This was a good watch for me. Surprised by how much the guy hits although looking at his stat line, his PIM jumps out now (70 PIM in 27GP with I believe 2 suspensions). If he makes it to our late first-round pick, might be a good option just based on skill alone, regardless of his attitude problems.
I get Yakupov vibes from him. In junior, he was a high scoring wrecking ball but also a lazy prima donna when it came to having to actually work and didn't seem to grow out of that.
Having said that, drafting a player like that later in the 1st round as opposed to 1st OA probably isn't a bad risk. Some players get over it as they mature.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
Won't be 22 - because Florida is in the final four it will be one of the last four picks in the first round.
Oh yeah... forgot that pick value was still in flux. My bad. Honestly I think he'll be gone before either of our picks so it's probably moot. Someone will take the swing on him.
Ryabkin sure seems like a cross between Tkachuk and Bennett. Tkachuk's rat factor and ability to make the other team hate him, and Bennett with his ability to rush the puck, hit like a train, absorb hits from other players, and always look for a hit to separate the player. He really reminds me of Bennett (without the fighting - at least that i know of).
Character issues and conditioning issues - if you fix it, you get a top 6 center with bite, and that's always welcome. I may be swayed to pick Ryabkin ahead of Zonnon for the Flames' first pick, though I see Ryabkin as a bigger gamble here.
Ryabkin sure seems like a cross between Tkachuk and Bennett. Tkachuk's rat factor and ability to make the other team hate him, and Bennett with his ability to rush the puck, hit like a train, absorb hits from other players, and always look for a hit to separate the player. He really reminds me of Bennett (without the fighting - at least that i know of).
Character issues and conditioning issues - if you fix it, you get a top 6 center with bite, and that's always welcome. I may be swayed to pick Ryabkin ahead of Zonnon for the Flames' first pick, though I see Ryabkin as a bigger gamble here.
Bigger gamble with bigger upside, I think the Flames have to take that swing with whichever of the 2 1st round picks get him. They should be able to grab a "safer, lower upside" Centre with the other pick, but one of them has to be a homerun swing IMO. They have a lot of depth in the prospect pool but need some forwards, especially centers, with first line upside.
I think the first pick will be safe, our second pick in the first round (or third, please please please NHL trade gods) would be where we grab a guy like Ryabkin IMO.
Perfect draft would be Ryabkin @18, Gastrin @ FLA pick and Horcoff with their next in line. Say they grab another 1st in the draft. That's a pretty solid draft.
Ppl seem to be sleeping on Gastrin too. In fact I doubt he's there after pick 20.
__________________ "Everybody's so desperate to look smart that nobody is having fun anymore" -Jackie Redmond
So hard to get excited about skilled sub 6’ forwards. We’ve had many of those over the years and hasn’t got us very far. We’ve seen players like this start at c but get shifted to wing in the nhl as their frame doesn’t translate well to the pro game.
Have to get that element of size/skill at our pick. Likely 2-3 years away at minimum, would love to get that C but if not, top 4 D will be a good consolation prize.
Sorry but I am not buying the big centre argument. We have also taken big guys who have not panned out. Centres in the NHL within an inch of Kindel and Reschny at 5'11
Rossi: 5'9
Sebastion Aho: 6'0
Seth Jarvis: 5'10
Connor Bedard: 5'10
Ryan Donato: 6'0
Matt Duchene: 5'11
Nick Suzuki: 5'11
Jack Hughes: 5'11
Jean-Gabriel Pageau: 5'11
Nazem Kadri: 6'0
Vincent Trochek: 5'11
Claude Giroux: played C most of his career 5'11
Tim Stutzle: 6'0
Sidney Crosby: 5'11
Macklin Celebrini: 6'0
Will Smith: 6'0
Shane Wright: 6'0
Chandler Stephenson: 6'0
Robert Thomas 6'0
Brayden Point: 5'11
Logan Cooley: 6'0
Connor McMichael: 6'0
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That is a fair point, but we are starting to tip the scales on the smaller side. We cant draft players for the sake of size, but at some point it becomes a problem.
That is a fair point, but we are starting to tip the scales on the smaller side. We cant draft players for the sake of size, but at some point it becomes a problem.
The Flames need to draft the best centers available size aside
Sorry but I am not buying the big centre argument. We have also taken big guys who have not panned out. Centres in the NHL within an inch of Kindel and Reschny at 5'11
Rossi: 5'9
Sebastion Aho: 6'0
Seth Jarvis: 5'10
Connor Bedard: 5'10
Ryan Donato: 6'0
Matt Duchene: 5'11
Nick Suzuki: 5'11
Jack Hughes: 5'11
Jean-Gabriel Pageau: 5'11
Nazem Kadri: 6'0
Vincent Trochek: 5'11
Claude Giroux: played C most of his career 5'11
Tim Stutzle: 6'0
Sidney Crosby: 5'11
Macklin Celebrini: 6'0
Will Smith: 6'0
Shane Wright: 6'0
Chandler Stephenson: 6'0
Robert Thomas 6'0
Brayden Point: 5'11
Logan Cooley: 6'0
Connor McMichael: 6'0
I think where you might run into issues is if you have a top 6 filled with smaller stature guys.
looking at the Panthers top 6 and they're all on the bigger end.
