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.
- NorthNuck

It’s probable that people suggesting Kotkaniemi think he’s potentially BPA at 7 too lol

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.
- NorthNuck

I’m one of those people... and I wouldn’t be happy with Dobson, Bouchard or Tkachuk. That’s what makes this sh!t fun I guess.

It’s probable that people suggesting Kotkaniemi think he’s potentially BPA at 7 too lol
- Nucker101

That makes me go

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

There are only 3 NHL ready kids out of this draft imo.

A scouting report on Bouchard from someone who's watched him and Dobson a lot. Sounds pretty unbiased since he points out the good and bad.

Evan Bouchard (RD) has been a big riser on London this year, and he’s gobbling up the points, taking a ton of shots, has solid size, and is their everything on their blue line. Bouchard is going to be someone I’m off from consensus on. I simply don’t see him being a top 10 caliber pick. Not that I don’t think he has positive attributes or isn’t a fine player, but he’s missing something for me.

He’s nowhere near as dynamic as that scoring indicates, skating or puck skills. I know even his fans knock his skating. I think it’s very average overall (and for a d-man, that doesn't thrill me). Sometimes it looks alright, other times you see more how it could hurt him in tighter checking games at the next level. In full stride he can get up ice OK (the empty NZ in juniors helps), though his top gear is still pretty average. It’s more his lack of quickness and short stride. He can skate/stand too upright and wait around flat footed too much, even up at the point, which doesn’t help his quickness either.

He takes a lot of shots, but that can sometimes be irritating depending on quality. Now, he does have a good shot when he gets in closer, and his slapper is hard, but he takes too many poor long distance shots without attempting another read to create a better chance. They’re not good shots, and he’d be better off working the cycle to create chances. Stands flat-footed, catches, and shoots the vast majority of the time rather than pass, though it’s not like he can’t make plays. Even with space, he generally prefers to just do a slow windup slapper. Classic London usage gets a big mention; he plays half the game minimum and often full PPs.

Off the puck in his own zone, he’s competent and can handle himself along the boards; generally in fine position. Certainly is reliable enough there. He is one of the older players in the draft and not far from physical maturity. But his defense can shade towards conservative/safe, and he’s way too quick to retreat back behind his blue line off the rush. He’s almost always well behind it as soon as the opposition skates through the NZ, and he’s not really a pincher either, as he hangs pretty high up at the blue line and then backs up. He’s a good puck mover though in transition and is very patient and has the vision and poise to make a nice first pass. That stands out. He’ll join the rush as a trailer a lot, lead it his fair share too. Certainly has the green light to do whatever.

But I can’t shake the impression there’s an air of reliable vanilla-ness to his game. I think he reads the play “fine” (that’s a word I’d use a lot to describe him), but I also don't feel that he’s high end in the hockey IQ department. I don’t know what he projectably excels at is my general issue. I see he’s being put alongside Dobson, who is definitely a safe prospect and rather shoot first too, except I think Dobson is better at most everything — skating, smarts, size — while being far more aggressive in all 3 zones.

It’s probable that people suggesting Kotkaniemi think he’s potentially BPA at 7 too lol
- Nucker101

He is arguably the best Centre in this draft. That doesn’t mean he is the bpa at 7.

There are only 3 NHL ready kids out of this draft imo.
- thundachunk

Agreed. Boqvist, Hughes and Calen Addison

He is arguably the best Centre in this draft. That doesn’t mean he is the bpa at 7.
- thundachunk

For sure, but some people might think he's as good the wingers after Zadina so I can see why they'd have him ranked in their top 7.

A scouting report on Bouchard from someone who's watched him and Dobson a lot. Sounds pretty unbiased since he points out the good and bad.
- Nucker101

It is all hypothetical since I'm 99% sure JB doesn't want Bouchard. If we get Dobson and he's a similar type player with slightly more speed and a more accurate shot I'd be stoked.

It is all hypothetical since I'm 99% sure JB doesn't want Bouchard. If we get Dobson and he's a similar type player with slightly more speed and a more accurate shot I'd be stoked.
- NorthNuck

Depending what Montreal does, it isn't impossible that one of Hughes or Dobson is still open to be picked.

