2023 NHL Draft Thread

[Monahammer]

https://twitter.com/C_A_D_D_Y/status...Hn6J2BhyA&s=19

Don't know who Ryan is but imo this ranking is bang on.

[Tbull8]

Has us taking Musty at 16

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Has us taking Musty at 16

Haha funny, I did not see that. No idea why when his rankings pretty obviously indicate we'd select Danielson (looking at his draft board, this is our highest ranked selection still available.)

[Royle9]

Yea I’d say his draft tool failed lol.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Has us taking Musty at 16

To be fair, the computer simulation he made that used 28 different lists had us taking Musty. There seems to be some weird stuff in the randomness factor he put into it though. It had Edstrom going 10th. Cristall was not in the top 16.

The next simulation had the Flames taking Cristall with Dvorsky outside of the top 16. The next simulation had Cristall going #5 and Fantilli #4.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

At 16, I don’t think we can fixate on position - draft straight BPA.

This team needs more smooth operators.

I agree, but there is definitely value in being a center over a winger.
A 60 point center may very well be better than a 70 point winger, since centers often have more rounded games, especially on the defensive side.

I'm not saying that the Flames should pick inferior centers over superior wingers. Rather, I think centers often have skills and attributes that make them better than seemingly comparable wingers. Still drafting BPA, but the position affects the skillset.

[Sandman]

I have to say, usually I keep a book on these prospects from the start of the year, but I've been largely ignoring the Russians the last few years (other than Michkov) because of the worsening Russian factor. Yesterday, I did a bit of a deep dive into the two highly rated D-men, Mikhail Gulyayev and Dmitri Simashev. I now believe that both players are up with Axel Sandin-Pelikka in terms of talent. Simashev (#26) in particular is a force of nature.

https://videopress.com/v/rVMZaYAZ

https://videopress.com/v/P2Q9RSFt

https://videopress.com/v/9TnD7UJA

https://videopress.com/v/zRKmqiit

https://videopress.com/v/zzbLt7eV

https://videopress.com/v/oY7IBjTA

https://videopress.com/v/nGSmPah5

https://videopress.com/v/SEMwR2N5

https://videopress.com/v/4HKJHhsb

https://videopress.com/v/0Jq0QiH4

https://videopress.com/v/Sjj5XHyB

https://videopress.com/v/GaNJmT0N

https://videopress.com/v/bgTketW0

https://videopress.com/v/WqAQN4i3

[Sandman]

Here's Gulyayev, #84:

https://youtu.be/E-3C5S9veM8

I don't think either player will be picked before #25 though, due to being Russian.

[Francis's Hairpiece]

^^^
Holy crap that is impressive for a D-man!

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

Centres first : Ritchie, Stremmer, Rhepkof, Heidt, danielson

wingers: Musty , Zeimmer, But, Barlow. I gonmusty first after watching some tape on him. Really good hands. Big pro level frame. Great skating. Strong shot and good IQ. Zeimmer is close though.


Sure would be nice to pick up another pick this draft in the first round.

Any 3 or 4 of those guys could really see this team improve the size and skill department.

IMO don’t pick the dman this early. Small pp dmen are not worth the potential of size and skill we can land in the first round.

Dmen have to be able to defend monsters on the forecheck at the pro level. Even reinbacher I wouldn’t sniff. He isn’t Seider. So neither of the dmen in this draft for our first two picks pls.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Francis's Hairpiece

^^^
Holy crap that is impressive for a D-man!

Right?!?

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Here's Gulyayev, #84:

https://youtu.be/E-3C5S9veM8

I don't think either player will be picked before #25 though, due to being Russian.

I would take him over Reinbacher and Axel. He has some serious wheels and edge work. Some really nice passes. But those are just highlights. What are his in zone reads like? Does he battle on the boards? What is his gap control like?

He does look like a one man break out with his head up looking for a good stretch pass.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

I would take him over Reinbacher and Axel. He has some serious wheels and edge work. Some really nice passes. But those are just highlights. What are his in zone reads like? Does he battle on the boards? What is his gap control like?

He does look like a one man break out with his head up looking for a good stretch pass.

