Tag Archives: draft

Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, Jack Gruninger, NHL, Prospects

Oilers Make Changes to Scouting Staff

The Oilers have reportedly made several changes to their amateur and pro scouting staffs.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/612465217499365376

Stu MacGregor joined the Oilers amateur scouting staff in 2000, becoming head amateur scout in 2007. Morey Gare joined the organization in 2001 and became head pro scout in 2008. Both aspects of the organization have been heavily criticized over the years, the amateur side for not producing enough talent in later rounds, and the pro side for failing to identify players that can have a positive impact.

The firings occur less than a week before the NHL Entry Draft, where the Oilers are expected to draft Connor McDavid 1st overall.

Brennen York, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

6 – New Jersey Devils

With Ray Shero steering Devils ship, we may finally get to see the inevitable rebuild come to fruition. It’s been a long time coming for Devil fans but this may be the year where the Devils move away from adding veterans like Mike Cammalleri and Tuomo Ruutu, and look the way of young skill in guys like Larsson and Boucher to guide the Devils through the next 10 years. One thing Shero has going for him is the fact that the D core is almost solidified with guys like Gelinas, Merrill, Larsson, and Severson making up the top four. Despite the fact they have a good up and coming defensive core, they are exceptionally weak on the front end. After reaching for guys like Matteau and Quenneville in recent drafts, they lack an elite offensive player under the age of 20. This year however, they will be able to change that. With guys like Barzal, Rantanen, and Zacha basically locks to be on the board, they have a wide range of skill sets to choose from. Rantanen is the biggest, has hands and shooting ability. Barzal, though only 5’11 has the potential to be a future number one center who can put up 50 or 60 assists. Zacha brings a grittier goal scoring side, and if there’s one thing we know it’s that LL loves guys with an edge. That being said, an interesting scenario may play out where we see Ivan Provorov slip to that spot. If so, it would be incredibly hard to pass on a guy like that. In the grand scheme of things, it may be better to grab a guy like Provorov, but right now there’s a desperate need for an elite prospect up front. Throughout the draft, the Devils need to look at adding depth at all positions, especially in net. Daniel Vladar may be sitting there in the third, and if he is that’s the guy you use pick 67 on. In my opinion, the Devils will have the most difficult pick in the draft, and it will be extremely interesting to see who Ray goes with come June 26th.

Draft Day Gameplan

– As much as I’d like to say take Rantanen or Barzal, you have to go BPA at 6.

– If the opportunity is there, move some cap. I know Green is more than “cap”, but moving him and adding a late 1st or a good prospect may be in their best interest.

– Move away from the power forwards, even if it’s just for this year. With two picks in the second round you have to look at adding high end skill.

– Take a low risk goalie. Whether it’s in the 3rd or 4th, grab the best goalie available.

Devils Big Board (Without McEichel)

1. Dylan Strome
2. Mitchell Marner
3. Noah Hanifin
4. Ivan Provorov
5. Mathew Barzal
6. Mikko Rantanen
7. Pavel Zacha
8. Kyle Connor
9. Travis Konecny
10. Zach Werenski

Who do they take?

Can I just say BPA? It’s tough to tell who will remain but I’ll say one of Barzal, Zacha, Rantanen, or Provorov are locks. If it were me I’d take Provorov, if he’s off the board I’d go with Barzal, though Rantanens close behind.

Darkhorse?

Kyle Connor. He has the size and skill to be a good NHL player, and though I’m not a huge fan, I’m sure the Devils brass has given him some consideration.

Brennen York, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

7 – Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers aren’t far off from being a playoff team. Jakub Voracek is coming off a career high 81 points, and captain Claude Giroux, though he didn’t have a bad season, is looking to bounce back to be that 80+ point player we know he is. Aside from Giroux and Voracek, the Flyers look at Sean Couturier, Brayden Schenn, and Wayne Simmonds for scoring. They have some good pieces, but still need to add a few players to the fold if they’re going to be competitive. On the back end, the Flyers are deep in terms of prospects as well as left handed defencemen like Mark Streit, Andrew Macdonald, and Nicklas Grossman. There will be trades made as Hextall and Co. are up against the cap quite closely, meaning prospects like Sam Morin and Shayne Gostisbehere may see their day in the NHL sooner than later. Defence isn’t a weakness for the Flyers, but they due lack that true top pairing potential defenceman. With Sanheim, and the aforementioned Morin and Ghost, already in the system, the Flyers do have the ability to go with a forward this year. There will be a few options available at 7 including the likes of Pavel Zacha, Mathew Barzal, and Mikko Rantanen. Scouts seem to have differing views on Pavel Zacha, the argument being that he’s far too inconsistent to be a top 10 player. Mikko Rantanen, on the other hand, has only trended up. Rantanen’s 6’4 frame, along with his history of playing against men in Liiga, it wouldn’t be outlandish to suggest he may be able to crack a roster spot as early as next year. It’ll be a crazy day for the Flyers, especially if they decide to make some deals on the 26th.

