If Wahlstrom is gone I hope we do trade down and draft Jesperi Kotkaniemi
- VANTEL

I think it's a long shot to hope that JB would go out of his way to pick a forward when the biggest organizational need is defense

If Wahlstrom is gone I hope we do trade down and draft Jesperi Kotkaniemi
- VANTEL

I don't see him as a Center. I'd be happy with him as a winger. He is in the 10-12 range for me.

I think it's a long shot to hope that JB would go out of his way to pick a forward when the biggest organizational need is defense
- NorthNuck

Luckily Benning gets to see the Comets play and knows that it as not as bad as people think . You seen Saunter fo a few games he looks fine. Chattfield and Brisebois are coming along nicely also.

Scoring is our main concern IMO

I don't see him as a Center. I'd be happy with him as a winger. He is in the 10-12 range for me.
- manvanfan

Yes that is why I said trade down and pick up an asset. I think he goes 10 -12 also

In the first round yes, then D
- VANTEL

Fair. I like Voleno myself, another guy that waited until this year to explode (in the Q only 3 behind Zadina). I'm kind of hoping for D, but the nice thing is the draft is the one thing I am completely comfortable with JB doing at this point, UFA opening is another can of worms

Thanks Carol

We need a home run, not another safe player.
Bouchard is gudbranson slow, no thanks.
Dobson is safe, not fancy, another OJ, which isn't bad, just not great.

Hughes is small but..... so gifted. Lhd
Bodqvist is almost 6foot and has a cannon as well as speed to burn.

In safe pick ranking I go.

Dobson
Bodqvist
Bouchard
Hughes

In potential upside I go

Hughes
Bodqvist
Bouchard
Dobson

In who I want to gamble on I go

Bodqvist
Bouchard
Hughes don't want another LHD nope
Dobson

I think the odds of bouchard learning to skate are better then Dobson picking up that exta bit of offense. Hughes is such a high risk reward player I'm not down with rolling the dice on, even if he turns out to be the most offensive player on the list.

Fair. I like Voleno myself, another guy that waited until this year to explode (in the Q only 3 behind Zadina). I'm kind of hoping for D, but the nice thing is the draft is the one thing I am completely comfortable with JB doing at this point, UFA opening is another can of worms
- neem55

I would gladly take Voleno. He is a very smooth passer.Injuries are a concern

Bouchard will end up being the 2nd best dman in this draft IMO.

He was 2nd to Dobson in backwards skating at the OHL skill comp.
He was 2nd among all skaters with shots on net in the OHL last year.

Pair that with his offensive totals, hockey sense and deadly shot he is the total package compared to Hughes, Boqvist and Dobson.

We already have a couple smooth skating, risk taking young dman with muffin shots.
- belcherbd

Gudbranson is a better lateral and forward skater then he is.... no thanks, guy will have mascots blowing by him every game.

I would gladly take Voleno. He is a very smooth passer.Injuries are a concern
- VANTEL

Hmm didnt know that, I think he ?played all games this year though, no?

Hmm didnt know that, I think he ?played all games this year though, no?
- neem55

He is the biggest wild card of the draft class. He was the first 15 year old granted exceptional status to play in the QMJHL and is in his third season in the “Q.” Due to nagging injuries in his second season, his point totals were less than his rookie adjustment season. Draft prognosticators and his St. John Seadogs team were looking for big things this season but he didn’t seem to be taking a qualitative jump as a dominant scorer, and he was giving a change of scenery with a trade to Drummondville. Through the middle of March he still hadn’t reached the 20 goal mark but contributed more than 50 assists and has generated offense. No one can argue with his hockey IQ, sense, composure and poise, or his commitment to being a 200 foot centre. He displays a good strong skating stride, and two step quickness at times. He’s got the size to compete and will. Reads the ice like a vet, and can pass off and exchange it smoothly. Fearless and tough, he usually keeps an even keel, but is not going to be a intimidated. At this point, is more of an offensive generator than high end scorer. The essential question is whether he has demonstrated an elite level of offensive skills and shooting ability to rank him as a player who someday projects as more than a complimentary offensive forward. How much of the exceptional status tag blocks honest evaluation? No matter. Whenever he comes off the board, his new team will be rewarded with “safe” player who will at very least play in the NHL.

Thanks Carol

We need a home run, not another safe player.
Bouchard is gudbranson slow, no thanks.
Dobson is safe, not fancy, another OJ, which isn't bad, just not great.

Hughes is small but..... so gifted. Lhd
Bodqvist is almost 6foot and has a cannon as well as speed to burn.

