2019 THN Top 100 Players Under 21

[Lancaster]

10 minutes ago, IBatch said:

Yeah it happens.  Daigle was supposed to be the next Lemuiex (or even Gretzky).  Would be like Crosby or Lafrenniere flopping.   He wasn't terrible but wasn't the best player on their team by a long shot (it was Yashin - and it caused contract problems as a result).... Yakupov scored more goals then almost anyone in the CHL the last fifteen years ...it wasn't supposed to go that way but sometimes it does..Pronger for the last laugh - Daigle was pretty arrogant about it.

To be fair, Daigle has admitted that he doesn't even really enjoy playing hockey.  He is just skilled enough to make a living from it.  

[MikeyD]

On 11/24/2019 at 2:43 PM, DontMessMe said:

Would u consider Lafreniere generational like Mcdavid

Not a chance. He's not even in the same league as McDavid when it comes to skill/speed. He has average skating at best, but good hockey smarts. Nothing really blows you away about his game other than his hands. He's on the same level as Kakko in my opinion. 

Edited December 5, 2019 by MikeyD

[IBatch]

15 hours ago, Lancaster said:

To be fair, Daigle has admitted that he doesn't even really enjoy playing hockey.  He is just skilled enough to make a living from it.  

Sure that's what he said about  when he left the NHL, toured EU with his millions "to find his passion for hockey again" ran out of money and came crawling back knocking on doors until someone would try him out again (MIN I think did) and managed to add some years to his shelf life and some millions to his pocket book.   The best thing about Daigle was that owners wised up and insisted on a rookie cap as a result.   He was about as arrogant and entitled as they come "nobody remembers number two" is famously remembered thanks to Daigle for saying it - and Pronger reminding the world every now and then to rub it in.

[IBatch]

15 hours ago, MikeyD said:

Not a chance. He's not even in the same league as McDavid when it comes to skill/speed. He has average skating at best, but good hockey smarts. Nothing really blows you away about his game other than his hands. He's on the same level as Kakko in my opinion. 

Scouting reports say he's an excellent skater in all directions and that his powerful strides separate him from opponents in open ice so not sure where your reading or getting average at best from that.  Add to that his already elite shot and uber competitiveness and Crosby is a decent comparable - but one who plays wing.  He's also the most hyped player since McDavid which adds to the drama - and is also why he's so coveted.   Also has decent size and man strength - non stop motor and doesn't shy away from contact at all.   Kakko wasn't on anyone's radar when he was 14-15 unlike this kid, and didn't establish himself until his draft year.   Will he live up to the hype?  Most of these kids do (clear cut first overalls) so probably yes. 

 

Edit:  He's also poised to win the CHL player of the year consecutive years before been drafted and against guys a lot older then him who have been drafted - for the first time since Tavares and Crosby did it.   This guy looks like the real deal...he's also leading the CHL in points - something first year eligible player hasn't done  in five years (McDavid).

Edited December 6, 2019 by IBatch

[IBatch]

On 12/4/2019 at 1:55 PM, ItTakesAnArmy said:

Good draft year, that is why every team will want to keep their first round picks this year even the fourth selection will be like a second or third pick in ordinary years.

 

Lottery picks are worth 3 times as much this year.

 

But that has been common knowledge in the NHL for two years now.

This is definitely shaping up to be an above average-good draft year, somewhere between the Matthews and Hirchier drafts (and the Patrick-Hirschier draft turned out better then expected) if I had to guess.   There's already been some movement in and out of the top ten, and past 20 is anyone's guess pre-WJs and this early into the hockey season.   A German kid who was in then 20's or past in most lists this summer has moved into the 5th spot and is speculated to maybe continue climbing maybe into the top 3, and a few have moved out of the top ten which is also to be expected.  Drysdale (around 9) is this years consensus D man and probably will get drafted higher then rankings suggest based on the fact this years draft is forward heavy.  Lafrenniere and Byfield are still one two ... 

 

That said Hughes was pretty hyped last year and broke Kane's records so rightly so ... and it's too hard to really nail these things down.   Puljajarvi and OJ were busts relative to draft position Mathews draft (another good year), and EP, Makar, Heiskanen came out of what was supposedly a bad or below average draft in 2017 (definitely underwhelming compared to the two before drafts prior) but now are considered the 2,3,4 best 21 and unders in the world.   

 

Will be interesting for Vancouver. If we keep our pick then no playoffs and a shot at another core player - if not then playoffs. Maybe we get a first back if a team has goalie issues and Vancouver is able/willing  to trade JM...

 

edit:  A good indicator how good the draft year is can be how many 17-18 year of first draft year eligibles get picked to play in the WJs.   The world will know soon enough. 

Edited December 6, 2019 by IBatch

[Putgolzin]

On 11/24/2019 at 1:45 PM, GoldenAlien said:

The Hockey News' top 100 players under 21 rankings is out:

https://thehockeynews.com/all-access/article/the-top-100-hockeys-best-players-21-and-under

 

1. Dahlin

2. Pettersson

3. Heiskanen

4. Makar

5. Laine

6. J. Hughes

7. Lafreniere

8. Byfield

9. B. Tkachuk

10. Q. Hughes

 

Podkolzin also makes the list at No. 76.

 

The rankings are based on projections of what a forward will be at age 23, a defenseman at 24 and a goalie at 25.

 

I personally would've put EP40 over Dahlin as No. 1 and Quinn over Jack for No. 6.  Can't see why Tkachuk projects better when Quinn is a month younger and outscoring him as a defenseman... but hey.   

For all the hoopla about Makar being better than Hughes - I’ll take the one who’s a full year younger.

[J-23]

Dahlin seems high.

 

Don't really watch many Sabres game but he must be killing it in all other aspects of the game because Hughes and Makar with much better PPG average (Yes, I know it's early). 

[McBackup]

On 12/6/2019 at 8:55 AM, J-23 said:

Dahlin seems high.

 

Don't really watch many Sabres game but he must be killing it in all other aspects of the game because Hughes and Makar with much better PPG average (Yes, I know it's early). 

Hughes and Makar are flashier, high octane puck moving D. Dahlin is a lot closer to a Lidstrom. Quietly does everything well, and the fact that you don't really notice him is a testament to how good he is. 

[IBatch]

On 12/6/2019 at 9:20 AM, nzan said:

For all the hoopla about Makar being better than Hughes - I’ll take the one who’s a full year younger.

He's made enough heads turn to be noticed (QH) - and in all fairness THN made this list shortly after the season begun and they also think pretty highly of him putting him in the top ten against older players that are more proven in mid-Oct.   No doubt next years list will look a lot different - Svecknikov moving up, same with QH and some that haven't done quite enough will move down (really hope we see Q as the first Hughes on the list - wouldn't that be something).  Not much to complain about - Makar is a bigger body and doesn't get hemmed in like QH does as often and Heiskanen is starting to look like Lidstrom 2.0 for real (sorry Dahlin - Lidstrom never played with that sort of aggression - another comparable required) - as cool as a cucumber and on pace for 20 goals or so in Dallas.   It's just great that there are that many defenseman in the top ten right now.  I'd be happy with any of them