2022 NHL Entry Draft

[Isam]

On 8/28/2021 at 9:05 AM, HighOnHockey said:

Usually USA had Strammel-McGroarty on one line and then Howard-Nazar on another at YOG. I recall the only time USA had any sustained pressure against Russia in the gold medal game was late in the third period out of desperation they put McGroarty and Nazar together. I believe at one point they even pinned the Miro-Michkov line for a shift.

Yeah they did.  The big thing mcgroarty is he will need a year to mature after the draft, but the talent is there.

[HighOnHockey]

The NTDP U18 team has 18 games on the slate against college teams this year. Looks like roughly half are against ACHA and NCAA DIII teams, but there's also a handful of ego-check games against Wisconsin, Michigan, BU, Notre Dame and UND. Season set to start September 17 against USHL Muskegon.

Edited September 1, 2021 by HighOnHockey

[Isam]

On 9/1/2021 at 8:59 AM, HighOnHockey said:

The NTDP U18 team has 18 games on the slate against college teams this year. Looks like roughly half are against ACHA and NCAA DIII teams, but there's also a handful of ego-check games against Wisconsin, Michigan, BU, Notre Dame and UND. Season set to start September 17 against USHL Muskegon.

Notre dame is always a tough out for anyone cuz of their defensive style. 

[HighOnHockey]

@Isam

 

I watched another game of Sweden from Hlinkas, and I think you're right about Salomonsson; doesn't look like a top ten pick, at least not at this point, not in this draft. I just look at the stats from last year and albeit a small sample size, they are historic. Whenever I watch him there are flashes of brilliance, but I come away overall disappointed. I always want to give him the benefit of the doubt because of the August 31 birthday - he's practically a late birthday. But then I compare him to actual late birthdays from the 2003 class, and you had guys like Simon Forsmark, Ludwig Persson, Jack Devine, who were among the top five or so players for their U17 teams, but don't look like probable first round picks at this point, vs. Danila Yurov and Brad Lambert, who have always been the best players on their national programs (although I thought Svechkov and Yurov were close). Just being good as a younger player isn't enough to put you in the top ten, certainly not in a draft like this.

[Stierlitz]

 

 

DobberProspects

@DobberProspects

·Sep 3

 

DP Scouting Team’s Preliminary 2022 NHL Draft Rankings http://dlvr.it/S6t0kz

 

TIER 1

1 | Shane Wright | C | Kingston (OHL) | 6-1 | 187 lbs

 

TIER 2

2 | Šimon Nemec | RHD | Nitra (Slovakia) | 6-1 | 192 lbs

3 | Matthew Savoie | C/W | Winnipeg (WHL) | 5-10 | 181 lbs

4 | Ivan Miroshnichenko | W | Omskie (MHL) | 6-1 | 185 lbs

5 | Brad Lambert | C/W | JYP (Liiga) | 6-0 | 179 lbs

 

TIER 3

6 | Logan Cooley | C | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-10 | 179 lbs

7 | Juraj Slafkovsky | W | TPS (Liiga) | 6-4 | 225 lbs

8 | Rutger McGroarty | C | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-1 | 198 lbs

9 | Danila Yurov | W | Magnitogrosk (KHL) | 6-1 | 172 lbs

10 | Isaac Howard | W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-10 | 174 lbs

11 | Conor Geekie | C | Winnipeg (WHL) | 6-4 | 205 lbs

12 | Joakim Kemell | W | JYP (Liiga) | 5-11 | 176 lbs

13 | Tristan Luneau | RHD | Gatineau (QMJHL) | 6-2 | 174 lbs

14 | Ryan Chesley | RHD | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-0 | 187 lbs

15 | Seamus Casey | RHD | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-10 | 161 lbs

16 | David Jiříček | RHD | Plzen (Czech) | 6-3 | 176 lbs

17 | Elias Salomonsson | RHD | Skellefteå J20 (J20 Nationell) | 6-1 | 161 lbs

18 | Frank Nazar | C/W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-9 | 163 lbs

19 | Denton Mateychuk | LHD | Moose Jaw (WHL) | 5-11 | 192 lbs

20 | Jack Hughes | C | Northeastern (NCAA) | 6-0 | 165 lbs

 

