Couldn't agree more, and why if I had a kid this age, and that good of a hockey player, he'd be going to college in the US and staying away from the CHL
- vabeachbear

Looks like that might be happening. Seems the NCAA is going to be the top of the developmental pyramid and in the next few years will allow CHL players in the league.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...-in-allowing-chl-players/

Chicago’s #2 for Montreal’s #5 and Caufield
- paulr

via GIPHY

Aside from Faber, Minnesota's defense is long in the tooth. Guerin probably wants to swap Rossi for a young defenseman.
- boilermaker100

I read somewhere that he wasn’t Guerin’s type of player. He’s a Smurf, so he’d fit right in on the Hawks. Maybe they’ll want to move Boldy, yeah probably not.

via GIPHY

- DarthKane

In a second

The CHL offers development through competition and also offers the same strength and conditioning programs. One of the strongest and most fit players in this coming draft is Cole Beaudoin of the Barrie Colts of the CHL. There are lots of pros and cons of both opportunities related to hockey. The overall advantage, and to me the most important element of College over the CHL is the education.
- paulr

True but most of the picks dont get a degree. Others (undrafted)probably do.

I would like to see how hyman plays away fron mcdavid and the german
- LFS

No doubt his game enhanced by playing with teammates like those 2, who's wouldn't? He was a 100 goal man in 3 years of junior at 16,17 and 18 before going to Michigan.

So don't underestimate Hyman, he goes to the paint, scores nifty goals, uses the body, team guy. I'd rather be paying him $5.5M for results than what AA, Hall and Foligno deliver.

And right about now the Leafs had they kept him would definitely rather be paying him that instead of Marner and Tavares $.

And worth mentioning - drafted 123rd overall.

Did anyone notice when ESPN did a montage on Celebrini, he was wearing a Blackhawks sweater when he was a young kid? I thought for sure that was a sign. I guess I should have kept going to church.

How about giving Ottawa both first rounders for Brady Tkachuk?

How about giving Ottawa both first rounders for Brady Tkachuk?
- wiz1901

via GIPHY

Unlikely. There are still many players who need the CHL for various reasons, unqualified academically, closer to home, belief it’s the best path to play professionally etc.. The CHL still offers a good program despite its flaws.
- paulr

The 18 year old draft changed many things about Canadian junior hockey. Prior to that it was a 20 and under league where kids might not even make a team until they were 19. Great competitive hockey at that time.

Apart from the obvious academic advantages of the college route, there are downsides to the 30 game a year full face shield league. It still has a long way to go in developing top flight pros. And the real good players leave school after a year or 2.

Since we've moved on from Tankathon spins to mock drafts....

I just did a mock draft for the first round. I drafted Levshunov at #2 and Eiserman and #20.

Show me a current NHL organization who is going to take a player second overall and who scouting director has never seen him live.



They are not going by all our lists and opinions.






- wiz1901

Too much thrown at the wall for me to be conversive thru a keyboard but it all comes down to legit questions on will Demidov come, like any prospect will the skills we've seen v Russian Jrs and no international play translate, how is he medically, are there personality issues and on and on of the normal stuff then all the funk of being in Russia............ That's why I think there is too much risk to use a #2 on with all the excellent choices that are there and would not draft Demidov. You must hit on this pick for the rebuild to reach its ceiling, but the problem is Demidov is the best option for that to happen. That's ok, I see a freakish centerman and 4 legit possible top pairing Dman that will get me to that ceiling with a helluva lot less risk.

But as far as on the ice to my eye, and the mainstream's, people who are paid to make rankings lists, Demidov is a clear cut stud. Vs jrs players I saw a Datsyuk level freak. .... I believe 90-95% of NHL franchises have Demidov as #1 or #2 on their rankings list and that's saying something with all the fantastic Dmen and Lindstrom available.

And no Wiz, NHL franchises who's mortgage is paid by some entity in the NHL do not draft players based on Dobber's list, McKenzie's or yours or mine.

Ric, love you now and always.

You will have to a subscriber of The Athletc (or PM me and I will give one of my ONE MONTH FREE things), to understand this one from me.

When you called me an outliner, before putting my feet back in the heels, i went back and checked the entire year of bhoth Wheeler and Pronmans Draft coverage,mocks and rankings and they get paid a nice salary to be considered the sites resident experts.

So I went back through their Athletic posts as i would like you all to do.
Tell where Demidov was throughout the process.
Not october but even less tha two months ago, and you will see demidov is a prodpect they saw as the seocnd best forward or even PLAYER most of the year.

