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2017 NHL Draft - Chicago, Illinois June 23-24 2017


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12 hours ago, HomeBrew said:

I would agree that those two examples, creating space by drawing defenders and positioning yourself advantageously, are good indicators of high hockey IQ. I haven't looked at this in depth with the top 5 prospects yet, but where would you determine to rank the projected top 4 centers (Patrick, Hischier, Valardi and Mittelstadt) in terms of IQ?

 

At this point without looking at more tape, I would put Hischier above all of them. But, the use and size of Patrick and Valardi allows them to create space for themselves to make solid plays but neither would be really considered "playmakers". Mittelstadt is kind of a mixture of size, speed and skill and may not use any one in particular more than the other, but also doesn't use any to their full extent either.

 

I don't think I've seen enough of any prospect to try and get a handle on how they think. I think you made some good points though. I think Hischier would probably be at the top of the list, given how he has adapted his line of thinking to North American ice while playing on weaker teams (even at the WJC). I think he's capable of reading that fast, off the rush game just as well as he is at reading the slow, east-west game. 

 

I think Patrick would probably be a close second given his remarkable draft -1 year. It would be a lot harder to use his physical abilities to gain time and space, so to me that means he was able to think the game at a high level to put up those points. I think he likes to play more down low and along the boards, more like that east-west game. I think Getzlaf is a good comparison, but Patrick probably doesn't have the same sauce that Getzlaf does. 

 

Vilardi is all about freeing himself up down low and finding the open man, usually a defenseman. His game revolves around using his big frame to protect the puck and find the open man. 

 

Mittlestadt is the one I've seen the least out of the 4, but he seems like someone who can adapt to either playing off the rush or slowing the game down. He's just the one I feel will least likely translate his line of thinking efficiently to the NHL. 

 

I have Liljegren in my top 5, and he is definitely very smart as well. Of course, it's a little different being a defenseman. I think he's very good at identifying the flow of the neutral zone and how to pick it apart with either a nice pass or navigating it himself. In that way he's similar to Doughty, but I don't think he's as strong defensively. I've seen him try to force a pass through someone as the last man back, which lead to a turnover that ended up being the game winning goal. He also gets overmatched physically down low, but he's an 18 year old playing against professionals. I think he has too much talent to pass up on if we are anywhere from 3-5. 

 

Necas is someone I have never watched, but all reports say he is a very smart player. It sounds like he can play either the slow game, given the strict defensive systems in the men's league compared to the CHL, or the fast game given the fact that he is apparently one of the best skaters in the draft. 

 

My top 5 or so would look like this:

 

1) Hischier

2) Patrick (injuries, but I'm no doctor). 

3) Necas

4) Liljegren

5) Vilardi

6) Foote

7) Glass?

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3 hours ago, Warhippy said:

My main issue with Mittlestadt is Minnesota.

 

Someone actually mentioned how they thought he would/could bolt for the wild at first opportunity.

 

Sadly, we're seeing a lot of Minnesota born and raised players start to gravitate towards home with the most obvious being high profile cap anchors Parise and Suter.

 

I still think Vilardi tops out as the better player but I would want Vilardi to be sent to Europe as a 19 year old.  1 more year in Windsor 1 year in Europe 1 year in the AHL NHL by 21/22

 

Fits our timeline for retooling perfectly

It makes absolutely no sense to send an 18 year old to Europe, where he has to acclimatize himself to a different culture/language/style of hockey, when he can easily develop in the OHL. Auston Matthews is the exception, not the rule. Pretty much every Canadian star in the NHL developed in his own backyard.

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23 minutes ago, Herberts Vasiljevs said:

I just like these guys more. Mittelstadt is close though.

 

WARNING: Serious Necas hype coming up here.

 

Necas is going to be an unbelievable player in the NHL. He doesn't get as much exposure as most of the other prospects at the top of this draft class, but honestly, over any other forward in this draft (other than Hischier and to a lesser extent Patrick) I think that he has the highest offensive ceiling. People underestimate how easily his game will transfer to the NHL too. He still has some filling in to do, but it's his exceptional overall skating, playmaking ability, two-way play, puck pursuit, etc. that's going to allow him to crack an NHL roster spot sooner rather than later. Oh, and I forgot to mention that he's already playing against men and absolutely killed it in the playoffs in Czech's top league.

 

He reminds me so much of Pastrnak it's insane. If he was maybe 20 lbs. heavier, he'd be #1 on my list. Size is vital if you want to be a top centre in the NHL (unless you have godly physical abilities like McDavid). I think Button is pretty close to bang on with the Giroux comparison. Necas is the epitome of a high reward player, and I don't think it would be a risky pick at all. For sure by the 2018-2019 season, you'll have a player who's ready to play in the NHL. He is even eligible for Utica next year!

