Hypothetical question about Martone to anyone with a strong assessment of prospects (Sandman)… where do you think Martone would have gone in this previous draft based on his 2023-2024 season if he was 2 months younger? Pretty sure that would have made him eligible for the 2024 draft.
Hypothetical question about Martone to anyone with a strong assessment of prospects (Sandman)… where do you think Martone would have gone in this previous draft based on his 2023-2024 season if he was 2 months younger? Pretty sure that would have made him eligible for the 2024 draft.
He was 41 days too old to be eligible, our 5th round pick out scored him by 10 points on the same team but had he been 41 days younger I suspect a middle 1st rounder because of his age.
I personally gauge forwards due to age more than most though.
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I'd have a hard time seeing Sennecke getting picked ahead of Martone if he had been eligible last year. That being said, I wasn't expecting Sennecke to go that high.
So anywhere from 3 to 6 ish probably. Certainly top 10. He's pretty interchangeable with Iginla, less impressive in league play but more impactful internationally.
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Snuffy is correct in saying that age is important, and I use it as well as a factor in how I analyze prospects. That said, I still think he goes in the top-5 of the 2024 Draft. Just my opinion.
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Would be a great problem to have but it would be a tough call if the flames were set to pick say 3rd overall and both Schaefer and Misa were already picked. Basically means the flames would have to pick between the best player available (Martone) or the best available center (Hagens). Also the American factor with Hagens might be a slight concern. The flames desperately need to get a center out of this draft but would they be passing on the next Matthew Tkachuk (Martone) to get potentially a lesser player most because they play center (Hagens/McQueen/Frondell)? I’ve always subscribed to taking the best player available no matter the position but they are so thin at center prospects that I might waiver in this scenario. But it would be painful to pass on Martone.
It’s the question of who do want in the playoffs- Jack Hughes or Matthew Tkachuk?
I might be falling out of the Roger McQueen fan-club right now.
He was supposed to be back sometime this December with a back injury suffered in October, but isn't back yet. I didn't realize that he had a back injury last season as well - a bulging disk that kept him out of 15 games. Is this the same injury, or is it a new one?
I might be falling out of the Roger McQueen fan-club right now.
He was supposed to be back sometime this December with a back injury suffered in October, but isn't back yet. I didn't realize that he had a back injury last season as well - a bulging disk that kept him out of 15 games. Is this the same injury, or is it a new one?
I might be falling out of the Roger McQueen fan-club right now.
He was supposed to be back sometime this December with a back injury suffered in October, but isn't back yet. I didn't realize that he had a back injury last season as well - a bulging disk that kept him out of 15 games. Is this the same injury, or is it a new one?
Love him as a prospect, but that injury does give me hesitation.
Kind of feels like CLB pick Cayden Lindstrom. Doubt it'll hurt his draft stock but definitely a buyer beware sticker will be applied.
Weird that there's two WHL stand out centers in consecutive drafts with back problems. Both being taller kids too. I wonder if playing too much hockey during massive growth spurts leads to these issues with a high frequency compared to shorter players.
I mean there's a physical reason teenagers go through long "lazy" streaks. Playing continuous hockey doesn't allow for that. It's probably even more important for taller people.
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Last edited by dammage79; 12-14-2024 at 07:58 PM.
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1) RW Porter Martone
2) C Mike Misa
3) D Matt Schaefer
4) C James Hagens
5) C Roger McQueen
6) C Anton Frondell
7) C Caleb Desnoyers
8) C Carter Bear
9) LW Malcolm Spence
10) LW Victor Eklund
11) D Logan Hensler
12) RW Justin Carbonneau
13) D Jackson Smith
14) C Ivan Ryabkin
15) C Will Moore
16) D Radim Mrtka
17) C Jake O'Brien
18) D Kashawn Aitcheson
19) LW Bill Zonnon
20) C Brady Martin
21) LW Lynden Lakovic
22) LW Jacob Ihs-Wozniak
23) LW Cole Reschny
24) G Josh Ravensbergen
25) D Cameron Reid
26) C Jack Murtagh
27) LW Nathan Behm
28) D Charlie Trethewey
29) D Blake Fiddler
30) C Braeden Cootes
31) RW Cam Schmidt
32) RW Shane Vansaghi
33) C Milton Gastrin
34) D Kurban Limatov
35) LW Emile Guite'
36) RW Ben Kevan
37) C Cole McKinney
38) D Sascha Boumedienne
39) C Tyler Hopkins
40) LW Zach Morin
41) C Jack Nesbitt
42) C Conrad Fondrk
43) G Jack Ivankovic
44) D Alex Huang
45) C Matthew Gard
46) RW Ben Kindel
47) C Eric Nilson
48) C Jordan Gavin
49) LW Cullen Potter
50) C Ethan Czata
51) D Carter Amico
52) C Hayden Paupanekis
53) C Luca Romano
54) D Owen Conrad
55) D Will Sharpe
56) RW Arvid Drott
57) RW Eddie Genborg
58) D Dakota Rheaume-Mullem 59) G Love Haremstam
{snip}
This is not a real person.
