[Sportsnet] 2018 Draft Rankings: November

[Where's Wellwood]

Jeff Marek warning for those who are iffy about him. http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/sportsnets-2018-nhl-draft-prospect-rankings-november/

 

Quote

The year of the defenceman.

That’s the way it’s shaping up early in our evaluation of the top prospects available for the 2018 NHL Draft.

Rasmus Dahlin of Frolunda still leads the entire pack and for good reason — he has everything you’d crave in a blueliner in the new NHL.

If Dahlin needed any more validation of his skills there’s talk that Sweden may take him to the Olympics in Pyeongchang.

And while Dahlin is the best of the crop he’s not the only high-end blueliner up for grabs this year. In my rankings for November (Sam Cosentino and I will alternate publishing the monthly lists) I have 13 defencemen in the top 31 and I could have made the case for the inclusion of four or five more.

Last year we saw defenceman Miro Heiskanen rise all season long and up getting picked third by Dallas and many scouts wonder if Noah Dobson of Acadie-Bathurst could play that role in this year’s draft. Just about every scout I talk to who views Dobson gushes about his potential.

But it’s a long season and these lists won’t really start to take a sharp focus until the New Year after we’ve seen more club play and international competition.

 

1. Rasmus Dahlin, D, (Frolunda, SHL): Every game he plays produces a new highlight reel for the Internet. His talents can’t be overstated. Skill, skating, size, creativity, physicality, Dahlin is the total package. Is he the best 17-year old blue line talent the country has ever produced? Many say yes.

2. Andrei Svechnikov, RW, (Barrie Colts, OHL): Currently out eight weeks with a broken hand. Won’t alter his draft stock one bit. Dynamic, supremely skilled player who can impact a game quickly.

3. Filip Zadina, RW, (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL): Such a skilled player. Moves around the rink easily and finds open ice quickly. Has a great snap shot.

4. Adam Boqvist, D, (Brynas, SHL): Described by some as the most Erik Karlsson-like player to come out of Sweden. That’s the comparison that keeps coming up when you talk to scouts.

5. Brady Tkachuk, C, (Boston University, NCAA): A really tough player to play against and loves it best when the game gets a little dirty. Has skills and instinct to go along with the toughness.

6. Joe Veleno, C, (Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL): Quick, plays with pace and is an above average skater. Plays the 200-foot game and can stickhandle in a phone booth.

7. Quinn Hughes, D, (U of Michigan, NCAA): Ideal blueliner for the way the game is played now. Can create offence out of thin air. Supremely skilled and quick.

8. Rasmus Kupari, C, (Karpat, Liiga): This right shot centre has a great set of hands and speed to go along with it.

9. Jared McIsaac, D, (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL): Plays with a nasty edge and moves pucks with purpose and intelligence.

10. Bode Wilde, D, (USNTDP): Having a great season with the NDP. Great offensive player with a wicked shot.

 

11. Jack McBain, C, (Toronto Junior Canadiens, OJHL): A big kid with the skills of a smaller player. Is dominating at the Junior A level. Could use more challenging competition to take his game to the next level. Loaded with potential.

12. Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, (USNTDP): A skilled, natural goal scorer, Wahlstrom gets to pucks quick. An offensive force.

13. Evan Bouchard, D, (London Knights): His shot is a weapon and can run an effective PP. Very calm with the puck. Really high ceiling here.

14. Joel Farabee, LW, (USNTDP): Plays both ends of the ice and has a natural ability to find the back of the net.

15. Ty Smith, D (Spokane Chiefs, WHL): A really smart player, smooth skater and tone setter.

16. Noah Dobson, D, (Acadie-Bathurst Titan, QMJHL): An effortless and quick skater who moves the puck efficiently. His wheels and good stick keeps players away from danger areas.

17. Ryan McLeod, C, (Mississauga Steelheads, OHL): Like his brother Mike (Devils first rounder from 2016), Ryan loves the puck on his stick. Where is older sibling uses his physicality to get to the net, Ryan uses his smarts and natural finishing ability.

18. Akil Thomas, C, (Niagara Ice Dogs, OHL): Has physical gifts and the tools to play a strong, well-rounded game. A really quick player.

19. Isac Lundestrom, C/LW, (Lulea, SHL): Has had a great start to his season and is already one of the top players with Lulea. Creates offence and scores big goals.

20. Allan McShane, C, (Oshawa Generals, OHL): A really smart player with great vision. Has a great release and just needs to fire it more.

 

21. Jet Woo, D, (Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL): With Josh Brook injured, Woo has been the Warriors’ best defenceman. A throwback player who loves to hit, Woo also has a good first pass and can skate out of trouble. His father Larry played with Victoria and Swift Current.