 

He's cemented as my #3 forward in this draft, and not far behind the top-2 at all. 

 

 

 

 

 

Agree with everything on Necas. Have you seen him play at all?

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28 minutes ago, NUCKER67 said:

I know Liljegren is rated high (top 5), but I would be disappointed if we drafted a D 1st overall again. 

I would be disappointed too. Not because I think he's not a good prospect but because it would mean we dropped in the lottery or JB has lost his marbles and picked him 1st OA.

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I wouldnt be disappointed if Liljegren is legit. When it comes down to team need, I think center, but if Nico and Nolan are gone and we have the third pick, Liljegren is fine by me. 

 

We need two players, a top center and a top offensive d man. Take the best available and run. 

Edited by Eastcoast meets Westcoast
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2 hours ago, Blömqvist said:

Thoughts on Liljegren vs Makar?

 

Some scouts like Craig Button and Grant McCagg have Makar over Liljegren.

 

(Mind you, I also agree with you in Liljegren over Makar based on his skillset, larger body of work/sample size of games played at an elite level, as well as his "drop" due to mono... I just wanted to see other people's opinion on it. I do think it's close as well.)

I take Liljegren over Makar. I don't trust Makar's hype based on the league he is in. If he is that good, why isn't he playing on a CHL team, or is he planning on college. 

 

Liljegren can play in the AHL right away, he and OJ would likely be able to come in together.  Makar is not a guy I want in the top 5. Let someone else take that risk. 

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1 hour ago, Eastcoast meets Westcoast said:

I take Liljegren over Makar. I don't trust Makar's hype based on the league he is in. If he is that good, why isn't he playing on a CHL team, or is he planning on college.

Makar stayed in the AJHL so he could chase a scholarship. Committed to UMass (Amherst) late last year and he will be college bound next season.

 

EDIT: Make that was planning on college next year. Possible he goes direct to NHL based on recent reports (not sure I buy them though and might be hype). I'd rather see him grow and develop in the NCAA.

 

EDIT2: And he's going to Amherst. At least based on a quote from two days ago. Somebody suggested in a previous report he could forego college entirely and go straight to NHL but that Makar seems intent on playing for the Minutemen:

 

http://www.gazettenet.com/Cale-Makar-on-everyone-s-mind-9165616

 

He was drafted by Medicine Hat but decided not to go the CHL route:

 

“I was a pretty small guy at the time,” Makar said. “For my development’s sake I thought a longer career path was the way to go. I thought that the college-AJHL route was the best for me.”

 

https://www.google.ca/amp/globalnews.ca/news/3196026/brooks-bandits-cale-makar-has-chance-to-make-history/amp/

Edited by SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME
Add-ons and typo fixes
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3 hours ago, Herberts Vasiljevs said:

I just like these guys more. Mittelstadt is close though.

 

WARNING: Serious Necas hype coming up here.

 

Necas is going to be an unbelievable player in the NHL. He doesn't get as much exposure as most of the other prospects at the top of this draft class, but honestly, over any other forward in this draft (other than Hischier and to a lesser extent Patrick) I think that he has the highest offensive ceiling. People underestimate how easily his game will transfer to the NHL too. He still has some filling in to do, but it's his exceptional overall skating, playmaking ability, two-way play, puck pursuit, etc. that's going to allow him to crack an NHL roster spot sooner rather than later. Oh, and I forgot to mention that he's already playing against men and absolutely killed it in the playoffs in Czech's top league.

 

He reminds me so much of Pastrnak it's insane. If he was maybe 20 lbs. heavier, he'd be #1 on my list. Size is vital if you want to be a top centre in the NHL (unless you have godly physical abilities like McDavid). I think Button is pretty close to bang on with the Giroux comparison. Necas is the epitome of a high reward player, and I don't think it would be a risky pick at all. For sure by the 2018-2019 season, you'll have a player who's ready to play in the NHL. He is even eligible for Utica next year!

 

He's cemented as my #3 forward in this draft, and not far behind the top-2 at all. 

 

 

 

 

a comet ready elite C sounds amazing

 

thing about Patrick is he one of the oldest guys in the draft.  he missed last year's draft by 4 days.  according to button he would of ranged from 5-10 in last year's draft. 

 

I would love to gamble on necas if it means we pass on vilardi. I just wish there was more footage on his play. Craig button had him ranked 3rd overall about a month ago but his latest rankings had him way later. 

