2016 NHL Draft

[yourbestfriend]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm certainly open to Keller but seeing Nylander is a superior physical specimen why would you expect a smaller, weaker player to translate his game better to the men's game? That's really the biggest question with Keller is if he's going to be able to translate his game to the NHL. Nylander will be an NHL player and really the only question is if he becomes an elite winger or top 6 winger. Keller could bust if everything doesn't go right for him.

Yah Nylander is bigger than Keller, but they are both not what i would call "physical specimens". They're both skilled wingers who aren't physical at all. As an NHL example, does size really matter between an Eberle/Hemsky type player versus a T.Johnson/Gaudreau type player? I don't think so.

If we're taking a skilled forward at 6, might as well take the most skilled forward in Keller

[JonDuke]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

I prefer Keller at 6. He will translate his game better to the NHL than Nylander will.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by yourbestfriend

Yah Nylander is bigger than Keller, but they are both not what i would call "physical specimens". They're both skilled wingers who aren't physical at all. As an NHL example, does size really matter between an Eberle/Hemsky type player versus a T.Johnson/Gaudreau type player? I don't think so.

If we're taking a skilled forward at 6, might as well take the most skilled forward in Keller

I don't think there's much debate that Nylander is more skilled as most say he's top 2 in skill. I don't disagree that that Keller may have a better motor but I don't think the Flames need another waterbug forward and simply need a skilled sniper to play on the right of either Monahan or Bennett.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Even though I prefer any of Tkachuk, Dubois, or Nylander at 6 I would be more than fine with grabbing Juolevi. I really think he will be a top 2 minute munching D man which by the time the Flames are ready to contend would give them 4 top 2 D men which is unheard of in the NHL. They could even end up with 5 depending on how Andersson develops. Can you imagine this?

Gio/Brodie
Juolevi/Hamilton
Andersson/Kylington
Hickey

How in the hell do you stop that D?

Cover the only three forwards with any finish? The bigger question to ask is how does that blue line stop anyone else? That group is buttery soft. Great at moving the puck but No one is going to have any fear against that group. You need a blend of skills. Don't see that defense surviving in the Pacific.

[Bingo]

on page 283 so we are clearly to the rinse and repeat section of the 2016 NHL draft chatter but take the best player.

If they think Juolevi will be a better NHL hockey player in 3-5 years take him. If they think a forward (big or small) will be a better NHL hockey player in 3-5 years take him.

Easy formula.

[Erick Estrada]

Corey Pronman ranks individual skills of the prospects;

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhldraft/insider/post?id=869

Top 10 Skaters
Rank, Player Position Overall
rank 1. Olli Juolevi D 8 2. Mike McLeod C 20 3. Mikhail Sergachev D 16 4. Samuel Girard D 23 5. Victor Mete D 43 6. Sean Day D 93 7. Jordan Kyrou RW 35 8. Kale Clague D 22 9. Tyson Jost C 9 10. Jakob Chychrun D 11

Top 10 Puck Handlers Rank, Player Position Overall
rank 1. Auston Matthews C 2 2. Alexander Nylander RW 7 3. Patrik Laine LW 1 4. Jordan Kyrou RW 35 5. Vitaly Abramov RW 21 6. Clayton Keller C 4 7. Jesse Puljujarvi RW 3 8. Carl Grundstrom LW 29 9. Tyson Jost C 9 10. Will Lockwood RW 76


Top 10 Shooters Rank, Player Position Overall
rank 1. Patrik Laine LW 1 2. Auston Matthews C 2 3. Kieffer Bellows LW 14 4. Alex DeBrincat RW 15 5. Dmitri Sokolov LW 28 6. Adam Mascherin LW 39 7. Julien Gauthier RW 24 8. Luke Kunin C 17 9. Mikhail Sergachev D 16 10. Jesse Puljujarvi RW

Top 10 Passers Rank, Player Position Overall
rank 1. Clayton Keller C 4 2. Auston Matthews C 2 3. Alexander Nylander RW 7 4. Logan Brown C 12 5. Vitaly Abramov RW 21 6. Patrik Laine LW 1 7. Adam Fox D 31 8. Matthew Tkachuk LW 6 9. Olli Juolevi D 8 10. Dante Fabbro D 10

Top 10 Hockey IQ Rank, Player Position Overall
rank 1. Patrik Laine LW 1 2. Auston Matthews C 2 3. Clayton Keller C 4 4. Alexander Nylander RW 7 5. Olli Juolevi D 8 6. Pierre-Luc Dubois C 5 7. Jesse Puljujarvi RW 3 8. Dante Fabbro D 10 9. Matthew Tkachuk LW 6 10. Jake Bean D 19