That’s the name of Austin Powers’ Underground Lair.
Last edited by Reggie Dunlop; 12-14-2024 at 08:09 PM.
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The eye test may tell us that little brother Victor has more tantalizing physical tools, but William had 23 points in 43 SHL games, while Victor’s production of 15 points in 24 games has been in the Allsvenskan-a tier lower than the SHL. It’s still a men’s league though, and that kind of output is still quite impressive. Like you guys, I could easily see him going as early as 7th-overall.
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Elite Prospects top 32
Here is their top 10, the rest can be seen in the video
1. James Hagens
2. Matthew Schaefer
3. Michael Misa
4. Porter Martone
5. Roger McQueen
6. Jackson Smith
7. Victor Eklund
8. Lynden Lakovic
9. Carter Bear
10. Cameron Schmidt
Last edited by Canada 02; 12-15-2024 at 01:20 PM.
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At the draft Conroy needs to make a deal to draft the two Latvian twins back to back, the Griva brothers are identical except one shoots left the other right, both with over 2 pts a game on their German jr team.
Both creative players and like the Sedins they do that voodoo blind passes knowing the brother will be there, Rihards has a little more jam to his game but neither is soft like the Sedins, they should go 2nd round.
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At the draft Conroy needs to make a deal to draft the two Latvian twins back to back, the Griva brothers are identical except one shoots left the other right, both with over 2 pts a game on their German jr team.
Both creative players and like the Sedins they do that voodoo blind passes knowing the brother will be there, Rihards has a little more jam to his game but neither is soft like the Sedins, they should go 2nd round.
Love this idea. Can't just draft one because guaranteed we'll draft the worse one
Thanks, devo- you obviously know your stuff, and I agree on all points. I will most likely do a Post-WJC list sometime in January, and I may have a few changes of opinion.
What do you look for in WJC to impact your opinion / how much does it change things? Always curious how much things like that impact the view on players.
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What do you look for in WJC to impact your opinion / how much does it change things? Always curious how much things like that impact the view on players.
I don't think it impacts the players in the first round much, or players that I feel I already have a good handle on. The WJC is a good way to evaluate Juniors because of the level of competition, but it has historically been more about the older players, rather than the draft-eligibles. There's always little questions I have in mind that can sometimes be answered about players I have already watched, and there's plenty one can learn about those who are bigger unknowns.
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Notes from the World Junior A Challenge, Gold Medal Game:
4 teams met in Camrose, Alta for this tournament: Team Sweden, Team USA, Team Canada East, and Team Canada West. The two Canadian teams were made up of unknowns, but the other two teams featured several prominent draft-eligibles- including C Anton Frondell. Team USA won the event by beating Team Sweden, 7-4 in the Gold Medal Game, meaning Sweden took home Silver.
D Oliwer Sjostrom: He's called a "speedster", but I must be crazy because he looked deficient in the skating department with a rather short and stiff stride. There were instances where he was hemmed in down low without the ability to outskate the American forecheckers, and had to stickhandle out of trouble. 2 assists in this game, and he looked the part of a smart offensive generator with some brilliant passing on display, but lacks size at 5'11". He finishes the tourney with 4 points in 5 games- tied for 4th among D in the event. He's in the midst of a disappointing draft year in the J20, with only 10 points in 24 games, after a promising season in 2023-24 that saw him post 24 points in 38 games, with a call-up to the SHL.
W Jacob Ihs-Wozniak: He was easily one of Sweden's best players, making several smart plays all over the ice, and showing an ability to solve problems on the fly. He has good hands and a quick shot, and scored a goal where he picked the top corner on their 3rd goal. On the PP, he was being set up to shoot. He's 6'3", skates well, and puts in a good two-way effort, but he could stand to use his body more, IMO. He was tied for 7th in the tournament with 6 points in 5 games, and is enjoying a good season in the J20, with 28 points in 22 games- after a rather slow start. Should be a first-round pick this summer.