-I haven't seen much video of D Mikhail Gulyayev, but he sounds like a world beater. He's only 5'10", but he's as dynamic and productive as you can hope for in an offensive D-man. 25 points in 22 games with Omskie-Yastreby of the MHL, Russia's top junior league, which puts him second in the entire league, with 1.14 ppg (behind a guy who only played 7 games), a big feat for a 17 yo playing in a U-20 league. His production gave him promotions to the VHL (4 points in 12 games, 1st for U-20 players), and the KHL (1 point in 13 games). He's said to be one of the best skaters in this class, and his offensive potential is up there with Axel Sandin Pelikka. His speed, edges, 4-directional mobility, and smooth stickhandling backs up defenders, and he can break ankles with his moves. If you look at his highlights, he can pull off hard, accurate, long-range passes through traffic. Elite vision, IQ, and offensive skills. Killer transitional player, makes plays off the rush, and is a fine shooter. His defense is perhaps average, and will need fine-tuning. The Russian factor will be present, but most think he has a shot at the first round.

-Gulyayev's countryman, D Dmitri Simashev is a different animal- a 6'4", 200 lb animal. I know very little first-hand about this player too, but he's said to be a difference-maker in both ends of the rink. 12 points in 33 MHL games, which earned him 18 games in the KHL, where he scored no points, but received positive reviews for his defensive play. Like Gulyayev, he is said to be one of the best skaters in the draft, and on a D-man who is 6'4", that should be enough, but he also exhibits elite puck-control and possession. It's a treat to watch him skate and handle the puck, weaving through traffic, and undressing opponents, I would recommend you try it. Unlike Gulyayev, he is a defensive stalwart, but has an extensive offensive toolkit, and vision. Good passing game, doesn't give up possession, and creates solid outlets- or, he can easily skate it out with full control. Supreme awareness and processing skills all over the ice, but his offensive touch is not showing up on scoresheets. That has a lot to do with his team, and his teammates- most seem to agree that there's a whole other offensive dimension just waiting under the surface. He's usually the best player on the ice. Needs work on his shot, release, and physical play, but there's easily first-round talent here, along with top-2 potential. Russian factor will come in to play, but like Gulyayev, he could slip into the first.

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I have to say, usually I keep a book on these prospects from the start of the year, but I've been largely ignoring the Russians the last few years (other than Michkov) because of the worsening Russian factor. Yesterday, I did a bit of a deep dive into the two highly rated D-men, Mikhail Gulyayev and Dmitri Simashev. I now believe that both players are up with Axel Sandin-Pelikka in terms of talent. Simashev (#26) in particular is a force of nature.

https://videopress.com/v/rVMZaYAZ

https://videopress.com/v/P2Q9RSFt

https://videopress.com/v/9TnD7UJA

https://videopress.com/v/zRKmqiit

https://videopress.com/v/zzbLt7eV

https://videopress.com/v/oY7IBjTA

https://videopress.com/v/nGSmPah5

https://videopress.com/v/SEMwR2N5

https://videopress.com/v/4HKJHhsb

https://videopress.com/v/0Jq0QiH4

https://videopress.com/v/Sjj5XHyB

https://videopress.com/v/GaNJmT0N

https://videopress.com/v/bgTketW0

https://videopress.com/v/WqAQN4i3

Shimashev and gulyaev over reinbacher.

Simashev looks smooth. At lot of that stuff won’t fly like the extended possession stuff. But the good pinch and the ability to make the winger miss on the offensive zone, look intriguing. He also has a nice wrist shot. To me he has higher offensive ability and potential with the good size to be a PP and PK contributor. But Russia hasn’t produced many valuable dmen so I’d be wary. That prospect in Carolina could be good but pro defending is tough to scout. Beyond Zadorov Orlov sergavhev and provorov I’d be wary of investing top picks on Russian defenders.

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

They both look good in highlights for sure. Both of them have a dynamic element that reinbacher does not have. Sandin doesn’t seem as dynamic but cerebral and agile. That profile doesn’t have a dynamic element.

What does Axel bring that I’m missing?

[Sandman]

From my Post U-18 Write-up:

-I wouldn't be at all surprised to see ASP being the first defenseman taken. The ASP-Theo Lindstein pairing was the best in the tournament, and Sweden's offense seemed to flow through them. ASP is not just your typical "Modern-day defenseman", as he's much more dynamic than that. This is the type of player that has a chance to be up in the Stratoshere with the likes of a Makar, or Karlsson. His U-18 production this year, with 11 points in 7 games, is tied for the sixth-best of all time. His production in the J20 Liiga this year (36 points in 31 games, 1.16 ppg) is 4th-best all-time for an under-18 player, and his ppg were better than Karlsson's. He's stunningly fast, a sublime stickhandler, elite vision and IQ, but maybe best of all- he shows a defensive conscience as well. He's good against the rush, uses his stick to break up plays, and has good gap control. Fantastic transitional player, and he's often the first in the zone. Knows when to activate, and is a good shooter. Needs to get stronger, but will never be a physical player.

