Cosentino ranks Verhoeff #1 in November rankings.

[Johnny Rotten]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...ember-edition/

[Johnny Rotten]

I apologize if this has been mentioned elsewhere.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Johnny Rotten

I apologize if this has been mentioned elsewhere.

I think Bukula has him first now too.

[SemicolonD]

Highlights the importance of finishing 32nd even if we don't win the lottery, I'm still scared the teams gonna claw back to 25th overall eventually.

We as fans have already gutted out over a quarter of the season as 32nd, just commit Conny!

[FanIn80]

Verhoeff
POS: D
Age: 17
Size: 6'4" 212lbs
Last year in WHL: 45pts in 63 games (10pts in 11 playoff games) (no awards)
Start of NCAA: 8 pts in 12 games

McKenna
POS: LW
Age: 17
Size: 6'0" 165lbs
Last year in WHL: 129pts in 56 games (38pts in 16 playoff games) (WHL Champ, WHL and CHL MVP)
Start of NCAA: 15pts in 14 games


Both guys playing against guys in their 20's for the first time, Verhoeff with the obvious advantage of already being bigger than most of them -- McKenna still filling out.

Let's not forget that Johnny's first year in college was 44 in 44. Second year 51 in 35 and then finally 80 in 40. It's not a mind-blowing leap to understand that smaller players take time to get comfortable in new surroundings. Hockey's a physical sport, regardless of position/playstyle. It's an easier game when you're already one of the biggest guys on the ice when you get there.

#McKenna or bust

[Vinny01]

McKenna is still number 1 in my heart.

[Monahammer]

I'm not even convinced I would take Verhoeff over Stenberg. If we were picking 2nd.
I think Verhoeff would be 3-4 on my list depending how Lawrence is doing.

I think he's got the russians too low in this ranking too.

[Aarongavey]

Verhoeff is a clear number one on my list. Think he will be the consensus best player from this draft by 2030.

[AustinL_NHL]

Between McKenna having familiarity with Basha and Misa, as well as the countless connections to Verhoeff (the Iginla family, playing with Reschny the last 3 years), the Flames have good connections to both players.

[devo22]

it's a good thing if there are multiple potential franchise players up for grabs when the Flames probably have a very high pick.

Drafting McKenna 2nd overall with a huge chip on his shoulder sounds good to me.

[Erick Estrada]

I think this is all crazy talk. If Ekblad is Verhoeff's ceiling then that's a good player but no way I'm taking that over a kid that's done what McKenna has in junior. I'm not really surprised a 165lb skilled kid is having a bit of a tough time defensively against men and I simply think some of these pundits are reading too much into the fact that the early translation hasn't been seamless. November rankings are just for clicks anyway as all that counts is the body of work after their season is over. McKenna possibly sliding may be the best thing that can happen for the Flames.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Verhoeff
POS: D
Age: 17
Size: 6'4" 212lbs
Last year in WHL: 45pts in 63 games (10pts in 11 playoff games) (no awards)
Start of NCAA: 8 pts in 12 games

McKenna
POS: LW
Age: 17
Size: 6'0" 165lbs
Last year in WHL: 129pts in 56 games (38pts in 16 playoff games) (WHL Champ, WHL and CHL MVP)
Start of NCAA: 15pts in 14 games


Both guys playing against guys in their 20's for the first time, Verhoeff with the obvious advantage of already being bigger than most of them -- McKenna still filling out.

Let's not forget that Johnny's first year in college was 44 in 44. Second year 51 in 35 and then finally 80 in 40. It's not a mind-blowing leap to understand that smaller players take time to get comfortable in new surroundings. Hockey's a physical sport, regardless of position/playstyle. It's an easier game when you're already one of the biggest guys on the ice when you get there.

#McKenna or bust

Wyttenbach is 9 months older, not a big dude (shorter, but heavier) and is producing at a better ppg pace. I'm not ignoring McKenna's numbers from the W (mind blowing), but there's legitimate reason for concern about his production at the NCAA level.

*edited to fix bad math on age difference

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I think this is all crazy talk. If Ekblad is Verhoeff's ceiling then that's a good player but no way I'm taking that over a kid that's done what McKenna has in junior. I'm not really surprised a 165lb skilled kid is having a bit of a tough time defensively against men and I simply think some of these pundits are reading too much into the fact that the early translation hasn't been seamless. November rankings are just for clicks anyway as all that counts is the body of work after their season is over. McKenna possibly sliding may be the best thing that can happen for the Flames.

Well he is having a tough time offensively with 4 goals as well, which is well off the pace Gaudreau had when he was 4 months older playing his first year in the NCAA. Don’t think it is just his indifference to defence that is causing some pause.

[FanSince'01]

Originally Posted by Leeman4Gilmour

Wyttenbach is 3 months older, not a big dude (shorter, but heavier) and is producing at a better ppg pace. I'm not ignoring McKenna's numbers from the W (mind blowing), but there's legitimate reason for concern about his production at the NCAA level.

Wyttenbach is almost a full year older than McKenna, not 3 months, and almost 20lbs heavier for basically the same height as McKenna. Those are big differences for a teenage prospect playing hockey against men.

I agree that his production so far is concerning, but we need to consider some of the context around it. Give McKenna another 20lbs on his current frame and I would bet you we're having a different conversation.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by FanSince'01

Wyttenbach is almost a full year older than McKenna, not 3 months, and almost 20lbs heavier for basically the same height as McKenna. Those are big differences for a teenage prospect playing hockey against men.

I agree that his production so far is concerning, but we need to consider some of the context around it. Give McKenna another 20lbs on his current frame and I would bet you we're having a different conversation.

I fixed my bad math.

I understand the context. But, every player who has gone on to be drafted 1st overall and eventually lived up to that billing never went through this dramatic of an adjusment period making that transition from playing against their peers to playing against older, bigger players. And we're talking NCAA here. Quite a few notches below NHL. I think the small age and size differences in the Wyttenbach to McKenna comparsion should be overshadowed by the fact I'm comparing a 5th rounder to a potential 1st overall. McKenna's production is good for a Freshman. But, 1st overalls are generally better than good. I just understand the consternation is all I'm saying.

[GioforPM]

I think this is a bit of clickbait by Cosentino. He gets views and next July no one will remember the prediction, unless McKenna does slide, in which case he will remember it..

[ComixZone]

I don't buy it.

McKenna, no matter what.

[Jiggy]

Pronman's thought on McKenna

"His production is basically the same as Adam Valentini at Michigan, who is the same age, same conference, same draft class and is a projected third- or fourth-round pick. You can have reasonable discussions about your evaluation of McKenna and the relative value of a dozen games versus his body of work, but for a guy whose value is essentially his scoring, he’s not scoring enough"

[1qqaaz]

I agree with most of the other posts here. McKenna's ceiling just seems to be so much higher. Hard not to take him.

[jg13]

Adam Valentini is not going in the 3rd or 4th round putting up a PPG in college as a 17 year old lol.