22. Benoit-Olivier Groulx, C, (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL): Nothing flashy about Groulx, but is solid at all aspects of the game. Positionally sound and unselfish.

23. Jacob Olofsson, C, (Timra, Hockey Allsvenskan): A speedy centre who can both distribute and score off the rush with a deadly shot. His line in Timra with draft eligible Filip Hallander and Canucks prospect Jonathan Dahlen has been on fire this season.

24. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, (Assat, Liiga): Physically mature and has a great internal drive. Kotkaniemi is a strong skater with good separation speed.

25. Barrett Hayton, C, (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL): He gets himself into scoring areas easily and can really fire it when he gets there. Strong, but needs to engage more physically.

26. Serron Noel, RW (Oshawa Generals OHL): A highly skilled player with a large frame who is only scratching the surface of his talent. Can beat players one-on-one. Father was ex-CFL running back “Dean, Dean the Touchdown Machine” Noel.

27. Ryan Merkley, D, (Guelph Storm, OHL): The good: he can make passes and plays that most NHLers can’t. The bad: his play away from the puck. We know he can play in one zone, but the question is, does he want to play in all three?

28. Calen Addison, D, (Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL): This right shot defenceman was one of the reasons Canada won gold at the Ivan Hlinka this past summer. His 5-foot-10, 179-pound size is an issue for some, but his skill compensates.

29. Grigori Denisenko, LW, (Yaroslavl Loko, MHL): Still needs to fill out his 5-foot-10, 165-pound frame, but has legit skills. Can create and finish.

30. Rasmus Sandin, D, (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL): Smart, smooth skater who can jump-start an offence from his own zone in transition.

31. Mattias Samuelsson, D, (USNTDP): A second-generation player who takes care of his own zone first. Physically he’s already set for the next level.

Besides the top names I've heard before (Dahlin, Svechnikov, Tkachuk, etc), two D which stood out to me while I was skimming the list:

13. Evan Bouchard: Isn't he the D-man Juolevi was paired with for some time last year? Juolevi was kind of mentoring him?

21. Jet Woo: His play style is what Gudbranson brings but he has a good transition game is better. If it translates to the NHL, we could trade Guddy for more assets. A bit shorter than Guddy though.

 

Still super early for rankings, and no doubt people not on this list will rise and guys at the top will slip (like Chychrun, Vilardi, etc. did).

 

Thoughts? Do we pick a D-man this year? Are we confident in our centres for the future with Pettersson, Bo, Gaudette? Are offensive wingers easy enough to get in free agency/trade?

[-AJ-]

I think you probably pick the BPA, but based on our prospect pools, I do think we need a defenseman more than a forward.

[Brobidus]

We really do need an elite RHD in the system, but with the 1st and 2nd rounds being as D-heavy as they are, I say we go BPA in the first and D in the second. 
One guy I will keep an eye out for is Alexander Alexeyev. He seems to be slotted to go in the early second round and I seem to be getting a Rasmus Andersson feeling from him, they don't play the same, but I get the feeling he can become an A prospect really quickly. 

The good thing about this draft is that there is a good offensive D prospect every 5 or so picks, so even if we don't get into the top 5 we could go away with what we need in our prospect pool.

That said, if we go top 5, and can pick one of Svechnikov or Zadina, then we really should go for them. These guys are awesome and one of them could be an ideal partner for Boeser on the top line with Pettersson in the future. Kotkaniemi is a guy I'm watching in case we don't fall that far this year.

As every year however, this draft is gonna be exciting and we need more picks!

[Baer.]

Bode Wilde is somebody I hope the Canucks can nab. Big right handed, offensive guy. Would go good next to Juolevi.

[Alflives]

BRADY TKATCHUK is the only player (other than Dhalin) we want.  He's a center, who has skill, and plays with a nasty edge.  Then Pettersson could play on the wing, where he could use his elite skills as a play-maker with more freedom.  

Tkatchuk

Bo

Gaudette

Granlund

 

That's a very strong team up the middle, and not easy to play against either.

[JM_]

Just now, Alflives said:

BRADY TKATCHUK is the only player (other than Dhalin) we want.  He's a center, who has skill, and plays with a nasty edge.  Then Pettersson could play on the wing, where he could use his elite skills as a play-maker with more freedom.  

Tkatchuk

Bo

Gaudette

Granlund

 

That's a very strong team up the middle, and not easy to play against either.

No. Nyet. Non. Nein. No Tkachucks ever wear the blue and green. No. 

[Alflives]

Just now, Jimmy McGill said:

No. Nyet. Non. Nein. No Tkachucks ever wear the blue and green. No. 

