2019 NHL Draft

Both those kids have been playing a ton and in a spot where they dont need to put themselves through the combine process. Wonder if Jack Hughes could do as many pullups as Sam Bennett.

 

I think Hughes stays at #1, but Kakko belongs in that first-overall conversation. Other than the fact that these two will forever be linked by the draft, and the added aspect of being in the same metropolis; where this draft gets interesting is #3. If Chicago had not taken D in the 1st & 2nd of the last two drafts then Bowen Byram would (should) be a slam dunk pick. He's almost certain to be a top D for years and that's hard to find. They'd pick homeboy Alex Turcotte, I think, if they pass on D. Good problem to have.

Colorado could go for Bryam if the Hawks pick a F, but their crying need is scoring, and the top ten has a lot of that. I've seen Dylan Cozens play and am not nearly as enamored as the prospect chatter. But he will grow, presumably, into his impressive frame. And it's hard to learn his speed at this point.

The LAK have many needs, and this is the spot that could be traded - especially if Byram is still on the boards. In the WC size still matters and I think they'd snag Kirby Dach.

In a dream scenario Bryan falls to the Wings. This draft will be so unpredictable that I won't call it shocking if he did. Detroit may pick D regardless with Philip Broberg who is rising quickly (there's always one). The most polarizing prospect in this draft, Vasili Podkolzin, RW, might be the choice.

At 7 Buffalo will have their choice. Some have Turcotte falling but I just cannot see that. Still on the board for the Sabres:
Alex Newhook, C
Trevor Zegras, C
Cole Caufield, RW
Matthew Boldy, W
Peyton Krebs, C

That's probably my order of preference. After the top two you really have a tier of about 10 prospects that all could go in any order depending on team needs & philosophy. The combine will sway some teams based on relative emphasis on measurables. Others will rise on team boards based on their one-on-one interviews. (Zegras, for instance, has interviewed well.)

I know I have the two Alexes at the top of my (realistic) wishlist.

 

The combine could be helpful in picking 3rd rounders and beyond Hell, if I was picking in the 5th round I would feel a lot more confident in picking someone that outperforms in pullups.

 

Yeah. Kakko made the choice to celebrate gold in Finland. Cannot blame him one bit since he's locked in at top-two (probably 2). And the combine is not likely to change that.

Likewise, Hughes has little if anything to gain (you cannot go higher than 1), from the physical testing. Why set yourself up for others to question you?

 

They're saying Kakko will be a better looking pick for the first couple of years. Once Hughes starts to fill in and learns to play a good center, he'll end up being the more valuable pick in the long run.

 

Yup. I think the combine helps teams after the obvious choices are gone. I think it'll help determine the top 10 as well. But it is the middle rounds where you're considering 17/18 y.o.'s and trying to project them into adulthood. The combine helps there a bunch - but also highlights why the draft is such a crapshoot.

 

Im really interested to see what direction Yzerman takes, im assuming his philosophy will be different than Hollands and we might actually develop and play 'quickly' some of these youngsters. Too many prospect mold in the minors and get used like pawns in chess with the past Wings org... I say get them, sign them and play them ASAP, sorta like what they miraculously did with Larkin.

Hope your right , Matty. Hope something nice happens this time for Detroit.

 

The combine could also work against you. Case in point when looking at football, if you watch footage of Brady, he looked like a clown.

 

I think the Sabres pick will signal their response to the most critical team need for 2019/20: who will play 2C?

Casey Mittlestadt is the apprentice, and the team my want to find a placeholder in FA or trade. It's highly doubtful that Casey will be ready for the role this year. If they pick a winger then I think they're penciling Casey into 2C long term. If they pick C, which could easily be the BPA, then they may look at him on the wing. I think he's too talented to spot him long term at 3C.

Alex Nylander, Tage Thompson, and Victor Olofsson all have an opportunity this summer to jump into the top six. It's not likely that all three ever make that jump. But if one does then the Sabres will be much improved. I think that'll play into their draft thinking too.

 

He looks like he's ready to go on the dole.

 

makes sense. at #7 Id think youre picking for a few years out and not for '19/20 or even 20/21. this is where I think Caulfield could help, Id bet he takes a couple years at Wisconsin and then an AHL season. Same timeframe for a Newhook or Boldy (fingers crossed they stay at least a couple years at the Heights).

any chance Buffalo could resign Skinner and add a Duchesne or Pavelski? (shocked if JP leaves SJ but its still fun to throw around these hypoteticals)

 

Panthers have dire needs at G and D - the farm is absolutely bare at both positions (Montembeault will be in the NHL soon enough, and any NHL-caliber defensemen in the system have already bubbled up to the team, and will be immediate injury replacements, but not necessarily future top 4 fixtures).

Ideally, you can trade back and still get your goalie - drafting a goalie in the first, let alone at 13, has become ill-advised over the last handful of years. You want to walk out of this draft confident in a G and a D prospect. But if you're convinced Knight is your guy, then don't play around. You've got plenty of forward talent in the pool to move if you need to bolster the farm at D, or acquire an NHL-er at the position.

If the Panthers draft another forward in the first round, I will drive down to Sunrise and beat the ever-loving shit out of Tallon myself.

 

Funny thing about Brady, the only NFL coach to call Lloyd Carr at Michigan about Brady was Bobby Grier, father of Mike Grier.

 

I think Buffalo's in an ideal position to re-sign Skinner and add another decent contract for a forward. It would make that lineup much more competitive right away, and would be necessary once the younger talent fills out in the next few years. Of course, if the team doesn't like the market available this year, I don't think they'd be ill-served to wait and see what's out there next year.

 

not out of the realm that Minny grabs Knight at #12. maybe not likely but not impossible.

 

That would be really disappointing for Panthers fans. We all see the urgency at re-stocking the position, so losing out on the top prospect by a pick when you're already committed to drafting him earlier than convention, would hurt. Like I said, if he's your guy, don't mess around.

If you evaluate a D prospect to be equally talented, then stay put and settle for either of the two. If they were to draft a D-man that was valued higher than 13 at that spot, then I would have some consolation for missing out on Knight - that's a position that needs the help, too.

 

I don't like Skinner for anything over $7.8M for 7 years.

 

Well, you're not gonna like him cause he's going to make a lot more than that. That's just the way it is.

 

If he gets $9.5M, that will re-define highway robbery, his career stats don't dictate that at all.