I'd be unable to wear pants for a week if they got Hughes

He is arguably the best Centre in this draft. That doesn’t mean he is the bpa at 7.
- thundachunk

I really struggle to find someone I’d be ecstatic selecting at 7 unless Hughes falls. I’d take Kotkaniemi if forced to choose between him and the others I’m not so high on. Ideally I’d prefer a trade with Philly because I think 14 & 19 is a sweet spot to snap up 2 of my favs. Obviously very unlikely...

McKenzie says Hayton could be drafted top 10, multiple teams have him ranked top 10 apparently. Who knows if those teams are actually picking top 10 though.

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

Keith Tkachuk? I think you need to take your pills.

A scouting report on Bouchard from someone who's watched him and Dobson a lot. Sounds pretty unbiased since he points out the good and bad.
- Nucker101

"there’s an air of reliable vanilla-ness to his game."

An appropriate description of a few of the prospects in the 7 range

"there’s an air of reliable vanilla-ness to his game."

An appropriate description of a few of the prospects in the 7 range
- WhiteLie

Also, Ronaldo

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.
- NorthNuck

Kotkaniemi is not BPA... perhaps he's BCA.
Boqvist has the highest potential, but also the greatest risk, out off the defensemen. Dobson has the lowest potential, but also very little risk.

If we draft bodqvist we'll get to hear, from Don and others, how we made a bad pick for at least three years. Ten years from now is how boqvist should be judged and it's a pick that won't help Benning get another contract.

If we draft Dobson , he'll probably make the team in 2019/20 , and be a solid top 6 defensemen for 15 years with a 5year period of being a top 4 defensemen. People will say he was a good pick fir 3or 4years and then will lament the fact that we drafted Bryan Allen V.2.0. Instead of a true top pairing guy.

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

So.... you don't think bouchard needs to work on his skating?

So.... you don't think bouchard needs to work on his skating?
- Pres.cup

I just don't necessarily buy in to the idea that it's going to hold him back immensely.

McKenzie says Hayton could be drafted top 10, multiple teams have him ranked top 10 apparently. Who knows if those teams are actually picking top 10 though.
- Nucker101

I think someone hit on it earlier, and 1040 touched on it... Monday or Tuesday and so has Twitter, but there seems to be a fair bit of teams wanting a center, and it seems as if they're giving centers bonus points in draft rankings to talk themselves into them.

Not that this is inherently wrong. I think you'd rather have a number 2 C in a lot of instances over a first line wing unless that winger was an absolute game breaker.

Like a... Gaudreau > O'Reilly > Eberle sort of decision process.

Kotkaniemi is not BPA... perhaps he's BCA.
Boqvist has the highest potential, but also the greatest risk, out off the defensemen. Dobson has the lowest potential, but also very little risk.

If we draft bodqvist we'll get to hear, from Don and others, how we made a bad pick for at least three years. Ten years from now is how boqvist should be judged and it's a pick that won't help Benning get another contract.

If we draft Dobson , he'll probably make the team in 2019/20 , and be a solid top 6 defensemen for 15 years with a 5year period of being a top 4 defensemen. People will say he was a good pick fir 3or 4years and then will lament the fact that we drafted Bryan Allen V.2.0. Instead of a true top pairing guy.
- Pres.cup

I think you're underrating Dobson. Just because he is a safe pick doesn't mean he doesn't have high potential.

Agreed. Boqvist, Hughes and Calen Addison
- CanuckDon

Lol

Boqvist for the Calder

I think you're underrating Dobson. Just because he is a safe pick doesn't mean he doesn't have high potential.
- NorthNuck

He'd like Dobson better if he didn't play defense and was the exact same player otherwise.

I really struggle to find someone I’d be ecstatic selecting at 7 unless Hughes falls. I’d take Kotkaniemi if forced to choose between him and the others I’m not so high on. Ideally I’d prefer a trade with Philly because I think 14 & 19 is a sweet spot to snap up 2 of my favs. Obviously very unlikely...
- DrChristianTroy

You need to find some better woodpiles.

Zadina?
Wahlstrom?
Boqvist?

He'd like Dobson better if he didn't play defense and was the exact same player otherwise.
- Nucker101

If he was younger, shorter, had a harder shot, was faster and had more upside, then I'd love him.
But Donald loves him, so for the sake of it(I actually like him, just don't feel he's as big a home run as boqvist) I'm going ti have to hate him as a player who moved from 15ov into the top ten based on 4games at the end ofthe year when none of the other prospects where playing.

#recencybias