TIER 4

Justin Côté | C | Drummondville (QMJHL) | 5-6 | 152 lbs

Keaton Dowhaniuk | LHD | Prince George (WHL) | 6-0 | 154 lbs

Pano Fimis | C | Niagra (OHL) | 5-11 | 157 lbs

Maddox Fleming | W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-11 | 176 lbs

Cutter Gauthier | W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-2 | 190 lbs

Mattias Hävelid | RHD | Linköping J20 (J20 Nationell) | 5-10 | 172 lbs

Ryan Healey | RHD | Sioux Falls (USHL) | 6-1 | 170 lbs

Lane Hutson | LHD | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-6 | 165 lbs

Devin Kaplan | W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-2 | 192 lbs

Charlie Leddy | RHD | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-0 | 172 lbs

Mats Lindgren | LHD | Kamloops (WHL) | 5-11 | 165 lbs

Brandon Lisowsky | W | Saskatoon (WHL) | 5-8 | 176 lbs

Filip Mesar | C/W | Poprad (Slovakia) | 5-10 | 165 lbs

Noah Östlund | C | Djurgårdens J20 (J20 Nationell) | 5-10 | 163 lbs

Mathew Ward | C/W | Swift Current (WHL) | 5-7 | 154 lbs

[HighOnHockey]

1 hour ago, Stierlitz said:

 

 

DobberProspects

@DobberProspects

·Sep 3

 

DP Scouting Team’s Preliminary 2022 NHL Draft Rankings http://dlvr.it/S6t0kz

 

TIER 1

1 | Shane Wright | C | Kingston (OHL) | 6-1 | 187 lbs

 

TIER 2

2 | Šimon Nemec | RHD | Nitra (Slovakia) | 6-1 | 192 lbs

3 | Matthew Savoie | C/W | Winnipeg (WHL) | 5-10 | 181 lbs

4 | Ivan Miroshnichenko | W | Omskie (MHL) | 6-1 | 185 lbs

5 | Brad Lambert | C/W | JYP (Liiga) | 6-0 | 179 lbs

 

TIER 3

6 | Logan Cooley | C | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-10 | 179 lbs

7 | Juraj Slafkovsky | W | TPS (Liiga) | 6-4 | 225 lbs

8 | Rutger McGroarty | C | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-1 | 198 lbs

9 | Danila Yurov | W | Magnitogrosk (KHL) | 6-1 | 172 lbs

10 | Isaac Howard | W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-10 | 174 lbs

11 | Conor Geekie | C | Winnipeg (WHL) | 6-4 | 205 lbs

12 | Joakim Kemell | W | JYP (Liiga) | 5-11 | 176 lbs

13 | Tristan Luneau | RHD | Gatineau (QMJHL) | 6-2 | 174 lbs

14 | Ryan Chesley | RHD | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-0 | 187 lbs

15 | Seamus Casey | RHD | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-10 | 161 lbs

16 | David Jiříček | RHD | Plzen (Czech) | 6-3 | 176 lbs

17 | Elias Salomonsson | RHD | Skellefteå J20 (J20 Nationell) | 6-1 | 161 lbs

18 | Frank Nazar | C/W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-9 | 163 lbs

19 | Denton Mateychuk | LHD | Moose Jaw (WHL) | 5-11 | 192 lbs

20 | Jack Hughes | C | Northeastern (NCAA) | 6-0 | 165 lbs

 

TIER 4

Justin Côté | C | Drummondville (QMJHL) | 5-6 | 152 lbs

Keaton Dowhaniuk | LHD | Prince George (WHL) | 6-0 | 154 lbs

Pano Fimis | C | Niagra (OHL) | 5-11 | 157 lbs

Maddox Fleming | W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-11 | 176 lbs

Cutter Gauthier | W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-2 | 190 lbs

Mattias Hävelid | RHD | Linköping J20 (J20 Nationell) | 5-10 | 172 lbs

Ryan Healey | RHD | Sioux Falls (USHL) | 6-1 | 170 lbs

Lane Hutson | LHD | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-6 | 165 lbs

Devin Kaplan | W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-2 | 192 lbs

Charlie Leddy | RHD | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-0 | 172 lbs

Mats Lindgren | LHD | Kamloops (WHL) | 5-11 | 165 lbs

Brandon Lisowsky | W | Saskatoon (WHL) | 5-8 | 176 lbs

Filip Mesar | C/W | Poprad (Slovakia) | 5-10 | 165 lbs

Noah Östlund | C | Djurgårdens J20 (J20 Nationell) | 5-10 | 163 lbs

Mathew Ward | C/W | Swift Current (WHL) | 5-7 | 154 lbs

 

Seems a bit early to be doing tiers yet, but I don't hate it at all. I do think Nazar will find his way up a lot of people's lists. 