Top 10 Physical Game Rank, Player Position Overall
rank 1. Logan Stanley D 55 2. Pierre-Luc Dubois C 5 3. Patrik Laine LW 1 4. Jakob Chychrun D 11 5. Max Jones LW 26 6. Ryan Lindgren D 38 7. Boris Katchouk LW 69 8. Givani Smith LW 84 9. Matthew Tkachuk LW 6 10. Mikhail Sergachev D 16

Nylander's name keeps getting mentioned amongst the best prospects in the areas you would hope in projecting an elite player. I simply believe he's too good to pass up here.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by yourbestfriend

Yah Nylander is bigger than Keller, but they are both not what i would call "physical specimens". They're both skilled wingers who aren't physical at all. As an NHL example, does size really matter between an Eberle/Hemsky type player versus a T.Johnson/Gaudreau type player? I don't think so.

If we're taking a skilled forward at 6, might as well take the most skilled forward in Keller

Not sure Keller is more skilled than Nylander. At the very least, it's an open question.

It's also far harder to succeed as an undersized center than as an undersized winger. It's pretty crazy to say that Keller has a higher chance of translating his game to the NHL than Nylander, especially without a shred of evidence or argument to back it up.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

So a weaker, smaller Sam Bennett then? I'll take the bigger, stronger winger that is arguably the most naturally skilled player in the draft. That said I would rather Keller than a defenseman.

Why do you associate smaller with weaker? Both players have very little muscle currently, but both have plenty of room to fill out and neither projects as a physical player. I think the player whose game is more physical (Keller) is more likely to put on the muscle mass needed to battle in the corners.

And I would argue Nylander is less naturally skilled than Keller is anyways. Matthews is the most naturally skilled player in the draft... Nylander isn't even close to his level. Keller is arguably second, as is Laine, depending on which you value. Nylander is probably 4th.

And the Flames won't pass up players for being "redundant" if they are the BPA - not in the first round. Second having multiple versatile players is never a bad thing. Give me a team full of "Bennetts" all day. The focus on Nylander shooting right should be a very small consideration for the Flames.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Why do you associate smaller with weaker? Both players have very little muscle currently, but both have plenty of room to fill out and neither projects as a physical player. I think the player who's game is more physical (Keller) is more likely to put on the muscle mass needed to battle in the corners.

And I would argue Nylander is less naturally skilled than Keller is anyways. Matthews is the most naturally skilled player in the draft... Nylander isn't even close to his level. Keller is arguably second, as is Laine, depending on which you value. Nylander is probably 4th.

And the Flames won't pass up players for being "redundant" if they are the BPA - not in the first round. Second having multiple versatile players is never a bad thing. Give me a team full of "Bennetts" all day.

Sure you could argue but I don't think most scouts would agree. As always time will tell as nobody can predict what's going to happen with these players and we only can hope the Flames scouts know better than everyone else.

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by yourbestfriend

Yah Nylander is bigger than Keller, but they are both not what i would call "physical specimens". They're both skilled wingers who aren't physical at all. As an NHL example, does size really matter between an Eberle/Hemsky type player versus a T.Johnson/Gaudreau type player? I don't think so.

If we're taking a skilled forward at 6, might as well take the most skilled forward in Keller

iirc Button had Nylander's comparable as Joe Pavelski. You might be underselling by comparing to Eberble/Hemsky.

[sureLoss]

Calgary Flames @NHLFlames
"The draft process, you just have to enjoy it." - Matthew Tkachuk on all the activities leading up to Friday

Tkachuk spent too much time being interviewed by Treliving.

[Poe969]

Treliving was spending so much time with him just to ensure that the oilers would take him.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

iirc Button had Nylander's comparable as Joe Pavelski. You might be underselling by comparing to Eberble/Hemsky.

Button also had Nylander at 10th on his list. Can't confuse style comparisions with talent comparisions.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by New Era

Cover the only three forwards with any finish? The bigger question to ask is how does that blue line stop anyone else? That group is buttery soft. Great at moving the puck but No one is going to have any fear against that group. You need a blend of skills. Don't see that defense surviving in the Pacific.

There is so much wrong with this post I don't know where to begin. The D is not "buttery soft", they are excellent two way D men who are solid positionally and use great stick work to strip pucks. They are not going to take themselves out of position to try and throw bone shattering hits. Kylington needs to work on the defensive side but Hickey is excellent. How does covering three forwards work? So you are going to leave two talented offensive D to do whatever they want? We would destroy everyone. Everybody would fear that D group, not from a physical status but from the fact they would literally pick the other team apart. Look at Pittsburgh D, many consider them soft and how did that work out against the big bad Sharks? You also talk like we have nothing up front, we have Bennett, Gaudreau, Monahan, Frolik, Backlund, and some other young promising pieces as well.