And now they suddenly both changed their evaluations and he is the SECOND player, eh?

Ir sounds like they got on the band wagon, because they didn't want to be outliers?
(like when Corey had two players in his first tier, Celebrini and Carter Yakemchuk.)

I always amazes me and I know you can change an opinion, and right now it looks like EVERY BODY has superior opinion on Demidov, except an outlier because I never had him there yet.
- wiz1901

Wiz, I don't follow what list makers do and when, and yea minds get changed all the time, as they should. ......... Saying you're an outlier on an evaluation of a player is not a knock in any way and for sure in my mind it's a badge. Unless you are a contrarian by nature, and I don't think you are, it's a good quality to go against your peers.

In most minds Demidov is crazy good. You just see issues despite what he's shown v lower competition, Russian Jrs and make reasonable points and show some red flags on him developing into a stud that McKenzie and his group don't or will overcome.

If you look at the top two guys from each playoff team:

Avalanche: Drafted \ Traded
Oilers: Drafted \ Traded
Dallas: Drafted \ Drafted
Winnipeg: Drafted \ Traded
Vancouver: Drafted \ Traded or signed depending on who you consider 2
LA: Drafted \ Drafted
Florida: Waiver \ Trade
Toronto: Draft \ Trade
Boston: Draft \ Trade
Rangers: Trade \ Trade
Carolina: Draft \ Trade (Burns still playing top minutes and putting up points but debatable)
NYI: Drafted \ Drafted
Tampa: Drafted \ Trade

Vegas is kinda weird with the expansion draft but they didn't develop any of them but Hanafin and Pietrangelo were pretty much one and two and that was a trade and sign.

It's a lot of mixing.

If you believe any of the more nuanced metrics, Alex Vlasic was at the top of the NHL in terms of defensive play. With someone to actually pass the puck to and finish chances - I think you see his point totals increase as well as all the fancy stuff.

Korchinski probably has another year of struggling but hopefully will see some signs of life there. Definitely has the talent and athletic ability just needs to figure it out between the ears.

Nazar I think will hit his ceiling or close to it and it won't take long. Point totals will depend on who he plays with but 15-20 goals and 20-25 assists not an unreasonable expectation.

I think Gavin Hayes will be a pleasant surprise and may leapfrog Reichel if he's willing to go to the middle of the ice.

They have Bedard now and have had some good opportunities to draft a lot of first and second rounders with a bunch of picks this year and next. But they can't afford to miss with this 2 pick.

So Bedard + Vlasic + Nazar + Korch + whoever at 2 has the potential to be a really nice group and should be the core that this leadership group goes to bat with. Being overly patient is going to cause as many problems as being overly aggressive.
- fattybeef

A damn fine post, Fatty. And for sure they can not miss on that #2 pick and limiting as much risk as possible is part of not missing on the pick. That's why I say away from the Russian but if they pick him I'll get a helluva dopamine rush and pray to the Hockey Gods as we embark on a helluva ride.

I'm trying to work out how Demidov is special, correct me if I'm mistaken but SKA-1946 is the development team for SKA - the actual KHL team. What someone does in an underage development league -for me it's not that big of a deal. Keeping mind, it is also playing against developmental league standards for defence and goaltending.... and KHL's standard for goaltending, nevermind their developmental league - is pretty bad.


Judging by his KHL record, the only difference between him and me (or anyone here to be exact), is he's played 6 games in the KHL and I have played in exactly zero ...however at this point, both his and anyone's here first point in the KHL - with be the first point scored in the KHL.

In short, I don't get the hype. If I'd be picking anyone from that part of the world, it would be the Righty D kid from MSU from Belorussia, mainly because he's already over here.

Enticing as more RD can be, I think they have to stay with a forward
- SC116

He's doing it in the top 16-20 yr old Russian Jr league. Just like a 50% of the NHLers come out of a top jr league. ..... McKenzie's group of scouts, and most scouting services, have Demidov the 2nd ranked player. A few have him 1st.

(I just looked at that Tankathin footage because I am very willing to adjust my thinking and am looking for the evidence that I am really off on what I see.



- wiz1901

Your eyes see Datsyuk and you will see some evaluators make that comparison as we get closer to the draft. ........ And no, I did not read or hear that anywhere else.

If the KHL is the equivalent of the NHL, VHL=AHL and MHL=CHL (OHL,WHL,QMJHL)
VHL is the KHL's version of the AHL here and the MHL is their junior league, so it would be 1. KHL, 2.VHL, 3. MHL
- wiz1901

Correct. And in North America it goes NHL-AHL-CHL/USHL.

