2020 NHL Entry Draft

[Sandman]

I sat in front of Conroy, the coaches, and Management at a few of the rookie camp scrimmages to see what they talked about. Conroy really liked Kanzig, and said that any time they talked trade with other teams, they wanted Kanzig included.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Flames can't be that bad luck.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I sat in front of Conroy, the coaches, and Management at a few of the rookie camp scrimmages to see what they talked about. Conroy really liked Kanzig, and said that any time they talked trade with other teams, they wanted Kanzig included.

Honestly if this is true it is a huge failure by the management team not to use him as a trade sweetner.

I remember Kanzig's first camp. He did not look like a smooth skating skill player (lol)

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I sat in front of Conroy, the coaches, and Management at a few of the rookie camp scrimmages to see what they talked about. Conroy really liked Kanzig, and said that any time they talked trade with other teams, they wanted Kanzig included.

The Flames weren't the only team who incorrectly put high value on huge players. If anything, the Flames corrected their drafting earlier than other teams did. And they didn't waste first round picks.

The Jets drafted Logan Stanley at 18th overall in 2016. Stanley had 17 points in 64 games in his draft year. He's a 6'7 defenseman. Had 10 points in 44 AHL games this year. Looking like a bust.

Samuel Morin went at 11th overall in 2013 to the Flyers. 16 points in 46 games during his draft year. 6'6. Another bust. Frederik Gauthier, another large bodied disappointment in the same round.

[JTech780]

My top pick for 19th overall is Hendrix Lapierre, if he is still on the board. I see a lot of similarities to Mathew Barzal, in the way they play and the fact the both were rated higher going into the season and fell due to injuries. That's the upside I see with Lapierre, and I get that there is significant risk due to his injury history and primarily his concussion history, but I think his upside is worth the risk especially picking at 19.

The other guy I hope falls to us if Lapierre is off the board is Dylan Holloway. I think he gets knocked because his stats don't jump off the page, but he was one of the youngest guys in NCAA last year, playing on one of the youngest teams. I think you will see a significant jump in his production this season. He is fast, plays hard and plays well at both ends. He reminds me of Dylan Larkin.

Connor Zary would be my 3rd choice here. He is more of a safe pick, he doesn't have the upside of the other two, nor does he have the skating ability. He thinks the game well and has some good puck skills. Just not sure how well his game will translate to the next level. I see him as more of a middle 6 player. His numbers look good, but he played on one of the older teams in the WHL, I think that skews his numbers a bit.

A darkhorse for me is Justin Barron, I think he might be the 3rd best defenseman in the draft. He suffered blood clots this past season and I that derailed his season, he is better than he showed. I am hoping that he falls to us in the 2nd round, which isn't likely, but hey you never know. Really good skater, RHS D, is strong at both ends of the ice.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by JTech780

My top pick for 19th overall is Hendrix Lapierre, if he is still on the board. I see a lot of similarities to Mathew Barzal, in the way they play and the fact the both were rated higher going into the season and fell due to injuries. That's the upside I see with Lapierre, and I get that there is significant risk due to his injury history and primarily his concussion history, but I think his upside is worth the risk especially picking at 19.

The other guy I hope falls to us if Lapierre is off the board is Dylan Holloway. I think he gets knocked because his stats don't jump off the page, but he was one of the youngest guys in NCAA last year, playing on one of the youngest teams. I think you will see a significant jump in his production this season. He is fast, plays hard and plays well at both ends. He reminds me of Dylan Larkin.

Connor Zary would be my 3rd choice here. He is more of a safe pick, he doesn't have the upside of the other two, nor does he have the skating ability. He thinks the game well and has some good puck skills. Just not sure how well his game will translate to the next level. I see him as more of a middle 6 player. His numbers look good, but he played on one of the older teams in the WHL, I think that skews his numbers a bit.

A darkhorse for me is Justin Barron, I think he might be the 3rd best defenseman in the draft. He suffered blood clots this past season and I that derailed his season, he is better than he showed. I am hoping that he falls to us in the 2nd round, which isn't likely, but hey you never know. Really good skater, RHS D, is strong at both ends of the ice.

Lapierre is definitely interesting - he could absolutely be a late hit. Dude only played 48 games in his D-1 and 19 games in his D-0 year, so no one really has a full read on him. Could be a "home run" swing at 19.

[bax]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Lapierre is definitely interesting - he could absolutely be a late hit. Dude only played 48 games in his D-1 and 19 games in his D-0 year, so no one really has a full read on him. Could be a "home run" swing at 19.

It sounds like his injury issues are behind him too. They thought it was concussion symptoms for the longest time, but ended up being more of a spine/neck issue.

He's my pick at 19 right now if he's available. He has 1st line center potential.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by bax

It sounds like his injury issues are behind him too. They thought it was concussion symptoms for the longest time, but ended up being more of a spine/neck issue.

He's my pick at 19 right now if he's available. He has 1st line center potential.

At 19, I think it's definitely worth it to swing for the fences.

I also am liking Jacob Perreault more and more. He could be a guy that puts it together in the coming years.

[oldschoolcalgary]

there's a ton of good centers in the first round.

Jarvis, Zary, Lundell, Quinn, Holloway, Bourque, Lapierre.

Honestly, i'd be happy with anyone of them. Lapierre is intriguing due to the high reward factor - though its a risk...

not sure if the Flames would take a riskier pick if any of those other players are available...

