2016 NHL Draft

[BagBoy]

To the learned: Are this year's 5 to 10 slots much better than last year's, or am I simply paying more attention because last year was a McEichel feeding frenzy?

 

Hey, man!  Good to see you again!

 

Unfortunately, I don't qualify as "learned" on this subject.  Hopefully Crusader and others can chime in here.

 

I Look forward to seeing you again in the politics thread!  

[LGR4GM]

To the learned: Are this year's 5 to 10 slots much better than last year's, or am I simply paying more attention because last year was a McEichel feeding frenzy?

very comparable, maybe a little more high end depth in this draft at forward. I would say the defenders in this draft are a little tougher to gauge but could be comparable to the Werenski/Provorov's of last year 

Edited May 5, 2016 by LGR4GM

[3putt]

very comparable, maybe a little more high end depth in this draft at forward. I would say the defenders in this draft are a little tougher to gauge but could be comparable to the Werenski/Provorov's of last year

 

I would agree with this. I also think that the top ten are differentiated by style more so than talent. They all bring something different in how they play. I think this pool is going to be very good even into the mid second. Again, different types but a lot of productivity. Edited May 5, 2016 by 3putt

[North Buffalo]

Agree still need a scorer first imo, Sabres have plenty of D coming up and no D this year ready to make leap. Trade for a top D if you can. Draft Nylander

[dudacek]

lol, would you trust him if he did do that?

?

Actually I would, after the experts laughed at the skinny one-way Swedish defenceman his staff picked a few years back, and after he pushed for the trade up for Corey Perry, and after he was willing to sacrifice three seconds for Dylan Larkin. Yes I would.

 

And from my slowly increasing viewings, I would do backflips if Murray proves me wrong and nabs Serge.

Kid has all the tools.

 

I think 5-10 is better this year and the teens much better.

(Kyle Connor should have gone higher.)

Edited May 5, 2016 by dudacek

[LGR4GM]

Agree still need a scorer first imo, Sabres have plenty of D coming up and no D this year ready to make leap. Trade for a top D if you can. Draft Nylander

We do?

Actually I would, after the experts laughed at the skinny one-way Swedish defenceman his staff picked a few years back, and after he pushed for the trade up for Corey Perry, and after he was willing to sacrifice three seconds for Dylan Larkin. Yes I would.

 

And from my slowly increasing viewings, I would do backflips if Murray proves me wrong and nabs Serge.

Kid has all the tools.

 

I think 5-10 is better this year and the teens much better.

(Kyle Connor should have gone higher.)

I'm trusting Murray's talent evaluation more and more. 

 

Connor, Barzal, and Boeser should have all gone higher but it just shows sometimes you can hit gold later in the first. 

[ubkev]

So there's this guy. He's standing 6 feet in front of me and he's wearing a leafs jersey. I've never met him before or spoken to him. I want to tackle him more than anything in the world right now.

[Thorner]

Actually I would, after the experts laughed at the skinny one-way Swedish defenceman his staff picked a few years back, and after he pushed for the trade up for Corey Perry, and after he was willing to sacrifice three seconds for Dylan Larkin. Yes I would.

And from my slowly increasing viewings, I would do backflips if Murray proves me wrong and nabs Serge.

Kid has all the tools.

I think 5-10 is better this year and the teens much better.

(Kyle Connor should have gone higher.)

I hope he takes Sergachev too, if Sergachev happens to be the one of the big 3 D remaining when we pick. Mostly I just hope 2 or more are there when we pick. Can't really decide at this point which of the three I want most. I'll trust Murray's judgment when he chooses one.

 

I'll trust his judgement if he picks a forward too, but to me it'll indicate he wasn't happy enough with whichever D were remaining on the board. And it'll leave me with a hollow feeling if our 1st isn't a D man, with us needing a potential top pairing LHD so, so much.

[qwksndmonster]

So there's this guy. He's standing 6 feet in front of me and he's wearing a leafs jersey. I've never met him before or spoken to him. I want to tackle him more than anything in the world right now.

:lol: do it do it do it

[North Buffalo]

We do?

I'm trusting Murray's talent evaluation more and more. 

