6th Pick: 2014 NHL Entry Draft

[Nuxfanabroad]

Linden mentioning "big, power fwds" might be a feint one way, to then target skill. Maybe he's trying to influence blokes like Burkey to take a flyer on Ritchie? :^) ..ensure that talent moves down from the top-5.

[TOMapleLaughs]

Watch him play in the under 18's then tell me what you think.

Did. He lit up sad teams on the power play and vanished against USA/Canada. So there's nothing much there to judge him on. Yet it's being drummed up enough.

Eichel's performance (McDavid not there) was far more interesting. And i felt Virtanen played very well despite his shoulder injury. That injury cannot affect his draft stock.

[elvis15]

Watch these highlights. There's a lot of stuff vs. USA. Just because he only got one point doesn't mean he was ineffective. I watched the U18s and came away with the impression that Nylander was the best one there. His defensive play is hardly as bad you guys make it out to be.

He needs to improve his effort defensively (and even then I don't think he'll be near a premier defensive player) but I've mentioned I don't know how many times about watching Paul Kariya in the BCHL and all he did was float looking for a breakout pass.

[shiznak]

What about your boy Perlini? He had 2 goals against Slovakia, and 1 assist against Germany. Then he scored 1 goal against Sweden. That's all. Are we supposed to be impressed by him?

Perlini scored the tying goal in the Bronze medal game.

[Hedman]

Perlini scored the tying goal in the Bronze medal game.

Lol the "tying goal". You're making it sound like he scored that goal with 3 seconds left of the game. As i said, he scored 1 goal against Sweden, in the 1st period, on the PP. He didn't impress in u18.

[Hedman]

Well I did say that I don't know the players enough so I don't know what more you want. I was just talking point wise. At the same instance that people look to his 16 points he scored 1 against the 2 best teams in the tournament. I would make that part of my evaluation. I just don't put much stock in an U-18 tournament that happens in April and likely has a lot of these players playing in an international stage for the first time.

My apologies to you Mr. Hedman, I did not make the comment to condemn a prospect it was just a comment based on what I've seen over the years, and I didn't call him crap I just said it would raise awareness if I was the one doing the picking.

Sounds more to me like you were dishonoring his offensive numbers. If you're concerned about his numbers being too "dominant" somehow, then watch him play instead of saying it's a red flag.

[Bilbro Baggins]

Did. He lit up sad teams on the power play and vanished against USA/Canada. So there's nothing much there to judge him on. Yet it's being drummed up enough.

Eichel's performance (McDavid not there) was far more interesting. And i felt Virtanen played very well despite his shoulder injury. That injury cannot affect his draft stock.

Just for the sake of arguing on the internet...

Sweden vs. Russia= 4-3 Sweden

Canada vs. Russia= 3-2 Russia

Sweden vs. Slovakia= 6-2 Sweden

Canada vs. Slovakia= 2-1 Canada

Sweden vs. Germany= 9-3 Sweden

Canada vs. Germany= 5-2 Canada

In these games Nylander got points on 11 goals. Canada as a team only scored 10 against the same teams.

Sweden vs. Finland= 10-0 Sweden

Exploiting a much weaker team? For comparison, USA only beat Finland 4-3. Finland beat Switzerland 2-1. Switzerland beat USA 4-2.

As for Sweden vs. USA, Nylander got a point on the only goal Sweden scored. He looked dangerous whenever he had the puck. Even though it was a somewhat sloppy effort by his team (himself included), the fact that 3 minutes of his highlights were salvaged from a game where Sweden only scored one goal is only further proof to his skill level. Against Canada he could've had multiple points if it weren't for Mason MacDonald. The dude was stellar and was the main reason Canada won bronze. He had a 1.94 GAA and a 92.98 SV% in what was a pretty high scoring tournament.

Anyways.... my point is; he did rack up points against the weaker teams, but it's not like the competition level is THAT unbalanced. It's top division for a reason. If Nylander was only getting points because the teams he was playing were so weak, then why didn't other top players have as inane stats as him? Nylander got 16 points in 7 games. That's over 2 points a game. He got 6 more points in this tournament than the next in line (excluding Axel Holmstrom, who had 11 points, and conveniently played on the Nylander's line). A 6 point difference. That's as many points as Canada's leading scorer, Jake Virtanen, got the entire tournament. Sure, let's give him a pass because of his injury. 6 more points than Jack Eichel, who is projected to go head to head with McDavid for the 1st overall next year. Eichel had a marvelous tournament, don't get me wrong, but looking at USA's roster, should he not have gotten more?

