2016 NHL Draft

[skudr248]

Im so excited and so nervous at the same damn time.

[Buff]

The more I read, the more I think Laine is going to be the best player from this class. Is his stock rising so much because he has played more than Matthews over the past few weeks so people are just going by what is freshest in their memory? Or is he really improving as the season goes on and impressing scouts that much more? Did he just catch fire at the best possible time? Either way, it sounds like he is going to be a good NHL player. Hopefully for the team that picks him (teams not from Edmonton or Vancouver), he'll be a star for a long time.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Buff

The more I read, the more I think Laine is going to be the best player from this class. Is his stock rising so much because he has played more than Matthews over the past few weeks so people are just going by what is freshest in their memory? Or is he really improving as the season goes on and impressing scouts that much more? Did he just catch fire at the best possible time? Either way, it sounds like he is going to be a good NHL player. Hopefully for the team that picks him (teams not from Edmonton or Vancouver), he'll be a star for a long time.

I don't think it's any of the above. It's mostly just a 17 year old figuring out how to play in a mens league.

Keep in mind even Matthews was 18 nearly his whole season in the Swiss League.

[Robbob]

One has to wonder what the 7months difference is at that age. Right now 2 of the 10 scouts Mackenzie talks to has Laine first. A stellar Worlds could get this closer to a coin flip.

[JJ1532]

Originally Posted by Buff

The more I read, the more I think Laine is going to be the best player from this class. Is his stock rising so much because he has played more than Matthews over the past few weeks so people are just going by what is freshest in their memory? Or is he really improving as the season goes on and impressing scouts that much more? Did he just catch fire at the best possible time? Either way, it sounds like he is going to be a good NHL player. Hopefully for the team that picks him (teams not from Edmonton or Vancouver), he'll be a star for a long time.

You've got to think that Laine having a deep run in his leagues play offs whilst Matthews went out in the 1st round really affected peoples judgements. The play offs are a great chance to see what players are like in high pressure, clutch situations and both Laine and Puljujarvi showed fantastic character during their teams play off runs.

I reckon had Matthews had a deep run with his Swiss team, he would have helped solidify his place at the top of the rankings.

Was looking at the Swiss play offs and it was incredible how it all played out. Bern, the team that swept out Matthews' ZSC Lions in the quarter finals, won the semi finals 4-1 and then the final 4-1. They were the 8th and lowest ranked seed to make the play offs. They were level on points with the team in 9th and they had to go into a play out to even stay in the league. So Bern barely made it in, had a mediocre 21-20-9 record, yet still romped the play offs, only dropping 2 games in the process. They 1st, 2nd and 5th seeds to win it as well. Incredible. Kinda like the Kings from a few years ago.

Anyway, back on topic.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

You've got to think that Laine having a deep run in his leagues play offs whilst Matthews went out in the 1st round really affected peoples judgements. The play offs are a great chance to see what players are like in high pressure, clutch situations and both Laine and Puljujarvi showed fantastic character during their teams play off runs.



I reckon had Matthews had a deep run with his Swiss team, he would have helped solidify his place at the top of the rankings.



Was looking at the Swiss play offs and it was incredible how it all played out. Bern, the team that swept out Matthews' ZSC Lions in the quarter finals, won the semi finals 4-1 and then the final 4-1. They were the 8th and lowest ranked seed to make the play offs. They were level on points with the team in 9th and they had to go into a play out to even stay in the league. So Bern barely made it in, had a mediocre 21-20-9 record, yet still romped the play offs, only dropping 2 games in the process. They 1st, 2nd and 5th seeds to win it as well. Incredible. Kinda like the Kings from a few years ago.



Anyway, back on topic.

Any heroes on Bern we can sign for cheap?

Bern Baby Bern!

[Flames Draft Watcher]

http://news.nationalpost.com/sports/...afts-true-no-1

[Toonage]

That all sounded good, right up until the Kovalchuk comparison.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm the other way.

I've always found Button's opinion way more valuable a) because he's had some interesting calls that worked out but b) because he isn't averaged.

He's a guy that has done it and gives you his opinion.

When McKenzie goes out and gets 10 guys opinions you kind of cancel out the intrigue with an average and it doesn't tell you anything.

I want to see the guy that ignores Virtanen at 5 and has him out of the first round. Or has Sanheim in the top ten when he was at 40.

More interesting.

I don't think I've disagreed with anything you've posted here. Button might have him top 5, but I don't think, when he does his mock draft, he'll have him go top 5. He's aware of what other people think of the players and does his mock accordingly.

[ricardodw]

Dubois stock soared from the Feb 29 tsn rankings where he was the #8 ranked to the ones that came this week where he moved to #4.

Similarly he moved from #7 of central scouting's mid term ranking of N/A skaters to #1.

For the TSN rankings he played 12 more regular season games and had 12 goals and 27 points. That really sounds great...... BUT it might have had a bit to do with the schedule.

His team went on a rampage cleaning up by lop-sided scores on the bottom half of the league. They played 3 games against teams in the top half of the league and 9 games against teams 11th or worse in the 18 team league. One of the games against the top teams was the last game of the year.


