2023 NHL Draft Thread

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by stemit14

In the range where the flames are picking, he seems like the safest pick. That’s why I would love for the flames to find a way to acquire another 1st round pick in that range (13th to 18th overall) so they could do both the safe pick (Danielson/Yager) and the riskier pick (Sale/Wood/Perreault/Cristall).


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He also reminds me a lot of Nolan Patrick in junior. There’s no doubt that Danielson would have even better numbers on a different team. Same for Calum Ritchie.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Sandman

He also reminds me a lot of Nolan Patrick in junior. There’s no doubt that Danielson would have even better numbers on a different team. Same for Calum Ritchie.

Also similar to Monahan who played on a poor Ottawa 67s team in his draft year.


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[Phaneufenstein]

Any concerns with the fact that Danielson was very close to being 2022 draft eligible?

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Phaneufenstein

Any concerns with the fact that Danielson was very close to being 2022 draft eligible?

I think Monahan was as well actually. Lol.


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[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Phaneufenstein

Any concerns with the fact that Danielson was very close to being 2022 draft eligible?

Not really. We could go a bit further and say Monahan came straight in and made an impact. Danielson is right there .

Pinder brought up the 2022 draft class comp, and scouts and Byron Vader both said the top 5 in last years class would be ranked in the teens in this one.

So a bit of perspective.

[cral12]

Give us all your draft picks.

Give us all your Swedes.

Connie. Probably.

Upside's Draft Lists series continues...

Hopefully someone finds somewhat useful...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1671953395236876288

[Calgary4LIfe]

For every draft selection Calgary makes in this upcoming draft, I think I will copy and paste what Sandman feels about it. I am going to base my opinion 100% on what Sandman thinks.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

For every draft selection Calgary makes in this upcoming draft, I think I will copy and paste what Sandman feels about it. I am going to base my opinion 100% on what Sandman thinks.

Ha. I like this. I also wouldn't be averse to Sandman's opinion on non-hockey stuff too!

[Sandman]

Thanks guys, I’m blushing!!!

[1qqaaz]

WHL Players by Points Per Game in Draft Year Since 2010:

1. Bedard 2.51
2. Cristall 1.76
3. Reinhart 1.75
4. Jarvis 1.69
5. Draisaitl 1.64
6. Nugent-Hopkins 1.54
7. Barzal 1.30
8. Point 1.26

Note that all 7 of the draft players are elite NHL forwards. Jarvis, Barzal, and Point all fell and ended up being draft steals. Cristall has better point totals than all of them.

Cristall is not a risky pick. If anything, he's one of the surest players in the entire draft.
Players with his production are near guarantees to be impact players in the NHL.

Does he have a high ceiling? Absolutely. But I disagree with the notion that he's a high risk pick. The risk is not taking him. Cristall has holes to his game. He has flaws. But so did Point and Barzal, and they were steals. What matters is results and actual impact moreso than just attributes in a vacuum.

[1qqaaz]

To be clear, I’m not saying I would take Cristall at #16, because there are other great players, but I think it’s crazy to have Cristall in the late 1st round or early 2nd round.

[Reggie Dunlop]

I hope the Flames draft some big, strong western boys.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I always like Mackenzie's list, as I think his is always the closest to how it actually plays out with team selections - probably because it focuses more on consensus

I have no idea why, or reason to substantiate it, but I have had a feeling all along that we pick Danielson (and I do think we need to draft a C)

Would be awesome to get another pick in the 18-20 range and grab Simashev

Dug this gem out from after last year's draft; Bobby Margarita, the gauntlet has been laid down ; )

(Bobby's List had 29/32 for the record)

https://twitter.com/user/status/1545244375684304897

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

To be clear, I’m not saying I would take Cristall at #16, because there are other great players, but I think it’s crazy to have Cristall in the late 1st round or early 2nd round.

If the flames get a another 1st round pick in the 13-18th range, I could see them going for him. Wonder if Iggy will have any input on him. I assume he has some familiarity with some of the WHL players this year.