 

It's not just his offensive skill, he's a force all over the ice. I see a lot of Lucas Raymond in him with the way he is able to force turnovers and get right on the attack. Here's some tenacity on the PK, against Mats Lindgren:

 

 

Forces his own turnover and gone:

 

 

Here is Nazar against Ivan Miroshnichenko:

 

https://youtu.be/i96GC6fUS-4?t=657

 

And Nazar against Michkov:

 

https://youtu.be/i96GC6fUS-4?t=4714

 

 

I also think Yurov should be in the first tier. There are times I like him better than Miro. Miro has freakish raw natural gifts, but I think Yurov's understanding and processing of the game is up there with anyone in this draft class. Wright, Cooley and Hutson are the other guys at the top of that list for me.

 

The only guys not listed here who I think absolutely need to be are Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Calle Odelius and Elmeri Laakso. Lekkerimaki reminds me a lot of Magnus Paajarvi. He will be a prospect to watch just becasue of his speed and quickness. He is a better finisher than Paajarvi, but it remains to be seen if he is a better all-around play-creator. Odellius  is a brilliant transitional defenseman. Could be a like a Devon Toews or Mackenzie Weegar..Elmeri Laakso is an electric offensive defenseman in the mold of recent Finns Heiskanen and Heimosalmi. It is easy to write off Laakso because he played in the Finnish U18 league last year while most top prospects were already in U20 leagues, but his U20 club was absolutely stacked with 19-21 year old Ds. He'll be a sleeper to watch for.

Edited September 5, 2021 by HighOnHockey

[HighOnHockey]

On 8/29/2021 at 10:10 AM, Isam said:

Yeah they did.  The big thing mcgroarty is he will need a year to mature after the draft, but the talent is there.

How would you compare McGroarty vs McTavish vs. Strammel? All three look like hulking kids with some skill.

Edited September 5, 2021 by HighOnHockey

[Isam]

20 hours ago, HighOnHockey said:

@Isam

 

I watched another game of Sweden from Hlinkas, and I think you're right about Salomonsson; doesn't look like a top ten pick, at least not at this point, not in this draft. I just look at the stats from last year and albeit a small sample size, they are historic. Whenever I watch him there are flashes of brilliance, but I come away overall disappointed. I always want to give him the benefit of the doubt because of the August 31 birthday - he's practically a late birthday. But then I compare him to actual late birthdays from the 2003 class, and you had guys like Simon Forsmark, Ludwig Persson, Jack Devine, who were among the top five or so players for their U17 teams, but don't look like probable first round picks at this point, vs. Danila Yurov and Brad Lambert, who have always been the best players on their national programs (although I thought Svechkov and Yurov were close). Just being good as a younger player isn't enough to put you in the top ten, certainly not in a draft like this.

No it isnt. But there are some things i do like about his game if he cleans it up a bit. He could be a bit of a brannstrom. Big test for him is gonna be the wjc and handling older and stronger comp.  Right now i still got  him in that 12 to 14 range, but he could easily drop lower if he has another meh showing.

[Isam]

10 hours ago, HighOnHockey said:

How would you compare McGroarty vs McTavish vs. Strammel? All three look like hulking kids with some skill.

Interesting. Out of three, i think mcgroarty has the better all around game. He flashes mark stone like smarts in all three zones. Charlie stramel though. My goodness that kid could be the next big thing. For a kid to be that big and operate as a playmaker like that is something special to see.

[HighOnHockey]

Well the regular season is up and running over in Russia. Miroshnichenko started the season on the top line for the new VHL expansion team Omskie Krylia.

 

Russia has always used the European over the North American style of league tier system, where the minor league teams aren't farm systems but are their own organizations and the top teams every year move up to the higher tier league, while the worst teams move down. But in the past few years it is looking the VHL is more and more becoming a feeder league for the KHL. So anyway, Avangard Omsk added a VHL affiliate. Avangard is one of the top teams in KHL so it would have been very tough for Miroshnichenko to make the big club, so this is a huge blessing both for him and for scouts trying to get a read on him.

