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2018 NHL Entry Draft

Habspatrol said:
You're basing this on the draft rankings? Cause number 3-8 were virtually interchangeable on most lists... and yes, some even had Kotkaniemi ranked higher than Zadina.

I have only watched some video of both, but from everything I've seen and read, there's not really much if anything separating them.
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Yes, you say interchangeable on most lists.From looking at The Hockey News (rated Kotkaniemi #18) and listening to the talking heads on Sportsnet, but not all. Maybe the two I mentioned are not the best sources, but I fear Timmins is no more clued in than they are. I sense maybe the Finn is a relative latecomer to the top 6? Zadina has been in that group for awhile. I hope its not one of those late season overreactions, as we saw with Benoit Pouliot and a few others, who suddenly jump up because of a late-season push over a short time sample. ...let's hope my fears are unfounded. Anyway if he's better than Zadina, he must be quite the player.
 
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east coast said:
Yes, you say interchangeable on most lists.From looking at The Hockey News (rated Kotkaniemi #18) and listening to the talking heads on Sportsnet, but not all. Maybe the two I mentioned are not the best sources, but I fear Timmins is no more clued in than they are. I sense maybe the Finn is a relative latecomer to the top 6? Zadina has been in that group for awhile. I hope its not one of those late season overreactions, as we saw with Benoit Pouliot and a few others, who suddenly jump up because of a late-season push over a short time sample. ...let's hope my fears are unfounded. Anyway if he's better than Zadina, he must be quite the player.
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https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/...aniemi-bob-mckenzie-athletic-hockey-prospects
 
For example, while Zadina is still very much a consensus top-five pick, relative to the other prospects, five of 10 scouts surveyed by TSN ranked him outside their top five.
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The No. 5 spot on TSN’s final rankings goes to Finnish centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who was No. 19 on the mid-season rankings and No. 10 on the draft lottery edition rankings. His strong performance at the World Under-18 Championships in April has vaulted him into the top five and provided this draft with something that it seemed to be missing all season long — a potential No. 1 centre.
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https://www.tsn.ca/kc-1.1115400
 
east coast said:
Yes, you say interchangeable on most lists.From looking at The Hockey News (rated Kotkaniemi #18) and listening to the talking heads on Sportsnet, but not all. Maybe the two I mentioned are not the best sources, but I fear Timmins is no more clued in than they are. I sense maybe the Finn is a relative latecomer to the top 6? Zadina has been in that group for awhile. I hope its not one of those late season overreactions, as we saw with Benoit Pouliot and a few others, who suddenly jump up because of a late-season push over a short time sample. ...let's hope my fears are unfounded. Anyway if he's better than Zadina, he must be quite the player.
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This comment goes back to what I said earlier. The average Habs fan were pumped messages about Zadina and Tkachuk from the media all season long and expected at least one of them to be a Hab after the draft. However, the Habs ended up drafting a player that most fans know nothing about it. So it's caused some anger and confusion.

The Finn might end up being better pick/player, but the unknown factor surrounding him has caused distress.

Another issue here is the general lack of trust by fans in MB. Him going after something they know little about it scary to many.
 
east coast said:
I'm still worked up. Passing on Zadina will cost this franchise dearly, just as did the Subban trade. It has been recognized for years that drafting for position early in the draft is a bad strategy unless all things are equal. They weren't. Have Bergevin/Timmims not understood this?


Having a few guys around the office who are season ticket holders here in Halifax has not helped my take of course. Regardless of bias, they do see more games than Timmins etc. I personally was more impressed with Zadina than Hischier though I don't see a lot of games..
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wingers are the least valuable thing in the NHL (perhaps next to goalies)

the way i look at it is this (simple i know but im guessing they do this when ranking prospects

on a 15 point scale

zadina is this
4.5 for skill
3 for potential
2 for position

hughes is this
5 for skill
2 for potential (high bust potential)
3 for position

The fin is this
4 for skill
3 for potential
4 for position

basically position has value just like you see for salaries and trade value
 
https://theathletic.com/342438/2018/05/21/pronmans-2018-nhl-draft-board/?redirected=1

JK was ranked 4th

but even more cool


14. Jesse Ylonen, RW, Espoo-Mestis

Oct. 3, 1999 | six-foot | 167 pounds

GP: 48 | Goals: 14 | Points: 27 | Shoots: Right

Skating: 60
Puck Skills: 60
Physical Game: 40
Hockey sense: 55

Ylonen has played the entire season in Finland’s second division pro league, being good but not great there, and he was the top scorer at both the U19 Five Nations tournament in February and U19 Four Nations in April. His stats aren’t wow-caliber, but I have little doubt he’s a high-end talent who can break open a shift. His skating is high-end, as is his playmaking. He’s incredibly elusive with his skating, able to jet up the ice as well as turn on a dime. He can dangle, but he also makes plays to his teammates well and shows very good instincts. That combination allows him to be a real nuisance coming through the neutral zone and to check overall. He’s more of a playmaker to me, but he has a fine shot and I’ve seen his one-timer and wrist shot be dangerous from a distance. My main criticism of Ylonen is he doesn’t always grind as hard as he should for pucks, and it doesn’t help that his frame is quite slender which led to him struggling when trying to win pucks from men. If he can add bulk to his frame and get to the inside areas a bit more, the sky’s the limit for him.
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39. Allan McShane, C, Oshawa-OHL