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[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Uncut Gems, Vol.6):

-The Tri-City Storm has been somewhat of a factory for defensemen in recent years, and 6'1",185lb LHD Philippe Blais-Savoie is one of the latest with translatable qualities. PBS has exemplary advanced stats when it comes to defense, and despite compiling a paltry 11 points in 61 games, he has some very encouraging underlying numbers on offense as well. His best quality at this point is his suffocating NHL-level shutdown game- he's pretty much dominant at the USHL level in this regard. He applies a stifling gap to attackers, angling them to the wall, and his sublime awareness and proactive positioning gives him the ability to outthink even the most skilled, deceptive opponents- lifting their sticks, pinning them to the boards, and engaging them physically when needed. He works hard, but stays composed, and isn't fooled by changes in coverage. In transition, he can carry or pass through the neutral zone, after winning possession and turning the play back the other way. Offensively, he activates often, and has the timing and instincts to know the proper time to do so, and the 1-on-1 moves to slice through traffic. He understands how to create space, and can open seams for high-danger passes. In 2021-22, he led the California USHS League in scoring by defensemen as a 16-year-old, with 24 goals and 39 points in 11 games, which is mostly a useless stat, considering that it's glorified pond hockey. The main reasons for his lack of productivity, other than being a bit buried on the Storm, may be his lack of top-end speed and elusiveness, and the fact that he only flashes high-end skill. PBS has another season with Tri-City, where he will get more beneficial ice-time, then he's off to Colorado College.

-C Alex Weiermair is a hard-working player with a good all-around game who was tasked with shutting down the opposition's best players on a nightly basis. His numbers in the USDP were affected by being relegated to bottom-6 duty in favour of more skilled offensive players, compiling only 35 points in a total of 78 games. Weiermair has size, at 6'1",190lbs, and plays with physicality, forechecking and backchecking hard. Despite not being the best skater, his numbers in transition are excellent. He reads the lanes and opens space with his crafty footwork, and smart passing, carrying through the neutral zone with full control. In the offensive zone, he drives the net, and the middle lanes, and makes space for himself by initiating contact. He is said to possess one of the best curl-and-drag shots in the draft. He attacks the middle, makes plays off the rush, and draws defenders. If he was in a more beneficial situation, with more offensive touches, he would most certainly be more favorably regarded. Defensively, he is a play-killer with the awareness to be in the right position to block lanes and pick off passes. He consistently shows the ability to angle opponents to the boards, and box them out. Going forward, he will need to improve his skating, his pace, his deceptiveness, and his play in-motion. Weiermair is going to the U of Denver in the fall.

[cral12]

Got those 2 profiles up on Upside, Sandman!

Also couple more Top 10s posted:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1672070142673686529

https://twitter.com/user/status/1672256262862684161

[bigrangy]

Danielson to the Flames in Button’s mock on TSN. Benson goes only a couple spots earlier, would hope he’s a move up target on draft day if the Flames can get creative.

[dammage79]

Danielson would be a massive snag for CGY. I love it.

[Ashes]

In a perfect world where the Flames are able to secure two (mid-late) 1st round picks for the expiring UFA's, I would love to see us draft 3 of these guys who are more likely to be there from 16-30 (bolded favourites):

Center's

- Danielson
- Yager
- Ritchie

Defensemen

- Wallinder
- Simashev

Wingers

- Musty
- Perreault
- Cristall
- But

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Uncut Gems, Vol.7):

-RW Deagen McMillan had more even-strength points-per-60 in the WHL than Brayden Yager, or Nate Danielson, despite only collecting 47 points in 65 games. McMillan is far more of a playmaker at this stage of his development, and his passes are his main vehicle of puck transportation, as the speed and mechanics of his footwork are deficient right now. He's adept at taking the extra split second to scan for the right next move before executing, and he makes the correct choice more often than not. Those passes keep the momentum flowing the right way for his team, the Tri-City Americans, and he creates advantages and opportunities for them, even in a middle-six role. He's pretty smart, and a crafty distributor, rarely holding on to the puck for long, passing through defenders, and often connecting with high-danger passes. He's not a big shooter, but he plays the right way in the offensive zone, making plays off the rush, attacking the inside, and going to the net. With this mindset, it's perplexing that he doesn't score more- and even more perplexing is that he doesn't use his shot enough, which is reasonably hard and accurate. He's a major disruptor on the forecheck, and a beast on the backcheck- he carries a lot of value in the defensive zone, anticipating the play and closing lanes. McMillan is solidly built, at 6'1",200lbs, and uses his size as leverage in puck battles. Scouts are divided as to whether or not McMillan has an NHL future, due to his deficient speed, but even moreso due to his poor mechanics, which hamper his play even at the junior level.

