Official 2015 NHL Draft Thread

[inkman]

Size isn't everything. Should Crouse really be rated so high?:

http://thehockeywrit...portunity-cost/

I'm glad you brought this up. It hasn't been mentioned at all. ;)

[shrader]

As Rakish pointed out, Kane was by no means the clear cut favorite. May considered him too small. Chicago was even't sure and apparently where ready to deal the pick for the right offer.

 

And if Kyle Turris had a little more meat on his bones, Kane wouldn't have gone #1. Looking back its interesting to see how that one turned out. Turris going #1 sure would have changed a few things.

[Rasmus_]

And if Kyle Turris had a little more meat on his bones, Kane wouldn't have gone #1. Looking back its interesting to see how that one turned out. Turris going #1 sure would have changed a few things.

 

I totally forgot about Turris, I should have looked that one up.

[LGR4GM]

A blog write up from the Prospects Game that covers a ton of players.

http://prospects.dobbersports.com/Prospects-Rambling/friday-january-23rd-chl-nhl-top-prospect-reaction

Connor McDavid definitely didn’t disappoint but he wasn’t at his “best” either. In discussion with a scout who was at the on-ice and off-ice testing earlier in the week, he said, “I’ve been around this game for a very long time and I have never seen what he [McDavid] did on the ice”. He added, “it was mind-blowing”. He specifically referred to his rare ability to generate speed through the neutral zone, taking only one stride. Also, McDavid has a unique ability to somehow, someway generate speed as he pivots on his edges (in a glide). It’s unreal. He’s something special and just when I think he can’t impress me anymore, it takes it up another level…and then, another level….and so on.

[Derrico]

Very interesting to read one of Mitch marners weaknesses is his shot. That doesn't sound good for an undersized goal scoring winger. I'm really going to have to catch some London knight games down the stretch if I get some free time.

[Crusader1969]

Interesting article on height / PPG and NHL success.

 

Not surprising - when choosing between two players who have similar PPG you should lean toward the bigger player. However, when deciding between a small player who scores at a high rate vs a big player who doesnt rate highly in PPG - you go with the smaller player.

 

Make sure you read the footnote that Marner and McDavid broke the model with their stats.

 

http://canucksarmy.com/2015/1/22/the-nhl-draft-maybe-size-does-matter

[LGR4GM]

Rakish does something similar.

[rakish]

I like the Canucks guys.  There are mistakes aplenty in this article, but this is the money quote for me:

 

as we have found there to be a strong correlation between a prospect’s draft-year points-per-game, and NHL games player (pearson’s r =.41 indicating strong positive relationship), which tends to be a moderately better indicator of future NHL success than NHL's Central Scouting final rankings.

[kas23]

I like the Canucks guys. There are mistakes aplenty in this article, but this is the money quote for me:

 

as we have found there to be a strong correlation between a prospect’s draft-year points-per-game, and NHL games player (pearson’s r =.41 indicating strong positive relationship), which tends to be a moderately better indicator of future NHL success than NHL's Central Scouting final rankings.

A pearsons correlation of 0.41 isn't a strong correlation though.

Edited January 24, 2015 by kas23

[rakish]

A pearsons correlation of 0.41 isn't a strong correlation though.

Yeah, their method isn't very good, but even still, it's better than CSS, which is taken as scripture by most people in this thread

[TrueBlueGED]

A pearsons correlation of 0.41 isn't a strong correlation though.

Maybe, maybe not. The strength of the correlation really depends on the context. 0.41 may not be strong in other fields, but when it comes to projecting underage players to pro leagues, wouldn't surprise me at all if it was quite good.

[inkman]

Very interesting to read one of Mitch marners weaknesses is his shot. That doesn't sound good for an undersized goal scoring winger. I'm really going to have to catch some London knight games down the stretch if I get some free time.

 

Tyler Ennis was viewed in a similar fashion

[Rasmus_]

Pronman* tidbit on Top Prospects game:

 

Not on McDavid, but one of my favorites in the 1st round. 

 

Travis Konecny, C, Ottawa-OHL

Konecny was put on a line with Connor McDavid and while that will help make anyone look good, Konecny was creating in his own right. His multi-goal night aside, he looked like one of the best players on the ice, if not the best. He has great speed and work ethic, which helped him make plays in both ends, but he also possesses pretty good vision and was able to create plays for his line. He hasn't blown people away this season the way some may have hoped, but he showed his massive potential. In my opinion, even though I don't think he'll be picked in that range, he's a top-half-of-the-first-round prospect.

Edited January 25, 2015 by TheCerebral1

[Crusader1969]

Daniel Sprong was a minus 4 but did pick up an assist in 5-1 loss last night. He didn’t do much at the Prospects game but has 3 assists in 2 games this weekend. 