Wiz, I don't follow what list makers do and when, and yea minds get changed all the time, as they should. ......... Saying you're an outlier on an evaluation of a player is not a knock in any way and for sure in my mind it's a badge. Unless you are a contrarian by nature, and I don't think you are, it's a good quality to go against your peers.

In most minds Demidov is crazy good. You just see issues despite what he's shown v lower competition, Russian Jrs and make reasonable points and show some red flags on him developing into a stud that McKenzie and his group don't or will overcome.
- Mr Ricochet

I hate to admit this but the time stamp on my first post of the day may give away what I did all night. I watched Ska 1946 with Demidov.

And I have made it very clear I wear the Indianhead on my heart, and I want them to get scoring and weapons to open ice for Bedard but also I am not adverse to a rearguard if you potentiallly leap-frog KK in the process.

I want the Blackhawks to have so much speed /hitting /scoring that it is scarier than the bears three WRs and Caleb.

I am not sure if there is easy way to get the kids right foot to use that outside edge better. But I was more than impressed at his hockey smarts the details he sees and how he continues solving in his passes, feet and stick work. I think there is proof he is an advanced prospect (but the old Wiz would feel a whole lot better if he played in international events).

There is certainlt something there.

Just like there is something in Cayden Lindstrom, and Eiserman and I give winger (not a centre) Ignila props because there truly something there too.


I think I did say after they were assigned the 2nd overall that I felt that KD felt their depth placed him in a spot where he could do want he wanted, and even swing for the fences, without feeling his future draft were still oging to be chances to add more top piees after next year's lottery and the kids they will select in this one.

And I want that not a safe conseravtive choice but a chance to load up.

I'm just a big freedom of choice kind of guy. If I'm too good to play in jrs, and not quite ready to play in the NHL, I want to freedom to make my own decision on what's best for my development. Not the pockets of CHL teams.

.
- vabeachbear

The CHL-NHL Agreement was put into place decades ago. The reason was the CHL by 10 miles was the #1 feeder league for the NHL and it's solvency is very important to the NHL.

So they signed that agreement with the CHL that says unless a jrs eligible player is out of jrs eligibility, 2 yrs after his draft yr that will make him 20, has to stay in the CHL unless he makes an NHL roster.

If they didn't do that many many 18-19-20 yr olds would leave the CHL for the AHL weakening the OHL/WHL/QMJHL and attendance would drop threatening the solvency of many many franchises........ That is the reason for the agreement and although I was against it for aq long time spending 15 yrs in the jrs world and seeing a good many franchises fold I now see the point of the agreement.

But, it is old. After top Canadians Power, Fantilli and Celebrini went the USHL/NCAA route many more are following threatening the skill of the CHL. And that hasn't stopped. Kids drafted in the top 3 of the three CHL leagues this yr signed with the USHL this past week of the and that's a threat to the CHL.

The CHL-NHL Agreement is old and the CHL leagues are threatened with the amount of top talent going the USHL/NHL route. I have no answer but somehow the CHL has to make some tweaks to become more modern to answer threats.

I hate to admit this but the time stamp on my first post of the day may give away what I did all night. I watched Ska 1946 with Demidov.

And I have made it very clear I wear the Indianhead on my heart, and I want them to get scoring and weapons to open ice for Bedard but also I am not adverse to a rearguard if you potentiallly leap-frog KK in the process.

I want the Blackhawks to have so much speed /hitting /scoring that it is scarier than the bears three WRs and Caleb.

I am not sure if there is easy way to get the kids right foot to use that outside edge better. But I was more than impressed at his hockey smarts the details he sees and how he continues solving in his passes, feet and stick work. I think there is proof he is an advanced prospect (but the old Wiz would feel a whole lot better if he played in international events).

There is certainlt something there.

Just like there is something in Cayden Lindstrom, and Eiserman and I give winger (not a centre) Ignila props because there truly something there too.


I think I did say after they were assigned the 2nd overall that I felt that KD felt their depth placed him in a spot where he could do want he wanted, and even swing for the fences, without feeling his future draft were still oging to be chances to add more top piees after next year's lottery and the kids they will select in this one.

And I want that not a safe conseravtive choice but a chance to load up.

- wiz1901

Drafting Levshunov, D!ckinson, Eiserman or Lindstrom is only conservative cuz Demidov is on the board. It does not mean these players will not be very good or elite. They have the traits, skill and resume that backs that up. ......... Just that Demidov has the better chance to be elite.

