Curious to see Wiz's new rankings.....
- totem
Here it is...
I will try and throw up the profiles of the players currently around the Blackhawk slots, but I just haven't gotten enough sleep due to hockey, 5 a.m. roof hammering and general work around the house.
https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts
One game of all the kids playing in the Canadien Hockey Leagues does leave an impression sometimes, even though they have new line mates, little continuity, and the possibility you or to I "project" the age group play as what they will bring to the NHL plus in a couple MORE years.
I really missed the days past when the broadcast included an on TV intro so I could get all the sweater numbers correct. I had to start and stop and rewind and start and stop a good 20 minutes to simply have clear reference.
What I took away was how much
Last time I saw
Cole Beaudoin &
Carson Wetsch (North Vancouver native) they were part of a checking line in the Gretzky Hlinka Tourney where they both did such a nice job controlling the ice and in this game they were on opposing sides.
I understand international play means you get asked to do certain jobs and they got A's there -two guys from different leagues OHL (former) WHL (latter). It is easy to say well as graduations to pro, they pigeon hole there?
Maybe, BUT is that as a Reese Johnson level or Warren Foegele or a later blooming Jason D!ckinson type? OR MORE?
One of the toughest delineations is trying to conjure the ceilings on guys like this.
One is a centre, the other a wing, but both has solid feet and are excellent prospects and the kind that can excel.
I sorta look at the Hawks past Kyle related drafts and see little emphasis on guys like this who get taken in the 2nd & 3rd, so I am watching them with maybe a change in the philosophy after the top of the second round.
In general, what the CHL prospects game showed me was:
a)
San D!ckinson is on heck of a LD on both sides of the puck and isn't going to need much time to help an NHL team.
The Blackhawks already have two LD, but not that he doesn't has nice potential, but do the 'hawks need elsewhere that excludes his in their draft plan?
b) Jarone's first son,
Tij Iginla is going get taken much much higher than many players who have higher ceiling, because all he doesn't take a second off, leads by example and IS a hockey player. He was so good (not as skilled as other but so impactful) that I started thinking, "Would Calgary be willing to select him at #6 when the pick?"
c) RD
Carter Yakemchuk has a giant head, loves being down in the offensive fray, thinks he can out-stickhandle other junior players, wants offensive to rotate around his in close movement, is fluid and large. Is this a Korchinski mold player, or is he on a longer take off trajectory b/c he needs work in his zone?
d)
Zanye Parekh looked entirely disciplined in both of his game, not the less-controlled unbridled colt we seen in so many past views.
e) YOU tell me where
Berkly Catton gets taken, b/c I have no clue how much success he has as a pro. I just know he will be one.
f) As Gordie and Craig said it well, despite some backslide in other parts of his evaluation, 6' 2" RW
Brent Sennecke skates so well because he had that part down when he was much smaller, and has grown immensely, and still skates like when he was small.
g) Former Bedard linemate,
Tanner Howe has got some bite and a lot of skill at 5'10" 180
h) Sure there are so many right-handed defensemen in this draft, but don't expect teams to pass on so may prospects at other positions. I expect them to go but not as needs in the mid first. Watch them fly off the board a bit later later in the late first and second rounds.
Granted a few will get early entry based on their present game play.
I see SOME that the entire RD class is first round worthy, but most would be reaches for need.
i) Unrelated to the CHL prospects but a nice place to add it:
You wanna know when the second tier really has ended?
When some team select the injured
Adam Jiricek best taken (because he is a better option than the rest of the board.)