 

believe he thinks necas could be 3rd best.  but believes he will go in late top 10. (7-10)

 

necas for some reason reminds me of nyquiSt.  Giroux is the high mark they think.   is nyquist at all like giroux? aside from not playing the same position. 

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Just now, Rush17 said:

a comet ready elite C sounds amazing

 

thing about Patrick is he one of the oldest guys in the draft.  he missed last year's draft by 4 days.  according to button he would of ranged from 5-10 in last year's draft. 

 

I would love to gamble on necas if it means we pass on vilardi. I just wish there was more footage on his play. Craig button had him ranked 3rd overall about a month ago but his latest rankings had him way later. 

 

believe he thinks necas could be 3rd best.  but believes he will go in late top 10. (7-10)

 

necas for some reason reminds me of nyquiSt.  Giroux is the high mark they think.   is nyquist at all like giroux? aside from not playing the same position. 

I wonder if we might go off the board for Eliais Pettersson.  he is a dynamic C like jb is looking for and knows Dahlen real well.

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I asked my buddy with cougars seasons tickets about Glass (Portland upset pg in the first round). Said he was unreal, definitely better than Connolly was to give a comparison (I know he's struggled transitioning to the nhl but he was a very good player in jr).

 

 

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32 minutes ago, Rush17 said:

a comet ready elite C sounds amazing

 

thing about Patrick is he one of the oldest guys in the draft.  he missed last year's draft by 4 days.  according to button he would of ranged from 5-10 in last year's draft. 

 

I would love to gamble on necas if it means we pass on vilardi. I just wish there was more footage on his play. Craig button had him ranked 3rd overall about a month ago but his latest rankings had him way later. 

 

believe he thinks necas could be 3rd best.  but believes he will go in late top 10. (7-10)

 

necas for some reason reminds me of nyquiSt.  Giroux is the high mark they think.   is nyquist at all like giroux? aside from not playing the same position. 

So your all in on a guy you have never seen play? 

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48 minutes ago, Rush17 said:

a comet ready elite C sounds amazing

 

thing about Patrick is he one of the oldest guys in the draft.  he missed last year's draft by 4 days.  according to button he would of ranged from 5-10 in last year's draft. 

I don't get the concern about the age. Really it doesn't matter, people said the same thing about Matthews being a full year older than everyone in his draft year, and I think the Leafs couldn't care less about how many months older matthews is compared to the rest of his draft year.

 

 

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43 minutes ago, ForsbergTheGreat said:

I don't get the concern about the age. Really it doesn't matter, people said the same thing about Matthews being a full year older than everyone in his draft year, and I think the Leafs couldn't care less about how many months older matthews is compared to the rest of his draft year.

 

 

It just means he should be more compared to the kids his own age.  He miss the cut off by 4 days.  So the old kids in this draft and the young kids from last draft should be his comparable. 

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1 hour ago, messier's_elbow said:

So your all in on a guy you have never seen play? 

Never said I was in on him :)  It's all up to Jim.  I will support him I just hope its a dynamic player. I'm glad i'm not making decisions.  I might be drafting like Gillis LOL if that's possible.

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1 hour ago, Rush17 said:

It just means he should be more compared to the kids his own age.  He miss the cut off by 4 days.  So the old kids in this draft and the young kids from last draft should be his comparable. 

Yeah but it really doesn't mean anything, everyone develops at different ages, some kids bloom at 16 some at 23... Matthews missed the cut off by 6 days and it really doesn't mean a thing....Fast forward a year, do you think any of the kids taken in the top 5 are better than matthews?

 

 Last year Patrick put up 102 points as 17 year old and ended up 5th in points.  Even if he was in last years draft he would have been in the top 3 (ahead of Dubois).  But using age can not be used as a knock against a player,  the only thing age can be used for is to sell hope that the younger player can still grow.  

 

Edited by ForsbergTheGreat
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5 hours ago, Rush17 said:

a comet ready elite C sounds amazing

 

thing about Patrick is he one of the oldest guys in the draft.  he missed last year's draft by 4 days.  according to button he would of ranged from 5-10 in last year's draft. 

 

I would love to gamble on necas if it means we pass on vilardi. I just wish there was more footage on his play. Craig button had him ranked 3rd overall about a month ago but his latest rankings had him way later. 

 

believe he thinks necas could be 3rd best.  but believes he will go in late top 10. (7-10)

 

necas for some reason reminds me of nyquiSt.  Giroux is the high mark they think.   is nyquist at all like giroux? aside from not playing the same position. 

Craig button still has him at 3. What you are referring to is his mock draft, which is different from his rankings.

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