In safe pick ranking I go.

Dobson
Bodqvist
Bouchard
Hughes

In potential upside I go

Hughes
Bodqvist
Bouchard
Dobson

In who I want to gamble on I go

Bodqvist
Bouchard
Hughes don't want another LHD nope
Dobson

I think the odds of bouchard learning to skate are better then Dobson picking up that exta bit of offense. Hughes is such a high risk reward player I'm not down with rolling the dice on, even if he turns out to be the most offensive player on the list.
- Pres.cup

Some good takes

Luckily Benning gets to see the Comets play and knows that it as not as bad as people think . You seen Saunter fo a few games he looks fine. Chattfield and Brisebois are coming along nicely also.

Scoring is our main concern IMO
- VANTEL

Scoring is absolutely our main concern, and you know who under-performs in that venue the most? Our Dmen. Sautner and Brisbois could very well turn out to be decent NHL dmen but they won't solve the lack of scoring from the back end.

He is the biggest wild card of the draft class. He was the first 15 year old granted exceptional status to play in the QMJHL and is in his third season in the “Q.” Due to nagging injuries in his second season, his point totals were less than his rookie adjustment season. Draft prognosticators and his St. John Seadogs team were looking for big things this season but he didn’t seem to be taking a qualitative jump as a dominant scorer, and he was giving a change of scenery with a trade to Drummondville. Through the middle of March he still hadn’t reached the 20 goal mark but contributed more than 50 assists and has generated offense. No one can argue with his hockey IQ, sense, composure and poise, or his commitment to being a 200 foot centre. He displays a good strong skating stride, and two step quickness at times. He’s got the size to compete and will. Reads the ice like a vet, and can pass off and exchange it smoothly. Fearless and tough, he usually keeps an even keel, but is not going to be a intimidated. At this point, is more of an offensive generator than high end scorer. The essential question is whether he has demonstrated an elite level of offensive skills and shooting ability to rank him as a player who someday projects as more than a complimentary offensive forward. How much of the exceptional status tag blocks honest evaluation? No matter. Whenever he comes off the board, his new team will be rewarded with “safe” player who will at very least play in the NHL.
- VANTEL

Whos blog did you steal?

I like him too, but he isn't very creative and I don't think he's worthy of a top ten pick. I'd like him if we're trade down. I think he'll be a consistent 20g 40a guy who won't cost us defensively.
I do like him better then tchunk but didn't jb does.

Thanks Carol

We need a home run, not another safe player.
Bouchard is gudbranson slow, no thanks.
Dobson is safe, up for, another OJ, which isn't bad, just not great.

Hughes oa small but..... so gifted.
Bodqvist is almost 6foot and has a cannon as well as speed to burn.

I think the odds of bouchard learning to skate are better then Dobson picking up that exta bit of offense. Hughes is such a high risk reward player I'm not down with rolling the dice on, even if he turns out to be the most offensive player on the list.
- Pres.cup

I've heard the word "safe" for a description of Dobson a few times. I've watched a ton of highlights and seen him play 7 times on TV this year. I don't see "safe" about his game. If you were to go safe, I would go Jared McIsaac.

Hughes out of all of them probably has the least amount of Upside. He's playing in the better league already and is one of the oldest. Less development left for him then the other 3.

Dobson was on the highest scoring defence in the Q. I read an article that figures that Dobson's scoring per/60 minutes would actually be higher then Bouchard's.

He is the biggest wild card of the draft class. He was the first 15 year old granted exceptional status to play in the QMJHL and is in his third season in the “Q.” Due to nagging injuries in his second season, his point totals were less than his rookie adjustment season. Draft prognosticators and his St. John Seadogs team were looking for big things this season but he didn’t seem to be taking a qualitative jump as a dominant scorer, and he was giving a change of scenery with a trade to Drummondville. Through the middle of March he still hadn’t reached the 20 goal mark but contributed more than 50 assists and has generated offense. No one can argue with his hockey IQ, sense, composure and poise, or his commitment to being a 200 foot centre. He displays a good strong skating stride, and two step quickness at times. He’s got the size to compete and will. Reads the ice like a vet, and can pass off and exchange it smoothly. Fearless and tough, he usually keeps an even keel, but is not going to be a intimidated. At this point, is more of an offensive generator than high end scorer. The essential question is whether he has demonstrated an elite level of offensive skills and shooting ability to rank him as a player who someday projects as more than a complimentary offensive forward. How much of the exceptional status tag blocks honest evaluation? No matter. Whenever he comes off the board, his new team will be rewarded with “safe” player who will at very least play in the NHL.
- VANTEL

The more I read, the more I see him as a gamble pick for sure. A lot reports seem to have him as a guy that couldn't handle the early pressure but is just now putting his toolkit together, others have him as maybe not being a top6 player as he doesn't make his own plays so much as compliment others. SO hard to tell at this age, I like the kid from what ive watched because he's fast and plays hard on the boards/forecheck and has very high IQ. Might make the NHL this year as a checking center, he's that good defensively. But might not be anything more than a d-specialist at the NHL level.