Edited January 25, 2015 by Crusader1969

[Crusader1969]

we will know tomorrow when Bob McKenzie releases the "bible" of NHL draft rankings but assuming Meier has risen into the top 15 I am going to add another to my mid to late 1st round picks that may be of interest to the Sabres.

 

 Jake Debrusk – 6’0 winger from Swift Current. He scored both goals for his team last night vs Samson Rienhart and the Kootenay Ice and now has 25 goals on the season. Tough to knock off the puck and has the desire to go to the net in order and difficult areas of the ice.

 

My current watch list (picks 17 to 31). I have a feeling that I may be able to add Svechnikov back on list tomorrow night as he had a poor showing at the TPG and seems to be running cold again for Cape Breton (1a on weekend though team scored 11 goals)

1) Travis Konecny

2) Jake Debrusk

3) Daniel Sprong

Edited January 25, 2015 by Crusader1969

[Weave]

2) Jake Debrusk

 

Is that Louie Debrusk;s kid?

 

Ahhhh.... it seems that he is.

Edited January 25, 2015 by weave

[Derrico]

FYI crusader. Vanden somple is back in the gens lineup tonight and has an assist through the first period. Good to see him back. I could see him being a potential pick with our second.

[LGR4GM]

FYI crusader. Vanden somple is back in the gens lineup tonight and has an assist through the first period. Good to see him back. I could see him being a potential pick with our second.

Good to hear that Mitchell Vande Sompel is playing, he intrigues me.

[Derrico]

Good to hear that Mitchell Vande Sompel is playing, he intrigues me.

Ya he brings a unique skill set. Sorry I keep butchering his name as I'm on my phone. He just scored on the power play. 1 plus 1 through half of his first game back.

[LGR4GM]

Ya he brings a unique skill set. Sorry I keep butchering his name as I'm on my phone. He just scored on the power play. 1 plus 1 through half of his first game back.

lol I just thought we should post is full name in case ppl were curious.  My only concern is he is a 5'10" defender.  I hear that he has good gap control and great skating so he could still work out.  Just concerned over a guy that little having to battle in the corners. 

[Derrico]

lol I just thought we should post is full name in case ppl were curious. My only concern is he is a 5'10" defender. I hear that he has good gap control and great skating so he could still work out. Just concerned over a guy that little having to battle in the corners.

Ya that's my concern as well. He is great with the puck and has good positioning but will he get pushed around at the next level? Not sure. I don't want another Granani type dman that has all offense and clueless in his own end.

[Hoss]

Ya he brings a unique skill set. Sorry I keep butchering his name as I'm on my phone. He just scored on the power play. 1 plus 1 through half of his first game back.

Don't worry, I'm sure Liger would've butchered it if he hadn't copied and pasted it. :D

[LGR4GM]

Don't worry, I'm sure Liger would've butchered it if he hadn't copied and pasted it. :D

Well yea, that's why I copied and pasted, Like A Boss!

[Crusader1969]

Good to see Vande Sompel (originally wrote as Somple - must be a Canadian thing to want to do that) back. Would be intriqued by him as a PP specialist and maybe a bottom pair D.

 

Thougth Bob McKenzie's mid season rankings came out on the 26th but its the 29th.

 

I went to the Niagara v Barrie game yesterday. Lemieux definitely will take his licks standing in front of the net on the PP. Though the real star of the game was easily Ho-Sang - the kid is electric. Islanders may have got a late 1st round steal when they traded up to get him - can't help to imagine that skill/speed playing along side Rienhart. Back to the 2015 draft - top player was Vince  Dunn from Niagara - 6'0 Defender who was a thorn in the side of Barrie all game long. He could be a mid to late 2nd rounder at this point.

Edited January 26, 2015 by Crusader1969

[Crusader1969]

Corey Pronman's draft rankings just came out for ESPN insiders.

 

Top 5 - McDavid, Eichel, Hanifin, Marner and Strome.

 

Other highlites - Konecny makes a big impression and moves to 8 from 16. Definitely the TPG effect in full effect. Still think that is too high based on his body of work this season but he certainely is off to a good start so far in 2015.

 

Crouse is ranked 10 which I completely agree with - definitely a guy you would love on your team but not enough high end talent to warrant top 4 consideration.

 

Sprong at 15 - a player that I like and would compare to Ho-Sang. Needs to do better incorporating his teammates and (like a lot of high end skill guys) he needs to work on his D.

 

Svechnikov at 18 - needs to find consistency but good size/skill combo

 

Vande Sompel - definitely has a fan in Pronman. Says he is a great skater with good skill. Very high Hockey IQ and is effective defensively for a player who is 5'10.

 

Mikko Rantanen at 28 - a player who with his performance at the WJC is often ranked in the top 10.

 

Timo Meier and Jake DeBrusk 2 of the 6 players who didnt make the top 30 but received honorable mention.

Edited January 26, 2015 by Crusader1969