I suspect you watch how the players perform when games get more meaningful and rougher. Look at Zayne Parekh, he was outstanding in the OHL regular season, in the OHL playoffs and Memorial Cup his game isn’t close to being as effective. Sam D!ckinson on the other hand has improved his play not only from the regular season but each game as the playoffs and Memorial cup has progressed. Not having watched many of the top 10 prospects I can’t comment on each one but KD and his crew will have a good idea.
- paulr

That’s not always straightforward either though. Last year, didn’t everyone think Callum Ritchie dropped the ball? Turns out he was trying to play through a significant injury.

Projecting 18-19 year olds to what they will be in the pros is going to continue to be a difficult endeavor. So many variables (leagues, competition, etc.). Then you also have to develop them and try to put them in the right position to succeed.

What if you take nationality out of it and look at it from more of a Cap perspective?

Yes it is a team sport but when you're accounting for about 15% of the team's cap space the expectation's going to be higher which is also fair...as in you might have to put the team on your back and carry them on occasion.
- HawkintheD

Well if you are pointing to Panarin here they went to the ECF. He was ppg in playoffs. Sure he vanished in series against the Panthers like so many other not named Shesterkin and Lafreniere. He was leading player still in a team that was top 4 this year. I would like to have some perspective to criticisms here.

So you think there's a chance it may be Demidov? i heard during the playoffs in his league he was averaging 2 points a game.

It would of just been easier to win the lotto
- BetweenTheDots

I have absolutely no clue how Demidov plays in the playoffs. As I have no clue about Lindstrom, Levshunov or some of the others. I can only speak to the two I have mentioned, because I’ve been watching them closely. The number of points a player gets doesn’t necessarily paint the whole picture either. Marner gets his playoff points but he’s not close to being the Leafs best player. You also have to factor Demidov is playing against inferior competition, but can’t use that against him. Somehow KD and staff have to determine the value of each player despite not seeing them in all the ideal situations. And I have no clue how to see a prospect and figure out if he’s able to bring his game to the next level if he’s not in the situation to demonstrate that? And it’s entirely possible Lindstrom is unable to raise his game when it counts. I’m not sure he’s been in a high level game or tournament for the scouts to see?

That’s not always straightforward either though. Last year, didn’t everyone think Callum Ritchie dropped the ball? Turns out he was trying to play through a significant injury.

Projecting 18-19 year olds to what they will be in the pros is going to continue to be a difficult endeavor. So many variables (leagues, competition, etc.). Then you also have to develop them and try to put them in the right position to succeed.
- Chunk

Cal Ritchie’s injury was kept quiet all season, but you’re right Scouts have allot to figure out.

Well if you are pointing to Panarin here they went to the ECF. He was ppg in playoffs. Sure he vanished in series against the Panthers like so many other not named Shesterkin and Lafreniere. He was leading player still in a team that was top 4 this year. I would like to have some perspective to criticisms here.
- MjulQvist

Playoff points don’t tell the whole story. Panarin was playing scared against Florida just as Marner did against Boston. I don’t want my best players backing down when things get tough, do you?

How do you know which player will do that?

I mean Lindstrom medical stuff may all check out but what if this means he's injury prone. To me surgery to repair something is never a good thing. Or what if he's another Kakko. And that's just one example

There's a ton of pressure on this staff to get this right.

I sure hope we are one of the few scouting staffs in the league that know what they are doing.

This #2 pick is probably the most important decision this staff will make.
- BetweenTheDots

Going full circle here since it's been discussed earlier, but, if the Hawks have any indecision on the pick and another team is sold on Dedimov, trade down from #2. If the return is getting a quality player at 4,5 or 6. a prospect and a future 1st round pick, I say make the trade.

Playoff points don’t tell the whole story. Panarin was playing scared against Florida just as Marner did against Boston. I don’t want my best players backing down when things get tough, do you?
- paulr

Was he playing scared against Carolina? I can´t tell if he was playing scared against Florida but sure he wasn´t playing well. And of course not.

