Yea I mean I can see Detroit taking Byram he makes a lot of sense for them but they might like one of the forwards as well. This draft has quality Centres and like you mentioned it depends on team and preference. McKenzie’s latest tank had Dach at 4. So scouts seem divided on the Centres but regardless it seems like it’s a good group.
- Pegullaville

I could see the Kings going D but if they have the 3rd pick do they go for Podkolzin?

Detroit will go forward and I can see Dach at 4 for them, if that's where they fall.

We are definitely gonna grab one of the centers/wingers. The future pivot with Mitts and Turcotte is awful nice.

I would not be shocked if we pick byram if botts feels between davidsson, asplund, casey, olofsson and nylander, we have some impact kids up front

then pick a guy up front with the other pick and hope tage pans out
- homiedclown

Oh I agree wouldn't surprise me either. Byram is the consensus D man and has incredible talent, at both ends and his speed and skill and jumping into the play and moving the puck up ice is tremendous. He can play tough as well.

I just think with the surplus of d men we have in the system and what we did at the draft last year picking D that we'll go forward with the pick.

You too Gerbe, you love the prospect evaluation stuff. You have hit on quite a few.
So I'm interested in how you arrive at your selection...what are the criteria you use to filter down on them?
- IonSabres

I know you didn’t direct the question towards myself but maybe I can provide some info that will help you out. I scan mock drafts and nhl draft rankings from the beginning of the season till now to get the consensus top 20 or so. Bob McKenzie, Craig Button, Central Scouting, ISS, TPE hockey, Steve Kournianos at Sporting News, Cam Robinson with Dobber Prospects, Jokke Nevalienen for European tidbits but since he’s Finnish it’s generally directed towards Finnish prospects. There’s more but that’s what I can think of off the top of my head.

With all of those rankings in mind I see scout opinions and different rankings. I then just simply go on YouTube and search up the respective names and watch as many videos as I can (or willing to watch depending on how bored I am) and formulate my own opinions and make inferences to players already in the NHL. If you follow enough people on twitter they post a lot of clips as well of different prospect highlights.

I already know who I want Turcotte everyone is going to look back and say how wasn’t he in a discussion for the first overall pick The Blackhawks are going to be licking their chops to move up

And Caufield with our late first will have to move up but he’s going to be worth it
- gerbe75pts

Caufield will be gone by the time the late 1st rolls around. The unknown is how the Blues and Sharks do in the playoffs and where their picks fall. And then of course Anaheim will choose what pick they get.

Let's say Anaheim gets the Blues pick and we keep the Sharks pick, wouldn't surprise me if Botts trades it.

You too Gerbe, you love the prospect evaluation stuff. You have hit on quite a few.
So I'm interested in how you arrive at your selection...what are the criteria you use to filter down on them?
- IonSabres

His criteria is name every good one and hope one pans out. Forget all the bad names he told everyone to draft years later

His criteria is name every good one and hope one pans out. Forget all the bad names he told everyone to draft years later
- Fattony1187

Scott Glennie?

I could see the Kings going D but if they have the 3rd pick do they go for Podkolzin?

Detroit will go forward and I can see Dach at 4 for them, if that's where they fall.

We are definitely gonna grab one of the centers/wingers. The future pivot with Mitts and Turcotte is awful nice.
- mhp

Considering we have Mittelstadt who I’m hoping is our slippery playmaking Centre I think that’s what makes leaning towards Turcotte a bit easier in my personal rankings over Zegras because he brings a different element that we need in terms of the 200ft game. The guys who wanked off for ROR would build a shrine for Turcotte if he reaches his proverbial ceiling.

Oh I agree wouldn't surprise me either. Byram is the consensus D man and has incredible talent, at both ends and his speed and skill and jumping into the play and moving the puck up ice is tremendous. He can play tough as well.

I just think with the surplus of d men we have in the system and what we did at the draft last year picking D that we'll go forward with the pick.
- mhp

I know he likes asplund and drafted davidsson and pekar

if skinner walks, of course that may take byram off their radar

His criteria is name every good one and hope one pans out. Forget all the bad names he told everyone to draft years later
- Fattony1187

Sean day my boy .. oh well

But I still see him being a solid defense going forward but yes I would’ve been fired if I made that pick lmao

Scott Glennie?
- homiedclown

That wasn’t my pick I believe DD was all over him

I wanted Kane saw him as iggy

Woopsie Daisy

I know he likes asplund and drafted davidsson and pekar

if skinner walks, of course that may take byram off their radar
- homiedclown

If we didn't have Dahlin, Byram would be my #1 choice.

Samuelsson, Laaksonen, Borgen, Dahlin, Pilut and Montour is a strong future D crop.

And Cronholm is my future sleeper.