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Button also had Nylander at 10th on his list. Can't confuse style comparisions with talent comparisions.

...and how did I confuse them with what I posted?

[FCAV]

Scout series continues...

With all the skill the Tkachuk has, his greatest attribute may be the way he thinks the game. Very rarely will you see the kid out of position, or turning the puck over. He is constantly in motion, and provides his linemates with outlets in every possible situation. Tkachuk is pro ready, and will make an immediate impact at the next level.

http://futureconsiderations.ca/tkach...-scout-palmer/

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

There is so much wrong with this post I don't know where to begin. The D is not "buttery soft", they are excellent two way D men who are solid positionally and use great stick work to strip pucks. They are not going to take themselves out of position to try and throw bone shattering hits. Kylington needs to work on the defensive side but Hickey is excellent. How does covering three forwards work? So you are going to leave two talented offensive D to do whatever they want? We would destroy everyone. Everybody would fear that D group, not from a physical status but from the fact they would literally pick the other team apart. Look at Pittsburgh D, many consider them soft and how did that work out against the big bad Sharks? You also talk like we have nothing up front, we have Bennett, Gaudreau, Monahan, Frolik, Backlund, and some other young promising pieces as well.

So the Flames will go with six defensemen below average size, and on big one that plays a non-physical game, and you view that as a winning strategy? The Sharks were beat by time they got to the finals, a result of their path to get there. You need some beef to win in the west, especially on the blue line. Without that the front of our net is going to need KOA signs for NHL forwards.

We also need more talent up front. Backlund and Frolik are good support players, but they are not finishers. They're third line talent. We need another player or two that can be counted on to be a top six player and be a consistent threat. We currently don't have a single prospect that looks to have that bonifide potential. I don't know how you can honestly sit there and try to argue otherwise. The mix you suggest is one that would get crushed. They would be fun as hell to watch, I have no disagreement there, but they wouldn't be able to keep the crease clear and our goaltenders would be left staring into the asses of the opposition forwards all game.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Hes

stupid 5pm Draft start time.. such BS. That is rush hour time.

960 does a great job with the draft. I'd almost rather be in rush hour traffic than anywhere else for this. No distractions of kids/pets/spouses/work etc, assuming you commute by yourself. Heck, just pull over on a side street and text your wife that there must be an accident or something ahead of you and you're stuck in traffic. Then listen in peace until after the Flames pick.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by New Era

So the Flames will go with six defensemen below average size, and on big one that plays a non-physical game, and you view that as a winning strategy? The Sharks were beat by time they got to the finals, a result of their path to get there. You need some beef to win in the west, especially on the blue line. Without that the front of our net is going to need KOA signs for NHL forwards.

We also need more talent up front. Backlund and Frolik are good support players, but they are not finishers. They're third line talent. We need another player or two that can be counted on to be a top six player and be a consistent threat. We currently don't have a single prospect that looks to have that bonifide potential. I don't know how you can honestly sit there and try to argue otherwise. The mix you suggest is one that would get crushed. They would be fun as hell to watch, I have no disagreement there, but they wouldn't be able to keep the crease clear and our goaltenders would be left staring into the asses of the opposition forwards all game.

[yourbestfriend]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

iirc Button had Nylander's comparable as Joe Pavelski. You might be underselling by comparing to Eberble/Hemsky.

I used those players as stylistic comparisons. Soft high skilled forwards.
Furthermore, I don't think i'm selling Nylander short with those comparisons. As much as we love to hate the oilers, Eberle is a consistent 65point winger and Hemsky is a career 50ish point winger.
If we do happen to draft Nylander and he put up 50-65 points a year, that's an amazing pick for us.

IMO I don't see Nylander as a Pavelski type player. Pavelski has way more grit and is always in the dirty areas (corners and the in front of the net). I would say most of the goals Pavelski scores are within 10-15 feet from the goalie.
Nylander on the other hand is much more skilled, has a better shot and isn't really in the corners or in front of the net a whole lot. If anything I see Tkachuk as a more skilled version of Pavelski. Same type of player, great down low and in front of the net, not the best skater in the world.

The reason i love Keller so much is because he reminds me of Kane and Jonny so damn much. Plus, from the poster who posted it above, Pronman's listed him as the best passer and top3 hockeyiq in the draft.
I really don't care who we draft at 6, in that slot all the prospects are high end talent and it'll really come down to personal preference.