Like just hypothetically say our top 6 forwards end up being: Coronato, Zary, Frost and Reschny, then I do think you are a little worried.
But that does feel like a problem for later. Right now we need to be finding elite offensive players.
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Sorry but I am not buying the big centre argument. We have also taken big guys who have not panned out. Centres in the NHL within an inch of Kindel and Reschny at 5'11
Rossi: 5'9
Sebastion Aho: 6'0
Seth Jarvis: 5'10
Connor Bedard: 5'10
Ryan Donato: 6'0
Matt Duchene: 5'11
Nick Suzuki: 5'11
Jack Hughes: 5'11
Jean-Gabriel Pageau: 5'11
Nazem Kadri: 6'0
Vincent Trochek: 5'11
Claude Giroux: played C most of his career 5'11
Tim Stutzle: 6'0
Sidney Crosby: 5'11
Macklin Celebrini: 6'0
Will Smith: 6'0
Shane Wright: 6'0
Chandler Stephenson: 6'0
Robert Thomas 6'0
Brayden Point: 5'11
Logan Cooley: 6'0
Connor McMichael: 6'0
Conversely, we have taken smaller players that haven’t panned out either.
Eichel/draisatl/barkov all still playing. Yes, Aho is not big but 3 out of the 4 teams that are still playing have that prototypical big C. To coin Brian Burke we don’t have to draft someone out of the Detroit Zoo but at same time, we can’t assemble the Smurfs. As playoffs are the goal, we need to have players who can play that hard, heavy game.
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Conversely, we have taken smaller players that haven’t panned out either.
Eichel/draisatl/barkov all still playing. Yes, Aho is not big but 3 out of the 4 teams that are still playing have that prototypical big C. To coin Brian Burke we don’t have to draft someone out of the Detroit Zoo but at same time, we can’t assemble the Smurfs. As playoffs are the goal, we need to have players who can play that hard, heavy game.
Yup, but Burke and crew took Hunter Smith in the name of size. Missing out on a #1C.
Size is important, but you cant take guys for the sake of size. Everyone guy you listed was a top 3 pick. Something a lot of the fans are against, and Edwards as well.
You don't get them in the 2nd round, you will get the small guys.
I just hope they focus on players with high offensive upside. Rarely a fan of selecting players with limited potential. Teams too often select players who have not put up impressive offensive numbers in Junior because they have intangibles or two-way game while passing on players that have a better chance to be top six forwards but don’t have a 200 foot game.
Bingo, Sandman:
Any chance we can sticky your lists at the front page of the thread so we can reference them on draft day??
I've added all this with updated Upside Hockey links to the OP (original post in this thread) for ease off access!)
(Sandman's Final Top 100 & Bingo's Consolidated Rankings)
I can try and remember to update as Bingo updates his.
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I also plan to release Sandman's to the wild as a Substack Post and at the top of our prospect profiles page on our Upside Hockey website.
^Quick ask on this for your consideration (maybe a CP jihad, but hate asking for favours lol).
We're at a modest 199 email subscribers last I checked. It's free and helps drive traffic and spread the good word of Sandman (and my rankings guru Eldon MacD). Consider dropping an email in here, but no worries and enjoy regardless: https://upsidehockey.substack.com/
^I have to say Sandman profiles on our Substack look pretty awesome; In talking with media relations leads for the OHL, WHL, & Q, I have access for articles for pics of profiles from the league and I've tried to pick out the best options I can find. Cheers.
Yup, but Burke and crew took Hunter Smith in the name of size. Missing out on a #1C.
Size is important, but you cant take guys for the sake of size. Everyone guy you listed was a top 3 pick. Something a lot of the fans are against, and Edwards as well.
You don't get them in the 2nd round, you will get the small guys.
Hintz and Aho were 2nd round picks, need to hit on guys like this in the 2nd round onwards.
Hunter Smith pick was brutal. All for taking flyers on players in later rounds. But lots of teams passed on Point. Kudos for TBL for finding him in 3rd round.
Point is top nine undersized wingers shouldn't be our target in the early part of the draft. If that's the best that there is at our pick, trade down (if you can) and pick the best player available with a frame who can play the playoff style game, or just use your pick for this type of player.
Hintz and Aho were 2nd round picks, need to hit on guys like this in the 2nd round onwards.
Hunter Smith pick was brutal. All for taking flyers on players in later rounds. But lots of teams passed on Point. Kudos for TBL for finding him in 3rd round.
Point is top nine undersized wingers shouldn't be our target in the early part of the draft. If that's the best that there is at our pick, trade down (if you can) and pick the best player available with a frame who can play the playoff style game, or just use your pick for this type of player.
Oh I meant those big centers you listed Barkov and Eichel though Eichel isn’t playing. They are top 2 picks. You won’t get those guys in the 2nd round. Maybe if you get lucky like LA or Anaheim.
But I wouldn’t trade back if a small player is available and is super skilled. Skill trumps size for me. If it’s a guy with question marks not as skilled sure.
With Hintz I don’t see him as that #1C that wins you a cup. I don’t feel he controls the game on his stick that’s why they went out and got Rantanen.
