That's all his list is ever built on.

Here's what I think is the problem with his list or what his list is actually about. The highest skilled players in different categories. Which is fine but then you see players like Merkley rated ahead of Dobson or Bouchard because Merkley has that "amazing offence".

Great and all but the fact that Bouchard and Dobson can both play offence and defence and are larger and skate just as well, should put them well ahead of Merkley.
- manvanfan

100% agree

The advantage in the rest of their game's massively outweighs the puck skill of Merkley. Merkley is literally a defensive liability, he has to produce elite offense just to break even as a player.

100% agree

The advantage in the rest of their game's massively outweighs the puck skill of Merkley. Merkley is literally a defensive liability, he has to produce elite offense just to break even as a player.
- Nucker101

Defence can be taught but as even Pronman said Dobson and Bouchard are just good at everything. Imagine if they grow and become better a one or two different things. Merkley is still limited by his size and I doubt his offence is going to grow that much.

Defence can be taught but as even Pronman said Dobson and Bouchard are just good at everything. Imagine if they grow and become better a one or two different things. Merkley is still limited by his size and I doubt his offence is going to grow that much.
- manvanfan

I don't know if hockey sense, heart and effort can be taught. Merkley just doesn't care about defense and makes a lot of dumb plays when he tried to do too much by himself.

He's the kind of guy who will suck the life out of his teammates.


He has the talent to prove everyone wrong, I'd maybe be okay with taking a chance on him if he fell into the 2nd round depending on who else is on the board just because his skill level is insane but that's about it.

He like's Kotkaniemi A LOT

compares him to rantanen.
They had the same stat line in Liiga........ Except Kotkaniemi did it a year earlier.

He is also the 3rd youngest player in the draft.
- classic321

If you mean Kotkaniemi. There are 50 or more guys that are younger then he is.

I don't know if hockey sense, heart and effort can be taught. Merkley just doesn't care about defense and makes a lot of dumb plays when he tried to do too much by himself.

He's the kind of guy who will suck the life out of his teammates.


He has the talent to prove everyone wrong, I'd maybe be okay with taking a chance on him if he fell into the 2nd round depending on who else is on the board just because his skill level is insane but that's about it.
- Nucker101

I honestly don't remember a D prospect with so much offence that was so inept at defence as Merkley.

Ryan Murphy comes to mind. He did have a bit of trouble with skating if I remember correctly but he's still not an nhl regular.

Agreed. Now those are type of guys you can draft in the 2nd round. Especially Hayton, I just don't see the upside with him. Very solid defensively, but he's almost boring to watch offensively.


Valeno has some nice puck skills but he seems like a low IQ player.

Both are solid prospects, but overrated imo. I'd avoid drafting low IQ players all together, especially these days where the game is basically won on speed, skill and smarts. That's why Merkley at 10 is ridiculous to me.
- Nucker101

Agreed on all accounts - the Merkley rating is gold

I don't know if hockey sense, heart and effort can be taught. Merkley just doesn't care about defense and makes a lot of dumb plays when he tried to do too much by himself.

He's the kind of guy who will suck the life out of his teammates.


He has the talent to prove everyone wrong, I'd maybe be okay with taking a chance on him if he fell into the 2nd round depending on who else is on the board just because his skill level is insane but that's about it.
- Nucker101

Is he addicted to video games?

Being that our D prospects depth is weak & not much offence from the youngins i cannot get around the fact a UFA is in the cards for us. Whether next year or later idk.


Looking ahead 3-4 years...

OJ Tanev
Pouliot EG
Sautner Stecher
Brisebois

I’m assuming Edler retires & Hutton gets moved for a karaoke machine. There isn’t any offence there to get excited about. Rathbone is too early to call yet but geez if he is a hidden gem its a huge bonus. The need for D scoring looks to be rough ride & many other teams are in the same boat.

I honestly don't remember a D prospect with so much offence that was so inept at defence as Merkley.

Ryan Murphy comes to mind. He did have a bit of trouble with skating if I remember correctly but he's still not an nhl regular.
- manvanfan

R.Murphy and a mix of Anthony DeAngelo(rumoured to have attitude issues as well + not the best defender), except I think he's worse defensively than AD

Is he addicted to video games?
- A_SteamingLombardi

R.Murphy and a mix of Anthony DeAngelo(rumoured to have attitude issues as well + not the best defender), except I think he's worse defensively than AD
- Nucker101

Both are still struggling to stay in the NHL. Not saying Merkley is going to be exactly the same but there's a higher chance he is the same then different.

Agreed on all accounts - the Merkley rating is gold
- CanuckDon

He had EP and Cale Makar at 17 and 18 last season. Brannstrom ahead of Mittelstadt. A couple players picked in the 3rd round in his top 31 and a bunch of other mid round 2nds.