 

Connor, Barzal, and Boeser should have all gone higher but it just shows sometimes you can hit gold later in the first.

 

We do Borgen, Chukarov, Nelson (here), Guhle to name a few. Sabres need a scorer first, D after that... gonna need time to develop either way. If you want one now gonna need to sign or trade for one. Fowler et al.

[LGR4GM]

We do Borgen, Chukarov, Nelson (here), Guhle to name a few. Sabres need a scorer first, D after that... gonna need time to develop either way. If you want one now gonna need to sign or trade for one. Fowler et al.

I think that Ivan Chukarov is a long shot to ever play NHL minutes. William Borgen has a chance but he'll need at least 2 more years of college and 2 years of the AHL before he's ready. Guhle is probably the best of the bunch to make it in the NHL but he will most likely go back to juniors and need 1 year of the AHL first. Nelson is a wildcard but I liked what I saw from him. Guy needs to add 10lbs of muscle but hes solid. No offense to Brady Austin fans but he is also a long shot to be a long term NHL player. So you have potentially 2 players that could be contributors within the next 2-3 years.

 

Risto, McCabe, Bogo, and Pysyk are all here now and Gorges, Franson, are probably out in another year or in Gorges case 2. So you have 4 guys who lets say are here and 3-4 spots to fill in 2 years. Nelson and Guhle fill 2 of them and then there is a whole lot of nothing.  So at the least you need 2 defenders over the next 2 years just to fill the holes that will appear naturally and that is assuming both Guhle and Nelson work out plus Pysyk and McCabe. So they either have to sign 2 guys or they need to draft someone who is more of sure thing than what they currently got, or pray a guy like Brycen Martin pans out.

 

If we look at the forwards (top 9) you have Reinhart, Kane, Eichel, ROR, who will be here for the foreseeable future. You have Zemgus, Larsson, Foligno, Ennis who could reasonably fill out the bottom half of your top 9 but let's say one of them fails so you need 2 guys to fill out the top 9 (I am excluding bottom 3 players because realistically you can find them anywhere).  Your options are Bailey, Baptiste, Fasching, Possler, Olofsson, Estephan, and maybe Cornel. So 7 guys to fill 2 spots. I like those odds.

 

Bottom line is the Sabres have a lot more options at forward in the pipeline than defenders. That said I think they should take the BPA regardless of position. If Pierre Luc Dubois the center falls to #8, take him and covert him to wing if needed. But I fully disagree with the notion that it is more imperative for this team to get a scorer than a defender. The numbers just don't bare that out and one thing I have learned in the last 3 years is that prospects to a degree are a numbers game. 

[North Buffalo]

Good

I think that Ivan Chukarov is a long shot to ever play NHL minutes. William Borgen has a chance but he'll need at least 2 more years of college and 2 years of the AHL before he's ready. Guhle is probably the best of the bunch to make it in the NHL but he will most likely go back to juniors and need 1 year of the AHL first. Nelson is a wildcard but I liked what I saw from him. Guy needs to add 10lbs of muscle but hes solid. No offense to Brady Austin fans but he is also a long shot to be a long term NHL player. So you have potentially 2 players that could be contributors within the next 2-3 years.

 

Risto, McCabe, Bogo, and Pysyk are all here now and Gorges, Franson, are probably out in another year or in Gorges case 2. So you have 4 guys who lets say are here and 3-4 spots to fill in 2 years. Nelson and Guhle fill 2 of them and then there is a whole lot of nothing.  So at the least you need 2 defenders over the next 2 years just to fill the holes that will appear naturally and that is assuming both Guhle and Nelson work out plus Pysyk and McCabe. So they either have to sign 2 guys or they need to draft someone who is more of sure thing than what they currently got, or pray a guy like Brycen Martin pans out.

 

If we look at the forwards (top 9) you have Reinhart, Kane, Eichel, ROR, who will be here for the foreseeable future. You have Zemgus, Larsson, Foligno, Ennis who could reasonably fill out the bottom half of your top 9 but let's say one of them fails so you need 2 guys to fill out the top 9 (I am excluding bottom 3 players because realistically you can find them anywhere).  Your options are Bailey, Baptiste, Fasching, Possler, Olofsson, Estephan, and maybe Cornel. So 7 guys to fill 2 spots. I like those odds.

