2023 NHL Draft Thread

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Originally Posted by shutout

https://theathletic.com/4601018/2023...ft-2023-staff/

Athletic staff mock draft has McKenzie selecting

16. Calgary Flames: Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)
The Flames are in need of dynamic talent whichever way they can get it through this draft class. Considering they’re in best-player-available territory, having a player like Yager fall to them at 16 would go a long way to bolstering their prospects cupboard. The goalscoring ability, despite his size, is a bit too tantalizing to pass up for Calgary. — Julian McKenzie

Dammit that's who I was hoping for, and now that we've seen it in a mock draft I doubt it happens

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by shutout

https://theathletic.com/4601018/2023...ft-2023-staff/

Athletic staff mock draft has McKenzie selecting

16. Calgary Flames: Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)
The Flames are in need of dynamic talent whichever way they can get it through this draft class. Considering they’re in best-player-available territory, having a player like Yager fall to them at 16 would go a long way to bolstering their prospects cupboard. The goalscoring ability, despite his size, is a bit too tantalizing to pass up for Calgary. — Julian McKenzie

Their mock has three players in my average below pick 16 taken ahead of 16, as well as the average 14th and 15th picks.

That leaves ...

9 Oliver Moore
12 Cody Barlow
13 Matthew Wood
16 Edward Sale
17 Brayden Yager
20 Quentin Musty
21 Otto Stenberg
22 Andrew Cristall

on the board when Calgary picks.

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Originally Posted by Bingo

Their mock has three players in my average below pick 16 taken ahead of 16, as well as the average 14th and 15th picks.

That leaves ...

9 Oliver Moore
12 Cody Barlow
13 Matthew Wood
16 Edward Sale
17 Brayden Yager
20 Quentin Musty
21 Otto Stenberg
22 Andrew Cristall

on the board when Calgary picks.

I didn't even look at the article, if Moore was there I don't see how you pass him up. Other than that I'd go Yager. But I'm looking at it with blinders on hoping our focus is taking a C with our first rounder.

[Tkachukwagon]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Their mock has three players in my average below pick 16 taken ahead of 16, as well as the average 14th and 15th picks.

That leaves ...

9 Oliver Moore
12 Cody Barlow
13 Matthew Wood
16 Edward Sale
17 Brayden Yager
20 Quentin Musty
21 Otto Stenberg
22 Andrew Cristall

on the board when Calgary picks.

Of that list, Sale is the only one I am weary of. Everything I have read about him is very pedestrian with middle six player commonly describing him.

From the Hockey Writer's scouting report on Sale:

Šalé has all the makings of a player that can crack the NHL within a couple years of being drafted. A younger league, there’s no reason he can’t take advantage of the growing trend. That said, this jack-of-all-trades has had a hard time putting all the skills together at once during his first year in the senior circuit and that could knock his confidence a little going into his draft. Still, there’s no reason to believe he can’t become a middle-six at some point down the road. He simply has to define his game and hone in on the skills he wants to master.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by shutout

https://theathletic.com/4601018/2023...ft-2023-staff/

Athletic staff mock draft has McKenzie selecting

16. Calgary Flames: Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)
The Flames are in need of dynamic talent whichever way they can get it through this draft class. Considering they’re in best-player-available territory, having a player like Yager fall to them at 16 would go a long way to bolstering their prospects cupboard. The goalscoring ability, despite his size, is a bit too tantalizing to pass up for Calgary. — Julian McKenzie

The name Yager just screams star. He's going to be fighting kaiju and turning into a titan in no time.

[ForeverFlameFan]

If I had to guess Barlow sounds like the guy we'd go for if he's available at our pick. Just pure speculation and guessing on my end.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Athletic with an interesting piece by Pronman. What scouts/execs think about some of the names. Interesting that Fantilli is not a lock at #2 for some of them (i assume red herrings galore in here!). Also, a lot of debate of who is better amongst Will Smith, Leonard, and Perreault.


https://theathletic.com/4553117/2023...-observations/

After reading that I get the feeling Perreault may go top 10.

[1qqaaz]

Does anyone have any hot takes or bold predictions for the draft?

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Does anyone have any hot takes or bold predictions for the draft?

This 1st round is too wild to have a hot take. Maybe CLB goes Smith over Calrsson, that'd be the wildest hot take.

Okay 1 more, Michkov goes #2.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

After reading that I get the feeling Perreault may go top 10.

If I'm Arizona...and Smith falls to me at 6. Then I'd be thinking really hard at Perreault at 12.

I know you're never supposed to draft for junior chemistry...but those two were dynamic together and put up numbers never seen before for the USNDTP

I would bet on trying to foster that chemistry moving forward.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

The name Yager just screams star. He's going to be fighting kaiju and turning into a titan in no time.

Or destroying the world.....

[Tkachukwagon]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Does anyone have any hot takes or bold predictions for the draft?

My hot take is Andrew Cristall will slide into the second round, even though I would be happy if the Flames selected him at #16

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Icon

I didn't even look at the article, if Moore was there I don't see how you pass him up. Other than that I'd go Yager. But I'm looking at it with blinders on hoping our focus is taking a C with our first rounder.

I would be shocked if he falls to the Flames, but delighted.
But I just can't see the best skater in the draft, who is also a centre, lasting to 16.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Tkachukwagon

My hot take is Andrew Cristall will slide into the second round, even though I would be happy if the Flames selected him at #16

Arent he and Bedard friends? https://www.kelownacapnews.com/sport...ut-in-kelowna/

I think the hawks will take him with the TB pick if he's still there.

[bdubbs]

I'm sad about all the love for Leonard because I would've loved for him to fall to our pick. I'd be happy with Moore or Danielson personally.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

The name Yager just screams star. He's going to be fighting kaiju and turning into a titan in no time.

The BOA will be Bouch bombs vs Yager bombs.

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Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I would be shocked if he falls to the Flames, but delighted.
But I just can't see the best skater in the draft, who is also a centre, lasting to 16.

Agreed, was just referring to the mock draft.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by cral12

Updated Upside Hockey profiles page yet again - I've lost count lol, but must be near 130 or perhaps more now of Sandman's brilliant work!

Direct link to profiles:
https://bit.ly/upsidenhldraftprofiles

I've now added about 15 of the goalies that Sandman profiled to the profile page, the ones that my ranking guy E-Mac rated. I'll get the additional ones up on the Watchlist section as well soon enough.

[shutout]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Does anyone have any hot takes or bold predictions for the draft?

I liked the idea from the Athletic mock draft.

I think that somebody is going to trade up and draft Michkov instead of a team who he falls to drafting him.


Second bold take.

Flames will trade back from 16 to the 20-22 range to pick up an extra second or third round pick and will draft Ritchie.

[bdubbs]

Originally Posted by shutout

I liked the idea from the Athletic mock draft.

I think that somebody is going to trade up and draft Michkov instead of a team who he falls to drafting him.


Second bold take.

Flames will trade back from 16 to the 20-22 range to pick up an extra second or third round pick and will draft Ritchie.

Not sure if the second one is a bold take, given that the Flames have traded down in the past and picked inferior players in the past. We could've had Teuvo Teravainen for example. For once, I'd like the Flames to not trade down when they've got a shot at a solid young star in the mid ranged picks.