Draft Day Gameplan

– Shed cap. Grossman, L. Schenn, Macdonald, Streit, and now Medvedev are eating up a lot of salary on the back end.

– Don’t take a gamble at 7. If a guy like Provorov or Hanifin have slipped, grab the BPA.

– Through rounds 2-7 go after forwards. The depth chart on the back end is loaded,

– Consider Samsonov at 29. Behind Mason, there’s no real A grade prospect.

Flyers Big Board (Without McEichel)

1. Mitchell Marner
2. Noah Hanifin
3. Dylan Strome
4. Ivan Provorov
5. Mikko Rantanen
6. Pavel Zacha
7. Mathew Barzal
8. Zach Werenski
9. Lawson Crouse
10. Denis Guryanov

Who do they take?

Could go any way for the Flyers. In my opinion it’ll be BPA, so in the range would be Provorov, Rantanen, Barzal, or Zacha. If it were me making the pick, and Provorov/Hanifin were gone, I’d take Mikko Rantanen, but Barzal would be heavily considered.

Darkhorse?

At 7 there’s too many sure fire prospects to be able to list a dark horse here, but if I were considering anyone outside the top 10 at this point then Timo Meier and Denis Guryanov would be at the top of the list.

Brennen York, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

8 – Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets are building something special. Not only are the cupboards stocked full with elite prospects in Bjorkstrand, Rychel, Milano; they also have some of their most valuable youngsters in Wennberg and Dano playing a big role on the Jackets. GM Jarmo Kekalainen has only been on the job for about two and a half seasons, but during that time has built a nice core around top line pivot Ryan Johansen. With veterans like Hartnell, Foligno, Tyutin, and now David Clarkson, CBJ prospects have a great leadership core to feed off of. The only issue facing the Jackets is their lack of defensive depth. After the departure of James Wisniewski and the fact that Mike Reilly has chosen to walk, it’s clear the Jackets need to do something to address their blue line. With a deep pool of prospects, a trade is always possible, but if the Jackets are looking at continuing the trend of building through the draft you’d have to think that – much like the Avs and Sharks – they are looking at acquiring a potential top pairing defenceman in one of Werenski, Provorov, or Hanifin. In a case where four forwards are selected with the first four picks, there’s a scenario where the Jackets look at moving up to 5 or 6 in order to grab one of Hanifin or Provorov. They have enough depth at forward where moving a player like Bjorkstrand, Rychel, Anderson, or even Milano are trade options. The name Mikko Rantanen has been tossed around a lot as well, mainly due to the fact he of Finnish descent. Rantanen is a good player, he just doesn’t seem to be a great fit given the amount of forwards already in the organization. In my opinion, it’s defence or trade for the Jackets and it’ll be a very interesting day for Jarmo and all CBJ fans.

Draft Day Gameplan

– Bring in a defenceman via trade. Whether you move out Rychel, Milano, or Bjorkstrand, a defenceman has to be on his way to Ohio.

– If there’s a deal for Dansk consider it. Bob’s not giving up the crease any time soon, so if there’s a deal for a 2nd rounder or defenceman, take it.

– There’s enough high end talent, look for guys like Knott or Dergachyov in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.

– Go heavy on defence. There’s a good amount of defence scattered throughout the draft, don’t be afraid to grab around 5 of them.
Jackets Big Board (Without McEichel)

1. Noah Hanifin
2. Ivan Provorov
3. Dylan Strome
4. Mitchell Marner
5. Zach Werenski
6. Mikko Rantanen
7. Pavel Zacha
8. Mathew Barzal
9. Lawson Crouse
10. Jakub Zboril

Who do they take?

There’s a good chance that Zach Werenski is still on the board at 8 so he’d be the obvious pick. Don’t be surprised if the Jackets are picking somewhere other than 8 though, as they are in dire need of defence who can step into the NHL next season.

Darkhorse?

Two names come to mind when I look at darkhorses and the Jackets. Denis Guryanov and Oliver Kylington. Both have huge upside but also come with a bit of risk. Kylington the more likely pick in my opinion.