Debois games since TSN mid terms:


1. 1 goal 1 assist in 10-3 win over Baie-Comeau 18th (last place) team
2. Nothing in 3-2 win over Drummond ville #16
3. 1 goal in 5-3 win at Victoriville #11
4. 1 goal 3 assists +4 vs Halifax (#17) in 9-2 win
5. 2 goals 1 assist in 5-3 win over Blainville-Boisbriand (#13) *
6. Nothing in 6-2 loss at Rouyn-Noranda (#1)
7. 2 goals 3 assists in 8-1 win at ValD’or (#2) *
8. 2 assist in 7-2 win over Halifax(#17)
9. 1 goal 2 assist in 4-1 win over Drummond ville #16 *
10. 1 goal 1 assist in 7-1 win over Bathurst (#14)
11. 1 goal in 4-1 win over Bathurst(#14)
12. 2 goals 2 assist in last game of season in 6-2 win over Saint John (#5)

In the playoffs 3 goals 2 assists in 5 game series against #10 Chicoutimi

4 goals 3 assist in 7 game series against Saint John (#5)

In the playoffs he was 5th on his team in scoring after being 1st in regular season.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Well Ricardo scouts are actually watching these kids and base their opinion on that. They aren't just looking at stats and making questionable leaps of logic like you love to do.

[Bourque's Twin]

I'm not that impressed by Dubois' finish. I know he scored a lot of goals this season, but I think it was because of his size/strength rather than skill. There's risk that his size/strength won't be as impactful in the NHL. Sam Bennett's OHL highlights are far more impressive and he was taken in a similar spot in the draft as PLD. Watch the below highlights and please correct me if you see otherwise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP2TGCc7if0

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

http://news.nationalpost.com/sports/...afts-true-no-1

i'm kinda praying for the flames to win the #2 spot so that they don't have to decide between laine/mathews.

i would imagine almost all other teams (other than perhaps the oilers) would give the edge to mathews due to him being a center.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

I know he scored a lot of goals this season, but I think it was because of his size/strength rather than skill. There's risk that his size/strength won't be as impactful in the NHL.

Terrible argument. You don't score goals by being big and strong. You score goals by shooting the puck. Dubois has an excellent shot. His size/strength will help his game translate to the NHL more easily. He'll still be above average in size at the NHL level. His size/strength is a positive, a good asset, it's something to like about him and it's something that will help him succeed in the NHL.

Trying to spin it as a negative is ass backwards. It's a nonsensical argument.

You believe otherwise? Show us all the guys rated to go top 5 who scored goals in junior because they were big and then failed at the NHL level because they were still big. Such a silly argument, we hear it every year and it literally makes no sense.

[albertGQ]

If we win #1 and AZ wins #2, I would be happy to keep the pick & select Matthews.

But I wouldn't be opposed to tradeing #1 for #2 and #22 (Rangers pick). Hopefully we can package #22 with #28 (Dallas's pick) and somehow move to #15 if Jake Bean falls that far.

That would be highly unlikely but I would call the draft a success if something like that happened.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

If we win #1 and AZ wins #2, I would be happy to keep the pick & select Matthews.

But I wouldn't be opposed to tradeing #1 for #2 and #22 (Rangers pick). Hopefully we can package #22 with #28 (Dallas's pick) and somehow move to #15 if Jake Bean falls that far.

That would be highly unlikely but I would call the draft a success if something like that happened.

man, flames winning #1 and the yotes winning #2 would be a very intriguing position to be in.

If that were to happen, i'd be ecstatic enough to say that i will give up alcohol till opening day of next season, as a sacrifice to the mighty Hockey Gods.

[DiracSpike]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Terrible argument. You don't score goals by being big and strong. You score goals by shooting the puck. Dubois has an excellent shot. His size/strength will help his game translate to the NHL more easily. He'll still be above average in size at the NHL level. His size/strength is a positive, a good asset, it's something to like about him and it's something that will help him succeed in the NHL.

Trying to spin it as a negative is ass backwards. It's a nonsensical argument.

You believe otherwise? Show us all the guys rated to go top 5 who scored goals in junior because they were big and then failed at the NHL level because they were still big. Such a silly argument, we hear it every year and it literally makes no sense.

Angelo Esposito?

[Lanny_McDonald]

Just want to throw another name in the fire of guys who have impressed me more and more with each viewing. Max Jones of the London Knights seems like a guy flying under the radar at the moment. He's got good size and is a true power forward. He loves to come hard off the boards and bull his way to the net. Reminds me of a young Jarome Iginla, except a better skater at the same age. Looks like a good fit for the Flames if they remain in the same slot or move down. Wouldn't be disappointed at all with his selection.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

man, flames winning #1 and the yotes winning #2 would be a very intriguing position to be in.

If that were to happen, i'd be ecstatic enough to say that i will give up alcohol till opening day of next season, as a sacrifice to the mighty Hockey Gods.

That's a big sacrifice. Pubes might be easier.

[burnitdown]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Terrible argument. You don't score goals by being big and strong. You score goals by shooting the puck. Dubois has an excellent shot. His size/strength will help his game translate to the NHL more easily. He'll still be above average in size at the NHL level. His size/strength is a positive, a good asset, it's something to like about him and it's something that will help him succeed in the NHL.

Trying to spin it as a negative is ass backwards. It's a nonsensical argument.

You believe otherwise? Show us all the guys rated to go top 5 who scored goals in junior because they were big and then failed at the NHL level because they were still big. Such a silly argument, we hear it every year and it literally makes no sense.

While I agree it's less of a fear for Dubios, I think the poster is just saying a potential risk could exist. That's a fair concern and doesn't call for an over-the-top reaction calling their thinking ass backwards or nonsensical. There are big players each year the scouts fall in love that go higher than they should, just because they were big and could score in junior. It doesn't mean they're destined to fail - but it doesn't always translate to the NHL. Look at a guy like Nick Ritchie. And I wouldn't be doing backflips if Lawson Crouse was our pick last year at #11 or if we draft Julien Gauthier this year.