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by JTech780

My top pick for 19th overall is Hendrix Lapierre, if he is still on the board. I see a lot of similarities to Mathew Barzal, in the way they play and the fact the both were rated higher going into the season and fell due to injuries. That's the upside I see with Lapierre, and I get that there is significant risk due to his injury history and primarily his concussion history, but I think his upside is worth the risk especially picking at 19.

The other guy I hope falls to us if Lapierre is off the board is Dylan Holloway. I think he gets knocked because his stats don't jump off the page, but he was one of the youngest guys in NCAA last year, playing on one of the youngest teams. I think you will see a significant jump in his production this season. He is fast, plays hard and plays well at both ends. He reminds me of Dylan Larkin.

Connor Zary would be my 3rd choice here. He is more of a safe pick, he doesn't have the upside of the other two, nor does he have the skating ability. He thinks the game well and has some good puck skills. Just not sure how well his game will translate to the next level. I see him as more of a middle 6 player. His numbers look good, but he played on one of the older teams in the WHL, I think that skews his numbers a bit.

A darkhorse for me is Justin Barron, I think he might be the 3rd best defenseman in the draft. He suffered blood clots this past season and I that derailed his season, he is better than he showed. I am hoping that he falls to us in the 2nd round, which isn't likely, but hey you never know. Really good skater, RHS D, is strong at both ends of the ice.

Barzal was much more productive in his draft year. Stylistically, they might be similar. But Barzal was and is a lot better.
Another difference is that Lapierre has had 3 concussions in 3 years.

I wouldn't take him in the first round, to be honest.

[bax]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Barzal was much more productive in his draft year. Stylistically, they might be similar. But Barzal was and is a lot better.
Another difference is that Lapierre has had 3 concussions in 3 years.

I wouldn't take him in the first round, to be honest.

A lot of scouts had Lapierre as a top 10 lock in September. He was a top player at 16 and had one of the best Hlinka tourneys ever. Put up 11 points in 5 games- same totals as Mackinnon and Lafrienerre. He was a 1st overall pick in the QMJHL draft.

His season was derailed by injuries and the original diagnosis was 3 concussions, but it was later revealed that it was actually a twisted vertebrae. Apparently he is fully healthy now and was ready to come back for playoffs until covid hit. Super high hockey IQ and unmatched pedigree that late in the draft. Nobody has seen him play while fully healthy so that's the risk, but I think it's a good risk to take.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Barzal was much more productive in his draft year. Stylistically, they might be similar. But Barzal was and is a lot better.
Another difference is that Lapierre has had 3 concussions in 3 years.

I wouldn't take him in the first round, to be honest.

The thing is that the so called 3 concussions may just be 1 concussion with a lingering spinal injury. Guess it depends on whether the team doctors feel comfortable with that diagnosis and his current health.

https://www.tsn.ca/hendrix-lapierre-...ason-1.1465456

Lapierre went for an MRI and X-ray and sought out three different specialists. The diagnosis was consistent from all three: Lapierre was actually dealing with a spinal injury. A few of his vertebrae were "twisted and stuck," Lapierre said. He worked with a physiotherapist and chiropractor and the headaches soon disappeared.

Considering how hard it was to move the vertebrae, the belief from the specialists, Lapierre says, is the injury was sustained way back in February 2019 at the same time when he was first concussed.

While the experts can't be 100 per cent certain, it's possible that Lapierre only sustained one concussion and the other problems this season were the direct result of the vertebrae issue being re-aggravated.

"Being diagnosed with three concussions in 10 months was worrying for me, my family and my future in hockey," Lapierre admits. "The new diagnosis is a really big relief and I feel confident going into next season that I'll be able to have success. I've strengthened my neck a lot."

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Barzal was much more productive in his draft year. Stylistically, they might be similar. But Barzal was and is a lot better.
Another difference is that Lapierre has had 3 concussions in 3 years.

I wouldn't take him in the first round, to be honest.

I get the hesitation with Lapierre, and I mean it's not my job on the line, so I can be fine with the risk.

IMO Lapierre has the highest upside at a premium position of anyone that might be available at 19. So for that upside I am willing to rake the risk.

[chummer]

Mike Morreale, NHL.com-

"The left-hander offers great hockey sense, compete and playmaking qualities. He's out of the lineup with an upper-body injury but may have the highest ceiling of any player projected to go in the first round."

[Sandman]

I hadn't heard this new information about his concussions being a spinal injury. Shines a new light on him as a possible pick at 19.

Does anyone find it concerning though, that he had only 2 goals in 19 games this year, and only 13 in 48 the year prior? I know he's a playmaker, but...

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Does anyone find it concerning though, that he had only 2 goals in 19 games this year, and only 13 in 48 the year prior? I know he's a playmaker, but...

Yeah that is a major criticism on him, he always looks to pass when he should shoot.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I hadn't heard this new information about his concussions being a spinal injury. Shines a new light on him as a possible pick at 19.

Does anyone find it concerning though, that he had only 2 goals in 19 games this year, and only 13 in 48 the year prior? I know he's a playmaker, but...

Tanguayesque

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Tanguayesque

Totally, although Tangs had 47 goals in 51 games his draft year, and 27 the year prior....

[Sandman]

Makes me giddy that the Draft is only a month away!

[Ped]

Is it going to be televised? And if so, will they have the sounds of booing for whenever Bettman speaks?