 

There are some whispers going around questioning Miroshnichenko's hockey IQ, but I think it is important to note that the kid played just 16 games in the U17 league, 16 games in the U18 league, and then 20 games in the MHL (U20) over the past couple years. As I've been saying, he is at his best playing an in-your-face power game - protecting pucks, leaning on guys, bouncing off checks, driving the net, shooting through sticks. But for as long as I've been watching him the problem has always been that he's also remarkably talented, and has never been challenged enough at lower levels so has been able to rely mostly on his skill. Now in the VHL he's going to have to learn to play the right way. As I said, he was thrown right to the wolves, starting his pro career on the top line of a weak team, but it was a rough night for him. Which is great, this is exactly what he needs is a bit of an ego check to push him in the right direction, as it's a lot harder and more painful work to play the way he needs to to be at his best. This was the highlight of the night for him (#63 in white; took him until late in the third to start to get the right idea):

 

 

 

Edited September 6, 2021 by HighOnHockey

[Bure_Pavel]

Wouldn't mine some Rutger McGroarty.

[HighOnHockey]

Well, I guess I'm an Omsk fan now lol. It's the only hockey going right now, but I've watched all three of their (VHL) games so far, or at least Miro's and Trikozov's shifts. I've been following Miroshnichenko's career for it feels like years now, and when I started watching him with Yastreby last year I was immediately blown away by Trikozov as well.

 

I've been talking about the need for Miro to learn and prove himself at higher levels, and his first game in the VHL was a very rough outing - he mostly looked lost, timid. His progression in the next two games has been tremendous. Second game he at least looked involved most shifts, and occasionally made an impact. In those first two games he played between 16 and 17 minutes; today he played over 20 minutes (as a 17 year old in the 8th or 9th best pro league in the world) and was making a significant impact almost every shift. I can only hope he starts to bring this level of play with some consistency, but today he looked like the raging bull I've always thought he could be.

 

Trikozov only played 10 minutes the first game, but in the second game he came unleashed. Just an absolute monster. Played over 17 minutes with 6 shots and at least 3 takeaways. In today's game he came back down to earth a bit. He still seems to make at least one stupid overconfident play with the puck every period, but it's a testament to just how talented he is that his coaches keep playing him (15 minutes today) even at this level. Really tough to say where he might get drafted, but I'm starting to think he'll find his way into the top 15 or 20, and if not some team could get a franchise-altering steal. Speaking of steals, here's his three from the other day (#8 in White):

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 10, 2021 by HighOnHockey

[N4ZZY]

On 9/4/2021 at 5:32 PM, Stierlitz said:

 

 

DobberProspects

@DobberProspects

·Sep 3

 

DP Scouting Team’s Preliminary 2022 NHL Draft Rankings http://dlvr.it/S6t0kz

 

TIER 1

1 | Shane Wright | C | Kingston (OHL) | 6-1 | 187 lbs

 

TIER 2

2 | Šimon Nemec | RHD | Nitra (Slovakia) | 6-1 | 192 lbs

3 | Matthew Savoie | C/W | Winnipeg (WHL) | 5-10 | 181 lbs

4 | Ivan Miroshnichenko | W | Omskie (MHL) | 6-1 | 185 lbs

5 | Brad Lambert | C/W | JYP (Liiga) | 6-0 | 179 lbs

 

TIER 3

6 | Logan Cooley | C | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-10 | 179 lbs

7 | Juraj Slafkovsky | W | TPS (Liiga) | 6-4 | 225 lbs

8 | Rutger McGroarty | C | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-1 | 198 lbs

9 | Danila Yurov | W | Magnitogrosk (KHL) | 6-1 | 172 lbs

10 | Isaac Howard | W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-10 | 174 lbs

11 | Conor Geekie | C | Winnipeg (WHL) | 6-4 | 205 lbs

12 | Joakim Kemell | W | JYP (Liiga) | 5-11 | 176 lbs

13 | Tristan Luneau | RHD | Gatineau (QMJHL) | 6-2 | 174 lbs

14 | Ryan Chesley | RHD | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-0 | 187 lbs

