A lot of Tkachuk haters! The best comparison is his dad and brother, he plays the exact same. Stand in front of the goalie, bang in loose pucks. Has a great cycle game and will take punishment to win. His brother is what 60 points 2-300 hits and draws a lot of penalties? He's the same. Kassian doesn't have net skills like him, never has. Were talking a kid that's been going to the net for scraps since tykes.
- neem55

I wouldn't say I hate Tkachuk, I just don't love his value/ceiling at #7. He'll be good, and is definitely a more NHL-ready prospect, but for me the more NHL ready a prospect is, who's playing style relies on physical strength, scares me more that their other skills are not as good since they have not needed to use them

If he's the pick at 7, I won't be disappointed, but I will have lower expectations than I did when Virtanen was picked

Do you mean the fluff interview where a player says "yes, i would like to be drafted. it is my goal in life. playing for your city would be awesome."?

who the (frank) needs those?
- Lindenis#1

Um... us fukfaces need that sort of drivel to keep our lattes warm and in hand.

I wouldn't say I hate Tkachuk, I just don't love his value/ceiling at #7. He'll be good, and is definitely a more NHL-ready prospect, but for me the more NHL ready a prospect is, who's playing style relies on physical strength, scares me more that their other skills are not as good since they have not needed to use them

If he's the pick at 7, I won't be disappointed, but I will have lower expectations than I did when Virtanen was picked
- WhiteLie

I can't shake the feeling that if it wasn't Brady Tkachuk and was like... Brady Ketchoop, he'd be talked about as a mid first versus a top end talent.

As for the bolded, remember when everyone was like "Brayden Schenn is basically Eric Lindros. Look at him run over that 16yr old, 145lb dman in the WHL."? I 'member.

A lot of "power" players in amateur leagues are nothing special once they play against men because men aren't kids. Yet it seems the potential of getting the One Guy that can tricks teams every year into reaching and selling themselves on the idea.

I wouldn't say I hate Tkachuk, I just don't love his value/ceiling at #7. He'll be good, and is definitely a more NHL-ready prospect, but for me the more NHL ready a prospect is, who's playing style relies on physical strength, scares me more that their other skills are not as good since they have not needed to use them

If he's the pick at 7, I won't be disappointed, but I will have lower expectations than I did when Virtanen was picked
- WhiteLie

Bottom line. If a dude is considered physically NHL ready and he’s STILL not statistically dominant, he isn’t a 7th overall pick. Not a special talent. Just capitalizing on a physical advantage that he won’t be enjoying at the next level.

Do you mean the fluff interview where a player says "yes, i would like to be drafted. it is my goal in life. playing for your city would be awesome."?

who the (frank) needs those?
- Lindenis#1

Yup that's the only question they are asked.

pfft

Yup that's the only question they are asked.

pfft
- classic321

Thats just about all you get from the team's PR when they put that interview out. Just go read some interview they did last year and CRTL+F for the players name, pretend it is a different name, finish reading it and then restart it pretending a new name is there.

I wouldn't say I hate Tkachuk, I just don't love his value/ceiling at #7. He'll be good, and is definitely a more NHL-ready prospect, but for me the more NHL ready a prospect is, who's playing style relies on physical strength, scares me more that their other skills are not as good since they have not needed to use them

If he's the pick at 7, I won't be disappointed, but I will have lower expectations than I did when Virtanen was picked
- WhiteLie

He plays nothing like JV. Much bigger, much better net front guy. Horvat currently plays a net front role on the power play. Tkachuk is bigger and better at in terms of deflections, passing, rebounds. 6'3 200, the kid is going to be big. Much bigger than his brother, pretty much a replica of his dad.

Thats just about all you get from the team's PR when they put that interview out. Just go read some interview they did last year and CRTL+F for the players name, pretend it is a different name, finish reading it and then restart it pretending a new name is there.
- Lindenis#1

umm no

Take Boqvist who said himself he is 3 years away.
or Tkachuk who said in an interview that he hasn't decided where he plays next year

I can't shake the feeling that if it wasn't Brady Tkachuk and was like... Brady Ketchoop, he'd be talked about as a mid first versus a top end talent.

As for the bolded, remember when everyone was like "Brayden Schenn is basically Eric Lindros. Look at him run over that 16yr old, 145lb dman in the WHL."? I 'member.