Brennen York, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

Who knows where they’ll go.. Risers and Fallers

Whether it’s Jakub Vrana rising to 13, or Ivan Barbashev falling out of the first round, one thing is for certain; the NHL entry draft can go any way imaginable.

There’s no way to predict the first round with 100% accuracy, and there’s a few factors that play into why that’s not possible. First off, teams have vastly different draft lists. This was evident in 2013 when the Sharks traded away their 20th pick along with a second rounder in order to get a player whom many believed would still be there at 20. Did they make the right call in jumping up and grabbing Mirco Mueller? That’s still up for debate, but as for now he’s looking like a top 15 guy from that year. Another large factor that plays into the rise and fall of a prospect is the information that comes out mere days before the draft. Though lists are finalized prior to the draft, the investigation doesn’t stop until the team finally drafts the player. The hockey world is small, and information can be easy to attain given you have the proper credentials and networks.

This year is full of players who have the potential to go anywhere from the first to fourth round. That’s a huge gap, but when you look at players like Ryan Pilon, Dennis Yan, and Nicholas Roy, you can see why different services and independent scouts have these guys ranked all over the place. It would be quite surprising to see a player like Pilon drop into the 4th, and though I’m not a fan of his, there’s something to be said for projects with potential.

Now looking at the possible risers or fallers who are ranked in the first few rounds, there are a few names that stick out:

Risers

– Denis Guryanov: The speedy Russian winger wowed scouts at the U-18’s. He showed his ability to be a burner on the outside and wasn’t afraid to drive the net. He’s a fiery guy who has good offensive capabilities. He’s ranked in the top 10 by The Redline Report, and could very well be a top 10 pick.

– Colin White: Much like Guryanov, White had a very impressive showing at the U-18’s. At the beginning of the season, White was a consensus top 10 player, but after a rocky start he saw his stock begin to slide. He wasn’t a point per game player this season, but still put up an impressive 71 points in 74 games (USHL and USDP combined) I would love to see a team take him in the top 14.

– Jacob Larsson: It’s not so much the fact he played 20 games in the SHL, rather the points he put up in the U20 program are more than impressive for this 6’2 left shot defender. Larsson has an underrated physical edge to his game but by no means is he a stay at home defenceman. He’s a brutish, two way offensive defenceman. Many services have him around 30, but in my opinion he’s a top 25 guy.

– Jansen Harkins: I fell in love with Jansen Harkins during a preseason game in St. Albert, Alberta, when he went dad to head with Adam Musil. Not only does he have elite playmaking ability, he thinks the game at another level. It was clear this season he was the best Cougar, and in terms of an NHL career I believe he will be able to fill in a second line center spot.

– Jake Debrusk: I believe it to be true that Jake Debrusk watched his father at an early age and decided to do the complete opposite. Though the fiery nature of Louie lives inside of him, Jake adopted the pure offensive side of the game from somewhere else. He put up an impressive 42 goals for Swift, and after playing in the Top Prospects game, returned with a ton of confidence. If there’s going to be an unexpected riser into the top 15, its Jake.

Other notable risers include Noah Juulsen, Vince Dunn, Filip Ahl, Julius Nattinen, Parker Wotherspoon, Christian Jaros, and Nikita Korostelev.

Fallers

– Lawson Crouse: I’m a fan of his game and hope all the best for Lawson in the future, but the boom or bust potential is there. We’ve seen power forwards who were taken early before wash out rather quickly, and it’s possible Crouse suffers the same fate. Personally, I like Crouse, and I think his stats tell an interesting story.

– Kyle Connor: Some services have Connor ranked as high as 5 but I really don’t see it. Like Crouse, Connor’s stats are intriguing. I’ve looked into it a bit, and though I can’t claim to have done a ton of research on the subject, I couldn’t find a USHL player who put up numbers as good as his in the past 5 years. He’s a bit of a wildcard and it will be interesting to see where he goes.

– Paul Bittner: I’ve been high on Bittner all season, but he has shown some signs that leave me second guessing him. He has a lot of raw tools like size, defensive ability, and skating, but the inconsistency he’s shown is a bit of a red flag. Some people, including myself have said he looks like the next Max Pacioretty, but in order for that to come to fruition he has to do what he does best on a more consistent basis.