15 | Seamus Casey | RHD | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-10 | 161 lbs

16 | David Jiříček | RHD | Plzen (Czech) | 6-3 | 176 lbs

17 | Elias Salomonsson | RHD | Skellefteå J20 (J20 Nationell) | 6-1 | 161 lbs

18 | Frank Nazar | C/W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-9 | 163 lbs

19 | Denton Mateychuk | LHD | Moose Jaw (WHL) | 5-11 | 192 lbs

20 | Jack Hughes | C | Northeastern (NCAA) | 6-0 | 165 lbs

 

TIER 4

Justin Côté | C | Drummondville (QMJHL) | 5-6 | 152 lbs

Keaton Dowhaniuk | LHD | Prince George (WHL) | 6-0 | 154 lbs

Pano Fimis | C | Niagra (OHL) | 5-11 | 157 lbs

Maddox Fleming | W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-11 | 176 lbs

Cutter Gauthier | W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-2 | 190 lbs

Mattias Hävelid | RHD | Linköping J20 (J20 Nationell) | 5-10 | 172 lbs

Ryan Healey | RHD | Sioux Falls (USHL) | 6-1 | 170 lbs

Lane Hutson | LHD | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-6 | 165 lbs

Devin Kaplan | W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-2 | 192 lbs

Charlie Leddy | RHD | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-0 | 172 lbs

Mats Lindgren | LHD | Kamloops (WHL) | 5-11 | 165 lbs

Brandon Lisowsky | W | Saskatoon (WHL) | 5-8 | 176 lbs

Filip Mesar | C/W | Poprad (Slovakia) | 5-10 | 165 lbs

Noah Östlund | C | Djurgårdens J20 (J20 Nationell) | 5-10 | 163 lbs

Mathew Ward | C/W | Swift Current (WHL) | 5-7 | 154 lbs

Sadly enough, I think Wright is going to be a Coyote. That place is a death for professional hockey athletes. 

What a sad sack of an organization. 

 

[-Vintage Canuck-]

 

[N4ZZY]

On 9/4/2021 at 5:32 PM, Stierlitz said:

 

 

DobberProspects

@DobberProspects

·Sep 3

 

DP Scouting Team’s Preliminary 2022 NHL Draft Rankings http://dlvr.it/S6t0kz

 

TIER 1

1 | Shane Wright | C | Kingston (OHL) | 6-1 | 187 lbs

 

TIER 2

2 | Šimon Nemec | RHD | Nitra (Slovakia) | 6-1 | 192 lbs

3 | Matthew Savoie | C/W | Winnipeg (WHL) | 5-10 | 181 lbs

4 | Ivan Miroshnichenko | W | Omskie (MHL) | 6-1 | 185 lbs

5 | Brad Lambert | C/W | JYP (Liiga) | 6-0 | 179 lbs

 

TIER 3

6 | Logan Cooley | C | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-10 | 179 lbs

7 | Juraj Slafkovsky | W | TPS (Liiga) | 6-4 | 225 lbs

8 | Rutger McGroarty | C | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-1 | 198 lbs

9 | Danila Yurov | W | Magnitogrosk (KHL) | 6-1 | 172 lbs

10 | Isaac Howard | W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-10 | 174 lbs

11 | Conor Geekie | C | Winnipeg (WHL) | 6-4 | 205 lbs

12 | Joakim Kemell | W | JYP (Liiga) | 5-11 | 176 lbs

13 | Tristan Luneau | RHD | Gatineau (QMJHL) | 6-2 | 174 lbs

14 | Ryan Chesley | RHD | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-0 | 187 lbs

15 | Seamus Casey | RHD | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-10 | 161 lbs

16 | David Jiříček | RHD | Plzen (Czech) | 6-3 | 176 lbs

17 | Elias Salomonsson | RHD | Skellefteå J20 (J20 Nationell) | 6-1 | 161 lbs

18 | Frank Nazar | C/W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-9 | 163 lbs

19 | Denton Mateychuk | LHD | Moose Jaw (WHL) | 5-11 | 192 lbs

20 | Jack Hughes | C | Northeastern (NCAA) | 6-0 | 165 lbs

 