Was he playing scared against Carolina? I can´t tell if he was playing scared against Florida but sure he wasn´t playing well. And of course not.
- MjulQvist

Panarin played pretty well against Carolina, but the Canes didn’t ramp up the physical intensity. The Hockey Night in Canada crew showed a number of instances where Panarin shied away from contact and willingly gave up puck possession to avoid a hit. And yeah I think he was intimidated against the Panthers.

I have absolutely no clue how Demidov plays in the playoffs. As I have no clue about Lindstrom, Levshunov or some of the others. I can only speak to the two I have mentioned, because I’ve been watching them closely. The number of points a player gets doesn’t necessarily paint the whole picture either. Marner gets his playoff points but he’s not close to being the Leafs best player. You also have to factor Demidov is playing against inferior competition, but can’t use that against him. Somehow KD and staff have to determine the value of each player despite not seeing them in all the ideal situations. And I have no clue how to see a prospect and figure out if he’s able to bring his game to the next level if he’s not in the situation to demonstrate that? And it’s entirely possible Lindstrom is unable to raise his game when it counts. I’m not sure he’s been in a high level game or tournament for the scouts to see?
- paulr

Do you think the mhl is at the same level as juniors?

Do you think the mhl is at the same level as juniors?
- LFS

I don’t think so for three reasons the best junior age players are in the KHL and allot of Russian players come to North America to play in the CHL or play College hockey. And allot of reporters say it’s not. But I have never actually seen an MHL game so I can’t say I know for sure.

Panarin played pretty well against Carolina, but the Canes didn’t ramp up the physical intensity. The Hockey Night in Canada crew showed a number of instances where Panarin shied away from contact and willingly gave up puck possession to avoid a hit. And yeah I think he was intimidated against the Panthers.
- paulr

Ok! I still think Panarin wasn´t the only reason Panthers won that series. Trouba is physical player but he was brutal as well.

Do you think the mhl is at the same level as juniors?
- LFS

Probably not but it is not as bad that you would think. I recommend to listen latest CHGO Blackhawks Podcast with Steven Ellis as their guest. He is also pretty high on Demidov and tells why he didn´t see Demidov playing MHL bad thing at all.

Probably not but it is not as bad that you would think. I recommend to listen latest CHGO Blackhawks Podcast with Steven Ellis as their guest. He is also pretty high on Demidov and tells why he didn´t see Demidov playing MHL bad thing at all.
- MjulQvist

The level of play in the MHL isn’t as important as in factoring in that level when assessing a certain player. Cale Makar was drafted out of the AJHL, which is a comparatively low level of junior play in Canada and he’s done fairly well in the NHL.

The level of play in the MHL isn’t as important as in factoring in that level when assessing a certain player. Cale Makar was drafted out of the AJHL, which is a comparatively low level of junior play in Canada and he’s done fairly well in the NHL.
- paulr

Yes! I was just become to add this to my message..And here is the latest highlight video with comments:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pO_362WzV0

I suspect you watch how the players perform when games get more meaningful and rougher. Look at Zayne Parekh, he was outstanding in the OHL regular season, in the OHL playoffs and Memorial Cup his game isn’t close to being as effective. Sam D!ckinson on the other hand has improved his play not only from the regular season but each game as the playoffs and Memorial cup has progressed. Not having watched many of the top 10 prospects I can’t comment on each one but KD and his crew will have a good idea.
- paulr

Why do i have this feeling in the back of my head that when all is said and done, D!ckinson may be the best player out of this draft

Yes! I was just become to add this to my message..And here is the latest highlight video with comments:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pO_362WzV0
- MjulQvist

See this tells me very little. Yes he has some crazy creative moves. But not once in 15 minutes do I see him getting lined up for a check. Every time he dangles I see defenders looking down at the puck, waving their sticks in his general direction. I want to see what he does if a defender looks directly at his crest and lines him up. I don’t see him fighting for open ice. I don’t see him fighting for puck possession. I see a bunch of cherry picked highlights of spectacular moves with no one really trying to stop him. I realize all highlight packages for any player are the same to present the said player in the best light possible. Again these types of videos is where scouts have to look beyond. I want to see Demidov, Lindstrom, Levshunov etc. being run at. I want to see them going to ice where they know an opponent will try to run them over. I want to see them fight for puck possession. I want to see them lose possession to see how hard they play to recover the giveaway.