Oh I agree wouldn't surprise me either. Byram is the consensus D man and has incredible talent, at both ends and his speed and skill and jumping into the play and moving the puck up ice is tremendous. He can play tough as well.

I just think with the surplus of d men we have in the system and what we did at the draft last year picking D that we'll go forward with the pick.
- mhp

Byram is very similar to Morgan Reilly just a couple inches taller. Oozes offense. He will run a PP1 from the backend. Is respectable in his own zone. Has good feet and is able to move the puck up the ice. People think he’s the best prospect to come out of the WHL this year and that includes guys like Cozens, Dach, and Krebs.

My all time top 5

1. Peca
2. Pominville
3. Hasek
4. Eichel
5. Dahlin

Considering we have Mittelstadt who I’m hoping is our slippery playmaking Centre I think that’s what makes leaning towards Turcotte a bit easier in my personal rankings over Zegras because he brings a different element that we need in terms of the 200ft game. The guys who wanked off for ROR would build a shrine for Turcotte if he reaches his proverbial ceiling.
- Pegullaville

I like the fact that Turcotte is going to Wisconsin. That program is on the way up and he'll get some valuable experience and development there. Aside form the injuries, it's been a good place for Weissbach.

If we didn't have Dahlin, Byram would be my #1 choice.

Samuelsson, Laaksonen, Borgen, Dahlin, Pilut and Montour is a strong future D crop.

And Cronholm is my future sleeper.
- mhp

If we go defense after going all defense last year that will be a huge letdown and passing on Thomas more frustrating

Byram is very similar to Morgan Reilly just a couple inches taller. Oozes offense. He will run a PP1 from the backend. Is respectable in his own zone. Has good feet and is able to move the puck up the ice. People think he’s the best prospect to come out of the WHL this year and that includes guys like Cozens, Dach, and Krebs.
- Pegullaville

Good post on Byram, agree 100%. He's been climbing the mocks all year. I think he started out around 8-10 and now some have him at 4. The Kings should be all over him and we can get Turcotte.

I like the fact that Turcotte is going to Wisconsin. That program is on the way up and he'll get some valuable experience and development there. Aside form the injuries, it's been a good place for Weissbach.
- mhp

And if we draft Caufield they will develop a Bromance at the school And help us going forward creating that chemistry early is very important

If we go defense after going all defense last year that will be a huge letdown and passing on Thomas more frustrating
- gerbe75pts

We have a gaping hole at center. That's where we will pick.

I wrote a book a while back called "Which Hills to Avoid Dying On" and Jack Eichel's Hill was Chapter One. If you want I can mail you a copy.

Flat out, if scoring at a point per game pace on one of the worst teams in the sport isn't impressive to you, hockey just isn't your sport.
- RhinoFan

You didn't receive your copy of "How to be a Buffalo Fan"

Chapter One:

The Good Players Actually Aren't That Good

Chapter Two:

The Guys Who Try Hard, but Suck, Are Better

Chapter 3:

The Good Players Are Lazy (By My Imaginary Standard)

Chapter 4:

It's the Good Players Fault Na Na Na I Can't Hear You

My all time top 5

1. Peca
2. Pominville
3. Hasek
4. Eichel
5. Dahlin
- sbroads24

My favorite top 5

1.vanek
2. Danny
3. Soup
4. Miller
5.gerbe

Byram is very similar to Morgan Reilly just a couple inches taller. Oozes offense. He will run a PP1 from the backend. Is respectable in his own zone. Has good feet and is able to move the puck up the ice. People think he’s the best prospect to come out of the WHL this year and that includes guys like Cozens, Dach, and Krebs.
- Pegullaville

and if you flip dahlin to the right, and move risto, you are loaded at D for years

And if we draft Caufield they will develop a Bromance at the school And help us going forward creating that chemistry early is very important
- gerbe75pts

I was shocked that Debrincat fell to the top of the 2nd round in his draft class. If he was 6ft2 and had those stats he would have went top 3. I don’t think scouts will make the same mistake with Caulfield. If we want him we would have to trade back into the top 15 and even then that might not be enough.

and if you flip dahlin to the right, and move risto, you are loaded at D for years
- homiedclown

Hey if The lightning want to do risto , first( 4 ov )for Point I’m game

and if you flip dahlin to the right, and move risto, you are loaded at D for years
- homiedclown

Interesting proposition. I can get behind that. I think we go defense with the other first rounder though if we keep it and go Centre with the top 7 pick but time will tell.

I was shocked that Debrincat fell to the top of the 2nd round in his draft class. If he was 6ft2 and had those stats he would have went top 3. I don’t think scouts will make the same mistake with Caulfield. If we want him we would have to trade back into the top 15 and even then that might not be enough.
- Pegullaville

Hopefully the GM’s make the same mistake and fall in love with some big ass dude that can skate somehow lol there’s always players pushed back Hopefully he’s one of them