C Anton Frondell: The marquee player of the tourney, and Team Sweden's Captain must still be trying to get up to speed after his early season injury, because he just isn't himself. For two periods in this game at least, he looked ordinary, and was committing giveaways with some soft plays, and losing races to loose pucks. In the third, he took an interference call for tackling an opposing player who was about to beat him for a breakaway along the boards- after the refs seemed to be putting away the whistles. He was better in the third frame though, and showed better smarts with more jump. At one point in the second, he completely walked an American D for a partial breakaway but hit the post. Frondell reminds me a bit of a poor-man's Peter Forsberg, in how he pays close attention to his defensive play, and is uncommonly strong- he doesn't get outmuscled too often, despite standing only 6'0", and 196lbs. No points in this game, and he finished the event tied with Sjostrom for 8th on team Sweden (tied for 14th-overall) with 4 points in 5 games. His struggles are ongoing back home as well, with 7 points in 10 J20 games, and 3 points in 7 Allsvenskan contests.
RW Arvid Drott: This is a player I like and feel is a bit underrated, although I was a bit disappointed by his offensive output in this tourney (3 points in 5 games). Drott is 6'1",187lbs and plays a rambunctious power game- he loves to initiate contact whenever he can. He may not be overflowing with skill, but he's good at everything and has an explosive skating stride with good edges and agility. He's doing well back home, with 13 goals and 25 points in 24 J20 games. He's a second-rounder in my book.
LW Eddie Genborg: Like Drott, I really like this player and feel like he's being overlooked a bit. Genborg is usually Sweden's most physical player by far- he's a 6'2",185lb power forward, plays with superb energy, and is meaner than Drott. Genborg wins battles, goes hard to the net, and exhibits excellent puck-protection. He threw many hits in this game, but tagged an American in the 2nd with an open-ice hit that took the wind out of his victim's sails. He reminds me (stylistically only) of Micheal Ferland with his swift skating and motor. Only 3 points in 5 games in Camrose, but he's putting up first-round numbers in the J20, with 29 points in 22 games- earning him an 8-game call-up to the SHL. I think he's headed for a second-round selection.
LW Victor Klingsell: He finished the tourney tied for 5th in scoring, with 7 points in 5 games, and has some hype from being Team Sweden's top player in the Hlinka, with 12 points in 5 games. Klingsell is only 5'10", but is a top-end offensive player with sublime skill, and sharp hands- his PP goal in the second period was a top-corner snipe through traffic, just a thing of beauty. From what I've seen though, he does not like physical confrontations unless he’s the one initiating , and at one point pumped the brakes to avoid taking contact at the blueline when he was trying to clear a loose puck from the zone. The Amerks got the puck deep, but thankfully for him, nothing came of it- it really disgusted me though. For an offensive player, he's having a rather poor season in the J20, with only 17 points in 24 games. I have him in the third round, but he just might slip.
C Eric Nilson: Like his Dad, former Flame Marcus Nilson, he's a hard-nosed, intelligent two-way C, and one of my favorites. He reminds a bit of Lucas Petterson or Linus Eriksson from last year's draft, in that he might have a high NHL-floor due to his responsible game. In addition, Nilson is a crisp passer and a fine playmaker, and his skills were on display in this game. No points in the Gold-Medal game, but he finished in a tie with Ihs-Wozniak for 7th in scoring in this event, and is doing well back home with 28 points in 23 J20 games, and a cup of coffee in the Allsvenskan (1 point in 2 games).
LW Melvin Novotny: He was always aware of his defensive responsibilities, and was taking a proactive approach to his positioning in this regard- perhaps at the expense of his offense. He is 6'1", and 187lbs, but was using his stick to dislodge pucks rather than engage physically- I feel he needs more intensity, aggression, and physicality. He's a smart player though, and his forte' is his vision and passing skills, with the ability to find teammates through traffic. No points in the Gold Medal game, but he was tied for 10th in scoring with 5 points in 5 games. Back home, I feel like he's got a whole lot more than what he's showing on the scoreboard- with 10 points in 11 games in 2023-24, he should be putting up more than 21 points in 23 J20 games this season. I think the scouts will know this too, and he'll go in the second round.