– Jakub Zboril: Throughout the season Zboril has seen a good chunk of among the top half of the first round prospects. He brings a sort of nastiness scouts and GM’s love. The one thing I have a problem with is when he’s labelled an offensive defenceman. He did put up 33 points this season, but doesn’t necessarily have elite offensive instincts. He’s a mean two way defenceman, who will be an NHL’er, but may not bring the offence many hope for.

– Gabriel Carlsson: Though I do see Carlsson going near where he is projected (30-40ish) I think he’s a guy who could fall a bit further, possibly into the 50’s. He didn’t have a bad season, in fact I was rather impressed that he saw time in the SHL, but the fact that he’s projecting to be a stay at home defenceman. It’s possible he ends up similar to a Dennis Seidenberg, but in today’s NHL, I believe it’s safer to go after good puck moving D who can jump up in the rush.

A few other potential fallers to keep an eye out for are Nicholas Roy, Travis Dermott, Jordan Greenway, Guillaume Brisebois, Graham Knott, Vladislav Gavrikov, and Ryan Pilon.

There’s a few notable players who have a large trajectory in terms of where they could go. Some, such as Barzal in the first round could go anywhere from pick 4 to pick 14. Here’s a few guys to watch for who fall into the “wildcard” category.

Wildcards

– Mathew Barzal: After an injury plagued season, Barzal showcased his skill at the U-18’s putting up an impressive 12 points in 7 games. Barzal is an offensive catalyst who can pass the puck like few others in the league. He sees the ice extremely well, and in my opinion is poised to dominate as a 19 year old. At the next level, he’s a really good second line center who may push for the number one spot, similar to Logan Couture.

– Yevgeni Svechnikov: The nearly 6’4 Russian forward burst out of the gate during his first year in North America and finished up with 78 points in 55 games. He needs some work on his defensive play, and maybe needs to find a way to keep himself engaged for all 60 minutes, but Svechnikov has some great tools to work with. He takes pride in his shooting as he has a deadly one timer, and his ability to get into open space means he’s usually able to get a few on net each game. He’s usually listed as a left wing, but he did play the majority of the season on the right side, and ended the year at center.

– Brock Boeser: The Waterloo winger had a good campaign offensively recording 68 points in 57 games. He’s committed to North Dakota for next season and should be nearly a point per game as a freshman. He’s drawn comparisons to Patrick Sharp, primarily due to his ability to hold his own in the defensive end. He’s not a defensive player by any stretch, but rarely does he make a mistake in his own end. His best tool, like Svechnikov, is his shot. He can beat goalies at point blank range and that’s reflected on his stats page as he put up 35 goals. At the NHL level, I see a bit of a Beau Bennett curve. A very good third liner who can be a second line player.

– Oliver Kylington: No one has slipped this season like Oliver. A consensus top 5 pick at the beginning of the year, Kylington fell consistently month to month. He has all the tools, they’re just not put together. For a team looking at a project with extreme upside, look no further. He skates like the wind and sees the ice extremely well. His defensive zone coverage, though highly criticized, isn’t as bad as many say. He does need some work putting all of his tools together, and rounding out his game, so a team like Tampa Bay may be the best fit.

– Brandon Carlo: For the majority of the year Carlo sat in the 20th to 24th spot for most services. It was only recently we began to see him fall out of the top 30. Though many services and scouts have him out of the top 30 in terms of rankings, he’s almost always gone in the first round when you look at mock drafts. He’s 6’5, nearly 200 pounds. With a frame like that you have to consider him an option no matter where you’re drafting. Though he could fall to 35 maybe even 40, I could see him being the surprise of the draft and going in the top 20.

Other wildcards include Travis Konecny, Timo Meier, Daniel Sprong, Anthony Beauvillier, Alexander Dergachyov, Matthew Spencer, Conor Garland, Rodrigo Abols and Erik Cernak.

And finally, a player who may be a riser, may fall, and is definitely the most highly debated prospects: Jeremy Bracco. I have to admit, I have absolutely zero clue where he may end up. He has the skill and skating ability to be a top 15 pick, but the size is such a glaring issue. You have to take a step back and look at the success he’s had at every single level and ask yourself “why not the NHL?” Bracco tore apart the USDP this season, stole the show at the U-18s with the tournament winning assist, and even put up 32 points in 24 USHL games (also a +20 which is odd, but says a lot). The Boston College commit has dominated offensively at every level he’s played at, so he may very well be the gem of the draft. I feel as though a team already deep in prospects (Anaheim, Tampa Bay, or Winnipeg) NEED to take a shot on Bracco as he could be an offensive dynamo for years to come.