TIER 4

Justin Côté | C | Drummondville (QMJHL) | 5-6 | 152 lbs

Keaton Dowhaniuk | LHD | Prince George (WHL) | 6-0 | 154 lbs

Pano Fimis | C | Niagra (OHL) | 5-11 | 157 lbs

Maddox Fleming | W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-11 | 176 lbs

Cutter Gauthier | W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-2 | 190 lbs

Mattias Hävelid | RHD | Linköping J20 (J20 Nationell) | 5-10 | 172 lbs

Ryan Healey | RHD | Sioux Falls (USHL) | 6-1 | 170 lbs

Lane Hutson | LHD | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 5-6 | 165 lbs

Devin Kaplan | W | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-2 | 192 lbs

Charlie Leddy | RHD | U.S. U18 (USNTDP) | 6-0 | 172 lbs

Mats Lindgren | LHD | Kamloops (WHL) | 5-11 | 165 lbs

Brandon Lisowsky | W | Saskatoon (WHL) | 5-8 | 176 lbs

Filip Mesar | C/W | Poprad (Slovakia) | 5-10 | 165 lbs

Noah Östlund | C | Djurgårdens J20 (J20 Nationell) | 5-10 | 163 lbs

Mathew Ward | C/W | Swift Current (WHL) | 5-7 | 154 lbs

There's another Hughes?? There's FOUR OF THEM.

 

[HighOnHockey]

7 hours ago, N4ZZY said:

There's another Hughes?? There's FOUR OF THEM.

 

Lol not another brother. Would be pretty hilarious if someone named two sons by the same name though.

[HighOnHockey]

Brad Lambert has been off to a pretty disappointing start to the season. Played around 13 mins his first two games, down to 11 last game. No points. I had him ranked 3rd coming into the season, but very tentatively.

 

Lambert falls in the category of post-Barzallian forwards. Young players try to emulate their heroes, and when people saw what Kane and Panarin were able to do together in 2016, it was somewhat revolutionary - previously the hashtag corsi game was all about controlling possession down low and cycling high to the Ds. Being a "perimeter player" has always been a pejorative; but seeing elite forwards dancing around playing keepaway high and on the outside, controlling possession and manipulating defenses, spawned a bit of a new breed of forwards focused on skating agility, stickhandling and passing skills, utilized in particular ways: starting with Barzal, and then Alex Texier, Tim Stuetzle, William Eklund, and now Brad Lambert. There's also guys like Jean-Luc Foudy, Aatu Raty and Samu Tuomaala who have the skillset and attempt a similar style, but I'm not sure have the hockey IQ to execute at higher levels.

 

I recall debating a lot about Raymond vs. Stuetzle in their draft year. In some ways similar but drastically different players. Like Barzal, I suspect players like Stuetzle and Eklund will dominate possession and scoring chance generation stats every year, but that their point totals will vary significantly, depending on whether they have linemates who can keep up with them and finish on the chances they create from the outside. Whereas players like Raymond, or in this draft Savoie or Miroshnichenko, who drive the puck to the inside and attack defenders one on one, will create their own chances and their own luck.

 

Bit of a tangent, but back to Lambert - it takes elite hockey IQ and stick skills to be like Barzal and Stuetzle. Lambert has the skating abilities, without question, and he's had all the tools to be able to play this style superbly at the junior level, but he's yet to show much at all at the pro level. I do think he's closer to Stuetzle or Barzal than he is to Tuomaala or Raty, but unless he figures it out and rights the ship very soon, he's going to start freefalling down the draft boards.

Edited September 17, 2021 by HighOnHockey

[N4ZZY]

On 9/17/2021 at 7:38 AM, HighOnHockey said:

Lol not another brother. Would be pretty hilarious if someone named two sons by the same name though.

Wonder if they're related somehow. Cousins, maybe? 

 

[HighOnHockey]

Joakim Kemell is this year's Lysell or Perfetti. Smaller guys with superlative talent but not exactly coach's dreams. The way they just attack opponents one on one with reckless abandon. They're not bat$&!# crazy like a Stranges or Trikozov, but will need some coaching and might take time developing. But man oh man, could Kemell be the best of the bunch?

 

Starting to think Lekkerimaki will emerge as a top tier (using that term loosely) prospect. He reminds me of a pinball machine the way he darts around the offensive zone. Man is he quick. But is he a Hagelin or is he an Ehlers?

[Stierlitz]