[Rollieo Del Fuego]

Just for the sake of arguing on the internet...

Sweden vs. Russia= 4-3 Sweden

Canada vs. Russia= 3-2 Russia

Sweden vs. Slovakia= 6-2 Sweden

Canada vs. Slovakia= 2-1 Canada

Sweden vs. Germany= 9-3 Sweden

Canada vs. Germany= 5-2 Canada

In these games Nylander got points on 11 goals. Canada as a team only scored 10 against the same teams.

Sweden vs. Finland= 10-0 Sweden

Exploiting a much weaker team? For comparison, USA only beat Finland 4-3. Finland beat Switzerland 2-1. Switzerland beat USA 4-2.

As for Sweden vs. USA, Nylander got a point on the only goal Sweden scored. He looked dangerous whenever he had the puck. Even though it was a somewhat sloppy effort by his team (himself included), the fact that 3 minutes of his highlights were salvaged from a game where Sweden only scored one goal is only further proof to his skill level. Against Canada he could've had multiple points if it weren't for Mason MacDonald. The dude was stellar and was the main reason Canada won bronze. He had a 1.94 GAA and a 92.98 SV% in what was a pretty high scoring tournament.

Anyways.... my point is; he did rack up points against the weaker teams, but it's not like the competition level is THAT unbalanced. It's top division for a reason. If Nylander was only getting points because the teams he was playing were so weak, then why didn't other top players have as inane stats as him? Nylander got 16 points in 7 games. That's over 2 points a game. He got 6 more points in this tournament than the next in line (excluding Axel Holmstrom, who had 11 points, and conveniently played on the Nylander's line). A 6 point difference. That's as many points as Canada's leading scorer, Jake Virtanen, got the entire tournament. Sure, let's give him a pass because of his injury. 6 more points than Jack Eichel, who is projected to go head to head with McDavid for the 1st overall next year. Eichel had a marvelous tournament, don't get me wrong, but looking at USA's roster, should he not have gotten more?

Opened my eyes oh wise sage...

Sam R. if possible though...

[Plum]

People trying to turn down Nylander have lost arguments in soft, attitude problems and now they go against his on-ice performance. Even if those teams he scored against are weak why didn't Virtanen do the same thing? Why didn't Perlini do the same thing?

He is the best in the U-18s and the best offensive player in the draft, he lights it up against the kids same age as him. I've watched him many times and he is the best offensive player in the draft, I don't think he has a bust. He'll be an PP specialist at worst, 2nd line center and at best he'll be a 1st line star like Duchene or P.Kane (Which he reminds me of with his patience and slick passing).

[BanTSN]

If Virtanen or Perlini lit up bad teams on the power play, would people finally give them some freaking respect? That's the difference?

Who gives a crap about one tourney (in which Sweden LOST btw) anyway?

Nylander has failed to impress in the SHL and his derailing of his career to appease his meddling father is very much Coho-like.

[thad]

If Virtanen or Perlini lit up bad teams on the power play, would people finally give them some freaking respect? That's the difference?

Who gives a crap about one tourney (in which Sweden LOST btw) anyway?

Nylander has failed to impress in the SHL and his derailing of his career to appease his meddling father is very much Coho-like.

Derailing career lol? He's a freaking kid still and he's ranked very high in his draft year. He's not even my first choice but I'd say his career is right on track.

[wshdrvvn]

you have to stop looking only at the numbers. watch the kid play. his skill is high end, undeniably so. look at what he can do, and realize what he could become! i personally find ehlers to be more flashy. nylander is very controlled and dynamic. you don't see many kids that are that comfortable with the puck and with that much speed. its a hell of a base to build off of. he just needs more experience! in a draft with not much in terms of a sure fire choice; it's 100% worth it to me to use our pick on his potential.

Also, the whole meddling dad thing is overblown. having a dad who played in the NHL should be a positive. its always looked at positively in cole cassel's case. i truly believe if michael has been micro-managing william's career so far, it's all been to give his son the best shot at getting into the NHL. You can't argue that he's helped get william into a pretty good position currently.