Panarin traded for Marner? 2 high dollar productive regular season players that disappear when playing heavy playoff teams.

Even with the goal has been absent this series.
- LAHawk

The Panarins and Marners of the world shrinking in the playoffs just make me love Kaner that much more.

All of the tropes about perimeter players who thrive in the regular season but shrink when the going gets tough should have applied to Kane, who avoided contact like the plague and basically got hit once his entire career by Dumba.

But in so many big moments, he was the guy that made the play. More times than I can even remember at this point. I love Showtime and wish they would just bring him home.

Why do i have this feeling in the back of my head that when all is said and done, D!ckinson may be the best player out of this draft
- vabeachbear

I wasn’t trying to suggest that. I’m trying to be as honest and unbiased as I can. There are allot of questions that I see as unanswered that I’m sure NHL scouts, and KD and staff are on top of.

Why do i have this feeling in the back of my head that when all is said and done, D!ckinson may be the best player out of this draft
- vabeachbear

No problem whatsoever choosing him with the 2nd choice in the draft.

Going full circle here since it's been discussed earlier, but, if the Hawks have any indecision on the pick and another team is sold on Dedimov, trade down from #2. If the return is getting a quality player at 4,5 or 6. a prospect and a future 1st round pick, I say make the trade.
- boilermaker100

I wouldn't be opposed to it. Especially if that 1st is unprotected and their research agrees that's the best move for this franchise.

See this tells me very little. Yes he has some crazy creative moves. But not once in 15 minutes do I see him getting lined up for a check. Every time he dangles I see defenders looking down at the puck, waving their sticks in his general direction. I want to see what he does if a defender looks directly at his crest and lines him up. I don’t see him fighting for open ice. I don’t see him fighting for puck possession. I see a bunch of cherry picked highlights of spectacular moves with no one really trying to stop him. I realize all highlight packages for any player are the same to present the said player in the best light possible. Again these types of videos is where scouts have to look beyond. I want to see Demidov, Lindstrom, Levshunov etc. being run at. I want to see them going to ice where they know an opponent will try to run them over. I want to see them fight for puck possession. I want to see them lose possession to see how hard they play to recover the giveaway.
- paulr

Well the word is he competes hard. But at end of the day it doesn´t matter what I, you or anyone else here thinks. If Hawks pick Demidov they are convinced if they don´t they aren´t. We will see soon enough.

Well the word is he competes hard. But at end of the day it doesn´t matter what I, you or anyone else here thinks. If Hawks pick Demidov they are convinced if they don´t they aren´t. We will see soon enough.
- MjulQvist

Agreed, lots of time, video clips, debate and coffee will go down in Blackhawk scouts meeting rooms between now and draft day. I’m just glad I don’t have to make the decision.

The Panarins and Marners of the world shrinking in the playoffs just make me love Kaner that much more.

All of the tropes about perimeter players who thrive in the regular season but shrink when the going gets tough should have applied to Kane, who avoided contact like the plague and basically got hit once his entire career by Dumba.

But in so many big moments, he was the guy that made the play. More times than I can even remember at this point. I love Showtime and wish they would just bring him home.
- LaheysBRandy

The thing with Kane is that he patterned his game to not get hit. Even with that, he was still extremely effective in the playoffs. Maybe that’s because of who his line mates were, or maybe he’s just that good, but he didn’t have to change his game at all to be effective when the intensity ramped up.

Well if you are pointing to Panarin here they went to the ECF. He was ppg in playoffs. Sure he vanished in series against the Panthers like so many other not named Shesterkin and Lafreniere. He was leading player still in a team that was top 4 this year. I would like to have some perspective to criticisms here.
- MjulQvist

Thought my point was pretty clear. When the player in question is taking up about 1/7th of the team's Cap Space there is bound to be some criticism and finger pointing if he disappears in a tough series.

I wasn’t trying to suggest that. I’m trying to be as honest and unbiased as I can. There are allot of questions that I see as unanswered that I’m sure NHL scouts, and KD and staff are on top of.
- paulr

There's just something about him, and watching the Panthers play in this past series and thinking that's the kind of guy you want when you're in the playoffs deep