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Everything posted by DeNiro
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2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
He plays at such a low level it's hard to project how his game would translate to the NHL. If he had some international experience for comparison it would make me a little more confident about management picking him. At this point i think a player like him is too risky. We need to pick a player with a high ceiling, but we would really be swinging for the fences with this one. Liljegren and Heiskanen represent a safer pick with high upsides that not many would question taking 5th overall. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
Just to point out, Colorado has selected a forward in the 1st round 7 out of their last 8 drafts (no first in 2012). The last D-man they selected in the first round was Kevin Shattenkirk in 2007. How has that worked out for them? I would be surprised if they didn't take a D-man or trade down after missing out on the top 2. It really comes down to Dallas then. Do they draft a center now knowing that Spezza is gone in two years? Or do they take D-man now and start rounding out their suspect D-core in order to compensate for weak goaltending? -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
Yep, if they can pull a move similar to what Arizona did last draft to get Chychrun it might be the best way to get another high end D-man. Something like our 33rd pick, the Jackets 2nd, and a prospect to get into the 15-20 range. If Liljegren somehow falls to that range like Chychrun he might be a steal. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
Also we rolled the dice last year on a number 1 D-man, do we really wanna do it again in a draft that's so uncertain? If we get three picks in the top 6 and only end up with two top 4 D-men and a third line support player, it's not too good for the future. I say it's time to role the dice on a number 1 center. Benning has shown he can find D-men later on in the draft. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
Athletic ability can be worked on too, the guys only 18. So many players have had skating as a knock on their ceiling before, and it hasn't been a problem. If he has the work ethic to improve it, there's no reason why he can't be a number 1 too. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
Exactly. Any player past the top 2 are going to need development time so they're not going to be in their immediate plans. I have a feeling they go D-man as part of their long term plan. They need someone to compliment Klingberg and Honka in the future. I think Heiskanen would fit that profile perfectly. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
He has the speed and creativity to be a center. His defensive play will be rounded out in time like with every young center. I don't see it being a problem with his work ethic. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
Will probably be discussed many more times before the draft. What Colorado and Dallas' needs are will be crucial in who drops to us. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
Considering the Avs already have Mackinnon, Duchene, Rantanen (C/W), and Jost as centers, I don't see why they'd be in the market for a center. So I would think one of the top D-men or Tippett makes the most sense for them. Then you have Dallas, who also have a suspect D core and not as much need for scoring. Is it possible that they take Makar, Liljegren, or Heiskanen? We all know Nill loves Euros, especially Euro D-men. Would be awesome if D-men went 3 and 4 and we had our choice of the remaining centers. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
Can't say I've seen him play really, but he just doesn't seem like a Benning pick. Who knows though, they may have a strategy change going forward. Whoever they pick I just hope they play a fast and creative game. This team has been sorely lacking those elements for a long time now. I also hope they're not building from an old model. Teams like San Jose and LA are on the way out. The teams they'll need to compete with in the future are teams like Edmonton and Calgary. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
I still think Virtanen can be a valuable player for us in the future, and the addition of guys like Goldobin and Dahlen offset passing on skill IMO. So all in all we might have a better balance going forward, even if it is tough to see Ehlers and Nylander produce early on. Don't know why I'm not sold on Glass, but he reminds me of PLD last year. Players that rise in the rankings because of one good season kind of scare me. Is he really good enough to go top 5, or is he just benefiting from a strong Winterhawks team? I'm just hoping somehow Dallas and Colorado pass on Vilardi and he drops in our laps. Skating is something that is always overblown, and players often improve once they get the proper trainers. If we can't get him, Mittelstadt is my guy. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
I would hope they take the player they feel is the best. But that's not always the player that is the most skilled, as we saw with the Virtanen pick. I think they already have shown they'll pass on better players for certain needs or to fit what they're trying to build. I think in a perfect world Benning wants a first line center with size, speed, two-way play, and creativity. Look at the top ranked centers and I think a couple of them check off those boxes more than others. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
I agree he'll be a highly skilled player. But based on their drafting record, I think they'll pass on high end skill for things like size and speed. Benning surprised me with the Juolevi pick though, so I guess you never know. And the way Linden and Benning talk about their D, I think they think we're pretty good there for now. Where we're the weakest right now going forward is the center position. That\s gotta be addressed, especially in a draft like this. They may bring up Heiskanen's name, but I think it would be a pretty short conversation. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
Keller has higher end stick handling and creativity, but Mittelstadt has the size to go along with that speed and creativity, plus he has a strong work ethic. He seems to check off more boxes that you need to have in a first line center than most other centers available this draft IMO. The fact that he's a Minnesotan born guy going to the University of Minnesota raises his stock for me. That program should help take his game to a whole other level. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
Based on how Benning is building the team, you think that he's going to consider Necas as a 1st line center? I really doubt it. As for Heiskanen, do you really see them taking another left handed Finnish D-man with so many centers available? If they were gonna take a D-man they would take one that has the best ability to run a powerplay. Makar and Liljegren fit that bill much better. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
Doubt Necas and Heiskanen are even in the conversation for Benning and co if I had to guess. As for Glass, I just don't see him as a first line center. We gotta go with the player who has the most potential to be a first line center. IMO those guys are Vilardi and Mittelstadt. I'd even put Petterson up there ahead of Necas and Glass in terms of first line potential. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
I agree he'll probably be gone, but you never know. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of consensus after the second pick. Players like Glass and Tippett are both pushing their way up the rankings. Plus some team might take Mittelstadt in the top 4. Mittelstadt is a bit of a risk for sure, but for me I think he has the highest ceiling in that range. I think he is the player that people will be kicking themselves for not taking earlier. I think after a season at the University of Minnesota things will look much different. The only reason he's probably not a lock for the top 3 is because he played highschool hockey rather than staying in the USHL. His international tournament numbers show that he's at the top of his class in that age group though. -
2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
Don't think it's smart to draft a D-man with so many good centers at the top of the draft. We need to draft the center with the highest offensive ceiling. For me that's Vilardi or Mitttelstatd. -
We all know that making the statement "any worse than" is a dangerous game. Anything could go wrong in his development at this point. A player can have all the skill and potential int he world,but if they don't have the commitment they're not gonna make it very far. Virtanen is at that critical turning point in his career. The right coach could make all the difference.
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Green knows all about reinventing a players game, he had to do it himself. He's the right guy to speak to Virtanen about making the next level, we'll see how well Jake responds to his advice. I just hope he doesn't revert into a 4th line grinder, because there's more to his game than that. His speed and shot alone make him a offensive threat, The only thing for him is being engaged (physically) and being on the right side of the puck.
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2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017
DeNiro replied to hyper00's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
Too much European content, need some good Canadian kids in there. -
I don't think it's just his strength though, there's certain things in his game he needs to work on. He's still panicking with the puck at times and making bad passes. I'd like to see him be more active in the offensive zone as well. He's got a great shot, but he seems a little too passive at times. I know the coach wants him to be more of a stay at home guy, but that's wasting his talents. Hunter needs to give him more of a green light to produce next season.
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No not at all. Some players just need longer to get bigger and stronger. He does alot of little things well that should help him transition to the NHL. But if they want him to reach his ceiling they need to make sure they take his development slow. If he's going to be a top 2 guy that we all hope, he needs to be able to dominate at the junior level before moving on. He's not quite there yet.
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Would like to see him go back for one more year of junior. He's definitely not too good for this level yet. No need to rush him.