A lot of "power" players in amateur leagues are nothing special once they play against men because men aren't kids. Yet it seems the potential of getting the One Guy that can tricks teams every year into reaching and selling themselves on the idea.
- Lindenis#1

Thats my fear here. Pettersson was very light/frail and needed to be elusive to be successful, others develop skills to get them to juniors, and others are just men among boys

umm no

Take Boqvist who said himself he is 3 years away.
or Tkachuk who said in an interview that he hasn't decided where he plays next year
- classic321

Oh, so you managed to get that information? Too bad the Canucks didn't put that out for you.

Bottom line. If a dude is considered physically NHL ready and he’s STILL not statistically dominant, he isn’t a 7th overall pick. Not a special talent. Just capitalizing on a physical advantage that he won’t be enjoying at the next level.
- DrChristianTroy

Completely agree, though in Brady's case I will cut his stats some slack playing as a true freshman against players up to 24 years old. Still didnt display enough for me to think highly of him

He plays nothing like JV. Much bigger, much better net front guy. Horvat currently plays a net front role on the power play. Tkachuk is bigger and better at in terms of deflections, passing, rebounds. 6'3 200, the kid is going to be big. Much bigger than his brother, pretty much a replica of his dad.
- neem55

Not saying he plays the same, only that Virtanen was also physically overpowering in the WHL. The holes in his game IMO are largely caused by him never needing to develop skills or smarts, he was stronger and faster. Those are the concerns I have with Brady, though indication is that he is much more skilled/smarter than Virtanen

Thats my fear here. Pettersson was very light/frail and needed to be elusive to be successful, others develop skills to get them to juniors, and others are just men among boys
- WhiteLie

Sean Day. Lawson Crouse. Griffin Reinhart. The list could go on forever.

Depending how you want to gauge early results, Jakob Chychrun and Michael Rasmussen from last years draft.

Its really funny to look at any article talking about a draft two years away in the first round. Its almost exclusively 16yr olds who are already 6 feet or taller who have sorta filled out. But then by the time the draft rolls around, very few of them are every still in the conversation.

He plays nothing like JV. Much bigger, much better net front guy. Horvat currently plays a net front role on the power play. Tkachuk is bigger and better at in terms of deflections, passing, rebounds. 6'3 200, the kid is going to be big. Much bigger than his brother, pretty much a replica of his dad.
- neem55

His dad was one of the most elite scorers of his generation. If he was anything like that then there wouldn't be any of this debate.

His dad was one of the most elite scorers of his generation. If he was anything like that then there wouldn't be any of this debate.
- Lindenis#1

he scored 75% of his goals right in front of the net, literally had the exact same game.

he scored 75% of his goals right in front of the net, literally had the exact same game.
- neem55

75% of 8... so 6 times lol

75% of 8... so 6 times lol
- johnnykarate

Elite.

Dobson and wahlstrom aren't rated as highly as tchunk for a reason.

I'd say bouchard is best but hehas a muffin of a shot...
- Pres.cup

Honestly I would be super happy if we drafted Bouchard, I like his game and offensive skills. Some of it won't translate to the NHL level but I think he has a good enough all around game to improve where he needs to

Honestly I would be super happy if we drafted Bouchard, I like his game and offensive skills. Some of it won't translate to the NHL level but I think he has a good enough all around game to improve where he needs to
- NorthNuck

I don't think he has the speed necessary to be a top pairing player, but he does have the on ice vision.

Drafting for position is crazy. The objective should be to identify & stockpile special talent IMO.
- DrChristianTroy

100%

75% of 8... so 6 times lol
- johnnykarate

lol

I don't think he has the speed necessary to be a top pairing player, but he does have the on ice vision.
- Pres.cup

He might not. But I would never say never after what happened with Horvat. Either way he can minute munch and will be good on the PP

Drafting for position is crazy. The objective should be to identify & stockpile special talent IMO.
- DrChristianTroy

I agree drafting for position can get you in trouble. That's why I shake my head every time someone suggests Kotkaniemi as a realistic option at 7. I promote picking a Dman, but that's because I think the BPA where we pick will be one of several Dmen.

He might not. But I would never say never after what happened with Horvat. Either way he can minute munch and will be good on the PP
- NorthNuck

Players doing what Horvat did is nothing short of exceptional. Banking on that kind of skating progress is foolish.

Players doing what Horvat did is nothing short of exceptional. Banking on that kind of skating progress is foolish.
- Lindenis#1

When did I say I was banking on that I'm not the one who said his skating needs to improve