 

Bottom line is the Sabres have a lot more options at forward in the pipeline than defenders. That said I think they should take the BPA regardless of position. If Pierre Luc Dubois the center falls to #8, take him and covert him to wing if needed. But I fully disagree with the notion that it is more imperative for this team to get a scorer than a defender. The numbers just don't bare that out and one thing I have learned in the last 3 years is that prospects to a degree are a numbers game.

 

Good argument, just think there are enough good D in this draft and rfa and ufas to go after one later but true BPA, that said if not a scorer avail then D, dont need a two way center, Unless he can be packaged for a D or scoring asset.

[Thorner]

I think that Ivan Chukarov is a long shot to ever play NHL minutes. William Borgen has a chance but he'll need at least 2 more years of college and 2 years of the AHL before he's ready. Guhle is probably the best of the bunch to make it in the NHL but he will most likely go back to juniors and need 1 year of the AHL first. Nelson is a wildcard but I liked what I saw from him. Guy needs to add 10lbs of muscle but hes solid. No offense to Brady Austin fans but he is also a long shot to be a long term NHL player. So you have potentially 2 players that could be contributors within the next 2-3 years.

 

Risto, McCabe, Bogo, and Pysyk are all here now and Gorges, Franson, are probably out in another year or in Gorges case 2. So you have 4 guys who lets say are here and 3-4 spots to fill in 2 years. Nelson and Guhle fill 2 of them and then there is a whole lot of nothing.  So at the least you need 2 defenders over the next 2 years just to fill the holes that will appear naturally and that is assuming both Guhle and Nelson work out plus Pysyk and McCabe. So they either have to sign 2 guys or they need to draft someone who is more of sure thing than what they currently got, or pray a guy like Brycen Martin pans out.

 

If we look at the forwards (top 9) you have Reinhart, Kane, Eichel, ROR, who will be here for the foreseeable future. You have Zemgus, Larsson, Foligno, Ennis who could reasonably fill out the bottom half of your top 9 but let's say one of them fails so you need 2 guys to fill out the top 9 (I am excluding bottom 3 players because realistically you can find them anywhere).  Your options are Bailey, Baptiste, Fasching, Possler, Olofsson, Estephan, and maybe Cornel. So 7 guys to fill 2 spots. I like those odds.

 

Bottom line is the Sabres have a lot more options at forward in the pipeline than defenders. That said I think they should take the BPA regardless of position. If Pierre Luc Dubois the center falls to #8, take him and covert him to wing if needed. But I fully disagree with the notion that it is more imperative for this team to get a scorer than a defender. The numbers just don't bare that out and one thing I have learned in the last 3 years is that prospects to a degree are a numbers game. 

 

Agreed, good post. 

 

Pierre-Luc Dubois is listed as a LW, though. That's where he'll play. 

Edited May 5, 2016 by Thorny

[Crusader1969]

Agreed, good post. 

 

Pierre-Luc Dubois is listed as a LW, though. That's where he'll play. 

 

Dubois plays both C and LW.

 

That's why there is speculation that Vancouver will have a big decision between Dubios and Brown if they are both there in the 5 slot. 

 

I watched a Windsor game last night that I have recorded from early Feb to watch Sergi once again. Not sure why this didn't occur to me earlier but though he is a LHD he plays on the right side. Any concerns for him being able to switch to the left in the NHL?

[Derrico]

Dubois plays both C and LW.

 

That's why there is speculation that Vancouver will have a big decision between Dubios and Brown if they are both there in the 5 slot. 

 

I watched a Windsor game last night that I have recorded from early Feb to watch Sergi once again. Not sure why this didn't occur to me earlier but though he is a LHD he plays on the right side. Any concerns for him being able to switch to the left in the NHL?

He shoots left though.  So it may be a benefit that he could potentially play both sides?  Not sure what the reasoning of Windsor playing him on the right is/was.

Edited May 5, 2016 by Derrico

[Thorner]

Dubois plays both C and LW.

 

That's why there is speculation that Vancouver will have a big decision between Dubios and Brown if they are both there in the 5 slot. 

