2023 NHL Draft Thread

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Royle9

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

Thanks Royle- I think the top NA Defenseman on most lists is still Dragicevic, amirite? (He's actually Canadian). At any rate, there has been a small group of NA D-men that have been playing Mario Kart with each other all year, including Akey, Luca Cagnoni, Hunter Brzewtewicz, Jordan Tourigny, and one of my favorites, Etienne Morin. Lately, it's been Tanner Molendyk.

All can be found on page 22, post #439- except Morin, who's in post #436. Please let me know what you think.

[Sandman]

More Draft Thoughts:

-D Oliver Bonk has pedigree, being 1994 Ottawa first-rounder C Radek Bonk's son- and like his father, he plays a solid, if not spectacular, two-way game. The younger Bonk plies his trade for London of the OHL, where he posted a respectable 40 points in 67 games, and is still playing in the playoffs, so far with 9 assists in 16 games. Bonk has smarts and awareness in all situations, but most agree that his NHL projection has slid more towards being a defensive D in the show. He uses smart positioning, good gaps, and physicality down low, and in front of the net. He has size (6'1"), and uses it to angle opponents out of danger areas. He gets good reviews for his transition game as well, being calm and confident in his carries, and outlets- and he's good at snuffing out rushes and disrupting the cycle, using his anticipation and stick. He's playing behind Logan Mailloux, but he's a fine playmaker in the offensive zone, and can pinch from time to time, but he's at his best holding the line, and keeping pucks inside the zone. His shot is hard and accurate, and he's a nice stickhandler. Like his father, Oliver has some skating deficiencies, specifically his acceleration and top speed- he employs a long stride that looks smooth, but lacks some power. Based on his solid technique, it can be assumed that some of his issues will work themselves out as he gets stronger, but he will never be a burner. Ceiling here is 4th/5th Defenseman in the show, and he's showing up most often in the 2nd round.

[bdubbs]

I'm coming around on Gulyayev. A Makar clone with his edge work and acceleration it seems like. Leftie though.

[dammage79]

Simashev too. That dude, wow.

[Royle9]

I think you really need a 2nd 1st or early 2nd to take a flyer on those guys.
Just too much Russian factor and with both signed to contracts in Russia it’s almost a crap shoot if they make it over here.

[dammage79]

I absolutely deplore the term "Russian Factor". That being said, it's a real thing at this point in time.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I absolutely deplore the term "Russian Factor". That being said, it's a real thing at this point in time.

You’re not wrong, it’s a shame we have to even think about it.
But with the world the way it is now, the seemingly shady dealings with other Russian players and prospects or their families, you have to absolutely be sure you’ll be able to get them over to NA without issue.

If it wasn’t a factor Michkov would be the consensus #2

Brutal to even have to worry about , but it’s the sad reality.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by bdubbs

I'm coming around on Gulyayev. A Makar clone with his edge work and acceleration it seems like. Leftie though.

That’s a comparison I’ve seen used more than once.

[Sandman]

Simashev is like a Bigfoot sighting- a 6’4” defenseman should not be able to back up the opposing team like that. Skating and stickhandling.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Craig's updated list is out. I know people criticize him but I appreciate that right or wrong he puts out a list that is different.
https://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/craig...op-5-1.1960662

He's got a couple D moved into the top 10: Pellikka (5) and Willander (9)
Guys in range of the Flames: Benson, Perreault, Moore, Gauthier, Yager, Danielson.

[TheScorpion]

Wow Craig is really low on Reinbacher

[1qqaaz]

Button's Ranking:

15. Gabe Perrault, 5'10 3/4 and 132 points in 63 USHL games.
16. Oliver Moore, 5'11 and 75 points in 61 USHL games.

I find it shocking that that two similarly sized players, in the same league, with astronomically different point totals, are next to each other in the rankings.
You'd think Moore was practically a stay at home defensemen, while Perrault is a PP-only winger.
Moore is a center, but still. Moore is a lot faster, but still, if speed had such a large impact on the game, you'd think this would be at least somewhat reflected in the point totals.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Wow Craig is really low on Reinbacher

He's dropped a lot of the D men down a bunch. Simashev to 50, Dragevich lower.


Say Craig's list is a more accurate reflection on this draft, Flames should definitely try to snag a couple more 2nd round picks.

[Paulie Walnuts]

How is someone compared to Calgary legend Cale Makar getting a 2nd round grade.

[iloveicedhockey]

It can be lazy to look at the list and think the flames list is the same but the button's do chat hockey obviously and I now expect us to take Willander, Sale or Wood.

The year we took Pelletier I believe he was a few spots higher on button's list than the others.

[Naitix]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Button's Ranking:

15. Gabe Perrault, 5'10 3/4 and 132 points in 63 USHL games.
16. Oliver Moore, 5'11 and 75 points in 61 USHL games.

I find it shocking that that two similarly sized players, in the same league, with astronomically different point totals, are next to each other in the rankings.
You'd think Moore was practically a stay at home defensemen, while Perrault is a PP-only winger.
Moore is a center, but still. Moore is a lot faster, but still, if speed had such a large impact on the game, you'd think this would be at least somewhat reflected in the point totals.

I would take Moore over Perrault in the draft any day. Moore played on the second line while Perrault was on the best u-18 line in hockey, I don't doubt that Moore would have 100+ points if he got to play with Smith and Leonard (and they had chemistry)

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Naitix

I would take Moore over Perrault in the draft any day. Moore played on the second line while Perrault was on the best u-18 line in hockey, I don't doubt that Moore would have 100+ points if he got to play with Smith and Leonard (and they had chemistry)

That's my read too.

[FlamesAddiction]

It's weird to read how people have such different takes on Dvorsky. Some say is a highly skilled, but a lazy one-dimensional player that waits for plays to come to him. Then others say he is a hardworking two-way player. I have absolutely no first hand knowledge, but based on what others say about him, it's hard to get a read on him.

[1qqaaz]

But between the USHL and NTDP, Perrault produced twice as much as Moore.
That's exponentially greater than the difference between 1st and 2nd liners.

And if you're not on the first line, in the NTDP, during your draft year, you probably shouldn't be going in the early first round of a strong draft year.

You're basically saying that Perrault was on the top line despite also being on the better team.

Moore's NHLe is way too low to be going in the first half of the 1st, IMO. Intangibles can only go so far. There's excessive risk in projecting production where it simply doesn't exist.
Even if you like Moore than Perrault, I think it's difficult to justify taking Moore over someone like Danielson. Daniel is also as strong skating center, is larger, and most importantly, had much more impressive production.

[prizefighterinferno]

From what I understand there are some questions about Moore's ability to think the game at the highest level. Incredible skating, lots of decent tools and great motor, but doesn't always move the puck quickly or distribute particularly well.

Contrastingly, Perreault is probably a top-3-5 brain who doesn't have great wheels.