Feb. 14, 2000 | 5-foot-11 | 185 pounds

GP: 67 | Goals: 20 | Points: 65 | Shoots: Left

Skating: 45
Puck Skills: 60
Physical Game: 40
Hockey sense: 60

McShane has been a tough guy for me to get a read on this season, and it’s fair to say he disappointed after blowing people away last season as a 16-year-old. But, he showed me great flashes, and there’s enough to his game to make me believe in him. He’s a very skilled puck handler who can make difficult plays to create space. McShane is also a high-end playmaker with the patience and vision to be a catalyst on the man advantage and sees plays develop before most other players. His shot is also quite impressive, and he can score from a distance. His flaws are noteworthy, though. He’s just an OK skater, and he makes his skating problems worse by not hustling to win pucks. I’d watch some games where McShane stood out at a high level and others where I had to verify he was in the lineup. You combine that with the fact he’s short and the projection starts to become difficult, but there is value in his skill set.

Oshawa’s acting coach Greg Nemisz said: “He’s got high-end hockey IQ. He’s talented with the puck. He’s a really good playmaker. He’s a special talent. He sees plays happen a few seconds before most players do.”
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from same article
 
44. Jacob Olofsson, C, Timra-Allsvenskan

Feb. 8, 2000 | 6-foot-2 | 192 pounds

GP: 43 | Goals: 10 | Points: 21 | Shoots: Left

Skating: 50
Puck Skills: 55
Physical Game: 50
Hockey sense: 55

Olofsson was very good for a 17-year-old in the Allsvenskan. He played nearly 18 minutes a game for Timra and was used on both special team units. Olofsson shows good skill and poise around the puck. He’s a confident puck handler who can make a skilled play to gain the zone and create space once inside. He likes to make plays, displaying good vision and patience with the puck. Off the puck, I think he’s shown great strides even if he’s not overly physical. He’s developed into a real solid two-way center versus men who can make a stop due to his brain and be a critical part of the transition up the ice. Olofsson’s feet are decent, but one issue with his game is a lack of pace as he prefers the game when it slows down. I’ve seen flashes of dynamic skill from him, but he’s not consistent in that area and I’m unsure how high his ceiling is.

Sweden’s U18 coach Torgny Bendelin said: “His playing sense is very, very high-end.”
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again
 
worm said:
wingers are the least valuable thing in the NHL (perhaps next to goalies)

the way i look at it is this (simple i know but im guessing they do this when ranking prospects

on a 15 point scale

zadina is this
4.5 for skill
3 for potential
2 for position

hughes is this
5 for skill
2 for potential (high bust potential)
3 for position

The fin is this
4 for skill
3 for potential
4 for position

basically position has value just like you see for salaries and trade value
Click to expand...

Timmins essentially laid out the same rationale -- he discussed using a horizontal draft board (based on asset value) to go along with the more traditional vertical board (based on talent)

It's about f uckin time. So tired of seeing the Habs drafting 3rd line wingers and bottom pairing d-men in the first round. Did we even draft a defensive d-man this year?
 
CH1 said:
Timmins essentially laid out the same rationale -- he discussed a horizontal draft board (based on asset value) to go along with the more traditional vertical board (based on talent)

It's about f uckin time. So tired of seeing the Habs drafting 3rd line wingers and bottom pairing d-men in the first round. Did we even draft a defensive d-man this year?
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Jordan Harris had one point in USHL
 
worm said:
Jordan Harris had one point in USHL
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he only played 5 games in USHL. He played most of the year in prep league -- 35 points in 37 games.

He's known for his skating. Here's what future considerations said:

A puck-moving blueliner, he is an elite skater, smoothly flying from zone to zone – even with the puck. He owns excellent end-to-end speed and isn’t shy about using it. He always keeps his feet moving. Speed, clearly, is his biggest asset. His stickhandling skills are that good. He transitions the puck extremely well – and fast.
 
CH1 said:
he only played 5 games in USHL. He played most of the year in prep league -- 35 points in 37 games.

He's known for his skating. Here's what future considerations said:

A puck-moving blueliner, he is an elite skater, smoothly flying from zone to zone – even with the puck. He owns excellent end-to-end speed and isn’t shy about using it. He always keeps his feet moving. Speed, clearly, is his biggest asset. His stickhandling skills are that good. He transitions the puck extremely well – and fast.
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was just a joke....
 
anybody remember what scouts were fired (or more importantly what areas they were covering) ?

curious if we avoided those areas in this draft or not
 
worm said:
anybody remember what scouts were fired (or more importantly what areas they were covering) ?

curious if we avoided those areas in this draft or not
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Steve Ludzik Jr. - Ontario
Pat Westrum - Minnesota high schools and the western U.S.
Andy Bezeau - New England
Alvin Backus - B.C. Junior Hockey League
 
hairnova said:
Steve Ludzik Jr. - Ontario
Pat Westrum - Minnesota high schools and the western U.S.
Andy Bezeau - New England
Alvin Backus - B.C. Junior Hockey League
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Ontario
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2016 - 2 of the 4 OHLers seem good - Serg, Mete
2017 - nobody drafted
2018 - Cam Hillis (3rd), and Allan McShane (4th)

Minnesota high schools and the western U.S
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2016 - Casey Staum (5th) Minny HS
2017 - nothing unless Jarret Tyszka from the WHL Seattle counts
2018 - nothing

New England
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2016 - nothing
2017 - nothing
2018 - nothing (i think)

BCHL
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2016 - nothing
2017 - nothing
2018 - Brett Stapley (7th)
 
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