D Malte Vass: Only 1 point (and 35 PIM) in the tourney, but he more than made his presence felt with his mean physical game that drove the Americans nuts. Obviously, he loves to initiate contact, and threw some real jarring hits that stopped his victims in their tracks, and made him a target. He's got good mobility, and plays a shutdown game with a deft stick, good gap control, and smart positioning. He won't ever be a big offensive contributor though, as the 6'1",180lb rearguard only has 5 points (and 37 PIM) in 22 J20 games. Look for him in the late 3rd, or 4th round.
G Love Haremstam: Not the best showing for this 6'1",185lb netminder, who finished the event with a 2.68 GAA, and a .882 SV% in 3 games. He was beaten on the first shot he faced with a rather soft goal, and gave up a juicy rebound that he completely lost sight of on the second goal. The third goal against was a breakaway from one of the best offensive players for team USA, Will Zellers, and the 4th goal was from Team USA buzzing around the slot unchecked. The 5th goal was an end-to-end rush by USA Captain Finn McLaughlin, who beat him through the five-hole. That was followed by an empty-netter, and then a late goal by D Luke Osburn, at 19:37. In 4 games with Lulea HF J20, he was 2.28 GAA, and .927 SV%, but he has since been playing for Skelleftea AIK J20, where he's not faring as well with a 3.52 GAA, and an .899 SV%.
*Honorable mention to 2026 Draft-eligible F Ivar Stenberg (Otto's brother). This kid is one to watch, as he led this tourney with 7 goals and 11 points in 5 games (and was 3rd in the Hlinka with 10 points in 5 games). He's a slight 5'11", and 170lbs, and gets pushed around and knocked over easily, but he's a real talent who doesn't shy away from playing in traffic, or skating through his opponents' hands.
F Ryker Lee: He only played 3 games due to injury, but he had an assist in this game. His skating is average at best, but he still manages to play with pace due to his work-ethic, which is aided by his deft stickhandling ability. He showed off his excellent shot in this one, which is said to be his primary weapon. In the USHL, he has put up 24 points in 20 games- which puts him 7th in scoring for that league, at a pace that would put him at 70 points in 58 games.
C/LW Mason Moe: He's a good skater with size (6'1",185lbs), and uses both to forecheck hard- although he prefers to use his stick to poke pucks free from opponents. He had plenty of time on special teams in this one, and was a net-front presence on the PP, with good faceoff ability. Only 2 points in 5 games, and I doubt he'll ever be an offensive weapon, but rather a reliable defensive player in the pros. He plays with Ryker Lee for the Madison Capitols of the USHL, and has 14 points in 17 games.
C Teddy Mutryn: A big (6'1",207lbs), tough center who plays with high intensity and pace. He may not be a blazer, but he keeps his feet pumping hard, and is highly disruptive on the forecheck. He plays a heavy game, and managed to finish in a tie for 14th, with 4 points in 5 games. He has a good shooting arsenal, but failed to score a goal in this event- his points were all assists. Back home, he plays in the USHL for one of the worst (and lowest-scoring) teams, in the Chicago Steel- which may contribute somewhat to his less-than-impressive stats- 7 goals and 10 points in 21 games, to go with 35 PIM.
RW Ben Kevan: He's a player I really like, and I have him at the top of the second round. In Camrose, he was 4th in scoring with 6 goals (2nd behind Stenberg) and 8 points in 5 games, and was one of the best players for either team in this game, despite only getting 1 assist. Kevan (6'0",183lbs) is tough and hard-nosed, but he's also a speedster with soft hands and a skilled playmaking touch. USA's third goal was all him, grabbing the puck off the faceoff, working his way up the ice and sending Zellers in on a breakaway while taking an enormous hit. For the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers, another one of the circuit's worst teams, he has managed 6 goals and 16 points in 16 games, to go with 23 PIM.
D Jacob Rombach: There's something beautiful and almost poetic about watching a player who is 6'6", and 200lbs float around the ice with the ease that Rombach does. He's impossible to miss, and with his mobility, he's not afraid to join the rush. He's also not at all afraid to initiate contact (though he will use his reach and stick first) and he's good in retrievals. Rombach exhibits excellent shutdown ability, with tight gap control and a long, well-timed stick that he uses well to kill penalties- and if he pins you to the boards, you're done. He keeps his puck game simple, and will never be an offensive dynamo, but that's not his game. In Camrose, he managed 2 points in 5 games, and only has 5 assists in 22 games for Lincoln of the USHL.
Last edited by Sandman; 12-17-2024 at 01:51 AM.
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