[Wonder__Bread]

If Virtanen or Perlini lit up bad teams on the power play, would people finally give them some freaking respect? That's the difference?

Who gives a crap about one tourney (in which Sweden LOST btw) anyway?

Nylander has failed to impress in the SHL and his derailing of his career to appease his meddling father is very much Coho-like.

Why do you even post here? I seriously doubt it's to discuss hockey. I don't think it's possible to be THAT daft. There are several posters on here incapable of logical thought. It's as if a monkey is holding a gun to your head and if you write anything intelligent or anything the monkey won't understand, he'll shoot you cause it makes the monkey feel inferior. All this assuming monkeys can read, and can shoot guns... OK fine, a very intelligent monkey. But its still a monkey. Several posters are at the same level as a very intelligent monkey.

I just don't get it. Why is it hard to say "You know what? Yeah, Nylander and Ehlers are great prospects, I just think that Ritchie will be better or I like Ritchie better." or whoever goats your float in a boat. Personally, I really like Ehlers and I'm starting to lean towards Nylander, but I see the appeal of a Ritchie or a Virtanen. Your existence won't be altered AT ALL for admitting an 18 year old hockey player, who's being touted as a top 10 player IN THE WORLD FOR HIS AGE, might actually be a decent hockey player. Seriously.

[BanTSN]

Because one looks like a girl and the other is built like a toothpick with a bad orange for a head. Pass.

Seriously though. There are a ton of other prospects.... Why no love for them while valiantly defending the honour of these lightweights?

The expectations of them are too damn high! The guy in these finals these guys emulate the most is: Carl Hagelin. (Wow. Carl Hagelin? Plan the parade.)

Weak draft anyhow.

[BanTSN]

Linden mentioning "big, power fwds" might be a feint one way, to then target skill. Maybe he's trying to influence blokes like Burkey to take a flyer on Ritchie? :^) ..ensure that talent moves down from the top-5.

Well, he did lie to media outlets when he said the Canucks weren't talking to him, hours before they introduced him as saviour.

But then again maybe he's just reiterating what we all know. The Canucks are buttery soft and don't need another buttery soft kid to lead them into the future.

[wshdrvvn]

we will need first line scoring sooner than later though. its high time for us to draft first line potential; while we still have a few years to develope that talent.

[Plum]

If Virtanen or Perlini lit up bad teams on the power play, would people finally give them some freaking respect? That's the difference?

Who gives a crap about one tourney (in which Sweden LOST btw) anyway?

Nylander has failed to impress in the SHL and his derailing of his career to appease his meddling father is very much Coho-like.

I give them respect, I respect they are top 10 picks both of them.

Again, you have no legitimate point to make or argument to make.

[Nicklas Bo Hunter]

hello

[Alexandre]

Interesting interview with GMJB this afternoon on TEAM 1040. There is a thread and a link and he had some interesting things to say on what will happen. When asked about the upcoming draft Benning said "I like this draft class...the top six players and we pick six right now, I really like the top six guys so whatever guy we end up with at six I am going to be happy with and with that 36th pick we have identified some guys that are going to be there...and in the mid rounds too we have a good feel for from other parts of the world..."

Obviously he is vague on who the players they are targeting at around their picks. What is interesting to me is that according to Benning, who I trust as a good talent evaluator, there is a top six not a top five. I was wondering if the CDC consensus player for that sixth spot is Nylander or is it Ehlers or?

[Gstank29]

Interesting interview with GMJB this afternoon on TEAM 1040. There is a thread and a link and he had some interesting things to say on what will happen. When asked about the upcoming draft Benning said "I like this draft class...the top six players and we pick six right now, I really like the top six guys so whatever guy we end up with at six I am going to be happy with and with that 36th pick we have identified some guys that are going to be there...and in the mid rounds too we have a good feel for from other parts of the world..."

Obviously he is vague on who the players they are targeting at around their picks. What is interesting to me is that according to Benning, who I trust as a good talent evaluator, there is a top six not a top five. I was wondering if the CDC consensus player for that sixth spot is Nylander or is it Ehlers or?

It's definitely Nylander