Even if it meant a CUP?  Heck, at this point, I'd take Satan on our team, if it meant a Cup.  (no, not that Satan:)

[JM_]

Just now, Alflives said:

Even if it meant a CUP?  Heck, at this point, I'd take Satan on our team, if it meant a Cup.  (no, not that Satan:)

if thats my only choice I'll deal with the nausea but if not no. Its a disaster waiting to happen. He's going to be a douche, and we'll be ensured to have a "Kesler moment" down the road with him demanding a trade, if he ever signs in the first place. He's in college and will screw us as a college free agent. 

 

We have some great toughness coming in Gadjovich, and we can draft other physical guys outside of the first round. We need elite D desperately. 

[Alflives]

1 minute ago, Jimmy McGill said:

if thats my only choice I'll deal with the nausea but if not no. Its a disaster waiting to happen. He's going to be a douche, and we'll be ensured to have a "Kesler moment" down the road with him demanding a trade, if he ever signs in the first place. He's in college and will screw us as a college free agent. 

 

We have some great toughness coming in Gadjovich, and we can draft other physical guys outside of the first round. We need elite D desperately. 

I forgot about the college "screwing us over" potential.  I'm with you now.  

[Smelling Salts]

If we can make the playoffs and still nab Merkley that would be a pretty darn good year in my books. He might be a work in progress defensively right now, but perhaps more than anything else that can be learned over time. Just look at how much Erik Karlsson's two-way game has improved.

[JM_]

1 minute ago, Alflives said:

I forgot about the college "screwing us over" potential.  I'm with you now.  

Normally I think the college worry is overblown, but in this case I think with daddy Tkachuck a well known hater of Vancouver.... ugh, it just seems like too big a risk to me. 

 

Bode Wilde, sure, take the college risk. Woo, yup. If we keep up the decent play we might be looking at the 10-15 pick range anyway so if thats the case it wouldn't surprise me at all if Jim picks a Euro skater none of us have heard of yet. 

[Nessnuck27]

I feel like the Canucks will be the Flyers of last year... barely miss the playoffs but get rewarded with a top 3 pick in the lottery draft this year. I think Bettman owes it to Vancouver after pushing us down to 5 the last two years.

[khay]

We are a top pairing d prospect away from rounding out our prospect pool.

 

The way we are playing now, we are going to contend for a playoff spot or barely miss. If we barely miss, then I hope the hockey gods finally reward us and get us a top pairing D.

 

[Tre Mac]

57 minutes ago, Jimmy McGill said:

if thats my only choice I'll deal with the nausea but if not no. Its a disaster waiting to happen. He's going to be a douche, and we'll be ensured to have a "Kesler moment" down the road with him demanding a trade, if he ever signs in the first place. He's in college and will screw us as a college free agent. 

 

We have some great toughness coming in Gadjovich, and we can draft other physical guys outside of the first round. We need elite D desperately. 

Benning isn't going to make that mistake again.  It's moot though, doubt the Canucks will finish in the lottery range and if they do they'll get #$%ed over as per usual.

[Down by the River]

4 hours ago, Where's Wellwood said:

1. Rasmus Dahlin, D, (Frolunda, SHL): Every game he plays produces a new highlight reel for the Internet. 

 

This includes when Petterson put up a 5er on him. 

 

[PunjabiCanucks]

Would love to get a LW scorer.... still hoping for a top 2 pick ofc

[Fateless]

Surprised Merkley is down at 27th.

[JM_]

5 minutes ago, Fateless said:

Surprised Merkley is down at 27th.

that could be very good for us if we end up trading a roster player for a late 1st. I sure hope Jim can pull that off, it would be great to be able to pick up 2 potential PP D in the 1st round this year.

[dank.sinatra]

Definitely surprised Merkley is down so low. If we end up finishing with a somewhat decent record I'd love to take him anywhere from 10 - 25. Right handed, super skilled, offensive defenseman. If the season goes south and we end up picking within the 3 - 10 range (1 and 2 are obvious choices) Boqvist would be my first pick. Hughes would be a great addition as well. Gonna be a real deep draft class.

[Odd.]

3 hours ago, dank.sinatra said:

Definitely surprised Merkley is down so low. If we end up finishing with a somewhat decent record I'd love to take him anywhere from 10 - 25. Right handed, super skilled, offensive defenseman. If the season goes south and we end up picking within the 3 - 10 range (1 and 2 are obvious choices) Boqvist would be my first pick. Hughes would be a great addition as well. Gonna be a real deep draft class.

This year would be the perfect year to draft a stud defenseman. Merkley seems as though he'll be available where we'll probably pick at around 10-20 range.