Gudbranson is a better leadership and forward Slater then he is.... no thanks, guy will have mascots blowing by him every game.
- Pres.cup

Pardon?

Didn't you just say he was your second pick before Dobson in a post above?

I'm not sure what Guddy has to do with him either but his issues have never been about skating.

A lot of people cite this as a reason to draft him instead of Dobson
- NorthNuck

Such a stupid reason


If you like the prospect okay, but drafting prospects for chemistry is just flat out stupid

Whos blog did you steal?

I like him too, but he isn't very creative and I don't think he's worthy of a top ten pick. I'd like himif we're trade down.
- Pres.cup

Bill Placzec's report

I know many of y'all hate stats, but this is pretty impressive. https://www.reddit.com/r/..._rankings_nhl_2018_draft/

Thanks Carol

We need a home run, not another safe player.

Hughes is small but..... so gifted. Lhd
Bodqvist is almost 6foot and has a cannon as well as speed to burn.

In potential upside I go

Hughes
Bodqvist
Bouchard
Dobson

In who I want to gamble on I go

Bodqvist
Bouchard
Hughes don't want another LHD nope
Dobson

.
- Pres.cup

i agree with this take. realistically they need a home run on this pick for an offensive defenseman but i think if all 4 are on the board (unlikely) the pick will reflect how benning feels about how hot his seat is. pick to keep his job or pick the guy who will be best in 3 or 4 years

Such a stupid reason


If you like the prospect okay, but drafting prospects for chemistry is just flat out stupid
- Nucker101

Yeah, I think of the Pettersson Dahlen chemistry as a happy accident that we ended up with both of them, I doubt it was a major factor in JBs decision making

I know many of y'all hate stats, but this is pretty impressive. https://www.reddit.com/r/..._rankings_nhl_2018_draft/
- neem55

http://hfboards.mandatory...-season-rankings.2471469/

This is the top 100 it says for an expanded list including D

He is the biggest wild card of the draft class. He was the first 15 year old granted exceptional status to play in the QMJHL and is in his third season in the “Q.” Due to nagging injuries in his second season, his point totals were less than his rookie adjustment season. Draft prognosticators and his St. John Seadogs team were looking for big things this season but he didn’t seem to be taking a qualitative jump as a dominant scorer, and he was giving a change of scenery with a trade to Drummondville. Through the middle of March he still hadn’t reached the 20 goal mark but contributed more than 50 assists and has generated offense. No one can argue with his hockey IQ, sense, composure and poise, or his commitment to being a 200 foot centre. He displays a good strong skating stride, and two step quickness at times. He’s got the size to compete and will. Reads the ice like a vet, and can pass off and exchange it smoothly. Fearless and tough, he usually keeps an even keel, but is not going to be a intimidated. At this point, is more of an offensive generator than high end scorer. The essential question is whether he has demonstrated an elite level of offensive skills and shooting ability to rank him as a player who someday projects as more than a complimentary offensive forward. How much of the exceptional status tag blocks honest evaluation? No matter. Whenever he comes off the board, his new team will be rewarded with “safe” player who will at very least play in the NHL.
- VANTEL

I think Kravtsov could be the steal of the draft.

Bill Placzec's report
- VANTEL

He’s a poster on this site, Hawks fan. Wiz#### or something

He’s pretty good about answering questions on prospects through PM’s

Pardon?

Didn't you just say he was your second pick before Dobson in a post above?

I'm not sure what Guddy has to do with him either but his issues have never been about skating.
- belcherbd

I did... not my first choice because he skates in cement shoes, but he's a RHD who if he could pick up his skating could be a top 2.

Dobson is OJ , nothing wrong with that but he's safe and we need a home run pick.

Hughes is pure offense and LHD, I go forward or RHD, I don't think he's worth picking because of that.

Bodqvist is to good for the super elite but not quite good enough for the SHL. He's RHD and very creative with the puck, if he can grow an inch he could be a top 4pick.