzky (age 16), Jagr and Lindros only comparables! I suspect WJC was a higher scoring tourney back then with smaller goalie equipment etc...(Source:http://www.quanthockey.com/wjc-u20/e...0-players.html)

Age Name Pos Year GP G A P P/GP

16 Wayne Gretzky F 1978 6 8 9 17 2.833
17 Jaromír Jágr F 1990 7 5 13 18 2.571
17 Eric Lindros F 1991 7 6 11 17 2.429
17 Jesse Puljujärvi F 2016 7 5 12 17 2.429
17 Bobby Crawford F 1978 6 4 9 13 2.167
17 David Výborný F 1993 7 6 9 15 2.143
17 Niklas Sundström F 1993 7 10 4 14 2.000
17 Pavel Bure F 1989 7 8 6 14 2.000

[Flamescuprun2018]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

He was 16, I'm willing to give him some leeway. Perhaps he has matured? We all know that many teenagers are essentially self absorbed jerks, but most grow out of it. I wouldn't write a guy off solely because of this, especially because the quote indicates he knows he was wrong and he's apparently trying to make amends.

Some leeway yes but in a draft where you have Matthews, Tkachuk and Puljujarvi as alternatives. Why take the chance? Multiple psychologist visits is a big red flag.

Puljujarvi's WJC numbers are up there with Jagr, Gretzky and Lindros at age 17. That's who I would pick.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Flamescuprun2018

Some leeway yes but in a draft where you have Matthews, Tkachuk and Puljujarvi as alternatives. Why take the chance? Multiple psychologist visits is a big red flag.

Puljujarvi's WJC numbers are up there with Jagr, Gretzky and Lindros at age 17. That's who I would pick.

Agreed.

If you are drafting a player in a later round that likely won't play in the NHL until their early 20s, I think you can gamble more on attitude issues and hope you can guide them.

But if you are drafting a player early in the 1st round that will likely be playing in the bigs sooner rather than later, you might not have that luxury.

[AC]

Stolen from Reddit:

The following is a comparison of points between Auston Matthews (2015-16 NLA season) and NHLers who played in the NLA during the NHL lockout (2012-13).

Player		GP	G	A	P	PPG
J. Tavares	28	17	25	42	1.50
H. Zetterberg	23	16	16	32	1.39
P. Bergeron	21	11	18	29	1.38
T. Seguin	29	25	15	40	1.38
M. Duchene	4	2	3	5	1.25
A. Matthews	26	19	13	32	1.23
P. Kane		20	13	10	23	1.15
J. Thornton	33	12	24	36	1.09
J. Spezza	28	9	21	30	1.07
R. Nash		17	12	6	18	1.06
L. Couture	22	7	16	23	1.05
L. Eriksson	7	3	3	6	0.86

[PeteMoss]

Small tidbit - Brian Burke was in London for the Knights game on Friday. They have Tkachuk and Juolevi. They also have Max Jones who I could see the Flames liking if he's around in round 2 - big power forward type guy.

[Da_Chief]

^I don't think its the same, more NHLers were playing the NLA during the lockout so the competition was better.

I'm all for Matthews, like his game but scoring in that league doesn't impress me at all.

More impressive is the Fins and their point totals vs Finnish Men.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

^I don't think its the same, more NHLers were playing the NLA during the lockout so the competition was better.

I'm all for Matthews, like his game but scoring in that league doesn't impress me at all.

More impressive is the Fins and their point totals vs Finnish Men.

Are they not pretty similar leagues in terms of talent? He's 2nd in PPG ahead of old NHLers like Chuck Kobasew, Derek Roy, Cory Conacher. Its not like its only Swiss players in the league.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Still he is getting a lot of attention lately. I think he projects to be a 2nd rounder on some lists.

Why so high?

Same height, around the same weight, both draft eligible +1, projected to get about the same number of points that Mangiapane had last year. He (Mangiapane) went in round 6.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Why so high?

Same height, around the same weight, both draft eligible +1, projected to get about the same number of points that Mangiapane had last year. He (Mangiapane) went in round 6.

Mostly basing it on the fact he is already ranked pretty high on Central scouting's list at 68th NA skater which would project him as a mid 3rd rounder and he is trending upwards.

Midterm rankings for Mangiapane last year was 147th NA skater.

[nik-]

I like Puljujarvi, but I think it's dangerous to take too much value from that WJC performance. That team in general was a dynamo and the whole top line likely had inflated stats as a result.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by nik-

I like Puljujarvi, but I think it's dangerous to take too much value from that WJC performance. That team in general was a dynamo and the whole top line likely had inflated stats as a result.

Sure, but Puljujarvi was the second highest rated player on most lists months before the WJC.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Sure, but Puljujarvi was the second highest rated player on most lists months before the WJC.

Yeah, I'm not saying he doesn't deserve to be up there in this draft. I'm more talking about comparisons to all time greats and their performances in the WJC.

[GranteedEV]

If we win Auston Matthews, would people be open to swapping Monahan for one of Laine/Pulju and go with Bennett/Matthews down the middle?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

If we win Auston Matthews, would people be open to swapping Monahan for one of Laine/Pulju and go with Bennett/Matthews down the middle?

Would rather see Matthews or Bennett just line up at wing.

[FlamesAddiction]

As a Flames fan, I have never hoped for the 1st overall pick, but now that the odds have made it less of a failure reward, I would love to get Matthews. A rivalry between Matthews and McDavid would be great for the BoA.

[nik-]

Too many quality centres. That same problem that has plagued the Kings for years.

[Poe969]

I don't think I"d do a straight Monahan for one of the Finns. Monahan has proven to be an NHL player who's able to put up points and handle fairly tough minutes. As MMF said, I'd rather have Matthews as the centre with Bennett and Monahan stay with Johnny or some variation. I think Monahan is a good center and I think Bennett has played well on the wing. I'd rather have too many centers than wingers.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by nik-

Too many quality centres. That same problem that has plagued the Kings for years.

I would say it's the problem that has plagued the Sharks more than the Kings...

[Poe969]

I think the issue with the sharks is the age of their centers. The kings seem to get good young players. He meant having too many good young centers is part of what has made the kings a good team.

[flamesforcup]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

If we win Auston Matthews, would people be open to swapping Monahan for one of Laine/Pulju and go with Bennett/Matthews down the middle?

id just move bennett to the wing and have 2 duos.