I still don't want a D in round 1, and I wouldn't take either Russian in the first anyway, due to the Russian factor- but talent wise, I think the 2 Russians are right behind ASP.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

Shimashev and gulyaev over reinbacher.

Simashev looks smooth. At lot of that stuff won’t fly like the extended possession stuff. But the good pinch and the ability to make the winger miss on the offensive zone, look intriguing. He also has a nice wrist shot. To me he has higher offensive ability and potential with the good size to be a PP and PK contributor. But Russia hasn’t produced many valuable dmen so I’d be wary. That prospect in Carolina could be good but pro defending is tough to scout. Beyond Zadorov Orlov sergavhev and provorov I’d be wary of investing top picks on Russian defenders.

You're right there. Nikita Zadorov said that defensemen over there are not taught to play an "offensive" game until they hit the pros. I think maybe that hurts their chances of being drafted by NHL teams. It's almost a different sport over there, lol.

[Sandman]

More Draft Thoughts:

-C Nate Danielson has no real discernable weakness in his game, but he doesn't have the flash and dash of some of his contemporaries. That doesn't mean he's not a high-end offensive player, or highly skilled. In 2021-22, his D-minus-1 year, he had 57 points in 53 games for Brandon of the WHL, for a ppg of 1.07. This season, he put up 78 points in 68 games, for a ppg of 1.14- which isn't that big of a jump. Part of the issue is that Brandon has slipped a few spots in the standings, and in goals-for, and the quality of wingers on the Wheaties has diminished. Brandon simply lacks high-end scorers this year. On a better team, I think we see Danielson with over 90 points. Danielson is 6'1", and skates better than the majority of draft-eligibles in this class, and he uses that speed to play a pro-style, 200-ft game. He has top-notch intelligence, awareness, and decision-making, and he's more of a playmaker than shooter. Danielson has the ability to find, and to create open space for himself and his teammates, and he can also find the seams to funnel the puck to high-danger consistently- or he can unleash his deadly, accurate shot with very little space to do so. He's good at drawing attackers towards him, then passing to open teammates. In transition, he can complete exits and entries with his passes, or he can skate it through the neutral zone with full control. This is a player who works hard, is aggressive in all zones, and wants to make a difference every shift- he can drive play, and push the pace, plus he can play a physical game. He's competitive, and is not afraid to get his nose dirty, or to battle hard in the greasy areas. There's already a solid base of defensive ability here, and he can kill the opposition's plays and separate man from puck in a number of ways, and he's good against the rush. He is counted on to shutdown the opposition's top players. Top-notch anticipation, and a good stick. He can play both sides of special teams too. Danielson could use an upgrade to his lateral agility, the power in his shot, and like most teenagers-his consistency. Ceiling here is top-6 C, and he's looking like a shoo-in to be taken in the top-15.

-Alex Ciernik is a left-shooting RW who hails from Slovakia, born in Germany, but has been playing in Sweden for many years. He's one of the older players in the draft with an October birthday, and has been dominant in the J20 Liiga since his D-minus-1 year in 2021-22, where he posted 47 points in 43 games, and dominated the U-18 tournament on a line with Dalibor Dvorsky, with 12 points in 5 games. This season, he split time between the J20 (21 points in 18 games), and the second-tier Allsvenskan (12 points in 25 games- 12th for players under 20), and even the World Juniors (3 points in 5 games). Ciernik is only 5'10", but he's built like a fire hydrant, at 180lbs, and he plays big. Skating-wise, he's often referred to as one of the finest skaters in the draft, up there with Oliver Moore, and he has the skill and stickhandling to match- able to separate from opponents, or dart through them. He has excellent offensive instincts and IQ, and he's a wizard with the puck on his stick, and a gifted playmaker. He also has a hard, heavy shot, and can score from distance, or in tight. He's not afraid to get his nose dirty, he will battle for pucks in the hard areas, and has a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Ciernik can be a game-breaker, but his defensive game is almost non-existent, and he can be invisible without the puck. Still, there's tons of potential, and top-6 winger upside. Early second-round,

[Royle9]

Anything on Beau Akey Sandman?
He seems to be the consensus top NA dman and looks to be highly offensive.

[serratedmuffin]

My ideal draft for round 1,2 is center Dman with Danielson in the first (who seems to have the backlund to Bergeron potential upside offensively) and a Russian D in the second for the most value and hoping Zadarov can confirm them to come over early. I was on the Cam Allen as a realistic D target in round 2 but after watching those Russian highlights I'd prefer them if they fall that far. I can dream