-RW Kaden Shahan recieved a "C" rating from Central Scouting, meaning he could be selected from the 4th round on. Shahan is only 5'11",165lbs, but he plays the role of puck hound, with a deep reservoir of energy and motor, and the ability to push pace. 20 goals and 31 points in 55 games for Sioux City of the USHL, and most of those goals were scored from around the net. It should be noted when looking at Shahan's numbers that Sioux City was the 5th-worst offensive team in the league. Shahan has a decent shot, and does it the right way- by forcing turnovers, pouncing on loose pucks, and attacking the front of the net. There's not a lot of creativity in his repertoire to speak of, very little flash and dash, and his puck skills are far from elite- although he can sometimes surprise with a high-end pass. He plays an efficient give-and-go style in transition, but he really shines in the defensive zone as a top-notch play-killer. He's proactively aware of incoming threats and jumps on them, racking up stops by shutting down lanes, picking off passes, engaging physically, and angling opponents away from danger. Most of Shahan's physical tools are hovering around average, including his handling and his skating, and it's not even certain that he'll be picked in this draft, but there's enough here to make some believe that he could make an NHL team's checking line someday. He's committed to UConn, which is the good news, as they have a very good developmental program.

-Shahan's teammate, RHC Ben Poitras is primarily a shoot-first, physical forechecker who was ranked #80 for North American Skaters by Central Scouting. BP's main tool is his NHL-calibre outside-leg wrister, and unlike those players who have good shots but don't use them enough, Poitras shoots often- sometimes even when passing is the best option. This can result in too many plays squandered in favor of low-percentage shots. Despite this, Poitras often shows excellent vision and creativity in his offensive arsenal, and he can make quality plays under pressure- though not consistently. Like Shahan, Poitras has pace-pushing energy and motor, and uses physicality to win puck battles and create space, even though he stands only 5'11",176lbs. His energetic forechecking is one of the pillars of his offensive game, and he exhibits the off-puck awareness to sneak behind defenders and to find and exploit open space. 37 points in 61 games, but only 14 goals- fairly miniscule for a shooter. Defensively, he comes back hard on the backcheck with good positional awareness, and physical engagement to separate man from puck. Poitras needs to employ far more deception in his on-puck game to open more space, and he needs to work on his playmaking- but it's the lack of goals that bothers me. The skating could use some refinement as well, but the rest of his game looks translatable. Poitras is committed to Northeastern in the fall.

-LHC Andrew Kuzma started the season slow, with no points in the first 5 games with the Des Moines Buccaneers, who finished bottom-5 in the USHL. Things went from bad to worse, literally, as he was traded to the worst team in the league in the Madison Capitols, and only managed 13 points in his first 31 games. Fortunately for Kuzma, he turned a corner with 24 points in the final 24 games- making him one of the league's best performers in the final quarter, finishing with 17 goals and 37 points in 55 games. Kuz makes up somewhat for a lack of footspeed with hard work and constant motion, keeping his feet moving where most players would glide, and he manages to play a high-paced game. He's physical all over the ice, and can dish out some big hits, measuring a stout but sturdy 6'0", and 200 pounds. He's a gifted puckhandler, and he uses this skill to deceive and manipulate opponents into giving him space, as well as to move through traffic, work to the inside, and open shooting lanes. He goes to the net, and works the greasy areas. In transition, he struggles with pressure due mostly to his skating deficiencies, often letting go of the puck too early, but he's defensively aware and is considered to be a good two-way player. If Kuz can get his skating up to par, there's bottom-6 NHL potential here. He has one more season in the USHL, and then he's off to the U of Maine.