It's early but it doesn't look like many of his swings are going to pan out.

He had EP and Cale Makar at 17 and 18 last season. Brannstrom ahead of Mittelstadt. A couple players picked in the 3rd round in his top 31 and a bunch of other mid round 2nds.
- manvanfan

he also had tolavanen top 10.

pronman had a in-depth article on merkely. his take is merkley is ranked low by most because of both defensive play and being a difficult teammate.

that negative leadership score is counting against him, like tolavanen.

he also had tolavanen top 10.

pronman had a in-depth article on merkely. his take is merkley is ranked low by most because of both defensive play and being a difficult teammate.

that negative leadership score is counting against him, like tolavanen.
- Tumbleweed

I'll read that article, but I would love to know why he has him ranked #10. It almost seems like he focuses solely on how good a player's strengths are and completely ignores weaknesses, no matter how terrible the weaknesses are.

he also had tolavanen top 10.

pronman had a in-depth article on merkely. his take is merkley is ranked low by most because of both defensive play and being a difficult teammate.

that negative leadership score is counting against him, like tolavanen.
- Tumbleweed

Tolvanen should have been taken probably in the 12-20 range. The fact he fell so far was just because of his failure to get into School in the states. The idea that Bowers and Phoeling got picked ahead of Kostin and Tolvanen was a bit shocking to me. The latter have much more upside then Bowers and Phoeling IMO.

Tolvanen should have been taken probably in the 12-20 range. The fact he fell so far was just because of his failure to get into School in the states. The idea that Bowers and Phoeling got picked ahead of Kostin and Tolvanen was a bit shocking to me. The latter have much more upside then Bowers and Phoeling IMO.
- manvanfan

Tolvanen apparently had some bad interviews and Kostin has the KHL factor.


I could see a guy like Poehling leaving a good impression in interviews.

I'll read that article, but I would love to know why he has him ranked #10. It almost seems like he focuses solely on how good a player's strengths are and completely ignores weaknesses, no matter how terrible the weaknesses are.
- Nucker101

he kind of explains it...he weighs talent very heavily in his rankings.

merkley is probably a top 10 (or close) offensive player in the draft.

I'll read that article, but I would love to know why he has him ranked #10. It almost seems like he focuses solely on how good a player's strengths are and completely ignores weaknesses, no matter how terrible the weaknesses are.
- Nucker101

Heard TG talk about the little details within games. I don't think Pronman is able to see those details.

Tolvanen should have been taken probably in the 12-20 range. The fact he fell so far was just because of his failure to get into School in the states. The idea that Bowers and Phoeling got picked ahead of Kostin and Tolvanen was a bit shocking to me. The latter have much more upside then Bowers and Phoeling IMO.
- manvanfan

Poehling goes to show how desparate & weak the Habs are at C. I cannot see Zadina being their answer & either they trade the pick for a C or packaged. Other option for them is either Wahlstrom or Tkachuk if they think they can be a C. Sounds like Galchenyuk 2.0

he kind of explains it...he weighs talent very heavily in his rankings.

merkley is probably a top 10 (or close) offensive player in the draft.
- Tumbleweed

This is just my opinion, but it almost seems like he's over compensating just to prove a point that talent is being underrated by gm's/scouts/fans/media.



And I still don't understand how he was down on a guy like Pettersson last year if he weighs talent heavily. the knock on EP was his skinny frame and the fact he wasn't an explosive skater either(he's improved his skating this year though). I don't really remember anyone questioning his talent.

Same with Mittelstadt, the knock on him was not being in great shape, but everyone recognized him as a high end talent in that draft.

Glass was viewed as the all-around forward and Pronman liked him alot.


Seems like Pronman really moves the goal posts year to year.

Is there any mock drafts out there using BPA/Need scenarios? Thx

Is there any mock drafts out there using BPA/Need scenarios? Thx
- Nighthawk

Finding less mock drafts and more "players ranked". Too hard to predict which team wants what. Much easier to just rank the players.

This is just my opinion, but it almost seems like he's over compensating just to prove a point that talent is being underrated by gm's/scouts/fans/media.



And I still don't understand how he was down on a guy like Pettersson last year if he weighs talent heavily. the knock on EP was his skinny frame and the fact he wasn't an explosive skater either(he's improved his skating this year though). I don't really remember anyone questioning his talent.
- Nucker101

idk man, i'm not inside his head. his top 10 was good last year.

EP is was big miss, but everyone has (frank) ups in their rankings.

i think he's missing on dobson this year. merkley seems like a solid 16-20 pick to me.

like you said earlier, he doesn't subscribe to the group think. but i can see how being a one-man show can cause you to miss big on some players.

A nice list of all teams draft picks

http://www.espn.com/nhl/s...-draft-picks-all-31-teams

Detroit Montreal NYI & NYR stick out