 

I watched a Windsor game last night that I have recorded from early Feb to watch Sergi once again. Not sure why this didn't occur to me earlier but though he is a LHD he plays on the right side. Any concerns for him being able to switch to the left in the NHL?

 

But on our team, for example, he would almost certainly play LW. 

 

Re: Sergachev, it could potentially be a concern, if he plays on the right side generally, given our defensive needs. 

 

But since he's a LHD it's probably likely he can/has played the left side. 

Edited May 5, 2016 by Thorny

[Stads]

When I was compiling my list of potential top 10 picks I used ISS rankings and saw the Laine/Puljujarvi thing and had wtf? moment.  I guess they see something there to make that call. Logan Brown at #7 if also a bit high especially compared to everyone else who has him at maybe 9-15 or so. Either way it is interesting because I like the ISS rankings a lot more than CSS rankings and Craig's list.

 

Well Craig's list is sometimes hit or miss. You may get a great deal on some gently used goods or you might end up being harvested for your skin. I didn't know they also did hockey rankings.

[Brawndo]

 

Most asked about player from #Bruins fans about the NHL draft I get is Mikhail Sergachev. I'll be surprised if he's there when they pick

 

@dominictiano I was blown away watching him in playoffs vs. KIT but scouts told me his give-his-crap meter at U-18 didn't even register.

 

This is from McKenzie

Edited May 7, 2016 by BRAWNDO

[Taro T]

Realizing full well the the Loafs will take Matthews, but how weird would it be to have them grab Laine so that Arizona born Matthews ends up in the original home of the Yotes?

 

(Apologies if that's already been discussed.)

[LGR4GM]

Most asked about player from #Bruins fans about the NHL draft I get is Mikhail Sergachev. I'll be surprised if he's there when they pick

 

@dominictiano I was blown away watching him in playoffs vs. KIT but scouts told me his give-his-crap meter at U-18 didn't even register.

 

This is from McKenzie

His biggest knock is that he that he doesn't always go full force.  It would be a major concern for me as a GM.

[WildCard]

Meet Will Bitten. Once bitten, and twice shy of course

 

http://thehockeywriters.com/meet-the-steal-of-the-2016-nhl-draft/

[LGR4GM]

So one of the things I do when I read draft profiles and I watch videos for guys who might be later picks is I want to see production and hear that they work hard. It is why I favored players such as Brock Boeser (I'll never let go Brock, I'll never let go) and Adrian Kempe.  Usually I will find one or two players that will slot into either the late 1st or 2nd round. This year I think I have my guy. While I was tempted to favor a defender with our 2nd round pick I think I favor this kid. Adam Mascherin who had 35g, 46a in 65 games this year for Kitchener. His gpg is at 0.54 and his ppg hits at 1.25ppg.  This (Rakish might even have the numbers on this) should grade out to a good 2nd line winger. He has excellent skating and while he is only 5'10" (solidly 5'10" not just barely with skates on) he weighs in at 205lbs.  He is on my wishlist for that 38th overall pick. He is probably going to be 3 years from NHL action but something tells me it would be worth the wait. 

 

 

Prolific scoring winger that combines an exceedingly high work ethic with speed, skill, and a mature approach to the game to overcome size differentials. An intense competitor with a booming shot, Masherin finds ways to score by outworking the opposition. He may not be the tallest player on the ice, but he isn't a lightweight either. He plays a fast, heavy game and isn't afraid to battle against tougher opponents. All-in-all, a lightning rod kind of player that will exceed expectations and bring energy to the game with each shift. (Curtis Joe, EP 2015) - See more at: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=240112#sthash.ohID729w.dpuf

 

 

I recommend the 1:45 mark of the video to see how he shoots

Edited May 10, 2016 by LGR4GM

[dudacek]

So Danny Paille?

[Sabres Fan in NS]

So Danny Paille?

 

Paging The Ghost of The Ghost of Dwight Drane to the 2016 NHL Draft thread.

[LGR4GM]

So Danny Paille?

Not even remotely close to Paille. Paille wouldn't top 80pts in the OHL until he was 20, this kid did it at 17.