It's down to which Russian at the moment.
- rpeters01

And IMO we aren't hearing the other Russian's, Siliyev, enough but will come closer to the draft. IMO he has near as freaky skills as Demidov. This 6ft 7in kid skates better than anyone that big ever and better than 90% of 6 footers. There is simply no comparable for Siliyev. He's 1 of 1.

His skating, reads and reach cause havoc in all 3 zones and his KHL success this yr is record breaking. ..... I'd listen to your argument that he is the best prospect in this draft long term.

Look what Chara did and he couldn't skate!!

The CHL-NHL Agreement was put into place decades ago. The reason was the CHL by 10 miles was the #1 feeder league for the NHL and it's solvency is very important to the NHL.

So they signed that agreement with the CHL that says unless a jrs eligible player is out of jrs eligibility, 2 yrs after his draft yr that will make him 20, has to stay in the CHL unless he makes an NHL roster.

If they didn't do that many many 18-19-20 yr olds would leave the CHL for the AHL weakening the OHL/WHL/QMJHL and attendance would drop threatening the solvency of many many franchises........ That is the reason for the agreement and although I was against it for aq long time spending 15 yrs in the jrs world and seeing a good many franchises fold I now see the point of the agreement.

But, it is old. After top Canadians Power, Fantilli and Celebrini went the USHL/NCAA route many more are following threatening the skill of the CHL. And that hasn't stopped. Kids drafted in the top 3 of the three CHL leagues this yr signed with the USHL this past week of the and that's a threat to the CHL.

The CHL-NHL Agreement is old and the CHL leagues are threatened with the amount of top talent going the USHL/NHL route. I have no answer but somehow the CHL has to make some tweaks to become more modern to answer threats.
- Mr Ricochet

The BCHL and AJHL have opted out of the Junior agreement so that they can act like the USHL to send Canadian kids to the NCAA. These are the leagues that Hull, Keith and Kariya played in to get into American colleges. The governing body of the Canadian junior leagues put in a rule that these leagues had to feed the CHL.

The BCHL and AJHL have opted out of the Junior agreement so that they can act like the USHL to send Canadian kids to the NCAA. These are the leagues that Hull, Keith and Kariya played in to get into American colleges. The governing body of the Canadian junior leagues put in a rule that these leagues had to feed the CHL.
- wizardofi

The BCHL, AJHL and USJHL give the kids more options, they can finish their junior career in those leagues, probably not the best choice. They can decide to play in the CHL or they have the NCAA option. All of these leagues are important in developing future NHL players.

I hate to admit this but the time stamp on my first post of the day may give away what I did all night. I watched Ska 1946 with Demidov.

And I have made it very clear I wear the Indianhead on my heart, and I want them to get scoring and weapons to open ice for Bedard but also I am not adverse to a rearguard if you potentiallly leap-frog KK in the process.

I want the Blackhawks to have so much speed /hitting /scoring that it is scarier than the bears three WRs and Caleb.

I am not sure if there is easy way to get the kids right foot to use that outside edge better. But I was more than impressed at his hockey smarts the details he sees and how he continues solving in his passes, feet and stick work. I think there is proof he is an advanced prospect (but the old Wiz would feel a whole lot better if he played in international events).

There is certainlt something there.

Just like there is something in Cayden Lindstrom, and Eiserman and I give winger (not a centre) Ignila props because there truly something there too.


I think I did say after they were assigned the 2nd overall that I felt that KD felt their depth placed him in a spot where he could do want he wanted, and even swing for the fences, without feeling his future draft were still oging to be chances to add more top piees after next year's lottery and the kids they will select in this one.

And I want that not a safe conseravtive choice but a chance to load up.
- wiz1901

Wiz another question without the injuries with Lindstrom would you take him over the Russia imo Hawks draft the levashov

How about giving Ottawa both first rounders for Brady Tkachuk?
- wiz1901

And sign P Kane
Then what if after rookie season, offer 2025 and 2026 #1 plus oh maybe Kaiser for Celebrini

Think I might like drafting Yarechuk assuming we don't trade for B Tkachuk. Yarechuk and KK on separate pairs could be dynamite good with their skating passing ....you win with this type dmen in playoffs. Not sure how Yeremchuk turns out defensively but reportedly could be ok.. He is a RD who wants to be the guy on offense and he is really good. Would have to wait longer for him to play NHL than Levenshenov (sic) - the U of Michigan kid.